Farhang Foundation
Los Angeles-based producer and marketing consultant, and a community organizer within the Iranian-American community; Executive Director of Farhang Foundation, a non-profit organization celebrating Iranian art and culture, and founder of Butterfly Buzz
'A Separation' Unites Iranian-Americans in Los Angeles At last night's Academy Awards, Iran's A Separation won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film . The hard-line Iranian news agency, Fars, reported that when he accepted the award, director Asghar Farhadi said, "I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, who, despite all the tensions and hostility of recent months between Iran and the West over Iran's nuclear program, respect all cultures and civilizations." In fact, Farhadi spoke of Iranians all over the world who were watching, "happy, not just because of an important award…but because at the time when talk of war, intimidation, and aggression is exchanged between politicians the name of their country, Iran, is spoken here through her glorious culture, a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics. I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment. Thank you so much."
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?