Democracy Now!

Harvard professor Cornel West joins us from Detroit, where he attended both nights of the Democratic debate. He talks about the troubling legacy of the Obama administration and why he is supporting Bernie Sanders again for president.

Immigration rights activists abruptly interrupted Joe Biden during last night's debate, chanting "3 million deportations!"—referring to the Obama administration's deportation of at least 3 million undocumented people. During the debate, Julián Castro repeatedly challenged Biden's record on immigration. "It looks like one of us has learned the lessons of the past and one of us hasn't," Castro said. We speak to Dolores Huerta and Cornel West.

In one of the most heated exchanges of the debate, Senator Cory Booker criticized Joe Biden's role in backing several key crime bills during his time in the Senate. Biden fought back, attacking Booker's record as mayor of Newark, New Jersey.

During Wednesday's debate, Hawaii Congressmember Tulsi Gabbard confronted California Senator Kamala Harris about her record as California attorney general. Gabbard accused Harris of blocking evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row—until the courts forced her to do so. Harris defended her record, saying she significantly reformed the criminal justice system. We speak to Dolores Huerta and Cornel West.

Ten presidential hopefuls took the stage Wednesday evening for the second night of a Democratic debate in Detroit. During the night, former Vice President Joe Biden defended his record after facing numerous attacks on his record on criminal justice, the Iraq War, immigration and women's rights. Senator Kamala Harris also faced criticism over her record as California attorney general. We speak to the legendary labor leader Dolores Huerta, who is co-chair of Kamala Harris's campaign, and Harvard professor Cornel West, who has endorsed Bernie Sanders.

Presidential Hopefuls Take Aim at Joe Biden During Second Night of Debates, Protesters Confront Joe Biden over Immigration Record, Protesters Confront NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio over Eric Garner's Death, NY Medical Examiner: Layleen Polanco Died of Epilepsy in Solitary Cell, U.N. Warns 21st Century's Worst Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in Syria, Trump Administration Sanctions Iran's Foreign Minister, Sudan Schools Closed After Soldiers Massacre Students, Greenland Ice Melts at Rapid Pace as Temperatures Climb 30 Degrees Above Normal, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Promotes Climate Justice Proposal, 66 Seek Medical Care After Explosion at Texas ExxonMobil Refinery , Trump Attacks Fed Chair Jerome Powell After Interest Rate Cut, Trump Rescinds Medals for Naval Lawyers Who Prosecuted War Crimes, Disgraced Puerto Rican Governor Rosselló Nominates Successor

While most of Tuesday's debate focused on domestic issues, Democratic candidates were briefly asked about nuclear weapons policy and the war in Afghanistan. Senator Elizabeth Warren defended her "no first use" policy on nuclear weapons, despite criticism from Montana Governor Steve Bullock. Meanwhile, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper sparred on whether the U.S. should withdraw from Afghanistan after 18 years of war.

Democratic candidates also sparred on immigration policy, from decriminalizing border crossing to providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants. We hear excerpts of Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as well as Montana Governor Steve Bullock. Plus we speak to Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer for RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.

Democratic candidates also spoke on race and white supremacy, with Senator Elizabeth Warren arguing that the United States needs "to call out white supremacy for what it is: domestic terrorism." Marianne Williamson of California brought up the Flint water crisis and highlighted environmental racism saying, "We have communities, particularly communities of color and disadvantaged communities, all over this country who are suffering from environmental injustice." We speak with Mehdi Hasan, columnist for The Intercept and host of its "Deconstructed" podcast. He's also host of "UpFront" at Al Jazeera English.

Ten Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday night for the first of a two-night debate hosted by CNN. The debate began with an extended discussion on healthcare, where progressive candidates Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren defended their platforms of Medicare for all against more moderate candidates who argued this stance is political suicide. We speak with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, former Michigan gubernatorial candidate.

Sens. Sanders and Warren Tout Progressive Vision for 2020 as 2nd Democratic Debate Kicks Off, Detroit Activists Call on 2020 Dems to Tackle Pollution, Implement Green New Deal, North Korea Launches 2nd Ballistic Missile Test in Under a Week, 130 Hunger-Striking Prisoners in Egypt Decry Inhumane Treatment, Senators Question DOD Nominee John Hyten over Sexual Assault Accusations, Virginia Delegate Protests Trump Speech: "You Can't Send Us Back!", House Report Says Trump Adviser Ran Campaign Speech by UAE, Saudi Officials, California Bill Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose 5 Years of Tax Returns, 2 Chicago Mothers Who Fought Against Gun Violence Shot Dead, Melinda Katz Declared Winner of Queens DA Race, But Insurgent Tiffany Cabán Says "It's Not Over", Kentucky Miners Block Coal Train After Being Denied Paychecks, Seesaw Installation on U.S.-Mexico Border Highlights Human Toll of Immigration Policies

