News roundup, three words to describe the Vancouver Olympics closing ceremonies, the to do list, Tennessee politics are important politics, and while our U.S. Senators refuse to fight for health care security for all Tennesseans, one lone State Senator takes a stand. Plus, our interview with Bill Howell of Tennesseans for Fair Taxation. Fair fair fair fair fair. [23.34MB]

We take your calls on what the lack of meaningful health care reform means to ordinary Tennesseans, plus John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants joins us for a rollicking interview in which we learn many, many secrets about New York Politics, kid-friendly rock shows, song lyrics, the Flood album, and bathtub conversations. We finish up with Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow for media watchdog organization Media Matters for America, and his take on the media coverage of President Obama's health care summit and Freddie's comments on Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp's unchallenged assertions that mountaintop removal is "good for the environment." [24.14MB]

Make a simple hyperbolic statement and soon we're discussing discussing politics, energy sources, and the existence of God with our listeners all in the context of just what is the Best. Invention. Ever. Remo, Mary's dad, even calls in with his unique take. Plus the rich are getting richer and we call shenanigans on the guy making fun of the President for using a teleprompter while he was, you know, using a teleprompter. [20.59MB]

The discussion continues and we conclude that the Best. Invention. Ever. just might be Tennessee State Senator Andy Berke. Plus, a debrief of a trip to our nation's Capitol (and making plans for another), a listener calls in with a fantastic energy saving idea, an interview with Dr. Joseph Romm of ClimateProgress.org on why now is the time to pay attention to the science of climate change and not the weather, and Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow for media watchdog organization Media Matters for America, covers Conservative Political Action Conference. [23.7MB]

President Obama's latest weekly radio address, a recap of the most super of bowls, the year of the underdog continues...from 2008, the Tea Party seen through rose-colored glasses, our interview with Graham Perry, curator of the We Shall Not Be Moved: The 50th Anniversary of Tennessee's Civil Rights Sit-ins at the Tennessee State Museum, and the work continues for affordable health care for all.

Guess what? Jobs bills are important for the states! A couple of callers try and scold us for using the term "tea bagger" to describe the racist funny-hat-wearing xenophobes personified by Tom Tancredo at this past weekend's Tea Party Convention, and Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow for media watchdog organization, Media Matters for America brings it to the lapdog mainstream media...and Sarah Palin too.

Tea party fallout, James O'Keefe, tax-cuts, and sit-ins. Plus guests Mark Reutter for the Progressive Policy Institute, Emily Ogden of Stand for Children, and Karl Frisch of of Media Matters for America.

Tea party fallout, James O'Keefe, tax-cuts, and sit-ins. Plus guests Mark Reutter for the Progressive Policy Institute, Emily Ogden of Stand for Children, and Karl Frisch of of Media Matters for America.

President Obama's latest weekly radio address, current news, and the to do list (including details of our 2010 State of the Union Watch Party). Plus, WRVU loses 15-year veteran Doyle Davis when he decides he can no longer "bring da funk," Air America has gone dark (but not for the reasons you think), our callers think that liberals in Tennessee should just come out already, and Liberadio(!) senior Massachusetts News Correspondent, Julie Bruno, reports from the ground - just what happened to the Coakley campaign and who is this Scott Brown dude?

This hour we're joined by Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen, who gives us the 4-1-1 on the latest Supreme Court decision to affect campaign financing, as well as Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow for media watchdog organization, Media Matters for America. Plus, the Top 10 Progressive Victories of the Obama administration (a.k.a. he brought the change and we can believe in it), Tennessee is - in reality - a nice shade of purpley blue, and public transit fans, rejoice! - the Obama administration announced this week that it is loosening the criteria for using federal funds to finance light rail, bus routes, and other public transit projects.

Featuring Marisa Richmond of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, Joel Berg of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, and Renée Victoria Hoyos of of the Tennessee Clean Water Network.

Featuring Marisa Richmond of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, Joel Berg of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, and Renée Victoria Hoyos of of the Tennessee Clean Water Network.

Current news, to do list, the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce responds to the Salvation Army's Angel Tree policy, and an interview with Hugh Schlesinger and Skye Bacus, Ex-Music Directors for WRVU. [23.71MB]

A bit about the CARD Act and Lilly Ledbetter; Dave Thomas (in Christmas camo!), president of the Nashville chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, finally settles the question of whether or not we are a Christian nation; your holiday phone calls and a special appearance by Dr. Marisa Richmond of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition who explains Rep. Jimmy Matlock's (R-Lenoir City) participation in this year's war on Hannukah. [26.30MB]

Current news, to do, interviews with Matt Collins, Ex-Vice Chair of the Davidson County Republican Party and Tyler Slocum, Director of Energy Program for Public Citizen, and it's time to get on the phone again. [26.43MB]

Joe Leiberman gets a little air time, Vanessa Beasley and Kevin Leander, faculty board members for Vanderbilt Student Communications, join us to discuss the board's decision to cap the number of WRVU community DJs at 25, and Karl Frisch smacks down Glen Beck during the Media Matters for America Smackdown. [23.4MB]

News, to do, and why all the good people down in Tennessee need to start paying attention to state politics. [24.56MB]

Why health care reform matters (we're talking to you Limbaugh), we get on a motherf**king boat with Betsy Phillips, also known as Aunt B. of Tiny Cat Pants and Pith in the Wind (two blogs that most definitely DO pay attention to state politics), and the Media Matters for America Smackdown with Karl Frisch. [23.89MB]

A quick run down of the news of the week and then we feature representatives from the two organizations we are adopting this holiday season. Listen to our interviews with Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House and Thistle Farms, and J.C. Smith, Outreach and Alumni Program Coordinator for Operation Stand Down Nashville. [20.3MB]

A quick run down of the Senate health care debate. Plus, Elbert Ventura is back! And he's packing a new website for pragmatic progressives. And Elbert's replacement, Karl Frisch of Media Matters, issues the smack down on this week's conservative obstructionist redonkulousness. (He is a very busy man.) And just whose interests are Republican legislators looking out for as they stand in the way of meaningful health insurance reform? [21.3MB]

The intro, the end of the world on celluloid, recounts possibilities (or impossibilities), Republican hypocrisy in Sumner County, plus the Media Matters for American Smackdown with Karl Frisch, in which he packs a whole lot of Sarah Palin in a short time. [38.3MB]

A really big "oopsie" followed by a whole lotta backpedaling by Tennessee's U.S. Senators Alexander and Corker, political performance art by Palin and her friends insults truth, justice and the American way, more health insurances woes keep us from the American dream, and our interview with Judy Norsigian, a hero of the women’s movement. [36MB]

Nevermind the boy not in the balloon, there's real news afoot. Ty Cobb 2.0, a healthcare reform package out of committee in the Senate, Senator Al Franken gets his first amendment passed by a roll call vote no thanks to Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Senator Bob Corker who would rather let corporate plunderers off the hook for rape, Tennesseans deserve fair and accurate elections, and an interview with immigration law attorney Elliott Ozment, who covers the controversial 287g program up for reauth in the Metro Council, why he used to serve on the Sheriff's Immigration Advisory Council for the program but doesn't anymore, the basic civil and human rights inherent in the immigration debate, Juana Villegas, and what he thinks would be a good solution to crime prevention in Nashville's undocumented immigrant population. [21.3MB]

We hear from you, our listeners, as well as another immigration attorney, Sean Lewis, about immigration matters, and conclude that we are not looking at immigration reform as comprehensively as we need to. And we talk to Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, the man behind the controversial 287g program, to get his take on why the program is important, how it does or doesn't work, accusations of racial profiling, and why it's coming before the Metro Council once again. Plus, it's an abbreviated version of the Media Matters for American Smackdown with Karl Frisch, in which he packs a whole lot of funny in a short time. [24MB]

A rundown of Walk Nashville Week, kissing up to Capitalism, a rundown of the lawsuit to compel the Secretary of State to give Tennesseans secure and verifiable elections, an update on climate change legislation straight from D.C. from Chris Ford of Tennessee Conservation Voters, and your phone calls about how the war on Christianity starts earlier and earlier every year. [24.21MB]

An interview with Not-Secretary of State Tre Hargett in which we ask him many of the questions about secure and verifiable elections we want to ask the real Secretary of State if he would ever agree to appear on the show; an interview with the real visual artist Wayne White, who brings his new book of his artwork “Maybe Now I’ll Get the Respect I So Richly Deserve,” to the Southern Festival of Books this weekend; and the Media Matters for American Smackdown with Karl Frisch. [18.2MB]

Mary prepares to unleash (ha!) the congressman Barney Frank on Halloween households all across America and if you think that's scary, what until you hear what Republican State Senator Ron Ramsey wants to do to fair elections in Tennessee. Plus, Mary and Freddie try to understand just what, exactly, Ben Trippett and Accountability Now PAC have uncovered about Coop. [22.62MB]

Reginald Coopwood, M.D., CEO of the Nashville Hospital Authority tells us about their health facilities, the best-kept secret in Nashville, and Karl Frisch does his best Elbert Ventura impression in the next generation of the Media Matters for America Smackdown. Plus, President Obama's foreign policy has all but isolated Iran from the world community. So why is the right-wing still calling him a surrender monkey? [22.62MB]

A brief history of Labor Day, advice from Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, and stories of labor from our listeners and Freddie’s Moms. And Peter Cunningham, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Communications and Outreach at the Department of Education, joins us to discuss the real meaning behind President Obama's Back to School address to the kids. Hint: It's about personal responsibility and staying in school. Plus, why our public school kids need a boost and why it's important to not just roll your eyes at irresponsible broadcasters, but to hold them accountable. [24MB]

Will the Republican leadership - not to mention elected officials - continue to allow radical cable news and talk radio hosts to control their party? If not, then where is the push back against the mounds of inflammatory misinformation foisted upon the American people in their name? And why are some leaders actually joining in the fray? Chuck Grassley promoting Glen Beck’s book? Really? Plus, what the President has to say about health security for all when he addresses the joint session of Congress on Wednesday and all we are saying is the "give'em enough rope" theory is back! [24MB]

The "to do" list of upcoming healthcare rallies, excerpts from President Clinton's Jackson Day speech, recap of Thirdrailcost.com symposium, why we need health security for all, the Little League World Series (USA!), a phone call from the world famous Dave Cloud, and the mainstream news media gets distracted by bright, shiny objects. [24MB]

Freddie shares his story about his current search for health security, we interview Reesa Webb, project director for John Snow, Inc. (the company contracted to assess the current delivery of health care to the medically underserved and indigent population in Nashville), "The Cause of My Life," by Teddy Kennedy, your phone calls, and the discussion continues on why we need health security for all continues: choice, affordability, efficiency, accountability, and investment in our people. [21MB]

The "to do" list (Tennessee town halls with Davis, Gordon, Tanner), an O’Connell Factor on why our system of healthcare is a nearly guaranteed system of oppression for unhealthy Americans, where are the Christians on healthcare reform, your calls (including a shout-out to Governor Bredesen's Cover TN), and tales (tails?) of Barney Frank.

More of your calls, emails and stories about healthcare and healthcare reform, including the expertise of registered nurse and healthcare reform activist Michael Chapman. Plus, the insurance companies are spending a lot of dollars on opposition to reform and Media Matters research fellow Elbert Ventura tells us that it really, really, really, really, really matters that our mainstream media chooses to report on controversy instead of what really matters - public policy.

News tidbits, to do list, the manipulation of the healthcare debate, and a Republican sex scandal right here in Tennessee! Plus, a note to our newspaper peeps like Andy Scher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press: you can stop referring to Republican legislators as "family-values conservatives" now. We all believe in family values until, you know, we don’t. [40.94MB]

Molly Secours is a writer, speaker, and filmmaker based in Nashville. In 2007, her world changed when she was diagnosed with cancer. She had healthcare but she still found herself in quite a pickle. She joins us to talk about her experience, which recently led to her story being shared in a press conference with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. [48.34MB]

Jim is a Nashville native who graduated from Peabody College in 1966, started his journalism career at the Tennessean and went on the become editor of the Chicago Tribune, the media adviser to 1992 presidential candidate, Ross Perot, an author, and a Thoroughbred Horse breeder. His 1996 book "Secrets of the Hopewell Box: Stolen Elections, Southern Politics, and a City’s Coming of Age" is a must-read for anyone learning about Tennessee politics. Also for anyone who wants to weigh in on the paper ballot debate. You won’t believe which side he’s on! His latest book, "Headless Horsemen: A Tale of Chemical Colts, Subprime Sales Agents, and the Last Kentucky Derby on Steroids," is now on sale.[45MB]

Media Matters research fellow Elbert Ventura discusses Lou Dobbs's crusade to legitimize the birthers and surprises us all with news about Ann Coulter: "You know it’s bad when Ann Coulter backs away from the birthers." And Mary's dad, Remo, calls in from his home in Nevada to give us an update on Senator John Ensign. He's still in office but now he's telling the press what they can and can't write! [23.76MB]

While Mary waits not so patiently for the end of the show, Freddie drops the news tidbits - Judge Sonya Sotomayor, Massachusetts' big gay agenda, John Ensign's extra-curricular Christian activities, and Vice President Dick Cheney's own private CIA. [17.28MB]

Stacy is the executive director of the Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing (TCASK.org). She tells us the story of the release of death row inmate, Paul House, one of the most underreported news items in Tennessee. [25.5MB]

Tennessee Democratic Party chairman Chip Forrester joins us to talk about his call for the General Assembly to fire Secretary of State Tre Hargett. After Chip leaves the studio, we continue to discuss Mr. Hargett and his decision to give one state legislator a medal for disenfranchising Tennesseans. No, really. [27MB]

Media Matters research fellow Elbert Ventura talks to us about how the news that our President checked out some girl's a** bumped the Republican sex scandals from the top story of the day and how even though the bogus story originated from the slimiest source of all - The Drudge Report - it made its way to them mainstream media without any verification. Then, if you think your phone is being tapped then it probably is. And Mary's dad Remo calls in from his home in Nevada to give us an update on his Senator, John Ensign. Will he or won't he resign? [23.76MB]

Freddie may be joking, but Sarah Palin isn’t. We get right into the current news droppings, both national and local, then onto the to-do list. [17.11MB]

Once upon a time, Freddie was on the Al Franken Show and and had a brush with greatness. But did he quit? No! Not like Sarah Palin who is a big quitter. [20.33MB]

Mike Jameson joins us as we continue our discussions on zoning and development in Nashville including the Convention Center, the Downtown Plan, and the May Town Center. [29MB]

We play a few interesting clips of Almost-One-Term-Governor Sarah Palin explaining herself…kinda sorta. [15MB]

After a 20-year career as a corporate public relations executive, Wendell Potter left his job last year at CIGNA to try his hand at helping socially responsible organizations - including those advocating for meaningful health care reform - achieve their goals. He's blowin' the whistle and you gotta hear it. [22.6MB]

We take your calls on your experiences with healthcare in America. Its getting so bad that other countries wouldn’t want to deal with our system if they had it. We also talk about the surprising differences between healthcare in England/Cananda and France/Netherlands. We end the show with a little more Palin talk, and we'll see you next week. [39.59MB]

John Spragens, soon to be ex-communications director for Coop! calls us early in the show and updates us on what went on in Washington with Healthcare reform and Congressman Jim Cooper. Wait…ex? [31MB]

The councilman joins us to talk about the exciting world of zoning (no really, its interesting!) and the Bells Bend redevelopment plan - also know as May Town Center. We learn about the origins of the plan, where it is now, and if it ever go away. [25MB]

After a brief remembrance of some recently passed celebrities, it's time to highlight the complex dynamics of the extramarital affairs of our elected officials. [11.3MB download mp3]

MMFA research fellow Elbert Ventura returns to tell us all the shenanigans swirling around the healthcare and energy policy legislations. [18MB]

Toni Cani of SEIU's Change That Works campaign and RN Michael Chapman have returned from a trip to Washington, where they met with the staff of the Tennessee congressional delegation on the subject of healthcare. Toni Cani talks about the efforts to keep "public option" in the foreground of the discussions and Michael Chapman lets us in on the harsh realism of our present healthcare system. The stories will curl your hair. Later we take your calls about your own healthcare concerns and experiences. [54MB]

An end of this year's legislative session wrap-up and our listener's help answer the question, "How do you think it went?" Plus, we continue the discussion of the Iranian election, the to-do list, and how social media is not only changing media in America, but also across the world. And the Bill Maher Ticket Giveaway is Back! We doubt Senator Diane Black's staffer will be calling in to win. [76.16MB]

The senator from Memphis gives us an insider's view of this year's legislative session including what it took to pass the budget this year and why Republicans ran away from their version of the budget almost immediately after introducing it. We end the interview with his answers to our "free association" quiz and our signature, "I probably shouldn’t be telling you this but…" question. [24.2MB]

We give away our last two tickets to the Bill Maher show at The Ryman Auditorium on June 27th. Congratulations to all our winners! [5.25MB]

Dr. Peter Phillips joins us to talk about Project Censored, a media democracy project which has been highlighting the 25 most important stories ignored by the mainstream media through an annual publication and website (the most underreported story of 2009 according to the project has been the violent deaths of over one million Iraqis since the beginning of the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq). Dr. Phillips' lecture will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1808 Woodmont Avenue, Nashville, this Friday, June 26th at 7:30pm. A Q&A will immediately follow. Admission is free. [33.46MB]

