COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) White Supremacist Hate Groups' Growing Threat as Trump Takes Office

Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project discusses her work tracking hate groups and white supremacists engaged in violence - and concerns that these groups and individuals could pose a threat to civil society as Donald Trump takes office and encourages political violence targeting immigrants and his perceived political enemies.

2) The UN Urged to Hold Israel Accountable for Monstrous Violation of International Law in Gaza

Kathy Kelly, board president of the group World Beyond War, who works with the international network Global Solidarity for Peace in Palestine, discusses her recent article, "When Will the UN General Assembly Suspend Israel?" and issues related to Israel's ongoing savage war in Gaza, the West Bank (and earlier in Lebanon,) U.S. Middle East policy under the incoming Trump regime, and the devolution of international law.

3) Trump GOP Demonization of Trans Youth Leads to Violence

Media critic Parker Molloy, publisher of the Present Age newsletter, talks about her recent article, "One Day in Anti-Trans America," with a focus on Trump and the GOP's demonization of the trans community, the Democrat's non-response, and the failure of corporate media's coverage of rightwing extremists’ dangerous scapegoating, that leads to violence.

4) Philadelphia Protest Demands Biden Dismantle Government Machinery Trump Will Use for Mass Deportation

Jasmine Rivera, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition discusses her group's December 18th protest action on Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Bridge, demanding President Biden issue directives to protect immigrants from Trump's mass deportation plan before he leaves office, and the nationwide activism that will be necessary to effectively challenge Trump's anti-immigrant policies over the next four years.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Ralph Nader, America's best known and most effective public interest lawyer who ran for president four times as both a Green Party and independent candidate, has always used his platform to advocate for consumer and worker protections while demanding responsible regulation of corporate America’s massive power. Nader, who's latest book is titled, "Let's Start the Revolution: Tools for Displacing the Corporate State and Building a Country that Works for the People," will talk about his effort to convince CT Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal to taken an ethical land moral stand against Israel's mass slaughter of Palestinian civilians in Gaza – as well as commenting on what we can expect from the incoming Trump regime 2.0.

2) Dr. Phil Brewer, a Connecticut emergency physician, who formerly served as Medical Director for Quinnipiac University’s Student Health Services, is active with the group Physicians for a National Health Program. He'll discuss his views on the recent wave of public anger and frustration re: our nation's failing health insurance industry set-off by the murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson -- and PNHP's ongoing campaign for the implementation of a universal, single-payer healthcare system in the U.S. that every other industrialized nation in the world has had for decades.

3) John Stoehr, editor of the daily politics newsletter, The Editorial Board, is a journalist, a fellow at Yale’s Ezra Stiles College, a contributing writer for the Washington Monthly, a contributing editor for Religion Dispatches, and senior editor at Raw Story. He'll discuss his recent article, "Kamala Harris wasted money on campaign ads, not Beyoncé," and issues related to America's dangerous media landscape, and the corrosive political impact of widespread disinformation disguised as "news!"

4) Heather Digby Parton has been writing about politics on her blog Hullabaloo since the early 2000s, has been a Salon.com columnist since 2014, and won the 2014 Hillman Prize for Opinion and Analysis Journalism. She'll talk about Trump's cabinet nominees, many of whom come with the strong smell of oligarchy, corruption and retribution, as well as the national fight over the future of social security and Medicare we're likely to see next year.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Unanswered Questions After the Overthrow of the Syrian Regime

Phyllis Bennis, Director of the Institute for Policy Studies' New Internationalism Project, focusing on the Middle East, Palestinian rights, and U.S. militarism, talks about the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria by rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. She'll also assess the Lebanon ceasefire, Israel's ongoing catastrophic war in Gaza, and what we can expect from Trump et al on Middle East policy.

2) Courageous South Koreans Block the Imposition of a Military Dictatorship

Dr. John Carl Baker, Deputy Director of Programs with Ploughshares discusses the issues examined in his recent Nation magazine article, "South Korean Protesters Thwarted More Than Just a Coup Attempt," as well as the future of US relations with both South and North Korea.

3) Trump 2.0 Corruption and Ethics Violations Ahead

Jeff Hauser, Executive Director of the Revolving Door Project talks about his project's concern re: the history of corruption during Trump's first four years in the White House, and the corruption the nation is likely to witness under the incoming Trump administration -- as well as the consequences of that corruption on government programs and services.