A 44-year-old immigrant from Mexico died last week at Stewart Detention Center, one of the largest immigration jails in the United States and one that has been plagued by allegations of neglect and abuse for years. Pedro Arriago-Santoya was the fourth person to die at Stewart in just two years and the seventh person to die while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement since October. An immigration judge had ordered Arriago-Santoya be deported in June. Instead, he was transferred to Stewart on July 10 as his removal proceedings continued. Two weeks later he was pronounced dead at a Georgia hospital. He had complained of abdominal pain and later went into cardiac arrest. Between May 2017 and July 2018, three immigrants died while detained at Stewart—a private immigration jail owned by the megacorporation CoreCivic. We speak with Azadeh Shahshahani, legal and advocacy director at Project South and the former president of the National Lawyers Guild.

New government data in Brazil shows that deforestation in the Amazon has dramatically increased since the far-right former military officer Jair Bolsonaro became president in January. Brazil has lost more than 1,300 square miles of forest cover this year, and the pace of deforestation is increasing. One report claims that the equivalent of three soccer fields are being deforested every minute in the Amazon. In June, deforestation increased by 88% over the same month last year. The drastic spike is due to Bolsonaro's rolling back of regulations and allowing illegal land invasions, logging and burning. Climate scientists say the protection of the Amazon rainforest is crucial in the global effort to fight climate change. Meanwhile, residents of a remote indigenous village in the Amazon say at least 10 heavily armed gold miners in military uniforms raided their community last week, stabbing Wajapi tribe leader Emyra Wajapi to death. We speak to Carlos Rittl, executive secretary of Climate Observatory, a network of Brazilian civil society organizations.

Protests are continuing in Puerto Rico days after mass demonstrations forced Governor Ricardo Rosselló to step down. It marked the first time in Puerto Rico's history that protests have toppled a sitting governor. Rosselló's last day in office is this Friday, but it remains unclear who will take his place. Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez first said she had no interest in being governor; however, on Monday, Vázquez's spokesperson did not rule out her becoming governor. On Monday, protesters gathered outside Vázquez's office calling for her to resign as justice secretary. The ongoing protests in Puerto Rico come as concern is growing that the political turmoil could lead to the Financial Oversight and Management Board seizing more power. We speak with Manuel Natal, an independent member of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and a member of the grassroots organization Victoria Ciudadana.

Gilroy, CA Shooter Touted White Supremacist Text, Posted Racist Content Before Massacre, Trump Renews Attacks on Rep. Cummings, Lashes Out at Al Sharpton, Senate Fails to Override Trump Vetoes on Bills Blocking Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, Saudi Air Raids Kill At Least 10 in Northern Yemen, 5 Teenage Students Killed by Security Forces in Sudan, Brazil: At Least 57 Killed in Prison Riot, 164 Environmental Activists Killed in 2018, Indigenous Activists Protest Real Estate Development in New Zealand, Greenland's Ice Sheet at Risk of Record Melting, CNN and MSNBC to Host Climate Crisis-Centered Events, Kamala Harris Releases Healthcare Plan Calling for Privatization of Medicare, Julián Castro Introduces "People First Indigenous Communities" Plan, Philadelphia's Hahnemann Hospital to Shutter as Critics Decry Greed at Heart of Its Sale, Capital One Data Breach Affected 100 Million Customers, Exposed 140,000 Social Sec. Numbers, Trump Signs 9/11 Compensation Bill After Extensive Lobbying by First Responders, Ethiopia Plants 350 Million Trees to Combat Climate Crisis

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on Friday in more than 50 cities and towns across Colombia to protest a surge of lethal attacks on indigenous, Afro-Colombian and environmental leaders in recent years. Solidarity marches were held in dozens of cities around the world, from Mexico City to Athens. In 2016, the Colombian government and FARC rebels signed a historic peace accord to move the country forward after a half-century of armed conflict. But since then, nearly 500 human rights activists, many from the Afro-Colombian community, have been killed, targeted for their work combating illegal mining, drug trafficking, and land restitution and environmental causes. Friday's protests came after a heartbreaking video went viral showing the child of renowned community activist, María del Pilar Hurtado, screaming and crying after witnessing a gunman shoot down his mother. We speak with Luis Gilberto Murillo, former governor of the Colombian department of Chocó and former Colombian minister of environment and sustainable development.

