All eyes are on Iowa this week, as the hodgepodge field of Republican contenders seek a win, or at least “momentum,” in the campaign for the party’s presidential nomination. But behind the scenes, a battle is being waged by Republicans—not against each other, but against American voters.

Accused whistle-blower Pvt. Bradley Manning turned 24 Saturday. He spent his birthday in a pretrial military hearing that could ultimately lead to a sentence of life … or death. Manning stands accused of causing the largest leak of government secrets in United States history.

The once-imprisoned U.S. activist Lori Berenson will be allowed to travel to New York City from Peru to spend the holidays with her toddler son for the first time since her arrest in 1995. Click here to listen to Amy Goodman’s exclusive interview in 1999 with Berenson in the Socabaya Prison.

The U.N.‘s 17th “Conference of Parties,” or COP 17, negotiations were extended, virtually nonstop, through Sunday, in hopes of avoiding complete failure. But despite optimistic pronouncements to the contrary, many believe the Kyoto Protocol died in Durban.

Time magazine has named "The Protester" as its "Person of the Year for 2011." Click to read how Democracy Now! played a role in inspiring one of the people profiled in the issue.

Ten months after the fall of Mubarak, the residents of Suez are now preparing to head to the polls on December 14, to cast their votes in the second round of Egypt’s parliamentary elections. Read Democracy Now! correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous’s report for the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

There is a growing consensus here at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, that the United States is the main impediment to progress at these crucial talks. The fossil-fuel industry exerts enormous influence over the U.S. government, and over the U.S. public, with tens of millions of dollars on lobbying and PR campaigns to shape public opinion. Scientists and activists here and around the world are urging the negotiators to, "Listen to the People, Not the Polluters."

CREDO members can vote for Democracy Now! to receive 2011 donation funding. Go to this page to cast your vote!

Watch Amy Goodman’s appearance on MSNBC’s "Up with Chris Hayes" on Sat. Dec 3rd, 2011, live from Durban, South Africa, site of the UN’s climate change conference.

Click here to watch the full interview

Democracy Now! speaks with Mohawk youth activist Jessica Yee at the Johannesburg airport about what brings her to attend the U.N. Climate Change Conference in South Africa. [includes rush transcript]

More than a year and a half after his arrest, the alleged Army whistleblower Bradley Manning is due to make his first court appearance at a pre-trial hearing on December 16th. Manning faces up to life in prison for allegedly leaking thousands of diplomatic cables that were published by WikiLeaks. Manning spent the first part of his imprisonment in harsh conditions including solitary confinement, leading to allegations of cruelty and torture. Ahead of Manning’s upcoming hearing, the indie musician Cass McCombs stopped by the Democracy Now! studio to debut a new song he wrote for the accused whistleblower, "Bradley Manning."