Funding Public Services Is The Best Economic Development
In economically difficult times, the pressure is on to cut public services in favor of economic development. But according to a new non-partisan study by the Political Economy Research Institute, that’s precisely the wrong approach. For both the short …
You’re Eating GMOs. What, Nobody Told You?
They’re everywhere. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs are in many foods we eat. It’s largely banned in Europe, where they call it Frankenfoods. Dr. Shiv Chopra’s name has become synonymous with food safety. And he has a blueprint for food safety….
Net Neutrality Protects Freedom. Why is the Tea Party Against it?
The issue of ensuring access to the internet for all points of view is just beginning to bubble up. But even though the Tea Party is a beneficiary of the so-far even playing field, they want to turn control over to the big corporations. Listen in and g…
A ’60s Original; Paul Krassner
From Mad magzine writer to publisher of The Realist and author of many books, Paul Krassner has made his mark on history. One of the founders of The Yippies, Krassner is still at it with his observations of the culture war which began with the right wi…
CA’s Anti-Gay Marriage Prop 8 Overturned: Wide Ramifications
Equal marriage supporters are celebrating, sure. But reproductive rights are also affected by Judge Vaughn Walker’s recent decision overturning California’s Proposition 8, which had banned same sex marriages. What lies ahead for equal marriage rights? …
$54 Billion Of Your Money for Nuclear Power?
Proponents insist it will make America energy independent while polluting less. But is nuclear power that good to deserve a bailout to the tune of $54 billion of our money? On this show, Nuclear Information Resource Services executive director Michael …
Dems Giving Up On Unemployment?
It’s being called the Summer of Liberal’s Discontent. The 2008 election was all about Hope, but why is so little action being taken to address unemployment? On this segment, Les Leopold, author of the Looting of America, consultant to the Blue…
Pols are Wrong: Americans Want More Spending, Not Less
Politicians are scrambling to look more deficit cutting than their competitor. But according to Micheal Lind, policy director of the Economic Growth Program at the New America Foundation, that’s not only terrible economics, but bad politics as well.
Honduras Update: One Year Later
It was June 28th 2009 that there was a coup d’etat in Honduras. In one of the first tests of the new Obama Administration, many hoped for a change of course, away from the old cold War framing of Latin American political; realities. But AlterNet column…
Oliver Stone’s “South of the Border”
Seeking to find the real Hugo Chavez, filmmaker Oliver Stone (Platoon, Born on the 4th of July, JFK) traveled to Venezuela with a film crew and ended up talking with other left-leaing new South American presidents, such as Bolivia’s Evo Morales a…
As Dukakis Sees It
Despite the ominous mood of much of the country, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, former governor Michael Dukakis remains optimistic. In this interview, he talks about Obama and Afghanistan, energy and enviromental policy, the Tea Party moveme…
Wall St. Reform: Might We the People Actually Win?
Republicans are backed into a corner, so watch out! All Democrats support imposing major reforms on how the financial sector does business. But no Republicans. Burt discusses the status with Robert Creamer, political strategist who helped President Oba…
Witness to the Israeli Attack on The Marmara
As the Israelis stole Scott Harmann’s cell phone, there were some audio difficulties. Butlisten in and you get a clear picture of the mission of the Free Gaza Flotilla, and what it was like on the high seas when the IDF attacked.
New Perspective on An Old Case: The Rosenbergs
Exoneration: the Rosenberg Sobell Case in the 21st Century is a soon-to-be publiched book by David Alman, who with his late wife Emily wasw deeply involved nearly 60 years ago. Howard Zinn said this book “raises challenges to the justice system in our …
Alberta Tar Sands: Nuts Beyond Belief
Tar sands are the worlds dirtiest, most climate destroying oil. In what looks to be the largest industrial project in human history, ExxonMobil has begun its tar sands mining project in Alberta Canada. It requires bulding new roads into the wild to acc…
Tribalism Can Never Be Defeated
With his new book called Violence, Veils, and Bloodlines, reporting from War Zones, veteran war correspondent Louis Salome describes the depth of tribal identification around the world and discusses his observation that all humans, including Americans,…
Psychedelics: A Useful Tool Whose Time Has Come?
