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EnglishWhat Is Between The Lines (BTL)? History, Mission, and How to Use the Site
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Between The Lines (BTL) is a weekly public affairs radio newsmagazine produced by Squeaky Wheel Productions, describing itself as offering "timely, in-depth, progressive analysis since 1991." Its website, btlonline.org, serves as the program's archive and distribution hub: you can stream or download recent and past episodes, find broadcast schedules for U.S. and international stations, read web features and special reports, and support the program through donations or volunteering. If you're looking for a long-running progressive radio program and want to know what the site actually gives you, the sections below cover its history, editorial stance, content, and how to listen or get involved.
History and Who Runs It
- Since 1991: BTL describes itself as a weekly radio newsmagazine providing progressive analysis, making it a decades-old fixture in independent media.
- Producer: The program is produced by Squeaky Wheel Productions, which also appears as the presenting organization for BTL events.
- 35 years on the air: A Sept. 2026 event listing on the site celebrates "35 years on the air," consistent with a 1991 start.
- Background pages: The site includes an "About" section with "History and Who We Are," plus a Privacy Policy page, for readers who want the organization's own account of its origins and structure.
Editorial Stance and Mission
BTL's self-description is explicitly progressive. The site's own tagline — "timely, in-depth, progressive analysis since 1991" — and its donation appeal ("Support giving voice to progressive ideas") frame the program as advocacy-oriented journalism rather than neutral wire coverage.
Recent episode topics reflect that framing. A Sept. 30, 2026 full show, for example, featured:
- Victor Pickard on the White House banning three media outlets, framed as an attack on the First Amendment
- Dr. Bandy Lee on presidential mental stability and unilateral powers
- Thomas Drake on an NSA restructuring plan
- Bob Nixon's under-reported news summary
If you want analysis from a progressive perspective on media policy, civil liberties, and national security, this is the program's stated lane. If you want straight news reporting without an ideological frame, this is not that.
What's on the Website
The site organizes content into several areas:
| Section | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Recent Programs | Latest full shows and interviews |
| Current Year Audio Archive | Episodes from the current year |
| Previous Years' Audio Archives | Back catalog going back through the program's history |
| Broadcast Schedule | U.S., satellite/radio network, and international station listings |
| For Radio Stations | Current broadcast-quality MP3 info and affiliate details |
| Web Features | Web features and special reports |
| Progressive Resources | Links to related organizations and material |
| Support BTL | Donation and volunteer information |
Individual episodes are posted with a date and a list of segments — typically an interview or two plus an under-reported news summary — so you can scan a show's lineup before listening.
How to Listen
- Stream or download from the site: Recent programs and the audio archives are the primary listening entry points.
- Find a broadcast station: The Broadcast Schedule section lists U.S. broadcast schedules, satellite and radio networks, and international schedules, so you can find a station near you or a network feed.
- Subscribe to the podcast: The site offers a "Subscribe to our Podcast" option, plus RSS feeds.
- For stations and affiliates: Broadcast-quality MP3 information and affiliate details are provided for radio stations that want to carry the program.
- Follow on social: BTL maintains accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Vimeo, YouTube, and Bluesky.
How to Support BTL
The site's support options are donation and volunteering:
- Donate: Prominent "Please Donate Now" appeals appear on the homepage, and a DONATE link is in the main navigation.
- Volunteer: A "Volunteer" link appears under the Support BTL section.
- Email list: You can subscribe to the email list to receive updates.
The site also has a user sign-in and password-recovery flow, which suggests registered accounts exist for some site functions, though the public-facing content — programs, archives, and schedules — is presented as the main draw.
A Note on Events
BTL and Squeaky Wheel Productions have hosted live events, such as a scheduled Oct. 17, 2026 keynote by journalist Chris Hedges titled "The Next Election May Be Our Last" in New Haven, Connecticut, marking the program's 35th anniversary. Event listings like this appear on the site alongside regular programming.
Bottom Line
BTL is a long-running, progressive weekly radio newsmagazine produced by Squeaky Wheel Productions since 1991. Its website is best used as an audio archive and listening guide: check Recent Programs for the latest show, use the Broadcast Schedule to find it on air, subscribe via podcast or RSS, and use the Donate or Volunteer links if you want to support it. The site's own framing makes its editorial perspective clear, so you can decide whether that perspective matches what you're looking for.