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Media Narratives Still Predictable

GRITtv — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:00:27 +0000

Marching for Freedom for Gaza

GRITtv — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:30:47 +0000

On the anniversary of the "Operation Cast Lead" assault on Gaza, almost 1400 people from 43 countries converged in Egypt to march to Gaza, demanding an end to the siege there. Since the actual attacks ended, the people of Gaza have been cut off from the rest of the world, and this unprecedented action, as well as solidarity movements around the globe, was designed to raise international awareness of the plight of the Gazan people. Ali Abunimah, cofounder of Electronic Intifada, and Medea Benjamin, cofounder of Code Pink: Women for Peace, took part in the march in Egypt. They join us to discuss the march, and we also speak to Electronic Intifada contributor Rami Almeghari, who is living and working in the Gaza strip.

Got Docs? Uncle Bob

GRITtv — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:00:15 +0000

Robert Opel might be most famous as the man who streaked during the 1974 Academy Awards, but he had an interesting life before and after that incident as a photographer and gallery owner who brought such artists as Robert Mapplethorpe to national attention. In a new documentary from Opel's nephew and namesake, we take a look at "Uncle Bob"'s life, family, and tragic death.

Message to World Leaders on Climate

GRITtv — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:30:20 +0000

After the Copenhagen climate talks ended with no binding agreement, youth from around the world sent this message to their leaders: "You're not done yet. And neither are we."

Kate Clinton: Missing Mary Daly

GRITtv — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:00:59 +0000

Radical feminist theologian Mary Daly died this week at age 81. Kate Clinton celebrates her wild and at times wacky legacy.

Media Narratives, Gaza and Uncle Bob

GRITtv — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:00:47 +0000

No matter what the news is, which country has tensions, who's making threats, the response from TV news seems to be the same: quote Dick Cheney. We saw plenty of that this week, along with pronouncements that Democrats are doomed in 2010, complaints about progressives who've criticized the health care bill, and of course Tiger Woods. Joining us to discuss the good, bad and ugly in this week's media are Marcy Wheeler of EmptyWheel at FireDogLake, Liza Sabater of CultureKitchen and The Daily Gotham, the Rude Pundit Lee Papa, and Dan Gerstein, Forbes columnist and president of Gotham Ghostwriters. Robert Opel might be most famous as the man who streaked during the 1974 Academy Awards, but he had an interesting life before and after that incident as a photographer and gallery owner who brought such artists as Robert Mapplethorpe to national attention. In a new documentary from Opel's nephew and namesake, we take a look at "Uncle Bob"'s life, family, and tragic death. On the anniversary of the "Operation Cast Lead" assault on Gaza, almost 1400 people from 43 countries converged in Egypt to march to Gaza, demanding an end to the siege there. Since the actual attacks ended, the people of Gaza have been cut off from the rest of the world, and this unprecedented action, as well as solidarity movements around the globe, was designed to raise international awareness of the plight of the Gazan people. Ali Abunimah, cofounder of Electronic Intifada, and Medea Benjamin, cofounder of Code Pink: Women for Peace, took part in the march in Egypt. They join us to discuss the march, and we also speak to Electronic Intifada contributor Rami Almeghari, who is living and working in the Gaza strip. Radical feminist theologian Mary Daly died this week at age 81. Kate Clinton celebrates her wild and at times wacky legacy. Finally, after the Copenhagen climate talks ended with no binding agreement, youth from around the world sent this message to their leaders: "You're not done yet. And neither are we."

What Happened to the Grassroots Obama Movement?

GRITtv — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:00:48 +0000

The people who voted for him weren't organized in any kind of new or powerful way, and the special interests--banks, energy companies, health interests, car-makers, the military-industrial complex--sat first at the table and wrote the menu. Myth met reality, and came up wanting.

So says Micah Sifry of Personal Democracy Forum; Karoli of the blog Odd Time Signatures disagrees and says that with help from volunteers like her, Organizing for America is continuing to push for change. They join us in studio to debate the present and future of progressive organizing, both within the Democratic party apparatus and outside of it. We'll also be speaking to Geoff Berman, New York Deputy Field Director for OFA, about what's actually going on with his organization and what he thinks of the critiques.

White Nationalism in the Age of Obama

GRITtv — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:00:12 +0000

While progressives argue over who's failing to organize whom, other organizations have no trouble rounding up recruits from the many in the U.S. who are angry over bailouts, economic failures, and a governing class they feel is out of touch. Independent journalist Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films co-produced a film, White Power U.S.A., for Al Jazeera English on the rise of white nationalist groups since the inauguration of Barack Obama. He found that many of the new recruits to these groups don't consider themselves white nationalists, but are finding few other places to turn.

Rowley and Chip Berlet, senior analyst at Political Research Associates and author of Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort join us to talk about the rise of the extreme right, racism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the proper progressive response. We also talk to Jonathan "J.D." Meadows, who is featured in Rowley's film, about his involvement with the Council of Conservative Citizens and his fears for the economy.

Looking Back at the Killing of Oscar Grant

GRITtv — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:00:17 +0000

One year ago, Oscar Grant was shot by an Oakland, California BART police officer. In this video from New America Media and Youth Outlook, Grant's relatives and the community speak out on what has happened since his senseless death, what has changed, and what hasn't.

Who's Better Organized Post-Obama: the Left or the Right?

GRITtv — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:00:11 +0000

The movement that put Barack Obama in the White House was widely proclaimed unlike anything seen before in U.S politics, and after the election, many wondered if there was a way to maintain the momentum to push for progressive policies. A year later, disappointment is widespread and some, like Micah Sifry of Personal Democracy Forum, say that the campaign was never as grassroots as billed. Others, like Karoli of the blog Odd Time Signatures, have remained involved with Organizing for America and are impressed with the work done by the organization on health care reform. We spoke to them about their thoughts on progressive organizing now. Geoff Berman, New York Deputy Field Director for OFA, also joined us in studio to talk about what's actually going on with his organization and what he thinks of the critiques. While progressives argue over who's failing to organize whom, other organizations have no trouble rounding up recruits from the many in the U.S. who are angry over bailouts, economic failures, and a governing class they feel is out of touch. Independent journalist Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films co-produced a film, White Power U.S.A., for Al Jazeera English on the rise of white nationalist groups since the inauguration of Barack Obama. He found that many of the new recruits to these groups don't consider themselves white nationalists, but are finding few other places to turn. Rowley and Chip Berlet, senior analyst at Political Research Associates and author of Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort join us to talk about the rise of the extreme right, racism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the proper progressive response. We also talk to Jonathan "J.D." Meadows, who is featured in Rowley's film, about his involvement with the Council of Conservative Citizens and his fears for the economy. Finally, we look back to one year ago, when Oscar Grant was shot by an Oakland, California BART police officer. In this video from New America Media and Youth Outlook, Grant's relatives and the community speak out on what has happened since his senseless death, what has changed, and what hasn't.