Ralph Nader Radio Hour
548 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.1K ratingsRalph Nader talks about what’s happening in America, what’s happening around the world, and most importantly what’s happening underneath it all.
www.ralphnaderradiohour.com
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The Spoils of War
May 14, 2022 17:01 - 1 hourRalph welcomes back crack investigative journalist, Andrew Cockburn, who in his latest book “The Spoils of War” outlines how the U.S. military budget has never been about “defense” but about profit. The military-industrial- congressional-media complex profits. We pay. Plus, Ralph answers a listener question. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Ethical Markets w Hazel Henderson
May 07, 2022 16:21 - 1 hourRalph spends the entire hour with the indefatigable, Hazel Henderson, the founder of the group, Ethical Markets, whose mission is to advocate for ways to measure prosperity and promoting economic models that emphasize not cut-throat competition and fear of scarcity but are based on principals of cooperation and sharing in our abundance. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Universal Civic Duty Voting
April 30, 2022 17:58 - 1 hourPolitical journalist and author, E. J. Dionne, joins us to argue that voting - like jury duty - is a civic duty and should be mandatory in the United States like it is in Australia and as outlined in the new book he co-authored entitled “100% Democracy.” And peace advocate, Colman McCarthy, drops in to pitch his bold idea of how to make peace between Russia and Ukraine. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Fast Fashion!
April 23, 2022 15:23 - 59 minutesNotorious fashionista, Ralph Nader, discusses the effects of “fast fashion” on the environment, the workers, and the consumers with British Vogue editor, Dana Thomas, author of “Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes,” and “Fashionopolis Young Readers Edition: The Secrets Behind the Clothes We Wear.” Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Chris Hedges on Ukraine, the Press & Much More!
April 16, 2022 19:06 - 57 minutesRalph welcomes back prolific Pulitzer Prize winning author and esteemed public intellectual, Chris Hedges, to get his thoughts on the hypocrisy of war, corporate control of the press, Julian Assange, unions, grass roots activism, Christian fascists, and his work teaching in prisons. Plus, Ralph comments on the proposed Amazon internal app and the threat to Senate cafeteria workers. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Vampire Diaries
April 09, 2022 15:19 - 1 hourRalph speaks to two authors who have written books about how disease has shaped history, first journalist Vidya Krishnan, author of “Phantom Plague: How Tuberculosis Shaped History,” which features Dracula and Bill Gates, and then John Nichols, author of “Coronavirus Criminals and Pandemic Profiteers: Accountability for Those Who Caused the Crisis?” including Jeff Bezos, Donald Trump and Pfizer. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
There Are No Accidents
April 02, 2022 16:21 - 1 hourIn a live Zoom recording of the Radio Hour, Jesse Singer, author of “There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster—Who Profits and Who Pays the Price” joins us to discuss why the record breaking “accidental” death toll in the United States is not really an accident but predictable and preventable. Plus, Ralph and Jesse answer live listener questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine?
March 26, 2022 16:48 - 1 hourRalph welcomes nuclear weapons expert, MIT professor Theodore Postol, to give us his insights into the possibility and the ultimate consequences of Vladimir Putin employing “tactical” nuclear weapons in the Russian conflict with Ukraine. And our resident constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, weighs in on the hearing for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Plus, Ralph answers your questions about the latest Boeing crash and money in politics. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour ...
All About Voting
March 19, 2022 16:38 - 1 hourRalph invites his old friend, “The Black Eagle” activist and radio host Joe Madison, to discuss the hunger strike he endured to advocate for the recent voting rights bill and what the Democrats need to do to finally get the job done. Then, Richard Winger, publisher of “Ballot Access News” updates us on the fight to break the stranglehold the two major parties have on our elections by restricting access to a candidate’s ability to get on a ballot. Plus, Ralph answers a listener question. Get...
