Jon Nelson hosts this episode of the Old Mole, which includes the following segments:
The New Military-Industrial Complex: Laurie Mercier speaks with Michael Klare, Five College professor emeritus of Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College, who serves on the board of the Arms Control Association and advises other organizations in the field. Klare has written widely on U.S. military policy, international peace and security affairs, the global arms trade, and global resource politics in many books and publications including Arms Control Today, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Current History, Foreign Affairs, Harper's, The Nation, Scientific American, and Technology Review. Klare and Mercier discuss the New Military Industrial Complex under Trump.
Matewan: The fight to preserve our democracy will require the full support of organized labor, which also stands to benefit from resisting fascism. To recognize the ongoing struggles we look back at one historic battle of mineworkers in West Virginia who managed to forge alliances across race and nationalities. Movie Moles Joe Clement and Jan Haaken review John Sayles' film, "Matewan,' which documents the fierce fight against the merciless exploitation of mine-workers. The movie is available at Multnomah County Library. This episode originally aired on 3-12-18.
What’s Cuckoo? MAHA and the Fiction of Gretchen Felker-Martin: Frann Michel considers some ideas of the new head of HHS, and recommends the horror novels Manhunt (2022) and Cuckoo (2024) by trans writer Gretchen Felker-Martin.
Trump, Inc and the Law: With the surge of brutal attacks by Trump Inc on government programs and existing laws, many pundits argue that the courts are the only institutions with the power to check the administration's authoritarian impulses. In their Left & the Law segment, Jan Haaken and Mike Snedeker talk about the role of the courts in this new reign of Trump. Mike gives his assessment of court cases under way and the rough political terrain ahead, from immigration, climate change and environmental law to reproductive rights.