Sonic Café, Come and Get It, that’s John Newman, I’m your host Scott Clark, welcome to episode 475 of the Sonic Café, a place where everything is ahh bit twisted. At least that’s what they tell me. So this time the Sonic Café spins up a really fun program. From the front lines, comedian Ronny Chieng brings us his reporting of the ongoing battles in the iPhone. Android smart phone wars. Musically 2025 music from Jessie Wagner, listen for Up Against The Wall, also Matchbox Twenty, When the Night Comes from the legendary Joe Cocker, Les Dudek, Get Down, a 1972 a Gilbert O’Sullivan pop classic, also Mayday Parade, Thunder Mother, Kings of Leon and more. The Sonic Café also presents another installment of Crazy Music Facts from our friends at the Origins of Songs. Oh and before we forget, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour recounts the moment he came up with the iconic chord for Shine on You Crazy Diamonds from 1975’s classic Wish You Were Here album, all that plus some other neat stuff thrown in along the way for your listening pleasure, so let’s get to it. Here’s Kid Rock adding his lyrics to Warren Zevon’s Werewolves of London to create an entirely new iteration. This is, All Summer Long, and we’re the Sonic Café.

While Americans enjoy a slice of apple or cherry pie, they might reflect on a different kind of "Pi": the geopolitical variety.

Terminal Velocity The concept of memoir versus fiction leads many authors to transform their personal experiences and life to fiction. Blanche Boyd is a native of South Carolina and a Professor of Literature at Connecticut College. She is also the author of the book entitled, “Terminal Velocity.” This is a book about a group of self-styled lesbian outlaws in the 1970s. We discussed the relationship of memoir and fiction, and how it applies to her work. Blanche Boyd recommends “Cathedral” & “To the Waterfall,” both by Raymond Carver. Originally Broadcast: August 19, 1997

Today, we turn to another critical conversation, one that widens the lens beyond Palestine and into the escalating war between the United States and Iran. Retired Colonel Douglas Macgregor, a former Pentagon adviser known for his blunt strategic assessments, joined geopolitical analyst Cyrus Janssen to examine what they call the most dangerous phase of the conflict. Their discussion, titled “Worst of Iran War Still Ahead,” paints a sobering picture of a war spiraling beyond control. Macgregor argues that the United States has been drawn into a conflict that serves interests far from home, interests shaped by a foreign political agenda that has long influenced American policy in the region. He describes how Iran, far from being weakened, has demonstrated strategic patience, military sophistication, and a deep understanding of the vulnerabilities in U.S. and Israeli defense systems. From disabling advanced radar networks in hours to overwhelming interception systems with waves of older rockets, Iran has shown that it holds significant leverage, militarily and economically. And the consequences ripple outward. The Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s energy flows, is now a bargaining chip in Iran’s hands. Global markets tremble. Gas prices rise. And American taxpayers watch billions of dollars disappear into a war many believe is not theirs. Across these conversations, whether from Palestinian Muslims and Christians, Israeli historians, or American military analysts a single truth emerges: the people paying the highest price are the civilians caught beneath the machinery of power. Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and across the occupied territories feel the shockwaves of every regional escalation. Their lives are shaped by decisions made in distant capitals, by alliances forged without their consent, and by wars that deepen their suffering. This week, we are reminded that the struggle for justice is not isolated. It is interconnected. The occupation, the regional wars, the global power plays; they form a single landscape of inequality and resistance. And through every conversation, one message rises: Palestinians are not passive subjects of history. They are witnesses. They are truth tellers. They are part of a global movement demanding dignity, accountability, and liberation. Today, we bring these voices together, not as separate stories, but as one shared narrative of struggle and clarity. This is This Week in Palestine.

Golden oldies (60s, 70s, 80s, 90s)

A weekly 30 minute review of international news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio and the internet. With times, frequencies, and websites for listening at home. 3 files- Highest quality broadcast, regular broadcast, and slow-modem streaming. France 24, Cuba, and Japan.

Celtic comes into its own in March. Join us for some fresh greens this week from The Cloverhearts, The Ollam (April 27th at The Pearl), Edmonton family band The McDades and Scots bard Cabbie Drennan with a drink along, sing along. It's not too early to get a St. Patrick's workout in. Check out Celt In A Twist with Patricia Fraser at a new time, new day and new station; FM96.1, Tuesdays at 9pm.

