Harvey is back and shares his participation at the 2025 Nuclear Deterrence Summit just outside Washington DC, where the talk of actual deterrence was mostly absent. However, the talk of a nuclear love-fest was clear. Harvey shares some of the stories of other anti-war participants at the Bus Boys and Poets gathering and reflects on why this summit even took place. After all, it was shortly thereafter that President Trump talked about de-nuclearization and cutting the military budget in half, which was such a positive in the wake of Trump's first month in office. We finish with Sly and Stand.

With Trump's and Musk's war on DEI, Harvey and Jim revisit the discussion we had on Prince Edward County in Virginia when white supremacists decide to close all public schools for five years rather than segregate in the 1950's. There are more comparisons with what Trump and Musk are trying to do now with their war on DEI than you would expect. The problem is they are trying to expand what happened in Prince Edward County to more than just education and also take it nationwide. To finish we hear Sam Cooke's plea for change.

Bruce Carruthers member of Veterans for Peace and expert on VA Health Care joins us to talk about the damage that is outlined in Project 2025 on veterans' health care and veterans' benefits. We need to be worried if you get your health care from the VA or if you are a family member of someone who does especially for those ailments that can not be directly attributed. Thus the Pact Act and coverage of ailments linked to burn pits and Agent Orange could be in jeopardy. Their goal is to make veteran's health care a profit-making business through privatization.

Author and Activist Dr. John V. Walsh joins us to weigh in on the February 19 Rage Against the War Machine Rally.  John, who spoke at the sister rally in San Francisco, discusses the need for unity within the peace movement even when we differ on other issues.  John points out that the rallies on the 19th were historic, involving diverse speakers from left and right all coming together to end war. 

 The time is too precious and too limited to exclude any voice for peace and if that requires single-issue rallies and protests then that is what we must do.  We include speeches Anya Parampil and a dramatic speech from Tulsi Gabbard.

Ricardo Levins Morales artist, activist, and counselor gave a wonderful presentation called the Praxis of Hope sponsored by The Leadership Center for Social Justice of the United Theological Seminary. In the presentation, he discusses the nature and emotion of hope as compared to the despair that seems to be running rampant through society, especially among the young.   He shares his thoughts and his plan to generate hope and combat despair.

After Harvey's update on the Golden Rule coming to Charleston, SC. this weekend, we turn the show over to our VFP comrade Carol Trainer from Louisville, Ky. to interview Poet, activist, counselor Roberto Schiraldi about this works, his poets, and his books on white supremacy and how to address it. You will hear several poems that address our need to recognize our own vulnerability as a way to release the grasp of our white supremacist culture. And as we finish another Black History Month, we hear from Sam Cooke.

Today we will hear about the US Military experience and the US Veteran experience from the African American perspective. Michael McPhearson former Executive Director of Veterans for Peace, Miles Thomas rapper (Megaciph), and Ronda Shelton member of the Hector Black Chapter of Veterans for Peace join the show to share their experience in the military and after. They weigh in on race, betrayal, corruption, wearing the uniform, and the police in this hard-hitting interview. We finish with a song with one of Miles' songs.

On the first day of Black History Month, the College Board removed a number of authors, activists, topics, and organizations from their requirements for AP African American studies.  These voices critical to understanding the African American experience include author and activist James Baldwin.  Today we spend the hour listening to James Baldwin in his own words as he talks to high school students about education and then to Dick Cavett as he talks about Black frustration and the understatement of the Black experience in the US.

Today we have scholars, activists, clergy, politicians, and peacekeepers sharing their thoughts about the Dr. King that is rarely recognized, the Dr. King that was anti-militarism, anti-nuclear weapons, and anti-war. Senator Nina Turner, Rev. Liz Theoharris, Pastor Michael McBride, India Walton, and Khury Petersen-Smith participated in this portion of a webinar hosted by Defuse Nuclear War.  The webinar was facilitated by Hanieh Jodat. 

When Janet Bates realized that her protests, her marches, her letters to the editor were still not stopping war, she got so frustrated that her husband recommended writing songs and so she did and we are so grateful.  Today we will talk to Janet about her activism and the stories behind the songs that we will hear.

