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A Coup in Progress? Venezuelan Foreign Minister Decries U.S. & Brazil-Backed Effort to Oust Maduro
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:22:16 -0500
The United States and allied nations in Latin America are ratcheting up pressure on Venezuela in what appears to be a coordinated effort to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from office. Maduro was sworn in last week to a second 6-year term following his victory in last May's election, which was boycotted by the opposition. Days before Maduro was sworn in, opposition figure Juan Guaidó became head of the National Assembly, which soon voted to declare Maduro a "usurper" in an effort to remove him from office. The United States, Brazil and other nations have welcomed the effort. As the political crisis intensifies, Maduro has reached out to the United Nations to help establish a peace dialogue in Venezuela. We speak with Jorge Arreaza, Venezuelan foreign minister. He met with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres this week.

Rep. Ro Khanna: U.S. Troops Are a "Sitting Target" in Syria; It's Time to Bring Them Home
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:10:12 -0500
In Syria, a suicide bomber struck a restaurant in the northern city of Manbij Wednesday, killing 19 people including four Americans. Two of them were U.S. soldiers. The bombing was claimed by ISIS and came just weeks after President Trump declared victory over the group and ordered U.S. troops to withdraw from Syria, prompting the resignation of Pentagon chief Jim Mattis. Just hours after the attack, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated that ISIS has been defeated. Wednesday's attack drew renewed calls from congressional hawks—both Republicans and Democrats—to reverse Trump's Syria withdrawal. The U.S. has an estimated 2,000 troops stationed in Syria, even though Congress has never declared war on the country. We speak with Ro Khanna, Democratic congressmember from California. He is a leading critic of U.S. military interventions abroad.

Headlines for January 18, 2019
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Watchdog: Trump Admin Vastly Underreported Migrant Family Separations, Trump Grounds Flight of Congressmembers to Visit NATO, Afghanistan, Government Shutdown Threatens Safety Net Programs for Millions, As Shutdown Grinds On, Senate Debates Anti-Abortion Bill, Trump Admin Recalls Workers to Assist in Offshore Oil Projects, BuzzFeed: Trump Ordered Michael Cohen to Lie to Congress, WSJ: Trump Paid Cohen to Rig Polls in Likely Campaign Finance Violation, Colombia: Suicide Car Bomber Kills 21 at Bogotá Police Academy, Sudan: Security Forces Fire on Anti-Government Protesters, U.S. Citizen and Iranian TV News Anchor Marzieh Hashemi Arrested, Brazil: Former Rio de Janeiro Cop Identified as Marielle Franco's Killer, Chicago Judge Acquits 3 Officers in Laquan McDonald Killing, L.A. Teachers' Strike Enters Fifth Day as Oakland Teachers Hold One-Day Strike

The Fox in Charge of the Henhouse: Activists Decry Trump's EPA Pick, Coal Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:44:41 -0500
Senate confirmation hearings began Wednesday for former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, whom President Trump has nominated to become administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Wheeler has been the acting head of the EPA since Scott Pruitt resigned in July amid an onslaught of financial and ethics scandals. We speak with Heather McTeer Toney, national field director for Moms Clean Air Force and former Southeast regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama administration. We also speak with Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign.

Native American Communities Bear Brunt of Shutdown with Medicine Shortages & Suspended Food Programs
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:36:43 -0500
We look at the widespread impact of the government shutdown on Native American communities, as the Indian Health Service goes understaffed and a federally funded food delivery program to Indian reservations has halted. Democratic members of Congress held a hearing Tuesday on the effects of the shutdown on health, education and employment in Native communities. We speak with Mark Trahant, editor of Indian Country Today and member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

Strike! Barbara Ehrenreich Calls on TSA Workers to Walk Off Job in Protest of Government Shutdown
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:14:09 -0500
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is now on Day 27. As 800,000 workers continue to go without pay, federal employees around the country are rising up to demand an end to the shutdown, which has run public institutions ragged and left hundreds of thousands financially strapped. We speak with Barbara Ehrenreich, author of the best-seller "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America." She is calling for TSA workers around the country to strike.

