Japanese officials are hoping to have electricity reconnected to at least two of the crippled nuclear reactors at the Daiichi plant today. In the meantime – efforts are still underway to douse reactor 3 with water to prevent both a meltdown and radioactive waste containing plutonium from escaping into the atmosphere.

Even if electricity is successfully restored – it’s not certain that the crucial cooling pumps that funnel water into each reactor will still work. More smoke was seen billowing out of reactor 2 today – and no one is exactly sure why – and elevated levels of radiation have been detected throughout Japan – including beyond Tokyo – about 150 miles South of the doomsday nuclear plant.

Reactors 1, 2, and 3 are believed to have all experienced partial meltdowns – basically – 3 Three Mile Islands have already taken place at the Daiichi plant. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is describing the events as “grave and serious.” And Gregory Jaczko – the chief of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission warned that it could take weeks to get the plant under control. There are reports that Japan is contemplating a “Chernobyl solution” of burying the entire facility in concrete – which could prevent more radiation from leaking – but would leave a large area of Japan uninhabitable for decades.

These next few days will be crucial in determining the fate of the nuclear plant – the nation of Japan – and the world.

-Thom

(What do you think will happen to the Fukushima plant? Tell us here.)

Hour One: Latest on the fight for democracy - John Nichols of The Nation Magazine

Hour Two: What do conservatives have against Labor Unions? Dr. John Lott

Plus, the latest news from Labor - Doug Cunningham, Worker's Independent News

Hour Three: Latest on the "Chamberleaks" scandal - Lee Fang, Think Progress

Hour Two: "No More Bullying! Except for a Good Cause?!- Dan Miller, Pajamas Media

Hour Two: Latest on Obamacare - Ron Pollack, Families USA

Hour Two: "I AM"...the shift is about to hit the fan! Tom Shadyac, "I AM"

Hour Three: Geeky Science Rocks - does your name dictate your life choices?

"Brunch With Bernie". Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) takes your calls

The Daily Stack

Quote: "Every man has the right to be heard; but no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal chords." -- Adlai E. Stevenson, speech in New York City, 28 August 1952.

Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joins Thom with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too...

Site: "Bernie Sanders of Facebook".

Site: "Bernie Sanders campaign site".

Site: "Bernie Sanders on Youtube".

Video: The Big Picture: "Taxing millionaires & billionaires? with Rep Jan Schakowsky".

Article: "Sanders proposes tax on wealthiest" by Joel Banner Baird.

Article: "Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT): Social Security is “Not Going Broke” " by Karen Travers.

Article: "Reid: 'Leave Social Security alone'" by Joan McCarter for Daily Kos.

Article: "Judge issues temporary order blocking collective bargaining law" by Ed Treleven.

Hour Two: Latest on the fight for democracy with John Nichols of The Nation Magazine...

Article: "America's Not Broke, Wisconsin's Not Broke; We're Just Wasting Money on War " by John Nichols.

Article: "WI Dems: Walker's Frank Luntz Visit Broke the Law" by Andy Kroll.

Article: Chapter One: The Deciding Moment? from "Unequal Protection"

Article: "Aristide returns to celebrity welcome in Haiti" by AP.

Article: "Republican Party Platform of 1956".

Site: "James O'Keefe on Media Matters".

Site: "Merchant Marine Act of 1936".

Hour Three: Anniversary of invasion of Iraq...and this weekend's rally w/Veteran's For Peace with Ralph Nader, Attorney/Activist/Author/Former candidate for President.

Book: "Only the Super-Rich can save us" by Ralph Nader.

Article: "Veterans Mark Iraq Invasion Anniversary With Increased Civil Resistance At White House".

Article: "Audit: Pentagon overpaid oilman by up to $200 million" by Penn Bullock and Kimberly Kindy.

Event: "Veterans Mark Iraq Invasion Anniversary With Increased Civil Resistance At White House"- Saturday, March 19.

Book: "Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny" by Theresa Amato.

Video: "Thom Hartmann: A Conservative who got mugged".

The good: "Sharron Angle Boldly Defends Public School Teachers: They Are Over-Worked And Under-Paid" by Lee Fang.

The bad: "TX Democratic County Chairman Dan Ramos Says Gays ‘Are Like Termites’ Infiltrating The Democratic Party" by Zaid Jilani.

The very, very ugly: "NY candidate Jack Davis: Bus blacks to farms to pick crops" by Eric W. Dolan.

Article: "REPORT: In 12 States, GOP Plans To Slash Corporate Taxes While Increasing Burden on Working Families" by Think Progress.

Movie: "I Am", which Thom is in. Showtimes.

Talk Radio News Segment: Victoria Jones, White House Correspondent.

Article: "Obama Gives Gaddafi A Mandate, Warns Of Military Action" by Justin Duckham.

Article: "Wisconsin Judge Blocks New Union Curbing Law" by TRNS.

Article: "Supermajority Of Senators Want Obama To Tackle Entitlements, Tax Reform" by Benny Martinez.

Article: "IAEA chief: Japan nuclear incident "grave and serious" accident" by Reuters.

Article: "New power lines connected to Fukushima nuclear plant" by Michael Winter.

Article: "Ending The Afghan War Would Save Taxpayers 40,000 Times More Money Than Defunding NPR" by Zaid Jilani.

Article: "Libya declares ceasefire after UN no-fly zone resolution".

Article: "Slim majority back gay marriage, Post-ABC poll says" by Sandhya Somashekhar and Peyton Craighill.

Article: "Executive Bonuses Bounce Back" by Joann S. Lublin.

Article: "Utah becomes first in U.S. to designate official state gun" by James Nelson.

Article: "Palin trails Sheen with independents " by Public Policy Polling.

Crazy alert: "High-speed chase ensues after 'alien invasion'" by Shelley Smith.

Read an excerpt here, and buy the book!

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