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Chomsky: By Focusing on Russia, Democrats Handed Trump a "Huge Gift" & Possibly the 2020 Election
Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:48:23 -0400
As Attorney General William Barr releases Robert Mueller's long-anticipated report into Russian interference in the 2016 election, we speak with world-renowned political dissident, linguist and author Noam Chomsky about what he sees as the political perils of "Russiagate."

Noam Chomsky: The Green New Deal Is Exactly the Right Idea
Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:42:28 -0400
Supporters of the Green New Deal are launching a nationwide tour Thursday to build support for the congressional resolution to transform the U.S. economy through funding renewable energy while ending U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. Democracy Now! spoke with Noam Chomsky about the Green New Deal and the lessons of the old New Deal in Boston last week.

"We Can Be Whatever We Have the Courage to See": Molly Crabapple's Art Breathes Life Into Green New Deal
Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:28:31 -0400
"We can be whatever we have the courage to see." That's the message of a stunning new video released by The Intercept, Naomi Klein and award-winning artist Molly Crabapple Wednesday that imagines a future shaped by the Green New Deal. It's called "A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez." The film was co-written by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez herself, along with Avi Lewis, the co-founder of The Leap. We speak with Avi Lewis and award-winning artist Molly Crabapple about the power of art to create social change.

"A Message from the Future with AOC": New Film Imagines World Transformed by the Green New Deal
Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:14:25 -0400
As the push for the Green New Deal builds momentum in the United States, The Intercept has released a short illustrated video imagining a future shaped by the progressive environmental movement. It's titled "A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez." The New York congressmember narrates the film to envision an America that has been transformed by the Green New Deal policies, including a just transition of jobs, Medicare for all, and a total overhaul of the country's energy system. The result is a vision of radical hope and transformation. The film features stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Molly Crabapple. It is presented by The Intercept and Naomi Klein, co-written by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Avi Lewis, and co-directed by Kim Boekbinder and Jim Batt.

Headlines for April 18, 2019
Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Attorney General Barr to Release Redacted Mueller Report, John Bolton Praises Monroe Doctrine as U.S. Sanctions Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, New U.S. Sanctions to Target Remittances & Companies Doing Business in Cuba, North Korea Tests New Weapon, Rejects Role of U.S. Secretary of State, Trump Administration to End Reporting on Size of U.S. Nuclear Arsenal, Former Peruvian President Alan García Dies by Suicide as Police Move In, Teen Who Threatened Colorado Schools Dead of Self-Inflicted Gunshot, Philadelphia DA Clears Path for Mumia Abu-Jamal to Appeal Murder Conviction, New York Grants Parole to Brink's Heist Getaway Driver Judith Clark, Ivanka Trump Says Her Father Offered to Make Her World Bank President, Energy Secretary Rick Perry Reportedly Planning to Resign, 16-Year-Old Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Greeted by Pope Francis, London Climate Activists Chain Themselves to Jeremy Corbyn's Home, 62 Arrested as Climate Activists Stage Die-In Outside NYC City Hall

ICC Makes "Dangerous Decision" to Drop Probe into U.S. War Crimes in Afghanistan After U.S. Pressure
Wed, 17 Apr 2019 08:49:50 -0400
The International Criminal Court has announced it will not investigate possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the United States and other actors in Afghanistan. The court suggested the U.S.'s lack of cooperation with the investigation was behind the decision. Earlier this month, the U.S. revoked the visa of the ICC's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda. A 2016 report by the ICC accused the U.S. military of torturing at least 61 prisoners in Afghanistan during the ongoing war. The report also accused the CIA of subjecting at least 27 prisoners to torture, including rape, at CIA prison sites in Afghanistan, Poland, Romania and Lithuania. We speak to Katherine Gallagher, senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Libyan Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as Over 170 Killed, 18K Displaced in Warlord Assault on Tripoli
Wed, 17 Apr 2019 08:34:01 -0400
At least four people died in heavy shelling on Tuesday in the capital city of Tripoli. According to the United Nations, over 170 people have been killed and 750 injured since a Libyan warlord launched an assault on Tripoli on April 5. The fighting pits the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord against a militia led by former Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, who already controls much of eastern Libya. The Libyan government has accused the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt of funding and arming Haftar, who has dual U.S.-Libyan citizenship. Meanwhile, Qatar has called for the enforcement of an arms embargo against Haftar. The fighting has displaced nearly 18,000 people, but authorities fear the humanitarian crisis could quickly escalate if the fighting continues. We speak to Anas El Gomati, director of the Tripoli-based Sadeq Institute, Libya's first independent research organization.

Extinction Rebellion: Meet the Famed Climate Attorney Who Superglued Herself Outside Shell's U.K. HQ
Wed, 17 Apr 2019 08:15:17 -0400
Extinction Rebellion. That's the name of the movement shutting down Central London this week in a series of direct actions, as activists close bridges, occupy public landmarks and even superglue themselves to buildings to demand urgent action to combat climate change. Police have arrested more than 300 people so far, and the protests are continuing. Today, activists have halted trains at Canary Wharf—a financial hub of the city—with two protesters climbing a train car and another supergluing his hand to a train window. We speak to Clare Farrell, one of the co-founders of the environmental action group Extinction Rebellion, and Farhana Yamin, international environmental lawyer who helped draft the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. On Tuesday, she was arrested after gluing both of her hands to the ground outside the Shell building in Central London.

Headlines for April 17, 2019
Wed, 17 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Trump Vetoes Resolution Ending U.S. Support for War on Yemen, DOJ Orders Denial of Bond to Migrants, Allowing for Indefinite Detention, Trump Admin Resumes "Remain in Mexico" Policy, Dems Probing Report of Trump Pardon for Blocking Entry to Migrants, U.K.: Police Arrest 200+ Climate Activists Occupying Central London, D.C.: Extinction Rebellion Stages Protest in Front of RNC, French President Macron Vows to Rebuild Notre-Dame in 5 Years, Sudan: Al-Bashir Moved to Prison as African Union Sets Deadline to Install Civilian Gov't, Egypt: MPs Vote to Extend President Sisi's Rule to 2030, Indonesia: President Joko Widodo on Track to Win 2nd Term, Libya: U.N. Warns of Humanitarian Crisis as Fighting Escalates, Israel to Deport HRW Researcher over Alleged Boycott, Internet Activists Call for Release of Swedish Programmer Ola Bini, CO: Schools Shut Down as Hunt Continues for Woman "Infatuated" w/ Columbine, Alan Dershowitz Sued for Defamation in Epstein Sex Abuse Case, Rutgers Univ. Union Reaches Tentative Contract Deal w/ Administration, Neles Tebay, Noted West Papuan Peace Activist, Dies at 55

Rep. Ilhan Omar Faces Death Threats & "Dangerous Hate Campaign" as Right-Wing Attacks Continue
Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:48:19 -0400
Minnesota freshman Congressmember Ilhan Omar says death threats against her have spiked in number since President Trump tweeted a video juxtaposing her image with footage of the 9/11 attacks. Trump posted the video Friday with the caption, "WE WILL NEVER FORGET." Trump's tweet intercut video of the World Trade Center towers burning with video of Omar speaking about the increasing attacks on the Muslim American community after 9/11. Congressmember Omar's comments were originally taken out of context and circulated by right-wing media, from The Daily Caller to Fox News. Congressmember Omar said in a statement, "This is endangering lives. It has to stop." We speak with Moustafa Bayoumi, the author of "This Muslim American Life: Dispatches from the War on Terror." His Guardian article is headlined "Ilhan Omar has become the target of a dangerous hate campaign." Bayoumi is an English professor at Brooklyn College at the City University of New York. He is also the author of "How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America."

Denied Entry to U.S., BDS Co-Founder Omar Barghouti Condemns McCarthyite Repression in U.S. & Israel
Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:32:27 -0400
Critics are demanding answers after the Trump administration refused to allow prominent Palestinian human rights activist Omar Barghouti to enter the United States for a speaking tour, despite his valid U.S. visa. Barghouti is co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, an international campaign to pressure Israel to comply with international law and respect Palestinian rights. When he arrived at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on April 10, Barghouti was told the United States was denying him entry. He was not given an explanation. Barghouti and his supporters say the move was motivated by his involvement with the BDS movement, calling it a form of "McCarthyite repression." We reached Omar Barghouti in Ramallah to talk about his travel ban, the growth of the BDS movement and attempts to quash it, and the recent Israeli election that saw Benjamin Netanyahu re-elected prime minister for a fifth term.

France Mourns as Fire Rips Through Historic Notre-Dame Cathedral That Has Stood for Centuries
Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:14:33 -0400
France is reeling after a massive fire tore through Paris's beloved Notre-Dame cathedral, built 800 years ago and a celebrated landmark around the world. Parisians looked on in shock Monday as around 400 firefighters attempted to get the blaze under control—some onlookers engaging in prayers and religious songs. The fire claimed the cathedral's spire and ravaged parts of the interior, but the iconic twin medieval towers remain standing, as does the rest of the stone structure. Two of France's wealthiest men have pledged over $330 million to the reconstruction effort. The European Union has also vowed to help rebuild the church. Authorities have launched an investigation into how the fire started, but ruled out arson, saying they believed it was started by accident, likely related to the ongoing $180 million renovation of the building. We speak with Anne Lester, associate professor of medieval history at Johns Hopkins University, about the role of Notre-Dame in French cultural and spiritual life, as well as its significance to the wider world.

Headlines for April 16, 2019
Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Flames Engulf Historic Notre-Dame Cathedral as France Vows to Rebuild, Jerusalem: Firefighters Put Out Blaze at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dems Subpoena Deutsche Bank as They Probe Trump Finances, DOJ: Redacted Mueller Report Will Be Released April 18, Measles on the Rise Around the World, Up 300% from 2018, Man Charged with Hate Crimes over Fires at 3 Black Louisiana Churches, Bernie Sanders Releases Tax Returns in Run-up to 2020, Ex-MA Governor William Weld Enters Race for 2020 GOP Nomination, Trump's Transgender Military Ban Goes into Effect, Chicago Police Arrest Loyola Grad Workers Protesting Unfair Wages, Interior Dept. Launches Probes into New Secretary Bernhardt, Sen. Warren Unveils Public Lands Proposal, Incl. Ban on Drilling, Climate Activists Stage Week of Actions Across Europe, Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Addresses EU Leaders, to Meet with Pope, Museum of Natural History Cancels Event with Brazilian President Bolsonaro, 2019 Pulitzer Prize Honors Reporting on Gun Violence, Trump, Rohingya

Allan Nairn: Indonesian General Tied to Mass Killings Plots to Arrest Critics If He Wins Presidency
Mon, 15 Apr 2019 08:47:38 -0400
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is better known as "Jokowi," is up for re-election on Wednesday. His chief rival is Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces military commander and the former son-in-law of Indonesia's longtime dictator Suharto. It is a rematch of the 2014 election that Jokowi won by almost 6 percentage points. Investigative journalist Allan Nairn has just uncovered shocking plans made by Prabowo for if he wins the presidency. According to minutes of a campaign strategy session obtained by Nairn, Prabowo has made plans to stage mass arrests of political opponents and his current allies. Nairn reports Prabowo also wants to restore Indonesia's Army to the role it played in the U.S.-backed Suharto dictatorship which lasted from 1967 to 1998. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation and the third-largest democracy in the world behind India and the United States. We speak with Allan Nairn in Indonesia.

Bill McKibben: Green New Deal Is a Chance to "Remake Not Just a Broken Planet, But a Broken Society"
Mon, 15 Apr 2019 08:27:25 -0400
President Trump signed two executive orders last week to facilitate the approval of pipeline projects at a federal level, limiting states' ability to regulate such projects. The move is intended in part to clear the way for permitting on the northeastern Constitution pipeline, which has stalled after New York invoked the Clean Water Act to reject the project on environmental grounds. We speak with Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org and the author of the new book "Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?"

"Falter": In New Book, Bill McKibben Asks If the Human Game Has Begun to Play Itself Out
Mon, 15 Apr 2019 08:13:27 -0400
Thousands are taking to the streets in London today to demand radical action to combat the climate crisis. Protesters with the group Extinction Rebellion have set up encampments and roadblocks across Central London and say they'll stay in the streets for at least a week. It's just the beginning of a series of global actions that will unfold in the coming days, as activists around the world raise the alarm about government inaction in the face of the growing climate catastrophe. The London protests come just days after schoolchildren around the globe left school again on Friday for the weekly "strike for climate" and as the push for the Green New Deal continues to build momentum in the United States. The deal—backed by Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey—seeks to transform the U.S. economy through funding renewable energy while ending U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. We speak with climate activist and journalist Bill McKibben, who has been on the front lines of the fight to save the planet for decades. Thirty years ago, he wrote "The End of Nature," the first book about climate change for a general audience. He's just published a new book titled "Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?"

