The Katie Halper Show

Here' my oped on this: https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/mayor-de-blasio-not-late-honor-erica-garner-legacy-article-1.3761825 I interviewed Erica Garner a few weeks ago and was planning to release her interview next week or the week after. But on December 24, I learned that Erica had been hospitalized and put into a medically induced coma after suffering a heart attack. She's 27 and has two kids and is the daughter of Eric Garner, who was murdered by the NYPD in Staten Island. He was placed in a choke hold despite saying "I can't breath," 11 times. This episode consists of two interviews, done a week apart, I conducted with Erica over the phone. She talked about her demands for DiBlasio, her hopes for the future and the work she's doing. She also shared insights and stories about her father, who she called a gentle giant. I will update this when I hear any updates about Erica. Someone who tweeted out that they work with Erica has been has been tweeting updates about her condition at es_snipes.

Bonus chat with Adam Johnson: https://www.patreon.com/posts/16057461 We talk to investigative journalist Alex Kotch about the stories he and his colleagues David Sirota & Josh Keefe are breaking at IBT about the senators benefiting from the last minute real estate provision added to the tax bill. A great endorsement of their work is that it's been attacked by the very Republicans who will benefit from the provision, including Sen Bob Corker (R-Tenn), who was against the tax bill before he was for it. Despite vowing to vote against the bill if it added one penny to the deficit, Corker, the only Republican to vote against the bill, miraculously voted for it, once the real estate provision was slipped in! We then talk to media critic Adam Johnson, who sheds light on just how full of it so-called deficit hawks actually are. Somehow, they oppose programs that benefit the poor and people of color, but are OK with military spending and tax cuts. Adam also talks to us about the worst people in media.

Bonus extended interview with Alex Press: https://www.patreon.com/posts/15631574 We have an amazing chat with socialist feminist Jacobin editor DSA member Alex Press about sexual harassment and the Left. See her & Judah Fridlander & Kath Barbadoro live Dec 7. https://www.facebook.com/events/732784816915044/

Bonus: Norman Finkelstein & Todd Gitlin debate free speech. We talk to journalist Rula Jebreal about her school for young Syrian women, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, why Trump, Netanyahu & Berlusconi may be the same person and hummus.

Bonus: We talk to journalist Norman Solomon about the report he co-authored, "Autopsy: The Democratic Party in Crisis."

Bonus extended interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/15197523 I talk to Marc Fliedner, who is running as a write-in candidate against Cy Vance the (up until now)unopposed candidate for Manhattan DA. Marc had already run for Brooklyn DA but when it was revealed that Vance had declined to prosecute Harvey Weinstein and had accepted money from Weinstein's lawyer, Fiedner decided to jump into the race. I talk to Marc about what and who convinced him to run, his historic conviction of NYPD officer Peter Liang in the killing of Akai Gurley, and what he would do as DA.

Bonus: why Norm Finkelstein thinks BDS is a cult. https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-norm-thinks-15090184 We talk to Norm FInkelstein, controversial scholar, author, activist and the son of survivors of the Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps. He busts myths about and repeated by Israel and reminisces on the dishonesty of Alan Dershowitz. He also wonders if Richard Goldstone was blackmailed into retracting his report on Gaza. If you want to support WBAI and get Norm's book as well as Eli Valley's amazing book of political cartoons and Kareem Estefan's book "Assuming Boycott," about BDS.

Bonus ep on Racist Statues & Columbus Day: https://www.patreon.com/posts/14965304 This episode is from our live taping at The Brooklyn Commons. Gabe Pacheco and I talk to Wendi Muse, historian and creator of the #LeftPOC hashtag and project, as well as Anoa Changa, organizer & host of The Way with Anoa, about the representation, or lack thereof, of People of Color on the political left. Are Wendy and Anoa real? Or Russian bots? Find out...

Bonus with Adam Johnson is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/14836515 We speak to art critic and writer Kareem Estefan, co-editor of "Assuming Boycott: Resistance, Agency, and Cultural Production," about Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS), the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the lessons of the South African boycott. Then we bring you a live reading from Eli Valley, who was our guest last week, of his book "Diaspora Boy: Comics on Crisis in America and Israel," recorded at the McNally Jackson bookstore in NYC.

Extended interview with Eli https://www.patreon.com/posts/14767156 Don't forget to come to our next life taping: https://www.facebook.com/events/121219481913548/ We talk to Eli Valley, artistic genius, about his book "Diaspora Boy: Comics on Crisis in America and Israel." Endorsements include the following criticisms by right wing rapid zionists: “Your work is disgusting. And also stupid.” — Marty Peretz. “Grotesque. … Wretched.” — Bret Stephens. “Offensive and obnoxious and crosses the line. ... Bigoted, unfunny.” — Abe Foxman. “Ferociously repugnant.” — Commentary

Bonus ep with Moumita Ahmed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/14616145 Next live show on October 9! https://www.facebook.com/events/121219481913548/ We talk to Moumita Ahmed, founder of Millennials for Bernie, about that time she got hit by an white male Hillary Bro (with his hand and cane!), which was captured on video!!! Given how much the #BernieBro narrative is being pushed by Hillary Clinton and even investigated by Senate Intelligence Committee investigators! Then we talk to standup comedian, writer and filmmaker Travis Irvine about his run for mayor and his documentary about it, American Mayor, and his stand up album, "Guy from Ohio."

Bonus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/14485685 This is our LIVE TAPING episode with Khader El-Yateem and Jabari Brisport, who were inspired to run for city council by Bernie Sanders (whom they admire) and by Trump (whose scary & destructive victory convinced them to enter politics). A Palestinian, Arab-American, socialist Khader El-Yateem is a community organizer & faith leader who is committed to social justice. He talks about how his experience being imprisoned & tortured by Israeli soldiers inspired him to seek understanding and dialog. He ran as a Democrat and though he lost the primary by 7 points, he scored an amazing victory by coming so close and taking on the Democratic Machine. Like Rev. El-Yateem, Jabari Brisport was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). A third generation Brooklyn resident, Jabari is still in the race, having run on the Green Party ticket. We discuss the Bernie Bro Myth, which they shatter as an Arab-American and African American, "coming out," as socialist and why they ran in the parties they did.

For our full interview with Thomas Frank: https://www.patreon.com/posts/14431054 Our live taping with Jabari Brisport & Khader El-Yateem: https://www.facebook.com/events/1467429373350975/ Gabe and I talk to writer Thomas Frank about Hillary Clinton's new book "What Happened." Then we talk to Nomiki Konst, a reporter at The Young Turks and a member of the DNC's Reform Unity Commission about what's happening in the Democratic Party. Nomiki also talks about neoliberal economics and online trolls who spread dangerous messages. We also go over the #AltWoke

For the rest of our interview and to hear Hillary Clinton appointees, including Neera Tanden, vote against SIngle Payer, join out patreon https://www.patreon.com/posts/14392323. Actual Dr. Adam Gaffney, one of the biggest advocates for single payer talks to us about Bernie Sanders' medicare for all bill. Why it matters, where it comes from and the sneaky language libs use to undermine single payer while pretending to support it.

Full debate is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-medicare-14279019. We talk to Rev.Khader El-Yateem, a Lutheran pastor, Arab-American, proud immigrant, and father of four who is running for City Council in Brooklyn's 43rd District. Wait until you hear his story. Then we bring you some hot Left of Left debate between Dr. Adam Gaffney and journalist Josh Holland over Medicare For All. We will be posting the rest of the debate shortly for our Patreon supporters! Sit tight.