Rep. Raul Grijalva, Co-Chair of Progressive Caucus, Vows to Bring “Robust” Public Option to House Floor
30 Oct 2009
We speak to Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. On Thursday, Grijalva said he was deeply disappointed at the healthcare bill unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He has pledged to fight for a floor vote on including a robust public option in the bill. [includes rush transcript]

Leading Political, Legal Blogger Glenn Greenwald on Afghanistan, State Secrets, Healthcare and the Media
30 Oct 2009
One of the leading political and legal bloggers in the country, Glenn Greenwald, joins us to talk about about the war in Afghanistan, the Obama administration’s use of state secrets, the healthcare debate, the renewed military commissions at Guantanamo, and the coverage of it all by the corporate media. Greenwald is a constitutional law attorney who writes for Salon.com and is the author of three books. [includes rush transcript]

Deal Reached in Honduran Coup Crisis; Zelaya Restoration Would Depend on Vote by Honduran Congress
30 Oct 2009
The Honduran coup regime and representatives of the ousted President Manuel Zelaya reached an agreement late Thursday that would pave the way for Congress to restore Zelaya to office and allow him to serve out the remaining three months of his term. We go to the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa to speak with Andrs Conteris, who has been holed up at the embassy since Zelaya took refuge there last month. [includes rush transcript]

Is the Recession Over? Author, Democratic Senate Hopeful Jonathan Tasini on “The Audacity of Greed: Free Markets, Corporate Thieves and the Looting of America”
30 Oct 2009
With the US economy snapping a record streak of four straight quarterly declines and expanding 3.5 percent in the third quarter, many economists are claiming the nation’s worst recession since World War II may now be over. We speak to Jonathan Tasini, author of the new book The Audacity of Greed: Free Markets, Corporate Thieves, and the Looting of America. Tasini is challenging Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the Democratic primary for the 2010 US Senate special election in New York. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for October 30, 2009
30 Oct 2009
Coup Regime, Zelaya Reach Tentative Deal, Progressive Dems Criticize Pelosi Health Reform Bill, Study Links Deaths of 17,000 Children to Lack of Insurance, 4 Arrested at Baltimore Single-Payer Protest, Report: 7 Members of House Defense Panel Under Ethics Inquiry, US Awards $1.2B in Stimulus Contracts to Scandal-Linked Firms, Obama Witnesses Return of US War Dead, Ft. Carson Soldier Shoots Himself to Avoid Afghan Redeployment, Marri Sentenced to 8-Year Term, Stimulus Fuels 3.5% GDP Growth, Key Figure in Chevron-Ecuador Case Has Criminal Past, Penn. Court Tosses Thousands of Juvenile Cases Tried by Bribed Judge

Russian Journalist Elena Milashina Speaks Out on Alarming Rise in Murders, Threats Against Critics of Government Abuses in North Caucasus
29 Oct 2009
Russia has seen an alarming rise in the murders of journalists and activists speaking out about government abuses in the embattled North Caucasus region. We speak to Elena Milashina, a Russian investigative journalist who has just won the 2009 Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism from Human Rights Watch. She was friends with both the activist and journalist Natalya Estemirova, who was killed in July, and the internationally renowned Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in October 2006.

Healthcare Roundtable: With Exclusion of Single Payer, What Opportunities Remain for Meaningful Reform?
29 Oct 2009
While much of the healthcare debate in Washington and the media has focused on the proposal to create a government-run insurance program, the legislation being considered includes many other provisions that could change how healthcare is delivered in this country. We host a roundtable with three guests who have been closely following the debate: Lois Uttley, co-founder of Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need; Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives at Community Service Society of New York; and Dr. Oliver Fein, president of Physicians for a National Health Program.

Public Option Faces New Test with Pelosi House Proposal, While Uncertainty Grows over Prospects in Senate
29 Oct 2009
The healthcare debate on Capitol Hill is expected to intensify today with the unveiling of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s healthcare bill. The measure reportedly includes a government insurance option and an expansion of Medicaid but drops a proposal to include a public option that would establish reimbursement rates to providers based on Medicare rates. Meanwhile, in the Senate questions remain over whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has enough votes to pass the Senate version of the healthcare reform bill. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for October 29, 2009
29 Oct 2009
Pelosi to Unveil Public Option Measure Without Safeguards to Contain Rates, Group: 37 Arrested at Insurance Sit-Ins Nationwide, Obama Signs Record $680B War Bill, Extends Military Commissions, Dems to Probe CIA for Misleading Congress, US Speeds Military Assistance to Pakistan, UN General Assembly Calls for Lifting Cuba Embargo, Zimbabwe Deports UN Torture Investigator, FBI Accused of Authorizing Racial Profiling, Leader of Militant Islamic Group Killed in Detroit Raid, White House Pay Czar Opposes Expanded Authority, Sen. Sanders Calls for Extending Jobless Benefits, White House Denies Giving Perks to Donors

UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Philip Alston: Record AfPak Drone Attacks Under Obama May Violate International Law
28 Oct 2009
Investigative reporter Jane Mayer of The New Yorker magazine revealed last week that the number of US drone strikes in Pakistan has risen dramatically under President Obama. During his first nine-and-a-half months in office, Obama authorized at least forty-one CIA missile strikes in Pakistan—a rate of approximately one bombing a week. We speak to one of the most high-profile critics of the US drone program: Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Alston says the US government’s use of Predator drones may violate international law.

