President Trump Approval At Record Low As Country Blames Him For Shutdown | The Last Word | MSNBC

Polls say Pres. Trump is to blame for the shutdown as his approval matches an all-time low. Jason Johnson, Mara Gay and Jennifer Rubin join Ari Melber to discuss the prospects for Trump as he digs in on his unpopular shutdown.

What Is Trump's Strategy for Syria and the Region? l Inside Story

For the first time since he became president two years ago, Donald Trump visited American troops in a conflict zone - Iraq. His surprise three-hour stop was at an air base west of Baghdad the day after Christmas. He didn't meet any of the Iraqi leadership but invited Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to the White House in the New Year.

Trump used the opportunity to defend the withdrawal of troops from Syria saying it was made possible by the defeat of ISIL. But critics have condemned what they see as the president's increasingly isolationist foreign policy saying it will give ISIL a chance to re-group.

Trump says the work of US forces is complete, and regional forces will ensure ISIL remains dismantled. It's reported Trump also wants to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan from 14,000 to 7,000.

What is Trump's strategy for the region and what message is he trying to send?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom | Guests: Ali Al-Nashmi, Political Analyst; Peter Galbraith, Former U.S. Ambassador; Afzal Ashraf, University of Nottingham

Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell first delivered this lecture on March 6, 1927 to the National Secular Society, South London Branch, at Battersea Town Hall.

Saudi King Salman Announces Government Reshuffle | Al Jazeera English

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has announced a major reshuffle of his cabinet. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has been replaced and a new political and security council has been formed. Marwan Kabalan, head of policy analysis at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, talks to Al Jazeera about what could be behind the shuffle.

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.

Pope Francis Uses Christmas Homily to Decry Modern Consumerism

THE GUARDIAN: Pontiff told pilgrims in the Vatican City that mankind has become ‘greedy and voracious’
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Pope Francis has assailed the “insatiable greed” of today’s consumerism, calling on people in his Christmas homily to make “sharing and giving” more a part of their lives.

“Mankind became greedy and voracious,” the leader of the world’s 1.3bn Catholics said in an address to thousands of followers in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.

“In our day, for many people, life’s meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess of material objects.”

“An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive.” » | Agencies | Monday, December 24, 2018

Einsamkeit - wenn keiner da ist | Nachtcafé

Die Adventszeit ist für viele nicht nur die Zeit der Besinnlichkeit, sondern vor allem die Angst vor dem, was unausweichlich kommen wird: Weihnachten alleine! Auch wenn es das Fest der Liebe, der Familie und der Geborgenheit ist: Millionen Deutsche verbringen diese emotional besonders aufgeladenen Feiertage einsam und alleine zu Hause. Während an Heilig Abend aus der Nachbarswohnung glückliches Kinderlachen, fröhliche Lieder und Familientrubel zu hören sind, läuft in den eigenen vier Wänden der Fernseher als Dauerberieselung, um dem unerträglichen Alleinsein etwas entgegenzusetzen..

Markets Stage One of Worst Christmas Eves Ever, Closing Down More Than 600 Points as Trump Blames Fed for Stock Losses in a Tweet

THE WASHINGTON POST: The Dow Jones industrial average followed its worst week in a decade with a 653-point drop Monday, and President Trump once again took to Twitter to interject himself into financial markets.

As blue chips sank even deeper into the red after weeks of chaos, Trump tried to assign sole blame for the sell-off to the Federal Reserve, likening the central bank to a golfer who “can’t putt.”

“The only problem our economy has is the Fed,” the president said in a tweet. “They don’t have a feel for the Market, they don’t understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch — he can’t putt! » | Thomas Heath & Philip Rucker | Monday, December 24, 2018

Clapper Blasts Trump's 'Appalling Arrogance' on ISIS

Former Director of National Security James Clapper says ISIS has not been defeated and blasts President Donald Trump's previous claims that he knows more about ISIS than the generals do.

The Real Problem Is the US-Saudi Relationship, Not Just Crown Prince MBS

Peace activist Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK says US support for the Saudi monarchy must be fundamentally challenged. Some American officials want a cosmetic change, simply replacing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but the problem runs much deeper.

