Michael McCusker

Michael McCusker is at his storytelling best, as he share his autobiographical account of a harrowing series of events he experienced in Vietnam in 1966. Entitled, “Happy Birthday, Mother,” this graphic look at the real costs of war will stay with you long after you’ve heard it.

On this week’s A Story Told, Michael McCusker talks about how recent unusual behavior on the part of President Trump raises questions about his fitness to govern. And, he shares a story about the discovery of a previously unknown chapter of the famous novel, “On the Road,” by Jack Kerouac. 

This week on A Story Told, Michael McCusker remembers Christopher Columbus and his accidental “discovery” of what would later be called, “The New World.”   Michael also shares a short story he wrote about hotshot firefighters. 

Michael McCusker shares a short story he wrote about a hunting trip gone wrong, called, “The Second Shot.” And shares an essay by political commentator and author Robert Reich, about the ongoing government shutdown.

Michael McCusker speaks on Trump’s recent push to occupy American cities with federal troops. 

Michael McCusker shares his views on the current American political climate and the “Trump Doctrine”

Michael McCusker shares two articles he wrote dedicated to the events of  9/11. 

Michael McCusker talks about the significance of Labor Day, the US labor movement, and the horrors of child labor.

Michael McCusker shares a varied range of topics: Donald Trump, tourism, the 19th Amendment, and a look at wildland firefighting history in the American West.

This week on A Story Told, Michael McCusker shares essays documenting Donald Trump’s rise to authoritarianism. 

Michael McCusker shares personal essays about nuclear war, Vietnam, and the history of the baby boom generation.

Michael McCusker talks about ongoing threats to democracy in current politics.

Michael McCusker analyzes the continuing dilemma of democracy in the age of Trump. 

Michael McCusker honors the anniversary yesterday of the 1945 Trinity Test, the first nuclear bomb test, in the desert near Alamogordo, NM. The event marked the beginning of the nuclear age.

Michael McCusker shares essays on the fragile nature of democracy.

Michael McCusker discusses the concepts of freedom and democracy, on the eve of Independence Day in the US, with a little help from Leonard Cohen.

Michael McCusker shares views on Donald Trump’s military aspirations, and a treatise on the potential demise of the US penny.

Michael McCusker shares more insight into the rapidly changing landscape of US politics.

Michael McCusker remembers Robert F Kennedy, who was assassinated on this day in 1968.

Michael McCusker honors Memorial Day with an essay on war. 

Michael McCusker talks about the history of birthright citizenship in the US.

Hear more this week from Michael McCusker

Michael McCusker remembers his long-time friend, Arthur Honeyman, a brilliant scholar and writer who spent his life deeply affected by physical limitations caused by cerebral palsy. Michael shares Arthur’s candid essays and poems about his condition, part of Honeyman’s lifelong effort to help differently-abled people be seen as human beings by society.

Michael McCusker honors the anniversary this month of the of the controversial Vanport Disaster, a flood which destroyed the Oregon community on Memorial Day in 1948.

Michael McCusker continues to assess the current state of the United States of America.

Michael McCusker talks about the deepening unprecedented behavior of the Trump administration. 

Michael McCusker continues to assess the current state of the United States of America. 

Michael McCusker shares writings on presidency.

Michael McCusker talks about the deepening unprecedented behavior of the Trump administration. 

On this week’s A Story Told, Michael McCusker honors Women’s History Month by sharing a still-timely essay he wrote years ago for his newspaper, the North Coast Times Eagle.