Hudson Institute
Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute; author of Necessary Secrets: National Security, the Media, and the Rule of Law and A Bad Day on the Romney Campaign: An Insider's Account; former Senior Editor of Commentary magazine; senior adviser to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign
Donald Trump Divides the Republican Party Surrogates for Donald Trump claim he's no racist, but his attack on a federal judge with Mexican ancestors was the last straw for many Republicans. Some GOP Senators are refusing to back him, and one is calling for the convention in Cleveland to choose somebody else. Other party leaders are gritting their teeth and supporting the presumptive nominee, even House Speaker Paul Ryan, who called Trump's attack "racist." We hear more about the case against Trump — and the case for Party unity.
Does Government Secrecy Really Keep Americans Safer? The Obama Administration has cracked down on leakers of classified information, and on reporters who refuse to reveal their sources. Now an open-government group is fighting back by advertising for whistleblowers in Washington. The first of 11 planned billboards has gone up near the State Department. Edward Snowden and Chelsey Manning are accused of treason, but open-government advocates say whistleblowing should be part of American culture. Is secrecy used more to keep the public in the dark than to make Americans safer?
Bush Defends Past Stance on Nuclear Threat from Iran In October President Bush talked about Iran's nuclear program in terms of "World War III" . But the latest National Intelligence Estimate says Iran stopped trying to build a bomb four years ago. Today, the President reiterated that Iran remains a threat to the world, one whose nuclear program, if restarted, could have "the ability to enrich uranium, the knowledge of which could be passed on to a hidden program." He called the latest NIE not an argument for change, but for more international pressure to make sure the program is not resumed and to "convince the Iranians that there is a better way forward." Will this reduce the possibility of military action? Will the US still have credibility with crucial allies? We hear from Europe and Israel.
Bush Defends Past Stance on Nuclear Threat from Iran In October President Bush talked about Iran's nuclear program in terms of " World War III ." But the latest National Intelligence Estimate says Iran stopped trying to build a bomb four years ago. Today, the President reiterated that Iran remains a threat to the world, one whose nuclear program, if restarted, could have "the ability to enrich uranium, the knowledge of which could be passed on to a hidden program." He called the latest NIE not an argument for change, but for more international pressure to make sure the program is not resumed and to "convince the Iranians that there is a better way forward." Will this reduce the possibility of military action? Will the US still have credibility with crucial allies? We hear from Europe and Israel.
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.
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?