Call In With Your Questions or Comments 619-790-KNSJ (5675)
VACCINATIONS IN THE NEWS–WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Mike is in conversation with Dr. Samuel Halpern
Dr. Samuel Halpern is a San Diego physician who spent most of his long career as a faculty member at UCSD Medical School, specializing in internal medicine and nuclear medicine. He saw patients in clinical settings; taught medical residents and fellows; led basic research in radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat various diseases, including cancer. Much of his research involved radio-labeled monoclonal antibodies for both imaging and therapy. He spent several years in medical administration as well. He is the author of many professional journal articles in peer-reviewed journals and has served as a reviewer of grant proposals for the NIH and Veterans Administration.
Dr. Halpern is presently an emeritus professor at UCSD, but is still actively licensed and sometimes works as a volunteer physician in the local community.
STOP & TALK with Grant Oliphant and Crystal Page Fri 8am
Thoughtful conversations and a good way to start the day! STOP & TALK dives deep into the themes of purpose and opportunity, guided by the insights of leaders in the arts and culture, health, philanthropy, finance, and innovation fields. Together, we celebrated local achievements and envisioned what’s possible in San Diego County.
KNSJ’S COMMUNITY RADIO MEETING TONIGHT, THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH ON ZOOM
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HERE IT IS ALREADY, FALL, AND KNSJ PUBLIC COMMUNITY RADIO, WHICH IS VOLUNTEER-RUN, HAS A LOT OF THINGS PLANNED TO CONTINUE TO BRING CURRENT EVENTS, LOCAL, NATIONAL, WORLD, AND MORE, TO YOU IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA, STORIES FROM THE GROUND, STORIES FROM WORKERS AND NEIGHBORS, OBSERVERS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING. KNSJ HAS NEWS AND REPORTS THAT ARE MORE THAN HEADLINES–NEWS AND STORIES NOT CARRIED ON CORPORATELY-OWNED STATIONS WHO HAVE NO TIES TO YOU OR TO SAN DIEGO.
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A new poll reveals that Americans continue to support organized labor at historic levels, even as the Trump administration and its Republican allies in Congress take a battering ram to union rights and the nation’s working class.
Gallup’s annual survey, released Thursday, shows more than two-thirds of people in the US (68%) approve of labor unions and the economic security and prosperity they provide working families. The popular support matches record-high numbers of recent years after a long decline from the 1960s through the early 2000s.
As Gallup notes:
When Gallup first measured Americans’ ratings of labor unions in 1936, 72% approved. Approval reached the record high, 75%, in 1953 and 1957 and ranged between 63% and 73% from 1958 through 1967. Then, from 1972 through 2016, approval was lower, with few readings over 60%, including the 48% all-time low recorded in 2009. This was the only time approval fell below the majority level. Since 2017, approval has been above 60%, the longest period at this level since the 1960s.
“Working people want unions and the numbers prove it,” said Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), in response to the latest polling.
The survey shows sharp partisan divides despite the overall approval of organized labor. While 90% of Democrats surveyed and 69% of independents voiced support, only 41% of Republicans expressed the same level of support for organized workers and their unions. “All party groups show increased support for unions compared with 2016,” said Gallup, “though Republican support has declined since peaking at 56% in 2022. That was the only time Republicans’ approval has risen above 50% in the past 25 years.”
Saunders, like other members of the labor movement, has been a steady voice in rebuking President Donald Trump and his Republican Party as they run roughshod over labor rights and wage a relentless war against the working class by attacking Medicaid, food assistance, public education, better wages, collective bargaining, and workplace safety—all while slashing regulatory safeguards designed to protect America’s working families from industry greed and handing out massive tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.
“Gallup polling once again shows historically strong support, because workers understand that they have the power to win fair pay, safer working conditions, and dignity on the job when they organize a union. Today, that power matters more than ever,” said Saunders. “While billionaires and their yes-men in Congress try to slash wages, gut health care, and silence working people, we are fighting back—organizing, mobilizing, and demanding a voice.”
Despite the support of a large majority of Americans across the political spectrum, union density remains at historic lows, which makes sense given the hostility from both major parties to the needs of the working class and their fealty to represent the interests of big business over those of working families over the last five decades.
In his latest attack on the working class—and just ahead of the Labor Day weekend—Trump on Thursday issued a new executive order expanding his assault on the government agencies where federal employees would lose their collective bargaining rights.