Still Unsafe At Any Altitude
March 12, 2022 16:57 - 1 hourBoeing whistleblower, Ed Pierson, joins us to talk about the report he wrote entitled “Boeing 737 MAX – How Is It Really Going?” that paints a troubling picture of current problems with the notorious plane that includes reports of 43 malfunctions and onboard failures and six flights where U.S. pilots declared emergencies. Plus, constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, stops by to talk about how the NATO Treaty should not override the US Constitution, the misuse of the “state secrets” law, and an ...
Woke Racism/Ethnic Atlas
March 05, 2022 18:33 - 1 hourRalph welcomes professor John McWhorter, linguist and author of “Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America” and also Father Al Fritch to talk about his long project mapping and celebrating the various ethnic groups that make up the United States. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
How To Take Back Your Power!
February 26, 2022 17:11 - 57 minutesRalph welcomes consumer advocates, Laura Antonini and Harvey Rosenfield, whose latest report is entitled “Reboot Required” about how in the past fifty years the civil justice system in America has fundamentally been weighted toward corporations and how ordinary people can start taking back that power. Plus, Ralph answers a listener question on the Ukraine crisis, and we pay tribute to two progressive champions, Paul Farmer and Joe Tom Easley. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at ww...
Twenty Dollars and Change
February 19, 2022 16:28 - 1 hourRalph welcomes retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson to discuss the ongoing dispute over Ukraine. Plus, Professor Clarence Lusane joins the program to enlighten us about the legacy of Harriett Tubman and the campaign to replace Andrew Jackson with her image on our most common paper currency, the twenty-dollar bill. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Ukraine Crisis/Nuclear Boondoggle
February 12, 2022 19:50 - 1 hourRalph welcomes the editorial director and publisher of the Nation magazine, Katrina vanden Heuvel, to offer her expert insight into ways the U.S. can peacefully resolve our conflict with Russia over Ukraine. Plus, former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner, Peter Bradford, updates us on the latest rise from the dead of that dangerous zombie technology known as nuclear power. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Don’t Toss It! Fix It!
February 05, 2022 16:10 - 1 hourRalph and the boys have a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with Peter Mui, founder of the Fixit Clinic, a worldwide organization that holds "pop up" events where experts teach you how to repair your consumer goods, which not only keeps them out of the landfill but is also a community-based activity that conveys critical thinking skills. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Corporatism Is The Problem
January 29, 2022 16:01 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Donald Cohen, the founder and executive director of “In the Public Interest” and co-author of the book “The Privatization of Everything” to discuss the many different ways corporatism has corrupted so many of our public goods. Also, constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, joins us to give us his take on the constitutional ramifications of U.S. involvement in the conflict between Russian and Ukraine. Plus, we wish a happy hundredth birthday to legendary journalist, Morton Mintz and...
Apple’s Hollow $3T Valuation
January 22, 2022 16:18 - 1 hourRalph welcomes econ professor William Lazonick, to let us know how Apple reached its record 3 trillion-dollar valuation and how what they and other large corporations are doing to enrich themselves is killing the middle class. Plus, Ralph answers more of your questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
The Corporate Assault on Medicare
January 15, 2022 18:40 - 1 hourIn our ongoing campaign against the corporate assault on America’s healthcare system, Ralph welcomes Kip Sullivan of “Healthcare for All Minnesota” to talk about what he terms “the creeping privatization of Medicare,” and tells us the story of how that ongoing corporatization is based on one particularly destructive yet durable myth. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Beating the Healthcare System
January 08, 2022 18:07 - 1 hourRalph welcomes investigative journalist, Marshall Allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win,” your "guerrilla" guidebook full of practical ways to keep your costs lower and your satisfaction higher. Plus, Ralph updates the Congress Club. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Play Democracy!
January 01, 2022 18:25 - 1 hourDavid and Steve spend the hour reviewing the past year with Ralph and discussing what needs to be done for a better 2022. Topics include a potential military threat to democracy, Joe Manchin, plutocracy, Boeing, and Big Pharma. Plus, Ralph answers more of your questions not covered in our live Zoom from two weeks ago. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Inspiring Activists!
