Podcast Recent Shows
Blue Dogs and Blue Blood
Standing in the way of Obama’s health insurance reform are the Blue Dogs, a group of conservative Democrats in Congress. On this edition of portside, Burt talks with Donna Smith, legislative advocate for the California Nurses Association about who the …
State Single Payer?/ The Hopscotch Terrorists
Here he comes to save the day! Not Mighty Mouse, Dennis Kucinich. On the first part of this Portside, columnist Joshua Holland explains the Ohio congressman’s plan (with bipartisan support) to save single payer health care by enabling…
The Clean Energy Act: A Step Forward?/CA TV Bans Tax-Marijuana Ad
Is the American Clean Energy and Security Act a good first step or does it effectively lock pollution in place? On the first half of this edition of Portside, Burt Cohen talks with Jesse Jenkins of the Breakthrough Institute about the questionable good…
Finance Industry Benefits Most from New Energy Bill/ Neo-Cons Love Ahmadinijad
The House-passed Waxman-Markey Bill may do little to cut emmissions and create green jobs in America, but wall St stands to gain a lot. Burt Cohen talks with Teryn Norris of the Breaktrough Institute on the first half. In part two, Burt talks with Auth…
Time to Rethink the Institution of Marriage?
At last gay couples are gaining the right to marry. But given how often marriage is sexless and oppressive to the individuals involved, others are wondering: Is it time to rethink the whole institution? On this edition of Portside Burt Cohen talk…
Is Smaller Better in the World Economy? Try Devolution.
Have you had it with creeping centralization? Bugged that your tax dollars are being used to prop up bigness? Well there may be an answer. On this edition of Portside, Burt Cohen talks with author Paul Starobin, whose article “Divided We Stand” appeare…
Emerging Movement in American Evangelism
With the political and cultural demise of America’s right wing evangelicals, what next for the Christian church? On this edition of Portside, Burt Cohen speaks with Rev. Scot McKnight, internationally known speaker and professor of religious stud…
How Pres. Clinton and the Democrats Worsened the West Bank and Chances for Peace
In the 1990s, the president and Democrats in Congress rubber stamped billions in aid for Israel, not matter what. On this Portside, Burt Cohen talks with Stephen Zunes, chair of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of San Francisco and senior polic…
Democrats Dither on Gitmo?/New Start in El Salvador with FMLN’s Funes
Candidate Barack Obama made closing the prison camp at Guantanamo one of his first priorities. Now he and the Democrats seem to be dithering. On this edition of Portside, Burt Cohen talks with Rolling Stone columnist Mat Taibbi about Obama and the Demo…
19th Century Beliefs Meet 21st Century Realities
Afraid to be called flip-floppers, many politicans act on beliefs instead of new realities. On today’s Portside, Burt Cohen talks with philosophy and logic professor John Kozy about the friction between old mindsets and new challenges, and how this end…