The fire you started will burn you

Displaced by Israeli bombing herself, Southern Lebanese researcher, reporter, and host of the Delete your Account podcast, Roqayah Chamseddine, joins hosts Nora Barrows-Friedman and Ali Abunimah with a report from the ground. She explains why Hezbollah is the only shield Lebanon has against Israeli aggression and occupation. The Electronic Intifada’s Jon Elmer reports Iranian missiles and drones battering US bases on the Resistance Report’s round up of week two of the US-Israel war on Iran. Along with homes, schools, mosques and businesses, Israel’s genocide in Gaza has also resulted in the loss of legal documents like property deeds. A new article by the Electronic Intifada’s contributor Malak Hijazi explains why “Lost paperwork prompts fears for property rights.”

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Sonic Café #475/iPhone vs. Android

Sonic Café, Come and Get It, that’s John Newman, I’m your host Scott Clark, welcome to episode 475 of the Sonic Café, a place where everything is ahh bit twisted. At least that’s what they tell me. So this time the Sonic Café spins up a really fun program. From the front lines, comedian Ronny Chieng brings us his reporting of the ongoing battles in the iPhone. Android smart phone wars. Musically 2025 music from Jessie Wagner, listen for Up Against The Wall, also Matchbox Twenty, When the Night Comes from the legendary Joe Cocker, Les Dudek, Get Down, a 1972 a Gilbert O’Sullivan pop classic, also Mayday Parade, Thunder Mother, Kings of Leon and more. The Sonic Café also presents another installment of Crazy Music Facts from our friends at the Origins of Songs. Oh and before we forget, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour recounts the moment he came up with the iconic chord for Shine on You Crazy Diamonds from 1975’s classic Wish You Were Here album, all that plus some other neat stuff thrown in along the way for your listening pleasure, so let’s get to it. Here’s Kid Rock adding his lyrics to Warren Zevon’s Werewolves of London to create an entirely new iteration. This is, All Summer Long, and we’re the Sonic Café.

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Scott and Val Save the Universe with Odd News

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Scott and Val Save the Universe

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Pi Day 2026 - Trump's Infinite Iran War

While Americans enjoy a slice of apple or cherry pie, they might reflect on a different kind of "Pi": the geopolitical variety.

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Blanche Boyd- "Self-Styled Outlaw Lesbians"

Terminal Velocity The concept of memoir versus fiction leads many authors to transform their personal experiences and life to fiction. Blanche Boyd is a native of South Carolina and a Professor of Literature at Connecticut College. She is also the author of the book entitled, “Terminal Velocity.” This is a book about a group of self-styled lesbian outlaws in the 1970s. We discussed the relationship of memoir and fiction, and how it applies to her work. Blanche Boyd recommends “Cathedral” & “To the Waterfall,” both by Raymond Carver. Originally Broadcast: August 19, 1997

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TWIP-260315

Today, we turn to another critical conversation, one that widens the lens beyond Palestine and into the escalating war between the United States and Iran. Retired Colonel Douglas Macgregor, a former Pentagon adviser known for his blunt strategic assessments, joined geopolitical analyst Cyrus Janssen to examine what they call the most dangerous phase of the conflict. Their discussion, titled “Worst of Iran War Still Ahead,” paints a sobering picture of a war spiraling beyond control. Macgregor argues that the United States has been drawn into a conflict that serves interests far from home, interests shaped by a foreign political agenda that has long influenced American policy in the region. He describes how Iran, far from being weakened, has demonstrated strategic patience, military sophistication, and a deep understanding of the vulnerabilities in U.S. and Israeli defense systems. From disabling advanced radar networks in hours to overwhelming interception systems with waves of older rockets, Iran has shown that it holds significant leverage, militarily and economically. And the consequences ripple outward. The Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s energy flows, is now a bargaining chip in Iran’s hands. Global markets tremble. Gas prices rise. And American taxpayers watch billions of dollars disappear into a war many believe is not theirs. Across these conversations, whether from Palestinian Muslims and Christians, Israeli historians, or American military analysts a single truth emerges: the people paying the highest price are the civilians caught beneath the machinery of power. Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and across the occupied territories feel the shockwaves of every regional escalation. Their lives are shaped by decisions made in distant capitals, by alliances forged without their consent, and by wars that deepen their suffering. This week, we are reminded that the struggle for justice is not isolated. It is interconnected. The occupation, the regional wars, the global power plays; they form a single landscape of inequality and resistance. And through every conversation, one message rises: Palestinians are not passive subjects of history. They are witnesses. They are truth tellers. They are part of a global movement demanding dignity, accountability, and liberation. Today, we bring these voices together, not as separate stories, but as one shared narrative of struggle and clarity. This is This Week in Palestine.

