On the Ground w Esther Iverem

DC residents are protesting one year of Trump occupation. With the National Guard and federal police patrolling neighborhoods, residents are resisting any plan to make militarized policing the new normal. Plus, August 8 and 9 2026 marks the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed a quarter of a million people, and maimed and poisoned scores more. Plus headlines on West Asia, Cuba, South America, U.S. politics, Nolan Wells death, and Trump wants National Guard to stay in DC until 2029.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to...

Wanted war criminal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meets Trump at the White House and protest erupts on the streets of DC. And Professor Gerald Horne weighs in on the latest in the unprovoked war on Iran by Isarel and the U.S.  Plus headlines on ICE terror, voting rights, Nolan Wells death, DoorDash boycott in DC, and a labor roundup.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we hav...

The Trump administration ramps up its attack on journalists, freedom of speech, and the First Amendment, and dusts off a McCarthyite red scare attack on the left. We speak to Jon Jeter for this month’s episode of “On the Media.” DC residents protest a planned ICE headquarters in their neighborhood.

Plus headlines:Iran escalation, Code Pink Disrupts Hegseth Testimony, Preliminary Autopsy Results in Nolan Wells Death, Police in Madison, Wisconsin Caught on Video Shooting Unhoused Man, Corey Ruiz, Three Times Point Blank in the Head.

In culture and media: New documentary, “May There Always Be Words...

Perhaps it takes an event like the World Cup to expose the hypocrisy of the U.S. being allowed to host the games while at the same time supporting a genocide and conducting an illegal war of aggression. We speak to human rights advocate Ajamu Baraka for this month’s episode of “The F-Word” on fascism. And protests continue against killings by ICE in Texas and Maine, and against construction of an ICE headquarters in a Black neighborhood of DC. Plus, headlines on Iran, ICE violence, the deaths of Nolan Wells and Daniel Erving, Capitol Hill news, and Trump’s contin...

The U.S. resumes bombing Iran, and Iran fights back. We discuss the latest in West Asia, Ukraine and here in the U.S. with historian Gerald Horne. And, in our first segment of this year for our series, “Unheard Voices,” more from leaders of the Next 250 movement, Linda Sarsour and Tamika D. Mallory. Plus, headlines on Dr. Abu Safiya, ICE Killing in Houston, Graham Platner Drops Out of Maine Race, July 4 Fiasco in DC, a victory in the DMV against data centers, and more. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to ke...

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank yo...

A new UN report documents how Israel is targeting children in its genocide against the Palestinian people, killing, maiming, torturing and sexually assaulting them. And residents in rapidly gentrifying DC win a decades-long battle to keep public land in their neighborhood in the hands of the public. Plus headlines on Iran, Cuba, the World Cup and more. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and sup...

The defeat of the U.S. and Israel in their unprovoked attack on Iran offers a time to consider the first imperialist adventure of the U.S. beyond its borders. We speak to Gerald Horne about his new book on the U.S.-backed coup of the monarchy in Hawaii. And DC walks in the footsteps of New York City and chooses a democratic socialist as the Democratic nominee for mayor. We hear from DC councilmember Janeese Lewis George. Plus headlines on Iran, FBI raid on voting advocates, Mississippi police kill one-year-old boy, Juneteenth, and more.

The...

In Congress, 59 years of silence is ended about Israel’s deadly attack on the U.S.S. Liberty, which killed 34 servicemembers and wounded another 174. We hear from Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. And there is a victory for both free speech and the Free Palestine student movement that blossomed at Columbia University. Plus headlines on Iran, U.S. domestic news and DC news, including a picket protest by Aramark workers, the DC primary, the DC budget, and the opening of the DC Liberation Center. And more. Correction: an early version of ths show misstated the number of wounded on the...

