January 30, 2011

Broadcast Date: 
Jan 30 2011

Egypt rising: does this spell the end of the U.S. imperium in the Middle East? Plus City Council member Brad Lander on why New York State should tax the rich; academic freedom under fire at Brooklyn College; and Common Cause charges conflict of interest in the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision.

Episode segments
  • Egypt!! The End of of the U.S. Imperium in the Middle East?
    Foreign Policy, Global Justice, International Politics, Middle East
    Phyllis Bennis is a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington DC, where she directs the New Internationalism Project.   Phyllis is also a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam.  Her most recent book (with David Wildman) is Ending the U.S. War in Afghanistan: A Primer.
    Esther Kaplan and Marilyn Kleinberg Neimark

    Phyllis Bennis helps parse this rapidly unfolding story and what it may mean for the balance of power in the Middle East.

  • A Fairer Tax System for New York City
    New York Politics
    Brad Lander represents the 39th district in Brooklyn on New York's City Council and is a co-founder of its first Progressive Caucus.  Prior to his election to the Council in 2009, he was the director of the Pratt Center for Community Development.   Before Pratt, Brad was executive director of the Fifth Avenue Committee, a nationally recognized, not-for-profit community-based organization in Brooklyn that develops affordable housing, creates economic opportunities, and organizes tenants and workers.
    Esther Kaplan and Marilyn Kleinberg Neimark

    We talk with Brad Lander about the Progressive Caucus's response to Mayor Bloomberg's State of the City address and how a fairer tax system based on the principal of shared sacrifice is a better way to deal with New York's budget deficit.

  • Brooklyn College's Attack on Academic Freedom
    New York Politics, Education, Civil Rights
    Barbara Bowen is the President of the Professional Staff Congress, the union that represents full and part time faculty at the City University of New York.
    Esther Kaplan and Marilyn Kleinberg Neimark

    It didn't take much for CUNY's Brooklyn College to forget the university's frequently repeated committment to academic freedom; just one letter from controversial NYS Assembly Member Dov Hikind questioning the college's appointment of Kristopfer Petersen-Overton to teach a master's level course on the Middle East, and the appointment was rescinded. 

    UPDATE:  Thanks to an international campaign Brooklyn College has reversed its decision and Mr. Petersen-Overton has been rehired.

  • Common Cause Challenges USSC's Citizens United Decision
    National Politics, Electoral
    Mary Boyle is the Communications Director of Common Cause.
    Esther Kaplan and Marilyn Kleinberg Neimark

    Common Cause is challenging the failure of U.S. Supreme Court Justices Scalia and Thomas to recuse themselves in last year's 5-4 Citizens United decision, a decision that opened the floodgates to secret political contributions and eviscerated already weak campaign finance rules. Apparently both justices were participants in political strategy sessions with corporate leaders who benefitted directly from the decision. Click here to read Common Cause's letter to US Attorney General Eric Holder.