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Upbeat Music Hour Show 296

Golden oldies (60s, 70s, 80s, 90s)

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The Shortwave Report 03/13/26

A weekly 30 minute review of international news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio and the internet. With times, frequencies, and websites for listening at home. 3 files- Highest quality broadcast, regular broadcast, and slow-modem streaming. France 24, Cuba, and Japan.

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Celt In A Twist March 17 2026

Celtic comes into its own in March. Join us for some fresh greens this week from The Cloverhearts, The Ollam (April 27th at The Pearl), Edmonton family band The McDades and Scots bard Cabbie Drennan with a drink along, sing along. It's not too early to get a St. Patrick's workout in. Check out Celt In A Twist with Patricia Fraser at a new time, new day and new station; FM96.1, Tuesdays at 9pm.

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World Beat Canada Radio March 14 2026

It’s about time: revisiting our current chart to chart new courses this month, springing ahead, and tapping into future possibilities. Join us for the top 10 spins and upcoming concert moments, like Ahmed Moneka's Egyptian Jazz, March 27th at St. James Hall and Novalima, the new sound of Afro-Peru, April 26th at The Rickshaw. Check this hour anytime!

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Buck Wild: Frederick Douglass

This is not a full biography. This is a Buck Wild sprint through 13 facts about Frederick Douglass that explain why he kept outplaying everyone who tried to underestimate him. Born enslaved and denied education, Douglass figured out early that literacy was power and silence was the trap. He learned to read anyway. He learned to write anyway. And then he used both to dismantle pro-slavery arguments, embarrass powerful people, and force America to listen whether it wanted to or not. In this Buck Wild episode of The Buck Starts Here, Kyle and Eric hit the highlights fast and loud. Douglass’s escape from slavery. His rise as an unmatched speaker. His autobiographies that hit harder than any pamphlet. His willingness to argue with allies, break with movements, and refuse half-measures when the moment demanded more. These are not random facts. They are receipts. Frederick Douglass did not win by accident. He read. He wrote. He won.

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Buck Wild: States Rights

Kyle and Eric go Buck Wild in this bonus episode about the biggest historical cop-out of all time: states’ rights. You’ve heard the phrase, now hear the chaos behind it. From the 10th Amendment’s “you’re not my real dad” energy to John C. Calhoun’s compact theory meltdown, the guys trace how a constitutional clause got twisted into America’s longest-running excuse for bad behavior. We’re talking nullification drama, Andrew Jackson’s federal power flex, slavery masquerading as “liberty,” and the eternal Southern tradition of throwing tantrums every time Washington says “no.” (Spoiler: they always say it’s not about slavery, it was about slavery.) It’s fast, furious, and historically feral, because when it comes to states’ rights, the receipts are messy, the logic is nonexistent, and the vibe is pure denial. The Buck Starts Here: Where history meets sharp wit, hard truths, and maximum side-eye.

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Electronic Intifada Newscast 12 March 2026

Nora Barrows-Friedman brings us a recap of Palestinian news from the week of March 5th to the 12th, 2026.