The Celebration of Life for Black freedom fighter Assata Shakur, held at Riverside Church in New York City, was also a clarion call for the African diaspora to defend Cuba and the Cuban Revolution, which granted Shakur political asylum in 1979. We hear from her longtime attorney Lennox Hinds.
The celebration was an opportunity to humanize the former political prisoner, who was able to be reunited with family in Cuba. We hear from her daughter, the writer Kakuya Shakur. Plus headlines on Iran, Lebanon, Rubio mum on Israeli nukes, Are U.S. and Israeli Militaries Merging? Protests and Hunger...

A celebration of life for Assata Shakur, happening May 30, 2026 at Riverside Church in New York City, offers a space to consider legacies of struggle and paths for freedom and survival. We speak to longtime human rights activist Rosemari Mealy. And you may not get down with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren but she does break down how private equity, another term for vulture capitalism, is killing U.S. housing, health care, businesses and even youth sports.

Plus, Gerald Horne joins us for international headlines on Iran, Russia, Ebola and Cuba. Chantal James covers Cuba, Trump’s latest fo...

While corporate news organizations are focused, in their limited way, on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, they are ignoring new dangers in the U.S.-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. We speak to our media critic Jon Jeter and discuss the excellent program on the subject produced by “Reason 2 Resist.” And a coalition of advocates speak out on Capitol Hill, denouncing the Supreme Court’s attack on voting rights–and on all rights. Plus headlines on the War Powers Act, Iran, Cuba, faith leaders protest taxpayer-funded Christian Nationalist rally on the national mall, “Rededicate 250.” 

The show i...

This in the “On the Ground” special for Nakba Day: “The Ongoing Nakba: Greater Israel and the Open Secret of its Nuclear Weapons.” We speak to independent journalists Sam Husseini and John Steinbach. Steinbach is also co-founder of the Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Suppo...

As the United States continues to shift its plan of attack on Iran, shots are fired and all-out war could begin again. And a coalition of Christians rally on Capitol Hill for Palestine and Palestinians, determined to seize back the narrative about their faith from those condoning genocide. Plus headlines on May Day, the DC budget, the Voting Rights Act and more

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we...

Hundreds protest in front of the Supreme Court for the right to be warned about cancer risks from the controversial herbicide Roundup. And if U.S. imperialism appears to be in a state total disarray and lawlessness, thats because it is. We speak to historian Gerald Horne. Plus headlines on May Day, DC budget, data centers, and more.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be an...

As community opposition grows to AI data centers across the country, activists in DC protest outside the World Data Center Conference, and march to the offices or locations of Apple, Meta, Open AI and Microsoft, demanding a moratorium on the building of these resource-sucking centers. And there’s a new documentary about world renowned educator Paulo Freire, author of the seminal text, ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed.’ We speak to the filmmakers. Plus, headlines on the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, DC curfew for teens and more. BONUS CONTENT ON PATREON.

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Historians may mark April 15, 2026 as the day when Americans were fed up with tax dollars used to bomb children abroad, while so many children in the US can’t get food, shelter or healthcare. On this show, we hear from activists, elected officials and members of Doctors Against Genocide. And with the shock of official prayer meetings at the Pentagon, Defense brass evoking Bible prophecy to soldiers, and attacks on Catholics and the Pope, this month’s F-word on fascism features a rebroadcast of our 2020 interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, author of American Fascists: The Christian Right and...

Clergy speak outside the White House, denouncing the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, and the diverting of billions of tax dollars from human needs, to bombs and killing. After a so-called ceasefire, Israel carpet bombs Lebanon, an oil refinery in Iran is also hit, and Hezbollah fights back. Protesters outside the White House react to news of ceasefire. Plus headlines on the Pentagon ‘threatening’ Pope Leo, Radio legend Bob Law joins the ancestors, and more. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by...

 Protesters outside the Supreme Court denounce Trump’s executive order that attempted to end birthright citizenship guaranteed in the 14th Amendment. And as Iran continues to fight back against the U.S and Israel, Trump falls into a war of attrition. We speak to political scientist Wilmer Leon. Plus headlines on No King’s Day, Cuba, the “oil shock,” and more. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be a...

