Liberadio

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]

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 Ill 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 Freddies 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 Becks 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]

The "to do" list (Tennessee town halls with Davis, Gordon, Tanner), an OConnell 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 dont. [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]