As the Confederate flag falls, once again, across the South, in the wake of the Charleston AME church terrorist attack, flag expert Annie Platoff of the North American Vexillological Association (yes, there is such a thing!) joins us to a question I've had all week on The BradCast: Why so much passion about a piece of colored cloth?!
I understand why people want the Confederate Battle Flag taken down. But I have much less understanding of why people are so passionate and emotional about wanting it, or any other flag, to be raised in the first place --- at least outside of a military context.
Platoff, who, in addition to being a flag expert is also a librarian at UCSB, explains the history of flags, their symbolic importance, and why they inspire such passion --- both for and against. She also tells us about the Apollo mission flags, which are still on the Moon, and about which wrote a paper when she worked as a lunar/Mars librarian at NASA. (She's also an expert on Russian flags and discussed their history and use in more recent context, both after the fall of the Soviet Union and during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.)
Also on today's BradCast: A whole lot of breaking news on a whole lot of stuff, including Donald Trump's surge into 2nd place in the GOP 2016 race in New Hampshire (told ya so!); Listener/callers weigh in on the controversial Confederate flag and more; Plus: Desi Doyen with the latest Green News Report!...
Download MP3 or listen online below...


Sunday 'WWJD?' Toons
U.S. Middle Eastern 'War Crimes' Then and Now: 'BradCast' 4/16/26
'Green News Report' 4/16/26
Trump's USDA Takes Chainsaw to U.S. Forest Service: 'BradCast' 4/15/26
Midterm Elections Reality Check:
'Green News Report' 4/14/26
Another Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Weekend: 'BradCast' 4/13/26
Sunday 'Mission Accomp...' Toons
MAGA Buckles: 'BradCast' 4/9/26
'Green News Report' 4/9/26
Chaos, 'Ceasefire' Politics, Iran with Upper Hand: 'BradCast' 4/8/26
Bye Bye Bondi (and It's TACO Tuesday Again!): 'BradCast' 4/7/26
Trump Unhinging: 'BradCast' 4/6/26
Potential Disaster for Democracy in Deep 'Blue' CA
BRAD BLOG on the Move: Some good news for a happy change!...
Trump Over a Barrel on Iran: 'BradCast' 3/25/26
'Holding Out Hope' for SCOTUS on Late Mail Ballots: 'BradCast' 3/24/26
FCC Chair Follows Instructions, Approves Unlawful Merger: 'BradCast' 3/23/26
VA GOP VOTER REG FRAUDSTER OFF HOOK
Criminal GOP Voter Registration Fraud Probe Expanding in VA
DOJ PROBE SOUGHT AFTER VA ARREST
Arrest in VA: GOP Voter Reg Scandal Widens
ALL TOGETHER: ROVE, SPROUL, KOCHS, RNC
LATimes: RNC's 'Fired' Sproul Working for Repubs in 'as Many as 30 States'
'Fired' Sproul Group 'Cloned', Still Working for Republicans in At Least 10 States
FINALLY: FOX ON GOP REG FRAUD SCANDAL
COLORADO FOLLOWS FLORIDA WITH GOP CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
CRIMINAL PROBE LAUNCHED INTO GOP VOTER REGISTRATION FRAUD SCANDAL IN FL
Brad Breaks PA Photo ID & GOP Registration Fraud Scandal News on Hartmann TV
CAUGHT ON TAPE: COORDINATED NATIONWIDE GOP VOTER REG SCAM
CRIMINAL ELECTION FRAUD COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST GOP 'FRAUD' FIRM
RICK SCOTT GETS ROLLED IN GOP REGISTRATION FRAUD SCANDAL
VIDEO: Brad Breaks GOP Reg Fraud Scandal on Hartmann TV
RNC FIRES NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION FIRM FOR FRAUD
EXCLUSIVE: Intvw w/ FL Official Who First Discovered GOP Reg Fraud
GOP REGISTRATION FRAUD FOUND IN FL






