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Franklin Pierce Pt. II

Franklin Pierce finally gets the presidency and walks into the White House like the friend everyone trusts to keep things calm. You know the type. Reasonable. Even-tempered. Not going to rock the boat. Which is a bold strategy when the boat is already taking on water and half the passengers are lighting matches. In this episode of The Buck Starts Here, Pierce tries to govern with balance, restraint, and vibes. He builds a cabinet designed to keep everyone happy. He rotates offices like it is a team sport. He racks up real wins like the Gadsden Purchase and opening Japan to American trade. For a hot minute, it looks like maybe, just maybe, calm leadership will work. Then he signs the Kansas Nebraska Act and the Missouri Compromise immediately dies on the floor. Popular sovereignty turns into a contact sport. Kansas fills up with armed settlers. Elections get rigged. Violence breaks out. Bleeding Kansas becomes a national preview of the Civil War, and Pierce responds by backing pro-slavery governments that barely bother pretending to be legitimate. Northern Democrats bail. The Whigs finish collapsing. The Republican Party shows up out of sheer rage. Pierce keeps insisting calm will save the Union. History gently taps him on the shoulder and says no. So that went poorly. The Buck Starts Here: History, but we do not skip the consequences.

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Franklin Pierce Pt. I

Franklin Pierce is the guy everyone agrees is a great choice... right up until reality shows up with a chair and starts swinging. In this episode of The Buck Starts Here, Kyle and Eric introduce you to Pierce before the presidency, back when he is smart, likable, well connected, and absolutely crushing the 19th century political ladder. Pierce does everything correctly. He rises fast in New Hampshire. He glides through Congress. He builds a reputation as the Democratic Party’s most dependable team player. Everyone trusts him. Nobody worries about him. On paper, this man is a dream. And then life happens. Repeatedly. Brutally. This episode walks through Pierce’s marriage to Jane Appleton, her deep discomfort with politics, and the relentless personal tragedies that wipe out their entire family. By the time Pierce reenters national life, grief is no longer an event. It is the background setting. Add in a stint in the Mexican American War and a Democratic Party that cannot stop fighting itself, and suddenly Pierce is not running for president so much as being gently shoved toward it by exhausted party leaders. This is not the presidency yet. This is the setup. And it is already uncomfortable. The Buck Starts Here: History, but we do not lie about how bad this is going to get.

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Millard Fillmore Pt. II

Okay, so Millard Fillmore finally gets the presidency... and immediately chooses the most stressful possible way to use it. Kyle and Eric break down Fillmore’s term in office, the Compromise of 1850, and the moment he decided that preserving the Union mattered more than literally anything else. This episode covers California’s admission, congressional meltdown season, popular sovereignty nonsense, and the Fugitive Slave Act - aka the law that made Fillmore historically radioactive forever. He thought enforcement would restore order. Instead, he radicalized the North, emboldened the South, and proved that compromise can absolutely make everything worse. It’s not a villain story. It’s a tragedy about a man who believed in institutions so hard he signed off on injustice to keep them intact. The Buck Starts Here - history, but with consequences.

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Millard Fillmore Pt. I

Alright, let’s talk about the president nobody remembers, before he even becomes president. In this episode of The Buck Starts Here, Kyle and Eric introduce you to Millard Fillmore: born poor, raised rough, powered entirely by grit, spite, and an unhealthy love of rules. This is Fillmore’s origin story. Frontier childhood, child labor, self-education, law school by vibes, and a political rise fueled not by charisma but by competence. He’s a Whig’s Whig: anti-Jackson, pro-Congress, deeply suspicious of loud executives, and convinced that if the republic collapses it’ll be because people stopped reading the fine print. No presidency yet. No Compromise of 1850 chaos. Just a man who did everything right, believed way too hard in institutions, and still ended up as a historical shrug emoji. The Buck Starts Here — where even the boring ones get roasted.

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The Right to Speak and the Need to Listen

The right to speak and the need to listen: An interview with Ray Robertson, author of a challenging new book, that dares to employ humour: "The Right To Be Wrong."