Police in Moscow used violent force to stop an opposition protest on Saturday, arresting nearly 1,400 people in what's been described as the largest mass arrest in Russia in a decade. Meanwhile, Alexei Navalny—one of Russia's most prominent opposition figures—has been hospitalized after suffering an acute allergic reaction in jail. Navalny's doctor said he may have been exposed to "some toxic agent." Saturday's protest was organized to denounce the recent barring of opposition candidates from running in an upcoming election for Moscow City Council. We speak with Samuel Greene, director of the Russia Institute at King's College London, where he teaches Russian politics. He lived and worked in Moscow for 13 years and co-authored the new book, "Putin v. the People: The Perilous Politics of a Divided Russia." He is also the author of "Moscow in Movement: Power and Opposition in Putin's Russia."

President Trump is facing widespread outrage after describing Baltimore as a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess" in tweets attacking Congressmember Elijah Cummings, one of the most prominent African-American lawmakers in Washington. Trump tweeted that Cummings's district is "considered the Worst in the USA," and said "no human being would want to live there." Trump's initial tweets came after Fox News ran a story about Baltimore and after Cummings criticized the conditions of immigration jails along the Mexican border. Officials across Baltimore and Maryland denounced the president's remarks, and The Baltimore Sun responded by publishing an editorial titled "Better to have a few rats than to be one." We speak with Kaye Wise Whitehead, associate professor of communication and African and African American studies at Loyola University Maryland and host of a local radio show in Baltimore, and Dayvon Love, director of public policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle.

Baltimore Pushes Back After Trump Calls City "Rodent Infested Mess" and Attacks Rep. Cummings, Gunman Kills 3, Injures 15 at Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California, Shooting at Brownsville, Brooklyn, Block Party Kills 1, Injures 11, SCOTUS OKs Trump Plan to Use Military Funds for Border Wall, U.S. and Guatemala Sign Controversial Immigration Deal Despite Widespread Opposition, Dir. of National Intelligence Dan Coats Resigns, Brazilian President Bolsonaro Threatens Glenn Greenwald with Imprisonment, Miners Raid Tribe in Brazil, Killing Leader as Amazon Suffers Mass Deforestation by Illegal Loggers, Russian Police Crack Down on Protests as Alexei Navalny Suffers Possible Poisoning Behind Bars, Massive Hong Kong Protests Continue to Demand Democratic Reforms, Bomb Attack Targeting Pres. Ghani's Running Mate Kills 20 People in Afghanistan, Libya: 5 Medical Workers Killed at Hospital Near Tripoli, Activists, Human Rights Groups Protest Bahrain's Execution of 2 Men, DOJ Approves T-Mobile and Sprint Merger, Judiciary Chair Nadler Seeking Mueller's Grand Jury Materials as Dems Consider Impeachment, Colombians Protest Murders of Indigenous and Environmental Leaders, Egan Bernal First Colombian and Youngest Cyclist to Win Tour de France

Chinese authorities have been accused of systematically separating Muslim children from their families in the far western region of Xinjiang. According to a new report commissioned by the BBC, China is rushing to build boarding schools where children, mostly from the Uyghur community, are deliberately removed from their families, as well as their language and culture. This comes as an estimated 1 million adults from the Uyghur community are being imprisoned in camps that China claims are "vocational training centers" designed to combat extremism. We speak with independent researcher Adrian Zenz, who did the research for the BBC report, and Uyghur-American activist Rushan Abbas, founder and director of Campaign for Uyghurs.

A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily blocked President Trump's plan to bar nearly all migrants from seeking asylum in the United States. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of California ordered Trump to continue accepting asylum claims, issuing a preliminary injunction against a rule that would block anyone who passes through a third country before arriving in the U.S. from applying for asylum. The rule would effectively stop people from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala from seeking refuge in the United States. The preliminary injunction came just hours after a federal judge in Washington, D.C., let the new asylum rule stand in a separate challenge. We speak with Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which challenged the Trump policy, alongside the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Attorney General William Barr announced Thursday that the federal government is resuming the death penalty after nearly two decades. The execution of five death row prisoners were immediately ordered beginning in December. There are currently 62 prisoners on federal death row, including white supremacist Dylann Roof, who murdered nine black worshipers at the historic Emanuel AME Church in June 2015, and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Federal prosecutors are expected to push for the death penalty in both cases. This news comes despite a growing movement opposing the death penalty in the United States. The United Nations has called for a global ban on the practice, and Amnesty International calls it "the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment." We speak with Ruth Friedman, director of the Federal Capital Habeas Project, which coordinates representation, represents defendants and monitors federal death row.

