Hurricane Gustav Slams Louisiana: A Report from Jordan Flaherty in New Orleans
2 Sep 2008
Hurricane Gustav slammed the US Gulf Coast just west of New Orleans on Monday but has now weakened to a tropical depression. According to the National Hurricane Center, Gustav remains a flood threat as it moves over central Louisiana. Forecasters also warn that another storm, Hurricane Hanna, could hit the Gulf Coast by midweek. [includes rush transcript]

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) Condemns Police Intimidation of Journalists
2 Sep 2008
Democratic Congressmember Keith Ellison of Minnesota has been back in the Twin Cities this week closely monitoring the treatment of protesters and journalists at the RNC. He joins me now in St. Paul.

Amy Goodman & Two Democracy Now! Producers Arrested at RNC Protest
2 Sep 2008
More than 280 people were arrested here in St. Paul Monday, the opening day of the Republican National Convention. Among them were several journalists covering the protests in the streets, including three of us at Democracy Now! Amy was detained trying to question police officers about the arrests of Democracy Now! producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for September 2, 2008
2 Sep 2008
Hurricane Gustav Hits Louisiana; Devastation Less Than Expected, Police Arrest Nearly 300 RNC Protesters in St. Paul, Cindy McCain and Laura Bush Speak at RNC, Sarah Palin Linked to Sen. Stevens 527, Thailand PM Declares State of Emergency, Five Afghan Children Killed, Report: Both Russia and Georgia Used Cluster Bombs

In Surprise Move, McCain Taps Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as Running Mate
1 Sep 2008
Republican candidate John McCain has shocked political analysts and even members of his own party with the selection of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential nominee. The 44 year old Palin becomes the first woman to ever run on a Republican presidential ticket. Her surprise choosing came as a shock to political observers who hadn’t even put her in contention. Palin has been Alaska’s governor for less than two years. Prior to that she served as mayor of Wasilla, a town of less than 10,000 people.

“It’s a Chance for [Republicans] to Make Some Gesture About Katrina” – David Brooks Reacts to Hurricane Gustav and the RNC
1 Sep 2008
Democracy Now! runs into New York Times columnist David Brooks at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. We get his reaction to Barack Oabam’s nomination acceptance speech in Denver, John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin for the vice-presidential nomination and the effect Hurricane Gustav will have on the Republican convention. “McCain should go down to New Orleans, grab onto a light post, Geraldo-style and do the speech sideways, holding on while the wind blows him,” Brooks says.

After Being Detained in Preemptive House Raid, Democracy Now!’s Elizabeth Press Files Report on Police Crackdown in St. Paul
1 Sep 2008
The protests against the Republican convention have barely begun, but the police have already begun their crackdown against anyone perceived to be involved the demonstrations. Police in the Twin Cities worked with federal officials to detain dozens of activists and conduct a series of coordinated raids on a number of locations. Among them was Democracy Now!’s Elizabeth Press, who was detained, along with several others, in a house raid on the video collective I-Witness Video. Press files a report from the streets of the Twin Cities. [includes rush transcript]

As Hurricane Gustav Approaches, Blackwater Seeks Personnel to Deploy to Gulf Coast
1 Sep 2008
The private military firm, Blackwater Worldwide is seeking personnel that could possibly be deployed into areas affected by Hurricane Gustav. We speak with Democracy Now! correspondent, Jeremy Scahill who first broke the story of armed guards working for the private security firm Blackwater being deployed in the streets of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Three Years After Katrina, New Orleans Levee System Still Vulnerable
1 Sep 2008
Nearly two million residents have fled from coastal Louisiana and New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav heads towards the Gulf Coast, but tens of thousands have also left coastal Mississippi, Alabama and southeastern Texas. Hurricane Gustav has also jeopardized this week’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul where Republican officials are already scaling back the RNC program. Despite the Bush administration drawing widespread criticism for its response to Katrina three years ago, the levee system in New Orleans remains vulnerable.

Vietnam Veterans for Peace Demonstrate Against Fellow Vet John McCain
1 Sep 2008
On Sunday, Veterans for Peace, a large national organization made up of veterans of every war from Korea to Vietnam and Iraq, led a protest in the streets of St. Paul against the Republican National Convention. Among the members of Vets for Peace, there is a sizable contingent of Vietnam War vets. So too is the man they are demonstrating against – the presumptive presidential nominee John McCain. Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill files a report from the streets of the Twin Cities.

Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” Weighs in on Sarah Palin, Hurricane Gustav and the Media’s Coverage of the Conventions
1 Sep 2008
We catch up with Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central in St. Paul airport. Stewart discusses Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech, John McCain’s decision to tap Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, Hurricane Gustav and much more.

St. Paul Police Conduct Mass Preemptive Raids Ahead of Republican Convention
1 Sep 2008
Armed groups of police in the Twin Cities have raided more than half-a-dozen locations since Friday night in a series of “preemptive raids” before the Republican National Convention. The raids and detentions have targeted activists planning to protest the convention, as well as journalists and videographers documenting police actions at protests. [includes rush transcript]

