Sojourner Truth Radio

In the latest installment of our weekly "Campaigners for Black Lives" series, we are joined by Patrisse Cullors, artist, organizer and co-founder of Black Lives Matter.

We return to the crisis in Venezuela as the U.S. threatens even more sanctions against the Maduro government following Sunday's vote for a Constituent Assembly. The U.S. is referring to President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela as a dictator, although he was democratically elected – and, according to the Venezuelan constitution, had a right to call for people to vote for a Constituent Assembly. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio appeared on Venezuelan television offering solidarity for the opposition of Maduro.

Our guest is George Ciccariello-Maher, a professor of politics at Drexel University, specializing in colonialism, social movements, race and racism, and Latin America. Ciccariello-Maher is the author of "We Created Chávez: A People’s History of the Venezuelan Revolution."

Today, we return to the crisis in Venezuela as the U.S. threatens even more sanctions against the Maduro government following Sunday's vote for a Constituent Assembly. The U.S. is referring to President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela as a dictator, although he was democratically elected "and, according to the Venezuelan constitution, had a right to call for people to vote for a Constituent Assembly. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio appeared on Venezuelan television offering solidarity for the opposition of Maduro. Our guest is George Ciccariello-Maher, a political analyst and professor at Drexel University, with specialization in colonialism, social movements, race and racism, and Latin America.

Last week, the Trump administration amped up its assault on transgender rights, with the Department of Justice saying the Civil Rights Act does not protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in the workplace, and Trump announcing that no transgender people will be allowed in any aspect of the U.S. military. Our guest is law professor, LGBT rights specialist and former Obama advisor Tobias Barrington Wolff.

Despite pressure from protesters and condemnation from the United States, Europe, Mexico, Paraguay and Columbia, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro refused to back down and the National Constituent Assembly he called proceeded on July 30. At least 10 people were reportedly killed on Sunday. Voter turnout is unsurprisingly in dispute, with the Venezuelan government claiming a turnout of 41.5 percent, and the opposition claiming turnout was between 14 and 18 percent. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday denounced the Assembly and slapped sanctions on Maduro (but no sanctions yet on Venezuelan oil, as the U.S. oil industry is dependent on crude from Venezuela). Today, it is reported that two opposition figures who were under house arrest have been detained. According to the Maduro government, they both violated conditions of their house arrest. Here to break down all of this are our guests, Caracas-based journalist Lucas Koerner and economist Mark Weisbrot.

Despite pressure from protesters and condemnation from the United States, Europe, Mexico, Paraguay and Columbia, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro refused to back down and the National Constituent Assembly he called proceeded on July 30. At least 10 people were reportedly killed on Sunday. Voter turnout is unsurprisingly in dispute, with the Venezuelan government claiming a turnout of 41.5 percent, and the opposition claiming turnout was between 14 and 18 percent. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday denounced the Assembly and slapped sanctions on Maduro (but no sanctions yet on Venezuelan oil, as the U.S. oil industry is dependent on crude from Venezuela). Today, it is reported that two opposition figures who were under house arrest have been detained. According to the Maduro government, they both violated conditions of their house arrest. Our guests are Lucas Koerner and Mark Weisbrot.

The Trump admin has made an all-out assault on transgender people, with the Department of Justice saying the Civil Rights Act does not protect trans and other LGBTQ people from discrimination, and Trump announcing that no trans people will be allowed in any aspect of the U.S. military. We speak with Tobias Barrington Wolff.

Last month, at a UN conference mandated by the UN General Assembly, 122 nations voted to ban nuclear weapons. North Korea was the only nuclear power to vote for the ban treaty, and almost all NATO nations boycotted the conference. Our guest is Alice Slater.

Last month, at a UN conference mandated by the UN General Assembly, 122 nations voted to ban nuclear weapons. To discuss this historic vote, our guest is Alice Slater of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.

What do we know about Trumps nominee for head of the FBI? What are his views on Islamophobia and police accountability? Is he getting an easy pass in his confirmation hearings? Sue Udry, Executive Director of Defending Rights and Dissent, a national civil liberties organization, breaks it down.

Grassroots people are being terrorized as Haiti's U.S. backed president brings back the hated Haitian army. Whats at stake? We speak with Pierre Labossiere, co-founder of the Haiti Action Committee.

New tensions have flared in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What is going on, and what are the roles of Jordan and the United States? Our guest is Middle East expert Phyllis Bennis.