Category PODCAST

New Documentary ,THE ANIMAL PEOPLE, Produced by Joaquin Phoenix Reveals Chilling U.S. Gov’t Legal Crusade Against Activists

From the road in New Hampshire, political reporter Michael Shure talks about the mess of Iowa, the primary in New Hampshire and the impeachment acquittal of Donald Trump.

Then…

Mark speaks with the director and one of the activists profiled in the new documentary THE ANIMAL PEOPLE:

(summary from IMDB)

Fifteen years in the making, this feature documentary – Executive Produced by Joaquin Phoenix – follows the journey of six young Americans who find themselves targeted as terrorists by the US government for their involvement in a controversial protest campaign. Seeing the future of social movement organizing, the activists used the then fledgling internet to dramatically magnify their impact as they systematically knocked out the pillars of financial support that kept the company in business. But when letter writing and protests began to mushroom into dead-of-night vandalism and worse by unknown activists, this corporation and the government formed an alliance to destroy the group. The FBI began an unprecedented campaign of surveillance in preparation for prosecution, creating a model that would later be used against Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter. Congress, under corporate influence, rewrote laws and bent the definition of incitement in order to accomplish the prosecution of these six, potentially weakening free speech rights for all Americans. Featuring expansive interviews with the activists spanning over a decade, rare archival footage – including never-before-seen FBI undercover surveillance tapes, wiretaps and government documents, The Animal People is a chilling portrait of what happens when activism rattles the institutions of power.

:00- 2:50  Mark welcome and explains episode

3:15-17:05  Michael Shure checks in from New Hampshire Primary…Also talks impeachment vote/acquittal.

17:10-1:15:16   From the documentary film, THE ANIMAL PEOPLE, Director, Casey Suchan and activist, Jake Conroy

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Emmy Award Winning Comedy Writer Merrill Markoe Gets Another Award..Talks Letterman Show and Beyond… Plus, Pulitzer Prize Winner, James Risen, on Iran, Trump and the Rise of the Religious Right

Mark welcomes back the audience and J Elvis Weinstein!

Then…

As head writer on the Letterman Show (both daytime and late night) Merrill has influenced the entire culture and genre of contemporary talk shows.

We visit with her as she writes her acceptance speech for the prestigious Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award from the Writers Guild and reflects on her award winning work with the Letterman shows–work that shaped a generation of comedy.

J Elvis Weinstein joins Mark Thompson for the talk with Merrill.

Then, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, James Risen on Iran, the U.S. intelligence community and a reinvigorated abortion debate in America.

00:00-07:20 Mark welcomes back the audience and J Elvis Weinstein!

720-41:10   Merrill Markoe on Comedy

41:25- 1:17:30 James Risen on Intel Community, Iran and Abortion Rights

reach the show at: [email protected]

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Santa Brings Comedian Bobby Slayton..Talking Bill Maher, Sarah Silverman, and Woody Allen…Plus, Debating Dems and Impeachment Details from Michael Shure

It’s a holiday tradition, comedian, Bobby Slayton comes through.

He’s doing a big new year’s eve series of shows in Hawaii with Bill Maher and Sarah Silverman.

Mark asks Bobby about his work with Woody Allen and how it came about and that leads to talk of Bobby’s work in the films ED WOOD, DREAMGIRLS and THE RAT PACK.

The show starts with Michael Shure checking in from the scene of the final Democratic Debate of the year.

00-02:15 Mark intro

2:15-12:48 Michael Shure on Politics

12:48-1:07:50 Bobby Slayton

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JUDGE JUDY’S FORMER BOSS ON MEDIA’S FLAWS COVERING POLITICS..ALSO MARK ON FIRES DESTROYING HIS BLOCK..A POLITICAL SNAPSHOT FROM MICHAEL SHURE AND COMEDIAN JON ROSS

As a former top media executive, Joe Ferullo, supervised Judge Judy, Dr. Phil, Entertainment Tonight and a huge menu of other successful syndicated offerings.

Now that he’s out of that day to day work he’s able to shine a light on the shortcomings and media realities when it comes to covering politics.

The power and, at the same time, the shortcomings of the media leave a divided nation needing a better system.

This episode also features, J. Elvis Weinstein, comedian Jon Ross and political correspondent, Michael Shure.

00-:1:00 Mark offers a pre-intro welcome

1:00-4:00 Mark and J. Elvis Welcome/Intro

4:00-19:55 Mark gets burned out of his house (feat. J. Elvis Weinstein)

20:00-29:04 Michael Shure on politics and impeachment hearings

29:04-47:50 Comedian/Producer Jon Ross visits from New England

47:50- 1:31:15 Former Media Executive Joe Ferullo Exposes Media Flaws on Political Beat

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AFTER 30 YEARS, BEAN IS LEAVING HIS SUCCESSFUL SHOW ON KROQ AND HE’S MOVING TO ENGLAND..HE STOPS TO TALK WITH MARK

Bean Baxter and Mark Thompson have been friends for most of their lives and began their careers at roughly the same time.

The two talk about Bean leaving his successful morning show after 30 years and what his plans will be.

They also tell stories from working at a suburban/rural station outside of Washington DC where the two met.

Bean is the only guest in this episode which runs approximately 40 mins.

Reach the show: [email protected]

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