Trump Administration to Bring Back Federal Executions After 16-Year Hiatus, 44-Year-Old Mexican Immigrant Dies in ICE Custody, Trump Threatens to Impose Travel Ban on Guatemalans, Oklahoma Suspends Plans to Jail 1,600 Migrant Children at Fort Sill, 150 Migrants Feared Dead in Shipwrecks Off Libyan Coast, Five Dead as Europe Swelters Under Record-Setting Heat, "Unprecedented" Wildfires Scorch Over 1 Million Acres of Alaskan Forest, California and Automakers Agree to Fuel Efficiency Targets Opposed by Trump, Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces Zero Waste Act as Part of Green New Deal, GOP Blocks Election Security Bills as Senators Warn Russia Targeted All 50 States, Russian Police Raid Homes of Opposition Candidates in Moscow, CEO of Tear Gas Manufacturer Steps Down from Whitney Museum Board After Protests, Serial Child Sex Abuser Jeffrey Epstein Found Unconscious in Jail Cell, Report: Jeffrey Epstein Referred Young Women to Work for Charlie Rose, FDA Recalls Allergan Breast Implants After Cancer Deaths, Three White Students at Ole Miss Pose Next to Bullet-Riddled Emmett Till Memorial, Trump Appears in Front of Altered Presidential Seal Meant to Mock Him

Boris Johnson was sworn in as the new British prime minister Wednesday, pledging to deliver a swift Brexit and spending his first full day in office Thursday packing his Cabinet with hard-line Brexiteers. His election was the first time that a party’s membership directly chose the prime minister. The membership of the Conservative Party who voted for Johnson represents less than 1% of the British population. Johnson, who previously served as mayor of London and foreign secretary, replaces outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May. Boris Johnson is a highly contentious figure in the United Kingdom who has built his career on controversy. He is known for outrageous political gaffes and is a close ally of President Donald Trump. He has vowed to cut taxes for the rich, and positioned himself as a friend to big banks. Thousands of protesters marched through Central London to protest the new prime minister Wednesday. We speak with Ash Sarkar, senior editor of Novara Media, who says Johnson has crafted a public persona for himself as "bumbling, ineffectual, posh but benign," but says this facade conceals "someone who has always been a very ambitious man."

As Puerto Ricans celebrate the imminent departure of disgraced Governor Ricardo Rosselló, we speak with Intercept reporter Ryan Grim about how Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez benefited from what's been described as a "coup" within the Democratic Party in Puerto Rico. In his recent book, Grim revealed pro-statehood politicians—including some Republicans—quietly took over the Puerto Rico Democrats in 2017 and then offered full support for Perez in exchange for his support for statehood. This helped give Perez enough delegates to beat Keith Ellison in the race to head the DNC.

Special counsel Robert Mueller gave his much-anticipated testimony on Capitol Hill Wednesday, where he spoke for the first time about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections. Over the 7-hour hearing, Mueller stressed to the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees that despite Donald Trump's claims, he had not exonerated the president of obstruction of justice. Mueller's report was handed in 124 days ago, but only a redacted version was made available to the public. Ahead of Mueller's testimony, the Justice Department warned Mueller in a letter to "remain within the boundaries" of the public version of the report. The department also said that Mueller could not "discuss the conduct of uncharged third parties," which includes President Trump, his family and his close associates. Democratic lawmakers may have come away disappointed that Mueller didn't provide any critical testimony that would bolster their case for impeachment. For more, we speak with Ryan Grim, D.C. bureau chief for The Intercept. He's author of the new book, "We've Got People: From Jesse Jackson to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the End of Big Money and the Rise of a Movement."

Celebrations were held throughout the night in Puerto Rico after Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced he would resign, following 12 days of mass protests. This came two days after more than 500,000 Puerto Ricans took to the streets in one of the largest protests in Puerto Rico's history. The protests began after Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism published close to 900 pages of shocking text messages between Rosselló, staffers and advisers. The group chat messages were riddled with misogyny, homophobia, profanity and violence. Some of the messages mocked victims of Hurricane Maria and joked about shooting San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. For more on Rosselló's resignation and what lies ahead for the island, we speak with journalist Ed Morales, author of the forthcoming book, "Fantasy Island: Colonialism, Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico."

