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Welcome to ClassWars, the home of Activist Radio, a weekly program for all Americans who are not in the wealthiest one percent of the US population. Class wars have been going on since the beginning of recorded history. As societies become more powerful and wealthy, they often become more corrupt. Towards the end of each cycle, a few rich families own practically everything and rule with an iron fist. Imperial wars for empire and military over-expansion are other trademarks of a debased and undemocratic society. Empire often brings about great poverty and suffering not only in the occupied and exploited lands, but at home as well. Class wars is a dirty term in our media, which always implies that America is above such crudeness. But the very rich are not above that at all. They have been waging an especially intense attack on working people since the 1970's, and have accumulated immense wealth and power at the expense of the rest of us. Of course, America's class wars are not fought with tanks and bombs, but with crooked politicians, right wing think tanks and corporate owned media. For the very rich to maintain and increase their share of the national wealth, they have to fool you. How else could one percent of our population call the shots for the other ninety-nine percent? Well, there is another way. The very rich can bankroll a fascist demagogue who then uses racial fears and hatreds to overcome any form of worker resistance. Mussolini and Hitler are examples of how this was done in the 1930s. Trump is, of course, the most dangerous demagogue of the 21st century. To understand how he has gotten this far, check out: "The Unspoken Spread of Fascism." Activist Radio will attempt to show you how the few richest of our citizens lie to the rest of us to expand their power and wealth. They are sick with greed, of course. But so far, the rest of us are what might be worse, and that is stupid. None of the information presented is particularly new or really very hard to find, although you won't read it in the mainstream press or see it on TV. If that is what you are relying on for news, you are being suckered, my friend. I don't know how to put it any nicer. So sit back, relax, and listen to Activist Radio streamed live: Thursdays from 5 - 6 pm ET STREAM ACTIVIST RADIO FROM WVKR Sundays from 5 - 6 pm ET STREAM ACTIVIST RADIO FROM PRN.LIVE Activist Radio can also be heard: Thursdays 8-9 am on KBOO 90.7 FM in Portland, OR; Thursdays 11-12 noon on WRFA 107.9 FM in Jamestown, NY; Thursdays 5-6 pm on WVKR 91.3 FM at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY; Thursdays from 7-8 pm on WBDY 99.5 fm at The Bundy in Binghamton, NY; Sundays 1:30-2:30 pm on WESU 88.1 FM at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT; Sundays 4-5 pm from WIOF 104.1 FM in Woodstock, NY; and Sundays 5-6 pm from the Progressive Radio Network at PRN.LIVE. Past programs are available as a podcast; search for Activist Radio on iTunes, Google Play, Digital Podcast, Stitcher. or Spotify. You can also listen to us anytime on the web at ClassWars.org. Our last ten programs can also be heard by clicking on the dates to the right. Recent stories on Activist Radio may have you thinking about some important issues. Put another way, you could be wondering if most of what we say is totally made up, since you probably haven't seen it on TV. But here are some links to stories we have done recently. Fantasyland Media News fashioned by the people in charge, the corporations and your government. Each week, we cover the stories that are just left out of the US propaganda machine. US Sold Weapons to World's Authoritarian Nations They tortured the wrong guy DeSantis and Wall Street rob retirement funds UN says racial discrimination permeates US Lula da Silva urges freedom for Julian Assange Pentagon secret: neither side wins in Ukraine US trying to crush China, risking humankind Arrested for exposing US war crimes in Africa Make way for the empire in Latin America Israel may attack Iran, expecting US help US president is guilty of war crimes Neoliberal Harvard open for business Israeli's hostility towards Christian community Biden reverses protections for trans athletes Corporate lies about the price of food UN Committee faults Israeli occupation NYT praises neoliberal Paul Vallas Donziger's absurd contempt conviction stands See the film that confronts Israeli propaganda Israel’s Secret Collusion with Trump in 2016 Biden's poor efforts to court working people Biden and the ill gotten profits of Big Pharma Media complicit in support for invasion of Iraq Democratic voters sympathize with Palestinians Dow making false claims about recycling Seymour Hersh: the US blew up pipeline South Africa withdraws embassy from Israel Rock band in dresses to protest new Drag Bill Fred Nagel is a Vietnam Era veteran and political activist whose articles have appeared in CounterPunch, Global Exchange, LA Progressive, Mondoweiss, Peace & Planet News, Popular Resistance, and Z Magazine. He also hosts a show on Vassar College Radio, WVKR (classwars.org). #Candles4Assange Eli wishing Assange a Happy Birthday Eli and Fred "take a knee" for racial justice while Jimi Hendrix goes out over the airwaves. Reporting from the veteran's encampment at Standing Rock Fred at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, standing with a vigil for Julian Assange Dave, Heather, Fred and DJ James Poe at WABG - AM 960 in Columbus, MS Dahr Jamail and Gary Fred and Gary with Pete Seeger Kathy Kelly and Gary Thanks to Martha for this time on the set of Democracy Now. Fred and Gary on the air In memory of Jordan Taylor, Black Lives Matter organizer and former Activist Radio co-host The late 19 Century had its very own Gilded Age. Milton Friedman, guru of deregulation and self interest, made millionaires into billionaires by robbing everyone else. Feeding the Empire's war machine.

