freelance journalist
Elizabeth Segal is a free-lance radio, print and TV journalist living in Santa Monica, California. She has appeared on The World and Which Way, LA? and has produced TV programming for PBS. She's also been published in TheDailyBeast.com, Salon.com, the LA Times, Seattle's The Stranger Weekly, and others.
Donald J. Trump Sworn in as president This morning, Donald J. Trump became the 45th President of the United States. His inaugural address began with ringing repetitions of promises familiar from last year's speeches and rallies.
The boycott of Trump's inauguration Guest host Barbara Bogaev runs down who's opting out of Donald Trump's inauguration, looks into the charge that he is not a "legitimate President", and considers how his unusually low approval ratings could shape his first term in office.
Is Donald Trump defying the Founding Fathers? A week before he takes office, America's President-elect is already embroiled in a controversy over the Constitution. Can Donald Trump avoid prohibited conflicts of interests without selling off billions worth of investments in foreign countries or the new Trump International Hotel — on Pennsylvania Avenue, between the White House and Capitol Hill?
Trump and American labor: A love story? In a rare political moment, the head of the AFL-CIO has expressed some agreement with the Republican President-elect. But how far is Donald Trump willing to go on behalf of working Americans? We look for answers among his appointees to offices that can make a difference.
Donald Trump’s war on US intelligence Donald Trump, his aides and many supporters have said that US Intelligence agencies have not produced enough evidence to convince them that Russia tried to influence the US election. Is Trump onto something American spies don't know, or is he concerned that reports of Russian influence will de-legitimize his election?
Trump transition names loyal hardliners The Democrats are still reeling after last week's loss of the White House and their failure to regain power on Capitol Hill. We hear how they're planning to build momentum for the mid-term election of 2018.
Donald Trump's foreign policy The day before this week's election, President Obama warned that Donald Trump was unqualified to have access to America's nuclear codes. Now Trump's in line to take over as the most powerful man in the world. We hear what that could mean for Europe, Russia and the Middle East.
Time to rethink the Electoral College? In next week's election, some votes will count more than others. That's because it'll finally be decided by the Electoral College — not by majority rule. Has one of the Constitutional compromises lost its usefulness, or should the electors chosen by each of the 50 states have even more power against the passions of populism?
Reality Check: Parental leave and childcare Donald Trump is defying GOP tradition by proposing a new entitlement: paid leave for the mothers of newly born children. Clinton wants new fathers on the government payroll, too. Either plan would help the US catch up to the rest of the world.
Reality Check: Health insurance and Obamacare Obamacare has made health insurance available for millions of people who didn't have it before. It's anything but perfect, and now Bill Clinton has made it an unavoidable issue in this year's presidential campaign — intentionally or otherwise. We compare the best laid plans of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Reality Check: Military spending and national security The most powerful military in the world is not big enough for Donald Trump, although Hillary Clinton's considered more likely to use it to intervene overseas. We continue our reality check on the presidential campaign
The Conventions Are Over… Let the Campaigns Begin America is desperately weak and failing — in need of drastic fixes before it's too late. Or, it's as great as ever — despite serious problems that are amenable to repair. We hear the opening themes of a campaign with Democrats stealing some traditional Republican ideas.
DNC Day 4: The World's Most Famous Woman Reintroduces Herself Hillary Clinton will make history tonight…becoming the first woman to accept the presidential nomination of a major political party. Last night, the current White House incumbent told a cheering convention — and Clinton's husband -- she's ready.
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.