December 25, 2021 18:29 - 1 hourRalph welcomes two “doers” to the program, first Devin De Wulf, to tell us about how he and his group of community activists are protecting the food supply in his hometown of New Orleans by outfitting restaurants with solar panels that withstand power outages in a hurricane. Then Nathan Proctor of US PIRG tells us about his organization’s latest victory that gives consumers the Right to Repair their electronics, saving on money, toxic waste, and greenhouse gas emissions. Get full access to ...
Power to the People!
December 18, 2021 18:32 - 1 hourIn a special webinar version of the program, Ralph discusses with our guest, Richard Panchyk, author of “Power to the People!: A Young People’s Guide to Fighting for Our Rights as Citizens and Consumers” how one person can make a difference and how only percent of any given group can make important change. And they answer questions from our virtual audience! Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Boeing: Murder Incorporated
December 11, 2021 16:30 - 1 hourRalph welcomes investigative journalist for Bloomberg, Peter Robison, to do a deep dive into his new book, “Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy And The Fall Of Boeing” and poses the question, “Did Boeing get away with murder?” Plus, Ralph answers more listener questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Did The Sacklers Get Away With It?
December 04, 2021 16:43 - 1 hourAuthor and addiction advocate, Ryan Hampton, joins us to talk about his experience trying to hold Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for the horrific opioid plague they helped set in motion as outlined in his book, “Unsettled, How the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed the Victims of the American Overdose Crisis.” Plus, Ralph answers a listener question about Medicare (Dis)Advantage. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Overcoming Corporate Rule: A Success Story
November 27, 2021 17:27 - 1 hourThis week Maui resident, Paul Deslauriers, joins us to update us on how he and his merry band of activists were able to transform their local county government from “corporate rule” to “rule by the people” and how this template for change can be used nationwide. Plus, we parody the corporate sponsorship of baseball games. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Noam Chomsky
November 20, 2021 15:01 - 1 hourRalph spends the whole hour with the incomparable Noam Chomsky to discuss a whole raft of issues, including the climate crisis, the military budget, healthcare, challenging the corporate structure, reforming both the tax system and our elections, how the Democrats have abandoned the working class, and whether the U.S. will be able to fend off fascism. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Tom Morello: Still Raging
November 13, 2021 16:10 - 59 minutesTom Morello, activist, and lead guitarist of “Rage Against the Machine,” joins us to discuss the uses of music in protest, his latest album “The Atlas Underground Fire,” and his new gig writing op-eds for The New York Times. Also, child advocate, Robert Fellmeth, stops by to shed light on a situation right out of a Charles Dickens novel: the state stealing social security checks from foster children. Plus, Ralph answers your questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphn...
Corporate Crime Pays!
November 08, 2021 17:00 - 1 hourLaw professor Mihailis Diamantis joins us for a lively discussion about why corporations get away with murder – or at least manslaughter – and what systemic changes need to be made to bring corporate criminals to justice. Then, Christopher Shaw, author of “First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat” explains how important it is to revive the U.S. Postal Service. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Another Way to Help Save Life on Earth
October 30, 2021 16:17 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Miranda Massie, director of the Climate Museum, an institution focused on the intersection of art, climate science, justice, and activism — that aims to make people feel that collective action is both possible and necessary, and the only hope we have of saving the planet. Plus! Ralph answers listener questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Randall Kennedy on Race: “Say It Loud!”
October 23, 2021 17:53 - 1 hourRandall Kennedy, Harvard Law professor and author of a collection of essays entitled “Say It Loud! On Race, Law, History, and Culture” joins us for the full hour to talk about his views on race, class, corporatism, Clarence Thomas, the “n-word,” racial optimism versus racial pessimism, and much more. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Two Soldiers’ View of War
October 16, 2021 17:15 - 1 hourRalph interviews two recent military veterans. First, Erik Edstrom, author of “Un-American: A Soldier’s Reckoning of Our Longest War” tells us about his awakening from West Point Army Ranger to peace advocate. Then, Garett Reppenhagen, a former sniper and now director of Veterans for Peace, tells us how that organization helps veterans put down their weapons and work for peace. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Humane War?