It’s about time: revisiting our current chart to chart new courses this month, springing ahead, and tapping into future possibilities. Join us for the top 10 spins and upcoming concert moments, like Ahmed Moneka's Egyptian Jazz, March 27th at St. James Hall and Novalima, the new sound of Afro-Peru, April 26th at The Rickshaw. Check this hour anytime!

Nora Barrows-Friedman brings us a recap of Palestinian news from the week of March 5th to the 12th, 2026.

The right to speak and the need to listen: An interview with Ray Robertson, author of a challenging new book, that dares to employ humour: "The Right To Be Wrong."

John Tyler is back and Whigging Out. He’s vetoing everything that moves, picking fights with Congress for sport, and casually dropping foreign policy hot takes about Hawaii. Tariffs? He’s mad. The Whigs? They’re furious. Daniel Webster? Probably stress-drinking tea somewhere. This episode’s got it all: tariff tantrums, Florida joining the Union, Texas waiting in the wings like a messy situationship, and the Tyler Doctrine arriving out of nowhere like that guy who crashes every party. Manifest Destiny isn’t official yet, but you can smell it coming.

John Tyler didn’t just distrust banks — he hated them. This man looked at paper money like it was a con artist, treated gold like a personality trait, and talked about fractional reserve banking like it was a demonic ritual. In this episode, Kyle and Eric introduce you to the Whig Party’s resident chaos agent — a man who managed to unite people he didn’t even agree with, all while loudly yelling “NO” to basically everything. He was the political equivalent of a live grenade in a powdered wig. So buckle up. Tyler’s money issues weren’t just personal, they were a preview of the political explosion to come.

Before Harrison was slinging hard cider and log cabin merch, he was out in the Indiana wilderness starring in his own chaotic war story: the Battle of Tippecanoe. Kyle & Eric break down the buildup — broken treaties, Tecumseh’s growing confederacy, and Harrison marching his troops right up to Prophetstown. Then the fight kicks off: a surprise night attack, soldiers firing into the dark, officers scrambling, and Harrison barely holding the line. The aftermath? Far from perfect. But here’s where the glow-up happens: Harrison’s letters about the battle leaked into the press, and suddenly voters were eating up the “Hero of Tippecanoe” storyline. Messy reality on the ground, polished reputation in print — and just like that, Harrison had the national clout that built his presidency.

1840 wasn’t just an election, it was the first American political rager. The Whigs rolled out log cabins, Tippecanoe clubs, parade floats, and barrels of hard cider until the whole country was drunk on Harrison hype. It was the original meme campaign, and it worked. Kyle & Eric are here for all the chaos: How Harrison became the first viral candidate (no Wi-Fi required) The 8,445-word inaugural speech that doubled as cardio Calling Congress into special session like, “Hi, I’m in charge now” Telling Henry Clay to sit down and let the president cook And the 31-day presidency that left America asking “wait, what just happened?” This is campaign drama, political theatre, and presidential what-ifs served with a side of hard cider. Pour yourself a drink, hit play, and get ready to see why this one short month changed politics forever.

Think Harrison was just “the president who gave a speech, caught a cold, and died”? WRONG. This man was a walking PR machine, a frontier general, and the guy who basically put Ohio on the map (you’re welcome, Buckeyes). Kyle and Eric are here to drag him out of history’s meme bin and show you: How Harrison went from 18-year-old ensign to field-promotion legend Why the Whigs turned “hard cider and log cabins” into the first viral campaign slogan How Detroit was saved with logistics, not cannon fire (the ultimate flex) And why the dude was so good at running things that Congress literally let him redraw the Midwest This isn’t a dusty lecture — it’s a roller coaster through frontier wars, land deals, and political glow-ups that made the first Whig president. And yes, there will be cider jokes.

Find out what "Fuzzy Love" is when we look at an album with that title....delightfully dated hit song medleys from Klaus, and the Hand Man is living his rock n roll dream..and wants you to know about it.

“STATE OF EMERGENCY: CHAINS ON PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED TO BE FREE” a piece written and read by Bob Avakian. Then, a discussion between Andy Zee and Sunsara Taylor. Plus, Bob Avakian speaking to the question, “Revolution sounds good but it ain’t going to happen”? This is an excerpt from The Bob Avakian Interviews. Atlas Winfrey shares his personal reflections on the impact that the leadership of Bob Avakian has had. An excerpt from the documentary film: “STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE”