The Teabaggers -- noisy, bigoted and ignorant, but basically harmless, right? And if we're lucky, they'll hijack the Republican Party and nominate a bunch of un-electable loons. The best thing the Teabaggers can do is to keep making asses of themselves in public.

But what if they have friends in high places? A bombshell article by Jane Mayer in the New Yorker paints a vivid portrait of two such highly-placed friends. David and Charles Koch, the patriarch sublings of Koch Industries, are philanthropists of note -- and also deep-pocketed backers of the Tea Party and other conservative causes. Abe and Joe delve into the New Yorker piece and discuss the role of big money in today's discourse.

Howard Zinn – Three Holy Wars (lecture)

AR celebrates the life and legacy of America’s great historian Howard Zinn with a whole month of programs. Since its inception he was an integral part of AR. He was a friend and mentor to us and countless others. Howard Zinn would have been 88 on August 24th.

Host Dmae Roberts features Oedipus the King and the It's All Greek To Me festival (September 10-26) in Portland. She's joined by Elizabeth Huffman, artistic director of Classic Creek Theatre of Oregon which is the only professional Greek Theatre festival in the country.

Huffman is directing a new translations of Sophocles' Oedipus the King. Actor Trieu Tran leads a cast in an inventive production incorporating Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh elements.The production is performed outdoors at the Reed College's Cerf Ampitheatre.

Kelly Rauer talks about her high-definition video installation, Shaping Sequence, at New American Art Union. The work utilizes the lines of the body within the containing structure of the camera frame. Kathleen Stephenson guest hosts.

Kelly Rauer is a Portland multi-media artist, who for the past 5 years, has worked to balance art-making, curating, art administration and exhibition design for organizations including the Portland Art Center, p:ear, Heidi McBride Gallery and Art Consultancy, PNCA and NAAU. In 2004 she received a BA in Fine Art and Photography from the Evergreen State College. She has created works in video, installation, sculpture and performance.

New American Art Union, 922 SE Ankeny St., 231-8294. Closes Sept. 19.

Help pick the flavors for tonights 4 hour “MELTING POT” 8-12pm