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Updated 2024-11-24 17:45
Glenn Greenwald: Chelsea Manning's Refusal to Testify Against WikiLeaks Will Help Save Press Freedom
Chelsea Manning has been sent back to jail after refusing to answer questions before a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange. Manning, a U.S. Army whistleblower, had been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors in Virginia's Eastern District to appear for questioning about her 2010 leak to WikiLeaks of hundreds of thousands of State Department and Pentagon documents about the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We speak with Glenn Greenwald, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the founding editors of The Intercept.
"I Know No One More Patriotic": Daniel Ellsberg Praises Chelsea Manning After She Is Jailed Again
U.S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning has been sent back to jail after refusing to answer questions before a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. Manning had been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors in Virginia's Eastern District to appear for questioning about her 2010 leak to WikiLeaks of hundreds of thousands of State Department and Pentagon documents about the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Manning was imprisoned from 2010 to 2017 for the leak. President Obama commuted her sentence before he left office. We speak with Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg about the significance of Chelsea Manning's actions.
Journalists, Lawyers & Activists Targeted in Sweeping U.S. Intelligence Gathering Effort on Border
Newly revealed documents show the U.S. government created a secret database of activists and journalists who were documenting the Trump administration's efforts to thwart a caravan of migrants hoping to win asylum in the U.S. An investigation from San Diego's NBC 7 revealed the list was shared among Homeland Security Investigations, ICE, Customs and Border Protection and the FBI. It included the names of 10 journalists—seven of whom are U.S. citizens—along with nearly four dozen others listed as "organizers" or "instigators." House Democrats are now calling for the full disclosure of the government's secret list. We speak with one of the activists targeted by the government, Nicole Ramos, director of Al Otro Lado's Border Rights Project. The project works with asylum seekers in Tijuana, Mexico. We also speak with Ryan Devereaux, staff reporter at The Intercept. In early February, he wrote an article titled "Journalists, Lawyers, and Activists Working on the Border Face Coordinated Harassment from U.S. and Mexican Authorities."
Headlines for March 11, 2019
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Crashes, Killing All 157 On Board, Judge Jails Chelsea Manning For Refusing to Testify About WikiLeaks, Trump to Request $8.6 Billion for Border Wall in 2020 Budget, 1000s More Could Join ACLU Lawsuit over Trump Family Separation Policy, House Passes Election Reform Act Despite GOP Resistance, NYT Report Contradicts U.S. Claim That Maduro Responsible for "Aid" Convoy Fire, Guaidó to Declare Emergency as NYT Reports U.S. Sanctions Exacerbate Blackout, Netanyahu: "Israel Is Not a State of All Its Citizens", Gaza: Israeli Forces Shoot Palestinian Protesters, Killing 1, Fox Host Under Fire for Saying Rep. Omar's Hijab Unconstitutional, Erik Prince Admits He Met with Trump Campaign in 2016, Ex-Owner of Spa in Sex Trafficking Ring Sold Chinese Execs "Access" to Trump, Sen. Warren Wants to Break Up Tech Giants Incl. Amazon, Facebook & Google
Lost Children Archive: Valeria Luiselli's New Novel Bears Witness to the U.S. Immigration Crisis
Days after Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen defended President Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, we speak with Valeria Luiselli about her new book, "Lost Children Archive." It chronicles one family's journey from New York to the southwestern U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona as the mother researches the plight of migrant children seeking refuge in the United States.
Debate over Ilhan Omar Highlights New Willingness in U.S. to Question Power of Pro-Israeli Lobby
Following a week of debate surrounding Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar's comments about U.S. foreign policy in Israel, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution Thursday condemning anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim discrimination, white supremacy and other forms of hate. We host a discussion with Gideon Levy, Haaretz columnist and member of the newspaper's editorial board; Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies who serves on the national board of Jewish Voice for Peace; and Remi Kanazi, a Palestinian-American poet, writer and organizer based in New York City.
It's Time to Tell the Truth: Israeli Journalist Gideon Levy Supports Ilhan Omar's Critique of Israel
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution Thursday condemning anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim discrimination, white supremacy and other forms of hate, following a week of debate among congressional Democrats. The controversy began after some lawmakers accused Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar of invoking anti-Semitic tropes while questioning U.S. foreign policy on Israel. The House leadership initially drafted a resolution condemning anti-Semitism in what was seen as a direct rebuke of Omar. But many progressive Democrats said Omar, one of the first two Muslim Congresswoman in U.S. history, was unfairly being singled out. The split within the Democratic Party forced the leadership to withdraw its initial resolution and then present a much broader one. Congressmember Ilhan Omar voted for and praised the new resolution in a joint statement with fellow Muslim lawmakers Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and André Carson of Indiana. We speak with Gideon Levy, Haaretz columnist and member of the newspaper's editorial board. His latest piece is headlined "Keep It Up, Ilhan Omar."
Ilhan Omar in Her Own Words: I Know What Hate Feels Like
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution Thursday condemning anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim discrimination, white supremacy and other forms of hate. The vote was 407 to 23, with nearly two dozen Republicans voting against it. The vote capped a week of intense debate among congressional Democrats that began after some lawmakers accused Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar of invoking anti-Semitic tropes while questioning U.S. foreign policy on Israel at an event last week. Omar said, "I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country." While the media has largely focused on this single sentence in her remarks, few have heard her broader comments. We hear from Ilhan Omar in her own words, speaking last week at Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C.
Headlines for March 8, 2019
Former Trump Campaign Chair Paul Manafort Sentenced to 47-Month Term, House Condemns Anti-Semitism and Bigotry Amid Debate over Ilhan Omar, Venezuelan President Maduro Blames U.S. Sabotage for Massive Blackout, Israel Bans Coalition of Arab Parties from April Election, France: Archbishop of Lyon Sentenced for Child Sexual Abuse Cover-Up, Greenland's Melt Is Accelerated by Rainfall, Even During Winter, Chelsea Manning Jailed for Contempt After Refusing to Testify on WikiLeaks, Sacramento, CA: Protests Continue over Killing of Stephon Clark, Florida: Ex-Cop Guilty in Shooting Death of Black Motorist, Boulder, CO: Cop Filmed Drawing Pistol on Black Man Cleaning His Yard, NYC Drops Rape Charges Against Ex-Cops Accused of Assaulting Woman in Custody, Erie, PA: Union Workers End Strike at Wabtec Locomotive Plant, El Salvador Court Frees 3 Women Convicted of Having Abortions, Spanish Women Strike as International Women's Day Marked Worldwide
U.S. Has Supplied UAE $27B in Arms Despite Nation's Links to Torture, Mercenaries & Child Soldiers
We look at how U.S. weapons are supporting the ongoing devastation in Yemen with William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy. He is the author of a new report about the role the United Arab Emirates has played in Yemen. It is titled "'Little Sparta': The United States-United Arab Emirates Alliance and the War in Yemen." We also speak with Ruhan Nagra, the executive director of the University Network for Human Rights, and Radhya Al-Mutawakel, chairperson of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights. They recently published an investigation into the role of U.S. and European bombs in civilian deaths in Yemen.
War Crimes in Yemen? U.S. & U.K. Arms Killed & Injured Nearly 1,000 Civilians in Saudi-Led Attack
As Yemen faces the world's worst humanitarian crisis, a major new report has been released documenting the role that the U.S. and Europe have played in the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the Saudi- and UAE-led war on Yemen. A group of organizations, including a Yemen-based human rights organization, released the damning report on Wednesday, claiming that between April 2015 and April 2018, 27 coalition attacks killed at least 203 civilians and injured at least 749 people. The report found that 22 of the attacks likely involved weapons produced in the United States. The other five attacks were carried out either with weapons produced in the United Kingdom or with parts produced in both the U.S. and the UK. We speak with Ruhan Nagra, the executive director of the University Network for Human Rights, and Radhya Al-Mutawakel, chairperson of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights. They are co-authors of "Day of Judgment: The Role of the US and Europe in Civilian Death, Destruction, and Trauma in Yemen."
Bacevich: Questioning U.S.-Israel Ties Has Long Been Impermissible in Congress, But That's Changing
House Democrats will vote today on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism. The resolution is seen as a direct rebuke of recent comments by Minnesota Congressmember Ilhan Omar questioning the U.S.'s relationship with Israel—even though the draft resolution does not explicitly name the freshman congressmember. The vote was indefinitely delayed Wednesday after a revolt from progressive Democrats, but House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer reportedly announced Thursday in a closed-door meeting that the vote would move forward. We speak with Andrew Bacevich, retired colonel and Vietnam War veteran, author and professor emeritus of international relations and history at Boston University.
Andrew Bacevich: The U.S.-Saudi Relationship Is a Principal Source of Instability in the Middle East
We look at a number of recent developments in U.S.-Saudi relations, a day after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for retired four-star general John Abizaid to become U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. On Monday, the Trump administration gave a private briefing to senators on the investigation into the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. Senators slammed the briefing for providing no new information. Meanwhile, The New York Times has revealed new details about the jailing and torture of a doctor with U.S. citizenship in Saudi Arabia. Walid Fitaihi is a Harvard-trained doctor who has been jailed without charge since 2017. We speak with Andrew Bacevich, a retired colonel and Vietnam War veteran, author and professor emeritus of international relations and history at Boston University, and William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy.
Headlines for March 7, 2019
DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Denies Migrants Are Held in Cages, ICE Kept "Anti-Trump Protest Spreadsheet" to Track NYC Activists, U.S. Kept Secret List of Journalists and Activists at Southern Border, Trump Ends Reporting Requirement of Civilian Deaths from U.S. Drones, Report Details U.S. Role in Civilian Deaths from Saudi-Led War in Yemen, Syria: Hundreds of ISIS Fighters Surrender to Kurdish Forces, Sen. Martha McSally Says She Was Raped by Superior in U.S. Air Force, Second Judge Blocks Trump Admin's Citizenship Question on 2020 Census, Michael Cohen to Congress: White House Lawyer Edited 2017 Testimony, NASA Plane Barred from Monitoring Pollution After Hurricane Harvey, Trump Administration Proposes Ending Protections for Gray Wolves, FDA Finds Asbestos in Cosmetics from Claire's and Justice Brands, R. Kelly Arrested for Failure to Pay $160,000 in Child Support, Mark Zuckerberg Claims Facebook Will Become "Privacy-Focused", Democrats Introduce Bill to Restore Net Neutrality, House Vote on Anti-Semitism Back on Amid Debate Over Rep. Ilhan Omar's Critique of Israel
Greg Grandin on "The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America"
As the Senate appears poised to pass a resolution to overturn President Trump’s national emergency declaration to build a wall along the southern border, we speak with historian Greg Grandin about his new book, “The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America.” Grandin writes in his book, "The wall might or might not be built. But even if it remains only in its phantasmagorical, budgetary stage, a perpetual negotiating chip between Congress and the White House, the promise of a two-thousand-mile-long, thirty-foot-high ribbon of concrete and steel running along the United States' southern border serves its purpose. It's America's new myth, a monument to the final closing of frontier. It's a symbol of a nation that used to believe that it had escaped history, or at least strode atop history, but now finds itself trapped by history, and of a people who used to think they were captains of the future, but now are prisoners of the past." Greg Grandin is a professor at New York University and a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
Jayapal: Democrats Are Ready to Issue Subpoenas If White House Blocks New Requests for Documents
The House Judiciary Committee launched a wide-ranging investigation Monday into President Trump, his businesses and his allies, as lawmakers probe possible obstruction of justice, corruption and other crimes and abuses of power. The committee requested documents from at least 81 people or groups, who now have a March 18 deadline to respond. The list includes his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, WikiLeaks, AMI chief David Pecker, the Department of Justice, the FBI, Trump's charities and the founder of private security firm Blackwater, Erik Prince—who is also the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. We speak with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who serves on the House Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Jayapal: We Must Protect Rep. Ilhan Omar's Right to Critique U.S. Foreign Policy on Israel
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats are expected to bring a resolution condemning anti-Semitism to a House vote this week in a direct rebuke of recent comments by Minnesota Congressmember Ilhan Omar questioning the U.S.'s relationship with Israel. After facing criticism, the Democratic leadership added language in the resolution condemning anti-Muslim bias, as well. We speak to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who says, "I just want to make sure that we are protecting the right for the first Muslim woman to be in Congress and to question, legitimately, foreign policy toward Israel."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal: Medicare for All Will Lower Costs & Expand Healthcare Coverage to Everyone
More than 100 Democratic lawmakers are co-sponsoring a new House bill to dramatically revamp healthcare in the United States by creating a Medicare-for-all system funded by the federal government. This comes at a time when as many as 30 million Americans have no health insurance and tens of millions more are either underinsured or struggling to pay their health insurance premiums. We speak with Democratic Congressmember Pramila Jayapal of Washington, who announced the bill last week.
Headlines for March 6, 2019
NY Regulators Probe Trump Org. Insurance Company, BLM Occupies Sacramento Police Dept. After Police Get Off for Killing Stephon Clark, Whistleblower: Chicago PD Tried to Falsify Report on Shooting of Unarmed Black Teen, House Updates Anti-Semitism Resolution to Include Islamophobia, Alabama Tornado Kills At Least 23, 8 Still Missing, U.K. Labour Leader Calls for End to Israeli Arms Sales, Egypt: Noted Photojournalist Shawkan Released After 5 Years in Jail, White House Rejects Dems' Request for Security Clearance Info, CNN: Trump Pressured Staff to Grant Security Clearance for Ivanka, GOP Senators Confirm 37-Year-Old Judge with Anti-LGBT History, JPMorgan Chase to Stop Serving Private Prisons, Students Protest Yale's Investments in Fossil Fuels, Puerto Rican Debt, Hampshire College Students Stage Sit-In in Face of Closure Threat
"How to Hide an Empire": Daniel Immerwahr on the History of the Greater United States
"How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States." That's the title of a new book examining a part of the U.S. that is often overlooked: the nation's overseas territories from Puerto Rico to Guam, former territories like the Philippines, and its hundreds of military bases scattered across the globe. We speak with the book's author, Daniel Immerwahr, who writes, "At various times, the inhabitants of the U.S. Empire have been shot, shelled, starved, interned, dispossessed, tortured and experimented on. What they haven't been, by and large, is seen." Immerwahr is an associate professor of history at Northwestern University.
Inside the Secretive U.S. Air War in Somalia: How Many Civilians Have Died as Strikes Escalate?
The Trump administration is rapidly escalating a secretive air war in Somalia. According to the think tank New America, at least 252 people have been killed in around two dozen U.S. airstrikes in Somalia so far this year. The U.S. has already carried out more strikes in Somalia in 2019 than in any single year under President Obama. In addition to the air war, the Pentagon reportedly has about 500 U.S. troops on the ground in Somalia, including many special operations forces. For years, the U.S. has attempted to aid the Somali government by targeting members of al-Shabab, but the effort has increased dramatically under Trump, and it has come with little congressional oversight or media attention. We speak with Amanda Sperber, a freelance journalist who reports from Nairobi, Kenya, and Mogadishu, Somalia. Her new article for The Nation is titled "Inside the Secretive US Air Campaign in Somalia."
Headlines for March 5, 2019
Judiciary Committee Launches Probe into 81 Trump Associates and Groups, New Yorker Report Details Trump's Deep Ties to Fox News, Groundwater in 39 States Contaminated by Coal Ash Waste, Dem Leaders Rebuke Alleged Anti-Semitic Remarks by Rep. Omar, U.S. Closes Jerusalem Consulate, Rights Groups Say Jailed Saudi Women Activists Tortured, Sexually Assaulted, Report: Khashoggi's Body Was Burned in Oven at Saudi Diplomat's Home, NYT: Detained U.S. Citizen Allegedly Tortured in Saudi Custody, South Korea Calls for Resumption of Talks Between Trump and Kim, North Carolina Reschedules 9th District Election After Voter Fraud Scandal, Outrage After Photos of Orange County Teens Doing Nazi Salute Go Viral, ICE Releases 15 Babies from Texas Immigration Jail, 21 States Sue Trump Admin over Abortion Gag Order, NYC: Immigration Activist Okoumou Put Under House Arrest over Protests
The Infiltrators: How Undocumented Activists Snuck Into Immigration Jail to Fight Deportations
An immigrant rights activist has been detained in Florida just weeks after he appeared in an acclaimed film at the Sundance Film Festival about activists infiltrating and exposing for-profit immigrant detention jails. Claudio Rojas was apprehended on Wednesday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after an annual check-in and is now being held at Krome Detention Center, where he faces immediate deportation. His lawyer says his arrest is linked to the film featuring his activism. It's called "The Infiltrators." The gripping hybrid documentary/dramatic feature was a smash success at Sundance and will play at the Miami Film Festival Tuesday. But Claudio Rojas will not be there to see it. "The Infiltrators" is based on the incredible true story of undocumented immigrants who purposely got themselves arrested by federal authorities in order to infiltrate the Broward Transitional Center in Florida and organize the detainees within its walls. Democracy Now! spoke with the film's co-director, Alex Rivera, and two activists featured in the film, Viridiana Martinez and Mohammad Abdollahi, at the Sundance Film Festival.
It Is Time to Indict Israel: Norman Finkelstein on Growing Push for ICC to File War Crimes Charges
Israeli forces have killed 183 Palestinians since weekly Great March of Return demonstrations began in Gaza nearly a year ago targeting Israel's heavily militarized separation barrier. That's according to a new United Nations inquiry that found Israeli forces may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity by targeting unarmed children, journalists and the disabled in Gaza. The report was released by the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday. We speak with Norman Finkelstein, scholar and author of "Gaza: An Inquest into Its Martyrdom," and Sara Hossain, a member of the U.N. independent commission that led the Gaza investigation.
U.N. Finds Israel Intentionally Shot Children, Journalists & the Disabled During Gaza Protests
A United Nations inquiry has found Israeli forces may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity by targeting unarmed children, journalists and the disabled in Gaza. The report, released by the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday, looked at Israel's bloody response to weekly Great March of Return demonstrations, launched by Palestinians in Gaza nearly a year ago, targeting Israel's heavily militarized separation barrier. The report found Israeli forces have killed 183 Palestinians—almost all of them with live ammunition. The dead included 35 children. Twenty-three thousand people were injured, including over 6,000 shot by live ammunition. We speak with Sara Hossain, a member of the U.N. independent commission that led the Gaza investigation.
Headlines for March 4, 2019
House Dems to Probe Trump's Allies, DOJ in Wake of Cohen Testimony, Sen. Rand Paul Likely to Oppose Nat'l Emergency in Decisive Vote, Deported Central American Parents Seek Reunification with Children, W. Virginia GOP Under Fire After Poster Linking Rep. Omar to 9/11 Causes Outrage, U.S. and South Korea Roll Back Joint Military Exercises, Shelling in Kashmir Kills 7 as Pakistan & India Appear to Ease Tensions, Israeli Forces Kill 2 Palestinians After Reported Car Ramming, Venezuelan Opposition Leader Guaidó Set to Return to Country, Algeria: Pres. Says He Will Not Serve Full Term, If Elected, as Protests Continue, Oakland: Teachers Reach Deal to End Strike, Increase Pay by 11%, Sacramento DA: No Charges for Officers Who Killed Stephon Clark, Bernie Sanders Kicks Off 2020 Run in Brooklyn, New York, Ex-Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper Announces 2020 Presidential Bid
Age of Surveillance Capitalism: "We Thought We Were Searching Google, But Google Was Searching Us"
Corporations have created a new kind of marketplace out of our private human experiences. That is the conclusion of an explosive new book that argues big tech platforms like Facebook and Google are elephant poachers, and our personal data is ivory tusks. Author Shoshana Zuboff writes in "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power": "At its core, surveillance capitalism is parasitic and self-referential. It revives Karl Marx's old image of capitalism as a vampire that feeds on labor, but with an unexpected turn. Instead of labor, surveillance capitalism feeds on every aspect of every human's experience."
Meet the Kids Who Confronted Sen. Feinstein: We're the Ones Who Will Have to Live with It
Youth climate activists as young as 7 years old confronted California Senator Dianne Feinstein last week in San Francisco, demanding she sign on to the Green New Deal. We speak with 12-year-old Rio and his sister, 10-year-old Magdalena, who were among the protesters who spoke to Senator Feinstein. They are members of Earth Guardians San Francisco Bay Area Crew.
Teen Climate Activist to Sen. Dianne Feinstein: We Need the Green New Deal to Prevent the Apocalypse
"We're the ones affected." Those are the words of youth climate activists who confronted California Senator Dianne Feinstein last week in San Francisco, demanding she sign on to the Green New Deal. In a video of the interaction that has since been seen across the country, Feinstein dismissed the children—some as young as 7 years old—asking her to take bold action on climate change. We speak with the youth climate activists who confronted the senator: 16-year-old Isha Clarke, 12-year-old Rio and his 10-year-old sister Magdalena.
Activist Faces Prison for Climbing Statue of Liberty & Southwest Key HQ to Protest Family Separation
Last week, immigrant activist Patricia Okoumou climbed the Southwest Key building in Austin, Texas, to protest the company jailing immigrant children. Now a judge in New York will decide whether to revoke her bail from her first arrest, when she climbed the Statue of Liberty on July 4 to protest President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy. Okoumou was with the group Rise and Resist on July 4 last year as they dropped a banner from the statute that read "ABOLISH ICE." She broke away from the group and climbed all the way to Lady Liberty's left foot, where she continued to protest and refused to leave until she was arrested. She has since pleaded not guilty to trespassing, interference with government agency functions and disorderly conduct. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 19, but prosecutors claim her latest protest was a violation of the terms of her bond, and she has been ordered back to court today. She joins us just hours before her appearance.
Headlines for March 1, 2019
U.N. Human Rights Panel: Israel May Have Committed War Crimes in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Be Indicted on Corruption Charges, NYT: Trump Intervened to Give Security Clearance to Jared Kushner, In Peace Talks with Taliban, U.S. Floats Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal, Somalia: At Least 15 Dead in Twin Suicide Bombings, North Korea Disputes Trump's Account of Why Kim-Trump Summit Failed, Immigrant Groups Cite "Alarming Increase" in Babies Jailed by ICE, House Approves Bill to Extend Gun Purchase Waiting Period, Lawmakers Seek Interview of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, Virginia's First Lady Apologizes for Handing Cotton to Black Students, Ex-Coal Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler Confirmed as EPA Administrator, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to Make Climate Change Centerpiece of Presidential Run, Swedish Teen Greta Thunberg Leads Belgian School Strike for Climate
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Grills Michael Cohen, Laying Out Plan to Probe More Trump Crimes
Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned Michael Cohen about President Trump's shady tax dealings at Wednesday's hearing, presenting a roadmap for investigators to look further into Trump's crimes. We speak with independent journalist Marcy Wheeler, who says, "In five minutes, this freshman congresswoman just laid out a whole investigative plan for three more topics into Donald Trump's potentially criminal activities." Wheeler covers national security and civil liberties on her website EmptyWheel.net.
A Criminal in the Oval Office? Michael Cohen Accuses Trump of Lying, Racism & Illegal Activity
In an explosive 5-hour hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday, President Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen accused his old boss of committing multiple criminal acts before and during his presidency. Cohen provided evidence that Trump had violated campaign finance laws by paying hush money to women, accused the Trump Foundation of committing fraud by using the tax-exempt organization for personal purposes, and said Trump lied when he said he couldn't release his tax returns because they were being audited. He also claimed that Trump had advance knowledge that WikiLeaks was preparing to publish a trove of emails to hurt Hillary Clinton's campaign in the run-up to the 2016 election. Cohen confirmed the president repeatedly checked in about the status of a proposed Trump Tower Moscow project well into the 2016 campaign, despite public claims to the contrary. But he said he had seen no direct evidence that Trump had colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign. The testimony came two months before Cohen is scheduled to begin a 3-year prison sentence for lying to Congress, a series of financial crimes and campaign violations. We speak with Marcy Wheeler, an independent journalist who covers national security and civil liberties. She runs the website EmptyWheel.net.
"The Korean People Want Peace": Christine Ahn on Trump Walking Away from N. Korea Nuclear Talks
A historic summit to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula ended without an agreement Thursday, after talks between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fell apart. Their second summit meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, failed after Kim Jong-un demanded that the U.S. lift all sanctions on North Korea in exchange for dismantling the Yongbyon enrichment facility—an important North Korean nuclear site. We speak with Christine Ahn, founder and executive director of Women Cross DMZ, a global movement of women mobilizing to end the Korean War.
Headlines for February 28, 2019
Trump Walks Away from Summit as North Korea Demands End to Sanctions, Michael Cohen Tells Congress Trump Committed Multiple Criminal Acts, Pakistan to Return Downed Fighter Pilot Amid Tensions with India, Russia Developing New Missiles as U.S. Withdraws from INF Treaty, Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó Meets Brazil's Bolsonaro, No Mention of Yemen or Khashoggi Murder as Jared Kushner Meets Saudi Prince, State Department Will Not Intervene in Saudi Hit-and-Run Murder Case, House Passes Bill to Toughen Background Checks for Gun Buyers, House Democrats Unveil Medicare-for-All Legislation, North Carolina: GOP Consultant Arrested over Voter Fraud Scheme, Texas: Judge Blocks Purge of Naturalized Citizens from Voter Rolls, Senate to Vote on Confirmation of Andrew Wheeler as EPA Chief, London: 9 "Extinction Rebellion" Activists Arrested at Oil Conference
Disarmament Expert on N. Korea Summit: An International Process Is Needed to Reduce Nuclear Threat
President Trump is meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un today in Vietnam in their second summit to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We speak with physicist, nuclear expert and disarmament activist Zia Mian. He is co-director of the Program on Science and Global Security at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University. He is the co-author of "Unmaking the Bomb: A Fissile Material Approach to Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation."
dream hampton on Making "Surviving R. Kelly" & the Grassroots Activists That Helped Bring Him Down
R. Kelly was released from jail in Chicago on Monday, three days after he was arrested and charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. The charges involve four women and girls, three of whom were under the age of 17 at the time of the alleged crimes. A judge set bail at a million dollars and forced the singer to surrender his passport. Almost immediately after he posted bond and pleaded not guilty on Monday, Kelly was spotted at a McDonald's in downtown Chicago—a spot his accusers say he used to frequent to prey on young girls. Kelly has been accused of abuse, predatory behavior and pedophilia throughout his career but has avoided criminal conviction despite damning evidence and multiple witnesses. Last month, the explosive documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly" thrust the case back into the spotlight. We speak with the documentary's executive producer, dream hampton.
CodePink's Medea Benjamin on Peace Delegation to Iran & Fallout from U.S. Withdrawal of Nuke Deal
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is reportedly refusing to accept the resignation of his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who quit suddenly in a surprise move announced via Instagram Monday. Zarif played a central role in the negotiations leading to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Last year, President Trump withdrew from the landmark deal despite international condemnation of the move and U.N. inspectors saying Iran was adhering to the agreement. Zarif did not offer any reason for his resignation, simply writing, "I sincerely apologize for the inability to continue serving and for all the shortcomings during my service." We speak with Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink and author of several books, including "Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran." She met with Zarif in Tehran just hours before he announced his resignation. We also speak with physicist, nuclear expert and disarmament activist Zia Mian. He is co-director of the Program on Science and Global Security at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University.
As India and Pakistan Issue Veiled Nuclear Threats, New Ceasefire Urged to Defuse Kashmir Conflict
Tensions are escalating between the nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. Pakistan claims it has shot down two Indian military jets and captured a pair of Indian jet pilots, and India claims it has foiled an attempt by Pakistan to bomb military installations inside India. This comes a day after India carried out airstrikes inside Pakistan for the first time since 1971. India claimed it was targeting a camp of the militant separatist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, which claimed responsibility for a recent attack in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir that killed more than 40 Indian soldiers. India accused Pakistan of being directly involved in plotting the bombing. Pakistan denied the claim. Meanwhile, there are reports that Pakistani and Indian ground forces have exchanged gunfire in more than a dozen locations. We speak with physicist, nuclear expert and disarmament activist Zia Mian. He is co-director of the Program on Science and Global Security at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University. He is the co-author of "Unmaking the Bomb: A Fissile Material Approach to Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation."
