Thursday, October 11, 2018

Where Is Jamal Khashoggi? Saudi Arabia Denies Abduction of Missing Journalist


Where is Jamal Khashoggi? Since exactly one week ago, his fiancée and friends have been rallying outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where the journalist and prominent critic of the Kingdom's policies disappeared. Khashoggi has gone for wedding documents. Riyadh claims he exited through a back door, the Turks are dubious and the search is on for clues. We ask our panel how much the columnist is a thorn in the side of Mohammed Bin Salman and a régime which insists it's opening up.

The Debate - Missing Saudi Journalist: Jamal Khashoggi


Extreme is a word that may come to mind when describing the behavior of the Saudi regime. However what seems to be unfolding in Istanbul, Turkey, is beyond extreme and mind boggling. The disappearance of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi seems to have taken place in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and now Turkish media reports are saying he was killed and dismembered inside of the Consulate. As shocking as this is, it isn’t the first time that the Saudi regime has been accused of killing those with a different point of view.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Rashid Khalidi on the US Backing of Brutal Saudi Régime & the Disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi


It’s been more than a week since Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last Tuesday, sparking international concern. Now, a Turkish official has told the New York Times that Khashoggi was assassinated inside the consulate by a team of 15 Saudi operatives who used a bone saw to dismember his body before smuggling body parts out of the building. We speak with Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University. He is the author of several books, including “Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East.”

Rashid Khalidi: Haley Put a Nice Face on Trump’s “Horrific” US Policies


U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has announced she is resigning her post at the end of the year. The former South Carolina governor—one of the few women in Trump’s Cabinet—gave no reason for her departure. During Nikki Haley’s time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the United States withdrew from the Paris climate accord; the U.N. Human Rights Council; the Iran nuclear deal; UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians; and UNESCO, the U.N. Educational and Cultural agency. We speak with Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University, about the significance of Haley’s departure and the role of the United States at the United Nations. Khalidi is the author of “Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East.” His next book, titled “The Hundred-Years War on Palestine” will be out in May.

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 10, 2018


'This Is An Outrage': Jamal Khashoggi Mystery Threatens Relations | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Media outlets in Turkey have published footage of what they say shows evidence of a plot linked to missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2nd.

What Happened to Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi? | Inside Story


On the afternoon of Tuesday October 2 2018, Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. His fiancee who was waiting for him outside, says he never came out. Now, we know more about what may have happened.

The New York Times says Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate. Turkish media have published pictures of what they say--are the agents--sent to kill him. But the Saudis insist he left the building.

So, what happened inside the Saudi consulate?

Presenter: Hoda Abdel-Hamid | Guests: Ali Al-Ahmed - Director, Gulf Affairs Institute; Chris Phillips - Former Head of the UK national Counter-terrorism Security Office; Sabah Al-Khozai - Lecturer, Bristol College


Washington Post Journalist Jamal Khashoggi Has Disappeared. Will the US Take a Stand?


Jamal Khashoggi, a singular voice willing to criticize Saudi leaders, has disappeared in Istanbul at the Saudi consulate. The Washington Post columnist and prominent former editor has previously spoken out about some of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's actions, including the silencing of dissenters. Nick Schifrin talks with Fred Hiatt of the Washington Post and Robin Wright from the New Yorker.

Riyadh Allows Search of Consulate in Istanbul


US media say the missing Saudi journalist was killed in the city of Istanbul under orders from the kingdom’s leadership.

New York Times quoted a Turkish official as saying that Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated inside the consulate by order of the highest level of the royal court. Meanwhile, Washington Pots says U-S intelligence intercepted communication of Saudi officials discussing a plan to capture the dissident journalist. This comes as international pressure is mounting on Saudi Arabia to give clear explanations for the fate of Khashoggi.


Don Lemon Laughs Off Trump's Ivanka Comment


CNN's Don Lemon responds to President Trump's claim that his daughter Ivanka would make a "dynamite ambassador" to the United Nations following Ambassador Nikki Haley's resignation.

US Steps Up Pressure on Saudi over Khashoggi's Disappearance l Inside Story


A week after his mysterious disappearance at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey, US leaders are voicing their fears for Jamal Khashoggi.

Donald Trump says he's concerned, the Vice President says he's 'troubled' by his disappearance. And America's top diplomat is urging Saudi allies to be open about what happened.

The mystery puts the spotlight on the Trump administration's close relations with Riyadh.