Union members and labor experts immediately called the order unlawful—just like the original March order upon which it was based—and vowed to fight it tooth and nail in court.
“This is how President Trump is commemorating Labor Day: continuing his administration’s all-out attack on workers and unions,” said Liz Schuler, president of the AFL-CIO. “This new executive order once again distorts the law by ripping away the collective bargaining rights of federal workers in an attempt to silence their voices on the job.”
“Issuing these executive orders just days before the holiday that honors everything working people have fought and died for—including our right to come together with our co-workers in a union and bargain for what we deserve—shows us that this administration’s callous disregard for workers’ rights knows no bounds,” added Schuler. “No matter what it throws our way, the labor movement will never stop organizing and fighting for each other—and we’ll see him in court.”
AFSCME’s Saunders, suggested the polling should serve to invigorate the labor movement, even at a time when corporate power’s hold on the levers of power seems near complete.
“We know that working families are the backbone of our economy. But instead of getting the respect they’ve earned, they’re getting squeezed by CEOs and anti-worker politicians who want to hand out tax breaks to the billionaire class at the expense of Medicaid, food assistance, worker protections and our communities,” he said. “It is easy to see why trust in Congress and big corporations is hitting new lows, while support for unions remains strong.”
Saunders added that his union’s 1.4 million members are “proud to stand with every worker who is fighting back to demand dignity, fairness, and a voice on the job. Because when we stand together, we can defend our freedoms from billionaires who want to rob us of them.”
Bemoaning how Republicans have been able to coopt the mantle of being the party of the working class, all while undermining wages, workplace safety, and the right to collectively bargain, Les Leopold, executive director of the Labor Institute, has been among those warning the Democratic Party that it must change direction, or die trying, if it wants to win back the working class.
As he wrote following Trump’s 2024 reelection, “It’s time to end this sad chapter in U.S. history when the Democratic Party leaders refuse to be genuine allies for workers and the Republican Party is rewarded for pretending to be.“
ABOUT SCHEERPOST: ScheerPost is an award-winning, independent news organization that focuses on progressive politics and human rights issues that the mainstream media miss or decline to cover. Founded on the principle of honest reporting and holding those in power to account, we make it our mission to bring our readers the latest cutting-edge news and analysis about these issues. With our original articles written by renowned journalists and reposted articles curated by our award-winning staff, we present our readers with daily content from various perspectives that explain and challenge dominant narratives. Since our inception in March 2020, we’ve been able to maintain our independence through grants and reader donations — we will never erect a paywall — and in the process, our stories have been viewed more than 15 million times by our readers from around the world.
At the helm of ScheerPost are editor Narda Zacchino, former Los Angeles Times reporter, Sacramento Bureau Chief, Orange County edition editor, associate editor and vice president, deputy editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, and senior editor at the Center for Investigative Reporting and Robert Scheer, former Ramparts magazine managing editor, Los Angeles Times national correspondent and columnist and author of 13 books. With a combined 60 years-plus of mainstream journalism experience, they created ScheerPost, which has become an essential internet news outlet. At a time of increasing dominance of billionaire ownership in journalism, they materialized the warning of legendary media critic A.J. Liebling that “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” Led by passion for independent journalism and bringing light to the truth, the founders do not take any compensation so all donations can go to site staff and operations.
ScheerPost fills a news media gap by reporting on issues other publications often shy away from or ignore entirely, such as controversial international issues; the threat of nuclear war; economic, racial and gender inequality; criminal justice reform; defense industry profiteering, and important moments in history that textbooks totally ignore. Our journalism is vital to providing an alternative understanding of what is going on in our world today. ScheerPost is committed to raising the voices of those marginalized by mainstream media and amplifying issues suppressed by the most powerful people and organizations in the world.
Geoff Hueter is the Chair of Neighbors for a Better San Diego, a volunteer grassroots organization that promotes sensible, data-driven planning for San Diego. Prior to that, Dr. Hueter was the Chief Data Scientist and Co-Founder of Certona Corporation, a leader in real time, AI powered omnichannel personalization for the world’s largest retailers. Dr. Hueter holds 12 patents and received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, where he studied gamma ray bursts.
