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GRITtv: Feb. 28, 2011
"This is a movement that is not going to stop," says filmmaker Michael Moore of the uprising in Madison, Wisconsin (and across the country--all 50 states held solidarity rallies this weekend). "I knew sooner or later people would say they've had enough." Michael joins Laura in studio for part one of a two-part conversation about the war on working people in America. He notes that it started in 1981 with Reagan's attack on the air traffic controllers, and it's mostly targeted the poor, as with Clinton's welfare reform. But the attacks on middle class families have finally reached a point where people aren't going to take it anymore. Watch out for part two tomorrow! “There clearly are potential ethics violations, and there are potential election-law violations and there are a lot of what look to me like labor-law violations,” says former Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager of Scott Walker's response to a prank phone call from "David Koch." Laura spoke with Peg this weekend in Madison about the protests, about Walker's phone call, and more. It's been more than two weeks since protesters in Madison, Wisconsin have occupied the capitol building, and John Nichols notes that what's going on there is uniquely Wisconsin--from the politeness to the support and solidarity for union workers. He spoke to Laura outside the capitol this weekend, as protesters lined up in the freezing cold to get back into the building. Distributed by Tubemogul.
Email this pageGRITtv: John Nichols: Wisconsin Capitol is People's House
"This has transitioned into a struggle for Wisconsin, and maybe even a struggle for America," says John Nichols. It's been more than two weeks since protesters in Madison, Wisconsin have occupied the capitol building, and John Nichols notes that what's going on there is uniquely Wisconsin -- from the politeness to the support and solidarity for union workers. He spoke to Laura outside the capitol this weekend, as protesters lined up in the freezing cold to get back into the building. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: Apr. 7 2010
On Tuesday, the Obama White House released its Nuclear Posture Review, a policy statement that sets guidelines for nuclear weapons policy for the next five to ten years. Mother Jones' David Corn notes that arms control advocates were "mildly impressed" with the policy, which is being characterized as a middle course. Corn joins Laura to talk about Obama and nukes, and also to break down the latest court decision on Net Neutrality--a three-judge panel tossed out an FCC order against Comcast, preventing it from offering different content at different speeds. Monday's revelation of a videotape of U.S. soldiers shooting unarmed Iraqi civilians is still reverberating around the country. The Wikileaks video is raising questions about procedure, the rules of engagement, and even freedom of speech and of the press. Most importantly, though, people seem to be asking whether this is an aberration in behavior, a few soldiers overreacting or misbehaving, or the normal procedure for action in Iraq. Joining us to discuss are Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films, who was in Iraq and visited the scene of the shootings just the day after they happened, and senior fellow at Peace Action, Raed Jarrar. We learned all too late about the disaster brewing in domestic real estate that helped destroy our economy the first time around. Now, the city is dotted with new commercial buildings standing empty, no one can afford to rent them. GRITtv took a trip around the city to look into the reasons why we're building huge towers--and how we can get better at matching the allocation of resources with need. Finally, Laura has some words for politicians who get money from anti-union, anti-safety mine companies.
GRITtv: Commercial Real Estate the Next Bust?
We learned all too late about the disaster brewing in domestic real estate that helped destroy our economy the first time around. Now, the city is dotted with new commercial buildings standing empty, no one can afford to rent them. GRITtv took a trip around the city to look into the reasons why we're building huge towers--and how we can get better at matching the allocation of resources with need. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: The F Word: Bonanza for Big Builders
I just don't get it. When Congress approves gifts worth billions of dollars to exactly the people who don't deserve it, why isn't it front page news? On Nov. 6, when President Obama signed the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he extended unemployment benefits and renewed the first-time homebuyer tax credit, but hidden deep inside the law was a bonanza to exactly the big home builders that overbuilt us into a mortgage meltdown. The tax break would help struggling businesses, Obama declared. But the act actually lets big companies as well as small offset losses incurred in the bad years of 2008 and 2009 against profits booked as far back as 2004. In case you were wondering, there's no requirement that companies claiming the tax refunds create jobs with it or need any of that cash. What the companies are likely to do is keep on lobbying. How about reporting on this -- before it's a done deal -- on the front page?
GRITtv: Nov. 16, 2009
Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" comes out Tuesday, and the corporate media have been all Palin, all the time. Richard Kim, author of "Going Rouge," Rebecca Traister, Max Blumenthal and Shannyn Moore discuss why Palin just won't go away and what it is about her that keeps people coming back for more. Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman joins Laura to talk about her new book, "Breaking the Sound Barrier," making independent media, and her struggles with the health care system while dealing with her mother's recent illness. Sen. Bernie Sanders breaks down what's in the House and Senate plans, what's good, what needs work, and what's absolutely unacceptable. From Syracuse, N.Y., a protest of drone aircraft outside of the Hancock Air National Guard Base. Thanks to New America Media, Brave New Films and EssentialDissent for the video.