Presenter: Hoda Abdel-Hamid | Guests: Richard Murphy - Former U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia; Khalil Jahshan - Exective Director, Arab Center, Washington; Marwan Kabalan - Director of Policy Analysis, Arab Centre for Research & Policy Studies, Doha


Tuesday, October 09, 2018

Is Khashoggi the Latest Victim of Saudi Crackdown? l Inside Story


Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul five days ago and reportedly never walked out. Turkish authorities say they believe he was killed inside the building and that it was pre-meditated. Saudi Arabia denies it.

Is the journalist the latest victim of his government's ongoing crackdown on dissent?

Host - Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Mehmet Celik - Political Editor with the Daily Sabah Newspaper; Adam Coogle -The Middle East Researcher with Human Rights Watch; Mahjoob Zweiri – The director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University


#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 9, 2018


Monday, October 08, 2018

Alleged Saudi Murder of Washington Post Columnist Prompts Calls to Halt U.S. Relations with Régime


Fears are growing over the fate of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who Turkish officials say they believe was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last week. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who had been living in self-imposed exile in the United States, entered the Saudi Consulate in Turkey seeking a document he needed to get married and has not been seen since. The Washington Post reports a Turkish investigation has revealed that a group of about 15 Saudi men traveled to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi as he visited the consulate. Saudi officials have denied the report and say they don’t know the journalist’s whereabouts. Khashoggi is a critic of the Saudi regime. “This is a horrific escalation in the crown prince’s campaign to silence dissent, to silence any criticism, even the mildest of criticism, from Saudis at home or abroad,” says columnist for The Intercept Mehdi Hasan, who is also host of “UpFront” at Al Jazeera English, where he interviewed Khashoggi earlier this year. We’re also joined by Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink, who knew Khashoggi and is the author of “Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection.”

US Rapped for Staying Silent on Khashoggi Case


The UN calls for a probe into the alleged murder of a dissident Saudi journalist in Turkey, as the US government comes under fire for keeping silent on the issue.

The Debate - Trump Humiliating Saudi Arabia


US President Donald Trump has once again humiliated Saudi Arabia by saying that the country’s king “might not be there for two weeks” without Washington’s support. Speaking at a campaign rally in Mississippi, Trump said he loves King Salman but the US is protecting the king therefore he has to pay for the military backing. What does Trump’s comment reveal about Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and independence? What does it say about the two countries’ relationship which, under Trump, has become void of any veneer of the polite diplomatic language? Let’s now cross over to Washington and talk to Press TV’s Colin Campbell about the issue. Colin; in May, Trump humiliated the Saudi Crown Prince at the Oval Office by boasting arms sales to the Kingdom and on Tuesday night he was at it again by addressing the King himself. What else can you tell us about Trump’s comment and reactions to it?

Turkey Says Critical Saudi Journalist Was Killed in Saudi Consulate


Turkish authorities have suggested that a missing Saudi journalist was murdered by a special hit squad inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul. The prominent commentator was last seen entering the diplomatic mission.

A Republican Since 1979 Is Now Leaving The Party | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Tom Nichols of the U.S. Naval War College writes in a new Atlantic piece he is leaving the Republican Party and becoming an Independent after the Kavanaugh confirmation crisis. Nichols joins Morning Joe to discuss.

Reports: Sources Say Saudi Journalist Killed in Turkey


Unnamed Turkish officials speaking to The Washington Post and Reuters said that prominent Saudi journalist-turned-critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul this week.

The officials have so far provided no evidence or detail on how they arrived at this conclusion. CNN has not been able to independently confirm these reports and has not been able to get a comment from the Saudi government on the reports.

An unnamed consulate official dismissed the reports in an interview with Saudi Arabian state news agency SPA.

"The official strongly denounced these baseless allegations and expressed his doubt that they came from Turkish officials that are informed of the investigation or are authorized to comment on the issue," SPA reported.


Fareed: Supreme Court Tumbles into Dysfunction


CNN's Fareed Zakaria says that the US Supreme Court was one of the last bastions in Washington that towered above the political fray, but following the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation battle, it is now part of the dysfunction that has overwhelmed almost the entire American system.

Sunday, October 07, 2018

Saudi Arabia Reportedly Killed Journalist Jamal Khashoggi. We Can't Rest Until We Know The Truth


Turkish officials say Saudi journalist and Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Global Opinions writer Jason Rezaian says if true, this is a heinous crime by the Saudi government.