What are you going to do to celebrate the second anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons?  Ralph Hutchison, outgoing Coordinator, and Tanvi Cardile incoming Coordinator of the Oakridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, join us to explain why celebrating this momentous treaty is so important.  Two years ago the majority of countries voted to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear weapons and since the organizations like OREPA, Veterans for Peace, the Ban Treaty Collaborative, and many others have been trying to convince the US government to also support the treaty.   While the battle is clearly uphill to get the US to sign on, as Ralph and Tanvi say, the anniversary provides a clear opportunity to educate the public and move the needle with our elected representatives to move toward sanity and away from mutual destruction.

Bill Astore is a historian for peace and a prolific writer for TomDispatch, Huff Post, Alternet, Antiwar.com, and many others including his own Bracing Views and Word Press on substack. He is a retired AF Lt. Col and retired professor of history at the AF Academy and technical school in Pennsylvania. Today he shares his insights into US War Culture, the military and the lack of integrity, militarism in sports, evangelism at the AF Academy, guns in schools, and more.

Helen Jaccard, Golden Rule Project Manager, and Gerry Condon former President of Veterans for Peace join us to get the new year off to an optimistic start. We visited with them about the Golden Rule the Veterans for Peace Peace Sailboat trip to Cuba as it is taking a detour from the Great Loop journey it is taking to bring a message of peace and nuclear disarmament.

Harvey and Jim break down a panel discussion hosted by Scott Ritter at the National Press Club which included Dennis Kucinich, Don Kovalik, and Margaret Kimberly. With the world in chaos the panel focused on what the public needs to do and that is pepper congress with letters and calls and more. We have to get arms frozen before Biden and Blinken and Sullivan lead us over a cliff.

2022 is over and in this show, we relive what we did on the show by sharing the hooks/the teasers for all but about 4 of our shows. We trace our steps from January and the Veterans for Peace alternative Nuclear Posture Review all the way to re-celebrating the Christmas Truce. We hoped that by sharing these hooks/teasers we might have seen some positive progress. It is hard to say that we did.

So you have always thought that the 1914, WWI Christmas Truce was spontaneous and it was the only one.  Well, buckle up because we have news you may not have heard.  Did you know that the military establishment was so upset that they wanted to shell their own troops?   Did you know about the Easter Truce or how about the Truces (that's right more than one) on the Eastern Front?   Did you know that the Christmas Truces are more important today than ever? 

 Learn all this and hear some Christmas Truce Music too.

After reflecting on their participation at a recent VA Community Healing Ceremony where veterans told their powerful and heart-wrenching stories of moral injury, Harvey and Jim turned their attention to one of the culprits of US War Culture, the media. Taking clips from a recent webinar hosted by the War Industry Resistors Network (veteransforpeace.org), we hear from author, activist, and professor Bill Astore and from World Beyond War, David Swanson. Bill and David discuss the media's complicity in US War culture and propaganda.

Cindy Piester, a member of VFP Climate Crisis and Militarism Project, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and decades-long peace and justice activist, joins the show after just returning from COP27 in Egypt. Cindy shares her insights into what good (and there were some) and not-so-good (and there was a lot)came out of COP 27. She tells us that for the first time militarism and the climate was not totally ignored, but still, COP27 did nothing to reduce fossil fuels.

Veterans for Peace Radio Hour and Podcast are real fans of Margaret Flowers's Pod Cast Clearing the Fog.  When we saw that Margaret was interviewing Ann Wright, VFP Icon, we just had to share.  Margaret Interviews Ann about the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the project to try to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and provide the occupied Palestinian populace with much-needed supplies and a little hope.  Ann talks about the ruthless and often deadly Israeli policy toward the Palestinian public in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  Ann talks about the efforts of the flotilla, the violent response by Israel, and the purposeful ignorance of the US Government.   To hear the whole interview go to popularresistance.org and look for Clearing the Fog!

Charles Powell is a member of Veterans for Peace, an Air Force Veteran, and a veteran of the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Charles was stationed in South Dakota at an ICBM site and shared his story of those tense days when they believed it was not a matter of if but when they would launch their missiles.  He then shares how this experience and reflecting on US militarism, transformed him from a nuclear warrior to an anti-war activist and a Veterans for Peace Icon.

Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug comes on the show to discuss Moral Injury and the US War Culture and her powerful and important book "And Then Your Soul is Gone, Moral Injury and the US War Culture.."  She discusses and defines moral injury and the impact of US War Culture not only on the military and veterans but more importantly on the US Citizen.  She describes how that war culture is hidden in plain sight.  She shows how this war culture takes more American lives than the battlefield, through military and veteran suicide.   If you are a veteran this interview will help you understand and if you are a citizen this show will help you realize and make change imperative.

As we approach another ARMISTICE Day (aka Veterans Day in the US), we bring back and update our interviews with Garett Reppenhagen and Keslie Carrion about the need to reclaim Armistice Day. We show how Veterans Day has turned a holiday (Armistice Day) that celebrated and encouraged peace and world respect into a day to glorify militarism, exceptionalism, and marginalization. We also discuss the so-called "salute to service" that we will be bombarded with over the next week, who pays for all those flyovers, honor guards, advertisements, etc?. OH, don't forget your camo onesy for your infant.

KJ Noh rejoins the show to update us on the issues and challenges in the Asia Pacific area. From the protests, disasters, and miss-management of the President of South Korea, to the re-election of Xi Jinping in China and the effects on the region, to the next US-provoked confrontation with a nuclear power in Taiwan, KJ gives us his insights, wisdom, and concerns about today and tomorrow. K J Noh is a journalist, political analyst, writer, and teacher specializing in the geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific region and a friend of the show.

Daniel Ellsberg brings his experience and wisdom to the debate over how to understand and deal with Putin, Russia, and the war in Ukraine, as we continue to see both sides escalate. Using clips from the Brooklyn for Peace webinar and the Analysis News Website, we again find a respected source that says we must talk and he even gives a way to start negotiations with Putin.

We have two great guests. First Dennis Speed talks about the work of the International Peace Coalition, especially concerning the thought of peace through economic cooperation. Then friend of the show and VFP member Anthony Donovan reflects on his recent visit to Vietnam and how that war 55 years ago emphasizes a connection with today's wars in Ukraine and especially Gaza. Once again the US can not help itself but be culpable.

Jeffrey Sachs spoke to the Brooklyn Peace Action and we share most of it in this episode. Jeffrey Sachs who has recently stirred controversy by alleging the US was responsible for the destruction of the Russian Nord Stream Pipeline, shares his wisdom from decades of working with both Russian and American leaders. He unequivocally calls for negotiations with Putin and explains why it is critical to begin talks now and stop the relentless escalation before we reach the precipice of what even Biden has called Armageddon.

Environmental activist and VP of the Veterans for Peace Chapter in Spokane relates the tale of how he blocked a train, got arrested, went to court, used the Necessity Defense, and won (kind of). George also explains why he is so environmentally conscious, the specifics of the Necessity Defense, and how his case can be a precedent for people taking non-violent direct action if they have to go to court.

As we approach Indigenous Peoples Day and Indigenous Peoples Month in Tennessee, we talk to Albert Bender, historian, lawyer, writer, activist, and member of the Cherokee Nation about the history of US imperialism and colonialism. Mr. Bender relates that the imperialism and colonialism from hundreds of years ago continues today, especially through the courts. However, from Standing Rock, to Child welfare to Indigenous Sovereignty to the Land Back Movement the fight for justice continues.

The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 was recently passed and enacted. The Pact Act just may be a game changer for Gulf War Veterans' health coverage. In this episode Andrea McDonald and Paul Sullivan break down the specifics of the Pact act and how it relates to Gulf WARS veterans.,

During the Veterans for Peace conference, there was an in-depth discussion on the quality of the Veterans Health Service, the efforts of corporations and government to privatize the VHS, and what you can do to stop that privatization. The participants were Suzanne Gordon, author, and activist, Donald Cohen, from In the Public Interest, and Bruce Carruthers, representing the VFP project to Save our VA (SOVA) and of course friend of the show.

Helen Jaccard the Golden Rule Project Coordinator and Gerry Condon the former President of VFP and current coordinator of the No Nukes working group join us as the Golden Rule is launched into the Mississippi. They will discuss the effort that it has taken to get the GR from California to Minnesota by truck. They will share the message that Veterans for Peace sailboat the Golden Rule is bringing on this Great Loop journey. They will share and promote the message of nuclear disarmament, anti-imperialism and PEACE, as the Golden Rule sails down the Mississippi, into the Gulf of Mexico, around Florida, up the East Coast and then through waterways, in the North East. Helen and Gerry explain why this trip is critical right now and how you can welcome the Golden Rule when it comes to a waterway near you.

