EXCLUSIVE - The Three Trillion Dollar War: Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard Economist Linda Bilmes on the True Cost of the US Invasion and Occupation of Iraq
28 Feb 2008
One week after President Bush rejected charges the war in Iraq has hurt the US economy, a new book puts a conservative estimate of the war’s cost at $3 trillion so far. In their first national broadcast interview upon their book’s publication, Nobel laureate and former chief World Bank economist, Joseph Stiglitz, and co-author Linda Bilmes of Harvard University say the Bush administration has repeatedly low-balled the cost of the war—and even kept a second set of records hidden from the American public. [includes rush transcript – partial]

Headlines for February 29, 2008
28 Feb 2008
Israeli Minister Threatens Gaza ?Holocaust?, Iraqis Protest U.S. Raids, Funeral Held for Slain Iraqi Journalist, U.S. Deploys Warships Off Lebanon Coast, Bush Dismisses Recession Fears, Chides Obama, In New Record, Dem Candidates Raise Estimated $80M, Clinton Proposes Military Contractor Ban, Obama Campaigns in Texas, Nader Taps San Fran Attorney, Ex-Mayoral Candidate as VP Running Mate, Kenyan Leaders Agree to Power-Sharing Deal, Cuba Ratifies 2 UN Rights Treaties, Apparent NATO Strike Kills 8 in Pakistan, Record 1 in 100 Americans Behind Bars, Senate GOPers Block Housing Measure, Comcast Admits to Planting Attendees at FCC Hearing, Puerto Rico Teachers Continue National Strike, Women?s Health Activist Barbara Seaman Dies at 72

William F. Buckley Dies at 82; A Look Back at his 1969 Debate with Noam Chomsky on Vietnam
27 Feb 2008
William F. Buckley, Jr. died yesterday at the age of eighty-two. He was the founder of the conservative magazine National Review and the television show Firing Line. In 1969, he invited Noam Chomsky on his show to discuss the Vietnam War. We play an excerpt. [includes rush transcript]

Jeremy Scahill: Despite Antiwar Rhetoric, Clinton-Obama Plans Would Keep US Mercenaries, Troops in Iraq for Years to Come
27 Feb 2008
Jeremy Scahill reports Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will not “rule out” using private military companies like Blackwater Worldwide in Iraq. Obama also has no plans to sign on to legislation that seeks to ban the use of these forces in US war zones by January 2009. Despite their antiwar rhetoric, both Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton have adopted the congressional Democratic position that would leave open the option of keeping tens of thousands of US troops in Iraq for many years. [includes rush transcript]

Ex-Speechwriter, Confidante Dr. Vincent Harding on Dr. Martin Luther King’s Courageous—and Overlooked—Antiwar and Economic Justice Activism
27 Feb 2008
In the fortieth year since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, we speak to Dr. King’s close associate and former speechwriter, Dr. Vincent Harding. Dr. Harding drafted King’s historic April 1967 antiwar speech “Beyond Vietnam.” He is the author of many books including Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for February 28, 2008
27 Feb 2008
20 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Attacks on Gaza, Jailed Afghan Journalist Declared Enemy Combatant, US: Karzai Controls Less than Third of Afghanistan, DIA Head Calls Waterboarding ?Inhumane?, Colombian Rebels Free Four More Hostages to Venezuela, Bush: US ?Three Words? from Missile Shield Deal with Czech Republic, Leading Iraqi Journalist Slain in Baghdad, US OKs Continued Turkish Offensive in Northern Iraq, Rice Apologizes for US Rape Allegations in Japan, Radiohead Frontman Backs Emission Cuts in Europe, Nationwide Vigils for Gay Teen Slain in Apparent Hate Crime, Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Exxon Valdez Suit, Alaskan Tribe Sues 24 Companies for Village Erosion, Three Arrested Protesting Peru Trade Deal at Clinton Office, Two Former Clinton Supporters Throw Support to Obama, Bush Admin to Delay US-Mexico ?Virtual? Border, Bloomberg Won?t Run in ?08, Nader to Announce Running Mate, Poll: Most Israelis Support Hamas Ceasefire

Blue Covenant: Maude Barlow on the Global Movement for Water Justice
26 Feb 2008
Maude Barlow is the head of the Council of Canadians, Canada?s largest public advocacy organization, and founder of the Blue Planet Project. Barlow is author of the new book Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water. [includes rush transcript]

Holes in the Wall: Texas Border Wall Bypassing Wealthy Residents with Bush Admin Ties
26 Feb 2008
With the Texas Democratic primary and caucus less than a week away, the Bush administration’s plan to build a wall along part of the southern border has suddenly become a campaign issue. After many landowners refused to give over their land for the 18-foot-high wall, the Department of Homeland Security began filing lawsuits against some homeowners. At the same time, the government is leaving large gaps to avoid building the wall on the property of wealthy residents, including those with ties to President Bush.

