Headlines for May 25, 201025 May 2010Expanded US Military Operations Include Intel for Potential Iran Attack, Fears Grow of Continued Oil Spill Through August, MMS Regulators Allowed Oil Officials to Fill Out Inspection Forms, Democratic Senators Urge Probe into Transocean Dividends, 7 Greenpeace Activists Arrested in Anti-Drilling Protest, More US Troops Now in Afghanistan than in Iraq, Measure Proposes Ending Emergency War Funding, Admin Backs Compromise on Ending “Don’t Ask, Don?t Tell”, Supreme Court OKs Chicago Firefighters Suit over Discriminatory Tests, Ex-Sri Lankan Forces: Top Commanders Ordered Killings of Tamil Prisoners, US Continues Funding Segregated West Bank Roads, Free Gaza Movement “Freedom Flotilla” Heads to Gaza, Nearly 40 Arrested in New York Immigration Protest, Iraq War Vet Commits Suicide at Ohio Military Hospital, Activists Mark 20th Anniversary of Earth First Car Bombing
From Japan to Guam to Hawai’i, Activists Resist Expansion of US Military Presence in the Pacific24 May 2010In Japan, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama sparked outrage this weekend when he announced he has decided to keep an American air base on the island of Okinawa. Before last year?s historic election victory, Hatoyama had vowed to move the base off of Okinawa or even out of Japan. On Sunday, he said he had decided to relocate the base to the north side of the island, as originally agreed upon with the US. Hatoyama?s decision was met with anger on Okinawa, where 90,000 residents rallied last month to oppose the base. A number of activists opposed to US military bases were recently here in New York for the International Conference for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just and Sustainable World. Anjali Kamat and I spoke to three activists from Japan, Guam and Hawai’i. [includes rush transcript]
Trial Begins for Ex-Chicago Police Lt. Accused of Torturing More than 100 African American Men24 May 2010A former police commander accused of overseeing the torture of more than 100 African American men goes on trial today in Chicago. Former Lieutenant Jon Burge is accused of lying when he denied in a civil lawsuit that he and other detectives had tortured anyone. He faces a maximum of forty-five years in prison if convicted of all charges. The accusations of torture date back forty years, but Burge has avoided prosecution until now. For nearly two decades, beginning in 1971, Burge was at the epicenter of what has been described as the systematic torture of dozens of black men to coerce confessions. In total, more than 100 people in Chicago say they were subjected to abuse, including having guns forced into their mouths, suffocation with bags placed over their heads, and electric shocks inflicted to their genitals. We speak to attorney Flint Taylor and torture victim Darrell Cannon. [includes rush transcript]
Headlines for May 24, 201024 May 2010Tensions Escalate on Korean Peninsula, No Federal Charges for AIG Executives, FDIC: 1/10 of US Banks in Trouble, Court Rules Against Prisoners at Bagram, BP Rejects EPA Demand to Use Less-Toxic Dispersants, Bipartisan Commission to Probe BP Oil Spill, Despite Moratorium, New Offshore Drilling Permits OKed, Rand Paul: Obama’s Criticism of BP Is “Un-American”, Sen. McConnell Urges GOP to Back Rand Paul, Report: Haitian Police Shot Dead at Least 12 Prisoners After Earthquake, Aiyana Jones Buried in Detroit, Cop Killers in Arkansas Tied to Patriot Movement, Texas Approves New Right-Wing School Curriculum, Mothers of Detained American Hikers Return to US, Report: Israel Offered Nukes to Apartheid South Africa, Israeli Nuclear Whistleblower Vanunu Sent Back to Jail
Trial Begins for Ex-Chicago Police Lt. Accused of Torturing More than 100 African American Men24 May 2010A former police commander accused of overseeing the torture of more than 100 African American men goes on trial today in Chicago. Former Lieutenant Jon Burge is accused of lying when he denied in a civil lawsuit that he and other detectives had tortured anyone. He faces a maximum of forty-five years in prison if convicted of all charges. The accusations of torture date back forty years, but Burge has avoided prosecution until now. For nearly two decades, beginning in 1971, Burge was at the epicenter of what has been described as the systematic torture of dozens of black men to coerce confessions. In total, more than 100 people in Chicago say they were subjected to abuse, including having guns forced into their mouths, suffocation with bags placed over their heads, and electric shocks inflicted to their genitals. We speak to attorney Flint Taylor and torture victim Darrell Cannon. [includes rush transcript]
From Japan to Guam to Hawai’i, Activists Resist Expansion of US Military Presence in the Pacific24 May 2010In Japan, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama sparked outrage this weekend when he announced he has decided to keep an American air base on the island of Okinawa. Before last year?s historic election victory, Hatoyama had vowed to move the base off of Okinawa or even out of Japan. On Sunday, he said he had decided to relocate the base to the north side of the island, as originally agreed upon with the US. Hatoyama?s decision was met with anger on Okinawa, where 90,000 residents rallied last month to oppose the base. A number of activists opposed to US military bases were recently here in New York for the International Conference for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just and Sustainable World. Anjali Kamat and I spoke to three activists from Japan, Guam and Hawai’i.