Read Khashoggi's columns: HERE »

Is Khashoggi the Latest Victim of Saudi Crackdown? l Inside Story


Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul five days ago and reportedly never walked out. Turkish authorities say they believe he was killed inside the building and that it was pre-meditated. Saudi Arabia denies it.

Is the journalist the latest victim of his government's ongoing crackdown on dissent?

Host - Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Mehmet Celik - Political Editor with the Daily Sabah Newspaper: Adam Coogle - The Middle East Researcher with Human Rights Watch; Mahjoob Zweiri. The director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University


Madeleine Albright: Trump Almost a Gift to Putin


Former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell talk to CNN's Fareed Zakaria about how President Donald Trump has altered America's role in the world.

The Real Jesus Christ | Biblical Documentary | Timeline


After the death of Jesus, his followers split into two factions. They held radically different views about their leader – his identity, his message and his vision of the future. One of those factions flourished under the guiding genius of St Paul – and eventually wrote its version of the story in the Gospels of the New Testament. The other faction withered and died away, leaving behind no written records. But what if the losers in this power struggle had written their version of the story? The Real Jesus Christ reconstructs that lost biography of Jesus: an alternative version of his life as it would have been told by those who lost the battle for the succession, but who knew him better than anyone else – his closest followers and his family.

John Kerry: Supreme Court Fight Will Cost the Country


Former Secretary of State John Kerry tells CNN's Michael Smerconish the Brett Kavanaugh fight will cost the Senate and country. Kerry also responds to Mike Pompeo's charge that he shouldn't have spoken to Iran.

'We Will Pay Nothing for Our Security': Saudi Arabia Disregards Trump's Warnings


The crown prince of Saudi Arabia says his country doesn't owe the US a cent in unpaid weapons bills. His remark was a response to Donald Trump, who issued a warning to the Gulf kingdom.

Saturday, October 06, 2018

Why Lisa Murkowski Opposes Brett Kavanaugh | The Last Word | MSNBC


Lawrence looks at the markedly different standards Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins had for how they weighed their decisions on Brett Kavanaugh and why they ultimately decided the way they did. Maya Wiley, Jill Wine-Banks, and Lisa Graves discuss.

Jeffrey Toobin: Roe v. Wade Will Be Overturned


CNN's chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin gives his take on what effect Brett Kavanaugh will have on the Supreme Court now that he's secured enough votes for confirmation.

Friday, October 05, 2018

Thanks To Trump, The World Hates America Again


Donald Trump loves to tell us that the US is once again “respected” around the globe, but that’s a claim that is easily rebutted with the available facts. According to the latest round of polling, a huge majority of citizens from all over the world say that they have no confidence in the United States anymore, and Trump is the primary reason. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Is SC Nominee Brett Kavanaugh So Damaged He Can't Be A Fair Jurist? | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Hours ahead of a crucial vote on his confirmation, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a new WSJ opinion piece that he might have been 'too emotional' in his congressional testimony last week. The panel discusses.

Eve Ensler to White Women Supporting Kavanaugh: Stand with Survivors & Fight This Nomination


Opposition to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is growing across the country as the Senate prepares to vote on his nomination, just one day after senators were given their first chance to see the FBI’s new investigation into Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s claims that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when she was a teenager. More than 300 protesters were arrested Thursday during a massive sit-in on Capitol Hill against Kavanaugh, who has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple women. The Senate is planning to hold a key procedural vote on his confirmation Friday morning. A final vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation is expected on Saturday. The decision rests on four senators who have not yet announced how they will vote: Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, as well as Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia. We speak with Eve Ensler, award-winning playwright and author of The Vagina Monologues. She is also the founder of V-Day, a movement to end violence against women and girls. She recently published “A Letter to White Women Who Support Brett Kavanaugh” in Time Magazine. She says to sexual assault survivors watching the Kavanaugh nomination unfold, “Your pain matters. Your experience matters. The trauma that you have faced matters. And there are many of us, many of us supporting you, loving you, holding you as you try to heal from this experience.”

Saudi Writer Jamal Khashoggi 'Disappears after Consulate Visit' | Al Jazeera English


Friends and colleagues of prominent Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi fear he's been taken while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Khashoggi, who has been living in self-exile in the US, entered the consulate's premises at around 1pm (10:00 GMT) then disappeared, according to the Arab21 news website.

