Washington Post
Staff writer for the Washington Post
PROFILE
Paul Farhi
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FROM Paul Farhi
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
President Trump fights back against an anonymous op-ed by a senior White House official The president was defiant today in the face of an anonymous New York Times op-ed written by a senior official in the White House. That followed revelations about a new book by Bob Woodward. In both cases, senior White House officials are described as deliberately thwarting Trump’s will to protect the country from his worst inclinations. Now the hunt is on to reveal who wrote the op-ed. Several cabinet members deny it’s them. Vice President Mike Pence’s office said it is “above” such amateur acts. A HUD spokesperson said, “Haha, nope” when asked if Ben Carson was the author. We talk about what this crisis means for the office of the presidency.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
LA billionaire to buy the LA Times It looks like the LA Times is getting a new owner: bio-tech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong. He's a physician and founder of NantHealth, which is based in Culver City. Soon-Shiong is also a major shareholder of Tronc, the Times' parent company.
To the Point
House GOP Pushes to Permanently Bar NPR, Affiliates from Funding House Republicans have voted to defund public broadcasting for the rest of this year. Now there's a move to prevent NPR from getting public money permanently. The latest GOP move stems from a highly edited ambush video interview with an NPR fundraiser. Among other things, Ron Schiller told interviewers, who lied about their own identities, that NPR could survive a cutoff of federal funds. His comment that small rural stations would likely close was edited out, but Schiller resigned anyway and NPR fired President Vivian Schiller (who is unrelated). Paul Farhi reports for the Washington Post .
To the Point
NPR Chief Resigns after 'Sting' Video Vivian Schiller has resigned as the chief executive of National Public Radio after yesterday's release of a videotaped interview of James O'Keefe with NPR fundraiser Ron Schiller (no relation) who disparaged conservatives. Paul Farhi reports for the Washington Post .
Which Way, L.A.?
Public Broadcasting on the Firing Line Once Again In the 1990's, Big Bird, Kermit and all their friends saved Bill Moyers, Frontline and the rest of public broadcasting from Republican budget cuts. But charges of liberal bias never went away. Last year, NPR's news analyst Juan Williams told Fox News he was "nervous" flying with passengers wearing "Muslim garb." When NPR fired him, Speaker John Boehner and other Republicans saw evidence of "a left-wing network." Since January, six bills have been introduced to defund public broadcasting once and for all. This week, Congress will vote on a measure that would withhold the remaining amount of the budget for this year. We hear from their critics and their supporters.
To the Point
Public Broadcasting on the Firing Line Once Again In the 1990's, Big Bird, Kermit and all their friends saved Bill Moyers, Frontline and the rest of public broadcasting from Republican budget cuts. But charges of liberal bias never went away. Last year, NPR's news analyst Juan Williams told Fox News he was "nervous" flying with passengers wearing "Muslim garb." When NPR fired him , Speaker John Boehner and other Republicans saw evidence of "a left-wing network." Since January, six bills have been introduced to defund public broadcasting once and for all. This week, Congress will vote on a measure that would withhold the remaining amount of the budget for this year. We hear from their critics and their supporters.
Recommended
Left, Right & Center
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
To the Point
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.