COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Robert Weiner, Director of the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, discusses the critical issues being decided in the Louisiana v. Callais case now before the US Supreme Court, the expected ruling in this case will impose racial gerrymandered Congressional district maps eliminating the voices of Black and Latino legislators, and the battle ahead to restore and strengthen civil rights law, democracy, and equal access to the ballot box in the months and years ahead.

2) Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas discusses the importance of local elections, highlighting typical low turnout and the need for more civic engagement. She'll also talk about steps her office is taking to ensure elections in Bridgeport are secure and open to all eligible voters, questions about early voting and absentee voting -- as well as concerns that the Trump regime is now laying the groundwork to manipulate the results or cancel the 2026 midterm election.

3) Hardy Merriman, former president of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, whose research and training focuses on support for nonviolent civil resistance movements fighting for rights, freedom, and justice, and how communities can organize to counter political violence. He'll discuss his views on the direction and strength of the US anti-authoritarian resistance movement, i.e. the recent No Kings Day mobilization -- and what new strategies and tactics may be necessary to rapidly adopt in the face of Donald Trump's deployment of heavily armed ICE agents and the US military to cities across the country.

4) David Paul, a member of the Task Force on the Americas, and Democratic Socialists of America, assesses the Trump regime's escalating military threats against Venezuela, Columbia, Latin America, the bombing of small boats and murder of 40+ alleged drug smugglers or fishermen in international waters, open discussion by the White of a regime change war targeting Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, as well as a summary of recent US-Venezuela relations.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, who served as chief of staff to Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell from 2002 to 2005, who is now a senior fellow with the Eisenhower Media Network, discusses his views on the Gaza ceasefire agreement and Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to cities across the U.S., the legality and dangers of this policy, and his thoughts on the president's ultimate goal and its impact on our democracy.

2) Wendell Potter, a former vice president for corporate communications at Cigna, is the president of the Center for Health and Democracy who writes the newsletter, “Health Care Un-Covered,” and author of "Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans," discuss his views on the current federal government shutdown triggered due to Congress' failure to renew ACA subsidies that will cause millions of policy holders' premiums to skyrocket. He'll also talk about the many failures of the U.S. healthcare system, and the reforms he advocates to reduce costs and achieve universal coverage. Potter will be speaking in Hartford, CT on 10/15/25.

3) John Feffer, Director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, who discusses the four recent deadly strikes that the US military has carried out on boats in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, Donald Trump's designation of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro as a ‘narco-terrorist,’ and growing concern that the U.S. may be moving toward initiating action to overthrow Maduro's government.

4) Robert Jereski, a lawyer and activist who serves as coordinator of Codepink Women for Peace World Court Campaign, who discusses the release of 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and some 2,000 Israeli held Palestinian prisoners under phase #1 of President Trump's 20-point Gaza Ceasefire plan, with the goal of ending Israel's war in Gaza that's killed more than 67,000 Palestinian civilians.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) The U.S. Labor Movement Must Organize its Members to Fight the Trump-MAGA Fascist Threat

Bill Fletcher Jr., former president of TransAfrica Forum, a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, and the author of “They’re Bankrupting Us!”: And 20 Other Myths about Unions” -- his latest novel is titled, "The Man Who Changed Colors." He'll discuss the critical issues examined in his recent In These Times magazine article, "The Labor Movement Is in a Fight for Its Existence Against a Neofascist Threat." A repeat broadcast from September 1, 2025.

2) Trump Expands Military Occupation of US Cities to Fight the "Enemy Within"

Mel Goodman, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University and a former CIA analyst. Goodman, author of “American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump” and national security columnist for counterpunch.org, discusses his recent column "Setting the Stage for the Insurrection Act," which examines the possibility that the Trump regime could invoke the Insurrection Act and declare Marshall Law in certain cities or nationally, escalating the president's attack on American's civil liberties, the Constitution, rule of law and free speech.

3) Confronting and Reversing Rising US Economic Inequality

Chuck Collins, is a senior scholar and director of the Institute for Policy Studies' Program on Inequality and the Common Good, where he coedits the Inequality.org newsletter. Author of a dozen books on economics, inequality, and social change, Collins talks about his latest, titled, "Burned by Billionaires," where he chronicles how the actions of the top .01% have severe consequences for the rest of us, exposing how the rich rig the game in their favor, resulting in a concentration of wealth in the hands of a tiny class of billionaires—leading to both intense income and political polarization.

