Rick Staggenborg on Propaganda - Part 1

Dr. Rick Staggenborg is a retired VA psychiatrist and post-Vietnam Army veteran who specialized in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in his practice.  He is a trained psychotherapist with a particular interest in how perception is modified to manufacture consent for war.  Rick and I recently collaborated on a presentation to the Veterans for Peace annual convention on propaganda and with the presidential campaign in full swing, we thought it would be a good time to share this with a wider audience.

Margaret Kimberley on the Democratic Convention and the Election

It’s always a pleasure to welcome Margaret Kimberley back to Wider View.  Margaret is the senior editor of the Black Agenda Report and a writer and activist on peace and justice issues.  Cornel West said of her latest book, Prejudential - Black America and the Presidents,

“Margaret Kimberley gives us an intellectual gem of prophetic fire about all the U.S. presidents and their deep roots in the vicious legacy of white supremacy and predatory capitalism. Such truths seem more than most Americans can bear, though we ignore her words at our peril!”

Benay Blend - The Protests in Albuquerque

My guest this week is Dr. Benay Blend.  She earned her doctorate in American Studies at the University of New Mexico and has taught at the University of Georgia, Memphis State University, and the University of New Mexico. Currently, she is an adjunct professor of Native American, American, and New Mexico history at Central NM Community College in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Also, she contributes articles regularly to the Palestine Chronicle, Mondoweiss.

Greg McKelvey on the Portland Protests

My guest this week is Gregory McKelvey. Greg is an activist and public speaker, the founder of Portland Resistance, and Vice-Chair of the Black Caucus of the Democratic Party of Oregon. He has been participating in and witnessing the demonstrations in Portland, Oregon.

Greg recently wrote an article entitled America, Here's the Truth About Portland's Protests that the Mainstream is Hiding.  He is also campaign manager for Sarah Iannarone, a candidate for Mayor of Portland.

We discuss the George Floyd protests as well as the upcoming election and the need for systemic change.

Jim Kavanagh on the George Floyd Protests, COVID, and the election

This is the first episode since our summer hiatus and I am delighted to welcome Jim Kavanagh back to kick off our 4th season of Wider View.   Jim is a former college professor and New York City native and denizen. He blogs at The Polemicist.net and his writing and analysis can be found on CounterPunch, Op-Ed News, The Greanville Post, Dandelion Salad, and elsewhere. Jim is a frequent guest on Loud & Clear and The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, and you can follow him on Twitter at @ThePolemicist_ and on Facebook at The Polemicist.

Jim refers to a recent article by Ajamu Baraka and echoes his call to expand the George Floyd protests into a struggle for the structural change that we need in this nation.