News & Ideas

CounterSpin - Monday, 5-5:30 pm

CounterSpin provides a critical examination of the major stories every week, and exposes what the mainstream media might have missed in their own coverage. Combining lively discussion and thoughtful critique of media, CounterSpin exposes biased and inaccurate news; censored stories; sexism, racism and homophobia in the news; the power of corporate influence; and more...

Democracy Now! - Weekdays live 8-9 am and repeated at 3-4 pm

Democracy Now! goes beyond the rhetoric and party politics offered by the mainstream media. In 2000, Democracy Now! pioneered a unique multi-media collaboration involving non-profit community radio, the Internet, and satellite and cable television. Democracy Now! focuses on a range of issues that demand attention, highlighting grassroots efforts to enhance and ignite democracy. Some call this public journalism or civic journalism. Democracy Now! calls itself, "Radio in the Pacifica Tradition."

Earth & Sky - Weekdays 7:19 am

What's happening in the sky tonight?
Check out the Earth & Sky's web site for a description of Today's Episode.
Broadcast during The Takeaway.

Free Speech Radio Headlines - Weekdays 6:01 pm

FSRN is an independent broadcast news organization born in January 2000 as the result of a strike by 43 reporters who formerly worked for Pacifica Network News (PNN). It was created in defiance of the Pacifica Foundation's former Board of Directors and staff who imposed a gag rule and censorship restriction on PNN reporters. Since that time, FSRN has expanded to over 200 journalists who report from 40 states within the U.S. and 57 countries around the world, including Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Argentina, Mexico and Nigeria. Any journalist may pitch a news story to FSRN and every reporter who produces a story gets paid. FSRN actively recruits and trains people throughout the U.S. and around the world resulting in an ever-expanding and broadened reporter base.
Broadcast during Hard Knock Radio

GRITradio - Tuesday 5-6 pm

GRITradio with Laura Flanders is a weekly news and arts discussion show, with interactivity and a positive take on what's going on. As a best-selling author and broadcaster, Laura Flanders has built a reputation for presenting new perspectives on national and international issues, and for introducing non-traditional “experts” into the conventional political debate. She is a regular contributor to The Nation, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, Alternet, Common Dreams.org, and CNN.

Hard Knock Radio - Weekdays 6-7 pm

Hard Knock Radio, out of KPFA Berkeley, is Pacifica Radio’s daily talk show for the Hip Hop generation. Hosts Davey D, Weyland Southon, Anita Johnson, and Tsadae Abeba Neway broadcast in-depth interviews and profiles with elected officials, community leaders, activists, authors, Hip Hop artists, and musicians with breaks and beats. HKR strives to be a voice for the community and prioritizes access for community groups and activists who are trying to make a difference and bring about meaningful social change.
FSRN Headlines at 6:01 p.m.
Logic Amen Commentary at 6:55 pm Monday and Friday
Sable Verity Commentary at 6:55 pm Tuesday-Thursday.

Jim Hightower Radio - Weekdays 6:41 am

America's #1 Populist broadcast during The Takeaway.

Isla Earth Radio Series - Weekdays at 7:30 am during The Takeaway.

The Isla Earth Radio Series is an engaging, science-based radio series exploring significant local, national, and global issues related to increasing ecological awareness. This award-winning series encourages environmentally sustainable choices.
Broadcast during The Takeaway.

Labor Neighbor Radio - Wednesday 7:41 am

Labor Neighbor Radio was formed by members of unions within the Washington State Labor Council to inform listeners of labor issues and news that often are not available through the mainstream media. Paramount to their mission is providing working families with information they need in their daily lives. Secondary is their desire for people to know that labor unions try to improve not only their working conditions, but their lives in society.
Broadcast during The Takeaway.

Listen Up! Northwest - Monday 5:30-6 pm

Listen Up! Northwest is a regional public affairs/cultural radio program featuring stories of communities in action across the Northwest. Each broadcast features the work of skilled community radio producers and artists from throughout our region, including Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Logic Amen Commentary - Monday & Friday 6:55 pm

Logic Amen is an educator, artist, and activist. He is a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in English Literature. Logic is active in the hip-hop community with several albums and writings soon to be published and distributed.
Broadcast during the Takeaway.

