Ralph Nader Radio Hour – September 28, 2025

Theme: Listener Questions, Civic Accountability, Gaza, U.S. Democracy, and Corporate Power

Episode Overview

In this special "listener mailbag" episode of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour, Ralph Nader and co-hosts Steve Scrovan, David Feldman, and Hannah Feldman dedicate the full program to answering questions and responding to comments from their audience. The episode features wide-ranging discussions about government and corporate accountability, the state of democracy under Trump, Palestinian humanitarian issues, political organizing, campaign finance, and more. The recurring theme is civic self-empowerment: how citizens can assert their agency amid political and corporate barriers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Private Security Firms and Accountability in Gaza

[02:13] Listener Question (Andrew Acosta): Concern over private US security firm linked to atrocities in Gaza, questioning their accountability and recourse.

• Ralph Nader: Private security contractors operate with government approval and minimal oversight. Legal remedies are scarce unless political winds change.
  • "There is no remedy here because they are part of a contracting system that's been given approval by our government..." [02:13]
  • Only congressional impeachment powers remain as a check, not courts or public opinion under Trump.
  • The Gaza death toll continues to rise, underscoring the lack of accountability.

2. Is the U.S. Becoming a Military Dictatorship?

[03:08] Listener Question (Dave Wendland): Should we call the U.S. a military dictatorship considering unchecked military power?

• Ralph Nader: Under Trump, the Insurrection Act could cement a full military dictatorship.
  • “Under Trump, that's exactly what's emerging. All he needs now is to invoke the Insurrection Act to make it complete.” [03:37]
• Media complicity and Democratic Party failures contribute to this erosion.
  • “Everything Trump has achieved politically has come out of his mouth. Not out of his deeds...faithfully relayed to the American people by a supine media.” [04:08]
  • Democratic Party “contracts out” its campaigns to corporate consultants, losing its progressive roots and failing to meet working people’s needs.

3. Civic Self-Respect and Lack of Civic Motivation

[08:10] Listener Comment (Prof. James d'Amico): Integrating Nader’s “Civic Self-Respect” book in graduate education classes.

• Ralph Nader: The American public is fundamentally disinterested in civic empowerment.
  • “I was astonished… how disinterested the American people are in empowering themselves… The lack of civic motivation, the lack of saying, look, we've given our power to only 535 people in the Congress and they've turned it against us...” [09:00]
  • The Constitution begins with “We the people,” yet the populace rarely asserts this sovereignty over Congress.

4. Auto Safety and Corporate Accountability

[10:59] Listener Question (Ted): What vehicles today qualify as "unsafe at any speed"?

• Ralph Nader: Federal standards have leveled most differences in auto safety compared to the 1960s—but serious failures (airbags, EV fires) persist.
  • “Federal standards have sandpapered a lot of the differences… But... there are electric cars catching fire… should be the subject of recall.” [11:15]
  • Cites resources: Center for Auto Safety, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and independent safety advocate Byron Block.
  • Helpful tip [12:59]: Use NHTSA.gov to track recalls with your VIN and know about lemon laws for recourse.

5. Building Community and Media Literacy

[14:39] Listener Comment (Miriam Gennari): Grassroots media and community activism in action.

• Ralph Nader: Encourages grassroots perseverance: “Keep at it and try to multiply your efforts with your friends in the neighborhood and community.” [15:54]

6. Starting a Public Policy Watchdog with Limited Resources

[18:00] Listener Question (Sunny Bassoomi): How to found a public policy watchdog with minimal funding (from Europe).

• Ralph Nader: Learn from existing civic groups, research lone advocates, and seek affinity organizations. [18:25]

7. ICJ Proceedings on Gaza Genocide

[19:10] Listener Question (Dave Buchanan): Has the ICJ case on Gaza by South Africa been updated?

• Bruce Fine (via Feldman): ICJ accepts supplementary evidence; a final hearing is at least 18 months away. [19:10]

8. Congressional Accessibility Barriers

[21:04] Listener Question (Anthony Killian Behney): Congress blocking citizen attempts to reach staff about Medicare for All.

• Ralph Nader: Congressional offices are fortressed, limiting citizen access and undermining the First Amendment right to petition.
  • “Congress collectively is starting to move into a cocoon… this is basically destroying our First Amendment right to petition our government.” [21:04]
  • Urges listeners to challenge this during congressional recesses and demands written assurances of accessibility.

9. Foreign Influence in U.S. Congress (Israel)

[24:08] Listener Question (Bill Fringer): Why does Israel have so much influence in the U.S. Congress?

• Ralph Nader: Foreign lobbying is legal unless corrupt, but no country has penetrated Congress like Israel.
  • “Israel… has gone further in penetrating the Congress than any other foreign country in modern history. They have a minder assigned to every member of Congress.” [24:08]
  • Example: Rep. Massie says colleagues check with “AIPAC guy” before setting policy positions.

10. Disparity in Government Priorities: Cleanup vs. Military Spending

[39:44] Listener Comment (Jill Goldman): Frustration at citizens having to do basic public works while government spends on war.

