“Over 1 billion people are chronically hungry,” says the U.N., yet it would take only $44 billion per year to end hunger globally.
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The controversial TV anchor has resigned from CNN amid a campaign to force him off the air due to his reporting on Latinos and immigrants. Past Democracy Now! Coverage of Lou Dobbs:
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Thanksgiving is around the corner, and families will be gathering to share a meal and, perhaps, enjoy another annual telecast of “The Wizard of Oz.” The 70-year-old film classic bears close watching this year, perhaps more than in any other, for the message woven into the lyrics, written during the Great Depression by Oscar-winning lyricist E.Y. “Yip” Harburg.
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“Extraordinary rendition” is White House-speak for kidnapping. Just ask Maher Arar. He’s a Canadian citizen who was “rendered” by the U.S. to Syria, where he was tortured for almost a year.
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U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Chancellor Keesling died in Iraq on June 19, 2009, from “a non-combat related incident,” according to the Pentagon. Keesling had killed himself.
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Climate-change activists, from pranksters to presidents, are stepping up the pressure by staging elaborate stunts.
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Lt. Dan Choi doesn’t want to lie. Choi, an Iraq war veteran and a graduate of West Point, declared last March 19 on “The Rachel Maddow Show,” “I am gay.” Under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” regulations, those three words are enough to get Choi kicked out of the military.
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Journalist Christian Parenti responds to our interview with Kevin Bales, founder of Free The Slaves
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While the hundreds of thousands on the National Mall heard Gene Robinson’s opening prayer on Sunday, millions around the country missed it, because HBO did not televise his remarks. Obama’s inaugural committee is apologizing, saying they had intended for Robinson’s remarks to be included in the televised portion of yesterday’s program, and they “regret the error.” Robinson had been given the slot after gay advocates protested Obama’s selection of Rick Warren, a leading evangelical opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage, to give the invocation at today’s inauguration. [includes rush transcript]
Sunday’s Lincoln Memorial concert ended with legendary folk singer Pete Seeger singing Woody Guthrie’s song “This Land Is Your Land.” He was joined by Bruce Springsteen and Pete’s grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger. They sang the song complete with the rarely performed verse “I came to a sign that said ‘Private Property,’ but on the other side it didn’t say nothing. That side was made for you and me!” [includes rush transcript]
At Sunday’s massive concert at the Lincoln Memorial, Queen Latifah introduced the story of contralto Marian Anderson, who was banned by the whites-only Daughters of the American Revolution from performing at DAR Constitution Hall. Anderson got to sing at the Lincoln Memorial with an assist from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. [includes rush transcript]
Bob Moses is one of the leading civil rights icons from the 1960s. He was the former field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC. The New York Times once wrote, “In Mississippi, Bob Moses was the equivalent of Martin Luther King.” Moses is also the founder of the Algebra Project, a foundation devoted to improving minority education in math. The author, poet and activist Alice Walker won the 1983 Pulitzer for her book The Color Purple. She has written many other bestselling books, including In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens and Possessing the Secret of Joy. [includes rush transcript]
On Sunday, a half-a-million people turned out on the National Mall for a star-studded two-hour inaugural event that featured actors Jamie Foxx, Marisa Tomei, Denzel Washington, Queen Latifah, Tom Hanks and many more. There were special performances by Stevie Wonder, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Mary J. Blige and others. Barack Obama was the highlight of the day. He spoke at the climax of the two-hour event. [includes rush transcript]
Later today, the first African American president in US history, Barack Obama, and wife Michelle and two daughters, Malia and Sasha, will be taking up residence in the White House, a house built by slaves. The Capitol, too, was built by slaves, as was the Supreme Court. Last night, I spoke with Associated Press reporter Jesse Holland. He is author of Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C. [includes rush transcript]
Despite Obama’s ban on corporate funding, Public Citizen has found nearly 80 percent of inaugural contributions have been raised by just over 200 wealthy donors, including executives from Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, UBS Americas, Goldman Sachs, Wachovia. [includes rush transcript]