President Obama

Urbanites combat climate change with rooftop farms | MSNBCMSNBC

in Climate, Nature, News

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President Obama brought the issue of climate change out of exile during his State of the Union address by issuing a demand for Congress: if they don’t act swiftly, he will. But as Congress continues to lightly mull a plan of action, urban visionaries John Stoddard and Courtney Hennessey of Higher Ground Farm are cultivating ...

Inside the Cave: Obama’s Digital Campaign (2012)

Inside the Cave is an in-depth look at the digital, technology, and analytics operations of the President Obama’s re-election campaign. Engage Research compiled insights, data, and anecdotes from hundreds of news stories, blog posts, conference presentations, and conversations into a single presentation. Publisher Engage Research, December 2012 93 pages via pht commentary (Mashable.com) When the [...]

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Michael Moore’s Poetic Plea to Obama: “Dear Mr. President, Please Let Leonard Peltier Come Home”

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Singers Harry Belafonte and Pete Seeger hosted the “Bring Leonard Peltier Home In 2012 Concert” at the Beacon Theater in New York City on Friday to raise awareness of Peltier’s 37-year ordeal and plea for executive clemency from President Obama. Peltier is the Native American activist and former member of the American Indian Movement who was convicted of aiding in the killing of two FBI agents during a shootout on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975. Among those who spoke was Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, who read a poem he wrote urging Peltier’s release. [Transcript to come. Check back soon.]

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Who Owns the World? Noam Chomsky on U.S.-Fueled Dangers, from Climate Change to Nuclear Weapons

In the week when President Obama and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney debated issues of foreign policy and the economy, we turn to world-renowned political dissident, linguist, author and MIT professor, Noam Chomsky. In a recent speech, Chomsky examined topics largely ignored or glossed over during the campaign: China, the Arab Spring, global warming, nuclear [...]

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CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say

The CIA is urging the White House to approve a significant expansion of the agency’s fleet of armed drones, a move that would extend the spy service’s decade-long transformation into a paramilitary force, U.S. officials said. The proposal by CIA Director David H. Petraeus would bolster the agency’s ability to sustain its campaigns of lethal [...]

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The 1 Percent Court? After Healthcare, Supreme Court Returns to a Docket Heavy on Divisive Issues

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Beginning today, the Supreme Court’s new term is expected to see cases on a number of important and highly contentious issues. The last session was defined by a single case, the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature bill, which was upheld by a 5-4 vote and cleared the way for the largest revamp of America’s healthcare system since the 1960s. In the new term, the court is expected to hear cases on a number of important and highly contentious issues ranging from affirmative action and same-sex marriage to corporate accountability for international human rights violations and voting rights. We’re joined by Nan Aron, president of Alliance for Justice. [includes rush transcript]

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"Democratic Womanism": Poet and Activist Alice Walker on Women Rising, Obama and the 2012 Election

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With less than 40 days to go before the 2012 presidential election, poet and activist Alice Walker reads her new poem, “Democratic Womanism,” and discusses her thoughts on President Obama’s legacy, including his use of drone strikes. “You ask me why I smile when you tell me you intend in the coming national elections to hold your nose and vote for the lesser of two evils,” reads Walker. “There are more than two evils out there, is one reason I smile.” [includes rush transcript]

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In U.N. Address, WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange Urges Obama Admin to End "Regime of Secrecy"

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Speaking via videolink from the Ecuadorean embassy in London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange addressed a side meeting of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday evening. In his remarks, Assange gave thanks to the United Nations for its treaties on political asylum and denounced the U.S. treatment of alleged Army whistleblower Bradley Manning. Assange also accused President Obama of exploiting the Arab Spring and called on the U.S.to end its persecution of WikiLeaks and its supporters. We air Assange’s address. [includes rush transcript]

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Thousands Rally in Chicago Teachers’ Strike, Pushing Back Against Corporatized Education Reform

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School is out in Chicago for a second day, as public school teachers continue their first strike in 25 years. Almost 30,000 teachers and their support staff have walked out over reforms sought by the city’s powerful mayor, Rahm Emanuel, who is President Obama’s former chief of staff. On Monday, tens of thousands teachers, parents and students marched in the streets of President Obama’s adopted hometown. We go to Chicago to speak with Democracy Now! correspondent Jaisal Noor. [includes rush transcript]

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Chicago Teachers Strike Could Portend Referendum on Obama Admin’s Approach to Education Reform