• Ralph Nader: Other countries can provide social safety nets because they're not mired in massive military budgets.
  • “It's hard to exaggerate the distortion of priorities. One of the reasons Western Europe and Canada have all these social safety nets… they don't have a massive military budget.” [39:44]
• Discussion of Japanese cultural discipline around litter [41:08] and comparison to American attitudes.

11. The Human Toll and Outrage Over Gaza

[41:48] Listener Comment (Adriana): Emotional response to Gaza, importance of showcasing people doing good, and disgust with global leadership.

• Ralph Nader: Person-to-person communication is the most accelerated free speech: “Spread the word. Talk to your neighbors… The most accelerated form of free speech is person to person.” [42:41]

[43:10] Listener Comment (Selena Sweet): The tragedy of needing “accountants” to confirm genocide and the moral vacuity of U.S. leadership.

• Ralph Nader: Take these comments directly to your congressional offices and refer them to Capitol Hill Citizen. [44:38]

[45:20] Listener Comment (Howie Lisnoff): The textbook definition of genocide applies to Gaza.

• Ralph Nader: Accurate death toll estimates are critical and the current figures are staggering: “That's one out of four Palestinians in Gaza who've been killed.” [46:45]

12. Campaign Finance and Corporate Power

[28:35] Listener Question (Eric Thusen): How to curtail corporate dominance in elections without infringing citizen group spending.

• Ralph Nader: Public funding is the best solution but recognizes First Amendment obstacles stemming from Citizens United.

  • “The simple answer is public funding of public campaigns… Citizens United opened the floodgates.” [29:17]
  • Money is equated with speech by the courts, so billionaire spending is protected unless public funding displaces private money.
  • The roots of this problem trace to the 1971 Powell Memo and its corporate mobilization, eroding regulatory and civic gains by the public interest movement. [32:22]

• Significant Analysis:

  • Corporations are “perpetual” and have tax-deductible power to lobby 24/7, vs. individuals who cannot.
  • “You cannot have a democracy where corporations have equal rights with human beings under the Constitution.” [33:08]
  • Calls for clear use of “street crime” vs. “corporate crime” terminology by press, naming the agents of harm.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Nothing’s come close.” (Ralph Nader, asked if any era compares to Trump’s threat to democracy) [03:57]
• “We've given our power to only 535 people in the Congress and they've turned it against us on behalf of some 1500 corporations.” (Nader on civic disengagement) [09:00]
• “If any institution should be open, it should be the U.S. Congress.” (Nader on congressional inaccessibility) [21:04]
• "They have a minder assigned to every member of Congress." (Nader on Israeli lobbying) [24:08]
• “It's hard to exaggerate the distortion of priorities…” (Nader, on U.S. military vs. social spending) [39:44]
• “You cannot have equal justice under the law… when corporations have equal rights with real human beings under the Constitution.” (Nader on campaign finance and corporate rights) [33:08]
• “The main criminal centers in Washington D.C... are the White House and the K Street corporate lobbyists on Congress. Hands down.” (Nader, urging focus on corporate crime) [36:23]
• “You ought to tell the reporters, whenever they use the word crime: use an adjective. It’s either street crime or corporate crime.” (Nader, urging media accuracy) [37:27]

Staffing & Community Acknowledgments

• Ongoing co-host and team recognition:
  • Shouts out to production, staff, and long-time listeners.
  • Celebrates 11+ years on air, 603 episodes. [16:04, 17:36]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:13 | Gaza atrocities, accountability of private security contractors | | 03:08 | Is the U.S. a military dictatorship? | | 08:10 | Civic self-respect in education | | 10:59 | Vehicle safety, NHTSA, lemon laws | | 14:39 | Media literacy, grassroots activism | | 18:00 | Starting a public policy watchdog (Europe) | | 19:10 | ICJ/Genocide case update on Gaza | | 21:04 | Citizen access to Congress; First Amendment implications | | 24:08 | Foreign influence (Israel) in U.S. Congress | | 28:35 | Citizens United, campaign finance reform, Powell Memo | | 39:44 | Public works vs. military spending | | 41:48 | Emotional response to Gaza, value of hope | | 43:10 | The reality of genocide in Gaza; moral critique | | 45:20 | Genocide death toll—accuracy and activism | | 33:08 | Structural barriers for citizen vs. corporate influence | | 37:27 | Press coverage: "street crime" vs. "corporate crime" |

Style, Tone & Takeaways

The episode maintains the classic Nader style: earnest, direct, and frequently polemical but grounded in institutional critique and a vision of bottom-up empowerment. Listeners are encouraged repeatedly to mobilize, organize, and never accept the status quo of corporate-dominated democracy. The episode balances sobering assessments of U.S. and international failures with calls to action—and a reminder that real change begins with informed, civically engaged citizens.

For Further Action

• Learn more or access Nader’s reports/books: nader.org
• Engaged listeners are encouraged to communicate with Congress, especially on accessibility and Gaza.
• Follow-up resources: NHTSA.gov, Corporate Crime Reporter, Capitol Hill Citizen.