Can the US Be a Dependable Ally? l Inside Story

Retired general James Mattis was seen as a measure of calm and stability in a White House swirling with chaos and unpredictability. Now, he's resigned as US Secretary of Defense, after disagreements on foreign policy with the president.

His departure comes as Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal of US forces from Syria and suggestions he'll pull thousands out of Afghanistan too.

In his resignation letter, Mattis said he believes in treating allies with respect. Trump’s announcement certainly took the US's friends by surprise and left many wondering if the US is a dependable ally.

So with Mattis gone, who will now try and control an unpredictable president?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: David DesRoches, Professor of Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University and Former Director of NATO Operations at the Pentagon; Habib Wardak, Founding Member of Transparency Afghanistan and National Security Analyst; Andreas Krieg, Assistant Professor at the Defence Studies Dept., King's College London and Specialist on Jihadist Groups in the Middle East.

Jim Mattis Resigns as White House Unravels from Within | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced his resignation Thursday afternoon, sending President Donald Trump a letter that implicitly criticized the president's military judgment. The Morning Joe panel discusses Mattis' resignation and the other major news of the week.

Clapper: Americans Are Less Safe with Mattis' Exit

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says Americans are less safe after Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced he is stepping down.

Don Lemon: If You Are Worried, You Should Be

CNN's Don Lemon reacts to the announcement that Secretary of Defense James Mattis is stepping down from his role.

Tucker Carlson Begs Advertisers To Stay, Declaring “I Like Immigrants!”

Tucker Carlson went on an angry tirade on Friday evening about immigrants, saying that they make American “poorer, dirtier, and more divided.” This incredibly racist statement has caused advertisers to flee his program, but now he’s begging them to stay by proclaiming that he actually loves immigrants and that he believes the caravan travelers all have good intentions. This is too little, too late, as Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins explains.

The Rogue Crown Prince & the Dangerous US-Saudi-Israel Alliance

Col. Lawrence Wilkerson and Paul Jay discuss the US Senate resolution condemning Mohamed Bin Salman for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi; there is concern amongst the neocons of both major parties that MBS is undermining the strategy to weaken Iran

Imam Tawhidi: The TRUTH About Islam

In this interview with Imam Tawhidi, the Imam discusses his 2018 book The Tragedy of Islam, as well as the debate surrounding the religion’s history, doctrine, stance on women’s rights, Mohammed, and its connections to terrorism and extremism.

Former German FM Sigmar Gabriel: MBS 'Overestimated His Position in Region' | Talk to Al Jazeera

Trump 'Seething' after Cohen Sentencing

President Trump's public silence belied his rising fury over longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who the President still insists is not telling the truth, after he turned against him and was sentenced to three years in prison. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.

Cohen on Trump as President: 'He's a Very Different Individual'

Trump's former attorney told ABC News in an exclusive interview that he thinks "the pressure of the job is much more" than what the president thought it was going to be.

Senate Votes To End US Support For Saudi-Led War In Yemen | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC

In a stinging rebuke of President Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the US Senate voted to end military support of the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

Theresa May Tries to Salvage Brexit Deal in Brussels

Theresa May is ending the worst week of her political life in the place where she now looks more comfortable than Westminster.

This is her second visit to Brussels in three days and now that she has clung on to her job she came hoping to get her deal across the line in Parliament.

Her fellow EU leaders were long on admiration for her tenacity but came short on the kind of concessions that could save her deal and perhaps her government.

Lord Michael Heseltine on Brexit, Theresa May and Fighting Poverty

Lord Michael Heseltine is a veteran of politics. He served as Deputy Prime Minister under Margaret Thatcher and was crucial in her removal from power. He now sits on the Conservative benches of the House of Lords and has strongly argued against Brexit and to remain in the European Union.

Will Trump Change His Mind on Khashoggi Killing? l Inside Story

Six senior US senators from across party lines have introduced a resolution holding the Saudi Crown Prince personally accountable for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

It directly contradicts statements from President Donald Trump who has insisted repeatedly there is no definitive evidence connecting Mohammed bin Salman with the crime.

