Join us for our weekly podcast, featuring in-depth interviews with newsmakers and commentary from a progressive point of view. Regular panelists include Truthdig editor Robert Scheer and contributors James Harris and Josh Scheer. You can listen right on the page, or by subscribing with iTunes or another podcast-friendly program. Podcasts may be either audio or video format.
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Philip Coyle knows a thing or two about the “staggering” amounts of money the U.S. funnels into the military-industrial complex, and why it is so difficult to stanch the profiteering.
Truthdig regulars Sheerly Avni, James Harris and Josh Scheer put their heads together to try to figure out why the big problems that plague our communities never get solved.
Truthdig’s James Harris and Josh Scheer speak with Harry Helms, author of “Top Secret Tourism: Your Travel Guide to Germ Warfare Laboratories, Clandestine Aircraft Bases and Other Places in the United States You’re Not Supposed to Know About,” which his critics have called a handbook for terrorists. Helms explains why his work doesn’t threaten national security and what it’s like to visit some of the most secret sites in America.
Matthew Rothschild, editor of The Progressive and author of “You Have No Rights,” explains how our president became a “medieval king,” and why your civil liberties are in greater danger than ever.
Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges talks about his landmark article in The Nation magazine, “The Other War: Iraq Vets Bear Witness,” the result of seven months of interviews with troops about their experiences in Iraq.
Truthdig speaks with Elliot Cohen, author of “The Last Days of Democracy,” who argues that the United States is in political and cultural decline, with media and telecommunications giants engaged in “a well-organized effort to hijack America.”
Robert Higgs author of “Neither Liberty Nor Safety” speaks with Truthdig’s James Harris and Joshua Scheer about how political opportunists and fear mongerers are gobbling up our individual liberties.
The former escort who blew the whistle on Ted Haggard’s homosexuality explains why he felt morally compelled to come forward, what the fallout has been like and what he feels is the real tragedy of the situation.
Dr. Dahlia Wasfi joins Robert Scheer and James Harris to discuss the past, present and future of the Iraq war. Wasfi, who has twice visited Iraq during the occupation, says it is only a matter of time and casualties before the U.S. leaves: “It’s really simple: You bring the troops home, they stop dying there.”
Stephanie Nolen, the last Western journalist covering the AIDS beat in Africa, tells Truthdig it is unfortunate but true that the more people die, the less people care, which is why she has decided to get personal with a new book that approaches the crisis from a different perspective.
Rep. Henry Waxman, who more than any other politician is fulfilling the Democrat’s election promise to bring good governance and oversight back to Washington, tells Truthdig about Iraq corruption, the tragedy of post-traumatic stress disorder, and why it’s only a matter of time before Congress—Republicans included—pulls the plug on the war.
Internet radio has provided an eclectic and independent alternative to the mainstream hit-oriented, payola-ridden music marketplace, but industry greed now threatens to wipe out the medium. Truthdig checks in with Frannie Wellings of Free Press to find out whether Internet radio stands a chance and what music fans can do to save it.
Cole Miller of NoMoreVictims.Org, a group that works to find medical sponsorships for injured Iraqi children, talks about the ignored victims of Iraq and the antiwar origins of Mother’s Day.
Presidential candidate Mike Gravel’s performance in the first Democratic debate took him from off the radar to Truthdigger of the week. Naturally we just had to pick his brain. The former senator from Alaska, who helped end the draft, tells Truthdig why he’s running, why there are so few mavericks in politics these days and why war makes him angry.
The community outreach director of Unity08, the online independent party, speaks with truthdig about his organization’s vision for a third way in the coming election, why our political system is broken and how he intends to fix it.
Jumana Musa, advocacy director for domestic human rights and international justice at Amnesty International, speaks with Truthdig about the war on human rights, why conditions at Guantanamo have only gotten worse and why she has hope for the future.
Gore Vidal reads from his essay, “Hail and Farewell: the End of the American Empire.” The iconic author, historian and patriot suggests that perhaps there’s a more sinister explanation for the president’s fiascos than mere incompetence: he’s out to destroy the American empire.
Linda Seger explains why Jesus had more in common with Democrats than Republicans, how Christians have been manipulated into compromising their values and what the bible really says about homosexuality.
Mark Green, the new president of Air America, tells Truthdig why it didn’t work, what he’s going to do to fix it and what you can expect in the future from America’s only progressive radio network.
Dr. Joel Hunter, author of “Right Wing, Wrong Bird,” joins the podcast this week to explain why things didn’t work out with the Christian Coalition and why global warming and poverty bother him as much as gay marriage and abortion.
J.J. Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the venerable progressive Jewish daily the Forward, joins the podcast this week to talk about the complexity of Zionism, the misguided intentions of neoconservatism and why AIPAC isn’t quite as sinister as you might think.
This week regular panelists James Harris and Josh Scheer are joined by California’s first gay legislator, Sheila Kuehl, for a discussion on the urgent need for public healthcare, the myths about Gov. Schwarzenegger’s plan and the details of her own proposal.
“M*A*S*H” star, activist and author Mike Farrell joins regular panelists James Harris and Josh Scheer to talk about his new book “Just Call Me Mike,” why it took so long for Americans to wake up to George W. Bush and more.
Documentarian Robert Greenwald ("Outfoxed," “Iraq for Sale") joins regular panelists James Harris and Joshua Scheer to talk about Fox News’ impact on the media, his effort to create an online Iraq war memorial and more.
Confronting the Terrorist Within
