WHMP

09/04/2026

9/4/26, Co-Host Josh Silver

Andy Bukowksi, Josh Silver and Bill Newman Fishwrap the UMass Amherst football team’s 37-21 victory over Rutgers— breaking the 16 game!!! losing streak—feels like 16 years. Then—this is extraordinarily serious—the lawsuits involving Trump’s taking over mail-in voting and deciding who can vote. A decision is imminent.

Jen Nery, from the Northampton Information Hub—on coffee and donuts, two upcoming informal Saturday morning gatherings with many Northampton elected officials. You are cordially invited.

Celebrate resistance. Community Action Pioneer Valley Ex Dir Lev BenEzra and Marianne Bouthilette, Dir of Head Start, on the Trump administration’s attack on the program– killing it through new regulations and cutting off its funding. What you can do to help fight back.

Celebrate discovery. Breaking news from outer space. Astronomer Salman Hameed on the demotion of Pluto from its status as a planet—the injustice of it all; the launch or the Nancy Grace Roman telescope—the secrets of the universe that will be revealed.

More breaking news from outer space: dark matter particles discovered? Wow.

Celebrate art and community. ArtBeat with Donnabelle Casis and Chloe Torri on the upcoming Flo Fest—the community celebration in Florence.

9/4/26, Co-Host Josh Silver Andy Bukowksi, Josh Silver and Bill Newman Fishwrap the UMass football team’s 37-21 victory over Rutgers— breaking the 16 game!!! losing streak—feels like 16 years. Then…

09/03/2026

9/3/26, Co-Host Carrie Baker

Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan on Tuesday’s primaries, who he endorsed and why.

Smith College Professor Carrie Baker, Chair of the Program for the Study of Women and Gender and Contributing Editor of Ms. Magazine, shares a heartfelt remembrance of Gloria Steinem.

“Your Good Death: Why End-of-Life Healthcare Is So Difficult and How to Make It Work for You.” We speak with the author—the book was published this week– Professor Karen Lutfey Spencer.

Congressman Jim McGovern — the stakes couldn’t be higher: dark money, gerrymandering, Trump’s control of the USPO and voting by mail; the Supreme Court ‘s failure to stop the Trump’s ballroom & Trump’s face on U.S. currency. Also, the Congressman shares his memories of Gloria Steinem.

“All that Jazz” with Northampton Jazz Festival President Ruth Griggs and jazz legend, vocalist and pianist, Johnny O’Neal. No set lists and playing with love.

09/02/2026

9/2/26, Co-Host Brian Adams

We Fishwrap yesterday’s votes: Markey v Moulton; Neal v Whalen; Jacobs v Fenton; the South Hadley override; and down to the wire and still counting —a handful of votes separate Wondolowski & Coryat in the race to follow Natalie Blais.

Owen Wormser from Abound Design on lawns into meadows, your home, your planet, your choices.

Sarah LaValley and Tom Annese from the Northampton Planning and Sustainability Dept on the $2.8million state grant for rewilding the Pine Grove Golf Course, now the Pine Grove Conservation Area. Congratulations! What a story!

Florentine Films/Hott Productions Cool Films with Florence-based filmmaker Larry Hott and Smith College Professor of Shakespeare and the Apocalypse (really!) Gillian Kendall: the world is coming to an end—too much fun!

9/2/26, Co-Host Brian Adams We Fishwrap yesterday’s votes: Markey v Moulton; Neal v Whalen; Jacobs v Fenton; the South Hadley override; and down to the wire and still counting —a handful of votes …

09/01/2026

9/1/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz

Sen Paul Mark: election day issues, union solidarity, GOTV, your vote matters, gerontocracy, local races.

Sen Ed Markey: his age, his issues, accomplishments, fears & hopes.

Mass Fair Housing Ex Dir Vineeth Hemavathi: from this non-profit in Holyoke, their nationwide lawsuit against the U.S. Dept of Housing & Urban Development to prevent Trump from gutting fair housing – and the injunction they achieved last week.

Eric Ross, UMass Amherst grad student & Co-Founder of Massachusetts Cuban Solidarity: conditions on the island; protesting and organizing against Trump’s policies.

9/1/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz Sen Paul Mark: election day issues, union solidarity, GOTV, your vote matters, gerontocracy, local races. Sen Ed Markey: his age, his issues, accomplishments, fears …

08/31/2026

8/31/26, Co-Host–Megan Zinn

Michel and Leyla Moushabeck, founders, writers, editors and publishers of Northampton-based Interlink Publishing: Read and Resist; the Interlink Foundation; cookbooks; the world at War; Gaza.

Writers Block w/ Megan Zinn: Nationally known local author Suzanne Strempek Shea: “Composition: A Memoir in 42 Essays by 1 Kid on Her 8 Years in Catholic School, Handed in 60 Years Late.”

Raymond LaRaja, UMass Amherst Prof of Political Science and Co-Director of the UMass Poll: the poll released today: how under water is Trump? Is the MAGA base shrinking ? How accurate are the polls? What are the implications for the midterms? How about polls for local races?

