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Artwork for KPFA - Behind the News

KPFA - Behind the News

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

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

J.W. Mason and Arjun Jayadev, authors of Against Money, explain that curious stuff and enumerate its problems • Moira Weigel explains why the right hates Theory (October article here)

The post Against money, hating theory appeared first on KPFA.

Greg Grandin, author of this article, on how his time in Peru shaped Pope Leo • AJA Woods, author of The Cultural Marxism Conspiracy, on how the right sees the Frankfurt School as the root of modern decay

The post Latin America’s influence on Pope L... more

Jake Werner analyzes the Trump–Xi summit and US–China relations generally • Gareth Gore, author of Opus, talks about Opus Dei, a secretive, cult-like Catholic organization involved in right-wing politics around the world (and very much in the US)

Th... more

Two views of the US–Israeli war on Iran: Laleh Khalili and Mouin Rabbani

The post Fundraising special: two views on the Iran war appeared first on KPFA.

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Greg Grandin
Historian, Yale Professor, author of The Education of Pope Leo XIV
Yale University
Episode: Latin America’s influence on Pope Leo • the Cultural Marxist conspiracy
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
Laleh Khalili
Professor of Gulf Studies, University of Exeter
University of Exeter
Episode: Fundraising special: two views on the Iran war
Mouin Rabbani
Co-editor of Jadaliyya, analyst of Middle East politics
Jadaliyya
Episode: Fundraising special: two views on the Iran war
Dylan Gottlieb
Author of Yuppies, The Bankers, Lawyers, Joggers, and Gourmands Who Conquered New York
Harvard University Press
Episode: A look back at yuppies • Iran: politics and war
Ervand Abrahamian
Historian of Iran, Professor Emeritus
CUNY Graduate Center
Episode: A look back at yuppies • Iran: politics and war
Quinn Slobodian
Author, co-author of Muskism
Boston University (historian)
Episode: Muskism: the world of Elon

Hosts

Doug Henwood
Host focusing on economics and politics, with deep historical and analytical approach
Brian Edwards-Tegert
Frequent Behind the News guest and fundraiser host; long-time co-presenter

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.

Thoughtful, well-researched interviews with sharp questions.
A must-listen for listeners seeking rigorous, critical economics and politics insights.
Engaging host with a strong sense of music and pacing that works in bursts.
Credible left-leaning analysis that challenges mainstream narratives.
Provides in-depth historical and geopolitical context rarely found in mainstream programs.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#185
Poland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#193
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Fundraising special: David Harvey on capital
Q: What is the aim of the book, and who is the intended audience?
Harvey explains that the book aims to present a coherent Marxist political economy by tying space, time, and capital together in a framework accessible to both scholars and engaged readers who want to understand how capital operates in real-world contexts.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

The show blends rigorous economic and political analysis with historical context, often featuring long-form conversations that connect global power dynamics to domestic policy. Episodes frequently center on capitalism, labor, imperialism, and the political economy of finance, with deep dives into topics like crypto, immigration, foreign policy, and regional geopolitics. Notable is a willingness to pair scholarly or investigative guests with a strong, consistent host voice to challenge conventional narratives, plus regular fundraising segments that situate public broadcasting within broader progressive discourse. Listeners who enjoy critical perspectives on power, finance, and policy outcomes—especially from a left-leaning analytic lens—will... 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. Politics Theory Other
4. The Nation Podcasts
5. On the Nose

How many episodes of KPFA - Behind the News are there?

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. Greg Grandin
2. AJA Woods
3. Gareth Gore
4. Jake Werner
5. Laleh Khalili
6. Mouin Rabbani
7. Dylan Gottlieb
8. Ervand Abrahamian

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