The Great Divide
Nicole discusses the election outcome with Howie Klein (Down With Tyranny, Blue America PAC) and Congressman Alan Grayson, who just won his third term in Congress
It’s the Economy, Stupid (and the Military Industrial Complex too)
There's no doubt that the spark that lit the fuse in Ferguson was the police shooting of Michael Brown. But you have to wonder how much anger was simmering, how much people were already hurting from decades of building racial tensions and the fact that so many of them are hurting financially. I don't often agree with Chris Matthews, but he hit the nail on the head last night The disturbing cell phone video of the other killing of a black man in Missouri by police bullets, this one on Tuesday, was released yesterday. We were told that this one [...]
Unrest and Disorder
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Last night, the peace in Ferguson, MO was once again shattered by a standoff between police and protesters. According to the police, provocateurs in the crowd fired guns and threw Molotov cocktails at the line of police. According to protesters (as well as media representatives on my show today), the aggression came from the uniformed force of power attempting to disperse the crowd. I'd call the actions of the Ferguson PD and Mayor, of the Missouri Governor and the rest of the "powers-that-be" a "comedy of errors" except there's nothing [...]
Great American Heroes
Nicole Sandler with Congressman Alan Grayson at the Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour in Ft. Lauderdale, December 2011 Our first Great American Hero today is Congressman Alan Grayson. Although he represents Florida's 9th District, he really represents us all. Even during these times of the greatest gridlock in DC, Congressman Grayson - a member of the minority party in the House - has written more legislation and had more amendments passed than any other member, for two years running. He joined me on the show this morning to talk about some of the work he's done since we last spoke. [...]
Moving Onward
Randi Rhodes broadcast her final program on Friday. I'm hoping she'll come back - but, for now, she's done. I was honored to be in the studio on her last day. Not that I was invited, mind you. I just showed up. As I told her, I just couldn't imagine sitting at home listening. So, I got her a balloon and a card and a bottle of champagne... and it was the definition of bittersweet. But move forward we must... so, on the show today, we looked to the future. Congressman Alan Grayson was on with me in the first [...]
Gone Insane!
The world has indeed gone mad. We have religious zealots going all the way to the Supreme Court, claiming their religious freedom is being violated because they're not allowed to impose their religious beliefs on their employees. We have political opponents of the president claiming he's both a wimp/pussy/weak/feckless leader and a dictator at the same time. We have a country on the verge of descending into pure fascism, and people are either too busy, too broke or too uninformed to take the action necessary to turn things around. Please vote in November. Please support progressive candidates, as they're the [...]
CPAC Madness
It's March, so time to break out the brackets. Since CPAC amazed and confused us this weekend, I thought I'd put together brackets to determine the king or queen of the conservatives. I couldn't decide if the competition should be for the craziest among them or who would be their 2016 nominee or, perhaps, if that was one and the same. Either way, have fun with the bracket. Or use it as a dartboard... This morning, RH Reality Check's Adele Stan - a survivor of many a CPAC - joined in to help me debrief this weekend's festivities. Read Addie's [...]
Gimme Some Truth
I'm sick and tired of hearing things From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth Ive had enough of reading things By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth -- John Lennon John Lennon's brilliant "Gimme Some Truth" should be required listening for all who aspire to elected office and all who purport to report the news. But because the lies come at us from every quarter and from those in position of power and authority so often, life often seems like a perpetual telling [...]
Music Can Soothe the Savage Beast
It can.. I know that music certainly helps me when I'm feeling off. After hearing about a murder trial that some misguided members of the media decided to call the "Loud Music Trial" (instead of the Jordan Davis murderer trial), I decided to turn the spotlight on how music is helping raise money for some truly progressive candidates. The Blue America PAC just wrapped up a truly special fundraiser for Congressman Alan Grayson. Grayon's favorite artist is Joni Mitchell (click through for my print interview with her from a few years back), so all who donated to his campaign through [...]
The Day We Fight Back
A coalition of activist groups, companies, and online platforms - and sites like this one - are joining forces today to fight back against the NSA's surveillance program. This day of activism was announced on the eve of the anniversary of the tragic passing of activist and technologist Aaron Swartz. The protest is both in his honor and in celebration of the victory over the Stop Online Piracy Act two years ago this month, which he helped spur. Participants including Access, Demand Progress, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fight for the Future, Free Press, BoingBoing, Reddit, Mozilla, ThoughtWorks, and more to come, will [...]