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 world revolts against Trump's irrational, deadly domestic & foreign policy

Melvin Goodman is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University, and a former CIA analyst. Goodman, whose most recent book is titled, “American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump,” talks about Pres. Trump's disastrous foreign policy including his attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of its president, threats to takeover Greenland and breakup NATO, and his irrational imposition of tariffs around the world, the subject of his recent columns, "Donald Trump, Poster Child for Megalomania," and "Nazi Germany 1933 and MAGA America 2025."

2) ICE Killing of 2 Minneapolis Residents Provokes Angry Protests and General Strike

Madison McVan, is a reporter with the Minnesota Reformer, an independent, nonprofit news organization, where she covers the impact of the Trump administration in Minnesota. She talks about state residents’ response to Trump's deployment of a flood of ICE agents to the state, the federal agent killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, the earlier ICE agent killing of Renee Good, and the Jan. 23rd statewide general strike. She'll also discuss Trump's threat to invoke the Insurrection Act and send in potentially thousands of active-duty U.S. military to Minnesota.

3) Oil is the Total Focus of Trump's Venezuela Policy that also Benefits his Big Donor

Filmmaker and journalist Greg Palast, author of several New York Times bestsellers including "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," talks about his recent investigation, "How New Venezuela President Will Save Us from Trump’s Crazy: The Radical Pragmatist versus Rubio’s Vulture," explaining how billionaire and Trump donor Paul Singer is one of the prime beneficiaries of the U.S. military attack and abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as Singer is about to take over CITGO, the crown jewel of Venezuela's oil empire.

4) New Book, "Anthropause" Advocates 'Degrowth' as a Path to Prevent Climate Collapse

Stan Cox, a research scholar in Ecosphere Studies at the Land Institute, where he formerly served as Lead Scientist for 20 years, talks about his new book "Anthropause: The Beauty of Degrowth," which indicts our obsession with endless expansion and poses a new model of degrowth for protecting the Earth from climate collapse. Stan is the author of 8 books, including, "The Path to a Livable Future," "Sick Planet," and "How the World Breaks."

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) As Trump Escalates Attack on Democracy Resistance Grows

Yint Hmu of Public Citizen's democracy campaign discusses the work her group is doing to challenge and resist the Trump authoritarian agenda both at home and abroad, including their many lawsuits and national protest organizing. They'll also talk about the explosive situation in Minneapolis in the aftermath of the ICE shooting death of Renee Good, as Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law.

2) Religious Leaders Step Up to Resist ICE Violence

Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights talks about her group's condemnation of the ICE killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, and a call for accountability, justice and an end to ICE brutality nationwide.

3) 'Walk Out' Protest Actions Respond to Rising State Violence in Minnesota

Tamika Middleton, Chief Political and Strategy Officer with Women's March, talks about the January 20th Free America Walkout protest, and other important work Women's March is prioritizing. Student leader

Saniyah Yoland of the group Get Free, a youth-led progressive activist movement, talks about the work they're doing organizing students for the Friday, Jan. 23rd school walkout protest.

4) FCC Commissioner Decries Government Assault on Free Press

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat serving on the Federal Communications Commission talks about her concerns re: the concentration of media ownership, FCC censorship and interference in the exercise of First Amendment right to free speech, the future of public media and the expansion of broadband access.

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 Takeover of Venezuela for Oil Follows Decades Long Destabilization Campaign

Alexander Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, talks about President Trump's regime's illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, imposition of a naval blockade, seizure of oil tankers, and the president's declaration that the U.S will run Venezuela and take control of that nation's oil for many years ahead. He’ll also address Trump’s threat to attack other nations including Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Greenland and Canada and Iran.

2) Minnesota Explodes in Protest after ICE Killing of Renee Good

Pastor Doug Pagitt, Executive Director of the Minneapolis-based national organization Vote Common Good, that organizes religious activists to take action against the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda, talks about this moment of crisis in the aftermath of the ICE shooting death of ICE observer Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of 3.