Headlines for April 15, 2019
Mon, 15 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Democrats Slam Trump Threat to "Release" Immigrants to Sanctuary Cities, Rep. Ilhan Omar Sees Spike in Death Threats After Trump 9/11 Attack, NYC: Yemeni Bodegas Boycott NY Post over Cover Attacking Rep. Omar, ICC Will Not Investigate U.S. War Crimes in Afghanistan, Sudan: Military Leadership Challenged by Ongoing Protests, Algeria: Protesters Call for Removal of Ruling Elite After Fall of Bouteflika, Libya: U.N. Warns of Mounting Casualties as Fighting Escalates, Gaza: Israeli Forces Shoot and Kill Palestinian Teen, Pakistan: Minority Hazara Protest After Suicide Bomb Kills 24, South Korea Lifts 66-Year-Old Abortion Ban, Ohio Governor Signs "Fetal Heartbeat" Bill into Law, House Dems Set New Deadline for IRS to Hand Over Trump Tax Returns, Pete Buttigieg Launches 2020 Presidential Run

Chomsky: Trump Radically Interfered with Israel's Election to Help Re-elect Netanyahu
Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:43:43 -0400
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is headed to a record fifth term in office after narrowing defeating former military chief Benny Gantz. In a discussion with Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Noam Chomsky talks about how President Trump directly interfered with the Israel election by repeatedly helping Netanyahu, from moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem to recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights in defiance of international law.

Chomsky: Arrest of Assange Is "Scandalous" and Highlights Shocking Extraterritorial Reach of U.S.
Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:35:29 -0400
Attorneys for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are vowing to fight his possible extradition to the United States following his arrest in London, when British police forcibly removed Assange from the Ecuadorean Embassy, where he had taken asylum for almost seven years. On Thursday night, Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman spoke to Noam Chomsky about Assange's arrest, WikiLeaks and American power.

Chomsky: Nuclear Weapons, Climate Change & the Undermining of Democracy Threaten Future of Planet
Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:21:57 -0400
As President Trump pulls out of key nuclear agreements with Russia and moves to expand the U.S. nuclear arsenal, Noam Chomsky looks at how the threat of nuclear war remains one of the most pressing issues facing mankind. In a speech at the Old South Church in Boston, Chomsky also discusses the threat of climate change and the undermining of democracy across the globe.

Noam Chomsky: We Must Confront the "Ultranationalist, Reactionary" Movements Growing Across Globe
Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:11:10 -0400
On Thursday night, hundreds of people packed into the Old South Church in Boston to hear the world-renowned dissident and linguist Noam Chomsky speak. He looked back at the rise of fascism in the 20th century and the growing ultranationalist movements of today, from Brazil and the United States to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Headlines for April 12, 2019
Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Julian Assange's Lawyers Vow to Fight His Extradition to the United States, Ecuadorean Ex-President Criticizes Successor for Allowing Assange to Be Arrested, Trump Claims "I Know Nothing About WikiLeaks" Despite Praising Site Repeatedly in 2016, Sudanese Protesters Denounce Military Rule, Call for Civilian Government, Report: White House Pushed Plan to Send Migrants to Sanctuary Cities to Punish Dems, Official Who Compared Family Detention Centers to Summer Camps Set to Become Head of ICE, More Offshore Drilling Feared as Senate Confirms Ex-Oil Lobbyist to Head Interior, Report: Amazon, Netflix, IBM, Chevron Paid No Federal Taxes in 2018 Despite Billions in Profits, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Unveils "Real Corporate Profits Tax" to Force Big Companies to Pay Fair Share, BDS Movement Co-Founder Omar Barghouti Denied Entry to the United States, Video: Police Filmed Dragging Teen Down Flight of Stairs & Tasering Her at Chicago High School, Georgetown Students Vote to Create Slavery Reparations Fund, 31,000 Workers at Stop & Shop Launch Strike

