Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why Belgium?
Three explosions at the main airport and in the subway of Brussels, Belgium, today left dozens of people dead. The terrorist group ISIS has claimed responsibility. Why is Belgium such a center for Islamic extremism?
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenThree explosions at the main airport and in the subway of Brussels, Belgium, today left dozens of people dead. The terrorist group ISIS has claimed responsibility. Why is Belgium such a center for Islamic extremism?
Then, is Islamic terrorism an existential threat to the United States?
Next, if Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president, what will it mean for the GOP in California?
Elsewhere in the state, we look into the mysterious world of cactus smuggling.
And finally, a new report from a pre-eminent climate scientist warns that serious environmental changes could be coming decades earlier than previously thought.
In this episode
5 storiesExistential Threats From The Cold War to Today
Today in Cuba, President Obama said, “I have come here to bury the last remnants of the Cold War in The Americas.” During the Cold War, nuclear attacks posed the greatest existential threat to the United States.
Read the story8 minWhat Does Donald Trump Mean for California Republicans?
Unlike most election years, California is now relevant in the Republican race for president. One hundred and seventy-two delegates are up for grabs in the June 7th primary, and Donald Trump is likely to grab a bunch of them. Is that a good or a bad thing for the Republican party here? The GOP isn’t much of a presence in California.
Read the story8 minWhy Belgium?
Three explosions in the airport and subway of Brussels, the capital of Belgium, left dozens of people dead today. ISIS has claimed responsibility. The attacks came four days after the capture of Salah Abdeslam near Brussels. Abdeslam is the only survivor of 10 men said to be behind the Paris terror attacks in November.
Read the story11 minWho Are The Cactus Thieves
Cactus experts say there are about 2,000 different types of cacti living today. Many of them are out here in the deserts of the West, but they’re in danger. According to a study published last year in the journal “Nature Plants,” almost one third of them are threatened with extinction.
Read the story12 minA Dire Report on Climate Change
Pre-eminent climate scientist James Hansen has published a new paper. Spoiler alert: It’s not good news. Hansen, who was the first scientist to call major attention to climate change in 1988, has found that the most dire consequences of climate change could happen one or two decades sooner than previously thought.
Read the story8 min