Nearly Two Million Flee Gulf Coast as Hurricane Gustav Approaches
1 Sep 2008
Nearly two million people have evacuated their homes as Hurricane Gustav heads towards the Gulf Coast. The Category 3 storm is expected to make landfall by midday today, with winds at 115 miles per hour. The evacuations come just days after New Orleans marked the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Gustav has also jeopardized this week’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Republican officials are already scaling back the RNC program. We go to New Orleans to speak with independent journalist, Jordan Flaherty. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for September 1, 2008
1 Sep 2008
Two Million Evacuate Gulf Ahead of Hurricane Gustav, Obama and McCain on Hurricane Gustav, McCain Taps Alaskan Governor to be Running Mate, Christian Right Praises McCain’s Selection of Palin, Palin Backs ANWR Drilling, Doubts Global Warming, FBI & St. Paul Police Carry Out ?Preemptive? House Raids, Nine Arrested at Veterans March in St. Paul, Bush Seeks New Congressional War on Terror Declaration, Pakistan Declares Ceasefire with Taliban Militants, Flooding in India Leaves One Million Homeless, Georgia and Russia Break Off Diplomatic Relations, US to Keep 28,000 Troops in Anbar After Security Handover, Free Gaza Actvists Return to Cyprus, GM Recalls One Million Vehicles, Report: Percentage of Unionized Workers Increases, Bush Considers Forcing Anti-Union Effort on Gov’t Contractors, SEIU Holds Labor Day Festival in St. Paul

Hundreds of Denver Residents in Historic African American Five Points Neighborhood Gather to Watch Obama Speech
29 Aug 2008
While Barack Obama spoke before over 84,000 people at Invesco Field, many residents of Denver gathered elsewhere in the city to watch his speech. Democracy Now! goes to the historic African American neighborhood of Five Points to get reaction from residents who converged to watch a live telecast in a tent set up by the organizers of the Denver Jazz and Blues Festival. [includes rush transcript]

Reactions to Obama Speech from the Stands of Spectators to Delegates on the Stadium Floor
29 Aug 2008
Part II of our interviews with spectators and delegates inside Mile High Stadium in Denver, where Barack Obama addressed more than 84,000 people in the largest crowd at a Democratic convention in US history. [includes rush transcript]

Obama Launches Sharp Assault on McCain, Bush in Acceptance Speech
29 Aug 2008
In his historic acceptance speech, Sen. Barack Obama launched a sharp assault on Republican presidential rival John McCain and President Bush. Obama accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination before a record crowd of over 84,000 at Invesco Field in Denver. [includes rush transcript]

Michael Eric Dyson Puts Obama’s Address in Historical Context
29 Aug 2008
We discuss the significance of Barack Obama’s historic presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic convention with Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at Georgetown University, where he teaches Theology, English and African American Studies. He is also an ordained Baptist minister and the author of 16 books, including “April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.”s Death and How It Changed America” and “Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster.”

Rep. John Lewis, Rosey Grier, Wendell Pierce and Many More React to Obama Nomination from Stadium Floor
29 Aug 2008
Democracy Now! goes to the Mile High Stadium, where Barack Obama addressed more than 84,000 people in the largest crowd at a Democratic convention in US history, surpassing John F. Kennedy’s acceptance in 1960 at the L.A. Coliseum. An estimated 25 million people watched Obama on TV. We get reactions from the endless lines outside to the stands of spectators to the delegates on the stadium floor. [includes rush transcript]

In Front of Record Convention Crowd, Obama Accepts Democratic Nomination
29 Aug 2008
Senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination last night before a record convention crowd of over 84,000 at Invesco Field in Denver, becoming the first major party African American presidential nominee in US history. Obama’s nomination speech came on the forty-fifth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s ?I Have a Dream? speech at the March on Washington. We play an excerpt of his address. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for August 29, 2008
29 Aug 2008
Obama Accepts Nomination Before Record 84,000, Gore Backs Obama, Invokes 2000 Loss, McCain to Announce VP Candidate, Pentagon Disputes UN Account of Afghan Civilian Massacre, ?Free Gaza? Boats Begin Return from Historic Mission, Ex-Marine Acquitted in Killing Iraqi Prisoners, Gitmo Suicides Came Before News of Pending Release, Putin Accuses US of Stoking Georgia Conflict, Hurricane Gustav Kills 59 in Haiti, Ex-Argentine Junta Generals Sentenced to Life Terms, Jailed Lobbyist Abramoff Could See Early Release, Israeli Peace Activist Abie Nathan Dies at 81

Melissa Harris-Lacewell Urges Obama to Draw on Political Rhetoric of African American Women Like Hamer, Chisholm & Jordan
28 Aug 2008
The Democratic Party is preparing to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King today ahead of Barack Obama’s nomination speech. While Obama is expected to reference King’s speech tonight, one of his longtime supporters is urging him to also draw on the political rhetoric of African American women, including Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm. We speak with Melissa Harris-Lacewell. [includes rush transcript]

Iraq Veterans Against the War Lead Thousands in Protest March to Democratic Convention
28 Aug 2008
Protests against the Democratic National Convention continued Wednesday as members of Iraq Veterans Against the War led an unpermitted march to the Pepsi Center to call on Barack Obama to back an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The march began at a concert by the rock band Rage Against the Machine sponsored by IVAW and the Alliance for Real Democracy. Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films files a report from the streets.

Ralph Nader on the Democrats’ Corporate Ties, the Silencing of Third Parties, and Why Biden is the “MasterCard Senator”
28 Aug 2008
While Sen. Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last night, he was not the only presidential contender in town. Independent candidate Ralph Nader held a rally Wednesday at the University of Denver calling for an end to the corporate control over the presidential debates. When Obama selected Joe Biden to be his running mate, Nader dubbed Biden the “MasterCard Senator” because of his close ties to the credit card industry. [includes rush transcript – partial]

Biden Accepts Democratic VP Nomination
28 Aug 2008
Sen. Joseph Biden headlined the third night at the convention as he accepted the vice-presidential nomination. Biden accepted the nomination with a speech that linked Republican John McCain to the foreign policies of President Bush. We play highlights of his address. [includes rush transcript]