Brushed aside for decades, a recent conference of scientists focused on the potential uses of LSD and other psychedelics. On this editon of The Burt Cohen Show, guest Randolph Hencken of Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies talks about…
The Truth About Kent State Begins to Come Out
Laurel Krause was just 15 when her 19 year old sister Allison was killed by National Guard soldiers at Kent State in 1970. Forty years later, Laurel organized a truth tribunal. With new audio evidence coming out, it appears the truth about who ga…
Oil in the Gulf: The Realities and Options
Oil threatens disaster in the gulf. Yet Obama is sticking with his call for more drilling. How bad is the oil threat really? What are the realities and riskes involved in offshore drilling? On this show, the guest is John Demos, Northeast Regiona…
Kent State Plus 40
On this somber anniversary, the first guest is Peter Rivierre, a campus activist at the University of New Hampshire tells about what happened when three of the Chicago 8 were set to speak on campus after the massacre. And on the second half, current st…
Wall Street Terms Defined, and Why It Matters
Derivatives. Hedge Funds. Sub-prime. What does all this mean and how are you affected by it all? On this edition of The Burt Cohen Show, Burt’s guest is Robert Marrone who spent 30 years on Wall Street. He explains how these confusing terms impact the …
Hamid Karzai vs. Peter Galbraith: the US Loses
Peter Galbraith was UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan. That is until Hamid Karzai banished him for pointing out that the election was a fraud. Listen in, as Galbraith offers valuable insights into realistic solutions. And enjoy the extra music in th…
What Now for the US Supreme Court?
With the vacancy on the Supreme Court, could this be the time to reverse
the routine elevation of corporate interests over individual rights? Burt’s guest is David Gespass, president of the National Lawyers Guild, which is arguing for a Supreme Court …
Can We Rein in Wall St?/Why No Talk of a New New Deal?
The next big showdown in Washington is on Obama’s efforts to rein in the big banks and hold them accountable. Burt’s first guest is Heather Booth who is leading the charge on this issue for Americans United For Change. Following that is a discussi…
Opium in Afghanistan/Agent Orange in Vietnam
Since the US invasion after 9/11, opium has become the base of the Afghanistani economy. In the first segment, Alfred McCoy, author of the Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade provides insight into the overwhelming power of opium…
Holy Week 2010: Church in Crisis
The apparent cover up of child abuse in the highest reaches of the Catholic Church continues to shock the world. But there’s a growing group of church members working to bring justice. On this show, Burt’s guest is Ed Wilson a leader of “Voice of The F…
Texas School Board Sets National Standard/ Bob Creamer on How The HCR Passage Changes Everything
On the first half Dan Quinn of the Texas Freedom Network explains how all American textbooks will be affected by the incredibly ultra-right wing new standards for social studies books. On the second half, Burt’s guest is Robert Creamer, a major player …
The Bill Is Signed! Republicans Keep Digging Their Hole.
Republicans down. But are they out? The passage of health care reform dramatically changes the narrative for November 2010 and maybe beyond. Burt’s guest was to be Robert Creamer, author of “Stand Up Straight; How Progressives Can Win,” a key player in…
Apartheid in Israel?
We all remeber defeating the evils of apartheid in South Africa with pressure from throughout the world. Some say apartheid is now the reality in Israel, others disagree. Judy Rebick is a professor at Ryerson University in Toronto and on this show talk…
Jews Say No: Power of Israel Over US Policy Waning?
On March 9th, hundreds protested silently as others paid $1000 a plate to support the Israeli Defense Forces. Led by Jews Say No, they are questioning the US unconditional support for the State of Israel in the wake of the assault on Gaza and continued…
