Listen to this segment | the entire program

As the popular Libyan rebellion continues in full force, Al Jazeerah is reporting that anti-government protesters have taken control of the city of Az-Zawiyah, only 30 miles from the capital Tripoli. As a result, over the weekend a government-led tour of foreign journalists to Az-Zawiyah meant to demonstrate Muammar Gaddafi’s strength backfired. Now the battle could take an even more dangerous turn as protesters claim to have seized weapons and even tanks to defend themselves against Gaddafi’s forces. Gaddafi has claimed Tripoli as his base from which to retain control of the country. But even there, hundreds of protesters defied checkpoints, street patrols, and gunfire to march against the 40 year dictatorial rule. Meanwhile, the European Union has announced a series of sanctions on Libya, including a visa ban, and an arms …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has announced he will appeal the ruling by a London judge to extradite him to Sweden for questions stemming from allegations of sexual assault and rape last August. Judge Riddle dismissed the defense’s argument that Assange would not receive a fair trial because of his work through the whistleblowing organization. Swedish authorities also claimed he would be protected from ultimately being extradited to the US on separate charges relating to Wikileaks’ publication of U.S. government documents—an offense carrying a possibility of the death penalty. Assange characterized the trial as a “European Arrest Warrant system run amok.” Meanwhile, today marks the 278th day of solitary confinement for Private First Class Bradley Manning, who is being held at U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Manning is charged with …

“The search for truth is more precious than its possession.” –- Albert Einstein

Our weekly edition is a nationally syndicated one-hour digest of the best of our daily coverage.

Audio Stream | Podcast | Mp3 Download

This week on Uprising:

* Gaddafi Cracks Down Violently on Protesters, Faces Biggest Challenge of 40 Years
* Republicans Roll Out Nationwide Assault on Working and Middle Class
* Oscar’s Stamp of Approval on Progressive Causes

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gaddafi Cracks Down Violently on Protesters, Faces Biggest Challenge of 40 Years

Embattled Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi made an appearance in the capital Tripoli late this week, calling on his supporters to crack down on anti-government protesters. The speech followed another lengthy, rambling speech on State television earlier in the week …

We’ll get an update on Libya as Gaddafi continues to unleash violence on protesters. And, the National Whistle Blowers Center has just released the Guide to Whistleblowing. We’ll speak with the author.

Here’s a thought: maybe Madison, Wis., isn’t Cairo after all. Maybe it’s Baghdad — specifically, Baghdad in 2003, when the Bush administration put Iraq under the rule of officials chosen for loyalty and political reliability rather than experience and competence.

As many readers may recall, the results were spectacular — in a bad way. Instead of focusing on the urgent problems of a shattered economy and society, which would soon descend into a murderous civil war, those Bush appointees were obsessed with imposing a conservative ideological vision. Indeed, with looters still prowling the streets of Baghdad, L. Paul Bremer, the American viceroy, told a Washington Post reporter that one of his top priorities was to “corporatize and privatize state-owned enterprises” — Mr. Bremer’s words, not the reporter’s — and to “wean people from the idea the state supports everything.”

The story of the privatization-obsessed Coalition Provisional Authority was the centerpiece of Naomi …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

Early this morning, the Wisconsin State Assembly abruptly cut off 60 hours of discussion over the controversial budget proposal to undermine unions by taking a vote. The 1 am vote of 51 to 17 in the Republican controlled lower house was, according to the LA Times, “taken so quickly that most Democrats didn’t have a chance to vote.” Democratic Assembly members were so enraged that they screamed at GOP members as they filed out with police protection. Democratic State Senators are still staying out of the state to avoid a vote in the Senate. Union members of all stripes, unified by the assault on workers have been camping out at the State House for days now. Their movement has been fueled by the recent prank call made by a journalist posing as …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

While Oscar night is generally an evening for Hollywood celebs to flaunt their wealth, fame, and fashion, it is also considered the highest mark of excellence for those in the film industry. This Sunday well known artists and lesser known hopefuls will gather in all their finery at the Kodak theater for the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony. The ballooning Best Feature category includes 10 films, ranging from blockbusters like Toy Story 3 to the mind-bending Inception. The Social Network is Oscar’s nod to our revolutionary communications’ cultural moment, while the tiny indie-pic Winter’s Bone provides a stark glimpse into the world of white poverty. The list of actors receiving nominations for being the best in their craft include Annette Bening, Javier Bardem, Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo. Even …

The Wisconsin Assembly early Friday approved a measure to strip most government workers of collective-bargaining rights, but the measure’s fate remains in limbo with Democrats still out of state to prevent a vote in the state Senate.

Shortly after 1 a.m., Assembly Republicans, who control the lower chamber, abruptly cut off debate after 60 solid hours of discussion and approved the bill, 51-17. The tally was taken so quickly that most Democrats didn’t have a chance to vote.

Democratic legislators screamed at Republicans as the majority party silently filed out of the chamber under police protection and left the Capitol, where demonstrators were staying overnight for the second week to register their objection to the bill.

Gov. Scott Walker has warned that if his budget bill does not pass by Friday, he will have to lay off 1,500 workers because the state will miss a deadline to save $165 million by refinancing its …

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.” — Martin Luther King Jr.