But will the senators force Trump to drop his defence of the Saudi royal?

The resolution also criticises Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen, the blockade of Qatar, and a crackdown on dissent in the Kingdom. It's a testing time for the US president.

Presenter: Martine Dennis | Guests: John Jones, former senior congressional advisor during President Obama's term; Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East analyst with expertise in Gulf affairs; and Chris Garcia, former deputy director of the US Department of Commerce under President Trump

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

Can Macron Survive the Biggest Challenge to His Presidency? l Inside Story

The Arc de Triomphe daubed with graffiti. The Champs Elysée cloaked in clouds of tear gas. It's becoming a familiar story in Paris. The famous sights of the French capital turned into a battle ground for the third successive weekend.

‘Yellow Vest’ protesters again venting their fury at the rising price of keeping their cars on the road; and increasing calls for President Emmanuel Macron to resign.

Facing the biggest challenge to his 18 month presidency, he flew home from the G20 summit in Argentina for an emergency government meeting.

It's not just next month’s proposed fuel tax rise which is infuriating many, falling living standards are too; so, how can Macron calm the rising anger?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Anne Giudicelli - Chief Executive, Terrorisc Consultancy; Remi Bourgeot -Economist, French Institute of International & Strategic Affairs; David Lees - Lecturer in French Studies, University of Warwick

Does Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) Care about New Khashoggi Revelations? l Inside Story

’The Wall Street Journal’ says the Saudi Crown Prince was in contact with the team that killed Jamal Khashoggi.

The CIA has reportedly concluded the order to kill Jamal Khashoggi was given by Crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

‘The Wall Street Journal’ says its obtained details of the highly classified CIA document. The newspaper says bin Salman sent at least 11 messages to his closest adviser, Saud al-Qahtani.

He reportedly supervised the so-called 'hit' team.

The CIA says al-Qahtani was in direct communication with the team’s leader in Istanbul - in the hours before and after the journalist was murdered.

The Saudi team was reportedly assembled from the Crown Prince's top security men in the Royal Guard.

The judgment on Bin Salman's likely culpability is based on the prince’s personal focus on Khashoggi who had criticised him - as well as the Prince authorising the same team to target other opponents.

The Saudi leader is reported to have told associates in August last year that if efforts failed to persuade Khashoggi to return to Saudi Arabia, he would be lured somewhere else.

Do the latest revelations make any difference because bin Salman continues to enjoy Donald Trump's support?

Presenter: Richelle Carey | Guests: Imadaldin al-Jubouri -Writer & Academic; Ahmed Al-Burai - Writer, Middle East Eye & Daily Sabah; Jacob Parakilas - Deputy Head, U.S. and the Americas Programme, Chatham House

G20: May in Argentina to Sell Brexit around the World

The Prime Minister arrived in Argentina for the G20 summit keen to sell the benefits of Brexit.

World leaders met against a backdrop of crisis in Crimea and the Saudi Arabian murder of a dissident journalist, but the European Council President Donald Tusk took the opportunity to say the EU stands ready for "no deal or no Brexit at all" if MPs reject the deal. We speak to Theresa May.

Ivanka And Don Jr. Are Mueller’s Next Targets

According to reports, special prosecutor Robert Mueller is now setting his sights on Ivanka and Donald Trump, Jr.’s involvement in a real estate deal that may have been used as a political tool for Donald Trump. The deal revolves around the talks for Trump Tower Moscow and the planned delivery of a $50 million penthouse to Vladimir Putin. The pieces of the puzzle are now out in the open, the only question is whether or not they actually fit together. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

What Do Ex-lawyer Pleas Mean for Trump? - BBC Newsnight

President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen is back - this time with allegations about the President's Russian links. Trump denies wrong-doing, but how damaging could this new information be?

Kirsty Wark is joined from San Francisco by former US attorney Harry Litman, and from the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires by RT America presenter Scottie Nell Hughes.