4) Portland: Trump's Next Target for National Guard Deployment

David Rovics, an internationally known songwriter, musician, writer, podcaster and Portland,Oregon based activist, talks about Trump's targeting of Portland with a National Guard troop deployment -- which he wrote about in a recent commentary, "Portland, Oregon: Myths and Realities in 2025," covering what is, and is not going down on the ground in that city -- while providing context for understanding Portland's unique activist history over recent decades. David will be touring northeast states in October, including a concert in New Haven on October 16th, that he'll talk more about during the interview.

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1) In Another Step Toward Establishing a Police State, Trump Labels Critics 'Domestic Terrorists'

John Whitehead, founder and president of The Rutherford Institute, is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law, human rights and popular culture. He'll discuss his recent commentary, "Would Orwell Be Branded a Terrorist? The Government’s War on Thought Crimes," re: the Trump regime's daily violation of the constitution and rule of law, seen most recently in the selective and vindictive prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey -- and the criminalization of Trump critics as terrorists who must be prosecuted and imprisoned.

2) US Military Buildup in Caribbean May be a Prelude to Regime Change War in Venezuela

Alan McPherson, Professor of History at Temple University, examines recent U.S. military attacks on small boats off the coast of Venezuela, charges that this was a violation of the Congressional War Powers Act, and international law -- and concern that the current buildup of U.S. military forces in the region could be a prelude to a U.S. assault on Venezuela to remove the nation's President Nicolás Maduro from power.

3) Oxfam: Trump Closure of USAID humanitarian Aid Programs Has Cost Hundreds of Thousands of Lives

Abby Maxman, President & CEO of Oxfam America talks about the highlights and lowlights at this year's United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City. She'll share her perspective on Donald Trump's UN speech, his closing down USAID worldwide and the cost in lives lost, the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza -- and other priorities Oxfam is currently working on.

4) New book on Zohran Mamdani's NYC Mayoral Campaign That Shook Up City Politics

Theodore Hamm, associate professor and chair of journalism and new media studies at St. Joseph's University, talks about his new book, "Run Zohran Run! Inside Zohran Mamdani’s Sensational Campaign to Become New York City’s First Democratic Socialist Mayor," an inside look at how Mamdani’s bold, grassroots campaign toppled New York’s political establishment and delivered the city’s most progressive mayoral victory. The author will also assess the state of the election campaign after incumbent NYC Mayor Eric Adams ended his campaign on Sept. 28th.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Rachel Bitecofer, a national analyst, pollster, and strategist is author of "Hit Em' Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game," discusses her views on the state of our democracy in the face of Donald Trump's daily assaults on our constitution, the rule of law, and freedom of speech. She’ll also discuss her recent commentary, "From Goebbels to Google," which examines the links between radio during the Nazi era and today's social media where algorithms amplify hateful posts, sensationalism, and other forms of emotionally charged content.

2) Matt Wood, Vice President of Policy and General Counsel with the media democracy group Free Press, discusses ABC's decision to take Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show off-the-air indefinitely after the host made comments about the murder of Charlie Kirk. He'll focus on the continuing pattern of Trump regime threats, lawsuits and intimidation targeting media companies, and too many CEOs in the media industry surrendering to authoritarianism, turning their backs on their duty to protect free speech.

3) Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emeritus, epidemiology at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, shares her views on actions taken by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices which reversed recommendations for COVID vaccinations and a combined measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox vaccine. Observers say Committee members, all of whom were appointed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he dismissed all 17 previous members, were unprepared, misunderstood or ignored key data, and highlighted flawed or inconclusive research often trumpeted by vaccine critics.

4) Tom Swan, Executive Director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group talks about CCAG's and other group's demand that Gov. Lamont declare a fiscal emergency and call a special session of the CT legislature to take immediate action to protect the state's residents from the Trump- GOP's deep federal budget cuts to crucial social safety net programs, including Medicaid, SNAP and the Affordable Care Act.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Graylan Scott Hagler, an advisor with FOR-USA, the founder and president of Faith Strategies USA, and retired Senior Minister at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C. Rev. Hagler will discuss his recent column, "The Killing of Charles James Kirk: Violent Speech Leads to Violence," and his views and experiences re: Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.