Sudanese Military Topples Omar al-Bashir as Anti-Government Protesters Vow to Stay in Streets
Thu, 11 Apr 2019 08:50:38 -0400
After months of protest, the Sudanese military ousted President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday, ending his nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule. Tens of thousands of protesters marched in celebration on the streets of Sudan. The military has set up a transitional military council to rule the country for two years, according to a televised statement by Sudan's minister of defense. The news comes after months of protests demanding al-Bashir's resignation. Protesters have been staging a massive sit-in in the capital, Khartoum, since Saturday. Rights groups say at least 50 people have been killed in Sudanese protests since December. The government has been accused of jailing hundreds of activists and critics of the president, shutting down press outlets and barring foreign reporters from covering the protests. We speak with Marine Alneel, a Sudanese activist who was arrested for demonstrating against al-Bashir in January.

"Bring It On": Julian Assange's 2015 Message to the U.S. Justice Department About Possible Charges
Thu, 11 Apr 2019 08:45:05 -0400
Earlier today, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested in London and is now facing charges in the U.S. for helping Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning hack a government computer. We reair part of our 2015 interview with Assange from inside the Ecuadorean Embassy, where he had sought asylum. "See full archive of Democracy Now's interviews with Julian Assange":https://www.democracynow.org/appearances/julian_assange

Julian Assange of WikiLeaks Arrested in London; Faces U.S. Charge Related to Chelsea Manning Leaks
Thu, 11 Apr 2019 08:13:42 -0400
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested in London. Earlier today, British police forcibly removed Assange from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has been living since 2012. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement that Assange was arrested on behalf of the United States authorities. The U.S. has charged Assange with helping Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning hack a government computer. The indictment was unsealed shortly after his arrest. We speak to Renata Ávila, a member of Assange's legal team, as well as British human rights attorney Geoffrey Robertson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald and former Justice Department attorney Jesselyn Radack.

Headlines for April 11, 2019
Thu, 11 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
British Police Arrest WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange, Sudan: Military Overthrows Pres. al-Bashir After Months of Protests, Dems Demand Evidence After AG Barr Tells Senators FBI Spied on Trump Campaign, ICE Acting Dir. Leaves Post in Ongoing Purge of Immigration Officials, Politico: Trump Considering Ex-Head of Hate Group for DHS Role, Dems Introduce Bill to Reverse Trump's Muslim & Anti-Refugee Bans, Israel: Netanyahu Declares Victory as Gov't Moves Further to Right, India: Elections Kick Off as Hindu Nationalist PM Modi Seeks 2nd Term, EU Leaders Extend Brexit Deadline to Oct. 31, Louisiana: Suspect Arrested over Fires at 3 Black Churches, House Dems Pass Net Neutrality Bill, But Senate Fate Remains Bleak, Bernie Sanders Unveils Revamped Medicare for All

Academic Freedom at Risk After Decades of Right-Wing Attacks and Cuts to Education
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:43:01 -0400
As higher education faces an increasingly dire crisis of underfunding, we look at one of the consequences of this crisis: the growing threat to academic freedom. Academic and author Henry Reichman takes on this threat in a new book, out this week, titled "The Future of Academic Freedom." In it, he writes, "Academic capitalism—or, as many term it, 'corporatization'—has greatly impacted academic work and the ability of the faculty to unite in defense of professional norms, including academic freedom." Academic capitalism is just one of a number of topics Reichman tackles in the book, which starts by asking what academic freedom is, and expands to look at the loss of public funding for institutions of higher education and the harassment of faculty members for political speech.

A Vote to Maintain Apartheid? Israel's Netanyahu Set to Win 5th Term After Vow to Annex West Bank
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:13:42 -0400
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be on the verge of securing a record fifth term in office as votes continue to be counted in Tuesday's election. Last night, Netanyahu and his top challenger, ex-military chief Benny Gantz, both claimed victory in the tight race. With most of the votes counted, Netanyahu's Likud party and Gantz's newly formed Blue and White party have both secured 35 seats in the Knesset, but Netanyahu has a clearer path to forming a coalition government with the help of his right-wing allies. Tuesday's election came just days after Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank in defiance of international law, and more than a week after Netanyahu thanked President Trump for recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. Netanyahu ran for re-election despite facing possible criminal indictments in three corruption cases. We speak with Israeli journalist Haggai Matar and Palestinian attorney Diana Buttu.