Headlines for May 24, 201024 May 2010Tensions Escalate on Korean Peninsula, No Federal Charges for AIG Executives, FDIC: 1/10 of US Banks in Trouble, Court Rules Against Prisoners at Bagram, BP Rejects EPA Demand to Use Less-Toxic Dispersants, Bipartisan Commission to Probe BP Oil Spill, Despite Moratorium, New Offshore Drilling Permits OKed, Rand Paul: Obama’s Criticism of BP Is “Un-American”, Sen. McConnell Urges GOP to Back Rand Paul, Report: Haitian Police Shot Dead at Least 12 Prisoners After Earthquake, Aiyana Jones Buried in Detroit, Cop Killers in Arkansas Tied to Patriot Movement, Texas Approves New Right-Wing School Curriculum, Mothers of Detained American Hikers Return to US, Report: Israel Offered Nukes to Apartheid South Africa, Israeli Nuclear Whistleblower Vanunu Sent Back to Jail
Audio from 1998: Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) Hangs Up on Amy Goodman When Asked If He Has Ever Had an Affair21 May 2010Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) resigned his House seat today after acknowledging he had an affair with a female staffer earlier this week. Long an advocate for “family values,” Souder called for former President Bill Clinton to resign over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. On Sept. 17, 1998, during the Clinton impeachment scandal, Democracy Now! invited Rep. Souder and Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL) to discuss by phone a recent House vote on combating drugs. In the spirit of the times, Amy Goodman asked both men if they have ever had extramarital affairs. McCollum said, “I am—I am not, and I’m not, at this present time, involved in anything whatsoever, have not been.” When Souder was asked, he hung up the phone. [includes rush transcript]
BP Acknowledges Oil Spill Is Larger Than Previous Estimates21 May 2010The British oil company BP has been forced to admit the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is far larger than the company initially said. On Thursday, BP said it’s now capturing 5,000 barrels of oil a day from the leaking pipe—the same amount it had previously said was leaking every day. BP has declined to estimate how much oil is still escaping, but scientists say BP is siphoning just a fraction of the total leak. Independent scientists say the leak could be as large as 95,000 barrels of oil per day. We speak to Alaskan marine biologist Rick Steiner, who has been spending time in the Gulf region. [includes rush transcript]
GOP Senate Nominee Rand Paul of Kentucky Faces Firestorm After Suggesting Opposition to Civil Rights Act21 May 2010Rand Paul, the Republican Senate nominee from Kentucky, is scrambling to tamp down a growing firestorm over comments he made suggesting he does not favor portions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. We’re joined by North Carolina State University professor Blair Kelley, author of Right to Ride: Streetcar Boycotts and African American Citizenship in the Era of Plessy v. Ferguson, and Mike Ervin, a freelance journalist and a longtime activist with the disability rights groups ADAPT. We’re also joined by blogger Joe Sonka, who broke the story on a racist MySpace post that led to the resignation of Rand Paul’s former communications director, Christopher Hightower. [includes rush transcript]
Senate Passes Sweeping Financial Reform Bill; Lobbying Frenzy Expected as Measure Moves to Committee21 May 2010The Senate has passed a sweeping reform of financial regulation that’s been described as the biggest overhaul of financial rules since the 1930s. The 59-to-39 vote came largely on party lines. Two Democratic senators, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Maria Cantwell of Washington, voted against the bill, saying it does not go far enough in preventing another economic meltdown. Four Republicans also broke party ranks to support the measure. [includes rush transcript]
Headlines for May 21, 201021 May 2010Senate Passes Financial Reform Bill, BP Admits Oil Spill Is Larger Than Prior Estimates, Blair Resigns as National Intelligence Director, Jobless Benefit Claims Increase, Jailed US Hikers Reunite with Mothers in First Public Appearance Since Arrests, Caldern Urges US to Reinstate Assault Weapons Ban, US Probes Killings of Afghan Civilians, Maldives Hosts Afghan Peace Talks, Palestinians Continue Boycott of Israeli Settlement Goods, South Korea Accuses North Korea of Torpedoing Warship, Dalai Lama Encouraged by Tsunami, Haiti Earthquake Response, Cuban Musician Silvio Rodriguez Granted US Visa