October 09, 2021 17:24 - 1 hourConstitutional scholar Bruce Fein joins forces with Ralph as we devote the entire radio hour to discussing war powers in the United States with Yale historian, Samuel Moyn, author of “Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War.” Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Strip Mining Democracy
October 02, 2021 16:47 - 1 hourOn today’s program, we look at two ways that corporate lobbies and their political allies subvert democracy: “gerrymandering” and “preemption.” First, law professor Herman Schwartz breaks down the scourge of partisan gerrymandering. Then Mark Pertschuk, director of “Grassroots Change,” sheds light on how states and the federal government can “preempt” cities and local communities from for instance raising their own minimum wage, allowing paid sick leave, regulating firearms, banning plastics...
Mass Torts/Politics & the Media
September 25, 2021 16:38 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Professor Elizabeth Burch to talk about her work researching how a certain mechanism in the civil justice system called Multi-District Litigation (MDL) is undermining your constitutional right to have your day in court. Then, Professor Jane Hall stops by to discuss the state of the media in her new book, “Politics and the Media: Intersections and New Directions.” Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Dirty Work
September 18, 2021 17:07 - 57 minutesRalph spends the whole hour with Eyal Press, author of “Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and The Hidden Toll of Inequality in America,” where they discuss the large gap separating the people who perform the most thankless, ethically troubling jobs in America from the rest of us, who benefit from their work. Plus, Ralph answers listener questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College?
September 11, 2021 16:30 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Harvard history professor, Alex Keyssar, scholar of voting rights and author of “Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College?” to discuss the battle over the Electoral College and the role white supremacy played in conceiving and perpetuating it. Then, we welcome back Steve Silberstein, board member of “National Popular Vote,” to update us on the progress that movement is making on the interstate compact where states would promise to give their electoral votes to the winner of ...
Wilkerson on Afghanistan
September 04, 2021 15:29 - 1 hourColonel Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s former chief of staff, gives us his thoroughly unvarnished take on the history of our twenty-year debacle in Afghanistan. Then, we are joined by Jacob Wilson, cofounder of Congressional Progressive Staff Association an organization devoted to drawing congressional staff from the ranks of civic activists, organizers, faith leaders, and people from the labor movement in order to bring fresh, bold, progressive ideas directly into Congress members’ offi...
The Remaking of American Liberalism/Nairn on Afghanistan
August 28, 2021 17:04 - 1 hourIn a fascinating interview, where the historian gets questioned by one of the main subjects of his history, Ralph welcomes professor Paul Sabin to discuss his history of the public interest movement, “Public Citizens: The Attack on Big Government and the Remaking of American Liberalism.” Plus, intrepid investigative reporter, Allan Nairn joins us to give us his take on U.S. culpability in the violent history of Afghanistan. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohou...
Feeding Local Economies/Starving the IRS
August 21, 2021 17:20 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance to talk about how enforcing anti-trust laws would lead to more decentralized and productive local economies. And Pro Publica’s Jesse Eisinger joins us to explain how Republican anti-tax groups have starved the IRS budget, which leads to billions of dollars of uncollected taxes from the wealthy. Plus, Ralph answers your questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/su...
Eugenics/Wuhan Lab Leak?/Donzinger Update
August 14, 2021 18:10 - 1 hourAndrew Kimbrell, director of the International Center for Technology Assessment, joins us to talk about his documentary “A Dangerous Idea: Eugenics, Genetics and the American Dream,” and to give us an update on the Wuhan Lab leak theory. Plus, Ralph welcomes legendary civil rights attorney, Martin Garbus, to update us on new developments in the case of corporate prisoner, Steven Donzinger. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
The Bible of Talk Radio/Ralph on Assange
August 07, 2021 15:57 - 1 hourRalph has a lively back and forth about the state of talk radio with the publisher and editor of “Talkers” magazine, Michael Harrison. Plus, Ralph answers a listener question about his views on Julian Assange. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Cancel Student Debt Now!
