Joe Conason

Editor-in-chief of the National Memo, a political newsletter, and author of Big Lies: The Right-Wing Propaganda Machine and How It Distorts the Truth and It Can Happen Here: Authoritarian Peril in the Age of Bush; former syndicated columnist and editor at the Investigative Fund, a project of the progressive Nation Institute; former contributor to the New York Observer and Salon.com;

Joe Conason on KCRW

Clinton Cash: Corruption or Conspiracy?

President Bill Clinton survived potential scandals, including "Whitewater," "Travelgate" and "Filegate" because no wrongdoing was ever proven.

National

Clinton Cash: Corruption or Conspiracy?

President Bill Clinton survived potential scandals, including "Whitewater," "Travelgate" and "Filegate" because no wrongdoing was ever proven.

May. 7, 2015 from To the Point

The Random Nature of Political Scandal

New York Democrat Anthony Weiner resigned without any evidence he ever committed a crime.

National

The Random Nature of Political Scandal

New York Democrat Anthony Weiner resigned without any evidence he ever committed a crime.

Jun. 17, 2011 from To the Point

'Socialism' and Political Rhetoric, Past and Present

Barack Obama wants to raise taxes on incomes over $250,000 and use part of the money for tax credits on all workers, even those who don't earn enough to pay income tax.

National

'Socialism' and Political Rhetoric, Past and Present

Barack Obama wants to raise taxes on incomes over $250,000 and use part of the money for tax credits on all workers, even those who don't earn enough to pay income tax.

Oct. 24, 2008 from To the Point

More from KCRW

What does Jeffrey Epstein's death say about U.S. prisons?

National

Accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein apparently killed himself over the weekend. He was in the secure housing unit in a Manhattan jail.

Aug. 12 from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A United Nations expert finds the WikiLeaks founder has been subjected to psychological torture, and media around the globe played a part.

The Media Is Complicit in Julian Assange’s Torture

Politics

A United Nations expert finds the WikiLeaks founder has been subjected to psychological torture, and media around the globe played a part.

Jul. 12 from Scheer Intelligence

Once again it’s the race for the White House as Reality TV, with 20 performers focused on making the next audition. Are “bold proposals” politically risky?

Are Democratic candidates playing into Trump’s hands?

National

Once again it’s the race for the White House as Reality TV, with 20 performers focused on making the next audition. Are “bold proposals” politically risky?

Jul. 30 from To the Point

$President Trump infuriated a fractured Democratic party this week by telling four of its newest members to go back to where they came from, but did his statement galvanize his base or…$

The Squad fight back

National

President Trump infuriated a fractured Democratic party this week by telling four of its newest members to go back to where they came from, but did his statement galvanize his base or…

Jul. 19 from Left, Right & Center

California’s relentless clean-air enforcer, Mary Nichols, has divided the automobile industry.

After weeks of secret negotiations, the Chair of the State’s Air Resources Board has announced that Ford, Honda VW and BMW of America won’t go along with President Trump’s rollback of Barack Obama’s fuel-economy standards.

Nichols claims it’s an “olive branch,” giving car makers the “flexibility” to clean up the air at the same time they continue to market vehicles that make the most money. Brady Dennis of the Washington Post calls it a “big deal,” even if Toyota, GM and 11 other companies revert to Trump’s new federal standards--at least for the moment.

Alan Baum is a consultant for both the industry and environmental organizations. He says the four who made the deal with California have a slight lead on their competitors in developing the technology of the future, with China currently far ahead of them all. He says the western car makers are doing a poor job of educating consumers about the benefits of hybrids and electrics.

Nichols’s history with the Air Resources Board goes back to the 1970’s. She was named Chair by Republican Governor Arnold Schwartenegger and reappointed by Democrats Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom.

She made an international name for herself for years ago when she blew the whistle on Volkswagen for faking emissions tests on the diesel cars it sold for decades all over the world.

California v. Trump on auto emissions

Environment

California’s relentless clean-air enforcer, Mary Nichols, has divided the automobile industry. After weeks of secret negotiations, the Chair of the State’s Air Resources Board has announced that Ford, Honda VW and BMW of America won’t go along with President Trump’s rollback of Barack Obama’s fuel-economy standards. Nichols claims it’s an “olive branch,” giving car makers the “flexibility” to clean up the air at the same time they continue to market vehicles that make the most money. Brady Dennis of the Washington Post calls it a “big deal,” even if Toyota, GM and 11 other companies revert to Trump’s new federal standards--at least for the moment. Alan Baum is a consultant for both the industry and environmental organizations. He says the four who made the deal with California have a slight lead on their competitors in developing the technology of the future, with China currently far ahead of them all. He says the western car makers are doing a poor job of educating consumers about the benefits of hybrids and electrics. Nichols’s history with the Air Resources Board goes back to the 1970’s. She was named Chair by Republican Governor Arnold Schwartenegger and reappointed by Democrats Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom. She made an international name for herself for years ago when she blew the whistle on Volkswagen for faking emissions tests on the diesel cars it sold for decades all over the world.

Aug. 3 from To the Point