FEATURING KEVIN MARTIN – The US Senate on Thursday voted 56 to 41 to end military participation in the Saudi Arabian war on Yemen. It was the strongest signal from both parties of disapproval of the Trump Administration’s unconditional support of the Saudis.

Soon after, the Senate passed a second resolution – this time unanimously – claiming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was responsible for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and should be held accountable. According to the New York Times, “Together, the votes were an extraordinary break with Mr. Trump.”

Because the House passed a version of the Farm bill that included a rider preventing any resolutions on war powers before the end of the year, the House versions of the Senate resolutions will be taken up next year when the Democratic Party takes majority control of the House.

Kevin Martin, President of Peace Action.

FEATURING FELICIA KORNBLUH – A recent report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities concluded that TANF – the government welfare program known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – is reaching fewer poor families. The number of poor Americans receiving assistance dipped to a low in 2014 and has remained there. The report concludes that, “TANF’s work requirements and block grant structure exacerbate, rather than reduce, deep poverty.”

There was a time when the idea of welfare was not anathema in the US. But decades of demonizing the poor and blaming them for their plight has deeply skewed US government policy, ensuring that there is always money for militarism, corporate subsidies, and tax cuts for the rich, and never enough for the most vulnerable Americans. Now, a new book suggests that a feminist perspective is needed to right this wrong.

Felicia Kornbluh, Associate Professor of History and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at the University of Vermont. Her earlier book is The Battle for Welfare Rights: Politics and Poverty in Modern America. She is the co-author with Gwendolyn Mink of the new book Ensuring Poverty: Welfare Reform in Feminist Perspective.

The US Senate on Thursday voted 56 to 41 to end military participation in the Saudi Arabian war on Yemen. It was the strongest signal from both parties of disapproval of the Trump Administration’s unconditional support of the Saudis. Soon after, the Senate passed a second resolution – this time unanimously – claiming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was responsible for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and should be held accountable. According to the New York Times, “Together, the votes were an extraordinary break with Mr. Trump.” Senator Mike Lee of Utah explained, “What the Khashoggi event did, I think, was to focus on the fact that we have been led into this civil war in Yemen, half a world away, into a conflict in which few Americans that I know can articulate what American national security interest is at stake.”

Because the House passed a version of the Farm bill that included a rider preventing any resolutions on war powers before the end of the year, the House versions of the Senate resolutions will be taken up next year in the House when the Democratic Party takes majority control of that body.

Meanwhile the Pentagon sent a $331 million bill to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for refueling charges in the Yemen war. The US military apparently found an accounting error and realized that it had failed to charge the two Gulf Arab nations for the costs. The mistake was first discovered by Senator Jack Reed who is the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and it was reported by The Atlantic last week. According to CNN, “the US is working to recoup approximately $36.8 million for fuel and $294.3 million for flight hours.” The billing error draws attention to the intimate role that the US is playing in a war that has killed tens of thousands of civilians and exacerbated mass starvation.

The House on Thursday passed a resolution 394 to 1, labeling Myanmar’s persecution of Rohingya Muslims, “a genocide.” The vote comes just days after Time Magazine included in its Person of the Year, two Reuters journalists being held by the Myanmar Government. California Republican Ed Royce said, “There’s a moral obligation obviously here for Americans, for all of us — regardless of political party, regardless of ideology — to stand up and say, ‘Enough. No genocide on our watch. This has to end now.'” Trump has been silent on the matter.

In other news, President Trump addressed a meeting of governors elect on Thursday and responded to a press question about his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn who is awaiting sentencing in charges arising from the Special Counsel investigation. President Trump on Thursday claimed his former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn did not lie to the FBI. Associated Press released a fact check saying, “That’s not what the FBI said. And Flynn and prosecutors agree he lied to the FBI.”

In other news from the Special Counsel investigation, Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who has just been sentenced to a 3-year prison term, gave an interview to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that aired on Friday morning. 

President Donald Trump has remained silent on Twitter and to the press in the hours following the news of his former attorney Michael Cohen being sentenced to 3 years in prison. Then on Thursday morning he tweeted three times about it. He said, “I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law. It is called ‘advice of counsel,’ and a lawyer has great liability if a mistake is made.” A White House official on condition of anonymity told CNN that privately Trump said about Cohen, “He’s a liar.” Trump is increasingly isolated as one after another of his former colleagues and associates is charged, convicted, and sentenced in investigations linked to the Special Counsel.

On Wednesday, the news broke that American Media Inc., which owns the National Enquirer, admitted to paying a woman named Karen McDougal $15,000 ahead of the 2016 election to buy her silence over an affair with Trump. AMI is run by David Pecker, a close associate of Trump. The news of the admission came from federal prosecutors’ court filings saying that they would not prosecute AMI in exchange for cooperation in the investigation. Pecker and Cohen had a meeting in 2015, and, as the court filing explains, “At the meeting, Pecker offered to help deal with negative stories about that presidential candidate’s relationships with women by, among other things, assisting the campaign in identifying such stories so they could be purchased and their publication avoided. . . . Pecker agreed to keep Cohen apprised of any such negative stories.” Any money spent on the purposes of influencing an election must be declared as a campaign contribution as per federal election law.