House Advances Measure to Create Hundreds of New Low Power FM Radio Stations
28 Oct 2009
The Local Community Radio Act of 2009 is on its way to a full House vote after sailing through the Energy and Commerce Committee with little opposition. The measure would repeal legislation which requires the FCC to protect full-power broadcasters from interference from Low Power FM stations being placed on third-adjacent channels. We speak to Democratic Rep. Mike Doyle, a co-sponsor of the bill; and Cory Fischer-Hoffman, campaign director of the Prometheus Radio Project.

Coordinated Attacks Kill 6 UN Workers as US Troops Suffer Deadliest Month of 8-Year Afghan War
28 Oct 2009
At least six international United Nations workers were killed in Afghanistan today when a team of gunmen and bombers raided their private guest house in Kabul. About an hour later, a rocket struck the luxury Serena Hotel located near the presidential palace. The attacks come one day after eight US soldiers were killed, making October the deadliest month for the US in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion. The New York Times meanwhile reports the debate in the White House is no longer over whether to send more troops, but over how many more will be needed. We go to Kabul to speak with investigative journalist Pratap Chatterjee. He was staying at the Serena Hotel last night when the hotel came under attack. [includes rush transcript]

“A Woman Among Warlords”: Afghan Democracy Activist Malalai Joya Defies Threats to Challenge US Occupation, Local Warlords
28 Oct 2009
To talk more about Afghanistan, we are joined by Malalai Joya, one of Afghanistan?s leading democracy activists. In 2005, she became the youngest person ever elected to the Afghan parliament. She was suspended in 2007 for her denunciation of warlords and their cronies in government. She has just written her memoir, A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Woman Who Dared to Speak Out.

Headlines for October 28, 2009
28 Oct 2009
Dozens Killed in Pakistan Bombing, 12 Killed in Attack on UN in Afghanistan, October Deadliest Month of Afghan War for US Troops, Report: Karzai Brother Paid by US for CIA-Run Paramilitary Force, Lieberman Vows to Join GOP Filibuster of Public Option, Healthcare Activists to Hold Insurance Company Sit-Ins, Report: White House Pay Czar Increased Wall St. Salaries, Admin Proposes Fund for Wall Street Bailouts, Auto Dealers Win Exemption from Consumer Agency Mandate, Thousands March on Banking Meeting in Chicago, Lawmakers Denounce Calls to Probe Islamic Group for Intern Spying, White House Announces Energy Grid Funding, Gas Company Won’t Drill in New York Watershed, UN to Vote on Cuban Embargo, Texas Death Row Prisoner Reginald Blanton Executed

“Rape in the Ranks: The Enemy Within”
27 Oct 2009
As with suicides, the rate of sexual assaults within the US military now exceeds that of the general population. A Pentagon report earlier this year found one in three female service members are sexually assaulted at least once during their enlistment. Sixty-three percent of nearly 3,000 cases reported last year were rapes or aggravated assaults. Rape in the Ranks: The Enemy Within is a documentary that focuses on the cases of three female service members victimized by rape and other forms of sexual assault. We air excerpts of the film and speak to filmmaker Pascale Bourgaux.

Exclusive: Parents of Soldier Who Killed Himself in Iraq Speak Out
27 Oct 2009
Gregg and Jannett Keesling are the parents of Chancellor Keesling, a US soldier who took his own life on June 19th of this year. Chancellor was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. During his first deployment, he suffered mental health issues so severe he was placed on suicide watch. After getting back to the United States, Chancellor had turned down a bonus offer to return to Iraq in the hopes he wouldn’t be redeployed. But he was called back in May. One month later, he took his own life. Since Chancellor’s death, Gregg and Jannett Keesling have yet to receive a letter of condolence from President Obama. After making inquiries, they discovered that this was not because of an oversight. Instead, it’s because of a longstanding US policy to deny presidential condolence letters to the families of soldiers who take their own lives.

Will Texas Execute Another Innocent Man? The Case of Reginald Blanton
27 Oct 2009
A controversial death row case is unfolding in Texas today. Twenty-eight-year-old Reginald Blanton is set to be executed tonight for the 2000 killing of Carlos Garza. Blanton was convicted of breaking into Garza’s apartment and shooting him in the head. But Blanton has maintained his innocence, and his lawyers have said the case has been tainted by prosecutors’ attempt to exclude African Americans from the jury and by the initial mistakes of a court-appointed defense attorney. The scheduled execution comes as the Texas capital punishment system is under increasing scrutiny.

