Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen

Latest Episodes
How Their Music Toppled Jim Crow
Its not just politics but arts and a free culture that makes real change. Sure there are the leaders we all know, MLK and Malcolm X, but in his new paperback edition of The Jazz Men: How Duke Ellingt
It’s Not the Kids, It’s the Foster Care System That’s Damaged
Society would rather not see them. Like people in prison, the foster care system makes hundreds of thousands of kids invisible. And the system is doing them great damage for life. On this show, author
Trade Peace Beats Trade War: Where Are the Democrats?
Starting a trade war is just stupid. But maybe Trump simply doesnt really care about tanking the economy. On this show, Washington Monthly politics editor Bill Scher points out that the current presi
We Know What NIMBY means. But Here’s a New Twist: YIMBYism!
There is in fact great abundance in America. The problem is not just the greed of the top percent but also the 21st century version of real estate redlining. Many are shut out. There is a huge demand
Mental Health Essential for National Security
May is Mental Health Month, and the Trump/Musk regime is pouring gasoline on our already widespread national crisis. The police-state ICE raids are indicative of a strategy to create fear. On this sho
Musk’s Chain Saw Does Not Think
If he really aims to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal bureucracy, theres a lot of low hanging fruit. But Elon Musk has prioritized eliminating one of the smallest yet most effective program
Mindless Banality Spreads Quickly. And It’s Evil.
To normalize the horrific, it takes lots of people going along. From the history of leaders lying, the current regime has learned that spewing new lies many times a day works to make reality conform t
Addressing the Unique Stigma on Youth Impacted by Incarceration, Detention, and Deportation
Locking people up and deporting immigrants is on the rise. The adults face punishment (as if that works) and their children hide from the judgement and stigma of other kids and school administrators.
Washington Post Changes Bigly: Refuses $115,000 Ad
Remember when we could count on the Washington Post to boldly take the lead on political corruption? And can you imagine a newspaper turning down a really big ad buy? Welcome to Trumpworld 2.0. As Com
More Than Play: What’s Wrong With American Youth Sport
We think of it as pure fun but the reality is great pressure and there are overtraining injuries. Coaches often lack crucial training. Non-athlete kids feeling less-than. And since kids dont have a v