Mounting anger over the influence of Israel in the Trump administration’s attack on Iran has raised the cry for justice for 34 U.S. sailors and Marines killed, and more than 170 injured aboard the USS Liberty, which was bombed and torpedoed in 1967 by the Israeli Defense Forces. The shocking attack in International waters was never investigated by Congress. We hear from Marine veteran Bryce Lockwood, a commander on the ship. Then, this is the week for “On the Media” with Jon Jeter. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’...

The attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel is upending the military and economic status quo and there is no end in sight. Gerald Horne gives his take. Residents of the DC area are joining in the worldwide effort to deliver humanitarian aid and solidarity to Cuba. Author Susan Abulhawa response to being called “reprehensible” by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Plus headlines.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news...

Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you!

“On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national and...

As the U.S. spends billions on an illegal attack that could lead to global war, people in the U.S. take to the streets to say ‘No War on Iran.’ And the world joins DC in celebratng the life of a champion for justice, the Rev. Graylan Hagler. Plus headlines.  With Dante O’Hara, Parisa Norouzi, Rev. Freeman L. Palmer. Zyad from American Muslims for Palestine, Lubna and Miranda Mlillo from the Palestinian Youth Movement, Bella from the National Iranian American Council.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the peo...

Lies, insanity and spin are becoming the norm in our daily news and information diet, where one shocking story quickly supplants another. To help us wade through the muck, we speak to our media critic Jon Jeter about coverage of Iran, Tucker Carlson, the BAFTA Awards fiasco and more. And in this new era of attempted colonization and bullying by the U.S. empire, Halie Gerima’s new film ‘Black Lions, Roman Wolves’ reminds us how we liberated ourselves and can still fight fascists and win. Plus headlines. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy...

Whether it is threatening war with Iran, funding genocide in Gaza, Killing people in Venezuela, or killing its own people at home, the U.S. its lashing out in a spiral of violence. Protesters rally outside the first meeting of Trump’s so-called Board of Peace, denouncing the diplomatic cosplay as continued genocide. And in these times, we can count on our artist,, writers and filmmakers to remind us of our victories, and our abillity to win today. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the a...

Bodycam footage offers more proof that Trump officials lied about border agents shooting a Chicago school teacher five times after first ramming her car. And what do the repeated lies by the federal government mean? We speak to political scientist Wilmer Leon. Plus Gerald Horne on Bad Bunny and more headlines.

“On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national and international issues, with a specia...

From Minnesota to DC, to Haiti, Gaza and Iran, the U.S. empire is in a whirlwind of war and violence.And with four U.S. citizens killed by immigration agents and dozens more dead in detention prisons, survivors of this wave of police violence tell members of Congress these attacks on the people must stop. Plus headlines on Gaza, Iran, Nigeria, Cuba, DC home rule, and more.  

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new...

The street execution of Veterans Affairs nurse Alex Pretti by border patrol agents in Minnesota may mark a turning point in the Trump administration’s lawless deportation strategies. We spend most of this show hearing from federal workers and their supporters who attended a vigil for Pretti outside the headquarters of the VA, two blocks from the White House.And there are threats of more attacks by the U.S. abroad, as the Trump administration movies warships to the region of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Please headlines with Gerald Horne. 

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As Minnesotans participate in a mass shutdown of the state, solidarity protests continue here in DC and around the country demanding an end to Trump’s deadly and racist immigration policies. And for this months episode of On the Media, Jon Jeter weighs in three speeches from Canada, Russia and Iran that were either ignored, or given too much gloss by corporate media. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news...

More than a week after the shooting death of a 37-year-old mother in Minnesota, protests are growing, as are calls to abolish or defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. And what does this ratcheted up violence in our neighborhoods mean? We speak to historian Gerald Horne for this month’s episode of the F-Word on fascism.

“On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national...