Harvey and Jim highlight just a small portion of the recent Veterans for Peace conference. Garett Reppenhagen, Susan Schnall, Chris Velasquez, Jules Vaquera, and the rest of the staff deserve such high praise for a great convention. In this show, we feature poems about the Korean War, voices from the front lines of Rimpac, a new way to look at the military's effect on climate, a focus on recruitment and then resistance, a discussion on moral injury, and we finish with Reverend Barber.

Roger Waters came to Nashville to turn a southern town progressive, and for at least one evening he succeeded. Roger brought his in-your-face concert "This is Not a Drill" with its hard-hitting message calling for Racial Justice, Human Rights, the end to militarism and police violence, gun control, climate responsibility while incorporating his songs into that message with amazing video presentations. Members of Veterans for Peace and their wives were invited as Water's guests and that included co-hosts Harvey and Jim who took this opportunity to share not only portions of the concert but also the message of Roger Waters in his own words. Thanks primarily to David Swanson and World Beyond War. So don't be another brick in the wall. Take a listen as you get comfortably numb, while Roger points out the difference between us and them and the powers that be. So take a listen after all we wish you were there. And no this is not Deja Vu.

Lillian Mauldin and Rosie Khan join the Veterans for Peace Podcast to share their story to pressure the University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO) to divest from weapons and weapon systems manufacturers! Sharing their research and tactics they continue to work with their colleagues at the Women for Weapons Trade Transparency to bring to light the over $60 million dollars being invested in weaponry and war-making. They also share how you and your students can do the same at your university.   Visit their extensive website at w2t2.org and contact them at w2t2.org@gmail.com

Dr. Joseph Gerson President of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security and Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau and American Friends Service Committee director of the Peace and Economic Security Program spoke at the Veterans for Peace No Nuke Working group and we are sharing his presentation. It is thorough and disturbing and continues our series of shows on trying to cope with the nuclear threat. Harvey and Jim add to this with a new article by Caitlin Johnstone who points out that even Henry Kissinger is alarmed.

This show is extremely important for anyone considering the military and anyone in the military who feels things are not quite right. Three members of the Air Force: Joy Metzler, Juan Betancourt and Larry Hebert join us to discuss why, after joining the military with good intentions, they decided enough was enough and are pursuing Conscientious Objector Discharges. They relate what was the tipping point for them that pushed them over the edge. They discuss the disillusionment and possible betrayal by the military. They relate how helpful Veterans for Peace has been in their efforts. They also discuss what they are telling young people considering the military.

I am sure you know that Nuclear Weapons are a clear and present danger, but do you know how to talk to your neighbors or give a presentation about that danger? In this show, after a quick rant about the GOP betrayal of veterans, Harvey and Jim share portions of a presentation sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action with guest speaker Ira Helfand of the Physicians for Social Responsibility. In this show, you will hear Dr. Helfand's presentation and get the initial training and consider how you would respond to questions you received.

Veterans for Peace sent an open letter to Biden demanding that he and his administration read our Nuclear Posture Review before issuing his. In this time of nuclear threat, and nuclear weaponization and modernization, of investment in apocalypse versus peace, the No Nukes group of Veterans for Peace crafted this open letter that group leader Gerry Condon came on the show to share, explain, and discuss. The conversation quickly expanded to other issues linked to nuclear weapons such as press coverage, militarism, politics. Gerry also gave a wonderful description of the Golden Rule Great Loop project, one effort o teach peace.

YES YOU CAN HELP END THE BLOCKADE OF CUBA. YES, YOU CAN HELP CUBA AND THE PEOPLE OF CUBA. YES, YOU CAN HELP THE LATIN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE make doctors out of Americans.

The Peace and Justice Center from Nashville hosted a zoom with members of IFCO, the Intereligious Foundation for Community Organization Pastors for Peace. Cheryl Bash introduced the organization and then Dr. Samir Addrey a US citizen and a graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine described how Cuba educates doctors from around the world and then sends Doctors around the world to help where they are needed. Cuba does all this despite the more than 60-year-old, draconian blockade by the United States, a blockade that Obama started to lift, Trump reinstated and Biden maintains.

Friend of the show Bruce Carruthers returns to the show to update us on the status of VA Health Care and the good news that the AIR Commission has been derailed. The Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) commission was part of the Mission Act and was scheduled to review the recommendations coming from the non-veteran Secretary of Veterans Affairs to close or restructure more than 30 VA facilities. Thankfully a bi-partisan group of Senators derailed the commission by not seating commissioners. So good news but the fight continues to halt the push to privatize the VA.

Ralph Hutchison of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance talks with the Veterans for Peace No Nukes Working Group about the Meeting of States Party of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Ralph talks about the international progress and commitment and at the same time calls out the US marginalization and disregard of the treaty that has been in force for a year and a half.

Today we listen to and discuss the voices of positive activism. We focus on the Poor People's Campaign rally in Washington, DC on June 18th after hearing from Dave Dittemore President of the Takoma Chapter of VFP. From the PPC, we hear from Reverend Barber, Dr. Cornell West, Bernice King, and voices from the crowd courtesy of Esther Iverem of the On the Ground Podcast. From Poverty to Peace, from Racial injustice to Roe V. Wade, from Climate to Guns, from Militarism to Misogyny, the voices address it all and call for us to PAY ATTENTION and inspire us to take action. WE HOPE

Chris Rodda senior research director for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and the author of ‘Liars For Jesus: The Religious Right’s Alternate Version of American History, unearthed the plans of the South Baptists to undermine the Chaplaincy within the military and replace it with Southern Baptist Chaplains, off base Chapels, and Christian counseling centers all at taxpayer expense. There goes separation of church and state, what could go wrong, right?

Susan Schnall President of Veterans for Peace and Doug Rawlings, co-founder of Veterans for Peace join us to talk about Veterans for Peace, the history, the projects, the future. From the No Nukes and Golden Rule to Saving our VA, collaborating with other groups while mediating disagreements, Susan outlines a vision for VFP. From how the organization started, to encouraging and welcoming young people to a poem, Doug shares his incites and pride in how VFP has developed into a force for peace.

Dr. Bill Ehrhart joins us to talk about General Smedley Butler and his efforts to call out capitalism, war, and the military. Bill also quickly outlines the rise of the imperialist US. Bill reflects on General Butler's service, the coup planned by the republican party to overthrow FDR that he thwarted, and his late-life activism. We need to remember Smedley's commitment to the Bill of Rights and the people of the US which are severely lacking today.

This is a portion of a great Webinar sponsored by the Center for Citizen Peace Building at UC Irvine. It features Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gomez and Dr. Paula Garb. Moderated by Cynthia Lazaroff. This is a departure from recent shows as these ladies share personal stories related to the effects of violence and the efforts they make each day for peace.,

We have been waiting to share this powerful interview by Frank Barat with Gabor Mate on the current world situation surrounding Gaza and Israel. We have become numb to the tragedy and we need to recognize that so that we can continue to work together to stop the continuing funding of Israel. We must also recognize the psychological problems that we are leaving with those who manage to survive and even our own sense of humanity.

Authors Michael and Cynthia Orange join us to remember Memorial Day.   Michael is a Vietnam Vet, diagnosed with PTSD relates his personal story of sharing and realizing his PTSD, moral injury, and guilt that derived from his military service.  His wife Cynthia (of nearly 50 years), shares her experience and the suffering she experienced as a casualty of Michael's service, dealing with her own war.   Then they share their collective efforts to cope, heal, and now thrive.  This is an incredibly powerful show and shows the missing meaning of Memorial Day.

In this show we replay a webinar hosted by the United Anti-war Coalition (UNAC) called Stand with Alice Walker. In the webinar, Chris Hedges, Susan Abulhawa, Alice Walker, and host Jeff Mackler discuss how Alice Walker was banned from a book show because she is being accused of being anti-Semitic because of her support for the people of Palestine.

Today we interview Jim Rine of the  VFP Climate Crisis and Militarism Project. Jim will talk to us about their efforts to address the connections between US militarism and the climate crisis and will help us find ways to educate and mobilize others to help us stop US militarism and reverse its environmental impact. We also hear a clip from Erik Edstom an Iraq combat vet, West Point Graduate, and climate activist as they both try to get us to look up!!!