3) Trump Aligned Oligarchs Launch Media Mergers to Transform Outlets into MAGA Propaganda Platforms

Victor Pickard the C. Edwin Baker Professor of Media Policy and Political Economy at the Annenberg School for Communication, where he co-directs the Media, Inequality & Change Center, talks about recent mega media mergers, spinoffs, and the effort by Trump-supporting oligarchs to buy up media properties that could dramatically impact news coverage and cultural content. He'll touch on his recent co-written piece, "The Political Economy of the US Media System: Excavating the Roots of the Present Crisis."

4) US Venezuela Attack Rouses U.S. Senate to Pass War Powers Resolution

Marjorie Cohn, professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and past president of the National Lawyers Guild, discusses her recent commentary, "Trump Will Try to Defend Aggression Toward Venezuela. It’s Still Illegal." She'll also comment on the legal and accountability issues related to the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

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) After Venezuela Attack Trump Threatens to Strike Iran Again

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft is author of, "Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy.” Parsi talks about his recent article, "As expected, Netanyahu back demanding more war with Iran," recent Trump threats to intervene in Iran if the government kills anti-government protesters, and the message to Iran's leaders after the US kidnapping of Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro.

2) Trump's Kidnapping of Venezuelan President will have Far Reaching Consequences

Steve Ellner, an associate managing editor of Latin American Perspective, and a retired professor at the Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela, where he lived for over 40 years -- and Andreína Chávez, based in Caracas, who wrote the recent DropSite News article, “War of the entire people: Venezuela's Grassroots Rise to Resist Trump's Naval Blockade," examine the consequences of Donald Trump's attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, in Venezuela, Latin America and the world.

3) Trump - RFK Jr's Research Cuts and Vaccine Changes Threaten US Public Health

Kayla Hancock, Director of Public Health Watch at Protect Our Care talks about her group's opposition to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to cut seven grants worth millions of dollars to The American Academy of Pediatrics, jeopardizing initiatives on reducing sudden infant deaths, improving adolescent health, preventing fetal alcohol syndrome and identifying autism early.

4) Resistance to Trump Growing in his 2nd Year Back in the White House

Kevin B. Anderson, Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara talks about his recent article, "The Worm Turns: Trumpist Fascism." He'll discuss issues related to effective resistance, the need to organize a popular front, big tent opposition to Trump's authoritarian rule, while ensuring progressives don't sacrifice minority constituencies or controversial positions on the climate crisis, the right of Palestinians to self-determination and independence, and trans people's rights to basic human rights.

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 Moves to Interfere with and Manipulate the Outcome of 2026 Midterm Election

Jim Saksa, a journalist who's written for Slate, Politico Magazine, The Economist, NPR’s Morning Edition and Philadelphia City Paper, discusses his recent Democracy Docket article, "DOJ Sues Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin and DC, Expanding Campaign of Voter Data Lawsuits to 22," and other warning signs about the Trump administration's possible plans for disrupting and/or manipulating the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.

2) RFK Jr Attempts to Ban Trans Youth Gender Affirming Care

Parker Molloy, a Chicago-based media critic, cultural commentator, and publisher of "The Present Age" Substack newsletter, discusses her views on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recent announcement essentially banning gender-affirming care for transgender young people, even in states where it's still legal.

3) CBS Political Censorship of "60 Minutes" an Outcome of Media Merger Madness

Craig Aaron, co-CEO of Free Press and Free Press Action, two media reform organizations, talks about CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss' decision to kill the 60 Minutes' story on the Trump regime's deportation of immigrants to El Salvador's notorious CECOT Prison, and recent corporate mergers that are enabling political censorship.

4) Trump's Deadly & Chaotic Year Back in the White House

Paul Street, an independent radical-democratic policy researcher, journalist, historian and author of more than 10 books, his latest titled, "This Happened Here: Amerikaners, Neoliberals, and the Trumping of America." He talks about his recent commentary, "Four Pieces in the Fascist & Exterminist Jigsaw Puzzle," and his hopes for effective anti-fascist organizing in 2026.

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) As Trump Poll Numbers Plummet, MAGA World is Fracturing

John Nichols, Executive editor of The Nation magazine, author, co-author and editor of over a dozen books, his latest cowritten with Senator Bernie Sanders is the New York Times bestseller "It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism." John will talk about his recent Nation magazine article, "Zohran Mamdani on FDR, LaGuardia—and Trump," on his hopeful interview with New York City Mayor-Elect, and the current political environment where there are increasing signs Donald Trump's MAGA world might be starting to fracture.