Michael Klare: Prof of Peace & World Security Studies and Visiting Fellow at the Arms Control Council: the Wars in Iraq and Ukraine, NATO, the U.S running low on missiles, a possibility of nuclear weapons?

8/31/26, Co-Host–Megan Zinn Michel and Leyla Moushabeck, founders, writers, editors and publishers of Northampton-based Interlink Publishing: Read and Resist; the Interlink Foundation; cook…

08/28/2026

8/28/26, Co-Host Josh Silver

Congressman Seth Moulton, candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, on the biggest issues, the polls, and what distinguishes him from Sen Markey.

Tatishe Nteta, Dir of the UMass Amherst Poll: the Markey-Moulton matchup, the midterms and can we believe the numbers—what they really say.

State Representative Mindy Domb on What the Flock!! Massachusetts responds to nationwide ALPR surveillance. Also, the Protect Act—safe places for all

Andrew Munson from the Florence Civic & Business Association: Florence is a happening place! — upcoming events and free concerts.

Art Beat with Trevor Powers and Hannah Brookman on the upcoming Northampton Print and Book Fair.

8/28/26, Co-Host Josh Silver Congressman Seth Moulton, candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, on the biggest issues, the polls, and what distinguishes him from Sen Markey. Tatishe…

08/27/2026

8/27/26: Co-Host Andy Bukowski

“A Nation Wrestles with God”—Ilan Stavans, Amherst College Professor of Humanities, Latin American and Latino culture & Co-founder and Publisher of Restless Books, shares insights and questions from his new book, including what the Founders really thought about the place of religion in their new country.

Dan Crowley, Ex Editor, Daily Hampshire Gazette & The Greenfield Recorder, on Tuesday’s elections: Jeromie Whalen v Richard Neal, Seth Moulton v Ed Markey, Lora Wondolowski v Corrine Coryat, & the South Hadley override: how editorial, news and Opinion Page decisions are made and space allocated in an election cycle; how editorial cartoons are chosen; and when the coverage stops.

Rev. Carole Bull on our spirit and values and the power of prayer and meditation in troubled times and as impetus for social action and fighting for justice.

All that Jazz: John Anz with truly extraordinary musician and composer Champian Fulton—live from the North Sea, coming to the Northampton Jazz Festival.

8/27/26: Co-Host Andy Bukowski “A Nation Wrestles with God”—Ilan Stavans, Amherst College Professor,of Humanities, Latin American and Latino culture & Co-founder and Publisher of Restless Books…

08/26/2026

8/26/26, Co-Host Andy Bukowski

Eric Nakajima, Holyoke, Mass Dir of Planning and Development, pulls back the tofu curtain and shares a vision for regional planning and cooperation.

Dr. Sunny Shukla, Cooley Dickinson Health Care's Assoc Chief Medical Officer & Emerg Dept physician, and Meredith O’Leary, Northampton Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner : the scourge of opioids here and how our community is responding.

Atty Michael Fenton, candidate for Governor’s Council, on considering and confirming the Governor’s nominees for the all the courts in the Commonwealth & the parole board, promoting diversity, and advocating for western Massachusetts.

Lisa Wong, Town of South Hadley, MA Town Administrator, on the Override –what’s at stake; what happens if it passes; what happens if it is defeated.

8/26/26, Co-Host Andy Bukowski Eric Nakajima, Holyoke Dir of Planning and Development, pulls back the tofu curtain and shares a vision for regional planning and cooperation. Dr. Sunny Shukla, Coole…

08/26/2026

8/25/25 Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz

Jeromie Whalen, candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives First Mass District, addresses the personal attacks and explains his vision for change.

Eric Reeves, Northampton-based expert on Sudan and Darfur, on how to change the narrative about the world’s response to the starvation and genocide in Sudan.

Lora Wondolowski, City of Greenfield's President of city council & candidate for the Democratic nomination for the First Franklin District: Flock out of Greenfield, schools, housing, families & her experience as an environmental and political activist and organizer.

Duke Goldman, Northampton-based Negro League expert, on Monte Irvin, the New York Baseball Giants first Black player, and challenging racism.

8/25/25 Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz Jeromie Whalen, candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives First Mass District, addresses the personal attacks and explains his vi…

08/24/2026

8/24/26. Co-Host Megan Zinn

Mass Head Start Ex Dir Michelle Haimowitz: Trump’s threats to Head Start and what you can do to help—which is a lot.

Writers Block: Megan Zinn interviews Juliet Faithfull, author of “Liar’s Dice” — family secrets, class struggle, and overcoming enormous odds — illiteracy and disability –her debut novel with a major publishing house.

Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby: a bike path for all –where is this going? Also, new housing and the budget after the override.

Town of Amherst, MA Town Mgr Paul Bockelman and Comms Dir Samantha Giffen: openings – the new Amethyst Brook Elementary School (and public art in that school) –and yes, move-in day at UMass Amherst & Amherst College also, the town’s Block Party and the All About Amherst Civil Academy.