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Resigns Amid Mass Protests, Trump Vetoes Pave Way for U.S. Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Robert Mueller Tells Congress His Report Did Not Exonerate Trump, Federal Court Puts Trump's Asylum Ban on Hold, Federal Regulators Fine Facebook $5 Billion for Massive Privacy Breaches, New U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson Downplays Threat of Hard Brexit, Thousands Protest as Boris Johnson Begins Term as British Prime Minister, North Korea Test-Fires Missiles Ahead of U.S.-South Korea War Games, House Lawmakers Approve Resolution Opposing Boycotts of Israel, China's Military Warns It May Intervene to Quell Hong Kong Protests, 1.6 Million Face Hunger in Mozambique Following Deadly Cyclones, Record-Shattering Heat Wave Scorches Europe, Study: Current Pace of Climate Change Unparalleled in 2,000 Years, Joe Biden Defends His Role as Co-Author of 1994 Crime Bill, Rapper Meek Mill's 2008 Conviction Thrown Out by Philadelphia Judge

Fifty years ago this week, a group of young radical Puerto Ricans took to the streets of New York City to announce the formation of the New York chapter of the Young Lords. Formed in the same radical tradition of the Black Panther Party, the activists soon became a force in the community that inspired people around the nation. The Young Lords occupied churches and hospitals to offer services to the community, and educated people about Puerto Rican culture and history. They called for self-determination for all Puerto Ricans, independence for the island of Puerto Rico, community control of institutions and land, freedom for all political prisoners and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam, Puerto Rico and other areas. While the group disintegrated in the mid-1970s, its impact is still felt today. Ahead of a commemorative event at the Schomburg Center in Harlem Friday, we speak with three former Young Lords: Denise Oliver-Velez, Carlito Rovira and Democracy Now!'s Juan González, who helped found the organization and served as its first minister of education. We also speak with Johanna Fernández, associate professor in the Department of History at CUNY's Baruch College. She is the author of the upcoming book "The Young Lords: A Radical History."

July is slated to become the hottest month in recorded history, as extreme weather fueled by global warming wreaks havoc across the globe, from extreme heat waves in Europe and the U.S. to deadly monsoon flooding in South Asia. Severe rains have killed at least 660 people across India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan in a monsoon that is expected to continue throughout the week. A record heat wave is hitting Europe for the second time this summer, with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam all at risk of hitting all-time high temperatures, and Spain facing the threat of severe fires. We speak with climate scientist Michael Mann, a distinguished professor and director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University, about the latest weather extremes across the globe and how the media can responsibly cover climate change.

Facing mass civil unrest and a growing protest movement, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló is expected to resign today. El Nuevo Día first reported the news late Tuesday night. Rosselló has faced nearly two weeks of demonstrations—each one larger than the last—demanding he step down, following a massive leak revealing sexist, homophobic and violent text messages exchanged between the governor and government officials, in which he mocked victims of Hurricane Maria and joked about shooting San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. We speak with Democracy Now! co-host Juan González on the significance of Rosselló's resignation.

Robert Mueller Testifies Before Congress, Trump Rails Against Squad, Mueller Report in Speech to Teenagers, Disgraced Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló Expected to Step Down, ORR Says Unaccompanied Migrant Children Could Be Detained for Years, Immigration Agents Detain Texas Teen for 3+ Weeks Despite Being a U.S. Citizen, Tennessee Community Blocks ICE from Taking Neighbor by Forming Human Chain, Trump Threatens Guatemala with Tariffs and Other Penalties After Failure of Immigration Deal, DOJ Pursues Antitrust Probe into Big Tech, Reports: FTC to Accuse Facebook of Misleading Consumers on Personal Data Use, Former Defense Lobbyist Mark Esper Confirmed as New Defense Secretary, FBI Director Wray: Most Domestic Terror Committed by White Supremacists, Sen. Harris and Rep. Nadler Introduce Marijuana Decriminalization Bill, Joe Biden Unveils Criminal Justice Plan, Senate Passes Bill to Fund 9/11 September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Trump Sues House Committee and NY Officials to Halt Release of State Taxes, Boris Johnson Becomes New U.K. Prime Minister, Greta Thunberg Urges French Lawmakers to Act on Climate Crisis as Heat Wave Grips Europe, Climate Activists Call on Lawmakers to Pass "Climate Emergency" Resolution

Many of Puerto Rico's most famous performers have been out in the streets in full force this week to show support for the growing movement calling for the immediate resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló. Singers Ricky Martin and Bad Bunny were in the streets of San Juan Monday, along with Grammy-winning artists Residente and iLe of the band Calle 13. They've also joined the protest through song. Last week, Residente, iLe and Bad Bunny released the song "Afilando Los Cuchillos," or "Sharpening the Knives." It quickly became the anthem of the movement. We speak with iLe, who says, "I've been waiting all my life for a moment like this."