According to two Turkish officials, the journalist remains inside the consulate, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Al Jazeera's Nastasya Tay has more.


#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 5, 2018


Thursday, October 04, 2018

Trump Faces Probe Into Tax Fraud After NYT Exposes How He Helped Parents Scam Millions From Government


The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has opened an investigation into President Trump for fraud and tax evasion following a major exposé by the New York Times revealing that Trump inherited nearly half a billion dollars of his family’s wealth through tax dodges and outright fraud. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio has also called for a city probe, and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has urged the IRS to investigate the president. The Times’ 13,000-word investigative report found the late Fred and Mary Trump transferred more than $1 billion in wealth to their children, paying less than 5 percent of the $550 million in taxes they should have paid under inheritance tax rates. Donald Trump also helped his parents undervalue real estate holdings by hundreds of millions of dollars on IRS tax returns in order to reduce taxes. We speak with David Barstow, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and the lead author on the new investigation, “Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father.” Barstow shares a byline with Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.

NYT Exposé: “Self-Made Billionaire” Donald Trump Built Empire on Father’s Money, Tax Dodging & Fraud


President Donald Trump built his personal brand and presidential candidacy on the claim that he was a self-made billionaire whose only head start was a “small loan of a million dollars” from his father. But a New York Times exposé has revealed that Trump inherited much of his family’s wealth through tax dodging and outright fraud, receiving at least $413 million in inflation-adjusted dollars from his father’s real estate empire. We speak with David Barstow, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for the New York Times and the lead author on the new investigation, “Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father.” Barstow shares a byline with Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 4, 2018


Kavanaugh's College Roommate: He Was Lying


James Roche, the college roommate of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, speaks to CNN's Anderson Cooper about his experience with Kavanaugh at Yale.

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

Mental Health Experts Demand Psychological Assessment of Kavanaugh for Drinking, Instability


Donald Trump openly mocked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at a rally Tuesday, casting doubt on her claims that Brett Kavanaugh had tried to rape her in high school just days after calling her a very credible witness. As the FBI continues its investigation into Dr. Blasey Ford’s claims, a group of mental health experts are calling for Kavanaugh to undergo a full psychological and substance abuse assessment before the Senate votes on his confirmation. We speak with Dr. Bandy Lee of the Yale School of Medicine, the lead author of a letter titled “Mental Health Experts Urge Examination Based on Warning Signs in Kavanaugh Testimony.” The letter reads, “Judge Kavanaugh exhibited behavior that, if engaged in during his possible tenure as a Supreme Court Justice, would yield a dangerous combination of instability and power.”

Trump Officials Headline Neocon Iran Regime-Change Summit: Inside UANI


John Bolton and Mike Pompeo headlined the annual United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) summit, where speakers celebrated the strangling of the Iranian economy under U.S. sanctions and cheered on regime change. We report from inside

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 3, 2018


‘Outright Fraud’ : Bombshell NYT Investigation Obliterates Trump’s Self-Made Myth | Deadline | MSNBC


NYT’s David Barstow, Daily Beast’s Sam Stein, former DOJ spokesman Matt Miller, NBC’s Heidi Przybyla, WaPo’s Ashley Parker and Jennifer Rubin on the in-depth investigation detailing the alleged Trump family tax schemes

Bombshell: Trump Being Investigated for Tax Evasion and Fraud


Sunday, September 30, 2018

Kellyanne Conway: I'm a Victim of Sexual Assault


Counselor to President Trump, Kellyanne Conway, tells CNN's Jake Tapper that she is a victim of sexual assault while discussing the testimonies of Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Maajid's Impassioned Swipe At Boris Johnson: The Balloon Buffoon


"Disgusting" Tucker Carlson Says Rape Victims Are “Part Of The Problem”


In an attempt to prove that he is just as heartless and disgusting as everyone else on the network, Fox News host Tucker Carlson said this week that rape victims who “wait too long” to report their assault are part of the problem. Perhaps Tucker needs to go back and watch all of the negative coverage his network has given to the women who do step forward and then maybe he’ll understand why it is so difficult for women to speak out. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Analyzing Brett Kavanaugh’s Troubled Nomination


Larry and guests discuss Brett Kavanaugh’s troubled nomination to the US Supreme Court. Then, foreign affairs expert Joel Rubin on Donald Trump’s performance at the UN General Assembly.