Inside-America

As Democrats in Congress hold their leadership election this week, two of the top three positions will go to the next generation of Democrats. Earlier this month, Nancy Pelosi, the 82-year-old Speaker of the House of Representatives, announced that she will step down as the top House Democrat after nearly two decades in leadership positions. Her decision, which comes after her party lost its majority in the House in the midterms, paved the way for 52-year-old Congressman Hakeem Jeffries to become the first Black house minority leader. As the Democratic Party leadership undergoes a generational shift, Joe Biden who turned 80 last week became the first octogenarian president of the United States.

Since his takeover of Twitter late last month, Elon Musk has faced growing criticism. Last week, he reversed Twitter’s decision in 2021 to ‘permanently suspend’ Donald Trump’s account following the January 6th insurrection ‘due to the risk of further incitement of violence’. Does the decision to reinstate Trump’s Twitter account amount to a reckless move by the company’s new CEO, as some Democratic lawmakers and civil rights organizations argue —or does it represent a victory for free speech?

As Donald Trump announced that he is running for president in 2024, the Republican leadership in the US Congress continued to grapple with the results of the midterm elections —with Democrats retaining control of the Senate and Republicans expected to gain a very slim majority in the House of Representatives. While some Republicans blamed Trump for their poor performance in the midterms, the former president refused to accept any responsibility and vowed to “make America great and glorious again”.

Millions of Americans voted in the midterms on Tuesday, to elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and over a third of the 100 members of the Senate. President Biden called the election “a defining moment” for the United States, warning that democracy itself was on the ballot and that the US could be “on a path to chaos” if Republican candidates refuse to accept the election results —as law enforcement agencies forecast a rise in threats posed by domestic violent extremists.

The US shields Israel from renewed international scrutiny and criticism after several UN Special Rapporteurs highlight in their latest reports to the UN General Assembly the growing consensus over Israel’s apartheid policies in the Occupied Palestinians Territories. We speak with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, about her latest report to the UN and why Israel’s illegal occupation is “indistinguishable from settler-colonialism”.

As Republican governors from southern states defend their policies to bus and fly thousands of migrants to Democratic-run cities, including the nation’s capital Washington DC, Democrats accuse them of political stunts — less than two weeks before midterm elections that will determine which party controls the US Congress. Guests: Dylan Fernandes, Massachusetts State Representative representing Martha's Vineyard; Clint McDonald, Executive Director of Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition and former Sheriff of Terrell County, Texas

Joe Biden threatens to take action against Saudi Arabia, as Democrats in the US Congress warn Riyadh to change course or face a freeze on all US arms sales following the recent decision by OPEC+ to cut oil production —raising gas prices just weeks before crucial midterm elections.

Guests: Gerald Feierstein, former US Ambassador to Yemen; Elgie Holstein, former Chief of Staff at US Department of Energy

An explosion that damaged a gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea raises questions about possible US covert action against Russia and prompts accusations — without evidence — from all sides.

Guests: Admiral Mike Rogers, Former Director of the National Security Agency; Stephen Bryen, Former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense

The president of the World Bank faces mounting pressure to resign amid accusations of climate change denial, as members of Congress call for his immediate removal from office. Guests: Mark Hertsgaard, Executive Director of Covering Climate Now and Environment Correspondent for The Nation; Daniel Runde, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Author of "The American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership through Soft Power"

Donald Trump has faced countless lawsuits over the past three decades. There have been reportedly thousands of legal actions involving Trump and his businesses, in federal and state courts, ranging from real estate to personal defamation lawsuits.

Last week, the Attorney General of the State of New York brought new charges against the former president and three of his children, alleging massive fraud.

Guests: Michael Cohen, Former Personal Attorney to Donald Trump, Author of “Revenge”; Jake Auchincloss, US Rep from Massachusetts