Half a million people took to the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Monday in a historic protest, more than a week after the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico published 889 pages that included violently misogynistic and homophobic online chats between Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló and other government officials. The leaked documents revealed Rosselló had mocked victims of Hurricane Maria and joked about shooting San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. It also exposed rampant corruption within the Puerto Rican government. Governor Rosselló and the 11 others implicated in the message scandal have been issued summonses by the island's Justice Department. Two top officials have resigned since the scandal broke, including former Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marín, but Rosselló is resisting calls to step down, saying the messages were "done on people's personal time" and a result of working long, stressful days. We speak with Carla Minet, executive director of the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico.

An estimated half a million Puerto Ricans took to the streets of San Juan Monday to demand the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló. It was the largest demonstration yet since the massive leak of nearly 900 text messages—many of them graphic and offensive—between Rosselló and some of his closest advisers broke 11 days ago. Protesters blocked a major Puerto Rican highway for hours, chanting "Ricky renuncia!"—"Ricky resign!"—banging on drums and waving Puerto Rican flags. Several businesses and banks closed in solidarity with the national mobilization, with many taking the day off work to attend the protest. At around 11 p.m., police began firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who gathered outside the governor's mansion. The protest came a day after Governor Rosselló addressed the Puerto Rican people via Facebook Live, announcing he would not seek re-election next year and that he would step down from his leadership role as head of the ruling New Progressive Party. Democracy Now! correspondent Juan Carlos Dávila was in the streets of San Juan.

Half a Million Puerto Ricans Take Over San Juan Streets to Call for Gov. Rosselló to Resign, Boris Johnson Becomes New British Prime Minister, Trump Admin Expands Deportation Powers, Putting 100,000s of Undocumented Immigrants at Risk, ICE Now Using DNA Testing on Asylum-Seeking Families, DOJ Tells Mueller His Testimony Must "Remain Within Boundaries" of Redacted Report, Trump Says He Can "Wipe Afghanistan Off the Face of the Earth" as He Meets Pakistani PM Imran Khan, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte Calls for the Death Penalty for Drug Offenders, Syrian Airstrikes Kill At Least 50, Amid Ongoing Violence in Idlib, Press Freedom Group Calls for Accountability After Journalist Dies Behind Bars in Syria, WH and Congressional Leaders Raise Debt Ceiling, Increase Spending in Budget Deal, Trump Admin Wants to Restrict Access to Food Stamps for 3 Million People, Art Neville, New Orleans Funk Musician and Member of The Meters, Dies at 81, Paul Krassner, Writer, Activist & Counterculture Leader, Dies at 87

The Environmental Protection Agency will not ban the widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos—even though the agency's own research shows that it can cause brain damage in children. The substance is sold under the commercial name Lorsban and is banned for household use. But it's still used by farmers on more than 50 fruit, nuts, cereal and vegetable crops. The announcement came Thursday. The Obama administration said it would ban the use of the toxic chemical in 2015, but the rule never took effect. It was suspended in 2017 by then-EPA head Scott Pruitt. We go to Seattle to speak with Patti Goldman, a managing attorney at Earthjustice who represented health and labor advocates in a lawsuit against the EPA's original decision in 2017.

A historic indigenous resistance is unfolding on the Big Island of Hawaii, where thousands have descended on Mauna Kea, a sacred Native site, to defend it from the construction of a $1.4 billion telescope. Scientists say the Thirty Meter Telescope will help them peer into the deepest corners of space, but indigenous resisters say the construction was approved without their consent and will desecrate their sacred lands. Last week, police arrested 33 people—most of them Hawaiian elders—as they blocked a road to prevent work crews from reaching the site of the telescope being planned atop Mauna Kea. And on Sunday, demonstrators reported that more than 2,000 people had gathered at the access road to stop construction. We speak with Pua Case, an indigenous organizer and activist defending Hawaii's Mauna Kea.

In Iran, authorities say they've arrested 17 Iranian citizens and charged them with being CIA-trained spies for the United States. Iranian media reports that some have already been executed. This comes as tensions in the Persian Gulf continued to mount over the weekend following Iran's seizure of a British oil tanker and its 23 crew members Friday in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it seized the tanker in retaliation for the British impounding of an Iranian tanker earlier this month off the coast of Gibraltar. The Iranian National Guard released video Sunday showing the vessel flying an Iranian flag. Britain says Iran forced the Stena Impero out of international waters and rerouted the tanker into Iranian territory. We speak with Narges Bajoghli, professor of Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University and author of the forthcoming book, "Iran Reframed: Anxieties of Power in the Islamic Republic."

