Welcome, to the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective.

– Activists from around the country will gather at Temple University, in Philadelphia, on January 8th, for a conference on the Black Radical Tradition. Dr. Cornel West, the nation’s best-known Black public intellectual, is one of the keynote speakers. We asked Dr. West if we are witnessing the birth of a real mass Black movement, after all these years.

– Everybody knows that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is in trouble with Black folks, who are outraged at the lawlessness and violence of the city’s police. But political analyst, author and activist Paul Street says Mayor Emanuel has also lost the confidence of the rich white people who really call the shots in Chicago. Paul Street’s latest book is titled “They Rule: The 1% Versus Democracy.”

– Last year, President Obama succeeded in putting his Trans Pacific Partnership corporate trade treaty on a “fast track” towards ratification by Congress. But opponents of TPP think they have a good chance of defeating the treaty in the New Year. Kevin Zeese is with Popular Resistance,

– Talks are scheduled to begin on January 25th between the U.S. and its allies and their jihadist proxies seeking to oust the government of Syria, and the Syrian government and its Russian allies. The Americans, Saudis and Turks like to describe their Islamist proxies as “moderate rebels,” but Syria and the Russians say the western-backed fighters are terrorists, just like ISIS and al-Qaida. We spoke with Sara Flounders, the United National Anti-War Coalition.

– Black America may, or may not, be in the process of creating a new political movement. However, building a movement based on people’s power is difficult when the political geography of Black America is so heavily influenced by non-profit organizations that are not accountable to the people. Black Agenda Report Managing Editor Bruce Dixon has this commentary.