4) Remembering 2012 Sandy Hook Mass Shooting Victims and Assessing the Fight against Gun Violence

Po Murray, co-founder and chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance and the Newtown Action Alliance Foundation reflects on the 12th year of remembrance for the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14, 2012 -- the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 11th, and her group's ongoing work to end gun violence across the U.S.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Eight Ways to Respond to Trump Election Victory Over the Next 4 Years

David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic party, publisher of the 'Pepperspectives' substack newsletter and author of, "2025," "Saving Democracy," and "Laboratories of Autocracy." He'll discuss his post-election column, "Resolve: 8 Reasons That Keep Me Going," and analysis of Trump's 2025 agenda and what effective resistance would look like.

2) Why Trump Voters Should Better Understand Americans Who Oppose Their Convicted Felon President

Wajahat Ali, author of “Go Back to Where You Came From,” and creator of The Left Hook Substack page, discusses his timely, incisive column, "When Will Trump Voters Be Asked To Reach Out and Understand The Rest of Us?" - and other issues related to the danger to U.S. democracy posed by Trump regime 2.0.

3) Surprise: Trump Plans More Tax Cuts for the Rich, Budget Cuts for the Rest of Us

Will Rice, a consultant with Americans for Tax Fairness, discusses the group's work raising the alarm about what Trump and the Republicans have planned to make the U.S. tax system even more unfair for working families, with deeper tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations -- as they build a government captured by right wing billionaires and oligarchs.

4) Connecticut Groups Prepare to Resist Trump Mass Deportations

John Lugo, Community Organizing Director with Unidad Latina en Accion, and Carolina Bortoletto, co-founder of CT Students for a Dream, discuss President-elect Trump's demonization of migrants, and preparations local organizations are making to defend the state's immigrant residents in the face of Trump's campaign pledge to conduct the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history. He’ll also address what CT State government and CT Governor Ned Lamont can do to Trump-proof the state.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Examining Voters' Contradictory Support for Abortion and Trump

Amy Littlefield, The Nation magazine’s abortion access correspondent and a journalist who focuses on reproductive rights, healthcare, and religion, who's forthcoming book "American Crusaders," examines the history of the anti-abortion movement over the last fifty years. She'll assess the outcome of the 2024 election, and Donald Trump and GOP's ongoing threat, to step-by-step further erode reproductive rights when Trump and the new GOP Congress take power in January.

2) Women's March Organizing January 18th Trump Protest

Tamika Middleton, Managing Director of Women's March, discusses the nationwide organizing she and others are doing in advance of the massive January 18th People's March in Washington, D.C., and other locations around the U.S., to build community and power ahead of a second Trump presidency that threatens reproductive rights, civil rights, gender equality, and democracy itself.

3) Respond to Trump's Agenda with Radical Action

Natasha Lennard, a columnist for The Intercept and author of the book, “Being Numerous: Essays on Non-Fascist Life,” discusses her recent article, "The Answer to Trump’s Victory Is Radical Action," and her views on the urgent need to mobilize in advance of Donald Trump taking power in Washington on January 20, 2024.

4) International Criminal Court Issues War Crimes Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu, Others

Robert Jereski, a lawyer and activist who serves as the volunteer coordinator of Codepink's World Court Campaign, discusses the horrific ongoing war in Gaza, and the significance of the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masr for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. He'll also talk about his work at the UN to overcome U.S. vetos of a succession of UN Security Council Gaza ceasefire resolutions.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Post-Election Analysis: How Democrats' Failures Helped Traitor Trump to Win

Rachel Bitecofer, is a political scientist, election forecaster, political strategist and author of the book, "Hit 'Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game." She discusses her analysis on how/why Trump won the election, the Democrats' misunderstanding of Trump's strategy of demonizing immigrants and trans kids, the enormous influence of the right wing social media, and the urgent need for progressives to develop effective fact-based media to counter the MAGA propaganda machine.

2) Trump's Bizarre, Unqualified Cabinet Picks Meet Little GOP Resistance

Coleen Rowley, a retired FBI agent who was named one of TIME magazine’s Persons of the Year in 2002 for exposing and sharing some of the FBI's 9/11 intelligence failures, and a member of Veterans for Peace, discusses Donald Trump's picks for various cabinet positions thus far, i.e. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for Sec. of State, Pete Hegseth for Sec. of Defense, John Ratcliffe as CIA Director, Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel, and NY Rep. Elise Stefanik as US ambassador to the UN. Rowley will assess these nominations and the implications for US domestic and foreign policy under the coming Trump regime.