Iran Says It Has Captured and Killed Spies as Oil Tanker Standoff Intensifies, Trump Revs Up Racist Attacks on Squad as AOC Hits Back: "We're Not Going Anywhere", Heat Wave Grips U.S. as July on Track for Hottest Month Ever Recorded, Fire Breaks Out at Brooklyn Jail as Prisoners Face Dangerous Heat Without Relief, Puerto Ricans Continue Mass Protests as Gov. Rosselló Says He Will Not Seek Re-election, Boris Johnson Expected to Become New U.K. Prime Minister, Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protesters Face Police Tear Gas and Violent Mob, Israel Begins Razing Palestinian Homes in Occupied Territories, Mueller to Testify Before House Committees Wednesday, 3 White Supremacists Sentenced to Jail for Violence in Charlottesville, VA, and California, LAPD Sent Informant to Spy on Anti-Trump Group, Bernie Sanders Introduces "Right to a Secure Retirement" Plan, Activists Protest Trump Admin Plan to Jail Migrant Children at Fort Sill

In 2003, Katharine Gun, a young specialist working for Britain's Government Communications Headquarters, exposed a highly confidential memo that revealed the United States' collaboration with Britain in collecting sensitive information on United Nations Security Council members in order to pressure them into supporting the Iraq invasion. Gun leaked the memo to the press, setting off a chain of events that jeopardized her freedom and safety, but also opened the door to putting the entire legality of the Iraq invasion on trial. 

Acclaimed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg described Gun's action as "the most important and courageous leak I have ever seen." Gun's incredible story is depicted in the new film "Official Secrets," which premieres in the U.S. August 30. We speak with Katharine Gun; the British journalists who reported on Gun's revelations in The Observer newspaper, Martin Bright and Ed Vulliamy; and Gavin Hood, director of "Official Secrets."

On Thursday, President Trump attempted to distance himself from the racist chant of "send her back" about Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a Trump campaign rally Wednesday in North Carolina. The chants rang across the rally in response to Trump's own verbal attack against the congresswoman. He did nothing to intervene. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution condemning Trump's racist remarks against Congressmembers Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. We speak with Ibram X. Kendi, founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University.

70 Catholics Arrested in Capitol Hill Protest of Trump's Immigration Policies, Asylum Seekers in Texas ICE Jail Launch Hunger Strike, House Democrats Grill Acting DHS Chief over Migrant Deaths and Squalid Jails, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Confronts DHS Chief over Racist & Sexist Border Patrol Posts, Trump Disavows "Send Her Home" Chant After Racist Attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Ilhan Omar Greeted in Minnesota with Chants of "Welcome Home", House Approves Minimum Wage Hike to $15 an Hour, Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Would Bring Overtime Pay, Union Rights, Trump to Nominate Anti-Union Lawyer Eugene Scalia as Labor Secretary, Jeffrey Epstein Denied Bail Ahead of Sex Trafficking Trial, Iran Denies Trump's Claim the U.S. Shot Down Iranian Drone, Afghan Bombers Kill 20 in Attacks in Kandahar and Kabul, Arson Attack in Kyoto, Japan, Kills 33, Excessive Heat Warning Declared Across Much of U.S. , EPA Won't Ban Toxic Pesticide Despite Link to Brain Damage in Children, Trump Administration Proposes Slashing Regulations for Nuclear Power Plants

We look at the award-winning documentary feature titled "For Sama," a devastating account of war-torn Syria told through the eyes of director Waad al-Kateab. She filmed hundreds of hours of footage in her native Aleppo to create a stunning depiction of life during wartime. Amid airstrikes and attacks on hospitals, Waad falls in love with one of the last remaining doctors in Aleppo, gets married and has a baby girl, Sama, to whom the film is dedicated. When protests against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad first began in 2011, Waad al-Kateab was a young economics student who began filming on a cellphone. For five years, she documented her own life and the lives of those around her as the Assad regime intensified its brutal response to the uprising. She eventually gathered hundreds of hours of footage. Ahead of the film's release in the U.S. next Thursday, we speak with Waad al-Kateab and her husband Hamza al-Kateab, a doctor and the co-founder and former director of the Al Quds Hospital in Aleppo.

