Day: August 8, 2023

Background Briefing: August 8, 2023

 

The Power Grab by Ohio Republicans Behind Today’s Election

We begin with the important vote today in Ohio to stop a cynical Republican power grab aimed at heading off a November referendum for abortion rights that has majority support which the gerrymandered Republican-controlled legislature is trying to do and end run around by changing the state’s constitution to enshrine minority rule in the important swing state. Joining us is David Pepper, who served as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Ohio from 2015-2021 and is the author of a number of books including A Simple Choice, The Voter File and Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines.

 

The ‘Socialism of Fools’ of the ‘Anti-Imperialist Left’

Then we speak with William Robinson, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Global Studies, and Latin American Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has written widely on global capitalism, world politics, social theory, and Latin America and his most recent books are The Global Police State, and Global Civil War: Capitalism Post-Pandemic. He joins us to discuss his recent article at The Philosophical Salon, “The ‘Socialism of Fools’ of the ‘Anti-Imperialist’ Left.”

 

The Situation in Niger and the Sahel Where Wagner Mercenaries are Making Inroads

Then finally, with Secretary of State Blinken warning the Wagner mercenary group are taking advantage of the coup in Niger, we look into the situation in Niger and the Sahel where Wagner mercenaries are making inroads and speak with Tommy Miles, a West African history enthusiast, independent scholar, author and recovering academic who is writing a history of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.