Listen to recent shows You can also right click on the date to read your browser's other options. Listening in iTunes works nicely if that is available. June 1 GUEST: Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director at the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, talks about the worldwide movement to end apartheid in the Holy Land. Palestine in America Doing Critical Work to Advocate for Palestinian Rights US Campaign for Palestinian Rights SONG: Anne Feeney, Have You Been to Jail for Justice? ... For Gene Debs SONG: Roy Zimmerman, Real American ... Socialist! May 25 GUEST: Sa'ed Zboun, Arabic teacher at Bethlehem University and one of the founders of the Aida Youth Center, located in a refugee camp in the West Bank, talks about how Palestinians survive the daily violence, trauma and humiliation directed at them. The Aida Youth Center Aida Youth Center in Aida Refugee Camp SONG: Lil Baby ... The Bigger Picture SONG: George  Bush Singers, War in Iraq May 18 GUESTS: Lea and Yakov Pipman, long time residents and citizens of Israel, talk about advocating for Palestinian rights and of Matzpen, the revolutionary socialist and anti-Zionist organization founded 1962. Matzpen, Anti Zionist Israelis The Socialist Organization in Israel SONG: Freedom Singers ... We Are Soldiers in the Army SONG: Joann Chamberlain ... The Poor Will May 11 GUESTS: Two organizers of the Bard College Students for Justice in Palestine, discuss the difficulties and successes they have had in promoting Palestinian rights on campus. Bard students exonerated Bard SJP on Instagram National Students for Justice in Palestine SONG: Bloodrock, Vietnam War Song Project ... Thank You Daniel Ellsberg SONG: David Crosby, American Dream ... Nighttime For the Generals May 4 GUEST: Joshua Frank, Managing Editor of CounterPunch and the author of Atomic Days: The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America, talks about the catastrophic dangers of the largest plutonium site in the US. The Cold War’s Lingering Nuclear Threat Atomic Days: The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America Will the West Turn Ukraine into a Nuclear Battlefield? SONG: Blackkklansman ... Freedom Ride SONG: The Loftus Party ... The FBI song April 27 GUEST: Ona Zene Yeshitela, President of African People's Education and Defense Fund, and Deputy Chair of the African People's Socialist Party, talks about FBI terrorism and repression directed at the Uhuru movement. The Grayzone's Aaron Mate and Max Blumenthal Members of the Uhuru Movement are charged in a Russian plot Hands Off Uhuru, Hands Off Africa SONG: Sounds of Blackness ... Kwanzaa-Umoja-Uhuru SONG: Tracy Chapman, Where You Live ... America April 20 GUEST: Michael Klare, professor emeritus of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College, founder of the Committee for a Sane U.S.-China Policy, and frequent writer on TomDispatch, talks about the hidden reasons behind US militarism in Asia. Pentagon's Version of the World Is Not the World Is War with China Inevitable? Creating a Hypersonic Pentagon Budget SONG: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Rewind!, Vol. 4 ... This Land Is Our Land SONG: Ry Cooder, Election Special ... Take Your Hands Off It April 13 GUEST: Cassandra Dixon, long time peace and justice activist who spends a month each year in occupied Palestine, protecting school children from settler violence, talks about the physical attack and hospitalization that she endured recently. Expert condemn Israeli violence in occupied West Bank Stone-throwing Settlers Terrorize Palestinian Children Israeli settlers attack children in Palestine SONG: Peter Gabriel ... Steven Biko SONG: Paul Robinson ... Joe Hill April 6 GUEST: Sarahana Shrestha, first generation immigrant from Nepal, surprise winner of a race for NY state Assembly, and committed social justice reformer, talks about how the very rich and their corporations try to roll back any progress in meeting social needs. Tax the rich, says freshman assembly member Michael Bloomberg Has Found a New $5 Million Cause Hochul defends outside support, Bloomberg money pours in SONG: Bob Dylan ... Emmett Till SONG: Lowkey ... The Death of Neoliberalism March 30 GUEST: Joanna Schwartz, Professor of Law at UCLA and one of the country's leading experts on police misconduct litigation, whose writing has appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post, talks about the difficulty of holding police accountable. Her new book is Shielded, How the Police Became Untouchable.   