Audio from 1998: Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) Hangs Up on Amy Goodman When Asked If He Has Ever Had an Affair21 May 2010Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) resigned his House seat today after acknowledging he had an affair with a female staffer earlier this week. Long an advocate for “family values,” Souder called for former President Bill Clinton to resign over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. On Sept. 17, 1998, during the Clinton impeachment scandal, Democracy Now! invited Rep. Souder and Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL) to discuss by phone a recent House vote on combating drugs. In the spirit of the times, Amy Goodman asked both men if they have ever had extramarital affairs. McCollum said, “I am—I am not, and I’m not, at this present time, involved in anything whatsoever, have not been.” When Souder was asked, he hung up the phone. [includes rush transcript]
BP Acknowledges Oil Spill Is Larger Than Previous Estimates21 May 2010The British oil company BP has been forced to admit the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is far larger than the company initially said. On Thursday, BP said it’s now capturing 5,000 barrels of oil a day from the leaking pipe—the same amount it had previously said was leaking every day. BP has declined to estimate how much oil is still escaping, but scientists say BP is siphoning just a fraction of the total leak. Independent scientists say the leak could be as large as 95,000 barrels of oil per day. We speak to Alaskan marine biologist Rick Steiner, who has been spending time in the Gulf region.
GOP Senate Nominee Rand Paul of Kentucky Faces Firestorm After Suggesting Opposition to Civil Rights Act21 May 2010Rand Paul, the Republican Senate nominee from Kentucky, is scrambling to tamp down a growing firestorm over comments he made suggesting he does not favor portions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. We’re joined by North Carolina State University professor Blair Kelley, author of Right to Ride: Streetcar Boycotts and African American Citizenship in the Era of Plessy v. Ferguson, and Mike Ervin, a freelance journalist and a longtime activist with the disability rights groups ADAPT. We’re also joined by blogger Joe Sonka, who broke the story on a racist MySpace post that led to the resignation of Rand Paul’s former communications director, Christopher Hightower.
Senate Passes Sweeping Financial Reform Bill; Lobbying Frenzy Expected as Measure Moves to Committee21 May 2010The Senate has passed a sweeping reform of financial regulation that’s been described as the biggest overhaul of financial rules since the 1930s. The 59-to-39 vote came largely on party lines. Two Democratic senators, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Maria Cantwell of Washington, voted against the bill, saying it does not go far enough in preventing another economic meltdown. Four Republicans also broke party ranks to support the measure. [includes rush transcript]
Headlines for May 21, 201021 May 2010Senate Passes Financial Reform Bill, BP Admits Oil Spill Is Larger Than Prior Estimates, Blair Resigns as National Intelligence Director, Jobless Benefit Claims Increase, Jailed US Hikers Reunite with Mothers in First Public Appearance Since Arrests, Caldern Urges US to Reinstate Assault Weapons Ban, US Probes Killings of Afghan Civilians, Maldives Hosts Afghan Peace Talks, Palestinians Continue Boycott of Israeli Settlement Goods, South Korea Accuses North Korea of Torpedoing Warship, Dalai Lama Encouraged by Tsunami, Haiti Earthquake Response, Cuban Musician Silvio Rodriguez Granted US Visa, GOP Rep. Souder Formally Resigns over Extramarital Affair
“Silencing the Whistleblowers”: How Will Financial Reform Prevent Another Crash If Banks Subvert Their Warning Systems?20 May 2010A two-part investigative series called “Silencing the Whistleblowers” reports that when fraud investigators working within big banks tried to warn their superiors of shady practices, they were not only ignored, but frequently harassed, demoted or even fired. We speak to the article’s author, journalist Michael Hudson, and one of the whistleblowers profiled in the article, Ed Parker, the former head of mortgage fraud investigation at Ameriquest. [includes rush transcript]