Headlines for April 10, 2019
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Israel: Netanyahu on Track for 5th Term in Office, DHS "Purge" Continues with Deputy Sec. Claire Grady, Reports: WH Wants to Put Border Agents in Charge of Asylum Interviews, AG Barr to Congress: No Plans to Release Unredacted Mueller Report, Mnuchin Says Treasury Consulted with WH on Trump Tax Returns, Bipartisan Tax Bill Would Make Free IRS E-Filing System Illegal, Airbnb Reverses Ban on Listings for Illegal Israeli Settlements, NYC Declares Public Health Emergency over Measles Outbreak, BuzzFeed: GOP Told Drug Cos. Not to Comply with Congressional Request, Prosecutors Add Money Laundering Charges in School Admissions Scheme, Trump Exec. Orders Aim to Facilitate Approval on Pipeline Projects, Spring Temperatures in Alaska 20 Degrees Above Normal, Congress Holds White Nationalism Hearing; Online Commenters Unleash Flood of Hate Speech, New Zealand Bans Assault Weapons Weeks After Christchurch Massacre

Stephen Miller's Uncle: Trump's Anti-Immigrant Comments Demonize Asylum Seekers & Stir Racist Hatred
Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:48:34 -0400
As his administration intensifies anti-immigrant policies at the border, President Trump has reportedly put adviser Stephen Miller in charge of the administration's immigration policy. The Wall Street Journal reports Miller has backed the reinstatement of Trump's family separation policy and has been pushing officials at the Homeland Security and Justice Departments to "get in line" with a more hard-line immigration approach. This news comes as Trump told the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership Saturday, "Our country's full. What can you do? We can't handle any more. Our country is full." We speak with Stephen Miller's uncle, Dr. David Glosser, who says Trump's comments echo the rhetoric of Nazi Germany. Glosser is a retired neuropsychologist and former faculty member at Boston University School of Medicine and Jefferson Medical College. Last year, he wrote a piece for Politico magazine headlined "Stephen Miller Is an Immigration Hypocrite. I Know Because I'm His Uncle."

Kirstjen Nielsen's Cruel Legacy: Outgoing DHS Secretary Proudly Separated Families & Caged Children
Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:40:36 -0400
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has been forced out of her role at the helm of President Trump's immigration policy after reportedly resisting a move by the president to revive his family separation policy at the U.S. border. We look at Nielsen's legacy with Renée Feltz, a Democracy Now! correspondent and producer who has long reported on the criminalization of immigrants, family detention and the business of detention. Nielsen oversaw Trump's "zero tolerance" family separation policy last year and came under fire by Democrats for lying to Congress about the policy, as well as for withholding information on children who died in U.S. custody. At least two children died under Nielsen's leadership: 8-year-old Felipe Alonzo Gómez and 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquín.

Trump Purges DHS Leadership, Threatening to Make Immigration Policies Even More Draconian
Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:33:52 -0400
President Trump is intensifying a crackdown on immigration as he purges the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security. On Sunday, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was forced out after reportedly resisting a move by Trump to revive his family separation policy at the U.S. southern border. Nielsen had overseen Trump's "zero tolerance" family separation policy last year and came under fire by Democrats for lying to Congress about the policy, as well as for withholding information on children who died in U.S. custody. On Monday, the White House announced Secret Service Director Randolph "Tex" Alles had also been removed from his position. Meanwhile, Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Ronald Vitiello to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement, indicating he wasn't "tough" enough for the role. Trump has named Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan acting DHS secretary. McAleenan reportedly was open to reinstating a form of family separation in which families would have to choose between being separated or being taken into long-term detention with their children. We speak with Erika Andiola, the chief advocacy officer for RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.

Has Trump Locked U.S. and Iran into a "Permanent State of Enmity" by Listing IRGC as Terror Group?
Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:16:09 -0400
In an unprecedented move, the Trump administration has designated Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in sweeping economic and travel restrictions on its members. This marks the first time the United States has formally labeled an arm of another country's military a terrorist group. The Pentagon and CIA opposed the decision, warning it could put U.S. troops at risk. Key backers of the move included national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who formally announced the new policy on Monday. The step is the latest in the White House's efforts to isolate Iran after the U.S. withdrew from the landmark Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on the country last year despite widespread international condemnation. We speak with Trita Parsi, the founder of the National Iranian American Council. His most recent book is titled "Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy." Parsi is an adjunct associate professor in the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University.