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Mexican–American War Pt. II

If Part I was the awkward diplomatic buildup, Part II is where everyone stops pretending this wasn’t inevitable. Kyle and Eric dive straight into the shooting phase of the Mexican–American War, where artillery rewrites the rules, generals improvise at scale, and the U.S. military realizes it might be way better at this than anyone expected. This episode covers the rapid escalation of the war: Zachary Taylor digging in and daring anyone to move him, flying artillery absolutely wrecking traditional tactics, coastal blockades snapping shut, and Mexico trying to fight a modern war while its government is still arguing with itself. Battles move fast, victories stack up, and Washington has not emotionally processed what it just unleashed. It’s innovation, overconfidence, shockingly lopsided firepower, and a war that accelerates faster than anyone planned — all delivered Buck Wild–style. The Buck Starts Here: Buck Wild Edition — history, but loud.

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Mexican–American War Pt. I

Kyle and Eric kick off this two-part Buck Wild saga with the absolute chaos leading up to the Mexican–American War; geopolitical dumpster fire powered by bad maps, worse communication, and two nations acting like the group project was someone else’s problem. In Part I, we’re talking Mexico trying to run a brand-new country, American settlers arriving in Texas with an energy best described as “uninvited plus one,” Santa Anna rewriting the government structure every time he sneezes, and President Polk sending “peaceful” diplomats south while casually parking an army on contested land. Tensions rise. Cavalry crosses rivers. Diplomacy ghosts everyone. And suddenly Polk is yelling “American blood has been shed on American soil!” like he didn’t just create the soil dispute in the first place. It’s political chaos, frontier drama, and a weapons-tech gap wide enough to embarrass both sides. And the worst part? We’re just getting warmed up. It’s petty. It’s loud. It’s historically unhinged. And best of all — this is only Part I.Part II is where the cannonballs start flying.

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Zachary Taylor Pt. II

Kyle and Eric break down the short, spicy, absolutely unhinged presidency of Zachary Taylor — the reluctant leader who walked into Washington like it was a battlefield and handled Congress with the same stubborn, no-frills logic he used in the army. Yes, he was a slave holding southerner. Yes, he also threatened to personally deal with any state that tried to secede. It’s complicated. This episode unpacks Taylor’s entire frontier-brained approach to governing: his die-on-this-hill stance on California becoming a free state, his “don’t test me” energy in the Texas–New Mexico boundary dispute, and his refusal to play nice with either political party. He wasn’t a strategist in the fancy, Washington sense — he just relied on the same simple, immovable, dig-in-and-don’t-budge instincts that carried him through decades of combat. And somehow? It worked. It’s stubbornness, secession threats, moral contradictions, and the disastrous summer illness that ended it all. The Buck Starts Here: where U.S. history meets frontier petty, congressional panic, and presidents powered entirely by spite.

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Zachary Taylor Pt. I

Kyle and Eric dive into Zachary Taylor’s wild, fever-drenched military career : years of mud, malaria, and miraculous battlefield luck. This is Taylor before politics: a stubborn, dust-covered commander who kept winning fights through sheer force of will and a total disregard for strategy. From early frontier chaos to the near-disaster-turned-victory at Buena Vista, the guys break down how Taylor’s “just send it” approach shaped his entire legend. It’s messy, unpredictable, and extremely on brand for America’s most confusing war hero. The Buck Starts Here — where history meets sharp wit, hard truths, and unhinged 19th-century energy.

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James K Polk Pt. II

The overachiever president is back, and he’s not here to relax. Kyle and Eric break down how James K. Polk took the Oval Office like it was a four-year challenge round: start a war with Mexico, threaten Britain over Oregon, cut tariffs, expand the country by a third, and burn himself out in record time. It’s Manifest Destiny, micromanagement, and moral mayhem: the ultimate story of a man who did everything and enjoyed none of it. The Buck Starts Here — where history meets sharp wit, brutal honesty, and the occasional existential rant.