The Michael Eric Dyson Show - Weekdays 4-5 pm

Award-winning author, scholar and social commentator Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is the host of this one-hour weekday news/talk radio show. It is an honor to be at the helm of a show that is dedicated to providing valuable information, generating discussion about news of the day and the issues which affect our world, and giving a voice to those making a difference,says Dyson. There are several topics about which I care deeply politics, religion, economic policy, arts and culture which will be regularly represented on the show. I hope that we will grow to become a go-to source for listeners who want to think, reflect, and engage. Loretta Rucker, Executive Director of the African-American Public Radio Consortium, hopes Dyson’s show sparks conversations that we hope will commence on the airwaves and continue beyond the show into communities around the country.

The show is produced by the African-American Public Radio Consortium in partnership with consortium member station WEAA-FM, located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the campus of historically black university Morgan State University.
National Native News at 4:01 pm

KBCS Movie Review with Rus Thompson - Thursday 7:41 am and 12:30 pm

Broadcast during The Takeaway at 7:41 a.m. and during The Outskirts at 12:30 p.m.
To listen to archived episodes click here
To sign up for podcasts click here.

National Native News - Weekdays 4:01 pm

Since 1987, National Native News has provided Native and non-Native radio listeners with a regular, timely, and balanced source of news about Native issues. National Native News covers the social, economic, and cultural issues that affect every community, and helps listeners understand the interconnectedness between Native people and their non-Native neighbors.
Broadcast during the Michael Eric Dyson Show.

One World Report - Thursday 5-6 pm

Ever hear the saying, think globally-act locally? Now there’s a radio show that helps you to do just that. One World Report addresses social justice around the world and here in the Puget Sound, and helps you make a difference in your community.
For an audio archive of recent programs click here.

One World Report is produced by a team of volunteers at KBCS. To learn how you can become a volunteer with One World Report, contact Joaquin Uy, KBCS News and Public Affairs Director at (425) 564-6195 or by email at: Joaquin Uy juy@kbcs.fm.

Sable Verity Commentary - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6:55 pm

Sable Verity is one of few women bloggers of color in the Pacific Northwest covering issues that directly impact minority families. Sable looks at the world through a sociological perspective, no matter how mundane the situation may seem. Mother, writer and activist, editor and founder of the SV, friends (and enemies) describe Sable Verity as a tireless advocate (or that bitch that just won’t go away), who believes in speaking (ranting) the truth (her irrational race-tinged views).

The Sound of Young America - Friday 5-6 pm

The brainchild of host and producer Jesse Thorn, The Sound of Young America is an irreverent weekly arts and entertainment interview program, described by its creator as "a public radio show about things that are awesome." An hour-long episode can showcase comedians, writers, punk rockers and rappers, each of whom Thorn interrogates with equal parts empathy and enthusiasm. TSOYA has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine. Salon.com wrote, "If you've never heard The Sound of Young America, then The Sound of Young America is the greatest radio show you've never heard."

Speak On It Radio - First Monday of the month 5:30-6 pm

Logic Amen, longtime KBCS producer, commentator, and frequent host of Voices of Diversity, will be now be hosting KBCS’s newest locally produced public affairs program, Speak On It Radio. Logic will be connecting hip-hop communities with issues concerning society, pop culture, spirituality and politics—and that’s just the start.

The Takeaway - Weekdays 5-8 am

Hosted by public radio veteran John Hockenberry, The Takeaway delivers national and international news and cultural stories through a conversational and personality-driven format, rather than a magazine format. The web presence of the program strives to be a virtual public square, allowing listeners to respond immediately to news and participate in editorial decision-making, as well as building a significant online community around the content. The Takeaway is a unique partnership of global news leaders. It is a co-production of PRI (Public Radio International) and WNYC Radio in collaboration with the BBC World Service, The New York Times, and WGBH Boston.

Listeners can also participate in feedback and the conversation for The Takeaway by joining The Mix. The Mix offers users a way to participate with the program creators and comment on issues and topics of the day. Some listener call-ins are also featured on the broadcast. On a dedicated section of the user comments blog, there is a space for users to listeners to talk and even vent complaints about the new program, its hosts, and topics.

Voices of Diversity - Wednesday 5-6 pm

Voices of Diversity tells the untold stories in our community and celebrates the diversity of cultural expression found in the Northwest. The program is a collaboration between KBCS and the City of Bellevue Cultural Diversity Program. The show comes to you each week thanks to a dedicated team of volunteer reporters and producers from across King County.  A different volunteer hosts Voices of Diversity each week.

Voices of Diversity seeks to literally give voice to those not often heard on the airwaves, and to that end, trains community members in radio skills and independent journalism. To learn how you can become a Voices of Diversity volunteer contact Joaquin "Wakx" Uy at 425-564-6195 or email at juy@kbcs.fm.
For an audio archive of recent programs click here.