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This week on Truth to Power, we bring you a community conversation about Putin’s Labor Dilemma and the War in Ukraine. This conversation on Russian Politics between Stability and Stagnation was led by Oberlin College Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley and was hosted by the Oberlin Club of DC back on September 22nd. The presentation drew from themes in Steve’s 2021 book Putin’s Labor Dilemma: Russian Politics between Stability and Stagnation. An audience of nearly 70 actively participated in the discussion. Steve highlighted the peculiar characteristics of the Russian economy since the end of the Cold War. He noted that Russia strives to maintain high levels of employment to ensure political stability even to the point of lowering or withholding wages during economic downturns. Workers are mindful of the state’s obligation to their welfare, and their submission to the government is secured through higher wages and increased standards of living during boom times when Russia as an oil exporter benefits from high oil prices. Yet, maintaining social stability during the bust and booms cycles is a tricky balancing act for the Putin regime. The Russian economy depends on oil sales and comprises large industrial enterprises, legacies from the Soviet era, that are unproductive, but whose existence is vital to communities that were designed around single industries. The Russian economy is not driven by dynamic small and medium sized enterprises; “creative destruction” to propel modernization and innovation is not the course of action. Consequently, the dilemma for Putin is that failure to reform and modernize threatens economic stability, but taking the steps necessary to improve productivity and eliminate legacy industries would likely trigger protest and risk political instability. Meanwhile, economic challenges are exacerbated by the war with Ukraine. The diversion of economic resources to the military has distorted development of the civilian sector. Also, the populace is growing war weary, and recruitment of soldiers depends on salary enticements. The war is protracted and Putin cannot simply walk away without some territorial gains to justify the losses and sacrifices. Steve felt that Putin’s position in power was not teetering but underscored that economic stagnation and the burdens of the Ukraine war are challenges that will saddle Putin in averting political instability. Regarding the Trump-Putin relationship and whether Putin has “blackmail” material, Steve assessed it was sufficient to understand the relationship as basically one in which Trump admires Putin. He added that it was far from clear who would succeed Putin, because civil society and opposition inside Russia have been devastated. Steve asked the audience to consider how extraordinary it is that military attacks are taking place directly on Russian territory as opposed to the Cold War when Russians were targeted abroad. He expressed concern that this development could raise the risk of military escalation. Steve also described Putin as a “personalistic authoritarian” (“it’s about him”) as opposed to being a military-backed dictator or revolutionary ideologue. Watch the full recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RodNNPbHc1o On Truth to Power each week, we gather people from around the community to discuss the state of the world, the nation, the state, and the city! It's a community conversation like you won't hear anywhere else! Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 7pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://www.forwardradio.org

Part-3 of our story about AI. What's so scary about Artificial General Intelligence and Superintelligence? Why are AI executives predicting the 'end of humanity' from the very product they are marketing? Then, what planets, stars, constellations, and meteor showers can we see in the night sky in November? ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP, Louisville FORward Radio, 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio

Kt State Representative Joshua Watkins (District 42 - Louisville) joins Hosts Paul Hoppe, Dr Michael Flynn, and Dr Eugene Shively to discuss the Medicaid and Snap cuts.

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, continues his series of local candidate interviews in the lead up to the General Election on Tuesday, November 3rd. Tune in to learn about Lillian Brents, one of five candidates running in the general election for the Jefferson County Public Schools Board of Education in District 2. This is a nonpartisan race and the other candidates are: Alante’ J. Gaines, Phil Haming, Robert Kahne, and Tim Shaughnessy. District 2 represents the east-central part of Jefferson County, from Shelby Street and Preston Hwy on the western edge out to Waterson Trail in the east; and from Brownsboro Rd in the north down to Ferndale Rd in the south. Learn all you need to know about the upcoming elections and make a plan to vote at https://GoVote.ky.gov. Lillian is a parent, educator, community organizer, and former JCPS bus driver. As the former President of ATU Local 1447, Lillian Brents spent years managing complex organizations and advocating for hard-working community members. On the board, she intends to bring transparency, fiscal responsibility, and a focus on student outcomes. She seeks to bring financial accountability to the school board, resolve operational challenges like bus route shortages, and advocate for the public resources our children deserve. The four pillars of her campaign are: 1. Kids First: Every choice on the board must begin and end with student success. Lillian will fight for equitable funding across District 2, modern learning tools, safe environments, and expanded mental health and extracurricular support to help every child thrive. 2. Parents as Partners: Strong schools need engaged families. Lillian is committed to open-door transparency, accessible board meetings across our large geographic district, and ensuring parents always have a direct, respected voice in their child's education. 3. Valuing Teachers: To attract and keep the best educators, we must treat them as the elite professionals they are. Lillian will champion competitive compensation, smaller class sizes, and classroom autonomy, while ensuring teachers have a safe, supportive environment to teach. 4. Empowering Workers: From bus drivers and cafeteria staff to custodians and paraeducators, school workers are the backbone of our district. Bringing her deep labor leadership from ATU Local 1447, Lillian will ensure every worker has fair wages, safe conditions, and a real seat at the table. Learn more at https://lillian4jcps.com Forward Radio does not endorse any candidates for public office, but we do endorse having a well-informed electorate. We offer equal airtime to all candidates. As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW! Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Dr. Muriel Schmid is currently executive Director of the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Muriel’s career includes a rich blend of leadership in theology and academia, as well as with faith-based nonprofits dedicated to social justice and peacemaking. Born in Switzerland, Muriel studied Protestant theology at the University of Neuchâtel and received her PhD in 1998. Ordained in the Swiss Reformed Church (a sister church of PCUSA), she served as a minister in Switzerland and Paris before teaching at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for ten years while developing an interdisciplinary major in Religious Studies. Most recently, Muriel was the Administrative Director for Community Peacemaker Teams. Prior to that, she worked with JustFaith Ministries as Director of Programs in Louisville.