Headlines for April 9, 2019
Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Secret Service Director Removed in WH "Purge" of Immigration Officials, Reports: Trump Trying to Reinstate Family Separations at Border, CA Judge Blocks Trump Administration's "Remain in Mexico" Policy, Iran Labels U.S. CENTCOM a Terror Group After IRCG Terror Designation, Israelis Head to Polls as Future of PM Netanyahu Remains Unclear, Libya: Tripoli Airport Closed as Fighting Near Capital Intensifies, Afghanistan: 4 Americans Killed Amid Spate of Violent Attacks, U.S. Revokes Visa of ICC Prosecutor Investigating War Crimes in Afghanistan, 3 FDNY Sept. 11 Rescue Workers Die as 9/11 Fund At Risk of Expiring, Defendants in College Admissions Scandal Plead Guilty to Fraud, Democratic Reps Eric Swalwell and Tim Ryan Join 2020 Race, Louisiana: Authorities Investigate Arsons at 3 Black Churches, Reports: Trump Defunds Obama-Era Conservation Program, New U.S. Lawsuit Alleges Boeing Ignored Software Flaws in 737 MAX, Blase Bonpane, Noted Human Rights Defender & Office of the Americas Dir., Dies

Kings Bay Plowshares: Peace Activists Face 25 Years for Action at U.S. Nuclear Submarine Base
Mon, 08 Apr 2019 08:27:27 -0400
A group of peace activists have been jailed for over a year before trial for entering the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia last April to protest U.S. nuclear weapons. The action took place on April 4, 2018—the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination. Armed with hammers, crime scene tape and baby bottles containing their own blood, seven anti-nuclear activists secretly entered Kings Bay—one of the largest nuclear submarine bases in the world—under the cover of night. Their goal was to symbolically disarm the six nuclear ballistic missile submarines kept there. Each submarine carries 20 Trident thermonuclear weapons. One year after this historic action, three of the Plowshares activists remain jailed in Georgia. The other four are out on $50,000 bond with electronic ankle monitors. All seven face up to 25 years in prison for their actions. On Thursday, global leaders, activists and scholars, including Nobel Peace Prize-winning South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Daniel Ellsberg and Noam Chomsky, released a petition addressed to U.S. Attorney General William Barr demanding all charges against the Kings Bay 7 be dropped immediately. Democracy Now! recently spoke with the four Plowshares activists who are out on bond: Martha Hennessy, Carmen Trotta, Patrick O'Neill and Clare Grady.

A New Nuclear Arms Race: As NATO Marks 70th Anniversary, Threat of Nuclear Confrontation Grows
Mon, 08 Apr 2019 08:14:12 -0400
Commemorations—as well as protests—were held last week to mark the 70th anniversary of the formation of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. President Trump used the anniversary to push for NATO countries to increase military spending. During an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump demanded Germany and other NATO countries increase their military spending from 2 to 4 percent of GDP. The push for more military spending could benefit U.S. weapons manufacturers including Boeing. This comes as Acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan is under investigation for improperly advocating on behalf of Boeing, where he worked for 30 years. We speak with Joe Cirincione, president of the global security foundation Ploughshares Fund.

Headlines for April 8, 2019
Mon, 08 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Kirstjen Nielsen Steps Down as DHS Secretary, Gov't: It May Take 2 Years to Reunite Separated Migrant Families, NY Man Arrested for Threatening to Murder Rep. Ilhan Omar, Trump Attacks Migrants, Rep. Omar in Speech to Conservative Jewish Group, Arizona: Man Dies in ICE Custody After Exhibiting Flu Symptoms, Yemen: Air Raid Kills At Least 13 Civilians, Incl. 7 Children in Sana'a, Netanyahu Says He Will Annex West Bank Settlements If Re-elected, Libya: 21 People Killed as Renegade Force Advances on Tripoli, Sudan: Security Forces Crack Down on Growing Popular Uprising, U.S. Labels Iran Revolutionary Guard as Terror Group, Motel 6 to Pay $12 Million for Giving ICE Personal Guest Info, Hampshire College President Steps Down After Months of Protests, American Airlines Cancels More Flights Due to Boeing 737 MAX Fixes, NYC: Activists Protest Whitney Museum Board Member, Maker of Tear Gas