Clinton, Obama Hold Final Debate Before Pivotal Votes Next Week
26 Feb 2008
In Cleveland, Ohio Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama sparred last night over health care, NAFTA, the Iraq war, campaign tactics, Louis Farrakhan and other issues in the final debate before next week’s vote in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island. We play excerpts.

Headlines for February 27, 2008
26 Feb 2008
Obama, Clinton Hold Final Debate Before Key Primaries, Senate Votes to Debate Iraq Withdrawal, 7 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Airstrike, Israel Clears Military in 2006 Killing of 21 Civilians, Bolivian Minister to Lobby Congress on U.S. Destabilization, New York Orchestra Performs in North Korea, Annan Halts Kenya Mediation Talks, Supreme Court to Rule on Exxon Oil Spill Damages, Texas Youth Jail Sued for Sexual, Physical Abuse of Children, Czech Republic, U.S. Meet on Missile Plans, Ashcroft to Testify on No-Bid Contract, Soldier Plans Own Shooting to Avoid 2nd Iraq Deployment

“Taxi to the Dark Side”: Expos on US Abuses in “War on Terror” Wins Oscar for Best Documentary
25 Feb 2008
Alex Gibney joins us to talk about his Academy Award win for his documentary Taxi to the Dark Side. The film investigates some of the most egregious abuses associated with the so-called ?war on terror.? [includes rush transcript]

Noam Chomsky: Why is Iraq Missing from 2008 Presidential Race?
25 Feb 2008
In a major address, Noam Chomsky says there has been little change in the conventional debate over a US invasion abroad: from Vietnam to Iraq, the two main political parties and political pundits differ only on the tactics of US goals, which are assumed to be legitimate. On the other hand, public opposition to war has also remained consistent, Chomsky says, but, whether Iraqi or American, ignored. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for February 26, 2008
25 Feb 2008
Turkish PM Briefed Bush Prior to Iraq Attack, Palestinians Form Human Chain to Protest Gaza Siege, In Indonesia, Gates Promotes Increased US Military Aid, Dodd Endorses Obama in Democratic Race, Alabama Dems Call for Special Prosecutor in Siegelman Case, Sean Bell Murder Trial Opens in New York, ?Iraq/Recession? Campaign Links War to Economic Woes

Samantha Power on ?Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World” Pt. II
24 Feb 2008
Sergio Vieira de Mello was the top UN official in Iraq when he died in a truck bombing of the UN?s Baghdad headquarters in August 2003. Twenty-one others were killed and dozens wounded in one of the deadliest attacks on the UN in its 58-year history. De Mello had served in the United Nations since 1969 in some of the world?s most sensitive areas, including East Timor, Yugoslavia, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

Barack Obama’s Senior Foreign Policy Adviser Samantha Power on Obama’s Call to Increase the Pentagon’s Budget, Hugo Chavez, Funding the Iraq Occupation and Attacking Pakistan
24 Feb 2008
Samantha Power discusses Obama’s foreign policy platform and why she temporarily left her post at Harvard University to advise the presidential candidate.

U.S.-Backed Turkish Invasion of Northern Iraq Continues
24 Feb 2008
On Thursday, thousands of Turkish troops, backed by air support, launched the largest cross-border ground offensive into Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. The Turkish government accuses the Kurdistan Worker’s party – or PKK - of using northern Iraq as a base to launch attacks inside Turkey. Turkey has been relying largely on intelligence and weapons provided by Washington.

