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Republicans in Congress, says House Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Keith Ellison, are treating the budget and potential government shutdowns as an "opportunity to inflict generationally-changing policies" in the guise of paying the bills. We're facing a government shutdown not, Ellison notes, because Democrats won't compromise, but because Republicans like Paul Ryan are interested in forcing a fight over ideological issues. Rep. Ellison spoke with Laura from Washington, D.C. to inaugurate a new segment with House Progressive Caucus members on GRITtv. We're heading for a government shutdown, Glenn Beck's leaving FOX, John Boehner is still crying, and Donald Trump is running for president? No, this isn't a joke or a game where you guess which one of these things is true--they all are. And who better to make sense--or fun--of all of this than GRITtv contributor John Fugelsang? John's on the Laughing Liberally "This Ain't No Tea Party" tour with Dean Obeidallah right now, having fun at the expense of all that's ridiculous these days, and John and Dean join Laura in studio for a quick run-down on this week's big news. Finally, Laura has a few thoughts about Glenn Beck's departure, ahead of this weekend's National Conference for Media Reform. Distributed by Tubemogul.

"The only restriction says there shall be no foreign occupation force, but as we know from Iraq and Afghanistan, you can have an awful lot of troops on the ground fighting and not call it an occupation," says Phyllis Bennis, explaining the United Nations resolution that led a coalition of troops to start bombing Libya this weekend. Phyllis joins us via Skype from Washington, D.C. to fill us in on the story behind the decision to intervene in Libya, who the players are, why this matters, and whether we're in this one too for the long haul. "The notion that destruction is the way to salvation is like a Gulf Stream current running underneath the surface of Western civilization," says James Carroll, author most recently of Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Carroll, a former Catholic priest, looks at the way the city of Jerusalem has been central to the Western imagination, conflict, and resolution to that conflict, and notes that he still has hope that we can find away around the violence that has been so central to our lives for millennia. James joins Laura in studio to discuss his book, his travels to and relationship with the city of Jerusalem, and what he hopes we can learn from that city. Last week, a Republican-appointed judge ruled with the Wisconsin protesters that the session that passed the bill may have violated the law, which requires 24 hours notice on a vote. She put a stay on implementation of the bill, and Laura has some thoughts. Distributed by Tubemogul.

"Does Mubarak want to leave quietly or is it going to be a messy exit?" That's the only question left in Egypt, according to Haroon Moghul of the Maydan Institute. The protests continue, and Mubarak has announced that though he won't be running for reelection, he doesn't plan on stepping down.Haroon and Samer Shehata of Georgetown University join Laura to discuss the ongoing revolution in Egypt, the history behind it, the groups involved, and why US news outlets that are obsessed with the Muslim Brotherhood are missing the real story in their fearmongering."Violence is visited upon us when our lives are made to be valueless," says Cary Alan Johnson of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission. The murder of David Kato in Uganda last week after a tabloid had splashed his name and picture under the headline “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos” and called for their murder. But homophobia in Uganda has US roots as well--evangelical leaders had promoted the country's notorious bill that advocated the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality."Johnson joins Laura in studio to discuss the murder, the flow of US money--both official and through churches--to Uganda, and why it is our responsibility to speak up for the lives of LGBT people around the world.Finally, Egypt's struggle continues under near-total communication blackout--thanks in part to a US company. Laura has some thoughts.

Republicans in Congress, we need to talk. Congrats on your inspiring vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I know you hate Obamacare – and on some levels, I agree with you. This bill is so watered down Dick Cheney could take it to Gitmo and pour it on Khalid Sheik Mohammed’s face. Distributed by Tubemogul.