We are back! It’s a new year, the same Trump and looming global catastrophe, and it’s MGG Thursdays.

Melissa Gira Grant, via Twitter.

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – We are back in the news cycle
10:10 – Trump’s existential threat
27:33 – Melissa Gira Grant on the work part of workplace harassment
50:21 – A brief catch up on the Iran protests
60:00 – Credits, “A Gun Called Patience” by Alex Rose
61:07 – Finish

A close look at the effort to charterize school districts in cities across the country, and at Erik Prince’s efforts at privatization in Afghanistan .

Erik Prince

photo by Miller Center via Wikimedia Commons

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – John enters 2018 with an iPad
26:13 – The movement to take over school districts
52:22 – Erik Prince’s proposals for privatization of the Afghanistan war
59:01 – Credits, “Satellite Eye” by Lord Sonny the Unifier
60:02 – Finish

It’s our second show of the new year and we’re looking forward to 2018, and getting to some evergreen listener mail from 2017.

Kirsten Gillibrand Official Photo

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – Looking forward to 2018
25:09 – Anticipating the 2018 elections
45:00 – Too soon to think of 2020 but hard not to
58:42 – Credits, “Thomas Hardy” by The Pack A.D.
59:55 – Finish

Happy New Year! We ring it in with one last Best of interview with the one and only Mychal Denzel Smith.

Mychal Denzel Smith, via Twitter

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – Maintainable goals
12:09 – Mychal Denzel Smith, originally recorded 9/20/17
36:24 – Not resolutions, but hopes and dreams
58:55 – Credits, “Time Tuner” by OCS
60:11 – Finish

We revisit our May 2017 interview with Ryan Devereaux, and our political year in review.

Photo courtesy of Neflix via Wikimedia Commons

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – Remember Y2K?
16:19 – Ryan Devereaux, originally aired 5/25/17
40:58 – Political highlights from the hell year
58:45 – Credits, “Neighbor to None” by OCS
60:06 – Finish

We revisit our May 2017 interview with Alyona Minkovski, and we continue our Best of 2017 culture round up.

Alyona Minkovski, via Twitter

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – Millennials and political engagement
20:16 – Alyona Minkovski, originally aired 5/22/17
38:59 – Big Little Lies, one of the best shows of 2017
59:57 – Credits, “Grandmothers” by Alex Rose
61:05 – Finish

We revisit our May 2017 interview with Sarah Jaffe, and more Best of 2017 culture round ups.

Sarah Jaffe, via Twitter

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – The ups and downs of giving your kids a phone
24:48 – Sarah Jaffe, originally aired 5/15/17
43:16 – More thoughts on “Mindhunter”
58:35 – Credits, “Confidant” by RYD
59:51 – Finish

We revisit our June 2017 interview with Chepe, and we start our Best of 2017 culture round-ups.

photo by scattered1 via Wikimedia Commons

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – What is the Trump’s Christmas like
13:40 – Chepe, originally aired 6/28/17
41:35 – Pop culture 2017 round up
59:45 – Credits, “Work It Out” by RYD
60:45 – Finish

The day, sir? Well, it’s Christmas day! We revisit our two annual holiday recordings from vintage Radio Dispatch era.

It’s A Wonderful Life

Photo by National Telefilm Associates courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – It’s a Wonderful Life, the best Christmas movie of all time
13:05 – The Insecure Chef
41:39 – John the diamond gift wrapper
51:15 – Merry Christmas to all
57:56 – Credits, “Ponderosa Pines” by Alex Rose
59:21 – Finish

We revisit our May 2017 interview with Rick Rowley, and listener mail on the worst Christmas songs.   

Photo courtesy of Frontline

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – The Worst Christmas Songs
18:38 – Rick Rowley, originally aired 5/16/17
48:59 – More on bad Christmas songs
58:36 – Credits, “Peaceful Dream” by Mavis Staples
59:44 – Finish

We revisit our April 2017 interview with Peter Frase, and listener mail on family members with bad politics influencing your kids.   

Peter Frase, via Twitter

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – Molly tries to find religion every Christmas
17:54 – Our interview with Peter Frase, originally aired 4/11/17
41:21 – Listener mail on conservative grandparents and your kids
59:10 – Credits, “Who Told You That” by Mavis Staples
60:20 – Finish

We revisit our February 2017 interview with Todd Miller, and a look at the Atlantic article about Mike Pence’s devotion to Trump.   

Todd Miller, via Twitter

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – Memories of catalogues
20:30 – Todd Miller, originally aired 2/27/17
45:37 – Mike Pence’s worldview
59:17 – Credits, “We Go High” by Mavis Staples
60:34 – Finish

We revisit our February 2017 interview with Cora Currier. Also, how conservative media feeds into Trump’s paranoia and frenzies.

Cora Currier, via Twitter

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – The history of the “War on Christmas”
20:35 – Our interview with Cora Currier, originally aired 2/2/17
38:55 – How Tucker Carlson strategically riles Trump
57:30 – Credits, “Oblivion Seekers” by Alex Rose
59:12 – Finish

We revisit our January 2017 interview with Jeff Sharlet, and listener mail.   

Jeff Sharlet, via Twitter   

00:00 – Welcome to Radio Dispatch
00:30 – What are the best Christmas specials?
23:06 – Jeff Sharlet, originally aired 1/20/17
47:56 – Listener Mail with Molly
58:34 – Credits, “Eyelids” by SARO
59:45 – Finish