Headlines for January 17, 2019
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Speaker Pelosi to Trump: Cancel or Postpone State of the Union, Federal Employees and Contractors Demand End to Government Shutdown, Trump to Propose Biggest Space-Based Missile Program Since "Star Wars", Andrew Wheeler, at EPA Confirmation Hearing, Downplays Climate Risks, Climate Study Finds Ocean Temperatures Hit Record High in 2018, Syria: Four Americans Among 19 Killed in ISIS Suicide Attack, Zimbabwe: Five Killed as Government Attacks Fuel Hike Protesters, Kenya: Death Toll in al-Shabab Attack on Nairobi Hotel Rises to 21, British PM Theresa May Survives No-Confidence Vote, NYT: Trump Inaugural Committee Took In Record $107 Million, Watchdog Says Regulators Ignored Constitutional Concerns over Trump Hotel, T-Mobile Execs Seeking Merger Approval Bought Stays in Trump Hotel, Trump Attorney No Longer Denying Campaign Colluded with Russia, Michigan State Interim President Resigns over Larry Nassar Comments, L.A. Teachers Return to Bargaining Table on Day 4 of Historic Strike, New York Protest Targets Fracked Gas Power Plant, The Yes Men Target Fossil Fuel Ties of BlackRock Investment Firm, Phony Washington Post Proclaims End to Trump's Presidency

Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Add Citizenship Question to Census, Citing "Smorgasbord" of Broken Rules
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:55:59 -0500
A federal judge in New York City has ruled against the Trump administration's decision to put a citizenship question on the census. In a lengthy opinion, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman wrote that in deciding to add a citizenship question to the census, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross violated a "veritable smorgasbord" of federal rules and "alternately ignored, cherry-picked, or badly misconstrued the evidence in the record before him." Ross announced the citizenship question in March, touting it as a way to enforce the Voting Rights Act and protect minorities against voter discrimination. Voting rights activists feared the question would deter immigrants from participating in the census, leading to a vast undercount in states with large immigrant communities. That could impact everything from the redrawing of congressional maps to the allocation of federal funding. We speak with David Cole, national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which challenged the addition of the citizenship question.

Could Trump's Attorney General Pick William Barr Be "Worse Than Jeff Sessions" on Civil Rights?
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:36:37 -0500
Senate confirmation hearings began Tuesday for William Barr, President Trump's nominee for attorney general to replace Jeff Sessions. Barr served as attorney general for George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993. During that time, he was involved in the pardon of six Reagan officials for the Iran-Contra scandal and oversaw the opening of the Guantánamo Bay military prison, which was initially used to indefinitely detain Haitian asylum seekers. Barr also openly backed mass incarceration at home and helped develop a secret Drug Enforcement Administration program which became a "blueprint" for the National Security Agency's mass phone surveillance effort. But on Tuesday, senators asked few questions about Barr's past record while focusing heavily on his views about special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. We look at Barr's history with David Cole, national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union. His recent article for the ACLU is titled "No Relief: William Barr Is as Bad as Jeff Sessions—if Not Worse." We also speak with Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

"A Fight for the Soul of Britain": Theresa May's Brexit Deal Goes Down in Historic Defeat
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:13:27 -0500
Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal was crushed Tuesday in the biggest defeat for a sitting British government in modern history. After months of build-up, May's plan for withdrawing Britain from the European Union was voted down 432 to 202, fomenting political uncertainty about the future of Britain, as well as May's leadership. On Wednesday, Parliament will vote on a no-confidence motion in May's government. We speak with Paul Mason, New Statesman contributing writer, author and filmmaker. His latest piece for the New Statesman is titled "To avoid a disastrous failure, Labour must now have the courage to fight for Remain."