Police are 'shielded' from repercussions of their abuse To Understand Police Reform, Law Professor Joined The Force Joanna C. Schwartz, Professor of Law SONG: Cisco Houston, The Very Best Of  ... Passing Through SONG: Lowkey ... Free Assange Take a minute to rate Activist Radio Click Icon: Once in Apple Podcasts Preview, click on "Listen on Apple Podcasts." Then click "Ratings and Reviews" and leave your opinion by clicking "Write a Review" right under "Customer Ratings." Sorry Apple made several steps to leaving a review, but we would appreciate it if you did! We often use Peacebutton's calendar to do our History of Social Struggle each week. Check them out at www.peacebuttons.info Some Favorite Lies of the Very Rich Class wars don't exist in America, the land of the free. (The very rich have taken the rest of us to the cleaners, especially since the mid 1970's. Democracy in America has become little more than a useful fiction.) The two party system promotes the will of the people. (Both parties are paid for by the major corporations, leaving the people with very little power to change domestic or foreign policy.) Multinational corporations encourage free enterprise. (They spend most of their time getting handouts from governments while trying to eliminate workers' rights and environmental regulations through "free" trade.) The billions spent on defense contracts make Americans safer. (Most defense contracts are no-bid, billion dollar scams. Of the first world countries, only America spends so much on weaponry that there is nothing left over for the poor and middle class: no education, no health care, and no housing.) High drug costs are necessary to pay for research. (Most drug profits go towards advertising and CEO stock options. Other first world countries, like Canada, control drug prices.) Charter schools increase the quality of the nation's education. (Charter schools allow corporations to control what students learn, while draining dollars from public schools.) US foreign policy is used to spread democracy and to make the world a safer place. (Most US policy is military action aimed at countries that threaten corporate profits. In America, the poor fight the wars, the middle class pays for them, and the very rich make out like the bandits they are.) Free health care, daycare, and college tuition for all are simply unaffordable. (The most successful capitalist countries provide their citizens with all these benefits and much more.) Social Security needs reform to save it. (Social Security is good for another 40 years, and with a little more paid by top earners, good forever. That is if we can keep Wall Street thieves from getting their hands on it.) It's all Trump's fault! Vote for the Democrats to change the system. (If you believe that whopper, you are part of the problem.) The Hidden Verses to This Land Is Your Land Was a high wall there that tried to stop me A sign was painted said: Private Property, But on the back side it didn't say nothing -- This land was made for you and me. One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple By the Relief Office I saw my people -- As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if This land was made for you and me. WOODY G. (Feb. 23, 1940) Workers of the world, awaken! Beak our chains, demand your rights. All the wealth you make is taken By exploiting parasites. Shall you kneel in deep submission From your cradles to your graves? Is the height of your ambition To be good and willing slaves? JOE HILL (1910) One blue sky above us One ocean lapping all our shore One earth so green and round Who could ask for more And because I love you I'll give it one more try To show my rainbow race It's too soon to die. -Pete Seeger We have been added to Progressive Radio Voices and can be heard every Sunday from 5 - 6 pm ET on prn.live Selected as one of PlayerFM's Best Activism Podcasts We Could Find Listen as a podcast on Spotify Crony capitalists have always been with us. Here is Boss Tweed of New York's Tammany Hall sometime in the 1860's. The policy of the American Empire since World War II.

