We’ll look at the significance of the debt-ceiling bill President Obama just signed into law after weeks of contentious political battle, and what it means for ordinary Americans. And, Howard Blume joins us in studio to discuss local education politics and the new heads of UTLA and LAUSD. Plus, an update on the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. And this week’s edition of The Activist Beat with Rose Aguilar. …

We’ll cover the Syrian army’s crackdown over the weekend that resulted in 140 people dead. And, the aggressive persecution of poor mothers of color. Plus, on the 46th anniversary of Medicare we’ll examine the government healthcare program and the dangers it faces. Plus, Civic Circus, a new weekly feature on local politics by Ankur Patel.

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A day before the deadline to raise the debt ceiling, we’ll spend the hour examining the issue with two guest experts: Robert Scheer, editor-in-chief of Truthdig.com, and David Dayden of FireDogLake.com. How great is the danger of defaulting? How insecure are our social safety net programs? Who side are the major parties really on?…And more questions. …

We’ll examine the latest shocking spate of violence in Afghanistan even as US officials try to portray the Taliban as losing power. Plus, Chris Hedges on fundamentalism in the US in the wake of the Norway shootings and bomb. And, California Assembly member Mike Davis joins us to discuss his bill AB 420 to end prison-based gerrymandering in the state. And this week’s Rethink Reviews. …

We’ll cover the fight over redistricting that’s been shaping up, particularly in Los Angeles, where Black representation is being seen as under attack. And, an update on the Pelican Bay Prisoner Hunger Strike. Plus, new analysis of the leaked right wing drafts of dangerous bills from ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, focusing on climate change and the EPA. And the Black Agenda Report. …

As Congressional hearings commence on the ATF’s so-called Fast and Furious program, we’ll take an in-depth look at the politics of arms trafficking across the border with Mexico. Plus, celebrated film maker and cinematographer Haskell Wexler joins us in studio to discuss the newly released Director’s cut of his 1985 film Latino: America’s Secret War on Nicaragua. And, as Borders Books liquidates its hundreds of stores, we’ll look at the changing retail landscape for independent …

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We’ll cover the bomb attack and shooting spree in Norway. Plus, the latest in the UK phone hacking scandal and what it means for the future of the Rupert Murdoch media empire. Plus, Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up? – a new documentary by Saul Landau on the about government sponsored acts of terror against the Cuban government and the fate of the so-called Cuban 5. …

We’ll spend the hour with Christian Parenti on his new book “Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence.” In his book, Christian explores the potential future of the global regions in and around the earth’s equator – between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. He does so by examining history, in particular the West’s dangerous imposition of neo-liberal economic models that privatized and crippled whole economies, and pervasive militarism that is …

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We’ll highlight the California Public Utilities Commission’s public hearing on the proposed AT&T – T-Mobile merger. And, a former Los Alamos employee sounds the whistle on the lab’s plan to build a nuclear weapons facility that would house weapons grade Plutonium on a fault-line. Plus, Will Potter, author of Green is the New Red joins us in studio to discuss his “insider’s account of a social movement under siege.” And the Black Agenda Report. …

We’ll get the latest on the scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World in the UK, and what it means for the future of one of the world’s biggest media empires. And, new proposed rule changes at the National Labor Relations Board have conservatives up in arms – we’ll find out why. Plus, Freedom From Pain – a new documentary on the right to palliative care in the developing world. …