Meanwhile Russian national Maria Butina, who has been in US custody in relation to charges filed by the Special Counsel, is expected to file a guilty plea on Thursday. According to CNN, “The 30-year-old Russian national initially pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent after prosecutors accused her of infiltrating political groups like the National Rifle Association to bolster Russian interests. But on Thursday morning Butina is slated to appear in DC federal court to plead guilty to conspiracy as part of a deal with prosecutors.”

In other news, the US Senate is expected to cast a critical vote on US support for the Yemen war on Thursday. On Wednesday, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders made an impassioned plea for the bill on the floor of the Senate next to a picture of a starving Yemeni child.  Senator Sanders also appeared on Fox News making his case for the Senate to stop US participation in the Saudi-led war on Yemen. In the House of Representatives lawmakers voted to prevent any resolutions that use the War Powers Act regarding the Yemen war for the rest of the year. Five Democrats joined Republicans in passing that vote. The rule was tucked into the Farm Bill.

And in fact the Farm Bill now heads to the President’s desk for a signature,

FEATURING LUCY DUNCAN – More than 30 clergy members of various faiths were arrested at the US border between San Diego and Tijuana on Monday. The inter-faith group engaged in an act of civil disobedience to try to conduct a prayer for “migrant justice” at the border when they were arrested and dispersed.

The action, organized by the American Friends Service Committee and dubbed “Love Knows No Borders,” was aimed at drawing attention to the on-going plight of the large number of refugees who traveled together in a caravan and who have been stuck in Mexico waiting for the US to process their asylum applications.

President Trump has said that his harsh anti-immigrant policies and border militarization has resulted in migrants deciding to turn back and return to their own countries. While a few may have decided to return it appears as though a majority of the refugees remain at the border.

Lucy Duncan, Director of Friends Relations at American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).

FEATURING JENNIFER CHAVEZ – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced a gutting of protections for wetlands and waterways in the Clean Water Act. The proposal redefines what are considered the “Waters of the United States,” (WOTUS), and offers cover to private property owners who had previously been unable to use pesticides near water.

The Farm Bureau – an agribusiness trade group – lauded the decision. Here is acting EPA Head Andrew Wheeler on Tuesday announcing the rule change.

That’s acting EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler announcing a major rule change defining the waters of the United States. There will be a public comment period before it becomes implemented. Environmental groups denounced the proposal.

File your comments at www.regulations.gov.

Jennifer C. Chavez, Staff Attorney with Earthjustice.

President Donald Trump and Democratic Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer had a tense and televised argument on Tuesday over funding for Trump’s border wall. The President has threatened to shut down the government, saying he would not sign a federal spending bill if it did not include at least $5 billion to build a border wall. But he appears to not have enough support among his own party’s members for the funding. During the awkward interaction, captured on camera, Trump repeatedly referred to future House Speaker Pelosi by her first name.  Vice President Mike Pence was also present but remained silent.

Among the many wild claims that Trump made during the discussion, his assertion that authorities had “caught 10 terrorists“ crossing the border was made with no evidence. According to Reuters, “four government sources said there was no recent evidence of terrorism suspects being caught along the border.” In other words, the President lied. Again.

After the meeting Schumer and Pelosi spoke with press, emphasizing that Trump has taken responsibility for a shutdown if it happens. Pelosi is reported to have said privately, “It’s like a manhood thing for him. As if manhood could ever be associated with him. This wall thing.” An aide who was present in the room when she said those things shared them with Associated Press on condition of anonymity. She also apparently said, “It goes to show you: You get into a tickle contest with a skunk, you get tinkle all over you.” She also said, “I was trying to be the mom.”

Michael Cohen has just been sentenced to 3 years in prison over the crime of paying hush money to two women on Trump’s behalf who the President apparently had affairs with. Cohen, who was Trump’s personal lawyer bought the women’s silence ahead of the election but did not declare the payments as federal election campaign laws require. The judge in the case said that Cohen had committed a “smorgasbord” of crimes involving “deception” and motivated by “personal greed and ambition.” He added, “As a lawyer, Mr. Cohen should have known better.” Cohen had admitted to prosecutors that Trump directed him to make the payments. Trump denied making them and then admitted it but downplayed the illegality of the crimes.