Headlines for February 27, 2019
Michael Cohen to Testify to Congress as Explosive Accusations Against Trump Revealed, Trump & Kim Meet as Vietnam Summit Overshadowed by Cohen Hearing, India & Pakistan Ratchet Up Attacks as Fear of Nuclear Showdown Grows, House Votes to Block Trump National Emergency Declaration, Trump Official Admits He Ignored Warnings on Risks of Family Separation, Thousands of Migrant Minors Reported Sexual Abuse While in Gov't Custody, Honduran Woman Gives Birth to Stillborn While Detained by ICE, Dems Introduce New Voting Rights Legislation, House Bill Protects Over 1 Million Acres of Wilderness, Creates New Nat'l Sites, Ohio Voters Win Legal Protections for Lake Erie, Chicago Will Elect Its 1st Black Woman Mayor as Race Heads to Runoff, NYC: Voters Elect Jumaane Williams as New Public Advocate, Locomotive Workers Strike After Massive Merger Threatens Contracts, Oakland Teachers Enter 5th Day of Strike, United Methodist Church Reaffirms Ban on Same-Sex Marriage & Gay Clergy, Noted Disability Rights Activist Dies After Being Denied Medication
Incarceration Is a Deadly Health Risk: Former Chief Medical Officer of NYC Jails Speaks Out
The former chief medical officer of New York City jails has just published a remarkable new book about the health risks of incarceration. The book is titled "Life and Death in Rikers Island." Dr. Homer Venters offers unprecedented insight into what happens inside prison walls to create new health risks for incarcerated men and women, including neglect, blocked access to care, physical and sexual violence, and brutality by corrections officers. Venters further reveals that when prisoners become ill, are injured or even die in custody, the facts of the incident are often obscured. We speak to Dr. Venters and Jennifer Gonnerman, staff writer for The New Yorker magazine.
U.S. Accused of Trying to Unconstitutionally Strip Citizenship of U.S.-Born Woman Who Joined ISIS
With the self-proclaimed Islamic State on the verge of losing its last area of control in Syria, nations around the world are debating what do with the men and women who joined ISIS but now want to return home. Here in the United States, the debate centers on a 24-year-old U.S.-born woman who left her family in Alabama in 2014 and moved to Syria, where she lived in the ISIS-controlled caliphate. While in Syria, Hoda Muthana married a series of ISIS fighters, all of whom died in battle. Now she is living in a refugee camp in Syria with her 18-month-old son but is seeking to return to the United States, setting off a constitutional debate. Last week, President Trump tweeted, "I have instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and he fully agrees, not to allow Hoda Muthana back into the Country!" The Trump administration is claiming Muthana is not a U.S. citizen, even though she was born in the United States and has been issued U.S. passports. We speak to her family's attorney, Charlie Swift, the director of the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America.
Headlines for February 26, 2019
India Launches Airstrikes in Pakistan Amid Mounting Tension, U.S. Announces New Sanctions on Venezuela as Lima Group Opposes Military Intervention, Univision Reporter Jorge Ramos Briefly Detained in Venezuela, Trump and Kim to Meet in Vietnam for 2nd North Korean Summit, Reports: Michael Cohen to Accuse Trump of Criminal Conduct in Congressional Hearing, Climate Change May Cause Cloud Die-Off, Increase Rate of Warming, U.K.: Corbyn Could Back 2nd Referendum as Brexit Deadline Looms, U.N. Court: U.K. Should Give Up Control of Chagos, U.N.: Sec.-General Warns Against Collapse of Arms Control Treaties, Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Resigns, Somalia: U.S. Military Says Airstrike Kills 35 al-Shabab Fighters, Algeria: Popular Protests Call for End to Ailing President's Rule, Cubans Ratify New Constitution Reaffirming Socialism as "Irrevocable", Japan: Okinawans Reject Relocation of U.S. Base in Referendum, Guatemala Bill Could Free Perpetrators of Genocide, Torture, Australian Cardinal Pell Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Boys, Ex-Trump Staffer Accuses Him of Forcibly Kissing Her, Climate Activists Stage Protest at Sen. McConnell's Office
The Coup Has Failed & Now the U.S. Is Looking to Wage War: Venezuelan Foreign Minister Speaks Out
Venezuela's opposition is calling on the United States and allied nations to consider using military force to topple the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is heading to Bogotá, Colombia, today to meet with regional leaders and Venezuela's self-proclaimed president, opposition leader Juan Guaidó. The meeting follows a dramatic weekend that saw the Venezuelan military blocking the delivery of so-called humanitarian aid from entering the country at the Colombian and Brazilian borders. At least four people died, and hundreds were injured, after clashes broke out between forces loyal to Maduro and supporters of the opposition. The United Nations, the Red Cross and other relief organizations have refused to work with the U.S. on delivering aid to Venezuela, which they say is politically motivated. Venezuela has allowed aid to be flown in from Russia and from some international organizations, but it has refused to allow in aid from the United States, describing it as a Trojan horse for an eventual U.S. invasion. On Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Maduro's days in office are numbered. We speak with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who has recently held secret talks with Trump's special envoy Elliott Abrams.