Stated as fact was that there are 37 (or so) other states that have a law similar to the one just passed in Tennessee. Turns out - funny stuff - it's a big lie. [11MB]

Welcome Back! Intro, news items, and announcing the Bill Maher ticket listener giveaway. Updates on the Iranian presidential election and Ahmadinejad, as well as a quick opening discussion about voting and the paper ballot issue. [23.25MB]

We are joined by Tennessee House Democratic Caucus chair, Mike Turner (D-Old Hickory, the Fightin' 51st!). Hear the interview that has the whole town talking about *gasp* public education reform! Just what did Chairman Turner mean when he said, "We do have a problem with public schools. They were not performing adequately. The problem that we created was because of the political correctness we did in the Sixties. We started busing and closing neighborhood schools." And did he really "accuse Senate Republicans of killing babies with their budget cuts?" [38MB]

Interview with Peter Cunningham, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Communications and Outreach at the US. Department of Education. Cunningham talks about President Obama's education goals for the country as well as the ways in which they plan to accomplish them. He addresses the pro's and con's of No Child Left Behind and the case for charter schools. [40.26MB]

We give away two tickets to the Bill Maher show at The Ryman Auditorium June 27th. Then a discussion with our listeners about the extent of the influence of the Mass Media - if Rush can turn out people to the polls, why can't he motivate the haters? [51.48MB]

Intro, news items, and a to do list that includes one item: help stop the delay of the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act. Plus a recap of the Tennessee Democratic Party summit, Arlen Spector jumps off a sinking ship, Sarah Palin's hypocrisy, and food that speaks. [58.5MB 36:32]

Doris Kearns Goodwin is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of, among other works, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. On Thursday, May 7th, she will receive the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal from Vanderbilt University, where she will also give the Senior Day address. After she gives us a preview of her speech, we talk about her son's service to our country, baseball, her appearances on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, war, andher advice for budding historians in the Information Age. [20.3 MB 17:41]

Hedy joins us to run down the important work the ACLU is doing to fight back against the legislation that threatens the reproductive health of women in Tennessee, immigrants, and members of the GLBT community. She also tells us about the hope they have to pass Rep. Jeanne Richardson's (D-Memphis, the Fightin' 89th!) bill to add gender identity to Tennessee's Hate Crimes Law. [9.4MB 08:12]

Media Matter Research Fellow Elbert Ventura joins us to explain how certain conservative media personalities are baselessly blaming Mexican immigrants for spreading swine flu across the border. [9.4MB 08:12]

Intro, news items, to do list. [32.8 MB 20:27]

Brian is a founding board member of Transit Now Nashville, which is working to raise awareness of the benefits of regional mass transit options for the people living in the Nashville area. [19.8 MB 17:15]

Don’t say gay, bullying, and the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act. [21.1 MB 20:11]

Sean Flaherty works as a researcher and writes articles on electronic voting issues for the Verified Voting Foundation and VerifiedVoting.org. Why are paper ballots important, why paperless electronic voting machines suck, and if Tennesseans of all political leanings want to be assured that their votes have counted, what is the best thing we can do. [19.4MB 16:58]

Ben Smith is the Senior Political Writer for Politico, a political journalism organization based in Washington, D.C. for which he has an online running conversation about politics. When he decided to vacation in Nashville he didn’t know about the threat of tornados nor did he know that we bug him for an interview. [14.7MB 12:49]

The recent Iowa Supreme Court decision on gay marriage, an update on checks and balances, and Dobson’s services are no longer needed. [12.9MB 11:15]

Intro, news items, to do list, and the ballad of Bill Freeman. [19.08 MB 16:40]

An Earth Hour recap including the VIP party that sorta forgot it was Earth Hour. [8.25 MB 07:12]

Rep Sontany represents the fightin' 53rd district in the Tennessee state house of representatives. She tells us about her district, her work as a "Humane Legislator" working on and passing a number of animal protection and animal cruelty bills, gun legislation, and the mood on the hill. [31.6 MB 27:35]

Losing candidate David Glasgow issues a statement that highlights on what he thinks the remaining candidates should focus. [11.1MB 09:43]

Matthew Duss is a Research Associate the Center for American Progress with a background in Middle East Studies and he joins us to talk about President Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan policy as well as the U.S. bombings inside Pakistan, monetary aid funneled into the country, nation building, and how we can best keep up with our foreign policy. [17.6MB 15:20]

The mainstream media - following Drudge's lead, of course - thinks our new president is "boring" and "professorial." Awww...what's the matter? You don't want to have a beer with him? [12.33MB 17:50]

We discuss with our listeners the power the "paranoid stylists" - Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly - have on the mainstream Republican Party, the "evil" Americorp, and of what we should really be afraid. [17.82MB 17:14]

Intro and some news items - dumping slurry, buying debt, and gutting voter confidence. [5.6 MB 4:53]

Joining us as the first of all four Metro Council District 18 candidates is Kristine LaLonde. Kristine is a Belmont-Hillsboro resident and director of the leadership studies program for Honors students at Belmont University. She tells us why she's running, what District 18 means to her, and what would happen if she were elected and a zoning issue involving her employer - Belmont University - came before the council. Plus, what is the secret that her Mom threatened to tell the press? [14.8 MB 12:56]

Stephenie is a candidate for Metro Council District 18, the Director for Percy Priest Extended Day Program (PPEDP) at Percy Priest Elementary School, and a 25-year resident of the Hillsboro-West End neighborhood. She has also served on the board of the Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Association for the past nine years. She tells us why she's running, what the endorsement of the Nashville Neighborhood Defense Fund means, and why she didn't fill out the survey from Nashville's premier GLBT news source, Out & About Newspaper. And although she has "secrets," she's not spilling the beans. [15 MB 13:03]

Candidate for Metro Council District 18, John Ray is also a lawyer who, among other things, worked as a legislative aide for Congressman Bob Clement, a research assistant for George Stephanopoulos, and the Political Director for the Tennessee Democratic Party. He tells us why he's running, if - after having worked for the campaign of the mayor's runoff opponent - he'll have any difficulty working with Mayor Dean, and what qualifies him - as the District's most recent resident - to run. We also ask him to do some singin' in the stormwater and weigh in on whether or not the version of the bill that passed the Council was fair and equitable. [15.3MB 13:19]

David Glasgow, also a candidate for Metro Council District 18, is a lawyer who currently works as the communications director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development office in Nashville. We ask him why he wants to serve the Fightin' 18th! and what makes him uniquely qualified to do so. Plus, we see if our "Repubdar" goes off when he tells us, in light of the recent revelation that he voted in a Republican primary or two, if partisanship is relevant to the way he'll represent his constituents and when answers the question, "Who did you vote for in November of 2008?" [15.3MB 13:20]

Lee is the Director of Conservation and Science Communications at World Wildlife Fund. He works on strategic communication plans for WWF's priority places, threats and issues. He's based in D.C. but came to Nashville to talk to us about Earth Hour. [15:16MB 17:50]

Media Matters research fellow Elbert Ventura joins us to talk about the creepiness that is Glenn Beck. [19.7MB 17:14]

In what is perhaps the most disgustingly anti-American, anti-democratic, and politically cynical maneuver ever, the same Tennessee legislators - Republicans all - who voted for the Voter Confidence Act last year now want to gut it. [11.9MB 10:26]

News, to do list, is this Daylight Savings Time thingy working for us or against us, Councilman Mike Jameson calls a meeting about Riverfront development, and Councilman Jason Holleman's storm water amendment. [37.3 MB 23:13]

Joining us is Hal cato, president and CEO of Oasis Center, to tell us about their new digs at the Youth Opportunity Center - where Oasis and their partner organizations have banded together to serve young Middle-Tennesseans facing real challenges. Health care, job assistance, counseling, education support, emergency residential services, college counseling, youth leadership opportunities, and even a youth-run business are just some of what they offer all under one roof. [20 MB 12:30]

The more you know the more you are able to make informed decisions based on your values. So it's surprising that Rep. Stacey Campfield, "Rep. Daddy," for the sake of this segment, introduced his "Don't Say Gay" bill which would "prohibit the teaching of or furnishing of materials on human sexuality other than heterosexuality in public school grades K-8." With this legislation, Rep. Daddy once again introduces an unnecessary bill and makes it clear that if he had kids and they went to public school, all further discussion of important issues would stop once they got home. [14.7 MB 09:10]

Peter Canellos is Washington bureau chief of The Boston Globe and editor of Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy, the newly published biography of Ted Kennedy by the team at the Globe. It's all in there - his brothers and the Kennedy mystique, Chappaquiddick, universal health care, his political legacy, and the relationship between Kennedy and President Obama. Plus, we get his thoughts on the state of journalism in the digital era and a down economy. [26.4MB 16:29]

Who tries to spread the lie that President Obama promised during his campaign to stop earmark spending and is breaking that promise by signing the spending bill currently being considered in the Senate. We miss Elbert but we don't need him for a smackdown. [8.8MB 5:31]

So some legislators take the easy way out by making complex issues appear in stark black and white so they can present them cynically to their constituents. Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) went on national TV and did it with the issue of Universal healthcare (we replay the audio), and Rep. Debra Maggart did it with an abortion bill (which is why we're once again having a difficult conversation about abortion). [25:13MB 40:04]

News, to do list, and Lydia Lenker. [15.2 MB 13:14]

Rep. Karen Camper has the Thatchers to take the fight for control of our reproductive health to the mat. If Republicans truly want the government out of the lives of ordinary people then they will pay attention to HJR132. Snip, snip! And a Republican caller finishes the sentence, "I probably shouldn't be telling you this but..." [19.6 MB 17:07]

Francie is the organizer for the Nashville chapter of Stand for Children, which is pushing for an innovative teacher quality program. She tells us what Stand does, what the program entails, and why its so important the our goal of turning public schools into palaces. [20.2 MB 17:37]

Wait. That didn't come out right. A listener has an interesting take on empathy which leads to a interesting discussion on who is responsible for giving a hand up to the least among us. Plus, Mary experienced a severe lack of the big "E" when she went down to the TNGOP sponsored "Tea Party" rally at the State Capitol, and the rally itself may not have been as spontaneous as some would like us to believe. [10.7MB 09:22]

Tim is the campaign director of Free Press, a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. He helps us take on the Fairness Doctrine (and identify who is really behind manipulating the issue) and tells us what we can expect from the FCC now that there's a Democrat in charge. [17.2MB 14:59]

The one where Elbert Ventura, research fellow at Media Matters for America, quizzes us on CPAC, reviles the revisionist Republicans and their Right-washing of history, and giggles about Andrew Breitbart's myopic take on talk radio, and dreams of a sitcom starring Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken. [14.7MB 12:51]

Conversations about big, important issues - like the ones we're having about the economic stimulus, empathy, and giving people a hand up - are hard. And, unfortunately, it's the most cynical of us that prey on their fellow Americans in times of crisis and use these conversations to divide the country and shore up their base. Plus, keep an eye on those Photo ID bills flying through the General Assembly. [25.6MB 16:00]

Oscar recap, Liberadio(!) dance party, to do List, a preview of Tuesday night's State of the Union that isn't a State of the Union, and take it from one commie, homo-lovin', son-of-gun to another, Sean Penn's acceptance speech will not move the dialogue on marriage equality in a good direction. [29.3 MB 18:16]

Alan represents District 9 on the Metro Nashville Public School Board of Education. Generally, we ask him why our public schools aren't yet palaces. More specifically, we ask about school choice, expanded options, the most recent (and controversial) student assignment plan, the new Director of Schools, tension within the system and pressure from outside sources, and what we can do to engage in the process of constantly improving our public schools. [39.8 MB 24:48]

Do you mean to tell us that Tennessee's General Assembly is completely in the hands of Republicans for the first time since Reconstruction and they have nothing better to do than introduce legislation that infringes on the reproductive rights of women? Is that what Tennesseans voted for? Or did we want something to be done about our bottom-of-the-barrel health statistics? And if reducing the number of abortions is really a goal instead of political calculus, we all know there is a smarter way to go about it than their dog-and-pony show constitutional amendments. Let's start by figuring out why we're 20th in family planning public funding but 40th in births to teen mothers (ages 15-19). Seriously, do we need to have Sarah Palin come and talk to you people? [21 MB 13:05]

Dr. Boushey doesn't have a beard but she is a high-profile economist, which can only mean one thing - she's a good-looking woman with a keen sense of history! She's also a senior economist for Center for American Progress and she joins us to assess what it would mean for a red state like Tennessee to reject the economic stimulus cash, what Americans can expect from this bill, President Obama's policy package designed to address America's mortgage and foreclosure crisis, what's expected in the budget, the coming $1 trillion deficit, and what the average American should do in this time of economic woe. [23.4MB 14:35]

What does a U.S. Senator have in common with "The Rep" from Knoxville, Tennessee and Rep. Mike Turner's BFF, Rep. Glen "Hollywood" Casada? Their ideas are so old and useless (Tax cuts? Really?) that all they have left is to demand that each one personally verify the authenticity of President Barack Obama's birth certificate. And no, it doesn't matter that it's been verified and authenticated by several sources already - they'll wait their turn. Plus, a delightfully cynical and myopic listener joins us to say that while she hates "both Democrats and Republicans" equally, we're really pissing her off. [46MB 28:41]

It's Presidents day and as always, there's a song in our hearts - and on Mary's lips. Plus, the economic stimulus plan passes both the House and the Senate despite Joe Scarborough, all the other nattering nabobs of negativity, and a whole mess of rigid Republicans. [38.1 MB 23:48]

Walter is an accomplished attorney, an alumnus of Fisk University and Vanderbilt School of Law, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Nashville Branch of the NAACP. He has had a long history with the local chapter and so he answers some questions - Does the election of President Obama end the need for affirmative action in America? What is the NAACP's involvement in the civil rights complaint filed in Tennessee recently with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights? - and tells us some stories. [47.8 MB 29:50]

A conservative caller has a problem with - wait for it - President Barack Obama's power grab. [17.5 MB 10:56]

Tennessee Equality Project president Chris Sanders somehow knows that the way into our hearts is through our stomachs, so we gladly accept his gift of cheese danish. But he didn't come all the way to the studio just to feed us, he came to tell us about the TNEP's Advancing Equality Day on the Hill (when he and other members of the GLBT community and their supporters across the state come to Nashville to visit with their elected officials), his secret Big Gay Agenda, and whether or not he's afraid he'll catch teh straight from Rep. Campfield. [24.8MB 15:27]

Sooner or later we had to address the birth certificate issue and what better week than when four - count'em 4! - Tennessee state legislators sign onto a yet-to-be-filed lawsuit to force President Barack Obama to release his birth certificate. Then, we further debunk the already-debunked assertion that he will also be telling your when and where to make the incision for your emergency appendectomy. [30MB 18:43]

This week's Liberadio(!) "To Do" list is supplemented by the Liberadio(!) "I Do" list. Don't miss your chance to get hitched by John Arriola and the romantic County Clerk staff! Plus, one state Representative was for free and fair elections before he was against them, and a caller, who apparently just woke up out of an 8-year coma, accuses "liberals" of ignoring history. [36.9 MB 23:00]

Chip. The Chipster. Chipinator. He's the newly minted chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party and he's answering our questions about fundraising, reaching out to the old bulls, encouraging the grass roots, the 95-county strategy, welcoming new ideas, staffing decisions, the income tax, feeding the trolls, expanding the base, technology, and "I probably shouldn't be telling you this but...." [37.3 MB 23:15]

And never the 'twain shall meet - unless Senator Stanley's adoption bill passes (SB0078), in which case he goes to heaven while Tennessee's parentless children languish. Plus, more comments on blog commentors and the world famous Dave Cloud is back to assure us that he's not the Marquis de Sade. [44.8 MB 27:57]

Councilman Eric Crafton has some explaining to do - have all his fundraising sources been disclosed? - and some realizations to come to - dude, you have a constituency, you know. Plus, should public policy be guided by religious faith and what the hell is a small d democrant? [46.7MB 29:07]

Show intro, Super Bowl Sunday, news and to do list. [37.3 MB 23:16]

Congressman Cooper (TN, D-The Fightin' 5th!)) answers questions about fiscal responsibility, his recent NO vote on the economic stimulus plan, the TVA, Change-Congress.org, and FISA. [49.3 MB 30:45]

We agree with Barney Frank - why has fiscal responsibility all of a sudden become an issue with our conservative friends? Plus, the world famous Dave Cloud asks us a very interesting question. [14.7 MB 9:09]

Eleanor Smeal is the President of the Feminist Majority Foundation, which is dedicated to women's equality, reproductive health, and non-violence, and the publisher of Ms. Magazine. We talk to her about the Global Gag Rule - how it has affected women's health around the world and what will happen now that President Obama signed an executive order reversing it. Plus, the United Nations Population Fund, the anti-choice movement, Sarah Palin, and the Family Planning Provisions in the Stimulus Bill. [20MB 12:30]

A new bill (SB0078) introduced into the Tennessee General Assembly by Senator Paul Stanley, wants to make it impossible for unmarried co-habitants (*wink, wink*) to adopt children. Yeah, like the guy from KISS should be judging anybody. [14.3MB 8:54]

Media Matters for America research fellow Elbert Ventura takes on the Republican Leadership - Rush Limbaugh. [21.7MB 13:31]

A caller wants to know when right-wing talk radio will go away. Plus, an appropriate clip from The Daily Show. [6.9MB 4:18]