Headlines for January 16, 2019
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
British PM Theresa May's Brexit Deal Rejected by MPs in Historic Loss, Trump Orders 50,000 Idled Government Employees to Work Without Pay, Sen. Mitch McConnell Blocks Another Vote to End Government Shutdown, Government Shutdown Takes a Toll on Indian Country, Aviation Security, Federal Judge Blocks Trump Admin Citizenship Question on 2020 Census, Senate Opens Confirmation Hearings for William Barr as Attorney General, Kenya: Al-Shabab Claims Nairobi Hotel Attack That Leaves 14 Dead, Colombian Drug Lord Says Former Mexican President Took $100M Bribe, Former Ivory Coast President Acquitted of Crimes Against Humanity, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Rolls Back Gun Regulations, World Food Program Cuts Food to Palestinians as Trump Admin Guts Aid, Lawmakers Vote to Condemn White Supremacy, Rebuking Rep. Steve King, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Calls for 70% Tax Rate on the Wealthiest, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to Run for President in 2020, Chechnya: Activists Say Lesbians and Gays Face Torture, Death, Second Lady Karen Pence Begins Teaching at School with LGBTQ Ban, New York Passes Bills Aimed at Protecting LGBTQ Rights

Arizona Activists Face Jail Time for Providing Life-Saving Aid to Migrants Crossing Sonoran Desert
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:46:04 -0500
As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history heads into its 25th day and President Trump continues to crack down on immigrants, we look at how the Trump administration is criminalizing humanitarian aid at the border. In Tucson, Arizona, activists with the humanitarian group No More Deaths go to trial today facing charges for a slew of federal crimes, all due to their efforts to leave water and food in the harsh Sonoran Desert to help refugees and migrants survive the deadly journey across the U.S. border. The charges were filed last year in January, just a week after No More Deaths published a report accusing U.S. Border Patrol agents of routinely vandalizing or confiscating water, food and other humanitarian aid, condemning refugees and migrants to die of exposure or dehydration. We speak with Paige Corich-Kleim, a humanitarian aid worker and volunteer with No More Deaths, and Ryan Devereaux, a staff reporter at The Intercept. His latest piece is titled "Arizona Judge in No More Deaths Case Had Secret Talks with Federal Prosecutors."

Will Trump's AG Pick William Barr Face Questions over Gitmo, Mass Incarceration & NSA Surveillance?
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:32:07 -0500
Senate confirmation hearings begin today for William Barr, President Trump's nominee for attorney general to replace Jeff Sessions, who was fired in November. Barr served as attorney general for George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993. During that time, he was involved in the pardon of six Reagan officials for the Iran-Contra scandal and oversaw the opening of the Guantánamo Bay military prison, which was initially used to indefinitely detain HIV-positive asylum seekers from Haiti. Barr also openly backed mass incarceration at home and helped develop a secret Drug Enforcement Administration program which became a "blueprint" for the National Security Agency's mass phone surveillance effort. We speak with Vincent Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

"Public Education Is Not Your Plaything": L.A. Teachers Strike Against Privatization & Underfunding
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:11:49 -0500
Los Angeles public school teachers are on strike for the first time in three decades. On Monday morning, tens of thousands of teachers braved pouring rain on the picket line for the strike's first day. Some 20,000 people marched through downtown Los Angeles, demanding smaller class sizes, higher pay, the regulation of charter schools and more nurses, counselors and librarians. Over 31,000 members of United Teachers Los Angeles are striking. We speak with Cecily Myart-Cruz, strike leader and National Education Association vice president at United Teachers Los Angeles, and Eric Blanc, a reporter covering the strike for The Guardian and Jacobin. He is author of the forthcoming book "Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics."

