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New Yorker magazine / CNN
Jeffrey Toobin is a staff writer for the New Yorker and senior legal analyst for CNN. He is the author of The Oath: The Obama White House and The Supreme Court.
PROFILE
Jeffrey Toobin
Guest
FROM Jeffrey Toobin
To the Point
'Conservative' courts and judicial activism Our first topic on this program was the national crisis over Bush v. Gore, when the US Supreme Court decided the 2000 presidential election. Florida's state courts were summarily over-ridden — by Supreme Court justices who'd promised to uphold states' rights and by a 5-to-4 decision declared George W. Bush the winner. One dissenter called the majority "crudely partisan." On this last week before To the Point turns to podcasting only, we hear what's happening now. From the Supreme Court on down, President Trump has promised to choose judges from lists of conservative activists.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Was Patty Hearst a brainwashed captive or a true believer? Forty years ago, the country was riveted by the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst. She was 19 years old, a student at UC Berkeley, and the granddaughter of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who inspired the movie “Citizen Kane.” In 1974, Patricia’s life took its own cinematic turn, but it was a lot weirder than any Hollywood classic. Patricia – or Patty as she was known – was abducted from her Berkeley apartment by a ragtag group of radicals who called themselves the Symbionese Liberation Army. Only weeks later, Patty Hearst said she’d joined the SLA and her new name was Tania. For more than a year, she participated in crimes with her kidnappers, including bank robberies. A new book titled “ American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst ” follows her SLA odyssey and tries to answer one big question: Was Patty Hearst a brainwashed captive or a true believer?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Where Is Everyone Now? The FX series “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” premieres tonight. And 20 years ago, Johnny Cochran delivered his closing arguments in the O.J. trial. It was a trial that turned out to be a spectacle – from the televised courtroom activity to the iconic LA car chase on the 405 freeway. But where are the players of the O.J. trial now? Jeffrey Toobin – an actual character in the new series and of course in real life – tells us where everyone is now.
To the Point
Mass Incarceration and the Milwaukee Experiment The US imprisons more people than China, Iran or Russia — with blacks serving more time, more often than anyone else. The death of unarmed black Americans at the hands of police officers has renewed attention to racial inequality in the criminal justice system. In Wisconsin, African Americans are 6% of the population and 37% of the prisoners -- but the DA in Milwaukee County is trying to change that . It turns out that prosecutors have more power than cops in determining who serves time and who doesn't. We hear about the role of race in the "crackdown on crime," which may become an issue in next year's presidential campaign.
To the Point
The Clash of Religious Freedom and Civil Rights Arizona's Senate Bill 1062 did not give businesses the right to discriminate against gays and lesbians, but it did say they could use religious belief as a defense if they were sued for refusing service. In any case, the issue has not disappeared since Governor Jan Brewer vetoed the measures under heavy pressure from businesses and gay rights groups. As more and more states recognize the right to same-sex marriage, some religious conservatives are finding ways to fight back. Photographers, bakers and florists have claimed they can't participate in same-sex weddings without violating their religious beliefs. Is that outright discrimination or an exercise of the First Amendment? Can hotels, restaurants or other public businesses do the same thing? We hear how the Religious Freedom Movement is making waves from Arizona and other states to the US Supreme Court.
Which Way, L.A.?
To Vote or Not to Vote: Debate over Photo ID Laws Heats Up Voter ID laws vary all across the United States. Some states require photos, while others do not. Last week, the Justice Department blocked a new law in South Carolina, requiring a photo ID, saying it would disproportionately affect minorities. Proponents say that ID requirements help prevent election fraud. Is voter fraud really a problem? What role does partisan politics play in these laws? What's wrong with having to prove who you are in order to vote? What impact do photo ID requirements have on who votes or doesn't? Do such laws interfere with one of the most basic rights of American citizenship?
To the Point
To Vote or Not to Vote: Debate over Photo ID Laws Heats Up Voter ID laws vary all across the United States. Some states require photos, while others do not. Last week, the Justice Department blocked a new law in South Carolina, requiring a photo ID, saying it would disproportionately affect minorities. Proponents say that ID requirements help prevent election fraud. Is voter fraud really a problem? What role does partisan politics play in these laws? What's wrong with having to prove who you are in order to vote? What impact do photo ID requirements have on who votes or doesn't? Do such laws interfere with one of the most basic rights of American citizenship?
Recommended
To the Point
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.
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
To the Point
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?
To the Point
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.