MLK, Jr. day of service? Check. Inauguration of a Democratic President? Check. English Only defeated? Check. New TNDP chair elected? Check. Alright, we're done here! Turn out the lights and the last one out lock the door! Oh wait...it seems that Freddie wants to do something about education. And we were SO CLOSE to margaritas and a beach. [41.8 MB 26:05]

Rep. Turner (D-The Fightin' 51st!) was recently elected Democratic House Caucus chair. Despite facing many obstacles - sexual harassment charges against the Republican Speaker he helped elect, a vengeful majority leader, rabid State Republican Party operatives, a potentially fractured State Democratic Party, candidate recruitment, a looming and potentially disastrous redistricting scenario, and a Governor's race that's already starting to heat up - Mr. Turner assures us that the House Dems are more united then ever and are ready to move forward with the people's business. Now, if we can only keep him from commenting on the blogs. Oh, and Rep. Campfield's girlfriend? Call me! [39.1 MB 24:22]

A Birdseye View from the Vote for TNDP Chair. We've heard the stories of all the political arm-twisting surrounding the election of the TNDP chair over the weekend, but what did it look like on the ground? [18.9 MB 11:48]

Clay is the founding managing editor of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas and the author of the fascinating new book, A Nation on Fire: America in the Wake of the King Assassination. The book studies in detail the week following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and discusses both the immediate and long-range impact of the events, including a persuasive argument that those events were the catalyst for the urban decay that followed in many of America's large cities. [40.4MB 25:11]

Media Matters research fellow Elbert Ventura thought he was done too but then he realized that although the administration has changed, the media has most definitely not. So, it's back to airing out the misrepresentations - he does the lies about President Obama's economic stimulus plan and we squeeze in the lies about closing Guantanamo Bay. [26.2MB 25:11]

It truly is The Best Week Ever! and not only because our BackwardsBush.com Countdown keychain is almost obsolete. All the hope, friendly good-fellowship, giving, celebration, and participatory democracy in the air is making us woozy - but totally in a good way! Visit USAservice.org, pic2009.com, NashvilleForAllofUs.org, VolunteerNashville.com, thenashvillefreepress.com, and Nashville.gov/vote. [18.6 MB 11:36]

Rev. Fuzz is the Senior Pastor of the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church and one of the chairs of The Music City USA President's Inauguration Day Charity Ball-the first ever in Nashville-which will be held Tuesday night, 1/20, at 7 pm, at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. (Tickets still available at volunteernashville.com). Rev. Fuzz has plans not just tomorrow night but for our future as well and he joins a growing list of impressive Nashvillians who will help lead us out of the past. [21.6 MB 13:28]

Stephen is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and has some very enlightening thoughts on the immigrant community in Nashville and the effects the English Only referendum will have on all of us. If you're not sure how to vote, we're positive that Stephen's measured and well-thought out ideas will help you decide. [37.5 MB 23:25]

We've devoted a lot of air time to the vote against the English Only referendum and we're not going to stop now with only three days before the election. Learn why Councilman Eric Crafton made the New York Times print a retraction, why he bailed on a locally televised TV debate against David Briley, and why he's hiding the referendum's funding source (hint: it's because they're not based in Nashville and have serious credibility problems). Seriously, it's enough to put a serious damper on The Best Week Ever! [28.2MB 17:37]

The Oscar Madison of Tennessee political reporting (not sure if he's messy, lives with a man, or likes sports - but he does wear a baseball cap!) joins us to give us the play by play of last week's opening day shenanigans in the General Assembly. Is newly minted Speaker of the House Kent Williams really the devil? Will he stay a Republican? What happened while House Republicans prematurely celebrated their victory? And what about those pesky constitutional officers? [36.6MB 22:50]

More fun with Ken and one last plea to get out and vote Against/Against on Thursday, January 22. Do it to honor the memory of Dr. King, to celebrate the inauguration of Hope and Change, and to ensure that when we wake up on Friday, this really was The Best Week Ever! [23.5MB 14:41]

Oh when oh when will it end? When you get out and vote against/against! [6 MB 03:48]

Tom is the Managing Director of Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel, on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, and a founding member of Nashville's Coalition For Education About Immigration. He knows real immigration reform and what's good for business and Councilman Eric Crafton's English Only referendum is neither. [40.2 MB 25:04]

Our listeners weigh in on English Only and help us, with apologies to CuteOverload.com, urge everyone to get out and vote vote like a baby stoat. And then tell your friends to do the same. [45.7 MB 28:33]

In this interview, bearded economist Dr. Rosnick of the Center for Economic and Policy Research does just what his organization promises, he presents the economic crisis, President-Elect Obama's stimulus package, and the bailout in a progressive, accurate and understandable manner. And it's always nice to hear an economist giggle. [25MB 15.34]

We're told that we're anti-English if we're against English Only, which is both not true and kinda funny because we're all, you know, speaking English. What's not funny is Steve Gill and his Nashville Last crowd who will vote for the English Only referendum despite the documented negative impact it will have on the city. Plus, the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes with some Republican-led turmoil (shades of things to come?), President Bush personally authorized torture, and don't just listen to what President-elect Obama says, watch what he does. [46.5MB 29:00]

Chip Saltsman is running for chairman of the RNC, the "party of personal responsibility," while blaming everyone else for his little Christmas CD indiscretion. We hope he wins with his more of the same communications tactics since they worked so well this election. Plus, Mayor Dean gets his Against/Against on. (50.3MB 31:21)

The Marketing and Communications Project Manager for the National Endowment for Financial Education helps us navigate through one of the most popular of New Year's resolutions - getting your financial house in order. (23.6MB 14:43)

The U.S. Senate shenanigans are heating up as winners get announced and threats of barring the door of the chamber fly. We practice for when Al Franken becomes a Senator, wonder what Howard Dean will do next, and reminisce about a trip to Memphis. (19.2 MB 11:58)

Councilwoman Barry sheds some light on how Councilman Eric Crafton's English Only amendment would negatively affect the governing of the city of Nashville. It's not pretty. (38.3 MB 23:52)

Applying the multiple nights of one holiday to another may seem like a good idea, but since the news won't stop - coal ash, Mayor Dean, and Bill Frist etc. - I guess the Liberadio(!) holiday party will have to. (32.6 MB 20:20)

It's the Holiday edition of the Media Matters for America Smackdown with research fellow Elbert Ventura and is there anything more festive than declaring the Media Matters' "Misinformer of the Year?!?" Plus, we discuss the [Pastor] Rick Rolling of the Obama inauguration. Never gonna give him up. [44.3MB 27:40]

Encouraged by Obama's picks or discouraged by Obama's picks, you gotta give the guy his props. [16.8MB 10:29]

Weapons of Mass Affection - An interview with the Center for American Progress' Deputy Research Director Amanda Terkel in which we discuss the progressive agenda and the President-Elect. [17.9MB 11:08]

One defender. One prosecutor. How can they both agree that Councilman Eric Crafton's English Only amendment is not a good idea for Nashville? [37.9 MB 23:37]

By talking about the school board and their chosen one, 350 billion dollars worth of accountability, the race for TNDP chair, and ensuring that Governor Bredesen will never be a guest on our show. [49 MB 30:35]

This year's Black Friday is the blackest yet, alternative shopping options, and the election season ain't over 'til it's over. [81.1MB 51:04]

Dr. Holman is the Legislative Representative for Public Citizen and as such serves as the organization's Capitol Hill lobbyist on campaign finance and governmental ethics. He tells us that we can love President-elect Obama, we just can't LOVVVVVVE President-elect Obama. Public Citizen, through their new website, Becoming44.org, will help us connect the dots between new appointees and the special interests they represent. Addendum: the study that Dr. Holman references in this interview which suggests that Obama's small donor-base is a myth, has been successfully challenged. [29.1MB 18:08]

Let the English-Only discussion begin! On January 22 it'll be time to get our butts back to the voting booth to vote against "English-only" for Metro Nashville. In this segment we discuss why with one of our faithful conservative callers. Plus, think George Bush is a lame duck? Think again. [40.2MB 25:05]

Interview with Senator Andy Berke - No! Not the Chattanooga Choo-Choo! Tweetin' State Senator Berke represents the 10th District of Tennessee (the Fightin' 10th!), which includes parts of Hamilton and Marion counties. He's a Democrat and proud of it. We find out why.

Nothing Says "Thanksgiving" Like The West Wing. The turkeys from Jasper Farms are back and much more relevant than either Phil Valentine or Rush Limbaugh.

What's an election day wrap-up without a call from Remo, Mary's Independent Dad. Plus, confusion and disenfranchisement on Election Day for Vanderbilt Students, a healthy and appropriate response from the media to voter problems, and Nell Levin from the Tennessee Alliance for Progress calls in to ask, "What's next?" (19:09 30.7MB)

The Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party breaks Election Day down for us - the good, the bad, and the ugly. What does it mean for Tennesseans? For Nashvillians? Who's to blame? Where do we go from here? And although Gray's "blame me and let's move on" attitude is honorable, a solid understanding of what happened is absolutely necessary - lest we be condemned to repeat history. (33:46 54.1MB)

Research Fellow Elbert Ventura smacks down the advancing narrative that "America is a center-right nation" while explaining how certain media folk can label President-elect Barack Obama a Socialist one week and a Reagan Democrat the next. Was it something he won? (09:25 15MB)

Tennesseans, get ready to spend the next two years fighting the last remaining gasps of the culture war on both a state and local level. First up, defeating Councilman Eric Crafton's out of state funded "English Only" bill. (05:53 9.4MB)

John McFadden, Executive Director of the Tennessee Environmental Council, and Chris Ford, Executive Director of Tennessee Conservation Voters,, give us the scoop on the Second Annual Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee, happening this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. What is sustainability and what does it mean for all Tennesseans? Plus, what can we do to move a sustainable agenda forward. (19:42 31.6MB)

It's our annual Halloween Spooktacular and Mary and Freddie dress up as each others worst nightmare. (21:43 34.8MB)

The president of the Nashville chapter of the American Constitution Society tell us a little bit about the American Constitution Society, including who would win in a rugby match against the Federalist Society, and an event they're having on Wednesday. (28:03 44.9MB)

We love to talk about what to do to protect your right to vote and, it turns out, our listeners do too! And there's nothing scarier than that guy on that other station who, we hear, would rather tear down our precious democracy with divisiveness than celebrate it. Way to go, other guy. (32:56 52.8MB)

Our voting love fest continues - with instructions on what you can do to protect your vote. (20:39 33.1MB)

Brad Friedman is an investigative citizen journalist, political commentator, broadcaster, and creator and managing editor of The BRAD BLOG, where he has filed - and continues to file - thousands of stories on issues of Election Integrity (or the lack thereof). He shares with us his thoughts on "voter fraud" ("a GOP hoax"), ACORN, voter roll purges, and what we can do this year to protect our vote. (21:36 34.6MB)

Interview with Bob Tuke - Bob Tuke is a respected adoption lawyer, a Marine, and is the former party chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party. He served as Obama's political director during the Democratic primary and now he is the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race in which he's trying to unseat Republican incumbent Lamar Alexander. He's got a pro-working-class, pro-agriculture, pro-conservation agenda and he's not afraid to use it. (20:13 32.4MB)

Early voting has begun and the turnout should frighten those people who thought that slinging mud and stoking fear would change this election's momentum. (16:13 26MB)

President and founding board member of the Tennessee Equality Project. National Coming Out Day and the 10th Anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard coincide with the Connecticut decision to allow same-sex marriage. (16:34 26.5MB)

Interview with Connie Smith, Tennessee's Assistant Commissioner of Accountability, Teaching, and Learning at the Tennessee Department of Education. (14:54 23.9MB)

FOL* Paul Krugman wins a big prize, Debate '08 breakdown, Governor Palin hearts the Alaska Independence Party, and we get a very nice phone call. (25:40 41.1MB) *Friend of Liberadio(!)

Media Matters Research Fellow, Elbert Ventura, learned this week that ACORN makes conservative pundit a little nutty. (12:53 20.06MB)

Election fraud and voter suppression is a very real problem. Voter fraud? Not so much. (15:36 25MB)

Elbert is, unsurprisingly, disappointed in the media's coverage of the debates thus far. (13:05 21MB)

On the near eve of another big election, we welcome back documentarian David Earnhardt for an update on Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections and the impact it has had on our electoral system. (22:57 36.8MB)

With Nashville in the spotlight last week, we were honored to have John Seigenthaler, one of the most important witnesses to Nashville and American history, join us to discuss the debates and the presidential race. And, of course, the First Amendment. (20:23 32.7MB)

There are some things you have to talk about even though they are painful to discuss. And then there are other things that you can get away with simply sweeping under an imploded stadium. Mary's Dad calls in with one of the above.... (21:19 34.2MB)

We speak with Ms. Wolf about her new book, Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, a guide to, and urgent plea for, participatory democracy. Get Up! Stand Up! (21:35 34.6MB)

Residents of the Fightin' 5th! hear from their congressman, Jim Cooper, about the bailout, how helpful McCain's intervention was, and why this might not even be the biggest deal. (07:05 11.4MB)

If loving America is wrong, we don't want to be right. Plus, since when did the Supreme Court become just another pawn in the political game? (28:26 45.6MB)

Denver is a prison reform activist working for for-profit prison accountability. (19:57 32MB)

Does it matter that John McCain doesn't understand the TCP/IP handshake? Probably not. Does it matter that he doesn't know the price of gas? Yes. Yes. Did we say yes? (11:02 17.7MB)

FOL* and all-around mensch, Gray Sasser, is our guest. It was a big week for the Democratic Party what with all the Unity flying around. Chairman Sasser clues us in to what it means for Tennessee Democrats. And, much to his wife's chagrin, we make him revisit his youth and sing the Preamble to the Constitution. (22:09 35.5MB) *Friend of Liberadio(!)

A Fourth of July rundown and did you ever get the feeling that the Republican party are giving the American people the finger? (20:07 32.2MB)

After seven years of failed energy policy, tax subsidies to big oil, weak fuel economy standards, and the systematic dismantling of the EPA, President Bush has the nerve to blame the Democrats. (13.72 MB)

Political journalist, nationally syndicated columnist and bestselling author David Sirota talks about his latest book, The Uprising: An Unauthorized Tour of the Populist Revolt Scaring Wall Street and Washington and the good swift kick Democrats like Lincoln Davis of Tennessee need because, despite polls showing more than 2/3 of the American people want to begin drawing troops out of Iraq, he still thinks that becoming the "anti-war party" isn't beneficial to Democrats in 2008. (14.67 MB)

They've often been told by their constituents to "go jump in a lake," so we're not really sure where the controversy lies with tonight's Great Swim Across the Cumberland. I mean, if all council members were as diligent with these types of requests as Councilwoman Emily Evans (The Fightin' 23rd!), Councilman Jason Holleman (The Fightin' 24th!), and Councilman Mike Jameson (The Fightin' 6th!) then we'd have one happy, snappy city! That said, tonight’s 500 foot swim, which is scheduled for 5:00pm at Riverfront Park, has already served its purpose - prompting Nashvillians to start chattering about the state of the river and its environs. On Monday morning, we held our breath and interviewed, in depth, Evans, Holleman, and Jameson. After we made some waves, we rapidly got to the bottom of some of the more contentious issues. We came very close to getting in over our heads, but in the end, it was smooth sailing.

The state of Media Matters is very strong, says research Elbert Ventura, and so is the state of the Obama campaign as they Fight the Smears.