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I see in the future a crisis approaching that fills me with anxiety. As a result of the war, corporations have become enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow. The money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its rule by preying upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is concentrated in a few hands and the Republic destroyed. Abraham Lincoln

And above all Fascism denies that class-war can be the preponderant force in the transformation of society. Benito Mussolini

The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is Fascism - ownership of Government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. Franklin D. Roosevelt

A revolution is a class struggle. It was one class - the oppressed, and that other class - the oppressor. Fred Hampton

Surely, in the history of lies told to the population, this is the biggest lie. In the history of secrets, withheld from the American people, this is the biggest secret: that there are classes with different interests in this country. To ignore that--not to know that the history of our country is a history of slaveowner against slave, landlord against tenant, corporation against worker, rich against poor--is to render us helpless before all the lesser lies told to us by people in power. Howard Zinn

The clinical definition of "fascism' is when private concentrated economic power takes government away from the people, turns government into a guarantor, a subsidizer, a covering of corporate power. Ralph Nader

There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning. Warren Buffet

This [$700 billion bailout] was the largest single act of class warfare in the modern history of this country. Dennis Kucinich

I think this has been a class war waged by the rich against the poor, and I think that they won. And I think the poor are fighting back. Naomi Klein

The solution is revolution, first in the spirit of the gospel; Jesus could not accept people going hungry. It is a conflict between classes, rich and poor. My role is to preach and organize. Jean-Bertrand Aristide

The effect of the [European Central Bank] policies is to weaken the welfare state measures and to reduce the power of labor. That's class war. It's fine for the banks, for financial institutions, but terrible for the population. Noam Chomsky

The US has a highly class-conscious business class. If you read the business literature, it's like reading Mao's "Red Book." The values may be inverted, but the terminology is the same. They're fighting a bitter class war constantly. They never relax for a minute. Noam Chomsky

The breakdown [of American society] is not caused by economic laws. They are policies, a kind of class war initiated by the rich and powerful against the working population and the poor. This is what defines the neoliberalism period, not only in the United States but in Europe and elsewhere. Noam Chomsky

For 45 years there has been a war in this country waged by the corporate elite against the working class of America. Bernie Sanders

If there is going to be class warfare in this country, it's about time the working class won that war. Bernie Sanders

The theft of public resources for the military and militarism domestically and abroad represent a one-sided class war waged on the working class in the U.S. The 6 trillion dollars spent on U.S. wars since 2003 are resources that could have been directed to address the increasing desperate plight of workers and poor people in the U.S. Ajamu Baraka

You look at the reality, neoliberalism translates as bitter class war. That?s the meaning of it, everywhere you look, every component of it. Noam Chomsky

Now I'm finding out there's just one kind of war. It's the one going on 'tween the rich and the poor. I guess that I don't know a lot about class, But the upper and middle can all kiss my ass. Utah Phillips