2) Trump Marching to War with Venezuela Unless Congress Intervenes

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink Women for Peace and author, talks about President Trump's unconstitutional march to war with Venezuela, some pushback we're now seeing in Congress, the work Code Pink is doing to raise awareness about the regime's murderous interventionist policy, and the current lack of an active and effective U.S. peace movement.

3) Impeachment: the Antidote to Authoritarian Presidents

John Bonifaz, constitutional attorney, and co-founder and president of the group Free Speech For People, discusses Rep. Al Green's (D-Houston) recent introduction of Articles of Impeachment against Donald Trump, which was tabled by a House vote of 237-140, and what accountability for Trump's long list of unconstitutional and corrupt actions would and should look like if Democrats win back control of the House and/or Senate in the 2026 midterm election.

4) Nurses on the Frontline of RFK Jr's Anti-Science Agenda

Mary Turner, RN, President of National Nurses United, the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the U.S., discusses two issues the union is currently addressing: NNU's demand Congress take urgent action to restore ACA subsidies to prevent a spike in monthly health insurance premiums for some 24 million ACA policy holders, and the union's concern re: Pres. Trump's executive order banning state regulations on artificial technology medical applications.

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) Dr. John Gartner, a prominent psychotherapist, author and founder of the group Duty to Warn, founded in 2017 by mental health professionals and laypeople to warn the community-at-large of impending danger of Donald Trump's presidency, shares his concerns about President Trump's deteriorating mental health as he nears the end of his first year in his 2nd term in the White House. He'll also address the cult-like devotion Trump continues to command from millions of Americans.

2) Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works talks about the U.S. healthcare crisis, where Donald Trump and the GOP controlled Congress have refused to restore Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies, that if not approved will cause many of the 24 million ACA recipients to see their monthly insurance premiums double or triple, resulting in millions losing their coverage. He'll also discuss long term solutions to America's broken health care system.

3) Dr. Robert Steinbrook, Director Health Research Group Public Citizen discusses his views on the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice vote last week changing CDC's recommendations for administering the hepatitis B vaccine to infants, major Trump administration and HHS Sec. RFK Jr's cuts to research on cancer, Alzheimer's and other chronic diseases, as well as general administration threats to public health.

4) Eric Ross, a PhD candidate in the History Department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, discusses the rising tensions and violence directed by the Trump regime targeting Venezuela, and his recent article, "The Trump Corollary: U.S. Imperialism in Latin America from the Monroe Doctrine to Maduro," with a view to better understanding the current crisis in the context of the long history of U.S. military intervention in Latin America.

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) Sen. Bernie Sanders Denounces Trump’s Dangerous Move Toward Oligarchy, Authoritarianism & Kleptocracy

Excerpt of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ speech from the floor of the U.S. Senate Feb. 4, 2025, where he denounced the Trump administration defiance of the U.S. Constitution and rule of law, describing it as a dangerous move toward oligarchy, authoritarianism and kleptocracy.

2) US War Crime Attacks on "Drug Boats" : A Prelude to US Attack on Venezuela

Matthew Hoh, Eisenhower Media Network Fellow, is a former USMC Captain and State Department Officer, Iraq War combat veteran and Afghanistan War State Department officer. He'll discuss the Trump regime's announced intention to launch airstrikes against Venezuela, as well as covert CIA operations in the country... I'd also like to talk about your views on the US bombing of suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans -- and news reports that there were standing orders to kill survivors of those attacks.

3) The Trump U.S. Congo-Rwanda agreement is about Profiteering Not Peace

Maurice Carney, Executive Director of Friends of Congo discusses Africa observers concerns over Donald Trump's recent meeting with the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda where they signed an agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo, while opening the region’s critical mineral reserves to the U.S. government and American companies.

4) New Book Recounts Successful 25 Year Campaign That Cut U.S. Youth Incarceration by 75%

Journalist Nell Bernstein, talks about her new book, "In Our Future We Are Free: The Dismantling of the Youth Prison," which recounts the story of how a coalition of parents, activists, and prison officials launched a successful campaign in states across the U.S. to end the prosecution of young people as adults, slashing the number of children locked in cages by a stunning 75 percent.