– Stephanie Maccec: Graduate University. She started teaching 31 years ago as an English and Spanish teacher in Los Angeles. She then worked in online education from its inception, and wrote for Teacher Created Materials until she took a teaching position with Grossmont Union High School District as an English Teacher. She served as department chair, WASC Coordinator, OER Coordinator, UDL Trainer, and Mentor Teacher. She taught AP Literature, Film as Lit, ERWC, and AVID until she became a Teacher Librarian. She has long been an advocate for teachers as a Site Representative for Grossmont Education Association and was recently elected Vice President. She is currently serving as the chair of both the Organizing and Communications Committee to promote better learning and teaching conditions for students and educators. She’s recently contributed as an author to Radical School Librarianship: A Global Response. She is currently pursuing an MS in Reading and Literacy at CSUF and teaching ELD and dELD at Valhalla High School.
– Jackie Naah: has dedicated more than 24 years to education as a teacher in the Grossmont Union High School District, serving at both Mount Miguel High School and Valhalla High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development. Throughout her career, Jackie has taught a wide range of social science courses, including United States History, Child Developmental Psychology, AP Government, Pre-AP World History, and Life Management Skills. Beyond the classroom, she has been a strong advocate for educators, serving as a site representative for the Grossmont Education Association. She was recently elected as an at-large member of the GEA Executive Board and currently serves as Chair of the Political Action Committee, where she continues her commitment to supporting teachers and advancing public education.
Congratulations to Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez, Nermeen Shaikh and all of DEMOCRACY NOW! who make this show happen.
“Steal This Story, Please!”: Documentary on Democracy Now! Premieres at Telluride Film Festival this Weekend
This amazing documentary is premiering this weekend at the Telluride Film Festival. The film tells the story of Democracy Now! from its inception and also tracks Amy’s remarkable trajectory over the last 30 years. The documentary is called Steal This Story, Please!
KNSJ airs Democracy Now! Monday-Friday 7-8am and 6-7pm.
About Democracy Now!
Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. On Democracy Now!, you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective on global events.
Democracy Now! launched in 1996, airing on nine radio stations. More than two decades later, we have grown to be one of the leading U.S.-based independent daily news broadcasts in the world.
As an independent news program, Democracy Now! is audience-supported, which means that our editorial independence is never compromised by corporate or government interests. Since our founding in 1996, Democracy Now! has held steadfast to our policy of not accepting government funding, corporate sponsorship, underwriting or advertising revenue.
About Amy Goodman
Amy Goodman is the host and executive producer of Democracy Now!, a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program airing on over 1,400 public television and radio stations worldwide.
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard honored Goodman with the 2014 I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also the first journalist to receive the Right Livelihood Award, widely known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’ for “developing an innovative model of truly independent grassroots political journalism that brings to millions of people the alternative voices that are often excluded by the mainstream media.” She is the first co-recipient of the Park Center for Independent Media’s Izzy Award, named for the great muckraking journalist I.F. Stone, and was later selected for induction into the Park Center’s I.F. Stone Hall of Fame. The Independent of London called Amy Goodman and Democracy Now! “an inspiration.”
Goodman has co-authored six New York Times bestsellers. Her latest, Democracy Now!: Twenty Years Covering the Movements Changing America, looks back over the past two decades of Democracy Now! and the powerful movements and charismatic leaders who are re-shaping our world. Before than, The Silenced Majority: Stories of Uprisings, Occupations, Resistance, and Hope, and Breaking the Sound Barrier, both written with Denis Moynihan, give voice to the many ordinary people standing up to corporate and government power. She co-authored her first three bestsellers with her brother, journalist David Goodman: Standing Up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times (2008), Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back (2006) and The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Love Them (2004). She co-writes a weekly column with Denis Moynihan (also produced as an audio podcast) syndicated by King Features, for which she was recognized in 2007 with the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Reporting.
Goodman has received the Society for Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for Excellence; American Women in Radio and Television Gracie Award; the Paley Center for Media’s She’s Made It Award; and the Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship. Her reporting on East Timor and Nigeria has won numerous awards, including the George Polk Award, Robert F. Kennedy Prize for International Reporting, and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award. Time Magazine named Democracy Now! its “Pick of the Podcasts,” along with NBC’s Meet the Press. PULSE named Goodman one of the 20 Top Global Media Figures of 2009.
She has also received awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Project Censored. Goodman received the first ever Communication for Peace Award from the World Association for Christian Communication. She was also honored by the National Council of Teachers of English with the George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language.
