Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Hong Kong Street Scene, Secret Service Slip-Ups, and SNL Hits Middle Age
Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, the former CEO of financial giant AIG is suing the U.S. government because, he says, the $182B bailout was too low. What new information could the trial reveal about the handling of the financial crisis?
By Madeleine Brand • • 53m ListenWe start with an update from the ground in Hong Kong on the pro-democracy protests there. Police used tear gas, pepper spray, and batons to break up peaceful protesters. Then, the former CEO of financial giant AIG is suing the U.S. government because, he says, the $182B bailout was too low. Then, in our weekly T.V. roundup, Saturday Night Live kicks off its 40th season and critics are praising Amazon's new show, Transparent. Plus, in her new book about climate change, author and journalist Naomi Klein argues that we have to revamp our economic and political systems to save the world as we know it. And finally, a Washington Post investigation reveals deep security lapses inside the Secret Service.
Banner Image: The gap between the Central crowd and the Admiralty crowd in Hong Kong during the Occupy Central protests; Credit: judithbluepool
In this episode
5 storiesHong Kong Protests
Pro-democracy protests continued in Hong Kong today, with office workers joining student demonstrators. The protests grew violent over the weekend, with police firing tear gas into the crowd yesterday. We get the latest update from the ground.
Read the story10 minWhen $182 Billion Just Isn’t Enough
One of the biggest financial bailouts of all time is going on trial today. The former CEO of A.I.G., Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, is suing the government, claiming that the $182 billion bailout was illegal... because it was too low. We look at what the trial could reveal about big decisions made during and after the financial crisis.
Read the story8 minTelevision Roundup: Changes at SNL
One of the longest running American television shows kicked off its 40th season this weekend with a new voice: Darrell Hammond has replaced the late Don Pardo as the announcer on Saturday Night Live. We talk about that and other T.V. goings-on in our weekly small screen roundup.
Read the story8 minCapitalism vs the Environment
Journalist and author Naomi Klein says the only antidote to global warming is an immediate revolution. Her new book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate, argues that in order to save the planet, we have to ditch capitalism - or at least the way capitalism is practiced today.
Read the story14 minSecret Service Falls Down on the Job
Earlier this month, a man carrying a knife jumped the White House fence and made it through the front door before he was stopped. But that security lapse wasn’t the first or even the most alarming for President Obama’s Secret Service detail.
Read the story10 min
