governor

"The USA has got to join the rest of the industrialized world and guarantee health care to everyone as a right, not a privilege," says Senator Bernie Sanders, who this week is introducing a new bill in Congress that would provide a single-payer health care system, administered at the state level, that would treat health care as a human right. Sanders' home state of Vermont is on its way to being the first state in the country with a single-payer plan, but he notes that all Americans should have that same right. Senator Sanders joins Laura from Washington, D.C. via Skype to explain his bill, why it matters, and why he thinks Vermont can lead the nation to a better health system.

"If people think about how they might want to create something that isn't just me me me, that could be revolutionary," says musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson. Anderson has crossed genres, created new instruments, performed in "audio drag" and even created some comics, but she's best known for her experimental violin playing. Laurie joins Laura in studio for a feature-length interview on art, electronics, making music for fish, and why Homeland Security still has one of her instruments. "I'd like my title to be 'explorer,' but on my passport it just says 'artist,'" she says. You may be familiar with Annie Leonard's The Story of Stuff Project, the illustrated, animated explainers that break down progressive issues in easy, fun ways. In the same style, she explains the story of Cap & Trade--how it works, who would benefit, who would suffer, and why real solutions to climate change are necessary. And finally, Vermont is nearly all the way to single-payer health care, but Laura warns not to forget the fight the insurance companies will put up. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Welcome to the third day of our special coverage from the workers' protests across the country. Today's show features Columbus, Ohio as well as Madison, Wisconsin. Thanks again to our friends at The Uptake, Free Speech TV, and WORT FM in Madison for making this collaboration happen, and a special thanks to the Rev. Jesse Jackson for bringing us to Columbus with him! As thousands protest Ohio governor John Kasich's plan to gut public workers' collective bargaining rights, Brian Rothenberg of ProgressOhio notes that the election that put Kasich in charge was the result of a lot of people staying home out of frustration, and that those same people have been awakened by the moves of the new administration. Like governors in Wisconsin and Indiana, Kasich's early moves have sparked widespread anger, and a newly invigorated protest movement that isn't just made up of union members is striking back. Laura spoke to Rothenberg in Columbus, Ohio during the protests. "I think we've been inspired by Madison; I think we've been inspired by Egypt, frankly," says Ohio state representative Nickie Antonio from the statehouse in Columbus, where thousands of protesters were locked out yesterday when they attempted to protest Governor John Kasich's legislation to end their collective bargaining rights. Laura spoke with Rep. Antonio from the statehouse when protesters were allowed into what she called "The people's house." Back in Wisconsin, "This movement has to expand, we have no choice. They have no interest in compromise. . . we have to bend them or break them, because that's what they're doing to working class people in this state," says Ben Manski of Wisconsin WAVE, a new organization fighting austerity measures. He notes that labor organizations have nearly unanimously voted for to prepare for a general strike should Scott Walker's attack on unions be signed into law. And Kabzuag Vaj of Freedom, Inc. notes that, "If Governor Walker can attack people with some resources to fight back, he has no fear of poor people or people who have no resources." Laura sat down with Ben and Kabzuag before she left Madison for Columbus, Ohio to discuss the wider movement, expanding beyond union rights, in Wisconsin and the rest of the world. Distributed by Tubemogul.

"Writing is nothing like dying in, for, and possibly with, your country," writes novelist and essayist Edwidge Danticat in her book Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work. But writing and creating can inspire action, whether it's revolution in the streets or simply managing to survive under seemingly hopeless circumstances.Edwidge was born in Haiti but moved to the US when she was twelve, and her writing focuses on both sides of the immigrant experience. She is also the editor of Haiti Noir, part of a crime noir series which ; looks at Haiti's dark side, and she joins Laura in studio to discuss the books, the ongoing state of Haiti, and the role of the immigrant and particularly the Haitian-American artist in the world.Rebel historian Howard Zinn died a year ago, and we miss him more than ever. As Cairo erupts in protest, as Tunisia drives out its dictator, poet and GRITtv guest Staceyann Chin tweeted "The People Speak." Staceyann was one of many actors, artists, and activist performers who joined Howard for a performance of the pieces collected in his work by that name, inspired by his classic People's History of the United States. To remember Howard and to celebrate the people everywhere fighting for their rights, we bring you selections from the film The People Speak , featuring Staceyann Chin.Wisconsin's new governor is charismatic, good-looking and pleasant, says John Nichols--and he's out to destroy government.