Headlines for October 27, 2009
27 Oct 2009
Harry Reid: Senate Bill Will Include Public Option Plan, Massey Energy Begins Blasting Coal River Mountain, US Official Resigns over War in Afghanistan, Monday Marked Deadliest Day for US in Afghanistan in Four Years, Ex-AIG CEO Is Back with New Insurance Venture, Showdown in Chicago Continues Outside Bankers Meeting, UN Urges US Engagement in Climate Change Deal, Canadian Climate Activists Disrupt House of Commons, Amnesty: Israel Denies Palestinians Access to Water, US Officials to Travel to Honduras, Fidel Castro’s Sister Admits She Spied for CIA, Chamber of Commerce Sues Yes Men for Prank, Activists Protest Mercenary Trade Association Meeting

100 Days of Resistance: Al Jazeera’s Avi Lewis Reports from Honduras
26 Oct 2009
In Honduras, the conflict between the coup regime and supporters of the ousted president Manuel Zelaya remains at a standstill. Talks broke down last week after the coup regime refused to drop its objection to Zelaya’s return to office. Zelaya has accused the regime of trying to drag out negotiations until the presidential elections it plans to hold next month. Zelaya’s supporters are boycotting the elections, and the international community has refused to recognize them. The Canadian journalist and Al Jazeera English correspondent Avi Lewis recently traveled to Honduras for a rare look at the grassroots movement against the coup regime. This is an excerpt of his report, which aired on the Al Jazeera English program Fault Lines.

Showdown in Chicago: Protesters Greet American Bankers Association Conference
26 Oct 2009
When the American Bankers Association scheduled their annual meeting in Chicago for this week, they probably weren’t expecting the reception they’ve received. Instead of a quiet convention in a downtown hotel, the ABA has been greeted by a parallel gathering of thousands of people in what organizers call the “Showdown in Chicago.” Spearheaded by the group National People’s Action, organizers have tried to bring together a cross-section of Americans affected by the financial meltdown, including homeowners, renters, farmers, workers and retirees. The Showdown kicked off Sunday when protesters entered the lobby of the hotel where the ABA delegates are gathering.

155 Killed in Double Suicide Bombing in Baghdad
26 Oct 2009
In Baghdad, the death toll from Sunday’s synchronized suicide car bombings has risen to 155. More than 500 people were also injured. It was the deadliest bombing in Iraq in two years. The blasts targeted the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Works and the Baghdad provincial government. Dozens of civil servants were among the dead. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited the site of the bombings and blamed al-Qaeda and former remnants of Saddam Hussein’s Baath regime. He said the attacks would not affect the political process or parliamentary elections due in January. US troops have been called in to help with the investigation. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for October 26, 2009
26 Oct 2009
International Day of Climate Action Marked in 181 Nations, Report: Rainforest Treaty “Fatally Flawed”, 155 Killed in Double Suicide Bombing in Baghdad, 14 Americans Killed in Copter Crashes in Afghanistan, Pentagon Conducts Afghan War Games, US Troops Kill Four Afghan Civilians, US Drone Kills at Least 16 in Pakistan, Schumer: Dems Close to 60 Votes to Pass Public Option, Senate Bill Won’t Force Businesses to Provide Health Insurance, Obama Declares Swine Flu National Emergency, NYC Mayor Bloomberg Breaks Campaign Finance Records, Madoff Billionaire Found Dead in Florida Swimming Pool, Another Russian Human Rights Activist Killed, Uruguayan Presidential Election Headed for Runoff, Niger Delta Militants Declare Ceasefire, Illinois Prosecutors Seek Records of Students Investigating Wrongful Convictions, Clarence Kailin, Survivor of Abraham Lincoln Brigade, 95, Dies

Judge Rejects Blackwater Attempt to Dismiss Cases Filed by Iraqi Victims
23 Oct 2009
A federal judge has rejected a series of arguments by lawyers for the private military contractor Blackwater who were seeking to dismiss five war crimes cases brought by Iraqi victims against the company and its owner, Erik Prince. We speak to award-winning investigative journalist and Democracy Now! correspondent, Jeremy Scahill, author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World?s Most Powerful Mercenary Army.

New US Strategy for Sudan Rejects Hawkish Approach
23 Oct 2009
After months of deliberation, the Obama administration unveiled a new strategy for Sudan on Monday. The White House plans to offer the Sudanese government a mix of incentives and pressure to urge Khartoum to end the crisis in Darfur and implement the 2005 peace deal between the north and the south. We get analysis from Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, author of Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror.

Amidst Uncertainty on US Role in Upcoming Climate Talks, 350.org Holds International Climate Action Day in 170 Nations
23 Oct 2009
Seven weeks before the UN Copenhagen Climate Conference, the group 350.org is organizing an International Climate Action Day. More than 4,500 events are scheduled to take place in 170 nations. We speak to two of the major thinkers and writers tackling climate change: the writer and environmentalist Bill McKibben, co-founder and director of 350.org, and Australian scientist Tim Flannery, chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council and author of the international bestseller The Weather Makers. [includes rush transcript – partial]