How Trump's Call for More Military Spending by NATO Countries Benefits U.S. Weapons Manufacturers
Fri, 05 Apr 2019 08:50:40 -0400
As President Donald Trump pushes for more defense spending from NATO countries, we speak with Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, about how Trump's foreign policy benefits weapons manufacturers. During an Oval Office meeting Tuesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Trump demanded Germany and other NATO countries increase their military spending from 2 to 4% of GDP. But Cirincione says NATO's biggest problem is not insufficient funding. "The biggest problem NATO faces is the president of the United States, who keeps putting in doubt U.S. commitment to the alliance, who keeps putting in doubt whether the U.S. will come to the aid of NATO allies if they're attacked," he says. Cirincione also calls national security adviser John Bolton a "serial arms control killer."

"Corporate Homicide": Ralph Nader Demands Boeing Recall Jets After Ethiopia Crash Kills His Niece
Fri, 05 Apr 2019 08:32:53 -0400
A wrongful death case was filed against Boeing on the same day that a preliminary investigation into last month's Ethiopian Airlines crash revealed damning details about the aircraft manufacturer and raised new questions about whether it gave pilots proper instructions for navigating new software. The findings were released Thursday in Ethiopia, based on the analysis of a team of 18 investigators, less than a month after the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash killed all 157 people on board. The report found similarities in the technical issues experienced by pilots on both the Ethiopian Airlines flight and October's Indonesian Lion Air Flight 610, which also crashed just minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 people on board. Both flights were on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. On Thursday, the first American lawsuit related to the devastating crash was filed against Boeing on behalf of the family of 24-year-old Samya Stumo, who died on the flight. Samya was the grandniece of Ralph Nader, the longtime consumer advocate, corporate critic and former presidential candidate. We speak with Nader about his calls to ground all 737 MAX 8 aircraft and the legacy of his grandniece. We also speak with Paul Hudson, the president of Flyers Rights, the largest nonprofit airline passenger rights organization in the U.S.

Meet the Family Suing Boeing in First U.S. Wrongful Death Suit Since Ethiopia Crash Kills 157
Fri, 05 Apr 2019 08:14:13 -0400
The first American lawsuit has been filed against Boeing for its role in the Ethiopian Airlines crash that left 157 people dead last month. The family of 24-year-old Samya Stumo, who died in the crash, sued Boeing and filed a claim against the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday. They filed the suit in federal court in Chicago, where Boeing is headquartered. It reads in part, "Blinded by its greed, Boeing haphazardly rushed the 737 MAX 8 to market, with the knowledge and tacit approval of the United States Federal Aviation Administration ... Boeing's decision to put profits over safety ... and the regulators that enabled it, must be held accountable for their reckless actions." Samya Stumo's father, mother and brother spoke alongside their lawyer at a press conference announcing the lawsuit.

Headlines for April 5, 2019
Fri, 05 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0400
Congress Approves Resolution to End U.S. Support for War on Yemen, Report Blames Ethiopian Crash on Boeing 737 MAX Software Failure, Boeing CEO Apologizes for Crashes That Killed 346 People, Trump Threatens Mexico with Auto Tariffs over Migration, Migrants Say Mexico Is Denying Humanitarian Visas Under U.S. Pressure, 280 Arrested in Texas ICE Raid as Trump Heads to Border, Rogue Libyan General Advances on Tripoli, Mozambique Faces Food Emergency as Cholera Cases Mount, House Reauthorizes Violence Against Women Act Over NRA Objections, Trump to Nominate Herman Cain to Federal Reserve Board, Trump Pushed for Speedy Confirmation of IRS Chief Counsel Nominee, WikiLeaks: Assange May Be Expelled from Embassy Within Hours or Days, Chelsea Manning, Jailed for Resisting Grand Jury, Released from Solitary Confinement, Alabama's "Broken" Prisons Rife with Sexual Assault and Violence, New Mexico Decriminalizes Minor Marijuana Possession Cases, Johns Hopkins Sit-in Protest Challenges Armed Cops, ICE Contracts

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