President Trump on Tuesday in an interview with Reuters said that he was considering intervening in the Justice Department to order the freeing of Meng Wanzhou, the Chinese telecomm executive that Canada has arrested. Meng is the Chief Financial Officer of Huawei, a top Chinese telecomm equipment firm backed by the Chinese Government and is facing extradition to the US over alleged sanctions violations. But Trump said to Reuters that, “If I think it’s good for the country, if I think it’s good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made – which is a very important thing – what’s good for national security – I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary.” Chinese authorities are warning of a harsh response if Meng is not released. It would be the second time that Trump has intervened on behalf of a Chinese company. Earlier this year he pushed Congress to back off from penalties against ZTE. During the interview with Reuters Trump also falsely claimed that, “I just heard today that they’re buying trem...

FEATURING JUAN COLE – President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner is at the center of an exposé by the New York Times. The paper on Saturday published a lengthy investigation into how Kushner, “had been having private, informal conversations with [Saudi Crown] Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

The two men were on a first-name basis and their conversations continued even after the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi which the crown prince is known to have orchestrated.

The Times reporters wrote, “the ties between Mr. Kushner and Prince Mohammed did not happen on their own. The prince and his advisers, eager to enlist American support for his hawkish policies in the region and for his own consolidation of power, cultivated the relationship with Mr. Kushner for more than two years, according to documents, emails and text messages.” Kushner has been the Crown Prince’s most stalwart supporter inside the White House.

Meanwhile on Tuesday Time Magazine announced it’s Person of the Year as “The Guardians,” a group that includes Mr. Khashoggi.

Read Juan’s article ‘Is Kushner Covering for Bin Salman Murder Charge so Israel can Usurp Palestinian West Bank?,’ HERE.

Juan Cole is the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. He has written several books including ‘The New Arabs: How the Wired and Global Youth of the Middle East Is Transforming It,’ and ‘Engaging the Muslim World.’ He has a column at Truthdig.com and his blog, Informed Comment, can be found at juancole.com. His latest book is called Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires.

FEATURING ALEX S. VITALE – We take for granted the ubiquitous presence of police in American society. Police patrol our neighborhoods and our schools, and are called upon to deal with the homeless and the mentally ill.

But barely a week passes without reports of an unarmed person being killed by police. More often than not, the victim is a person of color, usually African American.

The crisis in policing has generated a much-needed debate about the role of policing. While most of the solutions center on the need for diversity training, or more body cameras, my guest makes the case that “the problem is policing itself.”

RSVP for Alex Vitale’s event in Los Angeles HERE.

And for more information about the book visit www.alex-vitale.info.

Alex Vitale, Professor of Sociology and coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College. His writings about policing have appeared in the New York Times, New York Daily News, USA Today, the Nation, and Vice News. His new book is called The End of Policing.

**This segment was originally broadcast on April 20, 2018.

President Donald Trump has decided that the US military would build his border wall with Mexico if Democratic Party Representatives refused to authorize its funding. He tweeted early on Tuesday morning, “If the Democrats do not give us the votes to secure our Country, the Military will build the remaining sections of the Wall. They know how important it is!” The deadline to vote on a government spending bill is December 21st. On Monday leading Democrat Nancy Pelosi tweeted, “Republicans still control the House, the Senate, and the White House, and they have the power to keep government open.” She added, “Our country cannot afford a #TrumpShutdown, especially at this time of economic uncertainty. This holiday season, @realDonaldTrump knows full well that his wall proposal does not have the votes to pass the House & Senate, and should not be an obstacle to a bipartisan agreement.” Trump is scheduled to meet with Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday.

The Trump administration will introduce a proposal on Tuesday to weaken protections in the federal Clean Water Act that are designed to preserve streams and wetlands from runoff and pesticides. According to the New York Times Trump will spin his plan as, “ending a federal land grab that impinged on the rights of farmers, rural landowners and real estate developers to use their property as they see fit.” The current rules prevent farmers and agribusinesses from using pesticides and plowing too close to streams or wetlands. After the government presents the proposal there will be a 60-day comment period before the formal revision of the rules next year. Environmental organizations are incensed about the roll-back. Blan Holman of the Southern Environmental Law Center told the Times, “For wetlands, this is an absolute disaster, compared to the Obama plan.”

The FBI on Monday launched a probe into how thousands of fake comments against Net Neutrality were filed at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last year. The FBI has apparently subpoenaed an organization that urged its members to file comments with the FCC, reported the Wall Street Journal. The Attorneys General of Washington DC and New York have also filed subpoenas for a number of organizations involved. A year ago, ahead of the FCC decision on net neutrality, the agency cited comments made in favor of ending the rule but many of those comments were found to be filed under people’s names without their permission. It is considered a felony to falsify information when submitting comments to a federal agency on rule making. Several Democratic Party leaders had urged the government to investigate, and the Government Accountability Office had been reviewing the issue for almost a year.

Meanwhile Monday was the deadline by which the House could have gathered enough signatures to trigger the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and overturn the FCC’s net neutrality decision. However, with the impasse between Congress and the White House over a spending bill, there are a few more weeks for the House to take action on the CRA. Supporters are attempting to gather at least 218 House votes to make it happen – there are currently only 178 supporters of the bill. The Senate already passed its version of the bill this past May.