What's Ahead for the US-Saudi Relationship? l Inside Story

US Senators have sent a strong message to the White House – they will hold Saudi Arabia to account over its rôle in the war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Senate has voted to hold hearings next week on whether to end US involvement in the 3-year old conflict. That's despite strong opposition from the Trump administration, which sent the Secretaries of State and Defense to persuade Senators to vote against the measure.

So, what will this mean for the future of the US-Saudi relationship?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Charles Moran - Republican Political Strategist; Karen Greenberg - Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law; Glenn Carle - A former CIA officer.

Should Saudi Crown Prince Be Charged with War Crimes? G20 Host, Argentina, Considers Probe

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could face prosecution in Argentina for alleged complicity in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Saudi-led humanitarian crisis in Yemen. On Wednesday, an Argentine prosecutor reportedly accepted a request by Human Rights Watch to prosecute the crown prince, just hours after he landed in Argentina ahead of the G20 summit. Argentina recognizes universal jurisdiction for war crimes and torture, which means it is able to press charges against the crown prince while he is in the country. We speak with Reed Brody, counsel and spokesperson for Human Rights Watch, and Shireen Al-Adeimi, Yemeni scholar, activist, and an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University.

Despite Tension between Iran and Israel, Iran’s Jewish Minority Feels At Home

Jewish people have called Iran home for nearly 3,000 years. The Trump administration and U.S. ally Israel often depict the Iranian government as composed of anti-Semitic radical Islamists bent on destroying Israel. But within Iran, many of the estimated 15,000 Jews say they're safe and happy living in the Islamic Republic. Reza Sayah takes a rare inside look at life for Iran's Jewish minority.

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — November 28, 2018

A Fourth Reich In The Sun - Hitler's Escape to Argentina

Patrick Henningsen interviews Gerrard Williams, the former Duty Editor at Reuters Television and Foreign Duty Editor at The BBC, Sky News and APTN and author of the book Grey Wolf. Patrick and Gerrard take a deeper look into one of the greatest the untold stories of World War II, where Adolf Hitler and many other top Nazis including Martin Bormann, escaped to Argentina after the Fall of Berlin in 1945.

In addition, they investigate the active role of many top US and German international corporations had in supporting the Nazi war machine during the war, as well as top Nazi involvement in the formation of the Bilderberg Group after WWII.

Can Turkey Trigger International Probe into Khashoggi's Murder? l Inside Story

It's been nearly two months since journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His murder at the hands of a 15-member hit squad has put Saudi Arabia under an international spotlight. Its embattled Crown Prince, who's been accused of ordering the killing, is on a tour of regional countries before he heads to Argentina for the G-20 Summit.

But Turkey wants to make sure the case does not disappear from the world's attention. Its investigators launched a search of two villas outside Istanbul on Monday. They say they're owned by a Saudi businessman close to the Crown Prince. But will this make any difference? And Can Turkey successfully push for an international investigation?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan | Guests: Vehbi Baysan - Professor of History at Ibn Haldun University; Matthew Bryza - Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council and a former US Ambassador; Simon Mabon - Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Lancaster University in the UK

Will Macron Bow to the Demands of 'Yellow Vest' Protesters? l Inside Story

French fuel tax protesters again vent their anger against President Emmanuel Macron.

Emmanuel Macron was elected last year on presidential pledges to create more jobs and improve lives. But for many French people, his economic reforms are a disaster. Critics accuse him of being a president for the rich - while hurting the poor.

One of his reforms is causing particular outrage - fuel tax. So-called 'Yellow Vest' protesters in Paris blocked roads for a second successive Saturday to tell Macron they've had enough. And his environmentally-friendly tax on diesel aimed at cutting pollution has to go - and so does he.

So, will he change his controversial policies?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan | Guests: Anne Giudicelli - Founder of Terrorisc Consultancy; Jacques Reland - Senior Research Fellow, Global Policy Institute London; Renaud Girard - Chief Foreign Correspondent, Le Figaro daily newspaper

A Royal Family, Episode 1: The Father-in-law of Europe | Documentary

At the end of the 1800s, the Danish King, Christian IX and his wife, Queen Louise, married their six children into the dominating European royal families and Christian IX became known as "Europe's Father-In-Law". Today, his descendants are to be found all over Europe.