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James K Polk Pt. I

Kyle and Eric fire up the mics to roast President #11 — the guy whose greatest achievement might’ve been getting cut open without anesthesia and still somehow making it to the White House. From his “industrious” slave-owning dad (eyeroll) to his math-nerd grind at UNC Chapel Hill and his fanboy obsession with Andrew Jackson, this episode dives deep into how Polk turned being forgettable into a political superpower. We’re talking early Tennessee politics, suffrage for white men only (wow), the birth of the Democratic Party, and how Polk kept losing elections right up until he didn’t. It’s part biography, part therapy session, and 100% sass. Grab your notes, your sarcasm, and your manifest destiny — because next week, we’re taking this chaos straight into war.

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John Tyler (jr) Pt. II

John Tyler is back and Whigging Out. He’s vetoing everything that moves, picking fights with Congress for sport, and casually dropping foreign policy hot takes about Hawaii. Tariffs? He’s mad. The Whigs? They’re furious. Daniel Webster? Probably stress-drinking tea somewhere. This episode’s got it all: tariff tantrums, Florida joining the Union, Texas waiting in the wings like a messy situationship, and the Tyler Doctrine arriving out of nowhere like that guy who crashes every party. Manifest Destiny isn’t official yet, but you can smell it coming.

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John Tyler (jr) Pt. I

John Tyler didn’t just distrust banks — he hated them. This man looked at paper money like it was a con artist, treated gold like a personality trait, and talked about fractional reserve banking like it was a demonic ritual. In this episode, Kyle and Eric introduce you to the Whig Party’s resident chaos agent — a man who managed to unite people he didn’t even agree with, all while loudly yelling “NO” to basically everything. He was the political equivalent of a live grenade in a powdered wig. So buckle up. Tyler’s money issues weren’t just personal, they were a preview of the political explosion to come.

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William Henry Harrison Pt. III

Before Harrison was slinging hard cider and log cabin merch, he was out in the Indiana wilderness starring in his own chaotic war story: the Battle of Tippecanoe. Kyle & Eric break down the buildup — broken treaties, Tecumseh’s growing confederacy, and Harrison marching his troops right up to Prophetstown. Then the fight kicks off: a surprise night attack, soldiers firing into the dark, officers scrambling, and Harrison barely holding the line. The aftermath? Far from perfect. But here’s where the glow-up happens: Harrison’s letters about the battle leaked into the press, and suddenly voters were eating up the “Hero of Tippecanoe” storyline. Messy reality on the ground, polished reputation in print — and just like that, Harrison had the national clout that built his presidency.

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William Henry Harrison Pt. II

1840 wasn’t just an election, it was the first American political rager. The Whigs rolled out log cabins, Tippecanoe clubs, parade floats, and barrels of hard cider until the whole country was drunk on Harrison hype. It was the original meme campaign, and it worked. Kyle & Eric are here for all the chaos: How Harrison became the first viral candidate (no Wi-Fi required) The 8,445-word inaugural speech that doubled as cardio Calling Congress into special session like, “Hi, I’m in charge now” Telling Henry Clay to sit down and let the president cook And the 31-day presidency that left America asking “wait, what just happened?” This is campaign drama, political theatre, and presidential what-ifs served with a side of hard cider. Pour yourself a drink, hit play, and get ready to see why this one short month changed politics forever.

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William Henry Harrison Pt. I

Think Harrison was just “the president who gave a speech, caught a cold, and died”? WRONG. This man was a walking PR machine, a frontier general, and the guy who basically put Ohio on the map (you’re welcome, Buckeyes). Kyle and Eric are here to drag him out of history’s meme bin and show you: How Harrison went from 18-year-old ensign to field-promotion legend Why the Whigs turned “hard cider and log cabins” into the first viral campaign slogan How Detroit was saved with logistics, not cannon fire (the ultimate flex) And why the dude was so good at running things that Congress literally let him redraw the Midwest This isn’t a dusty lecture — it’s a roller coaster through frontier wars, land deals, and political glow-ups that made the first Whig president. And yes, there will be cider jokes.

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