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Hitting Left

Mike gets together each week, often with special guests in studio and from around the country, to discuss current topics involving politics, education and social justice "from the Left side of the plate." The topics covered may be local, national or international but always with a Chicago sensibility and perspective.
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Now displaying: 2020
Jun 13, 2020

The brothers Cory and Craig join us for an conversation of protest, police and politics.

Jun 5, 2020

The Beachwood Reporter Steve Rhodes joins the Klonsky Brothers to talk about the protests, the cops, the politics in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

May 29, 2020

CPS teacher and author is joined by Jones College Prep senior Yadani Martinez on this week's show. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the pandemic and 20 years of corporate driven school reform, we talk about a vision for education in a post virus world.

May 22, 2020

Former alderman and advocate for a basic universal income, Ameya Pawar joins us along with Roberto Clack, organizer with Warehouse Workers for Justice.

May 15, 2020

Dr. Dunbar-Ortiz, an educator, historian and activist. We talk about her life, the conditions of indigenous people.

May 15, 2020

Dr. Dunbar-Ortiz, an educator, historian and activist. We talk about her life, the conditions of indigenous people.

May 8, 2020

Dr. Pedro Noguera, newly appointed Dean of the University of Southern California school of education and long-time advocate for equity and social justice in education, joins us from California.

May 1, 2020

Carl Davidson grew up in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a steel town outside of Pittsburgh. In college he joined the student movement, organized against the Vietnam War, a traveling campus organizer, was national secretary of SDS for two years and continues as an organizer to this day.

Apr 23, 2020

The first half the brothers discuss the week's politics and the presidential race. The second half we are joined by poet and artist Krista Franklin.

Apr 22, 2020

Micky and Dick Flacks, long-time activists and authors of Making History, Making Blintzes.

Apr 22, 2020

Micky and Dick Flacks, long-time activists and authors of Making History, Making Blintzes.

Apr 17, 2020

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin joins us in a discussion of criminal justice reform in the era of COVID19.

Apr 10, 2020

Two leading Chicago Latinx journalists, Jackie Serrato and Fernando Diaz join us for a discussion of COVID19 and its impact on Black and Brown communities.

Apr 3, 2020

Like many we are coming this week from our homes rather than the Lumpen studios, joined by poet, singer and artist of all trades, avery r. young.

Mar 26, 2020

We're back at a distance with Amanda Klonsky, prison activist and advocate talking about COVID19 and the need to release the incarcerated as a public safety issue.

Mar 13, 2020

Appointed to his first term, State Senator Robert Peters represents Barack Obama's former Illinois District. He is a strong proponent of ending cash bail. We talk about that and political organizing in the time of the coronavirus.

Mar 6, 2020

Christina Pacione-Zayas just returned from Puerto Rico. Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez join us to talk about all things Puerto Rico. We take time to commemorate the passing of independista Rafael Cancel-Miranda.

Feb 28, 2020

Jackie Serrato has become a regular on Hitting Left. She's now editor-in-chief of the South Side Weekly. Adeshina Emmanuel also returns to talk about his work at Injustice Watch and the secret reports in a story of a death in an Alabama prison.

Feb 21, 2020

The first half hour is about environmental racism and the 10th Ward in Chicago with Alderwoman Garza and her policy guy., John Harrof The second half Mike and Fred talk politics - national mostly, with some Blago stuff tossed in - and it's fun.

Feb 20, 2020

Diane Ravitch, educational historian and activist joins us (and Mario Smith - host of Lumpen Radio's News From the Service Entrance) for an hour talk about schools and her latest book, Slaying Goliath.

Feb 14, 2020

We sat down with two long-time advocates of democratic education, Monty Neill, retired director of Fair Test, and founder of the ground-breaking Harlem small school - Central Park East - Deborah Meier. 

Feb 14, 2020

We sat down with two long-time advocates of democratic education, Monty Neill, retired director of Fair Test, and founder of the ground-breaking Harlem small school - Central Park East - Deborah Meier. 

Feb 7, 2020

Tribune reporter Greg Pratt is a newspaper Guild organizer battling the hedge fund takeover of the Trib by Alden Capital and Bob Reiter is the President of the Chicago Federation of Labor. A union show!

Feb 7, 2020

Tribune reporter Greg Pratt is a newspaper Guild organizer battling the hedge fund takeover of the Trib by Alden Capital and Bob Reiter is the President of the Chicago Federation of Labor. A union show!

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