On the Ground w Esther Iverem

The Celebration of Life for Black freedom fighter Assata Shakur, held at Riverside Church in New York City, was also a clarion call for the African diaspora to defend Cuba and the Cuban Revolution, which granted Shakur political asylum in 1979. We hear from her longtime attorney Lennox Hinds.
The celebration was an opportunity to humanize the former political prisoner, who was able to be reunited with family in Cuba. We hear fro...

A celebration of life for Assata Shakur, happening May 30, 2026 at Riverside Church in New York City, offers a space to consider legacies of struggle and paths for freedom and survival. We speak to longtime human rights activist Rosemari Mealy. And you may not get down with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren but she does break down how private equity, another term for vulture capitalism, is killing U.S. housing, health care, businesses ...

While corporate news organizations are focused, in their limited way, on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, they are ignoring new dangers in the U.S.-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. We speak to our media critic Jon Jeter and discuss the excellent program on the subject produced by “Reason 2 Resist.” And a coalition of advocates speak out on Capitol Hill, denouncing the Supreme Court’s attack on voting rights&...

This in the “On the Ground” special for Nakba Day: “The Ongoing Nakba: Greater Israel and the Open Secret of its Nuclear Weapons.” We speak to independent journalists Sam Husseini and John Steinbach. Steinbach is also co-founder of the Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the a...

As the United States continues to shift its plan of attack on Iran, shots are fired and all-out war could begin again. And a coalition of Christians rally on Capitol Hill for Palestine and Palestinians, determined to seize back the narrative about their faith from those condoning genocide. Plus headlines on May Day, the DC budget, the Voting Rights Act and more

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to ...

Hundreds protest in front of the Supreme Court for the right to be warned about cancer risks from the controversial herbicide Roundup. And if U.S. imperialism appears to be in a state total disarray and lawlessness, thats because it is. We speak to historian Gerald Horne. Plus headlines on May Day, DC budget, data centers, and more.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voic...

As community opposition grows to AI data centers across the country, activists in DC protest outside the World Data Center Conference, and march to the offices or locations of Apple, Meta, Open AI and Microsoft, demanding a moratorium on the building of these resource-sucking centers. And there’s a new documentary about world renowned educator Paulo Freire, author of the seminal text, ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed.’ ...

Historians may mark April 15, 2026 as the day when Americans were fed up with tax dollars used to bomb children abroad, while so many children in the US can’t get food, shelter or healthcare. On this show, we hear from activists, elected officials and members of Doctors Against Genocide. And with the shock of official prayer meetings at the Pentagon, Defense brass evoking Bible prophecy to soldiers, and attacks on Catholics a...

Clergy speak outside the White House, denouncing the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, and the diverting of billions of tax dollars from human needs, to bombs and killing. After a so-called ceasefire, Israel carpet bombs Lebanon, an oil refinery in Iran is also hit, and Hezbollah fights back. Protesters outside the White House react to news of ceasefire. Plus headlines on the Pentagon ‘threatening’ Pope Leo, Radio legend Bob La...

 Protesters outside the Supreme Court denounce Trump’s executive order that attempted to end birthright citizenship guaranteed in the 14th Amendment. And as Iran continues to fight back against the U.S and Israel, Trump falls into a war of attrition. We speak to political scientist Wilmer Leon. Plus headlines on No King’s Day, Cuba, the “oil shock,” and more. 

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Mounting anger over the influence of Israel in the Trump administration’s attack on Iran has raised the cry for justice for 34 U.S. sailors and Marines killed, and more than 170 injured aboard the USS Liberty, which was bombed and torpedoed in 1967 by the Israeli Defense Forces. The shocking attack in International waters was never investigated by Congress. We hear from Marine veteran Bryce Lockwood, a commander on the ship. ...

The attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel is upending the military and economic status quo and there is no end in sight. Gerald Horne gives his take. Residents of the DC area are joining in the worldwide effort to deliver humanitarian aid and solidarity to Cuba. Author Susan Abulhawa response to being called “reprehensible” by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Plus headlines.

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“On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capi...

As the U.S. spends billions on an illegal attack that could lead to global war, people in the U.S. take to the streets to say ‘No War on Iran.’ And the world joins DC in celebratng the life of a champion for justice, the Rev. Graylan Hagler. Plus headlines.  With Dante O’Hara, Parisa Norouzi, Rev. Freeman L. Palmer. Zyad from American Muslims for Palestine, Lubna and Miranda Mlillo from the Palestinian Youth ...

Lies, insanity and spin are becoming the norm in our daily news and information diet, where one shocking story quickly supplants another. To help us wade through the muck, we speak to our media critic Jon Jeter about coverage of Iran, Tucker Carlson, the BAFTA Awards fiasco and more. And in this new era of attempted colonization and bullying by the U.S. empire, Halie Gerima’s new film ‘Black Lions, Roman Wolves’ r...

Whether it is threatening war with Iran, funding genocide in Gaza, Killing people in Venezuela, or killing its own people at home, the U.S. its lashing out in a spiral of violence. Protesters rally outside the first meeting of Trump’s so-called Board of Peace, denouncing the diplomatic cosplay as continued genocide. And in these times, we can count on our artist,, writers and filmmakers to remind us of our victories, and our ...

Bodycam footage offers more proof that Trump officials lied about border agents shooting a Chicago school teacher five times after first ramming her car. And what do the repeated lies by the federal government mean? We speak to political scientist Wilmer Leon. Plus Gerald Horne on Bad Bunny and more headlines.

“On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent...

From Minnesota to DC, to Haiti, Gaza and Iran, the U.S. empire is in a whirlwind of war and violence.And with four U.S. citizens killed by immigration agents and dozens more dead in detention prisons, survivors of this wave of police violence tell members of Congress these attacks on the people must stop. Plus headlines on Gaza, Iran, Nigeria, Cuba, DC home rule, and more.  

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The street execution of Veterans Affairs nurse Alex Pretti by border patrol agents in Minnesota may mark a turning point in the Trump administration’s lawless deportation strategies. We spend most of this show hearing from federal workers and their supporters who attended a vigil for Pretti outside the headquarters of the VA, two blocks from the White House.And there are threats of more attacks by the U.S. abroad, as the Trum...