Close to 100,000 Puerto Ricans took to the streets Wednesday chanting "Ricky Renuncia!" as they called for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, following the leak by Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism of hundreds of misogynistic, homophobic and violent text messages between Rosselló and members of his Cabinet. On Monday, Denis Márquez of the Puerto Rican Independence Party introduced formal complaints against the governor and called for his impeachment. All of this comes as former Education Secretary Julia Keleher and five others have been arrested on charges of steering federal money to unqualified, politically connected contractors. We speak with Melissa Mark-Viverito, interim president of the Latino Victory Project, and, from San Juan, journalist Juan Carlos Dávila, Democracy Now!'s correspondent in Puerto Rico.

House Lawmakers Vote to Table Trump Impeachment Resolution, Trump Renews Racist Attacks on Four Progressive Congresswomen, Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces Bill Affirming the Right to Boycott, House Votes to Bar Trump's Planned Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, U.S. to Deploy 500 Troops to Saudi Air Base, Sudan's Military Rulers Agree to Share Power with Civilian Protesters, United Nations Declares Global Health Emergency as Ebola Spreads, Puerto Ricans Demand Resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló over Hateful Messages, AG Barr & Commerce Secretary Ross Held in Contempt of Congress, Sen. Rand Paul Blocks Vote on September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Drug Lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Sentenced to Life in Prison, 1992 Video Shows Donald Trump Partying with Jeffrey Epstein, Prosecutors Drop Sexual Assault Charge Against Kevin Spacey, Pentagon IG Ordered to Probe U.S. Use of Ticks as Biological Weapons, Protests Mark Fifth Anniversary of Eric Garner's Killing by NYPD Cop, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Won't Say If Eric Garner's Killer Should Be Fired, Hawaiian Elders Arrested at Nonviolent Protest of Mauna Kea Telescope

Abigail Disney, the heiress of the Disney fortune, is once again speaking out against the company's unfair labor and wage practices. She recently spoke to Disneyland employees in California, where they shared their experiences with the theme park's work environment. In the past, Abigail Disney has criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger's obscene salary and the drastic pay gap between Iger and other Disney employees. Abigail Disney also testified in May at the House Committee on Financial Services during a hearing on strengthening the rights and protections of workers. We speak with Abigail Disney, filmmaker and granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company.

While online shoppers around the world flocked to Amazon's mega-sale "Prime Day" this week, the retail giant faced growing outrage from protesters, workers and lawmakers for its unsafe working conditions and collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Demonstrators in Seattle delivered a petition with over 270,000 signatures to Amazon headquarters demanding it stop exploiting workers and cooperating with ICE. Lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ilhan Omar, co-signed a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demanding a full investigation into Amazon's workplace conditions on Tuesday, citing reports of Amazon workers facing severe physical and mental distress while on the job. Also on Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel challenged an Amazon executive on allegations that the company competes against its own sellers. We speak with Angeles Solis, lead organizer on the workplace justice team at Make the Road New York, and Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, who testified about Amazon Tuesday before a House Judiciary Subcommittee.

It's been five years since Eric Garner, an African-American father of six, was killed when a white New York City police officer wrestled him to the ground and applied a fatal chokehold, while Garner, who was unarmed, said "I can't breathe" 11 times. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors announced they will not bring civil rights charges against Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer implicated in Garner's death. The move reportedly came after Attorney General William Barr ordered that the case be dropped. Earlier this year, a medical examiner testified that it was a chokehold that triggered an asthma attack that led to Garner's death, which was ruled a homicide. Pantaleo remains on the police force and earns a salary of more than $100,000. We speak with Jumaane Williams, public advocate for New York City.

House Votes to Condemn Trump's Racist Tweets, Rep. Al Green Introduces Impeachment Articles, Kellyanne Conway to Reporter Asking About Trump's Racism: "What's Your Ethnicity?", Rights Groups File Lawsuits to Stop Trump's Draconian New Asylum Rule, White Police Officer Who Killed Eric Garner Will Not Face Federal Charges, Ex-Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Arrested in California over Corruption Scandal, Press Freedom Advocates Call for Release of Yemeni Journalist Yahya al-Sawari, Planned Parenthood Removes President Dr. Leana Wen over Disagreements on Direction of Org., Organizations Say They Will Not Comply with Trump Ban on Abortion Referrals, Kamala Harris Unveils Prescription Drugs Plan as Joe Biden Shuns Medicare for All, Suspect Arrested in Murder of Beloved Louisiana Civil Rights Activist, Judge Recommends Daily Stormer Publisher Pay $14 Million to Woman Targeted with Anti-Semitic Trolling, Judge Sentences Charlottesville Neo-Nazi Murderer to 2 More Life Sentences, Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Dies at 99, Activists Arrested as They Take Over ICE Headquarters in D.C.