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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Are Russian hackers leaking false stories to sway the US election?

    The second presidential debate had a lot of voters wondering who Sidney Blumenthal is. Donald Trump is repeating a false story that links Blumenthal to Benghazi, which journalist Kurt Eichenwald says began when Russian hackers attributed his writing to Blumenthal.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Oct 11, 2016 • 51m Listen

    The second presidential debate had a lot of voters outside the Beltway wondering: who is Sidney Blumenthal? Donald Trump has tried to link the unofficial Hillary Clinton advisor to the ‘birther’ conspiracy. And now Trump is repeating a false story that links Blumenthal to Benghazi, which journalist Kurt Eichenwald says began when Russian hackers attributed his writing to Blumenthal. Are Russian hackers leaking false stories to influence the US presidential election?

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:30

      Are hackers to blame for Trump’s false Blumenthal, Benghazi link?

      Donald Trump criticized Hillary Clinton’s handling of Benghazi at the second presidential debate, saying that Clinton consulted with her friend Sidney Blumenthal after the incident. Blumenthal’s name actually came up twice during Sunday’s debate, which left a lot of voters outside the Beltway wondering: wait, Sidney who?

      Read the story
      12 min
    2. 13:00

      With 6th year of drought ahead, California is slipping on conservation

      After enduring five of the driest years on record, California is heading into what will most likely be a sixth year of serious drought. Water scarcity is considered by many scientists – and Governor Brown – to be the new normal in California.

      Read the story
      7 min
    3. 19:39

      Turf Terminators: How much bang for your buck?

      When the drought was front and center in the minds of Californians, many Angelenos replaced their lawns with more drought-tolerant landscaping. To do this, many used a company called Turf Terminators. In less than two years, the company removed millions of square feet of grass from about 12,000 lawns in and around LA.

      Read the story
      9 min
    4. 28:37

      Beyond the berets and guns, the softer side of the Black Panthers

      Fifty years ago this month, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale created the Black Panther party in Oakland, Calif. The Panthers are mostly remembered for their black berets, black leather jackets, guns and violence. But a new book titled “The Black Panthers: Portraits From an Unfinished Revolution” tells a different story.

      Read the story
      14 min
    5. 43:09

      This real clown is not happy about the creepy clown hysteria

      In late August, police in South Carolina received reports that clowns were trying to lure children into the woods. Since then, creepy clowns have been spotted in more than two dozen states. Last week, police arrested a man in Pennsylvania after witnesses say he was jumping in front of cars dressed in a clown mask.

      Read the story
      6 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

      News

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:3012 min

      Are hackers to blame for Trump’s false Blumenthal, Benghazi link?

    2. 13:007 min

      With 6th year of drought ahead, California is slipping on conservation

    3. 19:399 min

      Turf Terminators: How much bang for your buck?

    4. 28:3714 min

      Beyond the berets and guns, the softer side of the Black Panthers

    5. 43:096 min

      This real clown is not happy about the creepy clown hysteria

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand