It's NICOLE SANDLER, still holding down the fort at the BradCast for Brad and Desi.

As you know, it's been an insane few weeks in the news. I begin each show with an update on the latest from Trumpland and Impeachment World. Today, we witnessed a Trump meltdown that started with presidential profanity on Twitter in the wee hours of the morning, and continued through two media moments with the president of Finland looking on, horrified!

We had two great guests today. I wanted to get a whistleblower's take on what's happening, so I reached out to JOHN KIRIAKOU, who served 23 months in prison for blowing the whistle on the US torture program during the Bush years, who brings a unique perspective to the story. He's written three great books on his experience.

Then, I went the academic route, and called on HARVEY J. KAYE, author and professor of Democracy and Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, to get his thoughts on this moment in history.

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It's NICOLE SANDLER in the BradCast guest host seat again today, filling in for Brad and Desi. Since there's so much breaking each day, we begin with an update on the latest news in the Donald Trump impeachment inquiry! Both Mike Pompeo and Bill Barr are in it up to their eyeballs!

My first guest is D.D. GUTTENPLAN, editor of The Nation. We discussed his new article, "We Don’t Have to Choose Between Warren and Sanders Yet," a topic I'm obsessed with these days.

But, with impeachment looming, if Trump is removed from office, Mike Pence is first in line to become president. Or he could be implicated along with the rest of this administration. Either way, he's an interesting topic, and the focus of the new book from veteran journalist TOM LOBIANCO called Piety and Power: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House.

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It's NICOLE SANDLER, back today as your trusty guest host for the BradCast. With all the news that broke last week, I though we could take a day and just discuss how we got into this predicament, and how to navigate the stormy waters ahead.

My first guest is the eloquent and funny ELIE MYSTAL of Above The Law.

And then we check in with journalist TERRELL STARR of The Root, who has been reporting on Ukraine for many years.

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It's Nicole Sandler, filling in again for Brad and Desi on the BradCast.

With so much happening, we bring you up to date on the latest news.

My guest today is JOHN BONIFAZ, the president of Free Speech for People, and one of the co-authors of The Constitution Demands It: The Case for the Impeachment of Donald Trump.

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It's Nicole Sandler, in again today for Brad and Desi on the BradCast.

We begin with a recap of the latest news from the last 24 hours, including the release of the whistleblower complaint, and the Acting DNI's testimony before the House Intelligence Committee.

Then, I figured, we could use something to look forward to. So, I spoke with DAVID DAYEN, executive editor of The American Prospect, where they're running a new series about all the great things a new president could do on Day One --- 'The Day One Agenda'.

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It's Nicole Sandler, filling in again today for Brad and Desi on the BradCast.

We begin today's show with a review of the non-stop news from the past 24 hours, including the release of the not-a-transcript of the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukraine's president, a rambling Trump at the UN blaming everyone else for his troubles, and the whistleblower report has been delivered to Congress.

RYAN GRIM at The Intercept wrote 'Why the House Dem Caucus was Able to Move So Rapidly Toward Impeachment' and discussed it with me.

And author, journalist and American ex-pat DENIS CAMPBELL checked in from Wales, UK to fill us in on the madness surrounding Brexit, Boris Johnson and the general turmoil in Great Britain.

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On today's BradCast, I’m in for Brad and Desi – Angie Coiro, of In Deep with Angie Coiro. Continued love and good wishes to Brad and Desi – and thanks to you all for making Nicole and me so welcome during their time off!

Of course Nancy Pelosi’s announcement of impeachment proceedings are the big story, but there’s a lot else going on – including what that move could mean for gun control. Lots of news stories wrapped into today’s round-up.

In the midst of all this, the Toddler in Chief still had the bandwidth to snark Greta Thunberg upside the head, and to sic the EPA on California again. On that latter point – my guest today is DR. JUSTIN FRANK. He’s the psychoanalyst behind the books Bush on the Couch, Obama on the Couch, and now Trump on the Couch. His insights into the man to whom no laws apply are intriguing.

Enjoy!

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It’s NICOLE SANDLER, filling in again for Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen on the BradCast. The news about Brad’s dad isn’t good, so he’s with his family, doing what he needs to be doing. We’re holding down the fort until they can return.

Today marks the beginning of the UN General Assembly. One of the first events was the Climate Action Summit, which the moronic president decided to skip in favor of holding his own panel on religious freedom. We’ll speak with RICK PARNELL, CEO of a new group, Foundation for Climate Restoration, who believe they can not only stem the effects of climate change, but can reverse the trend.

And to help me get a handle on the enormity of the whistleblower story, I called on my old friend and Air America colleague, JACK RICE, who just happens to also be a former CIA case officer.

Plus a few mention-worthy acceptance speeches saved an otherwise awful Emmy broadcast, and a NY Times editorial titled "Donald Trump vs. the United States of America".

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It’s NICOLE SANDLER, filling in again for Brad and Desi on the BradCast. We’re still awaiting word on Brad’s father. In the meantime, we’re sending love and prayers his way.

We’ve been following the saga of the whistleblower who wasn’t being allowed to whistle! I’ll bring everyone up to speed about where we are with holding Trump accountable for his actions. JASON LEOPOLD of BuzzFeed News checked in to tell us about his use of FOIA to get the details on an asteroid that came thisclose to the earth over the summer.

And finally, Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day. The League of Women Voters' JEANETTE SENECAL joined in to tell us about all the voter registration information and tools at vote411.org. I also had to ask her why the League no longer runs the presidential debates (and suggested they take them over again)

Enjoy!...

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It's another busy day on the BradCast, with me, NICOLE SANDLER, holding down the fort while Brad and Desi deal with his father's catastrophic medical emergency.

If you only got your news from the mainstream, corporate media, you probably wouldn't know that almost 50,000 GM workers are on strike because they're virtually ignoring the story. Thank goodness for independent media. MIKE ELK is a long-time labor reporter who finally founded his own, reader-supported outlet, Payday Report. He's on the road covering the strike and the strikers who've had their health insurance cancelled by GM!

Also today: we're finally getting a handle on a strange and disturbing story that's been simmering for the past week or so. GREG SARGENT who writes The Plum Line blog for the Washington Post joins me to explain the story of the whistleblower who, we've now learned, took his or her concerns about a communication between the president and a foreign head of state in which Trump allegedly made a "promise" to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community. The IG deemed the complaint credible and was a matter of urgent concern, and turned it over to the Acting Director of National Intelligence to give to the Senate and House Intelligence Committees, as dictated by law. The problem is, the Acting DNI refuses to do so!

And, with the news that Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have gone down to defeat in Israel's elections this week, I decided to place a cold call to Israel to chat with a random person about the outcome. It's always a crapshoot when I make these types of calls, but this one was a keeper!

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On today's BradCast - guest hosted by moi, Angie Coiro - we hear from the worst and the best of human beings: first Corey Lewandowski then SHANNON WATTS.

Lewandowski worked very hard to smarm and smirk a House committee into submission, as they probed the possibility of impeaching Donald Trump. Arguably, he had the upper hand until Barry Berke took the mound. Then the façade began to crumble. Check out my analysis.

The news roundup reveals a very surprising – as in, compassionate and sensible – proposal from a Trump advisor. Advisory: don't hold your breath waiting for Trump to jump on it.

A jarring new public service announcement from the folks at Sandy Hook Promise – which leads into a long-form interview with Moms Demand Action founder SHANNON WATTS. Sadly, the interview called for bodyguards for Shannon and bag searches for attendees. She is one incredible human being.

Continued good wishes to Brad, Desi, and family!

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It's a somewhat dejected NICOLE SANDLER, once again guest-hosting the BradCast.

I'm dejected because of what I saw in today's House Judiciary Hearing on Trump’s Obstruction of Justice. Corey Lewandowski, the only one of the three witnesses subpoenaed to show up, might as well have stayed home for how forthcoming he was during the hearing. (Read: not at all). When Congressman Cicilline of Rhode Island suggested holding Lewandowski in contempt for his refusal to answer questions, Chairman Jerry Nadler said he’d "take it under advisement". Seriously? He should have sent the Sargent at Arms to arrest Rob Porter and Rick Dearborn, the two former White House staffers who ignored a congressional subpoena, and arrest Lewandowski for contempt of Congress.

So, let's talk about something we can change… er… or try to change. This Friday officially kicks off Climate Week with the Global Climate Strike, followed by a week of protests and activities, and the UN General Session and its climate summit. Today, I'm joined by TAMARA TOLES O'LAUGHLIN, North America Director of 350.org who filled us in on many of the events planned for the week and beyond.

To see just how far we've come (or, for the pessimists among us, not), I dipped back into my radio archives for a short interview I did with 350.org co-founder BILL MCKIBBEN from October 2009, as the organization was in its infancy, on the eve of the first Global Day of Climate Action. We still have a very long way to go...

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