Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Iowa's Heartland, Abortion Politics, and Juvenile Sentencing
With the Iowa caucuses coming up next Monday, we look at what Iowa is like beyond all the campaign hooplah.
By Steve Chiotakis • • 52m ListenThe Iowa caucuses are just six days away but what’s it like in Iowa without all the campaign hubbub? We chat with journalist Robert Draper about his story “Iowa’s Heartland Beyond the Campaign Trail.”
And on the campaign trail, an emerging theme: abortion. The controversial issue is back in the spotlight after a Texas grand jury indicted two anti-abortion activists who made undercover videos of Planned Parenthood.
Then, a look at President Barack Obama’s executive order to ban use of solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons.
After that, we go back to the Sundance Film Festival and talk about the movie Tallulah.
Finally, we wrap up with an Instagram experiment-turned-performance-art-piece.
Banner Image: Approaching storm southeast of Des Moines, Iowa; Credit: Samir Thuther via Flickr
In this episode
5 storiesRobert Draper on "Iowa's Heartland Beyond the Campaign Trail"
There’s more to Iowa than meets the political eye. Usually the unassuming state is covered extensively on the presidential campaign trail but there’s not much said beyond that. So journalist Robert Draper rents a car and documents his road trip through Iowa in a recent New York Times article .
Read the story13 minThe Politics of Abortion
Abortion is back on the radar of Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. With yesterday’s Texas grand jury decision to indict two abortion opponents who targeted Planned Parenthood with an undercover video, abortion is a hot-button issue once more.
Read the story8 minNo More Life Sentences or Solitary Confinement for Kids
The government made two big decisions this week about the treatment of American children in the country’s criminal justice system. President Barack Obama, by executive order, banned solitary confinement of juveniles in federal prisons.
Read the story9 minSundance Film Festival Round Two
Host Madeleine Brand is at her very first Sundance Film Festival this week in Utah. Today she talks to the director of Tallulah, a film about the trials of motherhood starring Ellen Page and Allison Janney.
Read the story10 minInstagram Hoax Turned Performance Art
One woman’s three-part storyline on her move to Los Angeles was documented on Instagram in minute detail. From boozy brunches to frilly outfits, everything seemed perfect. But then things took a turn for the worse. One photo showed her posing with a gun and unable to kick a bad drug habit.
Read the story9 min