It's all here in our interview with Dr. George Lakoff, one of the founders of the field of cognitive science and the author of Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values, Frame the Debate, and the just released The Political Mind - Why you can't Understand 21st Century Politics with an 18th Century Brain: How we are so easily manipulated by right wing propaganda, the definition of "framing," the institutional and successful use of framing by Republicans, why continue to Democrats ignore framing and do so at their peril, the dearth of empathy in the U.S. and the attempt by Barack Obama's campaign to awaken it, and which presidential candidate tickles our positive neural pathways. *Giggle*

Media Matters for American Smackdown with Elbert Ventura - Elbert tells us what to expect during the general election from a corporate media intent on breaking the world record for using “Obama” and “terrorist” in the same sentence. “Terrorist fist jab, indeed.” (26:39 42.7MB)

It’s the end of the Democratic primary and the year of the underdog continues! Plus, Crafton takes English-only to the people and if you’re going to boo, stay home. (28:19 45.4MB)

Interview with Lz Garrigan - G-A-Double R-I. G-A-N spells GARRIGAN! It’s Liz’s last few weeks as editor of Scene and she takes the gloves completely off. Hear what she really thinks of Nashville, the daily paper, Hillary as victim, and the Governor. (26:37 42.6MB)

We made a bet. Mary thinks she won. But Freddie won’t pay until August. (20:08 32.3MB)

Old McCongress had a Farm Bill..Eee-V-E-T-O. (08:28 13.6MB)

John Geer is a political science professor at Vanderbilt University. We discuss identity politics, the high stakes tie between the Democratic candidates, negative campaigning, Senator Clinton’s claim that she is entitled to her votes in Michigan, and the class he taught on Genetics and Politics. (18:54 30.3MB)

Media Matters for American Smackdown - Media Matters’ new report solidifies what we knew all along - the anti-immigrant sentiment whipped up by Dobbs, O’Reilly, and Hannity is all based on lies. (15:34 24.9MB)

The decisions of the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the D.N.C. are deconstructed. (08:50 14.2MB)

Perhaps what Metro Nashville needs are some Super School Board members to help sort out these redistricting questions. (12:31 20MB)

Accusations of foreign policy inexperience by the McCain campaign is a prime example of the McPot calling the kettle black. (11:40 18.7MB)

It’s all over now but we had a good time talking about it with Caspar, our Danish buddy. (21:52 35MB)

Media Matters for American Smackdown - The Daily Telegraph in the UK just released their 50 Most Influential U.S. Political Pundits and Stephen Colbert didn’t make the top 10. Sheesh. No wonder why we declared our independence. (23:27 37.6MB)

Is all politics local or part of the Council on Foreign Relations? (14:28 23.2MB)

Tomas Young is an Iraqi war veteran who was paralyzed from a bullet to his spine less than a week after arriving in Iraq. He is also an anti-war activist and the subject of Body of War, a film by Phil Donohue and Ellen Spiro which is out in theaters now. (19:18 31MB)

Jon Stewart is coming! So is electronic voting. Plus, who does Senator Clinton remind you of when she says she doesn’t listen to those silly little people who study monetary systems and history for a living? (25:31 41 MB)

Interview with Renée Paradis - Renée Paradis is counsel for the non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice and works to reform the process of voter registration, including fighting restrictions on voter registration drives and advocating for student voting rights. She’s tell us if we have the right to vote and why the Supreme Court got it wrong in Indiana. (22:08 35.47MB)

We have a very specific delegate count question for a Senator Clinton supporter... Anyone...? Anyone...? Bueller...?. (21:02 33.7MB)

Interview with Congressman Jim Cooper - There's so much to talk about - Lawrence Lessig's Change Congress initiative, earmarks, FISA, his Inspector General bill, election integrity - that we make the congressman late for class. Oops. Our bad. (12:19 19.8MB)

Hundreds of thousands dead, maimed and psychologically scared, millions displaced from their homes, $700 billion dollars in the hole - and we're right back where we started. (06:46 10.8MB)

Media Matters for America Smackdown! - The North Carolina GOP gets tons of free airtime courtesy of cable news. Lucky ducks (that "ducks" with a "d"). (14:05 22.6MB)

Did we mention that hundreds of thousands are dead, maimed and psychologically scared, millions are displaced from their homes, and we're $700 billion dollars in the hole, yet we're right back where we started? And if 27% of Republicans went to the polls and didn't vote for John McCain, then who did they vote for? Hint: It wasn't Clinton or Obama. (11:53 19MB)

It's a pre-Super Twosday recap and we talk to Caspar, our FOL* from Denmark, who gives us the view of our presidential election from abroad (the audio is a bit low for the first minute or so of the phone call). Plus, President Bush has some choice words to describe the economy in the Onion's WeeklyRadioAddress.com

Interview with anti-racist activist and author Tim Wise, who breaks down the presidential race for us from a different angle - has the country transcended race now that an African-American is running for president? Which is worse the misogyny against Senator Clinton or the racism against Senator Obama? What's up with Bill Hobbs of the TN GOP? What's up with Gloria Steinem? How is white privilege affecting the race? What's the danger of having a white guy play Barack Obama on the TV? And what is Oprah getting away with?

We continue our discussion of race with our callers who update us on the noose and epithet incident - now incidents - at Poplar Grove Middle School in Franklin.

Interview with Councilman Erik Cole of the Fightin' 7th! Councilman Cole is chairing the Budget and Finance Committee in what he describes as a "tight fiscal year," so we discuss the budget process with him - including some of the stickier points like metro general hospital, storm water, water services, and public schools. We also get to the bottom of the controversy surrounding his middle name. We think he's not from around here...

Speaking of middle names, it's the Media Matters for America Smackdown with Elbert Ventura! How's the mainstream media handling the email smear campaign aimed at one particular presidential candidate? By repeating the assertions with no questions asked and inviting Republican's to spew the same smears on national television, of course!

Media Matters for America Smackdown with Elbert Ventura. MSNBC’s Dan Shuster is pissed…and gets himself in trouble. Plus, Mitt Romney is so one dimensional and our listeners love us, they really love us!

We talk about our silver-bullet theory and take your calls about education in Nashville and school choice. Plus, Robin Morgan’s thought-provoking essay, Goodbye To All That (#2). Would some of the overt misogyny we see directed towards Senator Clinton be tolerated if it was overt racism directed towards Senator Obama?

Interview with Jeremy Kane, founder and director of Nashville’s LEAD Academy, and two of his very special students.

Super Fat Tornado Tuesday, the Federal Government’s response to disasters, empathy, buh-bye Mitt, and we love us some Dr. Beardy. Usually, Plus, WeeklyRadioAddress.com explains signing statements.

We find out that the French have a better system of voting then we do. Sacrebleu!

Media Matters for America Smackdown with Elbert Ventura. How does the media deal with issues of poverty? One guess.

Interview with Jennifer Van Bergen, a lawyer and journalist who first wrote about President Bush’s signing statements.

Interview with Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections Filmmaker, David Earnhardt

The Super Bowl, the Puppy Bowl, the confusing primary process, what baseballs are made of, and WeeklyRadioAddress.com skewers the State of the Union.

It’s a family affair and we’re joined by Remo and Mary, Sr., Mary’s folks. Remo watched Mary participate in Vegas’s biggest show last week and gives away a spoiler. Apparently, what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas. Plus, there’s a one in three chance that Mary’s their favorite kid and she decides to test those odds. (25:37 41MB)

Our guest is Ken Whitehouse, political reporter for Tennessean Nashville City Paper NashvillePost.com, who spent last weekend in South Carolina on a death march with the Fred Thompson campaign. *Gasp* He also reveals a surprise or two about the Democratic race in that traditional southern state. Read Whitehouse on the Road. (41.3MB 25:46)

Our homeless veterans should all camp out on Bill O’Reilly’s lawn. Oh, wait…they wouldn’t all fit. (:08:38 13.8MB)

Councilwoman Emily Evans joins us so we can better know her district - the fightin’ 23rd! She represents a hotbed of social rest, Al Gore, and the storm water special interests. (40.7MB 25:24)

Newly minted Councilwoman, Erica Gilmore, joins us so we can better know her district - the fightin’ 19th! Enclave Mike has a nice synopsis. (27.37MB 17:05)

It’s Martin Luther King’s day and time to celebrate the life of a man who fought for civil rights and, in his later years, railed against the Vietnam War. And it’s so awesome that the Democrats have both a woman and an African-American in this year’s presidential race but we can’t wait for the time when even candidacies like these won’t make news. That’s our dream. (36.4MB 22:44)

No, not Elbert Ventura, Research Fellow for Media Matters for America who joins us each week to discuss what matters in the Media. It’s that other guy - Chris Matthews - who’s finally being held accountable for his inflammatory and misogynistic statements. What a maroon. (:23:20 37.4MB)

Last week was the 6th Anniversary of the opening of Guatanamo Bay so we’re joined by The Center for American Progress’s Ali Frick for an update. Plus, Dr. Stephen Zunes, a Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco and Middle East editor for Foreign Policy in Focus, talks to us about George Bush’s trip to the Middle East. (:28:24 45.5MB)

Meet Addison Pate, President of the Davidson County Young Democrats, and Aaron Dorn, Chairman of the Davidson County Young Republicans. These two very nice young men are under the impression that all this partisan bickering does nothing to move our country forward. Kids today. Sheesh. (:23:37 38MB)

It’s a cold day in hell on Liberadio(!) when we read a certain right-wing talk radio hosts’ Sunday column and our heads don’t explode. Plus, the integrity of our elections are still suspect, Rep. Rob Briley’s balancing act, Fred Thompson as Dick Gephardt, and isn’t “lozenge” a fun word to say? (:24:58 40MB)

It's time for Elbert Ventura of Media Matters to de-spinify (It's a word. Look it up.) what we hear on the radio and the TV. Despite what we may have heard from Chris Matthews, John McCain did not win the Iowa Caucus. Plus, Phil Valentine wants to find out just how low he can go and Tennessee is gearing up for the fight against electronic voting machines.

In this segment we learn that persistence is the key to accountability. Plus, we’re joined by Rob Richie, Executive director of FairVote, an organization with the goal of transforming our elections to include a constitutionally protected right to vote, a national popular vote for president, instant runoff voting for executive elections and proportional voting for legislative elections. After the Iowa Caucus he wrote, “Iowa and the early primaries highlight the need — and real opportunity — for reform of our electoral system.” Boy, he must really hate Mike Huckabee.

In this segment we interview the chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, Gray 'Don’t Call Me Sassy. Wait, Is That a Good Thing?' Sasser. Learn about presidential caucuses and primaries! Hear what the TNDP will be up to in 2008! See what happens when we try to send him to a corner!

It’s our first show of 2008 and we reveal that the Bush administration takes “taking out the trash day” to a whole new level. And apparently there’s a campaign of some sort going on. Plus we get a call from Liberadio(!)’s littlest listener who wants to know what ol’ Hollywood Fred is up to.

After we get done talking about our Thanksgiving Holiday and climate change, we get a call from Dan Mathews, Senior Vice President for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (aka PETA). Dan is an extraordinary activist who takes the “f” out of fur and puts it in fun. He’s also the author of Committed: A Rabble-Rouser’s Memoir. (33.72MB, 20 minutes)

Big Hollywood Conglomerates are messing with our daily dose of The Colbert Report and we’re not happy about it. Oh, and we think the writers should be fairly compensated for their work, too. Plus, it seems as if Americans’ entertainment tastes as polarized as our political views, America’s national debt just breached $9 trillion for the first time ever, and the Weekly Standard’s William Kristol’s continues his descent into irrelevancy. (40.1MB, :25:01)

On Monday we also interviewed local U.S. Green Building Council spokesperson Jamie Qualk and Tennessee Environmental Council executive director John McFadden, who have also helped organize this weekend’s Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee, being held at Lipscomb University. Since the interview Friend of Liberadio(!) Kami has informed us that the organizers have agreed to let anyone interested in for FREE on SATURDAY which is a half day. The event is for non-profits, governmental agencies, businesses, special interest groups, and concerned citizens to hash out the environmental vision for Tennessee. (32.13MB, :20:03)

Our guest is David Earnhardt, an Emmy award winning producer and director and partner with the prestigious Nashville production company, Earnhardt Pirkle. His latest labor of love and the topic of our discussion is his documentary Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections, which shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater fraud in 2006 - and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. And you said we were crazy. Harumph. UPDATE: Both The Daily Kos and Jim Ridley of The Nashville Scene have a wrap up of the extraordinarily successful premiere. A sold out and motivated crowd! Go, David! (59.72MB, :37:16)

It’s Veterans Day and what better day to discuss honoring our service men and women as well as the worthwhile work of organizations like Veterans for Peace, Vote Vets, and Operation Stand Down Nashville, which organizes a community-based event that provides homeless veterans with a wide range of necessities including food, clothing, medical, and legal assistance, and job counseling. (37.25MB, :23:15)

In this segment we call on Carah Ong, Iran Policy Analyst at the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, to brief us on the Bush Administration’s sanctions against Iran, including designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and labeling its elite Quds force as a supporter of terrorism. As you’d expect, the sanctions aren’t what they seem.

If it’s Monday then it’s the Media Matters for America Smackdown with research fellow, Elbert Ventura. And it’s time to expose yet another gaffe by the King of Sticking his foot in it, Bill O’Reilly. This time he rejects JK Rowling for teaching tolerance. Oh, the horror. (42MB, approx 25 minutes)

Int his segment we interview Paige La Grone Babcock, the Nashville Community Organizer and National Outreach Coordinator for Mothers Acting Up, a movement of mothers publicly and passionately advocating for the world’s children. Paige very eloquently said that MAU believes that mothers are a giant force to be reckoned with and that together they can work towards prioritizing children in corporate and public policies. And they know how to have fun! Check out the MAU events in Nashville this weekend. It’s a privilege to have them here. Don’t miss it.

It’s our Halloween show and Freddie’s wearing ass-less leather chaps and carrying a wand. Talk about scary. Plus, all those people who think Rudy Giuliani’s a maverick simply don’t understand baseball. And we pick our ticket: Colbert/Dumbledore ‘08! (47.38MB, approx 30 minutes)

In this segment we interview Beardy, alias "Dr. Beardy" and "Paul Krugman" and "Yale Economist" and "New York Times Columnist." When it comes to the failings of the Bush administration, he pulls no punches in his new book, The Conscience of a Liberal, or in this interview. We think "President Beardy" has a nice ring to it.

If it's Monday, it must be time for the Media Matters for America Smackdown with Elbert Ventura. He found out Michelle Malkin's home address, and he lets us know what he's planning for Halloween. (45.39MB)

Coop--er, Congressman Cooper--tries to qualify as Liberadio(!)'s BFF in making an unprecedented 4th appearance. He's almost got 5-timer status. Which is the perfect number of appearances for a Congressman from the fightin' 5th! Can he prevent World War III? Can he ensure that all Americans receive access to health insurance? Can he help the nation move on by not requiring an act of Congress to condemn MoveOn? (50.04MB)

It's the first part of the show with Freddie O'Connell and Ashley Crownover, filling in for a traveling Mary. Bread? Really? (43.38MB)

FOL John Flanbsurgh of They Might Be Giants is back and better than ever. We discuss Julie Andrews and the possible anti-semitic theme that runs through The Sound of Music, strident 3-year-olds, and TMBG's latest album, The Else. (23.64MB)

It’s a Liberadio(!) Round Table discussion with former Tennessean columnist Tim Chavez, Press Secretary for the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus, Addison Pate, and Clean Cities of Middle Tennessee Executive Director, Dave Pelton. Is health care a right? And do Republicans really believe Al Gore is a do-nothing and the Nobel Peace Prize isn’t worth the parchment paper it’s written on? (52MB)

What do you get when you mix two sleep-deprived radio hosts, one research fellow, John Gibson, and Ann Coulter? The Media Matters for America Smackdown with Elbert Ventura! (77.4MB)

Al Gore wins the noble prize (but he only came in 3rd for Nashville’s Best Local Liberal –Ed.) and unlike the right-wing media echo chamber, we think it’s not only a huge deal but also something to celebrate mightily. (56.62MB)

OK, so Holleman’s surprise was John Spragens, former Nashville Scene staffer and current Congressman Jim Cooper “flack.” In this segment of Monday’s show we keep him on the phone to talk about an SCHIP veto override, Coop’s (He let’s us call him “Coop.” OK, no he doesn’t) legislation to strengthen inspectors general and reform the accountability process, Iran, and how the Democrats - including his boss - got suckered into a MoveOn.org NY Times ad kerfuffle with Republicans. (approx. 20 minutes, 26.85MB)

Councilman Jason Holleman of the Fightin’ 24! helps us kick off our Better Know a District series in which we talk to as many district council folk as will come talk to us. We cover the new council, zoning, historic overlays (a hot topic in the fightin’ 24th!), and the size of the council. We even surprise him with a Mystery Guest-type special phone call! Councilman Holleman, this is your life!

Kate Blofson of Prometheus Radio joins us to give us an update on Low Power FM stations like our own Radio Free Nashville and the fight against media consolidation. (approx 20 minutes, 29.44MB)

During the first hour of Monday’s show, we talk about health care. Is it a right? A privilege? Why is George Bush lying to make his veto look good? And if rights come from God, and you’re an atheist, does that mean you don’t have any rights at all? What we do know is that Phil Valentine is wrong. We do have a health-care crisis in this country and we do not the best health care on the planet. (approx 50 minutes, 82.77MB)

We've got two - count'em, two! - Screaming Tightie Rightie segments. In the first, Bill O'Reilly proclaims black people to be just like everybody else. Thanks for clearing that up, Bill. In the second, Manhattan prep school and Harvard-educated Project for a New American Century hack, Bill Kristol, angrily denounces those darned "liberal universities." Sucks to think critically, doesn't it, Bill? (13.47 12.6MB)

Joining us for a Liberadio(!) Round Table discussion are newly elected councilman-at-large, Jerry Maynard, co-host of Beyond Reason, Karlen Evins, and the executive director of the Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing, Stacy Rector. With two Reverends and a divinity school graduate, you can bet that our discussion about the Jena 6, the Little Rock 9, race relations, and the death penalty was lofty, spiritual, and above all, full of hope. 40:18 37MB)

On September 6, after conferring with the Bush Administration, Israel bombed a suspected nuclear missile site in Syria set up with apparent collaboration from North Korea. Israel won't allow their press to report it, our President refuses to answer questions about it, and barely a squeak has been heard from the target. Also in news you never heard, active nuclear missiles were "mistakenly" loaded onto a fighter jet and flown half way across the country to a Louisiana air base that had no idea nuclear warheads were coming.* Gross (and by now expected) incompetence, or something else entirely? Are the two events related? And what's Louisiana going to do with nuclear warheads it What about Vice President Cheney allegedly asking Israel to bomb Iran to provoke an attack? Also unrelated? Plus, you better keep that copy of Anarchist Weekly tucked inside a copy of People because, guess what? The government has a file on what you like to read on the plane! Plus, the Senate can't seem to concentrate on what's really important and Keith Olbermann, who already had Freddie's heart, finally steals Mary's. (51:11 46.9MB)

*This afternoon, Freddie asked Joby Warrick of the Washington Post what will happen to the nuclear warheads that have been unintentionally/unreliably transferred. She responded: "Excellent question... we're trying to get an answer to that one." Indeed.

