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Artwork for KPFA - Behind the News

KPFA - Behind the News

KPFA
United States
Venezuela
Trump
KPFA
Private Equity
Iran War
Imperialism
Viktor Orban
Hungary
Homeland Empire
American Conservatism
William F. Buckley
Lithium
Opus Dei
Transhumanism
Finance
Anatol Lieven
Behrooz Ghamari
Elon Musk
National Review

Host Doug Henwood covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes863Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for KPFA - Behind the News

Latest Episodes

Michaela Brangan, co-chair of the group that wrote DSA’s new platform, on that document • Hagen Blix, co-author of Why We Fear AI, on exactly that

The post DSA’s platform • why we fear AI appeared first on KPFA.

Laura Field, author of Furious Minds, on the highbrow side of Trumpism—with a brief comment from David Austin Walsh on how similar the highbrows are to the deplorables

The post Fundraising special: a look at the right, intellectual side mostly but n... more

Kim Phillips-Fein, author of Country of Lords, on the anti-egalitarian tradition in American politics • Aziz Rana on tensions between the Declaration and the Constitution (2024 reprise) • Jasmine Wynn on the National Black Empowerment Coalition, basi... more

Hettie O’Brien, author of The Asset Class, on the private equity racket—who they are, what they do

The post The private equity racket appeared first on KPFA.

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Recent Guests

Laura Field
Author of Furious Minds, The Making of the Maginot Right
Princeton University Press (publisher)
Episode: Fundraising special: a look at the right, intellectual side mostly but not all
Kim Phillips-Fein
Author of Country of Lords, Neo-Aristocrats, Social Darwinists, Tech Utopians and The Long Fight Against Equality in America
Columbia University
Episode: American anti-egalitarians, AIPAC’s black front group
Aziz Rana
Professor of Law at Boston College, author of The Constitutional Bind
Boston College
Episode: American anti-egalitarians, AIPAC’s black front group
Jasmine Wynn
Writer and organizer specializing in climate and electoral politics; Harvard undergraduate
Jacobin (article contributor)
Episode: American anti-egalitarians, AIPAC’s black front group
Hettie O'Brien
Author of The Asset Class
Grand Central Publishing / The Guardian
Episode: The private equity racket
David Austin Walsh
Author of Taking America Back, the conservative movement in the far right
Yale University Press
Episode: Two views of the right: the sordid side of “respectable,” and Trump’s court intellectuals
AJA Woods
Author of The Cultural Marxism Conspiracy
Verso / Anti-Capitalist Resistance
Episode: Latin America’s influence on Pope Leo • the Cultural Marxist conspiracy
Gareth Gore
Financial journalist and author of Opus, Dark Money
Author, Opus Dei investigations
Episode: fundraising special: the Xi–Trump summit, the dark doings of Opus Dei
Jake Werner
Director of the East Asia program at the Quincy Institute
Quincy Institute
Episode: fundraising special: the Xi–Trump summit, the dark doings of Opus Dei

Host

Doug Henwood
Host of Behind the News

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 77 ratings
  • Wonderful left interviews with a focus on US politics but ranging into leftist politics around the world. Insightful and informed interviews.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    M J G
    5 years ago
  • superb political interviews with excellent host

    Doug Henwood must be a well-trained radio host- his shows are fascinating, easy to listen to but very insightful. Usually two interviews per 1 hour episode, sometimes a 1-interview special, with a musical break halfway through. I wish more podcasts would adopt this approach- it makes it much easier to listen in bursts. Henwood has a great voice, picks great music for the breaks and asks intelligent questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sy Millen
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • Absolute best show for leftists who appreciate more signal and less noise

    Doug is one of the very few people on the left we have who is serious and professional. Hard to believe you could ever listen to a single episode and not have gained some important insight from diverse, studious leftists' perspectives on our world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vibeeme
    United States8 years ago
  • Provide Topics?

    I'm unsubscribing, because the episode description provides no clue as to topics covered. I wish I had the time to download and listen to every episode, but I don't. I think I'm probably not alone. Bad practice of KPFA generally.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    samtha25
    United States8 years ago
  • Henwood's show is a must

    Especially in these dark, uncertain times.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    H. Beale
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners want more explicit episode topic listings in show notes.
Genuine, in-depth analysis with high-quality guests.
Listeners praise incisive interviews and strong host presence.
Audience values independent, non-commercial media.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#228
Poland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fundraising special: a look at the right, intellectual side mostly but not all
Q: What is the central argument of Furious Minds and who are the key figures it profiles?
Field describes Furious Minds as tracing the intellectuals—scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals—whose ideas have underpinned Trumpism and the broader right, including groups like the Claremont Institute, NatCons, and post-liberals, and individuals like Curtis Yarvin and Christopher Ruffo.
Venezuela and setting Victor Berger’s record straight
Q: Before we get to the turn, what were some of the terrible things he said?
Velasco and Blanc discuss Berger's early racist writings, including support for race science and white supremacy, and note that Berger later rejected those views and embraced anti-racist positions, influenced by shifts in science and the rising Black radicalism of the era.
Trump’s unified domain of impunity
Q: How should we think about Trump?
The guest suggests framing Trump not as a coherent program but as part of a broader shift where coercive state power and a retreat from liberal global norms are central. He emphasizes the fusion of foreign and domestic policies into a single project, the reliance on coercion over legitimation, and the reinvention of national security around a homeland empire.
Fundraising special: David Harvey on capital
Q: How does Harvey view neoliberalism in the current global order?
Harvey contends that neoliberalism is not dead but evolving, with regionalization and new power blocs shaping capital accumulation; it remains a framework that centralizes capital but may adapt to new geopolitical realities rather than revert to the old order.
Fundraising special: David Harvey on capital
Q: Why is finance essential to capital in Harvey's view?
Harvey argues that finance provides the mechanisms for moving capital into productive and urban projects; without a viable financial system, large-scale capital investments like railways and urban development cannot occur, making finance foundational rather than peripheral.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About KPFA - Behind the News

What is KPFA - Behind the News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A hard-hitting, analytically driven program focused on economics, politics, and power. Episodes frequently feature scholarly guests—historians, political scientists, and authors—paired with long-form conversations that dissect financial markets, imperial policy, and contemporary right-wing movements. Notable is the combination of rigorous analysis with in-depth cultural and historical context, plus live fundraising segments that emphasize independent, critical public broadcasting. The show routinely threads complex ideas through accessible storytelling, making it valuable for listeners who want historical perspective, data-informed critique, and provocative, cross-disciplinary debates. The format often centers on long-form interviews, a cle... more

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Which podcasts are similar to KPFA - Behind the News?

These podcasts share a similar audience with KPFA - Behind the News:

1. Behind the News with Doug Henwood
2. Jacobin Radio
3. CounterSpin
4. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
5. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

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KPFA - Behind the News launched 17 years ago and published 863 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 - Behind the News?

Recent guests on KPFA - Behind the News include:

1. Laura Field
2. Kim Phillips-Fein
3. Aziz Rana
4. Jasmine Wynn
5. Hettie O'Brien
6. David Austin Walsh
7. AJA Woods
8. Gareth Gore

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