Headlines for January 15, 2019
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Over 30,000 Los Angeles Teachers Walk Out in First Strike in 30 Years, Barr Pledges to Protect Mueller Probe as He Faces Senate AG Hearings, NYC Prisoners Go on Hunger Strike, Feel Effect of Gov't Shutdown, Poland Mayor, Defender of Immigrant Rights, Dies After Public Stabbing, Afghanistan: Taliban Car Bomb Kills 5, Injures Over 100, Afghanistan: New Defense Minister Accused of War Crimes, Human Rights Abuses, Brexit: Lawmakers Set to Vote on Contested Brexit Deal, Pennsylvania Judge Blocks Trump's Birth Control Restrictions Nationwide, Justice Ginsburg Declared Cancer-Free, Reviews SCOTUS Cases from Home, SCOTUS Won't Review Case Challenging Legality of Acting AG, California: PG&E to File for Bankruptcy 2 Months After Deadly Camp Fire, GOP Strips Rep. King of Committee Seats After He Praises White Supremacy, EPA Referrals of Polluters for Prosecution Hit 30-Year Low in 2018, AP: U.S. Gov't Approved Thousands of Immigration Requests for "Child Brides", InfoWars Must Turn Over Internal Documents to Families of Sandy Hook Victims

As Gov't Shutdown Drags On, IRS Continues to Aid the Rich & Corporations While Targeting the Poor
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 08:49:04 -0500
As 800,000 federal workers remain furloughed or working without pay in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, we look at how the Trump administration has restarted a division of the Internal Revenue Service to help corporate lenders. The Washington Post reports that an appeal from the mortgage industry has resulted in hundreds of IRS staffers returning to the agency to carry out income verifications for lenders. This process earns the $1.3 trillion mortgage banking industry millions of dollars in fees. We speak with Paul Kiel, a reporter for ProPublica and contributor to the series "Gutting the IRS." His recent piece for the series is titled "Who's More Likely to Be Audited: A Person Making $20,000—or $400,000?"

The Groveland Four: Florida Pardons Men Falsely Accused in Jim Crow-Era Rape Case in 1949
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 08:13:30 -0500
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has granted posthumous pardons to four young African-American men accused of raping a white woman near Groveland, Florida, in 1949. Two men were brutally murdered as a result of the false accusations. The case is now seen as a racially charged miscarriage of justice emblematic of the Jim Crow South. The story of the "Groveland Four," now 70 years old, has continued to haunt the state of Florida. We speak with Gilbert King, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America," and Carol Greenlee, daughter of Charles Greenlee, one of the Groveland Four.

Headlines for January 14, 2019
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Gov't Shutdown Now Longest in U.S. History, Trump Admin Considered Disaster Relief Funds to Build Border Wall, Interior Dept. Pushes Ahead Plans for New Arctic Drilling Leases, Texas: Tornillo Immigrant Prison Camp Shuts Down, Los Angeles: Public Teachers Go on Strike, Dems Vow to Investigate After 2 New Reports on Trump's Relationship with Russia, WSJ: Nat'l Sec. Council Asked About Possible Military Strike on Iran in 2018, Trump Threatens to "Devastate Turkey Economically" If Syrian Kurds Targeted, Saudi Arabia: Sec. of State Pompeo Meets with Crown Prince 3 Months After Khashoggi Killing, Canada Grants Asylum to Saudi Teen Fleeing Abusive Family, Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Woman at Weekly Protest, U.N. Food Agency Cuts Aid to Occupied Territories, France: "Yellow Vest" Protesters Take to Streets for 9th Straight Week, Poland: Huawei Employee Arrested over Spying Charge, California Judge Halts Trump Attempt to Roll Back Reproductive Rights, Rep. Steve King to Meet with Minority Leader After Praising White Supremacy in NYT, Julián Castro and Rep. Gabbard Announce 2020 Presidential Bids

Exclusive: Angela Davis Speaks Out on Palestine, BDS & More After Civil Rights Award Is Revoked
Fri, 11 Jan 2019 08:16:18 -0500
In a Democracy Now! exclusive, legendary activist and scholar Angela Davis speaks out after the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute rescinded a human rights award for her, reportedly due to her activism for Palestinian rights. In September, the institute announced that it would award Davis the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award, named after the civil rights icon. But last Friday, the institute voted to withdraw the award and cancel this year's gala event. The institute rescinded the award days after the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center sent a letter urging the board to reconsider honoring Davis due to her support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. Others in the Birmingham area criticized Davis for her support for the Black Panthers and Communist Party. We speak with Angela Davis in her first television interview since the controversy began.

Headlines for January 11, 2019
Fri, 11 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Protests Target Shutdown as Federal Employees Miss First Paycheck, Trump May Raid Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Funds for Border Wall, Protesters Gather on Both Sides of U.S.-Mexico Border as Trump Visits, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell Blocks Vote on Bill to Fund Government, Study Finds Oceans Are Absorbing Far More Heat Than Previously Known, Pentagon Says It's Withdrawing from Syria as Turkey Readies Invasion, In Cairo, U.S. Secretary of State Rebukes Obama and Threatens Iran, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Calls Jamal Khashoggi Murder an "Atrocity", Protests Outside Supreme Court Demand Closure of Guantánamo Prison, McClatchy: CIA Chief Gina Haspel Ran Guantánamo Black Site, Venezuelan President Accuses U.S. of Coup Plotting as 2nd Term Begins, Brazil to Withdraw from U.N. Agreement Protecting Migrants, Democrats Unveil Bill to Reduce Prescription Drug Prices, Sen. Sanders Apologizes to Ex-Staffers Alleging Harassment in 2016 Campaign, Donald Trump's Ex-Fixer Michael Cohen to Testify to House Committee, Rep. Steve King Praises White Nationalism, Blasts Congressional Diversity, Black Transgender Woman Murdered in Montgomery, Alabama

Facing Mass Deportation, Haitians Sue Trump to Preserve Temporary Protected Status
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:53:59 -0500
A New York City trial is challenging the Trump administration's attempt to end temporary protected status—known as TPS—for more than 50,000 Haitians living in the U.S. Tens of thousands of Haitians were granted TPS after an earthquake devastated their country nine years ago this week. In November 2017, the Trump administration announced it would revoke TPS for Haitians, sparking protests and multiple lawsuits around the country. We speak with Marleine Bastien, executive director the Family Action Network Movement, or FANM, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. She testified on Wednesday as a witness in the trial.

There Are Thousands of Cyntoia Browns: Mariame Kaba on Criminalization of Sexual Violence Survivors
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:35:05 -0500
Cyntoia Brown was granted full clemency by Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Monday after serving 15 years in prison. The decision follows months of intense public pressure and outrage over her case. Brown was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder for shooting her rapist as a teenager. She had been sexually trafficked and repeatedly abused and drugged. The shooting happened when Brown was just 16 years old, but she was tried as an adult. We speak with Mariame Kaba, organizer and educator who has worked on anti-domestic violence programs, anti-incarceration and racial justice programs since the late 1980s. Kaba is the co-founder of Survived and Punished, an organization that supports survivors of violence who have been criminalized for defending themselves. She's also a board member of Critical Resistance.

National Parks Overflow with Trash, Human Waste as Gov't Shutdown Approaches 3 Weeks
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:25:50 -0500
National parks around the country have seen overflowing toilets and trash piling up since the government shutdown began nearly three weeks ago. Park experts are now warning that the damage may take years to undo. We speak with Jonathan Asher, government relations manager at The Wilderness Society.

Public Citizen: Frightening Prospect If an Authoritarian Like Trump Declares State of Emergency
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:22:51 -0500
President Trump says that he will likely declare a national emergency over the border wall if negotiations over the government shutdown continue. We speak with Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen. "The Congress has given the president quite a bit of authority to declare emergencies with terms that are almost unbounded," Weissman says. "Congress has always expected, and society has always expected, that presidents wouldn't abuse that authority recklessly, declaring emergencies just because they want to. We obviously have a president now who has no such constraints."