Headlines for February 25, 2008
24 Feb 2008
Turkey’s Invasion of Iraq Enters Fifth Day, Raul Castro Becomes New President of Cuba, Ralph Nader Announces Presidential Bid, Clinton: “Shame On You, Barack Obama”, New Questions Raised Over McCain Lobbying Story, Rep. Renzi (R-AZ) Indicted For Extortion & Money Laundering, Iran Seeks US Apology After New IAEA Report, Nasrallah Vows to Avenge Assassination of Hezbollah Commander, Palestinians Form Human Chain to Protest Embargo, Sean Bell Police Shooting Trial Begins, Alabama TV Station Accused of Censoring 60 Minutes Report, “Taxi to The Dark Side” Wins Best Documentary Oscar

Samantha Power on ?Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World”
21 Feb 2008
Sergio Vieira de Mello was the top UN official in Iraq when he died in a truck bombing of the UN’s Baghdad headquarters in August 2003. Twenty-one others were killed and dozens wounded in one of the deadliest attacks on the UN in its 58-year history. De Mello had served in the United Nations since 1969 in some of the world’s most sensitive areas including East Timor, Yugoslavia, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

Samantha Power v. Jeremy Scahill: A Debate on U.S. Actions in the Balkans, the Independence of Kosovo, the Iraq Sanctions and Humanitarian Intervention
21 Feb 2008
As Kosovo declares its independence, we speak to two people who have closely followed the situation in the Balkans. Samantha Power wrote extensively about Bosnia and Kosovo in her book ?A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide?, which won a 2003 Pulitzer Prize. Jeremy Scahill is an independent journalist and Democracy Now correspondent. He covered the NATO bombings of Kosovo and Yuglosavia for Democracy Now in 1999.

Report from Belgrade: Serbian Protesters Set U.S. Embassy on Fire to Protest Independence of Kosovo
21 Feb 2008
In Serbia, some 200,000 demonstrators gathered in Belgrade Thursday to rally against Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia and its support from the West. During the demonstration, around 1,000 protesters attacked the US embassy, smashing their way inside, throwing flares through the window and setting parts of the building on fire. [includes rush transcript]

Behind the John McCain Lobbying Scandal: A Look at How McCain Urged the Federal Communications Commission to Act on Behalf of Paxson Communications
21 Feb 2008
On Thursday, the New York Times revealed McCain repeatedly wrote letters to government regulators on behalf of Paxson Communications and other clients of the telecommunications lobbyist, Vicki Iseman. We speak to Angela Campbell, the attorney for the Alliance for Progressive Action and QED Accountability Project, the community groups that sought to block Paxson’s takeover of a Pittsburgh public television license. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for February 22, 2008
21 Feb 2008
10,000 Turkish Troops Invade Northern Iraq, Clinton & Obama Debate in Austin, Texas, Change to Win Union Coalition Endorses Obama, McCain Denies NYT Report on D.C. Lobbyist, Report: McCain’s Top Advisors Are D.C.Lobbyists, CIA Admits Used UK Territory For Rendition Flights, Serbian Protesters Set U.S. Embassy on Fire, Al-Sadr Announces New Ceasefire, U.S. Jails Journalist from Canadian Television in Afghanistan, Larry Davis Stabbed to Death in NY Prison, Fmr. MLK Aide, Rev. James Orange, 65, Dies

Musical Legend Willie Nelson on Farm Aid, Biodiesel Fuel, Outlaw Country Music, Marijuana Laws, the Impeachment of President Bush, the 9/11 Attacks & More
20 Feb 2008
Country music legend Willie Nelson joins us for the hour to talk politics and to play some songs, including “A Moment of Forever,” “On the Road Again,” “You’re Always on My Mind” and “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for February 21, 2008
20 Feb 2008
McCain’s Relationship With D.C. Lobbyist Questioned, Obama Raises Record $36 Billion In January, 527 Group Formed To Fund Pro-Clinton Ads, Clinton Says Obama is All Talk And Little Substance, Teamsters Union Backs Obama, China & Russia Criticize U.S. Shoot Down of Spy Satellite, Aung San Suu Kyi Barred From 2010 Election in Burma, Kenya Opposition Leaders Threaten New Protests, Bush: U.S. Not Interested in New Military Bases in Africa, Second U.S. Servicemen Accused of Sexual Assault in Okinawa, Bolivia To Stop Sending Troops To School of Americas, Californian Judge Criticized for Shutting Down WikiLeaks.org, Peace Sign Turns 50

Civil Rights Activist Yuri Kochiyama on her Internment in a WWII Japanese American Detention Camp & Malcolm X?s Assassination
19 Feb 2008
Forty-three years ago this week, Malcolm X was gunned down in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. Yuri Kochiyama cradled his head as he lay dying on the stage. Kochiyama?s activism began after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when she and her family were held in an internment camp along with more than 100,000 Japanese in the United States. [includes rush transcript]