Daily Beast / The Interpreter
Michael Weiss is a senior editor at the Daily Beast and the editor-in-chief of The Interpreter, a daily online journal that translates media from the Russian press into English. He is the co-author of ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror.
Weiss is a former fellow at the Institute of Modern Russia.
How Long Can the Islamic State Stay in Business? The richest terrorist group in history is financed not just by smuggling oil and selling looted antiquities. It may get as much as a billion dollars a year from taxation on individuals and businesses subject to a system of brutal enforcement. While increased bombing may deplete oil revenues, beatings and even beheadings are taking a toll on formerly middle class people. We hear about a model of governance that could threaten the sustainability of the Islamic State from the inside.
Russian Troops Mass Near Ukraine's Eastern Border Despite continued warnings from President Obama, German Chancellor Merkel and other western leaders, Russia has announced extensive military activities on the border with Eastern Ukraine. Michael Weiss is Editor-in-Chief of The Interpreter , a daily online journal that translates media from the Russian Press into English.
Pussy Riot Members Detained in Sochi Before the Olympics, Vladimir Putin released two members of Pussy Riot from prison. Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova then toured the US and Europe. Today, they were detained by police in Sochi, along with others. On Twitter, Tolokonnikova says the protest band is in Sochi to record the musical film, "Putin will teach you to love the motherland." She also claims police, "dragged me across the floor of the police station assembly hall office by my face, they twisted my arms and threw me to the floor." Michael Weiss, a fellow at the Institute of Modern Russia, is editor in chief of The Interpreter , a daily online journal that translates Russian press reports into English.
A Chilly Relationship with Russia The U.S. is calling it a “new low” for Russia. A leaked tape of two U.S. diplomats discussing the Ukraine situation was posted to YouTube. America claims that the Russians leaked it to embarrass the U.S. Meanwhile, Russian Olympic officials say the West is trying to sabotage the winter games.
Power and Amnesty in Putin's Russia Today brought the release of the two remaining members of the punk protest band Pussy Riot from Russian prison. President Vladimir Putin pardoned them as part of a mass amnesty of thousands of political activists, including Greenpeace protesters the Arctic 30 and oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. It all comes just six weeks before the start of the Sochi Olympics. Are the pardons a move to counter international criticism of Russia's record on human rights, or is Putin responding to larger forces? As Russia celebrates the 20th anniversary of its constitution, we hear how the international community's uproar over LGBT rights is playing out in the Russian media and on the ground, and what the current sparring over the Olympics bodes for US-Russian relations.
Power and Amnesty in Putin's Russia Today brought the release of the two remaining members of the punk protest band Pussy Riot from Russian prison. President Vladimir Putin pardoned them as part of a mass amnesty of thousands of political activists, including Greenpeace protesters the Arctic 30 and oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. It all comes just six weeks before the start of the Sochi Olympics. Are the pardons a move to counter international criticism of Russia's record on human rights, or is Putin responding to larger forces? As Russia celebrates the 20th anniversary of its constitution, we hear how the international community's uproar over LGBT rights is playing out in the Russian media and on the ground, and what the current sparring over the Olympics bodes for US-Russian relations.
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.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
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.
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?