From EPA to TSA, Agencies Devoted to Nation's Health and Safety Are Going Unfunded During Shutdown
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:13:19 -0500
The partial government shutdown has entered its 20th day. On Saturday, it will become the longest shutdown in U.S. history if a deal is not reached. President Trump reportedly stormed out of a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Wednesday after they refused to back a deal to fund a wall on the southern border. Schumer accused Trump of throwing a temper tantrum. Trump described the meeting as a "total waste of time." We speak with Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen. The group just released a report titled "As Shutdown Drags On, Agencies Devoted to Consumer and Worker Health and Safety Unfunded and Deprioritized."

Headlines for January 10, 2019
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Trump Walks Out of Shutdown Negotiations After "Temper Tantrum", Unions for Federal Workers to Protest as Shutdown Enters 20th Day, Donald Trump Jr. Compares Immigrants to Zoo Animals, Trump Nominates Ex-Coal Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as Permanent EPA Head, Congo: Felix Tshisekedi Declared Provisional President-Elect, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Meets Egyptian Leader el-Sisi, Campaigners Mark 100 Days Since Jamal Khashoggi's Assassination, After Weeks Stranded at Sea, Asylum Seekers Granted Access to Malta, Lebanon: Winter Storms Bring Death and Misery to Syrian Refugees, Police Issue Arrest Warrant for Ex-Manager of R. Kelly, Lady Gaga Apologizes for Collaborating with R. Kelly in 2013, Kentucky Lawmakers Prepare Bill to Outlaw Abortions, New York: Pipeline Protesters Found Guilty over 2016 Direct Action, Los Angeles Teachers Delay Strike Plans Until Monday, Puerto Rican Human Rights Activist Luis Garden Acosta Dies

William Arkin on Homeland Security's Creeping Fascism and Why the CIA & FBI Won't Save Us from Trump
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 08:50:06 -0500
Longtime NBC reporter and analyst William Arkin announced he was leaving the network last week in a blistering letter that took aim at the mainstream media for encouraging perpetual warfare and bolstering the national security state. In his letter, Arkin writes of Trump, "Of course he is an ignorant and incompetent impostor. And yet I'm alarmed at how quick NBC is to mechanically argue the contrary, to be in favor of policies that just spell more conflict and more war. Really? We shouldn't get out Syria? We shouldn't go for the bold move of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula? Even on Russia, though we should be concerned about the brittleness of our democracy that it is so vulnerable to manipulation, do we really yearn for the Cold War? And don't even get me started with the FBI: What? We now lionize this historically destructive institution?" We speak with Arkin in New York City. He is the author of many books, including "Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State."

Longtime Reporter Leaves NBC Saying Media Is "Trump Circus" That Encourages Perpetual War
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 08:34:26 -0500
"Prisoners of Donald Trump." That's how longtime NBC reporter and analyst William Arkin described the mainstream media in a scathing letter last week announcing he would be leaving the network, accusing the media of warmongering while ignoring the "creeping fascism of homeland security." He issued the blistering critique after a 30-year relationship with NBC, calling for "Trump-free" media days and a reckoning about how the network encourages a state of perpetual warfare. We speak with Arkin, whose award-winning reporting has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post. He is the author of many books, including "Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State."

Bernie Sanders Responds to Trump's Border Wall Address, Debunking President's Lies About Immigration
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 08:26:34 -0500
After Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday in a speech that attacked immigrants and demanded a border wall, Sen. Bernie Sanders called out the president for lying to the American people and creating a false crisis at the border. We speak with Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an immigrant rights group based in Chicago.