3 Undocumented Immigrants Risk Deportation in Protest for Passage of DREAM Act20 May 2010Three young immigrant rights activists are facing possible deportation after their arrest in a sit-in on Monday at the offices of Republican Senator John McCain. The protesters called on McCain to back the DREAM Act, which would grant permanent citizenship to undocumented workers? children if they completed two years of college. The three are each undocumented immigrants, marking one of the first known instances activists have risked deportation to back immigration reform legislation. The three activists join us from Phoenix. [includes rush transcript]
Fmr. EPA Investigator Scott West: US Has Told BP “It Can Do Whatever It Wants and Won’t Be Held Accountable”20 May 2010One month after the BP oil spill, we speak to Scott West, a former top investigator at the Environmental Protection Agency who led an investigation of BP following a major oil pipeline leak in Alaska’s North Slope that spilled 250,000 gallons of oil on the Alaskan tundra. Before West finished his investigation, the Bush Justice Department reached a settlement with BP, and the oil company agreed to pay $20 million. At the same time, BP managed to avoid prosecution for the Texas City refinery explosion that killed fifteen workers by paying a $50 million settlement. [includes rush transcript]
Headlines for May 20, 201020 May 2010BP Oil Spill Enters Loop Current as Leak Estimate Rises, Dissident Dems Help Stall Financial Reform Bill, Dodd Abandons Effort to Weaken Derivatives Measure, Anti-Reform Derivatives Lobbyists Outnumber Pro-Reformers 11 to 1, Foreclosures, Missed Payments at Record Levels, Top Scientific Body Endorses Carbon Tax, Mothers of Jailed US Hikers Arrive in Iran, WikiLeaks Founder Has Passport Revoked in Australia, Activist for Displaced Slain in Colombia, Penn Urges Haiti Aid, Haitian Protesters Call for Prval’s Resignation, Obama Hosts Caldern, Criticizes Arizona Law, Second-Grader Cites Mother’s Plight in Questioning First Lady on Deportation, GOP Senate Nominee Paul Opposes Enforcing Civil Rights Act at Private Businesses
“Silencing the Whistleblowers”: How Will Financial Reform Prevent Another Crash If Banks Subvert Their Warning Systems?20 May 2010A two-part investigative series called “Silencing the Whistleblowers” reports that when fraud investigators working within big banks tried to warn their superiors of shady practices, they were not only ignored, but frequently harassed, demoted or even fired. We speak to the article’s author, journalist Michael Hudson, and one of the whistleblowers profiled in the article, Ed Parker, the former head of mortgage fraud investigation at Ameriquest. [includes rush transcript]
3 Undocumented Immigrants Risk Deportation in Protest for Passage of DREAM Act20 May 2010Three young immigrant rights activists are facing possible deportation after their arrest in a sit-in on Monday at the offices of Republican Senator John McCain. The protesters called on McCain to back the DREAM Act, which would grant permanent citizenship to undocumented workers? children if they completed two years of college. The three are each undocumented immigrants, marking one of the first known instances activists have risked deportation to back immigration reform legislation. The three activists join us from Phoenix.
Fmr. EPA Investigator Scott West: US Has Told BP “It Can Do Whatever It Wants and Won’t Be Held Accountable”20 May 2010One month after the BP oil spill, we speak to Scott West, a former top investigator at the Environmental Protection Agency who led an investigation of BP following a major oil pipeline leak in Alaska’s North Slope that spilled 250,000 gallons of oil on the Alaskan tundra. Before West finished his investigation, the Bush Justice Department reached a settlement with BP, and the oil company agreed to pay $20 million. At the same time, BP managed to avoid prosecution for the Texas City refinery explosion that killed fifteen workers by paying a $50 million settlement. [includes rush transcript]
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