These are their stories, stories of power, love, triumph, tragedy and honour, recounted through interviews and never before published letters, photographs and home movie footage, by over 30 members of the European royal family.

Anecdotes handed down through generations give insight into a Europe ruled by 'dynasty politics' where arranged marriages created alliances between countries.

In the Europe of the 1800s, Denmark, England, and Russia each have a childless king; all three need an heir to the throne. Speedily arranged marriages, births, and cunning strategies bring King Christian IX, Queen Victoria and Tsar Alexander II to the throne.

Wadah Khanfar Interview on Media Coverage of the Killing of Khashoggi | One on One Express

We sit down for a one on one interview with Wadah Khanfar, the director of Al Sharq Forum to discuss media coverage of the killing of Khashoggi, how it’s influenced public opinion, and its repercussions.

Jesus und der Islam – Arte HD Doku

The Khashoggi Killing Report: Interview with Yusuf Erim

Yusuf Erim, a Turkey analyst from TRT World, is talking about the Khashoggi killing.

Trump Chooses “Relationship with Saudi Arabia” over Accountability for Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder

Despite overwhelming evidence that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated at the order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Trump stood by Saudi Arabia Tuesday in an extraordinary written statement riddled with exclamation points and subtitled “America First,” writing, “It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn’t! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Trump’s statement came even after The Washington Post reported last Friday that the CIA has “high confidence” that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Saudi officials have tried to dismiss Khashoggi’s death as a rare, unauthorized killing, but a recent New York Times report suggests the kingdom has sought out private companies to assassinate perceived enemies since the beginning of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rule. We speak with the Israeli investigative reporter who helped break the story, Ronen Bergman, author of “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations.” Ronen Bergman is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and the senior national security correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth. His piece in The New York Times is titled “Saudis Close to Crown Prince Discussed Killing Other Enemies a Year Before Khashoggi’s Death.”

How Far Can Trump Shield Bin Salman? l Inside Story

The US President admits Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The CIA says the Crown Prince actually ordered it. But Trump’s contradicted his intelligence agency saying that’s not a definitive determination; and in any case he says it would be foolish to take action against Riyadh. That would threaten lucrative weapons deals and push the price of oil up. Very simple, said Trump, It’s America First.

But it might not be that simple – all eyes are now on the US Congress to see what it will do. So, America First? Or justice last?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Mohamad Elmasry, Associate Professor of Journalism at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; Sigurd Neubauer, Middle East Analyst and Columnist; Cinzia Bianco, Senior Analyst and researcher at Gulf State Analytics

Nancy Isenberg: The Origin of ‘White Trash,’ and Why Class Is Still an Issue in the US

In “White Trash,” Nancy Isenberg delves into the history of class in America, starting with British colonization. At that time, America was seen as a wasteland -- a place to discard the idle poor. The agrarian communities they subsequently formed often remained poor due to a phenomenon Isenberg calls “horizontal mobility.” Jeffrey Brown speaks with the author about how we can evolve past class.

CIA Blames Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman for Khashoggi Murder

’The Washington Post’ is reporting that the CIA blames Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Saudi Arabia Post-Khashoggi: Business as Usual? | The Listening Post (Full)

What Can Khashoggi Tape Reveal about His Murder? | Inside Story

Saudi Arabia has given numerous versions of what happened to Jamal Khashoggi at its consulate in Istanbul, but has always maintained Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing about his death. And it has insisted the killing wasn't pre-meditated.

But now the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has leaked an audio recording that contradicts the latest Saudi narrative. It suggests a hit squad discussed Khashoggi's murder prior to him entering the consulate on October 2nd.

Presenter Laura Kyle | Guests: Saad Djebbar, International Lawyer and Political Commentator. He represented PLO Leader Yasser Arafat’s widow and Al Jazeera journalists who were in prison; Matthew Bryza, former White House official and Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council; Sahar Aziz, Professor of Law at Rutgers University and Director of the Center on Security, Race, and Civil Rights