"A Racist, Xenophobic Attack": Immigrant Rights Activist Decries Trump Remarks About Southern Border
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 08:15:02 -0500
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday night in his first prime-time speech from the Oval Office. He urged Congress to approve $5.7 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, but he opted not to declare a national emergency to force construction of the wall, in a xenophobic speech riddled with falsehoods. We speak with Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an immigrant rights group based in Chicago.

Headlines for January 9, 2019
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Trump Delivers Error-Filled Border Security Address to Nation, Senate Blocks Anti-BDS Bill Amid Ongoing Gov't Shutdown, Carbon Emissions Spiked in 2018 Despite Coal Plant Closures, Deputy AG Rosenstein to Depart After Confirmation of New AG, Court Filings Show Manafort Shared Trump Campaign Info with Russian Operative, Documents Reveal Russian Lawyer at 2016 Trump Tower Mtg Had Ties to Kremlin, Turkey: Pres. Erdogan Blasts U.S. Changes in Syria Withdrawal Plan, Sudan: Anti-Gov't Protests Result in Mass Arrests, Press Censorship, Los Angeles: Dead Man Found in Home of Top Democratic Donor, Texas: Second Man Arrested in Murder of 7-Year-Old Girl, Reports: Georgia DA May Investigate R. Kelly in Wake of Damning Documentary, Seattle Councillors Warn New Yorkers of Risks from Amazon Expansion, Baltimore: ICE May Deport Salvadoran Activist Who Resisted Racial Profiling, Angela Davis Responds to Withdrawal of Human Rights Award, California Proposes Health Plan Expanding Coverage for Undocumented Youth, NYC Mayor: City Will Guarantee Healthcare for All New Yorkers

"Crime + Punishment" Exposes Racial Quotas in the NYPD & Retaliation Against Officers Who Speak Out
Tue, 08 Jan 2019 08:38:27 -0500
A group of New York Police Department officers are challenging what they call a racially charged policy of quotas for arrests and summonses. Known as the "NYPD 12," they risked their reputations and livelihoods to confront their superiors, fight illegal quotas and demand a more just police force. We look at a film following their story called "Crime + Punishment." It has just been shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. We speak with Stephen Maing, the film's director and producer, and Lieutenant Edwin Raymond, the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NYPD 12.

Rashida Tlaib: The Senate's Anti-BDS Bill Is an Unconstitutional Attack on Free Speech
Tue, 08 Jan 2019 08:29:06 -0500
A new Senate bill would allow state and local governments to boycott any U.S. companies which are engaged in a boycott against Israel. We speak with Congressmember Rashida Tlaib, who has come out out against the bill, tweeting, "They forgot what country they represent. This is the U.S. where boycotting is a right & part of our historical fight for freedom & equality. Maybe a refresher on our U.S. Constitution is in order, then get back to opening up our government instead of taking our rights away."

Rep. Rashida Tlaib: I Won't Apologize for My Comments About Trump—I Still Want to Impeach Him
Tue, 08 Jan 2019 08:13:37 -0500
Newly elected Democratic Congressmember Rashida Tlaib of Michigan made headlines last week for declaring, "We're going to go in there, and we're going to impeach the motherf***er," in reference to President Donald Trump. Tlaib made the comment at a Washington, D.C., bar, days after she made history last week when she and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota became the first Muslim women sworn in to Congress. Tlaib is part of the most diverse and most female class of representatives in U.S. history. We speak with Rashida Tlaib in Detroit, Michigan.

