As Attorney General William Barr releases Robert Mueller's long-anticipated report into Russian interference in the 2016 election, we speak with world-renowned political dissident, linguist and author Noam Chomsky about what he sees as the political perils of "Russiagate."

Supporters of the Green New Deal are launching a nationwide tour Thursday to build support for the congressional resolution to transform the U.S. economy through funding renewable energy while ending U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. Democracy Now! spoke with Noam Chomsky about the Green New Deal and the lessons of the old New Deal in Boston last week.

"We can be whatever we have the courage to see." That's the message of a stunning new video released by The Intercept, Naomi Klein and award-winning artist Molly Crabapple Wednesday that imagines a future shaped by the Green New Deal. It's called "A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez." The film was co-written by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez herself, along with Avi Lewis, the co-founder of The Leap. We speak with Avi Lewis and award-winning artist Molly Crabapple about the power of art to create social change.

As the push for the Green New Deal builds momentum in the United States, The Intercept has released a short illustrated video imagining a future shaped by the progressive environmental movement. It's titled "A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez." The New York congressmember narrates the film to envision an America that has been transformed by the Green New Deal policies, including a just transition of jobs, Medicare for all, and a total overhaul of the country's energy system. The result is a vision of radical hope and transformation. The film features stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Molly Crabapple. It is presented by The Intercept and Naomi Klein, co-written by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Avi Lewis, and co-directed by Kim Boekbinder and Jim Batt.

Program Date:  04/17/2019 https://www.backgroundbriefing.org/2019/04/17/background-briefing-april-17-2019/ mp3audio:  Full Program

Program Date:  04/16/2019 https://www.backgroundbriefing.org/2019/04/16/background-briefing-april-16-2019/ mp3audio:  Full Program

Program Date:  04/15/2019 mp3audio:  Full Program

Program Date:  04/14/2019 https://www.backgroundbriefing.org/2019/04/14/background-briefing-april-14-2019/ mp3audio:  Full Program

FEATURING SUE BRANFORD – The American Museum of Natural History announced this week that it would no longer host a gala honoring Brazil’s ultra right wing President Jair Bolsonaro. The museum had come under fire for allowing another organization to host an event on its premises for a leader who has pledged to devastate Brazil’s environmental...

FEATURING  DR. PETER BLOOM – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ appearance at a Fox News town hall this week has angered President Donald Trump. In a pair of tweets Trump referred to the Democratic Presidential front runner as “Crazy Bernie,” and said it was “weird,” and “strange,” to see Sanders on Fox – an outlet he relies...

President Donald Trump vetoed a bi-partisan Congressional war powers resolution to stop US support for the Saudi war on Yemen. In a statement to the Senate on Tuesday Trump explained his justification for the veto saying, “This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and...

FEATURING DEDRICK ASANTE-MUHAMMAD – Georgetown University students recently overwhelmingly approved a $27 fee that would pay reparations to the descendants of 272 enslaved people who were sold off in 1838 to pay off the college’s debts. The idea of reparations for slavery to make financial restitution to a group of Americans who were disadvantaged by...

IN TODAY'S RADIO REPORT: Hundreds arrested in London climate protests; March 2019 the third hottest March ever recorded globally; Bank of England issues stark warning to investors about climate risks; PLUS: Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg offers stark, tearful warning to EU Parliament... All that and more in today's Green News Report! Listen online here, or [...]

On today's BradCast, as the nation awaits Trump Attorney General William Barr's release of some redacted version or another of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Thursday morning, Barr was busy announcing new immigration policies to add to the Administration's ongoing success in creating havoc and a humanitarian crisis on our southern border. [Audio link [...]

On today's BradCast you'll be outraged, saddened, amused, inspired and may even learn a thing or two --- or your money back! [Audio link for show is posted below.] First up today: I'm thankful the French didn't listen to Donald Trump's terrible firefighting advice as the iconic, 850-year old Notre Dame was engulfed in flames [...]

IN TODAY'S RADIO REPORT: Deadly swarm of tornadoes, from Texas to Delaware, leaves path of destruction; Interior Department Inspector General already investigating Trump's new Interior Secretary; Washington State sets ambitious 100 percent clean electricity target; PLUS: 2020 Democratic presidential candidates roll out bold policies to expand renewable energy and combat climate change... All that and [...]