3) Merrick Garland's Delay in Prosecuting Trump Layed Groundwork to Establish His Mafia State

Sarah Kendzior, author, "They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent," and "Hiding in Plain Sight," discusses her views on the outcome of the 2024 election, with a focus on Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland and the DOJ's 2 1/2 year delay to prosecute Trump for his coup attempt -- allowing him to run and win back the presidency, as well as advice on how to maintain your sanity during the very dark and dangerous four years of the Trump regime ahead.

4) Proposed House Bill Would Give Trump Powerful Weapon to Attack his Enemies
Cody Bloomfield, Communications Director with the group Defending Rights and Dissent discusses the recent House defeat of The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, and the likelihood this legislation that would permit the Treasury Dept. to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits deemed to be supporting “terrorism,” or something like it, will be voted on again, which if passed and signed into law would give Donald Trump a powerful weapon to use against his perceived enemies.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) How Will Members of Trump's Cult Respond to his Election Win

Steven Hassan, a mental health professional, author, and one of the nations foremost deprogrammers who's helped people leave destructive cults, talks about the new edition of his book, "The Cult of Trump," and the impact Donald Trump's election victory will have on the president-elect himself, his followers, and his MAGA movement's attack on U.S. democratic institutions.

2) Kamala Harris' Defeat Linked to Ignoring Working Class Economic Discontent

Branko Marcetic, a Jacobin magazine staff writer and author of "Yesterday’s Man: The Case Against Joe Biden," who examines why Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election to twice impeached, convicted felon and coup plotting insurrectionist Donald Trump, with a focus on the Democrat's failure to speak to the economic concerns that were by far voters’ leading motivation for choosing a candidate on Election Day.

3) Assessing Media's Failures in Covering 2024 Election

Victor Pickard, C. Edwin Baker professor of media policy and political economy, and co-director at the Media, Inequality & Change Center at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication, assesses corporate media's coverage of the 2024 election, with a focus on the decline of legacy media outlets i.e. newspapers and cable TV news, the growing strength, reach and influence of rightwing "Bro" social media and podcast sphere, and the lack of funding support to develop a progressive counterpart and alternative.

4) Immigrant Advocacy Groups Plan to Resist Trump's Mass Deportation Pledge

Dulce Guzmán, Executive Director of Alianza Americas talks about her group’s recent call for justice and unity after Donald Trump’s election victory, and nationwide preparations being made to resist Trump's campaign pledge to deport 11+ million immigrants living in the U.S.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Democrats Should Worry that Biden-Harris Gaza Policy Will Lose Votes in Must-Win Battleground States

Richard Eskow, host and managing editor of "The Zero Hour" and the lead writer for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. He recently wrote the piece "Dems Are Afraid Gaza Will Cost Them the Election. They’re Not Afraid Enough." He discusses the Biden/Harris administration's position on Israel's savage war in Gaza and how it may impact the turnout of voters Kamala Harris needs to win the battleground states essential for an electoral college victory. He'll also assess Kamala's move to the center on a host of issues during this campaign, and what progressive activists must do if she wins to advocate and agitate to support progressive policy initiatives.

2) Trump's Misogyny and Role in Eliminating Reproductive Rights Have Made Women's Votes Pivotal in Determining Presidential Election Winner

Amanda Marcotte, a senior politics writer at Salon.com, author of "Troll Nation: How The Right Became Trump-Worshipping Monsters…" and publishes the biweekly politics newsletter, Standing Room Only. She'll discuss election issues including the critical role the gender gap will play in the election outcome, and the long-term post-election damage we can expect from Trump's toxic, hateful message targeting immigrants and the trans community.

3) Disinformation Floods US Election Campaign Fueling Distrust in Government and Inciting Violence

Nora Benavidez, senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights with the media democracy group Free Press, discusses the important issues examined in Free Press' recent reports on how social media platforms have degraded or abandoned content moderation, creating an environment that could fuel the spread of dangerous disinformation before and after the November 5th election, which could lead to deepening distrust in the electoral process and violence. She'll also explore policies Free Press has researched that could be implemented to better control the spread of both misinformation and disinformation adjacent to future elections and public health crises/ pandemics.

4) Election Outcome will Decide Future of Social Security and Medicare

Alex Lawson Executive Director of Social Security Works talks about his work ahead of the election to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, with a focus on opposing Trump - GOP proposed cuts to benefits, and support for updating the Social Security COLA formula, V.P. Harris' proposal to expand Medicare to cover long-term care at home, and provide Medicare more power to negotiate lower drug prices.