Mary and Lonnie continue their discussion on how to end the war in Iraq and the abdication of Democrats' responsibility in doing so. They also get a call and a seranade from Rob the singin' truck driver and new friend of the show. Welcome aboard, Rob! (19.9MB, approx. 20 minutes)

Lonnie Atkinson fills in for Freddie and gives General David Petraeus's report an "F" for plagiarism and his army record a "D" for deception. In an unexpected twist, however, Senate Republicans, get an A for asking the General just the right questions. (20.7MB, approx. 20 minutes)

Once again it's time for the Media Matters for America Smackdown with Media Matters Research Fellow, Elbert Ventura. This time, the media pretends that some Iraq war critics are supporters and some Iraq war supporters are critics. Elbert tells us why and what effect it's having on the mainstream media coverage of the news. (10.39MB, approx. 10 minutes)

In this segment of the show, Mary and guest co-host, Lonnie Atkinson, interview State House Representative Mike Turner of Nashville's 51st district (the Fightin' 51st!). Topics include Rep. Rob Briley, Gail Kerr, the death penalty, and innocent death row inmate, Paul House. (14.13MB, approx. 14 minutes)

In this segment, Mary and guest co host, Lonnie Atkinson, interview Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. Back in the day, Kelly helped initiate Voices in the Wilderness, a campaign to end the UN/US sanctions against Iraq in 1996 and has been to that country many times since then. In an emotional interview, Kelly suggests that there's another, more humanitarian way forward in Iraq that doesn't include our complete withdrawal nor the continued waste of blood and treasure. She also tells of her first-hand experience with Iraqi refugees living in Amman, Jordan. Tips for what to do instead of Christmas shopping this year also included. (23.6MB, approx. 22 minutes)

Bruce Barry, professor of management and sociology at Vanderbilt University (the broadcast home of Liberadio(!)), talks to us about his new book, Speechless: The Erosion of Free Expression in the American Workplace (Buy the Book). Think you have unlimited freedom of expression in your workplace? Think again. Turns out you do. Until you don't. Find out why and how your employer has all the power and what you can do about it. Bruce, who also happens to be president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, brings it. (25:21 23.2MB)

Mayoral candidate Karl Dean is our guest in this segment of today's show. Dean survived the general election challenge, coming in first out of 7 candidates, and will square off against Bob Clement in the runoff on September 11th. Karl gives us an update on the post-general election, pre-run off race in general and fills us in on his particular vision for the future of Nashville (which, by the way, he already knows to be a great city!). Sustainability, education, public safety, 287g, the property tax kerfuffle - this interview has it all! (21:53 20MB)

Summary: In the first part of this morning's show we run down the run off. Take it away, Grandmaster Flash!

We were standing on the corner 'round Freddie's bike,
When we realized we were king and queen of the mic.
The election had passed and what did we see?
A runoff election - Nashville's legacy!
Neither Gentry, Dozier, Eaton, or Briley,
Could keep pace with Dean and Clement, they were wiley.
But even those two came up short of the gold,
So there's a run off election, the metro charter has foretold.
But that's not all, we've got the at large race, too.
Eight vying for only four seats, what's a candidate to do?
See before August 2nd, it was the same old same,
The yard signs and the robos,
A street-level game.
But now the stakes are even higher, let us make it clear.
It's GOTV, baby, don't even think of stepping out of here.
If you think you're getting up, down, around or in (huh huh!)
9/11 is the day to cast your ballot again.
Because the voting booth is open and you gotta be down,
And the only place to go is to Barrett's town.
Run, Run, Run, Run, Run off!* (42:00 38.63MB) *Special thanks to FOL Andy Finley who has greatly improved the quality of our podcasts. Word up, Andy!

It’s the first day of school. Don’t forget your uniforms! Today’s lesson is, if you’re a Democrat please do not attack other Democrats with Republican talking points. Mr. Ford? Mr. Ford? HAROLD! Turn around and pay attention! (30:50 28.2MB)

Our guest is John Geer, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University, Editor of The Journal of Politics, and author of In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns. How fortuitous to have a Political Scientist on the show on the day Turd Blossom resigns! Geer recently penned a piece in the Tennessean entitled, “Negative’ Campaigns help lay bare facts that voters need” in which he wrote that it was “no surprise that negativity was not part of this last election” but we should most likely expect it in the runoff. Geer also claims that negativity can be good for democracy so bring it on, Bob! (21:19 19.5MB)

It’s bad enough when liberals and Democrats are demonized by the opposition. But when they’re horribly misrepresented by someone professing to be on the same side, it’s much, much worse. Thanks for nothing, Pastor Tim Alexander of Antioch, TN. Plus, it’s the Media Matters for America Smackdown with research fellow Elbert Ventura. Today Elbert asks, why is Chris Matthews such a tool? (23:32 21.6MB)

In the first half hour of today’s show Karl Rove resigns; Mary has an anxiety dream starring Stephen Colbert; Surprise! there’s another election in September; Bob Clement panders; and Hell No! Howard Gentry won’t endorse. (26:59 24.7MB)

In this episode we interview Andy Allman chairman of the Sumner County Democratic Party. He became active in Democratic politics after he became disillusioned with the Republican Party. It's a heartwarming tale. On Saturday August 18, the Sumner Dems will be hosting their 5th Annual 3-Star Celebration with food, music, and many special guests including Congressman Bart Gordon, State Representative Mike McDonald, State Senator Joe Haynes, and TNDP Chair Gray Sasser. (21:37 19.8MB)

It’s our inaugural LibeRound Table discussion with former mayoral candidate, David Briley, and Nashville21.com’s, Sean Braisted (Adam Dread got stuck in Chicago and unfortunately couldn’t join us) in which Councilman Briley reflects on his campaign and gives us an insider’s peek at the machinations of a mayoral race, and Blogger Braisted says he’s just not like other voters. Plus, In what direction will Karl Dean and Bob Clement head in now? In which camp will Briley, Dozier and Gentry supporters land? What effect did the Nashville Scene’s snarky and counterproductive coverage have on the race? Why did Council At-large candidate Tim Garrett have to burst our bubble? and, Term limits, schmerm limits. (33:09 30.4MB)

There’s No Place Like Holm. Hold is Where the Vote Is. Holm Sweet Holm. Ok, I’ll stop. In this episode, we continue our candidate interview series with Metro Council At-large candidate, Peter Westerholm. Remember, early voting is going on now! (20:50 19MB)

We continue our candidate interview series with Metro At-large candidate, Ronnie Steine. Steine was a Metro councilman-at-large from 1991-1999 and was then elected Vice Mayor and served from 1999 until his resignation in 2002. He’s back now with an explanation of his abrupt resignation and his ideas for a better Nashville. Plus, he shows his good sportsmanship as we metaphorically poke and prod his most sensitive bits. (22:31 20.6MB)

In this episode, the miracles continue as our more reasonable and rational listeners call in to discuss immigration and the shocking report that 1 in 133 Americans are now incarcerated. Plus, FOL* Bruce Barry calls to continue the discussion about the Supreme Court’s decision about school diversity. (46:47 42.8MB)

A caller attempts to take Freddie to the “Nightmare on Elm Street” on the immigration issue and ends up telling us that we suck. Fortunately, it’s our show and we, along with our more reasonable callers, get the last word. (33:39 30.8MB)

In this episode we interview Anurima Bhargava, Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund and she gives us the the constitutional law perspective on the Supreme Court’s decision on School Diversity. We lose her to bad cell phone reception at the end of the interview, but during the time we have with her she does a fantastic job of explaining the decision and its implications. (09:45 9MB)

Everybody has a story. Everybody has an opinion. In this segment we hear from callers with their own stories and opinions about immigrants and immigration reform. Also, it's the Media Matters for America Smackdown, with Elbert Ventura. Do journalists overwhelming give mo' dollaz to Democratic candidates than Republicans? It depends on who you ask - the liars or the truth-tellers. (32:57 30.2MB)

In this segment we're joined by "Citizen" George Barrett, a partner with the Nashville law firm of Barrett, Johnston & Parsley and a legend in the people's fight for civil rights and civil liberties. Mr. Barrett talks about his work in a long running desegregation case involving higher education in Tennessee (it began in 1968 and finished up last October), as well as tort reform, immigration, health care reform, the ACLU, and his friend, David Halberstam. (28:04 25.71MB)

In this segment of the show long-time listener first-time caller, T.J. Graham, gives us his take on the immigration issue. The Rev. Graham is the host of another talk show on WVOL and he has very definite opinions on the issue of unauthorized immigration. Opinions that we do not share. We chose to post this hour of the show in its entirety to illustrate how difficult it is to discuss an issue like immigration, where passions run high and complicated issues like race and prejudice intersect with the need for smart public policy. (56:09 51.4MB)

Summary: In this episode, Mary & Freddie take on conservative talk radio's domination of the airwaves as well as the men running for mayor - their urban plunge and their first televised forum. (22:23 20.5MB)

In the second part of our Friday morning show on WAMB 1200 AM, we interview Lisa Graves, deputy director at the Center for National Security Studies, about a new internal FBI audit that has revealed that the agency is breaking the rules of intelligence gathering all willy-nilly. We also discuss the Nashville mayor's race and the candidates' commitment to the Nashville Homless Power Project and the "Urban Plunge." (25:26 23.3MB)

Freddie's back from vacation and wants to make sure we don't forget about Alberto Gonzales and the shame he he hath wrought upon the Justice Department, the Bush presidency, and the country. Plus, we wrap up the Tennessee General Assembly's year Kurita-style. (22:05 20.2MB)

A few of weeks before she resigned her post as blog editor for WKRN’s revolutionary Nashville is Talking, we invited Brittney Gilbert and her co-worker (co-blogger?), Volunteer Voters’ A.C. “Adam” Kleinheider, to be on the show. During the interview we get a little history, a little commentary, a few giggles, a good sense of what WKRN is trying to do, and absolutely no insight into Brittney’s level of frustration. Girl has a poker face! For those about to blog, we salute you! (25:45 24.5MB)

In this segment, Mary and Lonnie (Atkinson, filling in for Freddie) interview Todd Tucker, research director with Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, an organization based in Washington, DC, that promotes democracy by challenging corporate globalization. We talk about the legal, economic and political implications of the WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA and other trade agreements, including how they created of millions of unemployed workers in Mexico that had no where to go for work but north. We also discuss a recent blog post of his entitled "Fred Thompson: Another GOP 100% Anti-Fair Trader," and how "Hollywood" Fred's position on Fair trade goes against his down-home, man-of-the-people folksy image. (19:36 18MB)

Liberadio(!), with guest co-host, Lonnie Atkinson, continues its candidate interview series with Nashville businessman, Metro Council-at-Large candidate, and U.S. citizen, Richard Exton. We discuss the importance of affordable housing, his MNEA endorsement, instant run-off voting, and Pelton-at-Large. Get the man a cape! (20:33 18.83MB)

Author and activist, Lonnie Atkinson, fills in for the vacationing Freddie O'Connell and realizes that, dude, a lot happened in the 60's. It's the 40th anniversary of the both the Supreme's Court's Loving v. Virginia decision and the Arab-Israeli 6-Day War. It's a little depressing, actually, as we realize that the more things change the more they stay the same. Plus, the Davidson County Republicans hold a straw poll with few surprises and the mainstream media's coverage of Paris Hilton even disgusts Paris Hilton! (26:36 24.37MB)

It's our Media Matters for America Smackdown with Media Matters Research Fellow, Elbert Ventura. Elbert dispels the myth of the red pickup truck and Fred Thompson's "authentic" image and "folksy" charm. C'mon, people, the man is a Washington insider, a politician, a lawyer, a lobbyist, and an actor who never actually drove that red pickup himself. Oh, and he doesn't want to have a beer with you either. (16:47 15.4MB)

Things are heating up in the Tennessee General Assembly this week and Representative Rob Briley of the Fightin' 52nd! joins us with an update. Will the 42 cent cigarette tax increase pass? Will there be a reduction in the food tax? Why does Representative Beth Harwell hate education? Does he have a horse in the mayor's race? And, he's been an elected public official for almost ten years now, why hasn't he named anything after himself yet?!? (24:12 22.2MB)

After some brand new theme music, we speak once again with our Media Matters for America correspondent, Elbert Ventura, who delivers a hearty smackdown on homogeneity on our news talk shows as revealed in an MMfA report. Apparently, talking to black people is only worthwhile when someone says something racist. We at Liberadio(!) have our butts covered because Elbert is Filipino-American. The good kind, unlike Michelle Malkin. (13:30 12.4MB)

Ashley, an ex-military interrogator (true story!), explores with Freddie the Pentagon’s new notion that our men and women in uniform might no longer be able to testify before Congress. We’ll just see what the Constitution has to say about that! Also, Detroit and a few members of the Senate blow some hot air about fuel efficiency standards. Apparently, they haven’t figured out that going green begets green. (13:35 12.5MB)

Julee Baber of Nashville Children’s Theatre and Ross Brooks of People’s Branch Theatre join forces to create an undefeatable performance of sex and war — Lysistrata. An all-female cast demonstrates that withholding sex is an effective mechanism to stop war, but Liberadio(!) is unconvinced that Bush and Cheney are getting any anyway. The show goes on through May 25th at the Belcourt Theatre. (22:43 20.8MB)

Alphabet Ashley Crownover sits in for Mary and bristles at the Liberadio(!) Code of Conduct, which does not allow her to play any Bread. We discuss an unfortunate prank and the latest impass noted by MPASS, in which Ashley has a vested (or school tied) interest. And we review the damaged Republican brand. (23:06 21.2MB).

In this episode you can hear the delight in our voices as we discover that a bipartisan group of Senators along with President Bush reached an agreement on immigration-reform legislation. Let the full Senate and House debates begin! I'll get the popcorn... (10:21 9.5MB)

We continue our candidate interview series with mayoral candidate and current Councilmember At-large, Buck Dozier. We ask him about turning Nashville into "The Athens Of Education In America," his promise of transparency if elected, immigration, and his vote on the civil rights ordinance that came before the council in 2003. (22:45 20.8MB)

Did you hear the blistering testimony about Alberto Gonzales from James Comey, the former No. 2 official at the Justice Department under John Ashcroft? We did and we recap it during this portion of the show. Senate Democrats and Republicans heard it too and are calling for his resignation even more loudly than before. Tick-tock, Mr. Attorney General, tick-tock. (11:41 10.7MB)

In the last segment of our WAMB show, we listen to the generals on the ground (unlike some person we know) and Freddie notes that the Pentagon has placed unprecedented restrictions on who can testify before Congress, really pushing the envelope on this whole constitutional powers thing. (17:46 16.3MB)

Author, american, anti-war activist and mother, Cindy Sheehan, joins us for a conversation about the real meaning of Mother's Day and her call to action for all mothers to march on Washington this coming Monday, May 14. "Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!" -- Julia Ward Howe, Mother's Day Proclamation, 1870 (15:53 14.5MB)

In part one of our Friday show on WAMB, we reveal that the White House is misrepresentin' and withholdin' key docs and info from Congress. And is Alberto Gonzales a liar, incompetent, or both? Plus a note to Mother Nature: Only one natural disaster at a time, please. And make sure they are at least a few months apart. (11:17 10.3)

First Elbert smacks down Glenn Beck for his one-man global warming (read: hot air) project. Then Mary and Robert, gadfly extraordinaire, get into it over Bush's conservatism and immigration. Freddie hides. (26:00 23.8MB)

We speak with Laura Flanders about how to rebuild the Democratic party, the state of liberal talk radio, and women in politics. Oh, and her new book! Blue Grit: True Democrats Take Back Politics from the Politicians. (20:44 19MB)

Eddie George talks about his participation in this year's Tour de Nash, a citywide walking and biking tour scheduled for Saturday, May 19th, and designed to highlight bike lanes and greenways throughout our fair city. Trust us: Eddie is a fan of healthy lifestyles. Think you can keep up with him on the 62-mile ride? Mary does! (Editor's note: Really, I don't.) (13:53 12.7MB)

In which we discuss Bush's dismally low approval ratings. As in, Jimmy Carter during Iran low. As in, the only president ever other than Truman with ratings this low for this long. As in, low enough to make Mary want to dance for the duration of the show. (34:04 31.2MB)

In the last part of this morning's show on WAMB 1200 AM, we discussed Alberto G's interesting way of running his department, Senator Clinton's de-authorization, and the commander-guy's veto. (16:29 15.1MB)

This morning on WAMB 1200 AM, we continued our mayoral interview series with the founder of Eaton Automotive Group, CEO of Southeast Investments, and mayoral candidate, Kenneth Eaton. (16:17 14.9MB)

During the first part of this morning's show on WAMB 1200 AM, Mary and Freddie talk about the resumption of state killing in Tennessee and last night's Republican debate. Mary doesn't care what he said last night about Roe v. Wade, she still thinks Rudy Giuliani is "a less than desirable candidate."* (16:26 15MB) *not actually what she said.

It's time for our weekly Media Matters for America Smackdown with Media Matters Research Fellow, Elbert Ventura. Freddie dons his tin foil hat to prevent the evil Soros-Ventura cabal from breaking through his thick skull. Elbert dispels the media mutterings of Limbaugh and O'Reilly, who suggests that Media Matters is at the heart of George Soros's insane plot to take his Peabody Awards away from him.

Summary: The former governor of Iowa and would-have-been Democratic nominee speaks about his presidential bid, his subsequent endorsement of Hillary Clinton, carbon neutrality and energy security, the Bush-McCain doctrine, and how Tennessee Democrats can reclaim the State Senate. Sadly, we forgot our duck call. Vil-SACK! (20:46 19MB)

Vanderbilt Distinguished Professor, Reverend Jim Lawson, is against Christians against Jesus. In our interview he explores important social and religious issues often left unexplored by the modern mainstream media. The nonviolence advocate expects a new movement behind the message to arise. We don't think it can come soon enough. (32:28 29.7MB)

Mary and Freddie dance around the issue of whether Pres. Bush should be dancing despite having left his one-liners in the vault. After all, we have a "global war on terror" to win. A discussion of the many "successes" of reconstruction in Iraq ensues. With some hijinks. (31:14 28.6MB)

This morning we interviewed Ned Lamont on WAMB 1200AM. Ned ran against "He-who-shall-not-be-named" for U.S. Senate in the Connecticut Democratic primary last year and won, only to lose in the general election to the same candidate. Ned's a smart guy, a successful businessman with degrees from both Harvard and Yale and, we hope, a future politician. During the interview Ned talks about the democratic process, standing for something, the Iraq war, the Dems plan for the Iraq war, Rudy Giuliani, Connecticut's "Tennessee Envy," his mom's blog, and the importance of running for office. (16:13 7.5MB)

In a good old-fashioned honky tonk debunk-a-bunk, we speak with Dennis Henigan, Director of the Legal Action Project for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. He dispels the mythical conservative talking point that more guns equal more security and confirms that, in fact, guns do kill people! The Virginia Tech shooting was preventable based on existing law, so he emphasizes the need for improving enactment and enforcement of existing law. Unfortunately, the NRA apparently has a more compelling story than that of a man named Brady... (20:14 9.3MB)

Our guest in this segment is Allen F. St. Pierre, Executive Director of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. In this role, Mr. St. Pierre has written, debated, and lectured extensively on the topic of cannabis and its prohibition. St. Pierre is in Nashville today to appear at the benefit to save Bernie Ellis' farm. Ellis' farm was raided and he was arrested and sent to jail after admitting that he had been providing free cannabis to sick and dying people for many years, beginning when he helped establish the Tennessee AIDS Program for the Tennessee Department of Health in the late 1980s. In our interview with St. Pierre, he explains why the federal government is trying to confiscate Ellis' farm while revealing the antiquated laws surrounding the prohibition of marijuana. (04:20 9.2MB)

In this epidode we interview Laurel Creech, of Team Green, and Claudia Schenck, of the Tennessee Environmental Council, co-chairs of Nashville's sixth annual Nashville Earth Day Festival to be held this Saturday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park. This year’s Earth Day Festival will celebrate our planet and our hometown – Nashville –while raising awareness about the environment and important issues such as climate change through a day of family-friendly activities, food, live performances (2 p.m. with TRADOC Rock, followed by Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, Jen Foster, Gabe Dixon Band, and headliner Rodney Crowell with Lee Roy Parnell at 6 p.m), and workshops (organic farming, composting, etc.). (19:05 17.4MB)

Which came first? Knowledgeable people watching Comedy Central or Comedy Central making people more knowledgeable? Yesterday, the Pew Research Center issued the results of a poll acknowledging that the american people don't know any more about government now than they did twenty years ago, despite the advent of the 24-news cycle. Those that do know? Yeah, they're getting their real news from fake news shows. Plus, let's allow Republicans to create a nominal monarchy and two hundred World Bank staffers demand the resignation of Paul Wolfowitz. (22:25 20.5MB)

David Briley joins us for our first in a series of mayoral candidate interviews on WAMB-AM. Also, a "Republican National Committee Missing Email" timeline, a surprising presidential candidate poll, and like everyone else, we get a little sidetracked by Imus. (53:16 24.4MB)

Sometimes, like this weekend for instance as we watched Senator Joe Leiberman on CNN, we wish that politics was like professional sports and Senators could be traded from one party to another. First up, Joe Leiberman. We'll take Chuck Hagel. Or maybe even Arlen Spector and a congressman to be named later. (31:35 28.9MB)

The proposed implementation of a "Standard School Attire" policy for all Metro Nashville Public Schools is causing quite a stir. Involved parents say the decision-making process is flawed. Students spent their day off last Friday in Centennial Park protesting against the policy. Administrators appear caught off guard by the push back. Enter Ashley Crownover, parent of two public school students and one of the founders of Metro Parents Against Standard School Attire (MPASS). We interviewed her this morning. Be afraid, Dr. Garcia, be very afraid, for there's a fire in Crownover's eyes that should be in the eyes of every parent of a public school student. Perhaps it's contagious? The school board votes on the issue at their meeting on Tuesday, April 10. Prior to the vote, according to the MPASS website, "Parents and students opposed to the proposed uniform requirement for Metro public schools will gather...for a rally at the MNPS central administration building at 2601 Bransford Ave. The protest is planned for 4 p.m. in advance of the 5 p.m. school board meeting, during which the school board is expected to vote on the proposed policy." (25:49 23.7MB)

Summary: Our interview with Jim Grinstead, Executive Director of Democracy for Tennessee, who are having their convention this Saturday, April 7, in Nashville, and will feature keynote speaker Ned Lamont. This year's theme is "From the Ground Up" - a plan to build the grassroots in the Volunteer State through organizing and action. DFT's Convention '07's goal is to offer a solid vision for a more progressive Tennessee and the tools and training to achieve that vision.

Titans enter the political arena: Steve McNair is backing Bob Clement, while Eddie George sent out a fundraising appeal on behalf of Howard Gentry. Reports from all candidates were that no one was seeking the support of Pacman Jones; Senator Kurita passes the first piece of her energy package; plus, we love ice cream, baseball, Stephen Colbert and Eric, who we haven't heard from in a while.

In this episode we interview Tennessee State Senator Shea Flinn (D-30) , the man who replaced in Steve Cohen after he made it to the show (U.S. Congress). During his short tenure, Senator Flinn tried to bring logic and rational thought to our governing body while reaching out across the aisle. For that, and many other reasons, Senator Flinn is a great american. (16:10 14.8MB)

Summary: Alma Sanford and Thelma Kidd — together known as the unstoppable “Thalma” — join us for a discussion of the relatively young Tennessee Democratic Women’s Political Action Committee (TDWPAC), whose mission is to support pro-choice Democratic women in statewide races. We dig a little deeper into what it takes to earn their support and whether it’s possible to lose it. Their big annual fundraiser is a silent auction that will take place Wednesday, March 28th, 5:30-8:30 p.m. in Grace’s Plaza, the old Green Hills stomping grounds of Thelma’s Davis-Kidd Booksellers. (20?12 18.5 MB)

Summary: On the fourth anniversary of America’s invasion of Iraq, Iraqis feel less safe than ever before and American’s feel little confidence in the war and U.S. presence in the civil-war torn nation. In a 2003 CNN poll, 83% of Americans expressed confidence in the campaign in Iraq, today, that number is a measly 35%. Similarly, now only 30% say they are proud of the war, down from 60% at its outset. When the war began, 68% said the war was worth fighting, now 61% say it wasn’t worth it. The view from Iraq is also grim. Nearly nine out of ten Iraqis say they "live in fear that the violence ravaging their country will strike themselves and the people with whom they live." 82% say they have little confidence in U.S. and coalition forces, and over two thirds believe that the billions of dollars of U.S. reconstruction aid has been "ineffective."
US Troops Killed: 3192
US Troops Wounded: 24, 042
Cost of War: 410 Billion
Iraqi Civilian Deaths: 54,000+?
(21:44 19.9MB)

The Union Jack Goes Green; Ever more open government is a good thing. Let the Sun Shine In!; Used Soldiers. Battle Ready. Cheap. Check Condition; and finally, a scandal in the Bush Administration! At Least, one that's getting attention... (22:13 20.3MB)

Liberadio(!)'s "Most Long Island show Ever" continues with our interview with Sprout, of the all-woman, New York-based (but Long Island-raised!) hip-hop trio Northern State. They're on their way to stir it up at SxSW. All you Austin Suckamofos better back the f**k up! (11:20 10.1MB)

"I'm a saint not a sinner I am the prize winner,
gonna get the NSP and host my own spaghetti dinner,
I'm a vegetarian, humanitarian, imaginarian, not a libertarian,
the country's getting ugly and there's more in store,
but don't blame me cause I voted for Gore,
keep choice legal, your wardrobe regal,
Chekhov wrote the Seagull, and Snoopy is a beagle,
it's like dum de dum I keep my eyes underground,
I'm walking down the street I'm the purveyor of sound..."
-- Northern State, A Thousand Words

It's our most Long Island show ever! And even though we can't convince Tennessee State Senator Joe Haynes to say "youse guys," we do convince him to fill us in on what the Democratic Caucus is up to, explain how the legislative committee system works in Tennessee, and give us his take on that pesky Ron Ramsey/John Wilder kerfuffle. Plus, what he says about his vote for mandating english-language drivers license tests will both shock AND awe. (24:52 22.8MB)

It's part one of our "Most Long Island Show Ever!" The Democrats have a good, solid plan for Iraq, which comes as no surprise to us. We're also not surprised by Republican reaction. The Bush administration stealing it and calling it their own? Big surprise. Plus, look who Newt was doing in the 90's, Halliburton: No Need for Irony, the Onion's Presidential Weekly Radio Address, and Freddie gets a linguistics lesson. (30:42 28.1MB)

In this episode, we try and talk about about John Edwards' rfeusal to take part in a presidential debate sponsored by Fox News and the "mistakes" made by the FBI but the sheer hypocrisy of Newt Gingrich's recent disclosure derails us. (32:00 29.73MB)

Our guest is Paula Span, adjunct professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and a contributing writer to the Washington Post Magazine. Her latest piece for the magazine entitled "Battle Worn," tells the story of Tennessee soldier Corporal Richard Twohig, who was injured in Iraq and came home to fight a enemy he never saw coming, the US Army. (24:26 22.4MB)

It’s another episode of the Media Matters for America Smackdown with Media Matters Research Fellow, Elbert Ventura. Coulter is savage, Savage gets gored, and Gore gets the shaft. (13:23 12.3MB)

In this episode we interview Tennessee state senator and Speaker Pro Tem, Rosalind Kurita. In the interview she lays out the reason behind her "vote of conscience," her environmental agenda, her populist approach to politics, and her push to elect our constitutional officers. Plus, is her father to blame for the Bush legacy? (28:19 25.9MB)

Immigration is not new. Neither is using it as a political football. What is new are the 32 pieces of Republican-sponsored legislation that will be introduced into the Tennessee state legislature this session. But, just how many times can you make English the official state language? (34:02 31MB)

Vice President Al Gore on national television representing Tennessee: Good. Representative Stacey Campfield on national television representing Tennessee: Bad. (36:56 33.8MB)

In this episode, Mary and Freddie interview William Arkin, writer of the Washington Post's Early Warning blog, author of several books including Code Names: Deciphering U.S. Military Plans, Programs and Operations in the 9/11 World, and Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. Arkin, fresh off his Oscar win, talked about what he learned from his recent blogging controversy, declared U.S. foreign policy distressingly disorganized, and called for a national service draft. (20:02 18.4MB)

Inspired by a story in Sunday's NY Times about the resurgence of liberal America, Mary and Freddie find a new theme song for the show - Beyoncé's head-rolling, finger-snapping 'Irreplaceable.' Liberadio(!)'s version is below. (35:57 32.9MB) Irreplaceable (Sung to the tune of 'Irreplaceable' by Beyoncé Knowles) To the left To the Left To the left To the left All of our friends 'cross the aisle to the Left In the House, to the Right there's fluff Yes, we want substance, and not bullstuff (bullstuff) They keep talking that mess, that's fine But talking that mess is what's left them behind It's Pelosi that just got tagged So go get your bags, let me call you a cab Standing in the chamber, talking to me Like I'm such a fool, goin' on that Gay marriage is such a threat to you You got me twisted You must not know 'bout me You must not know 'bout me I could vote you out in just about a minute Matter fact, did just that in a minute (Denny) You must not know 'bout me You must not know 'bout me I could vote you out in just about a minute So don't you ever for a second get to thinkin' You're irreplaceable In a year, more of you will be gone So call up 'Yo Blair,' and see if he's home Oops I bet you thought, that I didn't know What did you think I was putting you out for? Because we were lied to Starting a war 'cause that's what you wanted to do Georgie, drop those keys Hurry up, before your ranch horse leaves (mid-stream) Standing in the White House, telling us How we're such the fools, talking 'bout Only Twenty thousand more troops will do You got me twisted You must not know 'bout me You must not know 'bout me I could vote you out in just about a minute Matter fact, will do that in a minute (Georgie) You must not know 'bout me You must not know 'bout me I'll have another you by '08 So don't you ever for a second get to thinkin' You're irreplaceable So since you're not our everything How about you be nothing, like Katrina was nothing to you? Immigration? Just another ploy And we're not buying it anymore 'Cause the truth of the matter is Replacing you will be so easy To the left to the left To the left to the left Mmmmmmmm To the left to the left All of our friends 'cross the aisle to the left To the left to the left Don't you ever for a second get to thinking You're irreplaceable You must not know 'bout me You must not know 'bout me I could vote you out in just about a minute Matter fact, will do that in a minute (Georgie) You must not know 'bout me You must not know 'bout me I'll have another you by '08 So don't you ever for a second get to thinkin' you must not know 'bout me you must not know 'bout me I could vote you out in just about a minute Matter fact, will do that in a minute (Georgie) You can pack all your things - you're finished 'Cause you made your bed now lay in it We will have a better you in a year So don't you ever for a second get to thinkin' You're irreplaceable

It's the sound of all the fundraising creating a perfect vacuum beneath the Big Three: Obama, Edwards, and Clinton. The first victim was Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa. A McClatchy Newspaper analysis finds that the number of severely poor Americans grew by 26 percent from 2000(The year George W. Bush was appointed) to 2005 (the year after George W. Bush was sorta elected). The Washington Post tries to explain to the Pentagon what "support our troops" actually means. (35:24 32.4MB)

Al Franken gets it. Tennessee’s own John Duncan from the 2nd district (the Fightin’ 2nd!) gets it. The states that are passing anti-war resolutions get it. Al Gore might get it if his series of live concerts (Clim8?) to raise awareness about global climate change are also carbon neutral. There’s only one person who definitely doesn’t get it and his initials are President George W. Bush. (30:37 28MB)

Summary: In this episode, Mary gushes over Senator Barack Obama's presidential announcement, Freddie gushes over particpatory democracy, and a caller gushes over us. Gush. Gusher. Gushiest. (19:41 18MB)

Award-winning journalist, Don Barlett joins us to discuss his latest piece of investigative journalism. In the latest issue of Vanity Fair, Barlett, along with his partner, Jim Steele, investigate Science Applications International Corporation's unsettling record as one of the government's largest contractors. The piece, called "Washington's $8 Billion Shadow," includes such gems as "...more than 90 percent of all taxpayers might as well remit everything they owe directly to SAIC or some other contractor rather than to the IRS," and, SAIC "epitomizes something beyond Eisenhower's worst nightmare—the "military-industrial-counterterrorism complex."' And Mary only called him Don Bartlet once! Good times. (25:42 23.5MB)

FREDDIE: Oh, Mon Dieu, Marie! Je pense que je vois un terroriste hors de la fenetre du studio! Appelez neuf-un-un ou quelque chose! MARY: Non, Frederic, ce n'est pas un terroriste! C'est juste le Councilman Eric Crafton en brandissant son Ordonnance de l'Anglais-Seulement aimez une arme. (30:11 27.6MB)

Summary: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is second in line for the presidency and deserves all the security precautions that her position demands - deal with it, Hannity. Plus, what the Pentagon did might've been wrong, but hey, it was legal! And is Al Gore going to put on a bigger show than Ellen DeGeneres at the Oscars? Finally, although Obama called for universal health care in his DNC Winter meeting address, John Edwards is the first to the table with a concrete proposal. How long will it take before someone labels the ex-Senator a *gasp* Socialist? (37MB 40:08)

The former first female governor of New Hampshire and the current director of Harvard's Institute of Politics, Jeanne Shaheen, joins us to discuss the 11th Biannual Youth Survey on Politics and Public Service (pdf). The verdict? Stewart/Colbert '08! (13:56 13.8MB)

The vast right-wing conspiracy turned off the WRVU-FM transmitter during our show on Monday morning so we’re posting the first half hour for those of you who may have missed it. In this episode, we recap the Nashville mayoral and metro council races and play some awesome Chuck “Norris” Hagel audio. Senator Hagel took some time last week to round-house kick his colleagues in the Senate. Conservatives take note: we say nice things about a Republican. (39:36 36.3MB)

Is it possible that the Bush administration could finagle a White House coup for women and minorities before the Democrats? Does their Rice trump our Obama and Clinton? If so, does it mean that Vice President Cheney is outtie? Also, on Tuesday we suffered the annual State of the Union address. Figuring that misery loves company, we gathered some kindred spirits to take it in. And what we heard was even uglier than what we saw. Plus, if Barack Obama says it's time for universal health care, then it must be true. And Mary channels Deanna Troi - she's totally feelin' it on Iran. (31:26 28MB)

This episdoe we interview Bob Mueller, co-anchor of NEWS 2 at 4 and 4:30. Bob is a award winning journalist and investigative reporter and a really good guy (as evidenced by the fact that he didn't walk out of the studio when we tried to bring the funny about his iconic mustache). In addition to his role as anchor, Bob brings us indepth local and national political analysis each week as host of This Week with Bob Mueller, which airs on Sunday mornings prior to ABC's This Week with George Stephanopolous. We like to call it the "Muelleropoulos" effect. (21:10 19MB)

Summary: Freddie give his version of the State of the Union and rolls his eyes at Senator James Webb. Also, Phil Bredesen was just sworn in for a second term as Governor of Tennessee and has promised to concentrate on public education. Boy, he sure could use some of that $1.2 trillion (that's "trillion" with a "t") we've spent in Iraq. Boy. And for the last time (well, probably not the last time) we don't want big government, we want smart government. (28:51 27MB)

Summary: It's our first official podcast of 2007 and we're looking forward to next week's State of the Union, which would be in a lot better shape had we spent $1.2 trillion on it rather than on "stay the course." We also found a letter from the Bush administration to Iraq which reads, "Dear Iraq, We've killed tens of thousands of your civilians, we've left you a sectarian cesspool of strife, and we'd like now to plunder your primary natural resource. At a premium. Love, The United States of America." And what's the neo-con difference Iraq and Iran? Only one lil' 'ol letter! Plus, Steve Gill got the anti-Obama fax this morning. What's he going on about now? We'll tell you but keep it under your hat 'cause he heard it from Hillary Clinton! (29:56 13.7MB)

Summary: It's the first episode after National Conference on Media Reform in Memphis, TN, and we interview conference panelist, media scholar, associate professor of sociology at New York University, and author of the new book, Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America’s Media, Eric Klinenberg. This one's for Terry Frank ("Marxists in Memphis"), Bill Hobbs ("The National Conference on Media Reform is and always was about silencing conservatives and enslaving media in the service of the leftwing agenda..."), Tman ("if you want the government to be in charge of the 'free airwaves' I suggest something like a Cuba, or North Korea. They will make sure it’s fair alright"), and Mick Wright ("...a band of 3,000 converged in Memphis. They are the few, the proud, the 'nut-roots'). (32:46 23MB)

Our interview with Hedy Weinberg, Director of the American Civil Liberties of Tennessee. She tells us why we hate America, want to secularize our neighbors, wage a war on Christmas year after year, and should move to Cuba. Fun times. (30:56 14.2MB)

Summary: Shannon Hornsby was recently hired as the Executive Director of Walk/Bike Nashville and we interviewed her right before Christmas. We find out about the mission of the organization and their developing vision for making Nashville a more walkable and bikeable city. She also gives us tips on what Nashvillians can do to help you improve our bicycle and pedestrian friendliness. (20:14 9.4MB)

Our guest is Jenn Tlumak, a recent trainee and now a Climate Change Messenger of The Climate Project, a movement to educate and challenge citizens and governments into action against the growing crisis of global warming. Their first initiative is the training of 1,000 lecturers who will present the information in An Inconvenient Truth to audiences across America, and Jenn is one of the thousand! Contact: If you’d like to have Jenn make a presentation to your group or organization, contact her at jennifer.tlumak@gmail.com. Quote of the Day: “It’s not fun…and it’s easier to just say, “Oh, you know, piddlywig, let’s just move on.” – Jenn Tlumak

Summary: Our guest, Lorelei Kelly, is the Policy Director for The White House Project, whose goal is to increase the influence of women in media, politics and national decision making. In 1998, she founded the Security for a New Century - a bipartisan study group on Capitol Hill. Our discussion centers around security, international affairs, conflict resolution, conflict prevention, and the findings of the Iraq Study Group (and whether or not we are likely to see some real change in our foreign policy because of it). We also asked if a change in congressional leadership will finally mean a bipartisan foreign policy that serves the public, not commercial, interests. Interestingly, Lorelei believes, and even hears from military leaders, that the tools we're using - "violence and the use of force at every level - do not work anymore and have become counter-productive." Our foreign policy problems no longer have military solutions. Quote of the Day: "Addiction to the gravy-train of defense contracting is a bi-partisan problem and the gold-plated barnicles of defense contracting are going to be really hard to pry off the federal budget. That said, I think there's something people can do." --Lorelei Kelly Lorelei is also the co-author of Policy Matters: Educating Congress on Peace and Security. (22:27 10.3MB)

"Now Vilsack! now, Edwards! now, Obama and Clinton! On, Brownback! on, Romney! on McCain and Thompson! To go to the White House! Will they heed the call? Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" (17:46 16.3MB)

What's that we hear in the hallowed Senate halls? "Don't Tell Mama, I'm for Obama!" Plus, President Bush's procrastination policy, Senators Reid and Frist get a little cozy, a whistle-blower in Britain whistles an unhappy "we knew there were no WMDs" tune, and finally, "Hey, FCC, give us a chance to make money with a 50,000 watt signal and some balanced programming." (33:10 15.2)

Summary: FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, one of only two democrats that sit on the commission, joins us to discuss the significance of today's public hearing, the proposed fcc rule changes, and how we own the airwaves. (18:00 22 MB)

Rev. Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, does a fantastic job of explaining why the Religious Right, with their ideology-based social agenda - including the push to pass "marriage amendments" that ban same-sex unions and the teaching of creationism in public schools - has it wrong. He also talks about his new book, Piety & Politics: The Right-Wing Assault on Religious Freedom, in which he explains why the Religious Right’s dream for America is a nightmare. (23:03, 21.2MB)

Oh, yes indeedy we got our vote on. And Mary saw some frustrations, but nothing like what David Briley saw. Unfortunately, Tennessee was a lowlight in the 2006 mid-term landscape. Young Hal lost to "Stay the" Corker, and Tennesseans decided that, constitutionally, one man can marry one woman in Tennessee. We wonder who the lucky couple is. Also in today's podcast, we measure the Liberadio(!) effect on the election results, kick off the Stop Alcee campaign, examine just how radical the Democratic agenda is, and look ahead to 2008, where outgoing Iowa governor Tom Vilsack joins a field of 1 and Bill Frist checks to see who will come if he builds it. Answer? No one. Good riddance to the only doctor in the Senate! Memo to John Kerry: sit it out! (37:45 17.3MB)

Summary: Yesterday when asked "what's your prayer for the country?" President Bush said, "My prayer is peace. My prayer is that this world be peaceful so that children can grow up understanding the benefits of freedom." If we were President Bush we'd ask for something that might actually get some results. Like, forgiveness for being a bald-faced hypocrite. And the latest from the officers in Iraq is that resistance to deadlines is weakening. Good to know. Now can we start a dialogue about a plan for Iraq without being accused of wanting to "cut and run?" No? OK, then what you got? Cheney and Rumsfeld get to stay through 2008? Nice. How about some fries with that "stay the course?" And you do know that it's Harold Ford, Jr. and not Bob "Stay the" Corker who's excited about discussion and ideas and dialogue, right? (31:12 14MB)

Summary: Today we go over the reasons why you should vote, why you should help to get out the vote, and why you should help to get out the vote for Harold Ford, Jr.*. Also, who is this mythical Democratic candidate that Republicans say will raise your taxes your taxes and make you less safe? Repeat after us, "He does not exist." You know what does exist? Missing weapons. As in, missing U.S. weapons. As in, 1 of every 25 weapons the military bought for Iraqi security forces is missing. That's 14,000 missing weapons. And Freddie suggests that John Kerry zip it while Barack Obama can keep right on talking. (28:28 13MB) *Ford says, “Whatever the intent, Senator Kerry was wrong to say what he said. He needs to apologize to our troops...[but] words don’t alter the fact that the stay-the-course strategy pursued by President Bush and supported by Bob Corker isn’t working. We need a new direction in Iraq. I know how hard our troops work, and the sacrifices they make, for our freedoms. They deserve a plan for victory as good as they are, and as senator I intend to see they get one."

It's Halloween and Congressman Jim Cooper comes by to scare Mary and Freddie with spooky tales of executive overreaching and congressional underperformance. *Shudder* Then he mentions the real size of the federal deficit and just freaks everybody out!

We interviewed Randy Tarkington, Campaign Manager for Vote No on One. This election day, Tennessee voters will be asked to consider a referendum on an amendment to the state constitution which would prohibit same-sex marriage. Randy tells us why, no matter how we feel about gay marriage, we should all vote NO on Referendum #1.

Summary: Listen to our interview with Will Kimbrough - singer, songerwriter, producer, guitarist extraordinaire, and the proud son of yellow-dog Democrats from Mobile, Alabama. Will has played with Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider, Kim Richey, Josh Rouse & Jimmy Buffett (who recorded his “Piece of Work” on his License to Chill CD), and produced records by Adrienne Young, Kate Campbell, and Todd Snider. His latest CD, Americanitis, prompted the Los Angeles Daily News to say, "Kimbrough has a gift for folk-pop protest." Yes, indeedy! (35:18 16.2MB)

In this episode we interview Rob Richie, executive director of FairVote, formerly the Center for Voting and Democracy, a non-profit organization that researches and advocates election reforms that promote voter turnout, accountable governance and fair representation. He is an expert on both international and domestic electoral systems and has directed the Center since its founding in 1992. He is also the co-author of Every Vote Equal: A State-based Plan for Electing the President by National Popular Vote. PS: Sorry for the bad echo but dude was using his cell phone. (2006). (21:39 19MB)

Summary: Today, we explain why being a single issue voter isn't just for Republicans anymore. Can we get our liberal compatriots to stop, drop and roll into the voting booth for Harold Ford, Jr.? Plus, we see how many college scholarships we could've funded with the three-hundred billion that's being spent on the war in Iraq (Hint: It's A LOT); Salon notes that several military-heavy districts are not leaning as Republican as the GOP would prefer (It seems that they're kinda PO'd right now); WaPo discovers that only a very slim (and not-FABULOUS!) majority of Virginians favor a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage; and President Bush confides to George Snuffaluffagus that Iraq just might be a modern Vietnam (say baroo, Mr. President?). (28:07 12.9MB) *Shout out to Jmora SweetTempers

Even though Monday's broadcast was our "gayest show ever," we just can't seem to get enough! Plus, David Kuo's new book, Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction, isn't going to help Karl Rove with his campaign in the pews, and he's probably also not going to be terribly pleased to see the results of a new Gallup poll. And, according to a Rolling Stone cover story this week, we've just been subjected to the worst Congress ever. Plus, ABC News' Political Radar discovered a GOP political action committee running frightening ads attempting to scare black voters into abandoning the Democratic Party. Is Halloween coming early this year? (27:11 12.5MB)

Summary: Does the GOP has a gay identity crisis or do they know exactly what they're doing? Let's ask Madame Secretary Rice and Mrs. George Bush, who officially acknowledged the "mother-in-law" of the new global AIDS cooordinator, who happens to be gay. Wait just one minute, Condi. Are you saying that it's possible for a gay couple to have a mother-in-law without gay marriage being legal? If you're a Republican, you can! And the Music Row Democrats, one of Nashville's best political blogs, ask, "Remember all the media coverage about 'How to talk to your children about President Clinton'?" Well, they write, where is media's advice on how parents can discuss the Mark Foley scandal with their children? Excellent question, MRD, where indeed! Plus, Oprah gets down with Frank Rich and some foreign policy (you go, girl!); our tent isn't big enough for James Dobson; another Republican Congressman resigns; we give Hastert the Bastert until the end of the week; and there's Nothing Funny about Page-Hungry Sodomites...or is there?

Summary: President Bush has a way with words. He can leave out the word "gun" during an hour-long discussion about the rash of school shootings in the past week, invoke the word "urgent" when discussing the passage of legislation he has no intention of signing for weeks, and emphatically assert the causal relationship between tax cuts and the reduction of the deficit where none exists. Today, with a little help from Congressman Jim Cooper of the Fighting Fifth!, we expose President Bush's tricky wordy ways.

Summary: Is Healthcare a right or a privilege? Let's ask the nine million uninsured children in this country. Plus, a Ford-Corker debate roundup, a reminder that Secretary Rice is inept, it's the economy stupid, and please keep this question handy when someone mentions the C-word, ""George W. Bush has been president for six years. Can you tell me what his administration has done during that time to prevent North Korea from getting nuclear weapons?" (34:48 16MB)

Summary: Prophetic words were spoken in 1961 when President Eisenhower warned us against "the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." It's here now, this "unwarranted influence," and well-documented in Robert Greenwald's new documentary, "Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers." Also in this episode: evangelical hypocrisy, an axi of evil acts up, vocabulary 101, and it's the gay staffers mafia, stupid! (32:28 14.9MB)

Summary: Today we celebrate participatory democracy with the Liberadio(!) third party and independent candidates forum featuring Ginny Welsch, independent candidate for Congress; Howard Switzer, Green Party candidate for Governor; and Chris Lugo, Green party candidate for the Senate. Plus, how many times do we have to tell you that the Republicans are the party of big government; Let's go Mets; Karl Rove's right hand gal resigns because of her connection to Jack Abramoff; The President issues yet another signing statement; How many times do we have to tell you that "Stay the Course" is not a plan of action; Another installment of The O'Connell Factor; and Media Matters for America Smackdown! Guests: Ginny Welsch, independent candidate for Congress; Howard Switzer, Green Party candidate for Governor; Chris Lugo, Green party candidate for Senate; Elbert Ventura, Media Matters for America. Links: The Party of Waste and No-Bid Contracts, Afghanistan, Inc., White House Official Is First Casualty of Abramoff, A New Bush Signing Statement, If a Bush hammers Democrats on national security in a forest of Foleys, does anyone hear him?, Senator John Warner Visits Iraq. Particpatory Democracy 'R' Us" Part 1 (17:31 8MB)

Summary: It's the Media Matters for America Smackdown! Guests: Elbert Ventura, Media Matters for America Media Matters for America Smackdown (13:32 6.3MB)

Summary: We count three September surprises and one October one - the National Intelligence Estimate Report, the Clinton Wallace Smackdown, the Ex-Foleyation of Congress, and Bob Woodward's book - and the election is still 30 days away! Plus, Madame Secretary Rice gets caught in a lie by her own State Department and just exactly which course are we staying? (20:40 9.5MB)

Summary: Condi Denies, Hastert Lies, Sex Sells, Rasmussen predicts, and another installment of The O'Connell Factor.

Guest: Elbert Ventura, Research Fellow for Media Matters for America

Summary: The Liberadio(!) players re-enact Congressman Foley's chat sessions with a Congressional Page while Right-wing extremists spin the story. "It's gay-bashing!," says Newt Gingrich; "They did it first!" says Brit Hume; "They're sick people; they need mental health counseling," says Representative MarkFoley. Plus, the do-nothing Congress did, well, nothing during the 109th session. Oh wait, they did try to disenfranchise 75% of the American people and found new ways to waste tax dollars with a new defense spending bill with a few interesting strings attached. And when will people stop leaking the truth about Iraq? It's cramping our President's style! Finally, Elbert Ventura gives us the latest from Media Matters (part 1), Councilman Mike Jameson stops by to discuss the English-only bill as well as bringing the concept of environmental design to Nashville (part 2) and Saginaw Spirit Coach Bob Mancini calls to smacktalk our mascot, The Colbeagle (part 2). Links: Vote No on One, Register to Vote

Guest: Councilman Mike Jameson and Saginaw Spirit Coach Bob Mancini

Summary: The Liberadio(!) players re-enact Congressman Foley's chat sessions with a Congressional Page while Right-wing extremists spin the story. "It's gay-bashing!," says Newt Gingrich; "They did it first!" says Brit Hume; "They're sick people; they need mental health counseling," says Representative MarkFoley. Plus, the do-nothing Congress did, well, nothing during the 109th session. Oh wait, they did try to disenfranchise 75% of the American people and found new ways to waste tax dollars with a new defense spending bill with a few interesting strings attached. And when will people stop leaking the truth about Iraq? It's cramping our President's style! Finally, Elbert Ventura gives us the latest from Media Matters (part 1), Councilman Mike Jameson stops by to discuss the English-only bill as well as bringing the concept of environmental design to Nashville (part 2) and Saginaw Spirit Coach Bob Mancini calls to smacktalk our mascot, The Colbeagle (part 2). Links: Vote No on One, Register to Vote

In today's episode Harold Ford drives a big fat wedge between your hosts. Mary: I'm disappointed that Harold Ford voted for the Detainee bill. Freddie: I'm less disappointed than you are. Harold Ford believes he is representing the best interests of Tennesseans. Mary: No! No! No! No Way! It's all politics! Freddie: But the politics are expressive of the representations of people's interests! And it just gets better from there... Also, 485 direct contacts with the White House, Soft Voices in the Wilderness, W for Vendetta, and the FBI takes a bite out of Corker's crime record. McGruff! (32:00 13.9MB)

Today we discuss the Detainee bill passed in the House yesterday. The Republicans have a strategy to win in November and it's dastardly. And please pay attention to the real reasons why Democrats oppose the bill. Also, Froomkin takes Bush to task for his responses to recent criticism of his foreign policy; Timothy Noah of Slate wonders whether Bush can read; in the wake of a recent interview of Bill Clinton by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, Gallup released a new poll revealing that a majority of Americans blame Bush than Clinton for failing to capture bin Laden; and Mr. Lott, have you ever been threatened by a dog while delivering laundry? Yeah, we think it's a stupid question too.