July 31, 2021 16:39 - 1 hourWe discuss the student debt crisis with Anthony Fiorentino, attorney and advocate featured along with Ralph in the documentary series “Scared to Debt: America’s Student Loan Scam.” And Consumer Federation of America’s Robert Hunter joins to remind you that your auto insurance companies probably still owe you money for not driving so much during the Covid quarantine. Plus, Ralph offers up another Congress Club letter, this one aimed at Medicare for All. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio H...
Third Leading Cause of Death
July 24, 2021 17:26 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Michael Saks and Stephan Landsman, authors of “Closing Death’s Door: Legal Innovations to End the Epidemic of Healthcare Harm” about what can be done about the third leading cause of death in America, medical error. And America’s #1 Populist, Jim Hightower stops by to give us the breaking news on Exxon-Mobil’s attempt to break the union movement. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
The United States of War
July 17, 2021 16:15 - 1 hourRalph spends a lively hour with David Vine, Professor of Anthropology at American University, discussing his book “The United States of War: A Global History of America’s Endless Conflicts from Columbus to the Islamic State.” Plus, Ralph announces that the Congress Club letter writing campaign is ready to kick off. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Citizen Driven Foreign Policy/Zero Waste
July 10, 2021 19:06 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Bill Crosier of the Foreign Policy Alliance to discuss how to turn US foreign policy away from intervention and toward diplomacy, law, and cooperation. Then chemist, Paul Palmer, joins us to explain that we need to replace the “corporate scam” of recycling with the concept of “zero waste.” Plus, Ralph answers an important listener question about Medicare for All. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Medical-Industrial Complex/Whirlwind Wheelchair
July 03, 2021 14:40 - 1 hourRalph discusses the healthcare crisis and what to do about it with medical expert, Dr. John Geyman, based on his latest book “America’s Mighty Medical-Industrial Complex: Negative Impacts and Positive Solutions.” And disability advocate, Ralf Hotchkiss, joins to update us on the latest work he is doing with the remarkable company he founded, Whirlwind Wheelchair. Plus, Ralph pays tribute to the late Mike Gravel, gives a progress report on the Congress Club, and responds to listener comments ...
Outsourcing Activism/Truck Safety
June 26, 2021 15:57 - 1 hourWhy do Democrats have so much trouble turning activist energy into electoral success? That’s the question Ralph asks sociology professor Dana Fisher, author of “Activism Inc” and “American Resistance: From the Women’s March to the Blue Wave.” Also truck safety advocate, Jennifer Tierney, tells us about the legislation she is working on to make us all safer on the highway. Plus, Ralph invites you to join his “Congress Club.” Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohou...
Dennis Kucinich/Wealth Hoarding/Wind Farm at Standing Rock
June 19, 2021 16:00 - 1 hourIn a fast-paced hour, Ralph welcomes progressive champion Dennis Kucinich to talk about his adventures taking on the corporate establishment as the youngest mayor of Cleveland as described in his book “The Division of Light and Power.” Then heir to the Oscar Mayer fortune, Chuck Collins, explains how so many rich people spend millions to hide trillions in his new book, “The Wealth Hoarders.” Plus, member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and General Manager at SAGE Development Authority, Jose...
Be a Smart News Consumer
June 12, 2021 18:09 - 1 hourRalph welcomes Allan C. Miller, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter and the founder and CEO of the non-partisan News Literacy Project to discuss his work teaching young people how to be more discerning and discriminating consumers of news. Plus, Ralph answers your listener questions. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Good Corporate Citizen/The Power of Youth
June 05, 2021 17:18 - 1 hourRalph welcomes good corporate citizen, Gero Leson, to discuss his book “Honor Thy Label: Dr. Bronner’s Unconventional Journey to a Clean, Green and Ethical Supply Chain.” And progressive wunderkind, Calla Walsh, tells us about her own foray into organizing and influencing Massachusetts politics at the ripe old age of… sixteen. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe