Goodbye-2014-image-and-hello-2015-photo

 

We made it to the end of 2014. As the old saying goes, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out (or something like that!). I’m certainly looking forward to a better one that the one almost over…

Today on the Rear View Review, we begin in June, as the ISIS is growing and all signs are pointing towards the US heading back to Iraq to fight them. I called on General Wesley Clark, who was a military voice of reason opposing W’s invasion of that nation. This interview was my most sadly surprising of the year. Listen to hear how the guy who ran for president based on his opposition to that war has done a complete 180….

The Supreme Court completely jumped the shark in 2014, underscoring our need to keep a Democrat in the White House, if only to prevent more justices like Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, Alito, and Kennedy from steering the future of this nation for generations to come. This year brought us horrific rulings in such cases as McCutcheon (Citizens United on Steroids), public prayer, Hobby Lobby and others.

Today, we head back to June 26 to speak with abortion clinic escort Katie Klabusick just as the SCOTUS decision on clinic buffer zones was announced. 

After those two segments, we need some positive energy!

Although I had interviewed activist Zephyr Teachout when we were on Air America, she emerged in 2014 as a force in the progressive movement, stepping up  to challenge NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, first for the Working Families Party nomination. After that failed due to a questionable deal between the WFP and NY Dems, she stepped up in a bigger way to challenge him for the Democratic Party nomination.  Although she lost, the Teachout/Wu ticket smashed all expectations, propelling Zephyr Teachout to one of the best progressives to watch moving forward.

Today, we go back to August 6, shortly after Zephyr Teachout launched her primary campaign to unseat Andrew Cuomo.

And finally, as so much of the nation – but most notably, the Gulf states – are still reeling from the effects of the massive BP/ Deepwater Horizon spill, the courts finally ruled on negligence. It won’t stop them from taking more reckless risks in the future, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.  On September 9, I spoke with Antonia Juhasz, Oil and Energy Analyst and author of three books – Black Tide: The Devastating Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill, The Tyranny of Oil: The World’s Most Powerful Industry–and What We Must Do to Stop It , and The Bush Agenda: Invading the World, One Economy at a Time about the news.

Tomorrow, for New Years Day, we’ll take a break from the news of the year and enjoy a musical interlude! In 2014, we expanded the show to include Friday mornings, finishing up each week with a musical blast from the past. For the last six months or so, I played a different interview with a musician or  band, most including performances, from my music radio days. We’ll run all of those back to back all day tomorrow on our audio stream, and return on Friday to wrap up the Rear View Review. And I’ll be back with a new live show on Monday morning.

Happy New Year, radio or not!!