Leid Stories

Ten years after a catastrophic earthquake and a massive infusion of aid, Haitians' lives are nowhere close to normal. Journalist and documentarian Kim Ives explains. 

Puerto Rico's still reeling -- not only from Hurricane Maria and recent quakes, but from government mismanagement and official neglect, says local activist Eliza Llenza, who reports that thousands of homeowners remain without promised roofs.

Go on the record with insightful commentary on major issues of the day, or any topic you consider worthy of further discussion or debate. That's what "Free Your Mind Friday" is all about. 

Wade  in and free your mind. Call 888-874-4888.

House  makes attempt to restrain Trump's military actions with War Powers Resolution. Slow on the draw?

President Donald Trump last Friday ordered a drone attack on a group of military leaders who were meeting close to the airport in Baghdad to discuss regional matters. Several were killed in the attack,  but Trump would say later at a news conference that the main target was Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, an elite division of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. Also killed was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy leader of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. 

Reaction to the drone attack was swift and unforgiving, with the Muslim world demanding revenge against the United States. At home, too, Trump found withering criticism for his action was piled onto anger and contempt  over impeachment charges.

But whose war is it, anyway. Trump's defense is that he was acting under his authority as commander in chief when be ordered the attack. Many members of Congress say he did not inform them of his plan nor did he get required approval. Others equate Trump's summary action  as being no different from a mob hit.

What do Leid Stories listeners say? Whose war is it, anyway?

Listeners sound off on the crisis that President Trump has created by ordering a drone attack in Baghdad last Friday that killed several people--among them high-profile regional military leader, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, an elite division of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy leader of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. 

Tens of thousands poured into the streets of Baghdad yesterday, as an honor guard for those killed and to send a message to the United States that the killings will be avenged.

Trump claims he ordered the drone attack because the men were part of a plot that posed an "imminent danger" to the United States.

In the midst of a Senate impeachment trial against him, Trump feels  besieged, but keeps saying he has done nothing wrong, although the House is now considering additional charges against him

Leid Stories listeners analyze our current situation as a nation, and discuss how and why we so often come to crisis points that place undue burdens on the people to solve.

It's our weekly open forum. The conversation is whatever you want it to be, and it goes wherever you want it to go. But please have an opinion.

Bring it! Call 888-874-4888.

Is It Time to Admit Prison Policy Was Racist and Wrong?; After 3-Year Probe, Watchdog Group Finds Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has had "the most extensive spree of illegal misconduct committed by a House member in American history."; Start-of-year questions to keep you focused

Leid Stories closes out 2019 with questions that will give you pause--and some laughs, too. Call 888-874-4888 for your question.

Rep. John Lewis, civil-rights icon,  announces he has late-stage pancreatic cancer. The 17-term congressman from Georgia's 5th Congressional District said that a recent medical checkup revealed Stage 4 cancer of the pancreas. Lewis said he immediately is beginning treatment with innovative protocols found encouraging in treating the disease. He'll continue with his political work as long as he can, he said.

 

 >> When and how will the impeachment of President Trump be resolved? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues to hold on to two articles of impeachment, not referring them to the Senate for trial. Meanwhile, several senators, even  before the House's articles are even considered, are publicly attacking  the impeachment articles, saying they appear to be constitutionally and legally weak.