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Artwork for KPFA - Against the Grain

KPFA - Against the Grain

KPFA
Capitalism
Neoliberalism
KPFA
Palestine
Social Justice
Climate Change
Zionism
Racism
Mental Health
Israel
Lies My Teacher Told Me
Labor Movement
United States
Great Depression
Education
Gaza
Donald Trump
Wealth Inequality
California
Socialism

Acclaimed program of ideas, in-depth analysis, and commentary on a variety of matters—political, economic, social, and cultural—important to progressive and radical thinking and activism. Against the Grain is produced and hosted by Sasha Lilley.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1000Founded21 years ago
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PoliticsNews

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Artwork for KPFA - Against the Grain

Latest Episodes

The allegations are explosive: that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia set up a secret fund for Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, to finance proxy wars hidden from democratic oversight. Journalist Matthew Cole delineates his claims involving,... more

It’s no mystery that the fortunes of the very rich have soared under this administration, but the concentration of wealth in the hands of the very few is a hallmark of capitalism itself. Economist Rob Larson returns to discuss wealth and power in the... more

This month marks the 100th anniversary of the arrest of the Italian Marxist thinker Antonio Gramsci and his incarceration in a fascist prison. Jordan Camp argues that Gramsci’s writing on the so-called southern question was the kernel for an alternat... more

The terrorizing and mass deportations of immigrants under the Trump administration may seem an unprecedented descent into an racist order where Constitutional protections no longer apply. But, as historian Kelly Lytle Hernández argues, from early on ... more

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Recent Guests

Kelly Lytle Hernández
Historian and professor of history, African American studies, and urban planning at UCLA.
UCLA
Episode: Immigration Control as Counterinsurgency
Hannah Gurman
Historian at NYU and author of The Opportunists: The Post-Liberals and the Reinvention of Reactionary Politics
New York University
Episode: Justifying Authoritarianism
Clarissa Redwine
Tech worker and labor activist who helped organize Kickstarter and Twitter
Episode: Tech Worker Militancy
J.S. Tan
Former tech worker and labor organizer who helped organize Kickstarter and Twitter
Episode: Tech Worker Militancy
Mariah Blake
Investigative journalist and author of They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals.
Episode: Exposing Forever Chemicals
Annie Leonard
Longtime activist, former executive director of Greenpeace USA, and co-author of Protest, Respect It, Defend It, Use It.
Greenpeace USA
Episode: Criminalizing Protest
Rodrigo Nunes
Political philosopher, associate professor of philosophy at PUC Rio and visiting fellow at the University of Essex
PUC Rio
Episode: Brazil and the Global Far Right
Kim Phillips-Fein
Historian, Columbia University professor, and author of Country of Lords
Columbia University
Episode: The Long Struggle Against Equality
Steve Fraser
Historian and author of The Age of Acquiescence
Episode: The Long Struggle Against Equality

Host

Sasha Lilley
Writer and radio host focused on political, economic, social, and cultural analysis.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 257 ratings
  • Great Program

    I have been listening to Against The Grain for over a decade. Please keep up the great work. The topics covered by C.S. Song and Sasha Lilley are very informative and are needed more than ever, in these authoritarian times.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hija de La Orisha
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent research and hosts

    Very thoughtful and informative! Sasha Lilley and CS Song are very adept at guiding the interviews forward. I almost always learn something that changes my knowledge of the world, even from the eps whose titles I am less interested in. My favorite was an interview with David Graeber.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DostDevil
    United States5 years ago
  • Are there any herbs for ‘orange-man-bad’ syndrome??

    Extremely biased against Trump presidency. While there is some credible, unbiased, subjects discussed on this podcast, it fails to objectively evaluate the White House w/out selling the same old propaganda the left has been dishing for four years

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    whyareyouonlyonitunes
    United States6 years ago
  • KPFA, and public intellectualism, at its best

    Simply one of the finest scholarly radio shows in America. I’d been listening to Against the Grain on FM for more than a decade, and I’m so grateful that it’s now offered via podcast so I can easily listen to it on the east coast. You’d be hard pressed to find a more fascinating podcast hearing from the most innovative leftist intellectuals today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tkoshark
    United States6 years ago
  • Yo

    Yo chill on the ram das

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    yoooooooooootkrnn
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

One reviewer objects to perceived partisan treatment of the Trump presidency, indicating that the political perspective can divide audiences.
Many value the research-led conversations with scholars, activists, and other intellectuals on history, politics, and social issues.
Listeners describe the analysis as class-conscious, left-leaning, and useful for understanding contemporary struggles.
The long, information-rich interviews reward close attention, though some listeners find them demanding to follow casually.
Listeners praise Sasha Lilley and other interviewers for thoughtful questions, strong preparation, and deep subject knowledge.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#236
Singapore/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Brazil and the Global Far Right
Q: How should the left respond to the far right's appeal and the difficult political terrain?
Nunes says the left needs to defend institutions while offering more ambitious, radical proposals that contest the far right's anti-systemic appeal and address concentrated economic and political power and the environmental crisis.
Brazil and the Global Far Right
Q: Who makes up the social basis of support for the far right and the broader electoral basis for it?
Nunes distinguishes committed far-right supporters from voters who may back Bolsonaro mainly because they oppose the Workers' Party. He describes the committed base as a cross-class coalition involving economically insecure people, parts of the middle class and elites, brought together by resentment and overlapping political tendencies.
Criminalizing Protest
Q: Looking back at the history of protests, obviously, this is not the first time that people have lived through dark times. Do you have any take on what is the most effective under these circumstances?
Leonard recommends expanding protest beyond marches to include non-cooperation and disruption. She says people can withdraw support from institutions enabling an authoritarian agenda and build the networks needed for collective action.
Criminalizing Protest
Q: How do you define effective? Is it something that one can necessarily know in the short term?
Leonard says protest can raise awareness, demonstrate dissent, create pressure on leaders, and build solidarity, but it may work over a longer campaign rather than immediately.
Tech Worker Militancy
Q: How has that shaped the obstacles to organizing amongst tech workers and the lessons that you would draw from your experience?
Tan says AI tools are increasing work speed and surveillance, while the conventional recognition-focused union strategy has not identified effective leverage in an industry whose platforms can keep operating during strikes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About KPFA - Against the Grain

What is KPFA - Against the Grain about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form interviews connect political, economic, social, and cultural questions to the history and ideas shaping public life. Host Sasha Lilley speaks with historians, scholars, activists, authors, and other specialists about subjects including inequality, labor, race, education, health, policing, protest, and social movements. Conversations often begin with a guest's research or book, then trace its relevance to current institutions and struggles.

The approach is grounded in progressive and radical analysis, with close attention to class, power, and the historical roots of contemporary debates. Rather than relying on quick takes or conventional punditry, interviews give guests room to explain complex ideas and their implications. Fundrai... more

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1. Behind the News with Doug Henwood
2. The Nation Podcasts
3. Know Your Enemy
4. Democracy Now! Audio
5. Jacobin Radio

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KPFA - Against the Grain launched 21 years ago and published 1000 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on KPFA - Against the Grain?

Recent guests on KPFA - Against the Grain include:

1. Kelly Lytle Hernández
2. Hannah Gurman
3. Clarissa Redwine
4. J.S. Tan
5. Mariah Blake
6. Annie Leonard
7. Rodrigo Nunes
8. Kim Phillips-Fein

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