Headlines for February 25, 2019
Venezuela: 4 Dead as Violence Spikes Over "Aid" Standoff, U.S. Ratchets Up Threats Against Venezuelan Government, New Yorkers Protest Against U.S. Intervention in Venezuela, Trump Moves to Withdraw Funds, Impose Gag Order on Abortion Providers, Trump and Kim Jong-un to Meet in Vietnam for 2nd Summit, Michael Cohen to Testify Before Congress, Congress Expected to Subpoena Trump Admin over Family Separation, House Dems to Vote on Bill Blocking Nat'l Emergency Declaration, Sudan: President Declares State of Emergency Amid Ongoing Protests, Nigeria: Scores Killed in Election Violence, U.N.: Record Number of Civilians Killed in Afghanistan in 2018, Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill Teenager at Weekly Protest, Israel: Netanyahu Allies with Far-Right, Racist Group, Trump Announces Delay of Tariff Hike on Chinese Goods, Sen. Feinstein Dismisses Youth Activists' Call for Green New Deal, Trump to Nominate GOP Donor Kelly Knight Craft as Ambassador to U.N., R. Kelly Charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Charged in Sex Trafficking Sting, Sen. Warren Says She Will Not Accept Donations for Access, Oscars Celebrates Firsts for Diverse Filmmakers, Spike Lee Tells Viewers to Vote in 2020, Boots Riley Calls Out U.S. Intervention in Venezuela at Spirit Awards
“The Green Book: Guide to Freedom”: How African Americans Safely Navigated Jim Crow America
The Academy Awards take place this weekend, and one of the top contenders is the movie "Green Book," which has renewed interest in the history of "The Negro Motorist Green Book." So today we look at a remarkable new documentary called "The Green Book: Guide to Freedom," that offers a real look at the history of a travel guide that helped African Americans safely navigate Jim Crow America. The film premieres Monday on the Smithsonian Channel and details the violence, insults and discrimination black travelers faced on the road, as well as the pride and sense of community they felt in the safe spaces they created around the country, in the form of restaurants, hotels and vacation retreats. We feature excerpts and speak with writer and director Yoruba Richen, professor in the documentary program in the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.
This Is Not Humanitarian Aid: A Maduro Critic in Venezuela Slams U.S. Plan to Push Regime Change
We go to Caracas, Venezuela, for an update on the escalating standoff between President Nicolás Maduro and opposition leader and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaidó. Guaidó claims he is preparing to deliver humanitarian aid from the Colombian border Saturday. Maduro has rejected the plan, saying the effort is part of a broader attempt to overthrow his regime. This comes as Trump's special envoy to Venezuela and right-wing hawk, Elliott Abrams, is leading a U.S. delegation traveling by military aircraft to the Colombian border, supposedly to help deliver the aid. The United Nations, the Red Cross and other relief organizations have refused to work with the U.S. on delivering that aid to Venezuela, which they say is politically motivated. We speak with Venezuelan sociologist Edgardo Lander, a member of the Citizen's Platform in Defense of the Constitution. "This certainly is not humanitarian aid, and it's not oriented with any humanitarian aims," Lander says. "This is clearly a coup carried out by the United States government with its allies, with the Lima Group and the extreme right wing in Venezuela."
Headlines for February 22, 2019
North Carolina Orders New Congressional Election Due to GOP Voting Fraud, Oakland Teachers' Strike Enters Second Day, Judge: Alex Acosta Broke Law in 2008 over Sex Abuser Jeffrey Epstein Plea Deal, Elliott Abrams Heads to Colombia as Tension Mounts on Venezuelan Border, CodePink's Medea Benjamin Disrupts Venezuelan Opposition Event in D.C., U.S. to Keep 200 Troops in Syria Despite Trump Withdrawal Pledge, Vatican Hosts Historic Summit on Clerical Sex Abuse, White Nationalist Coast Guard Lieutenant Used Work Computer to Research Mass Killings, Record Number of Hate Groups Reported in U.S., Prosecutors Drop Criminal Charges for Four No More Deaths Volunteers, Judge Places Gag Order on Roger Stone over Instagram Post, U.S. Banks Made $28 Billion in Additional Profit, Thanks to Trump Tax Code, Pharmaceutical Firm Defends Charging $375,000 for a Medication Once Given Away for Free, Thousands Rally in Spain to Protest Trial of Catalan Separatist Leaders, Nicaragua: Ortega Vows to Reopen Talks as Opposition Demands Prisoner Release, Suspected U.S. Mercenaries Leave Haiti Days After Being Held on Weapons Charges
The Uninhabitable Earth: Unflinching New Book Lays Out Dire Consequences of Climate Chaos
"It is worse, much worse, than you think." That's the opening line of a damning new book by journalist David Wallace-Wells that offers an unflinching look at the growing climate catastrophe. "The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming" sounds the alarm about the climate crisis and the need for swift and radical action to save the planet from unimaginable destruction. We speak to Wallace-Wells about the rapid heating of the planet, which he says could reach more than 4 degrees Celsius by 2100.
Climate Denier to Head New Trump Panel Despite Once Comparing Climate Scientists to Nazis
The White House is reportedly organizing a new committee to examine whether climate change poses a threat to national security, to be led by notorious climate change denier, Princeton University professor emeritus William Happer. Observers say his involvement in the "Presidential Committee on Climate Security" indicates the Trump administration wants to undermine findings within the national security community that climate change poses a severe threat to human safety. William Happer is a National Security Council senior director who has long claimed increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will actually benefit humans. He has compared the fight against climate change to the Holocaust, saying, "The demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler." We speak with journalist David Wallace-Wells, deputy editor and climate columnist for New York magazine. His new book is titled "The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming."
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