After more than two years of supporting  genocidal violence in Palestine, the United States is waging war on Venezuela, killing up to 100 people during a January 3 attack, and kidnapping President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Meanwhile, the U.S. is ramping up violence against its own people, with ICE shooting and killing another American citizen, in cold blood and in broad daylight.  

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corp...

PART TWO OF  DC residents speaking out about the impact of increased policing by federal agents, including ICE officers, since August 2025. Those presented here are among  the 130 people who testified for nearly 12 hours on December 4th 2025 before the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee of the DC Council. The Trump administration ordered a multi-million dollar surge in policing and deployment of the National Guard, despite the district’s 30-year low crime rate. That surge officially ended in September, but there are still more federal police openly collaborating with local police, leading to shootings and other violent encounters in DC neighborhoods.  

SUPPORT OUR END OF YEAR APPEAL! On this show, we hear from residents of DC, speaking out about the impact of increased policing by federal agents, including ICE officers, since August 2025. Those presented here were among the 130 people who testified for nearly 12 hours on December 4th 2025 before the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee of the DC Council.The Trump administration ordered this multi-million dollar surge in policing and deployment of the National Guard, despite the district’s 30-year low crime rate. That surge officially ended in September, but there are still more federal police openly collaborating with local police, le...

Immigrants, their families and supporters march in DC for International Migrants Day demanding justice here in the U.S. and their home countries. And on this final episode of the F-Word on fascism for 2025, Gerald Horne tells us why things may not be as bad as we think. Plus Headlines on Gaza, Venezuela, DC Residents Speak Out on Federal Occupation.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to...

As the U.S. escalates its provocations and attacks on Venezuela, we hear from people in the U.S. saying no to war. And we talk to Gerald Horne about the war against the people here at home. Plus, headlines on Gaza, federal workers win, Noem lies and FBI clueless in Congressional hearing, Google erases Palestine content from YouTube.

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be...

News coverage of extrajudicial killings of boaters by the United States, as well as continued lies about wars in Ukraine and Gaza are some topics for this month’s episode of “On the Media” with Jon Jeter. Plus headlines on massacres in Gaza and Sudan; Supreme Court allows racial gerrymandering in Texas; Rodney Taylor, an amputee from Liberia is abused in ICE detention; National Guard in DC, National Day to oppose war on Venezuela is Dec. 6.  

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by su...

END OF YEAR SUPPORT: Give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Or click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on our website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION!

On the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday, the lies of settler colonialism have never been laid so bare, for all the world to see. Gerald Horne discusses a plot to re-enslave Haitians. And in DC, a call for a boycott of Amazon and Wh...

PLEASE SUPPORT US IN YOUR END OF YEAR GIVING!

As the number of South American boaters murdered by U.S. airstrikes continues to rise, protesters speak out at the White House against the Trump administration’s threatened war on Venezuela. For people in South America and throughout the Global South, the genocide in Gaza is a grim reference point for the the U.S. empire’s barbarism. Plus headlines on Palestine, Epstein, and more… 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people’s voices on the air, and by su...

On Veteran’s Day, U.S. military veterans rally in D.C. against policies that continue to slaughter innocent people abroad, and put soldiers and weapons of war onto American streets.The live-streamed genocide in Gaza has awakened not only civilian populations globally to the depravity of U.S.-backed war crimes, it is spurring a new generation of active military and veterans to oppose endless wars and to remember the oath they took to defend the U.S. constitution. Plus headlines on Epstein, former leader of ISIS and Al-Qaeda visits the White House, and more. 

The sho...

From the win by a Democratic Socialist in New York City, to Trump’s threats against Nigeria, Gerald Horne weighs in on the news. And a majority-Black suburb of Washington, DC continues the fight against a massive, polluting AI data center. Plus headlines on SNAP, Gaza, the “Refuse Fascism” protest, the Black March on the White House, pending strike at Starbucks, and the DC premiere of “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” documentary, by journalist Abby Martin, about the impact of the U.S. military on the environment. 

The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to ke...