A Story Told

On the next Story Told, a program focussing on two persons worthy of indelible respect: a woman, Loyola Marsef in “An Open Letter to Hillary Clinton,” and a man, Arthur Honeyman in “If Cripples Don’t Shape Up.”    

On the next Story Told, Michael gives his annual May Day rant, simply titled “May Day 2021,” and, with the war in Vietnam ending on April 30ᵗʰ, forty six years ago, Michael opens the old wound again in “Winter Soldiers.” Finally the program ends with the canonization of freeform radio saint Bob Fass.

On the next Story Told, Michael observes another Earth Day come round, as climate conditions worsen the other three hundred-sixty four days out of the year. Also, “Earth’s Checklist,” a poem, by Margit L. Bowler, and lastly, Carl Safina and Paul Greenberg claim “We Need an Infrastructure Package for Nature,” in their New York Times article.    

On the next Story Told, Michael remembers when America’s tax day was 15 April in “Taxing the People’s Democracy.” Also, from Robert Brake, “Ahh . .Freedom,” and from Michael Kazin “The 1776 Follies.” Lastly, “What to do when Stopped by The Police,” published by Portland’s Black United Front in 1980.    

On the next Story Told, Michael reads from a 1996 journal he kept, in which he chronicles comet Hyakutake’s unexpected passing over Earth’s night sky.      

On the next Story Told, Michael McCusker recounts a young man’s emotions coming “Back Home in the U.S.A.” from a war, the war, simply known as Vietnam.    

On the next Story Told, Michael concludes Women’s History Month with “Women’s Equality Day,” along with Alisha Haridasani Gupta’s piece entitled “The Roadblocks to Equal Rights for Women, a Century Later.”        

On the next Story Told with Michael McCusker, why “Abandoning Masks Now is a Terrible Idea,” by John M. Barry. Additionally, in more generalized terms Dr. Robert Brake lays out the “Politics of Contempt,” and lastly, a poem by Carolyn Dunne entitled “These Things.”    

On the next Story Told, Michael elucidates the solution for just about any environmental or gendered injustice one can think of in “Women Are the Mothers of Earth,” composed in 1991 by the Women’s Congress for a Healthy Planet.    

On the next Story Told, Michael elucidates through Stacey Abrams on how “Our democracy faced a near death experience. Here’s how to revive it.” Also, Dr. Robert Brake simply asks “Politics: A Noble Cause?” Finally Carolyn Dunne ends the program with a poem, “Invasive Species.”

On the next Story Told, Michael dredges up Oregon’s racist past self in “An Image of Dark, Angry Shadows.” Additionally, in a similar vein from David Horrowitz, “Tales of the North Coast Klan.”    

In continual observance of Black History Month, Michael pulls from Ralph Friedman’s 1983 novel “This side of Oregon” on the next Story Told.      

On the next Story Told, Michael adheres to tradition and celebrates The Great Emancipator’s 212ᵗʰ natal day in “The Emancipation of Abraham Lincoln,” as is customary this time of year on this program.    

On the next Story Told, Michael kicks off Black History Month with “A call for another Great Migration, this one in reverse,” written by Carlos Lozada as a review for Charles M. Blow’s new book “The Devil You Know.” Additionally, Robert Reiche explains “Why Republicans won’t agree to Biden’s big plans and why he should ignore them.”    

“Who Will We Be Without Donald Trump?” will be the central question of the next four years, and on the next Story Told, Michael reads an article by that very title written by Frank Bruni. Also, with Deb Haaland now Interior Secretary of the United States, Timothy Egan writes “After Five Centuries, a Native American with Real…

On the next Story Told, lest Trump decides to run at 78 years old for president, four years away, Michael goes on one final Trump rant to commemorate the new and improved 46th president. Additionally, from Robert Reich, “Biden cannot govern from the center – ending Trumpism means radical action,” and, a piece by Dr. Robert Brake…

On the next Story Told, Michael sends off an ousted president, who in the near future could be the only one in that office to be impeached twice, in a rant titled “The Pervasively, Predatory, Plutocratic President.” Also, Norman Eisen writes: “The Riot Happened Because the Senate Acquitted Trump.”    

On the next Story Told, Michael chastises the pure white world reign, and elucidates that ethnic cleansing is not a stranger to America. Also “A Short History of the Millennium,” in an appropriately titled piece, followed by Timothy Egan’s “The Next Three Months Are Going to be Pure Hell.” Concluding is Astorian poet Jim Dott with “Birds Into Rain.”  …

On the last day of an old year, this Story Told features “An Assumption of Freedom,” followed by some politically charged new year’s resolutions.    

For the sake of festivity, Michael reads a couple seasonal heresies on the next Story Told, one about clinging onto superstition long since outgrown by our species entitled “Come All Ye Faithful,” the other focussing on worker’s rights advocate: Jesus Christ, who was “Born to be a Rebel.” To top it off, some children’s poetry.    

On the next Story Told, with the anniversary of the first flyers coming December 17th, and the passing of the first sound barrier breaker ten days ago, Michael reads “30sec(s) Over Armageddon.” Additionally, beyond this peach planet covered in human feasters “Stardust.”

On the next Story Told, a romp through many different interpretations of Universal Human Rights featuring Mary Ann Glendon, Eleanor Roosevelt, the ACLU, and more.    

On the next Story Told, Michael acknowledges World AIDS Day amongst what may later be known as World COVID Day in “Petition of Prejudice.” Also, by Dr. Robert Brake “My Not so Fond Farewell of Trump,” and finally a few mourning words about Jim Wilkins and Carlos Anaya.

This Thanksgiving, on the next Story Told, a diversion from the traditional pilgrimage celebration, in which America gives thanks that it’s been given back it’s democracy in “Donald Trump is Leaving Behind Blueprints to End Democracy,” by Timothy Egan. Additionally, in memoriam, “Auld Lang Syne” for Mathew Joseph Snyder.  

On the next Story Told, Greta Thunberg responds to what may be the most important question of this generation and the last – Is there any candidate on the right or left who gets the severity of the climate? Her response: No, in “Beauty and the Beast.” Additionally, a list of “Freedoms According to the Right,” by Charles Hillestad….

On the next Story Told, a brief history of The Vietnam Veterans Against The War, including the defecationing of the Pentagon, titled “Winter Soldiers.”    

On the next Story Told, with an uncalled election left hanging in the air Michael reads “Divided We Fall,” and in a letter to The Astorian newspaper, plus an excerpt from Albert Einstein, an argument for socialism simply titled “Why Socialism.” Additionally, “The Fury Against Trump Has Begun a Democratic Awakening,” by Fahad Manjoo, and lastly, in a possible premature catharsis…

On the next Story Told, Michael simmers one week from the election with “Redefining Democracy,” and on a particularly pertinent note “What Will You Do if Trump Doesn’t Leave?,” by David Brooks. In addition to confronting the next election, Dr. Robert Brake is also “Confronting Racism.” Lastly, on the cease of the Cuban Missile Crisis,…

On the next Story Told, Michael and Dr. Robert Brake tag team in taking shots at the next round of presidential debate insanity with “Dump Trump,” and “POTUS The Most-est.” Plus poetry, written for and about John Reed in what would be his one hundred thirty third birthday.    

On the next Story Told, Michael illustrates how The Great Navigator missed India by half a world, thus, doubling the world’s size in “Hello Columbus.” Also, a tale of proud boys, and proud fascists with “The Mendacious Militia.” And to finish, in a self explanatory title, “Imagine what it will be like to never think about Trump again,” by Eugene Robinson.