Arab-American Institute
James Zogby is President of the Arab-American Institute, a nonpartisan political and policy arm of the Arab-American community, and the author of Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us and Why It Matters. He formerly served as a member of President Obama's US Commission on International Religious Freedom. He is the brother of pollster John Zogby.
Administration defends travel ban, despite havoc President Trump's sweeping executive order banning refugees and barring immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries is just three days old, but has already upended hundreds of lives, drawn tens of thousands of protesters to airports around the nation, and spawned five federal lawsuits, as well as global outcry from across the political spectrum. Why is a defining campaign promise causing such confusion? Is it constitutional? Guest host Barbara Bogaev explores the fallout from the President's travel ban.
Will Party Concessions Put Out "The Bern?" Hillary Clinton calls Donald Trump "a divider, not a uniter." But it's Bernie Sanders who's dividing her own Party. Hoping to make peace, the Democrats have given him a big voice in the party platform…only to have him promise to make the process "messy." His appointees include a supporter of Palestinian rights and one of President Obama's harshest African-American critics. So, as the campaign heats up in California, the battle continues — despite Clinton supporters who warn that it's making life easier for Donald Trump.
Will the US Shoulder the Burden of Refugees? Four million people have fled from Syria during five years of civil war, and the number is still growing, and the massive humanitarian crisis is spreading from the Middle East to Europe -- all the way to the White House and Congress. Images of refugees fleeing by the tens of thousands are fueling calls to make good on America's promise to shelter "huddled masses, yearning to be free." But, while Germany will accept 800,000 Syrian refugees, the Obama Administration is willing to take just 10,000 so far. Given fears about homeland security since September 11, 2001, are there better ways for this country to meet its moral obligation?
Obama, Distancing Himself from Arab-Americans, American Muslims? Barack Obama has visited churches and synagogues during his presidential campaign but, so far, he has not been to a mosque. Does his message of unity extend to American Muslims? Many are not so sure. Would his sympathy for the Palestinians produce more even-handedness in the Middle East? Some Arab Americans don't really think so. A Christian candidate needs to quash rumors that he's a secret Muslim without offending Muslims themselves. While his hard-line support for Israel may appeal to Jews, it could turn off another constituency that's potentially crucial in several states. As Obama goes to the Middle East, we talk about political challenges at home.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
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?