2) Madison Sheppard, youth climate activist and Lead Organizer with Fridays For Future Cape Cod, will discuss the upcoming "Make Billionaires Pay" international mobilization for climate justice happening 9/19–9/21/25 -- with a focus on the issues, demands, and information on how listeners can participate in this action.

3) Justin Glawe, an independent journalist and editor of the American Doom newsletter, discusses his latest column, "Martial Law is Already Here," rising polarization and US political violence in the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk in Utah, and the blatant politicization and dysfunction of the Trump FBI and Dept. of Justice.

4) Kimberly Gill, Community Director with New Haven, CT's Brave Nature School, Carl Halberg and Hugo Crick-Furman of the Bread and Puppet Theater, talk about the B&P performance at New Haven's Edgerton Park 5:30 pm on September 18th titled, "Our Domestic Resurrection Revolution in Progress Circus." Dempsey will discuss the philosophy and mission of the Brave Nature School.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) Trump's Authoritarian Agenda Must Be Defeated and New Guardrails Legislated to Defend Democracy

Brett Edkins, Stand Up America’s Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs, discusses his group's work defending democracy, opposing Trump's military deployments to L.A., Washington, D.C. - and likely other US cities -- the Trump/GOP attempt to rig the 2026 midterm election -- as well as the work Stand Up America is doing with the national "Not Above the Law Coalition."

2) Trump's Destructive and Mercurial Foreign Policy Alienates Adversaries and Allies Alike

Melvin A. Goodman is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University. A former CIA analyst, Goodman is the author of "Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA"and "National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism." Goodman, the national security columnist for Counterpunch.org, talks about his recent commentary, "Trump and the Post-American World," and Trump's recent attack on a speedboat that killed 11 on board off the coast of Venezuela, and the US naval buildup in the region.

3) Activists and Organizers Dealing with Information Overload and Trump Outrage Fatigue

Micah Sifry, Editor of the Connector newsletter, discusses his recent article, "Keep Calm and Protect Democracy," on the issues of "Pro-democracy activists and veteran organizers alike struggling with information overload and outrage fatigue -- while also reflecting on his recent conversation with Ian Bassin, the executive director of Protect Democracy on the seven steps to autocracy and how to resist them.

4) WPKN Radio Co-Sponsors Latino Heritage Month Workshops on Immigrant Rights and Safety

Pierre F. D'Haiti, Community Engagement Officer at Bridgeport CT's Housatonic Community College, talks about two workshops sponsored by WPKN during Latino Heritage Month at Housatonic September 17th and 29th. The sessions from 7 to 9 p.m., will focus on immigrant rights and safety, addressing such questions as, what should you do if ICE stops you, and what are your rights? What is the red card? What is the red folder? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, and you’re either a possible enforcement target or know someone who might be, the events could be life-saving.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org

Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

1) The U.S. Labor Movement Must Organize its Members to Fight the Trump-MAGA Fascist Threat

Bill Fletcher Jr., former president of TransAfrica Forum, a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, and the author of “They’re Bankrupting Us!”: And 20 Other Myths about Unions” -- his latest novel is titled, "The Man Who Changed Colors." He'll discuss the critical issues examined in his recent In These Times magazine article, "The Labor Movement Is in a Fight for Its Existence Against a Neofascist Threat."

2) A Desperate Trump Could Order the National Guard to Intervene in the 2026 Election

Justin Glawe, an independent journalist and editor of the American Doom newsletter, discusses the urgent issues examined in his recent article, "How Trump's National Guard shock troops could seize voting machines," and other concerns about the security of the 2026 midterm election that Trump and the Republican Party are clearly worried they'll lose - and now taking action on to rig the outcome.

3) Will the World Support a UN Plan That Could End Israel's Gaza Genocide?

Craig Mokhiber, former director of the New York Office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, who resigned in protest from his post in 2023, due to the unfolding Gaza genocide and the UN’s failures. He'll discuss his recent article, "How the UN Could Act Today to Stop the Genocide in Palestine," and the general failure of international law in Gaza, Palestine and Israel.

4) Trump Orders Shutdown of $4 Billion RI - CT Wind Farm Project That's 80% Complete

Aziz Dehkan, Executive Director/Lead Organizer with Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, discusses CRCJ's response to the Trump Administration's order halting construction of the Revolution Wind offshore wind project that is 80% complete, that would power 350,000 homes in CT and Rhode Island, as well as the other priorities the group is working on in the state legislature this year.