Headlines for January 8, 2019
Tue, 08 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Trump to Address Nation as Shutdown Takes Toll on Workers, Dem. Lawmakers Blast Trump's Nat'l Emergency Threat on Visit to Border, TN Gov. Haslam Grants Clemency to Sex Trafficking Survivor Cyntoia Brown, Asylum-Seeking Saudi Teen Avoids Deportation from Thailand After Int'l Outcry, Beijing: Kim Jong-un to Meet with President Xi as U.S.-China Trade Talks Underway, Brazil: Troops Deploy to Fortaleza as Violence Spikes in Coastal City, Brazil: Rio Governor Says Armed Forces Can Shoot to Kill, Head of World Bank Resigns, Canada: Armed Police Raid Protected Indigenous Territory, Dems to Introduce Gun Control Bill on 8th Anniversary of Giffords Shooting, NYT: Dem. Operatives Created Fake Online Alcohol Ban Campaign in 2017 Senate Race, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Rescinds Award for Angela Davis, SCOTUS: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Misses Oral Arguments for 1st Time in 25 Years, SCOTUS Rejects Exxon Bid to Block Investigation by Massachusetts AG

Surviving R. Kelly: New Doc Says Time's Up for Singer Accused of Abusing Black Girls for Decades
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:38:38 -0500
We look at the shocking Lifetime documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly," which chronicles two decades of allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against the celebrated R&B singer and producer. R. Kelly has been accused of abuse, predatory behavior and pedophilia throughout his career but has avoided criminal conviction despite damning evidence and multiple witnesses. We speak with Angelo Clary, whose daughter Azriel Clary met R. Kelly at the age of 17 and moved in with him with hopes of advancing her music career. He hasn't seen her in almost four years. We also speak with Oronike Odeleye, co-founder of #MuteRKelly—a campaign to end R. Kelly's music career—and an Atlanta-based arts administrator.

Sunrise Movement: Pelosi's Actions on Climate Fall Woefully & Inexcusably Short of What We Need
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:28:21 -0500
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing criticism from some climate activists for failing to back a Green New Deal. Last week Pelosi announced the formation of a new Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, headed by long-standing Florida Congressmember Kathy Castor. But the committee is far weaker than what backers of a Green New Deal had envisioned. The committee will not have subpoena power or the power to draft legislation. We speak with Varshini Prakash, founder of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate group that has occupied and lobbied at congressional offices, risking arrest to demand adoption of the Green New Deal and bold climate leadership.

Ari Berman: Dems Introduce Sweeping Voting Rights Bill to Combat Rampant Voter Suppression
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:14:41 -0500
Voting rights activists are hailing a new House bill that aims to restore voting rights to millions, crack down on the influence of dark money in politics, restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, establish automatic and same-day voter registration and other measures. The bill has been dubbed the For the People Act. It is the first piece of legislation introduced by the new Democratic majority in the House. We speak with Ari Berman, senior writer at Mother Jones, reporting fellow at The Nation Institute and author of "Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America." His latest piece is titled "Democrats' First Order of Business: Making It Easier to Vote and Harder to Buy Elections."

Headlines for January 7, 2019
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0500
Trump Threatens to Call Nat'l Emergency as Shutdown Shows No Sign of Abatement, Bolton Says Syria Troop Withdrawal Contingent on Defeating ISIS, Netanyahu Calls for U.S. to Recognize Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights, Yemen: U.S. Airstrike Kills Plotter of 2000 USS Cole Attack, Pentagon Chief of Staff Resigns in Wake of Mattis Departure, France: Yellow Vests Protesters Take to Streets as Impasse with Gov't Persists, Intercept: Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Israeli Boycott Bill, 49 Migrants Stranded at Sea as European Countries Refuse to Host Them, Scientists Identify Recording of Noise Targeting U.S. Diplomats in Cuba as Crickets, DOJ Says It Will Not Correct Errors in 2018 Terrorism Report, Man Arrested in Killing of 7-Year-Old African-American Girl, NV: Death Row Prisoner Whose Execution Was Blocked Dies of Suicide, Shooting at SoCal Bowling Alley Kills Three, SC: 2 Men Charged with Manslaughter in Drowning Death of 2 Women Detainees Fired, D.C. Court Rules For Trump's Transgender Military Ban, NYC: Trial Challenges Trump Admin's Revocation of TPS for Haitians, Canada: Indigenous Activists Say Raid on Wet'suwet'en Camps "Imminent"

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