Alison Brotzge-Elder is a former journalist, and communications professional. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Boston University, graduating cum laude in just three years. She brings a unique blend of community engagement and business leadership to D9. After graduation, Alison spent ten years working as a television producer for both local and national news outlets. Her final years in journalism were spent in the field covering natural disasters and climate change for The Weather Channel. It was there that she immersed herself in learning about how our actions and inactions on climate issues impact the health and safety of our community. In 2015 Allison became Director of Communications for Greater Louisville Inc. In 2018, she was named one of the "Forty Under 40" by Louisville Business First. She spent five years working in corporate communications at Humana, including organizing workplace giving to campaigns benefiting both the Fund for the Arts and Metro United Way. Alison Brotzge-Elder is currently running to represent District 9 on the Louisville Metro Council.

Kay Tillow and Paul Hoppe discuss the Park Duval Medical Health Center with CEO, Dr Swanee Jett, and the importance of Medicaid for it's funding.

This week on Truth to Power, we bring you highlights from the October 14th Policy & Science Forum held at the brand new Simmons College of Kentucky – Westover Campus (724 S. 44th St). This event kicked off the second year of the “& Science” Forums, a quarterly health forum series hosted by the University of Louisville’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute. The series brings together diverse topics of interest to the community and demonstrates their interconnectedness with health, the environment, & science. During this installment, we heard from an expert panel on the key intersections of policy & science. The panel featured: • Congressman Morgan McGarvey (US House of Representatives) • Eboni Cochran (REACT) • Amber Duke (ACLU-KY) • Tom FitzGerald (Kentucky Resources Council) • Marc Murphy (University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law) Policy & Science Objectives: • Explore key intersections of policy & science • Examine historical drivers for current environmental health disparities • Discuss policy and the legal landscape that shape climate and environmental exposures • Envision an environmentally just future for Louisville Launched in 2025, the first year of the “& Science” series focused on Communication, Faith, History, and Food and reached an audience of over 1500 people both in-person and digitally. Learn more at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/policy-science-tickets-2001249668631 Watch a full recording of the entire evening at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdvENuJtp1c On Truth to Power each week, we gather people from around the community to discuss the state of the world, the nation, the state, and the city! It's a community conversation like you won't hear anywhere else! Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 7pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://www.forwardradio.org

It’s “ALL ABOARD!” this week on Sustainability Now!, as your host, Justin Mog, hops on the rails with Cindy Shouse & Anthony Lanzilotti, of the Rail Passengers Association (RPA). Joining us from Lawrenceburg, Cindy is the Council Representative for Kentucky, and Anthony is a member of the RPA’s Board of Directors, joining us from New Jersey. Tune in to learn all about the national Rail Passengers Association, what its mission is, how our guests got involved and how you can support the work, too. Cindy was appointed as Kentucky Council Representative in March 2026, and has quickly grown to see the need for and benefits of passenger rail service in Kentucky. We discuss how interstate rail connections can support future outreach and growth, and invite you to join RPA and become active Kentucky members. Those with a passion for passenger rail are invited to participate in: • The Kentuckians for Better Transportation Annual Conference, which will be taking place right here in downtown Louisville, January 27–29, 2027 at the Galt House (Early-bird registration is open through 12/31/26). Learn more at https://kbtnet.org/2027-conference/ • The RPA Spring Conference and "Day on the Hill" advocacy day in Washington, DC, April 2027. Individuals interested in learning more can visit https://RailPassengers.org or contact: Cindy Shouse or Anthony Lanzilotti As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW! Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

A panel discussion on The Erosion and Defense of Voting Rights (both nationally and locally) took place October 19, 2026, hosted by the Louisville League of Women Voters. Panelists were Prof. Samuel Marcosson, Brandeis School of Law, Univ. of Louisville; Amber Duke, Executive Dir., ACLU Louisville; and Cyndi Lewis, Election Defense Coordinator, Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice (LSURJ). Emily Fleitz, Vice-President of the Louisville League, was the Moderator.