Today, the Bush Administration is tested on warming trends; Secretary Rumsfeld is tested by retired generals; Richard Ben Veniste of the 9/11 Commission is tested by Wolf Blitzer; John Negroponte is tested by another NIE report; and Republican Bob Corker is totally tested by Democrat Harold Ford. And we have a question for "popular" conservative talk-show host Laura Ingraham: "Laura, sweetie, is there also national referendum on being stranded on a deserted island, cheating housewives, and motherf**cking Snakes on a motherf**cking Plane?

Is the one-two punch for the November election the release of the National Intelligence Estimate and Clinton's articulate, intelligent and inspirational smackdown of Chris Wallace? We can dream, can't we? Is the leak of the NIE in any way a response to Daniel Ellsberg's recent piece in Harper's? We can hope, can't we? Why doesn't George Clooney run for office? We can fantasize a Clooney-Franken 2016 ticket, can't we?

In this episode we conclude that New York City, with all it's ethnic, racial and religious diversity, is still 100% American. Stephen Colbert interviews Daniel Ellsberg, staying safely on his side of the studio while Mary stays safely on hers. Hugo and George and Mahmoud take Manhattan. Sixteen different spy agencies conclude that our war in Iraq is making things worse. And President Bill Clinton rides to the our rescue speaking truth to Fox. It's about freakin' time. Also, it's the debut of our weekly 'Media Matters Smackdown' segment with MediaMatters.org Research Fellow, Elbert Ventura. I Heart NY!

In this episode we conclude that New York City, with all it's ethnic, racial and religious diversity, is still 100% American. Stephen Colbert interviews Daniel Ellsberg, staying safely on his side of the studio while Mary stays safely on hers. Hugo and George and Mahmoud take Manhattan. Sixteen different spy agencies conclude that our war in Iraq is making things worse. And President Bill Clinton rides to the our rescue speaking truth to Fox. It's about freakin' time. Also, it's the debut of our weekly 'Media Matters Smackdown' segment with MediaMatters.org Research Fellow, Elbert Ventura. I Heart NY!

Robert Naiman is the National Coordinator of Just Foreign Policy, a membership organization devoted to reforming U.S. foreign policy so that it reflects the values and serves the interests of the majority of Americans. Just Foreign Policy is working to avoid a military confrontation between the United States and Iran. Naiman was formerly Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, holds a Masters' Degree in Economics from the University of Illinois, and talk to us about our apparent march to war with Iran.

Albert Bates is a permaculture instructor at the Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm community in Summertown, Tennessee and a Pulitzer Prize losing author of eleven books, including Shutdown: Nuclear Power on Trial (1979) and Climate in Crisis: The Greenhouse Effect and What We Can Do (1990). His Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook: Recipes for Changing Times is available in October from New Society Publishers. In this interview he answers our questions about Peak Oil - the idea and the movement. Upcoming workshops at The Farm:

Alternative Energy, Biofuel Conversion and Production Oct 12-22, 2006 Grow your own fuels and convert your car or truck to run on alcohol or biodeisel. Put photovoltaic cells on your superinsulated roof. This ten day course with field trips all over the mid-South will get you started towards personal oil independence. $1000 includes meals and lodging.

Solar Installation Oct 12-15, 2006 Become a solar installer with this 4-day course from Ed Eaton of Our Sun Solar. $490 includes meals and lodging.

Visit The Farm for more info.

There's a new member of the Liberadio(!) family, our mascot, The Colbeagle. Also, we won't let the FCC be; President Bush had nothing to say at the United Nations yesterday; and the Iraq Study Group needs to go back and get a bigger boat. Finally, we thank you, Rick Casares. Your letter to the editor of the Nashville Scene is so to the point that it hurts.

It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day so we ask, "WWLJSPD?" or, "What Would Long John Silver’s Parrot Do?" Would he make the press walk the plank for ignoring recent research that suggests a correlation between the upcoming election and falling gas prices (or do dead men tell no tales?). Would he drink some grog and talk some environmental and economic policy with ol’ Graybeard Gore? Brwaack! Polly want to freeze CO2 emissions! Would he give John Kerry some golden booty for reaching out to both sides of the abortion issue? Avast, me beauty! Or, Would he hang the jib at the bilge rat FCC for squishing yet another tax-payer funded report? Shiver me timbers! (16 MB 35:17)

On today's episode we give major props to 4 Republicans. Thank you, we say, for standing up for justice and the American way. And, if you really want a fight, just tell us that liberal talk radio is dead. (15.4 MB 33:33)

*Sung to the tune of the #1 hit single "Here I Go Again," by Whitesnake If we don't torture then why do we need permission to torture? "If the president wants to argue that all this is necessary, that we need to breach the Geneva Conventions in order to protect the public, then he should say so," says Andrew Sullivan. But he can't 'cause we wouldn't buy it. But just like we bought the Bush Administration’s case for war in Iraq they're betting that we'll buy case for war in Iran. Will the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency ride to the rescue??? (17MB 37:41)

Lincoln Chaffee wins in Rhode Island thanks to the support of the RNC and Senator Clinton sails to an easy victory in New York thanks to the fact that she didn't smooch on the President at his last State of the Union address. An ABC news poll says that the marketing of the terror is how we like to be manipulated: "The Republicans lead the Democrats in trust to handle terrorism by 48-41 percent among registered voters in this ABC News poll, a flip from a seven-point Democratic advantage last month. And 16 percent now call terrorism the top issue in their vote, a slight five-point gain." Hannity, The New York Times and WaPo all say that the President put partisanship aside in his speech on 9/11. We say, "Wha...?" Wasn't it just a recycled campaign speech from 2004? Forker!

The first of our daily podcasts. It's the day after the 5th anniversary of 9/11 and boy, don't we know it. (13 MB 35 minutes)

It's the 5th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and an appropriate time to discuss illegal immigration, scapegoating, and the manipulation of the American people by a handful of politicians and pundits. Guests include Marjorie Cohn (Part 1), Professor at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and president-elect of the National Lawyers Guild, who recently wrote a piece for CommonDreams.org about President Bush's decision to send Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 13 other alleged terrorists associated with 9/11 to the Guantanamo Bay prison camp ("Why now?", we ask) and Jim Norton (Part 2), author of Saving General Washington: The Right-Wing Assault on America's Founding Principles, and senior producer of the Al Franken Show at Air America. (24 MB 52:01)

It's the 5th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and an appropriate time to discuss illegal immigration, scapegoating, and the manipulation of the American people by a handful of politicians and pundits. Guests include Marjorie Cohn (Part 1), Professor at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and president-elect of the National Lawyers Guild, who recently wrote a piece for CommonDreams.org about President Bush's decision to send Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 13 other alleged terrorists associated with 9/11 to the Guantanamo Bay prison camp ("Why now?", we ask) and Jim Norton (Part 2), author of Saving General Washington: The Right-Wing Assault on America's Founding Principles, and senior producer of the Al Franken Show at Air America. (25.6 MB 55:43)

What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas! Unless your parents live there and you have a radio show. Our guest in part 2 is Andrew Gumbel, award-winning US correspondent for the Independent (London) and an author 'Steal This Vote: Dirty Elections and the Rotten History of Democracy in America.' Plus, the ballot in November is chock full of referendums. Vote NO on 1! And don't forget to vote for Mary (Mancini) & Freddie (O'Connell) for 'Best Radio Personality' in the Nashville Scene's 'Best of Nashville ' Readers Poll. The ballot is conveniently online.

What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas! Unless your parents live there and you have a radio show. Our guest in part 2 is Andrew Gumbel, award-winning US correspondent for the Independent (London) and an author 'Steal This Vote: Dirty Elections and the Rotten History of Democracy in America.' Plus, the ballot in November is chock full of referendums. Vote NO on 1! And don't forget to vote for Mary (Mancini) & Freddie (O'Connell) for 'Best Radio Personality' in the Nashville Scene's 'Best of Nashville ' Readers Poll. The ballot is conveniently online.

It's a classic election season argument, do we vote for the candidate we want or for the candidate who we think can win? Do progressives in Tennessee have a candidate that's both in Harold Ford, Jr.? Why don't we have more of a choice than the candidates our two-party system gives us? Guest co-host Lonnie Atkinson asks Mary these questions and more. Our guest in part 2 is Professor john a. powell, the executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University who explains to us how greater access to opportunity in the hurricane-ravaged gulf region can ensure that Katrina survivors can take part in the rebuilding of their city and their lives. (52:54 48 MB)

It's a classic election season argument, do we vote for the candidate we want or for the candidate who we think can win? Do progressives in Tennessee have a candidate that's both in Harold Ford, Jr.? Why don't we have more of a choice than the candidates our two-party system gives us? Guest co-host Lonnie Atkinson asks Mary these questions and more. Our guest in part 2 is Professor john a. powell, the executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University who explains to us how greater access to opportunity in the hurricane-ravaged gulf region can ensure that Katrina survivors can take part in the rebuilding of their city and their lives. (59:07 54 MB)

We're bringing the domestic and foreign policy wonk today with discussions about President Bush's NSA wiretapping program, the civil war in Iraq, and Chuck Hagel - ADIT (A Democrat in Training). Plus we get our excercise on with a nice long celebratory Snoopy dance. And speaking of Snoopy, the new Liberadio(!) mascot is the "Colbeagle," a beagle-eagle hybrid with the head of Stephen Colbert. (43:12 20MB)

Stephen Colbert has nothing on us as we welcome Congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee's 5th district (The Fightin' 5th!) to the second hour of the show. The Congressman recently published in book form, The Financial Report of the U.S. aka “The Report the White House Doesn’t Want You to See,” an official government document released by the Bush administration and shrouded in secrecy. The report provides a more accurate picture of the U.S. deficit, which Cooper writes in the foreward of the book, is much greater than President Bush tells us it is. (57:04 26MB)

We have many questions during this special one-hour addition of Liberadio(!) Why is Dick Cheney commenting on a Democratic primary? Can someone be "fringe" and "elite" at the same time? Is there anyone more responsible for the Iraq War then a Joe Leiberman and the Democratic party? The hapless department of Homeland Security has had 5 years - why is airport screening still a joke? Are former Bush supporters about to express their buyers' remorse? And finally, are Geraldo and O'Reilly the "...itty bitty Nixons" that Stephen Colbert says they are? (53:05 23MB)

Are the innocent civilians being killed in the middle east 'morally equivalent' to one another? Yes. Yes they are. With guest co-host, Lonnie Atkinson. (45:33 21 MB)

Our guest this hour is Dr. Robert M. Bowman, a retired Lt. Col., in the United States Air Force, a Democratic Candidate for Florida's 15th Congressional District, and a leader in the 9/11 truth movement. You can learn a few things from him about asking the right questions. With guest co-host Lonnie Atkinson. (52:13 24 MB) (Interview at 31:30)

Our guest during the first hour is Tyson Slocum, Director of Energy Programs for Public Citizen. Tyson comes on the "big shoe" to talk about his tussle with Stossel during his last visit to Scarborough Country, recent heatwaves and the reliablity of our energy grids, and the obscene profits recorded recently by Big Oil. Not to mention his appearance on The Colbert Report. Oh My. Interview begins at the 32:00 minute mark. (49:30 22.7MB) Bumper music provided by Will Kimbrough's latest release, Americanitis.

We're lucky to have local political guru and staunch Democrat, Larry Woods, for the entire second hour of the show. Larry's worked for a number of high-profile candidates and campaigns at just about every level of politics and gives us his take on the upcoming election in November, the Presidential race of 2008, and the state of the Democratic party. (52:35 24 MB) Bumper music provided by Will Kimbrough's latest release, Americanitis.

...and aimed at people who want to write discrimination into the state constitution, hypocrites who have no problem killing innocent Iraqis but who veto stem cell research, Presidents who personally impede Justice Department investigations, ARMpac, Michael Leavitt and his tax write-offs, Ralph Reed, poverty, and unsolicited back rubs and phone calls.

Our first interview is with Milan Rai, the co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness UK, which has been campaigning against US/UK policy towards Iraq since the mid-nineties, and Justice Not Vengeance, which campaigns for a peaceful resolution of international conflicts. He gives us his insight into the killing of Abu Musab az-Zarqawi and the insurgency in Iraq. Then it's a long chat with Randy Tarkington, campaign manager for Vote No on 1, which is the Tennessee Equality Project's official campaign opposing the state constitutional amendment that would permanently ban marriage for same-sex couples in TN. Also, John Steward kicks Bill Bennett's loser ass. (1:42 48MB Bumper music by Matthew Grimm)

Our guest is Matt Besser, a founding member of the sketch comedy group Upright Citizens Brigade. He's been using his mad comedy skillz to advocate for maintaining the separation of church and state. Woo Pig Sooie! And we ask the Republican leadership, who want to waste their time and our money debating gay marriage and flag burning the following questions: What about the troops? What about their shortages in body armor? What about the homeless veterans who can't find jobs or a place to live or food for their families? What about healthcare? What about the schools? What about feeding the poor? What about the floundering Katrina victims? What about homeland security?Listen until the end when we get a moving call from a woman who knows first hand about our government's misplaced priorities. (1:41 46 MB)

We were off last week and we missed you! But not as much as Mary missed 'The West Wing.' What's a girl to do on Sunday night at 7pm? Watch HBO's Baghdad ER, a powerful reminder that our president has mismanaged the Iraq War, failed our war veterans (200 homeless vets a night and counting), and manipulated the American people. (Part 1: 48:09, 22MB)

Our guest in Part 2 is Paul Waldman, senior fellow at Media Matters for America and the author of the just released book, Being Right is Not Enough: What Progressives must Learn from Conservative Success. Paul says that liberals need to put on the gloves and start fighting back. He says we need to pick fights. He says we need to stand up and say, we're sick and tired of you trashing our states and our values. "Mr. Bush, take your tobacco-chewing, trailer park living, Nascar-loving, Field & Stream reading, grits-eating, right-wing freak show back to Texas where you belong!" There. We feel much better now. (Part 2: 55:13, 25MB)

"If FCC rules can keep you from hearing guest Clay Risen (Managing Editor of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas) profanely regret revealing an anonymous source, why couldn't FEC rules have kept us from experiencing the entire Bush administration? And perhaps the President should've seized the day rather than talking about having seized a carp. Does anyone besides Laura think he's funny? Finally, HoFo is so nouveau, and HoDo smacks down the Hammer (paper covers rock). Toto asks, 'What's the matter with Kansas?' Dorothy replies, 'Sam Brownback.'"(47MB 1:43)

Jim Derych, author of Confessions of a Former Dittohead, provides insight into how a dittohead brain reacts to the major political and social issues of the day to show how they think AND what liberals and progressives can do to try and change that thinking. Apparently we should never say "Bush is a liar." Jim is taking all the fun out of our day.

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! We spent a half hour with John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants this morning. We covered so many topics...tax increases, the national anthem, Senator Clinton, found treasures, the Daily Show, and the importance of participatory democracy. Funny though, we never talked about strippers. (27 MB, 30:11)

Jerome Armstrong, of MyDD.com fame, is the author, along with Markos Moulitsas Zuniga of DailyKos.com, of Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics. "This book lays bare, with passion and precision, how ineffective, incompetent, and antiquated the Democratic Party establishment has become, and how it has failed to adapt and respond to new realities and challenges. The authors save their sharpest knives to go for the jugular in their critique of Republican ideologues who are now running -- and ruining -- our country." -- Chelsea Green Publishers.

National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of Thieves In High Places: They've Stolen Our Country And It's Time to Take It Back, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks. He'll be in Nashville on Saturday, April 29th at the Cohn Adult Learning Center.

It's an Earth Day celebration on Liberadio(!) with guest host Lonnie and guest guest Donnie Safer, Chairman of the Board of the Tennessee Environmental Council. It ain't easy being green. (Part 1, 52:54 12.2MB)

It's an Earth Day celebration on Liberadio(!) with guest host Lonnie and guest guest Donnie Safer, Chairman of the Board of the Tennessee Environmental Council. It ain't easy being green. (Part 2, 56:59 13.1MB)

The Bush administration is a leaky boat - slowly sinking. We now know who's responsible for the leaks from the White House despite his assertions that "If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action." The media is missing the boat on Iran. Except for Seymour Hersh who asks, "Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?" We read a good portion of his New Yorker article in all it's surreal glory. Music provided by Matthew Grimm. (Part 1, 52:36 12MB)

The Bush administration is a leaky boat - slowly sinking. We now know who's responsible for the leaks from the White House despite his assertions that "If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action." The media is missing the boat on Iran. Except for Seymour Hersh who asks, "Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?" We read a good portion of his New Yorker article in all it's surreal glory. Music provided by Matthew Grimm. (Part 2, 55:24 12.7MB)

Our guest today is Francie Hunt, State Director for Stand for Children, a grassroots organization helping to improve the lives of children in Tennessee. We believe the children are the future. Stop me before I sing again. Also, the liar in the White House; Look at Me, I'm Sandra Day O'Connor; and President Bush's War on Congress. (21.86 MB, 1:35; Intro courtesy of The Onion, Outro music: "Borrowed Band" by Tim O'Connell)

Al: "Boy, You must feel like a schmuck."
Freddie (Thomas): "Yes. Yes I do."

Plus, a funny Stuart Smalley story, questions about TennCare, and Freddie makes Al laugh out loud.