Laura Flanders & Friends

If anyone can inspire the public about the role of the minority in Congress, the women of California’s 12th district can. In this charming conversation, newly-elected Democrat, Lateefah Simon, joins the indomitable veteran Barbara Lee, whose congressional seat Simon will be taking when the new Congress convenes.

Israel’s war on Gaza has been a mass disabling event. Today’s guest says we must create an “accessible future” for disabled Palestinians. Maysoon Zayid is a comedian and unapologetic voice for disability rights and Palestinian identity. A fierce advocate with cerebral palsy, Zaid proves that the most powerful messages often come from unexpected places and are filled with laughter.

Some residents had no food, electricity, or cell service after Hurricane Helene ravaged the western part of North Carolina in October. Amidst misinformation and no information, local media had to step in to inform desperate people fast. This month on “Meet the BIPOC Press”, we explore what media outlets did to serve their people in that moment.

This week, learn about a young British journalist who, seeing what was happening in Germany in the 1930s, quit his job with The London Times and founded The Week, a newsletter that became famous for its opposition to fascism and the Western powers that were enabling it. A new biography from Patrick Cockburn tells the story of his grandfather, Claud Cockburn.

What are the takeaways from this historic presidential race, as well as critical local races and ballot initiatives? Laura Flanders & Friends presents an exclusive post-election roundtable discussion, featuring analysts and perspectives you won’t find in the money media. Join Laura and her guests as they examine what lies ahead for people, the planet and democracy. Where do we go from here?

What if January 6 happened again? Are we prepared for another post-election insurrection? “War Game” is a political thriller that tackles this question head-on in what Rolling Stone calls, “the scariest documentary you’ll see this year.” Laura’s joined by the directors and producer of the war game inside the film. Plus a commentary on Donald Trump’s appearance at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Election 2024 is happening in a media environment unlike any other. With legacy papers closing and digital media in crisis, too, election ads are filling the news vacuum with misinformation and lies. What is to be done? In this episode of “Meet the BIPOC Press”, we examine the state of election media and ask, could this be a moment of opportunity for others to transform the news and build power?

The 2022 Supreme Court ruling to overturn Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health dramatically changed the political scene. Now we are witnessing another watershed moment in the struggle for abortion rights. Abortion, access to trans health, contraception and freedom from sterilization abuse are all part of the far Right’s agenda to control bodies. Could reproductive rights leap forward in 2024, not back?

Abolition, decolonization, immigration, Palestine — how is the Left thinking about the future in this perilous political moment? Laura Flanders & Friends was on the ground at this year’s Socialism Conference, a four-day event packed with discussion of today’s most pressing issues and strategies for organizing. Join us as we envision a liberated future and explore all that it takes to get there.

Military conflict won’t make Jews — or any of us — more safe, so why do leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. president Donald Trump continue to get away with casting themselves as the “protectors” of Israel and the Jewish people? We investigate antisemitism, Zionism and the weaponizing of fear in this report on the one-year anniversary of October 7.

Voting should be simple, but we’re seeing more and more barriers — especially for BIPOC voters — this election. From efforts to eliminate same-day voter registration, new voter-ID laws, and vigilante style “election integrity” watchdogs turning up at the polls, voters in many states and tribal nations face serious challenges they’re working hard to overcome. Will all who want to vote be able to?

North Carolina is a battleground state, and a petri dish for extremist policy and practice. Whether it's the right to vote, the right to read, or the right to decide the fate of one’s body, North Carolinians are on the frontlines. Where is the state headed this November and beyond?