Patty and Brian discuss why we love being scared, particularly when we know we are safe.

This week on Truth to Power, we bring you a timely Louisville Mayoral candidate forum as you are deciding who to vote for in the upcoming General Election here in Jefferson County, Kentucky! We're sharing with you a September 30th debate between incumbent Mayor Craig Greenberg and challenger Metro Council Member Shameka Parrish-Wright that was organized by the Louisville Forum and recorded by Louisville Public Media. Louisville voters have begun casting their ballots in the General Election. Two Democrats came out on top in the nonpartisan mayoral primary, and are now vying to lead Louisville’s executive branch. Metro Council Member Shameka Parrish-Wright of District 3 challenges incumbent Mayor Craig Greenberg. The two met recently at the Louisville Forum to debate. Louisville Public Media News' City Government and Politics Reporter Roberto Roldan moderated the discussion. Roldan asked candidates about data centers, public safety and economic development, among other issues, and took questions from the audience. You can stream an edited version of the debate at https://www.lpm.org/news/2026-10-09/lpm-news-shares-louisville-mayoral-debate 89.3fm WFPL will air the debate again on: Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. Kentucky In-Person Excused Absentee Voting is available: Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 21-23, and Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 26-28 Time: 8:30 am-4:30 pm Location: Jefferson County Election Center, 1000 E. Liberty St. Kentucky In-Person No Excuse Absentee Voting will be available: Thursday-Saturday, October 29 - 31, 2026 Time: 8:00 am-6:00 pm Locations: All over the county Election day is Nov. 3. Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and Kentucky state law says if a voter is in line by 6 p.m., they must be allowed to vote. Get all the details at https://GoVote.ky.gov On Truth to Power each week, we gather people from around the community to discuss the state of the world, the nation, the state, and the city! It's a community conversation like you won't hear anywhere else! Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 7pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://www.forwardradio.org

The Louisville League of Women Voters held a Candidate Forum on 9-28-26, featuring District 9 candidates Andrea Parr (Democratic Socialist) and Alison Brotzge-Elder (Democrat). At the end is a brief summary of critical election information, presented by Bob Cline (host of Retro Forward). Included is how to get a Sample Ballot, how to find your polling place, early voting dates and locations, where to find candidate histories and positions and more.

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, continues his series of conversations to get you ready to be an informed voter in the General Election coming up on November 3rd. This week’s guest is Cassie R. Blausey, the Democrat running for election to the Kentucky House of Representatives to represent District 29 against Republican Chris Lewis. District 29 is in southeastern Jefferson County, and includes the neighborhoods of Ashville, Heritage Creek, Seatonville and parts of Jeffersontown and the Fern Creek neighborhood. A lawyer by trade and a teacher at heart, Cassie’s work in education policy has provided her with valuable insights into the challenges facing local families. Cassie understands the struggles Kentuckians face in accessing quality healthcare, education, and support services. She is determined to put people first in every policy decision to make real, compassionate, and lasting change. Learn more at https://cassieblausey.com/ Kentucky In-Person Excused Absentee Voting begins this week: Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 21-23, and Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 26-28 Time: 8:30 am-4:30 pm Location: Jefferson County Election Center, 1000 E. Liberty St. Kentucky In-Person No Excuse Absentee Voting runs: Thursday-Saturday, October 29 - 31, 2026 Time: 8:00 am-6:00 pm Locations: All over the county Get all the details at https://GoVote.ky.gov As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW! Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Dr. Sheline was one of six State Department officials who resigned from the Biden/Harris administration due to its ongoing weapons shipments to Israel during the Israeli/Palestinian war—a conflict that resulted in approximately 70,000 Palestinian deaths. The Trump administration continues to advocate for sending weapons to Israel. Currently a research fellow for the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Dr. Sheline's work has been published in Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, The Nation, Foreign Policy, and The New Republic. She has also appeared on the BBC News, CNN, CBS, and Al Jazeera. Her presentation will cover the current state of affairs in Palestine, the Iran/US/Israel conflict, and the broader situation in the Middle East,