***Updated below***

It’s been a hell of a finale for 2010.  This week, I’m spending my afternoons guest-hosting the Randi Rhodes Show, and having a blast.

In addition to listening back to highlights of the year gone by, I get to speak with amazing guests who reflect on what happened this year, and look into their crystal balls to try to figure out where we’re headed.

Today on the show, I’ll speak with my friend Jason Leopold, deputy managing editor of Truthout, who is one of the best investigative journalists working today.  We’ll talk about some of his big stories of the year, including his two most recent pieces, which were the first and only stories out there to identify a specific drug being used on all detainees without any medical benefit:

Controversial Drug Given to All Guantanamo Detainees Akin to ‘Pharmacologic Waterboarding’ and

Ex-Guantanamo Official Was Told Not To Discuss Policy Surrounding Antimalarial Drug Used on Detainees

Of course, Jason was ahead of the pack this year with his in-depth reporting on BP, the disaster in the Gulf, and the BP-majority owned Alyeska pipeline.

Plus, Jason published the only report debunking the myth about Abu Zubaydah, using the DOJ’s own documents; an exclusive he originally had on Wilkerson stating a majority of Gitmo detainees were innocent; and finally Jason’s investigative report on Obama failed campaign promise to do away with military commissions.

In the second hour of today’s show, I’ll talk with Digby, who’s been in the blogging game longer than most, with an outlook better than most.  We’ll get her take on the biggest, most important stories of the year.

And in hour three, Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation will weigh in on the idea of real filibuster reform in the Senate, plus her outlook on “Action, Hope, 2011“.

And I’ll keep plugging away on Help the 99ers.  Thom Hartmann gave us a nice shout-out at the top of his show today too!

***Update*** We got  a last minute addition to the guest, as Congressman Dennis Kucinich called in for the final segment of today’s show.  I put out the call to him after receiving this email:

From Dennis: My Congressional District May Be Eliminated

Dear Friend,

The New York Times, Newsweek, and Fox News have all recently headlined stories that I may lose my Congressional seat, not through an election, but through redistricting!

Due to the new census figures, Ohio will lose two seats in Congress. The Ohio Legislature (Republican) will redraw the map with 16 instead of 18 districts for the 2012 Election. Speculation nationally, and more importantly, in Ohio is that my district may be eliminated, absorbed into parts of other districts. Keep in mind, given the early Ohio primary, the filing deadline could be only a year away.

You have helped to make possible my presence in the Congress through seven terms, and carried me through some hotly contested elections. I am very grateful for your continued support. I am also very grateful to the people of Ohio’s 10th District for the privilege of serving.

Yet, in light of the strong chance that my district may be eliminated, my continued presence in Congress, to work for everything we care about, will obviously call for a much different strategy. I will not wait until a new Ohio map is produced to begin this crucial discussion of the consequences of congressional redistricting. I will not wait until the Ohio Legislature produces a new map to start thinking of the options. The question will not be: Who is my opponent? The question will be: Where is my district? Seriously.

We are going to have to prepare for a different kind of election, possibly in a different place because my district may be eliminated. We are going to have to organize in a different way, now. The question will remain: Where?

This discussion is consequential. Please participate by providing your insight and advice advice@kucinich.us
I will be in contact with you.

Facing the New Year with the usual unsinkable optimism, and wishing you the best New Year ever, I am, yours,

Dennis

He also addressed the needs of the 99ers in a way I haven’t heard from any others in elected office.  Let’s help keep Kucinich in Congress!