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The showdown in Chicago — the nation’s third-largest school district — pits teachers against Mayor Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s former chief of staff. Emanuel remains a close ally to Obama, while many of the policies at issue in Chicago are being pushed on a national scale by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former Chicago Public Schools chief. We’re joined by Pauline Lipman, professor of education and policy studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, director of the Collaborative for Equity and Justice in Education and member of Teachers for Social Justice. [includes rush transcript]

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Chicago Public Teachers Stage Historic Strike in Clash with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Education Reforms

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More than 29,000 Chicago public school teachers and support staff have gone on strike today after union leaders failed to reach an agreement with the nation’s third-largest school district over educational reforms sought by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. It is the first teacher strike in Chicago in a quarter of a century. Unresolved issues include the cost of health benefits, the makeup of the teacher evaluation system, and job security. Emanuel, who is President Obama’s former chief of staff, wants teacher evaluations tied to the standardized test results of students. We hear the voices of union leaders, teachers and parents on Chicago’s strike. [includes rush transcript]

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Accepting Democratic Nomination, Obama Pledges to Revive U.S. Economy While Protecting the Environment

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Accepting his party’s nomination, President Obama brought the Democratic National Convention to a close Thursday with a vow to fix the nation’s economic problems while protecting the environment. Calling the 2012 election a pivotal moment in the battle against climate change, Obama criticized Republicans who say global warming is a hoax, but also gave support for natural gas drilling and “clean coal.” [includes rush transcript]

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Obama Accepts Democratic Nomination for Re-Election with Appeal for More Time to Bring Change

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President Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night with an appeal for another four years to continue with the platform of “change” he was elected on in 2008. “If you reject the notion that this nation’s promise is reserved for the few, your voice must be heard in this election,” Obama said. [includes rush transcript]

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Democratic Donors Withhold Contributions over Absence of Climate Change from Obama Campaign Message

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A group of Democratic donors have announced they will withhold some of their financial support from President Obama’s re-election campaign for not speaking out more about climate change. The group of roughly 100 political donors say Obama should directly address mocking by Republican rival Mitt Romney on climate change last week during his acceptance speech in Tampa. President Obama is also being urged to use his acceptance speech tonight to reaffirm his 2008 campaign promise to aggressively tackle climate change. We’re joined by Betsy Taylor, political consultant and president of Breakthrough Strategies & Solutions. She is working with the donors who are threatening to withhold support. [includes rush transcript]

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As DNC Pushes Through Jerusalem Vote, Critics Ask Why GOP is Dictating the Democrats’ Platform

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Controversy erupted at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday when party leaders forced through a platform change to reinstate references to God and the view that Jerusalem is Israel’s undivided capital. The language in question was included in 2008, but was left out when delegates approved their 2012 platform earlier this week. At the reported behest of President Obama, DNC chair and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presided over a voice vote to reinstate the references through a two-thirds majority. Villaraigosa appeared prepared to automatically accept the change, but those voting “no” were so loud that he ended up holding the vote three times. We’re joined by James Zogby, the president of the Arab American Institute and a superdelegate at the Democratic National Convention. We also hear from New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler; Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress; and Michigan Democratic delegate Ismael Ahmed. [includes rush transcript]

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Lilly Ledbetter, Namesake of Fair Pay Act: From Discrimination Victim to Champion of Wage Equality

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The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is named for a female employee of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who was paid 40 percent less than male colleagues doing the same job for 19 years. Ledbetter lost her gender pay discrimination lawsuit against Goodyear after the Supreme Court ruled she did not file a complaint on time. One day after addressing the Democratic National Convention, Ledbetter joins us to discuss her journey from victim of workplace discrimination to namesake of the first bill President Obama signed into law. [includes rush transcript]

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Sandra Fluke Takes Fight for Women’s Health to DNC After Being Insulted for Contraception Advocacy

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Sandra Fluke became famous after Republicans barred her from testifying at a congressional hearing in favor of insurance coverage for contraception. Right-wing talk radio host Rush Limbaugh blasted Fluke on his program, calling her a “slut” and saying she should be required to post sex videos online. The episode prompted President Obama to personally call Fluke to offer words of encouragement. Six months later, Fluke took center stage Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention with a prime-time address. Fluke joins us to discuss the fight for reproductive rights, her support for Obama’s re-election, and her future plans as a women’s health activist. [includes rush transcript]

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DNC Begins with Fair Pay Advocate Lilly Ledbetter, Mayor Julián Castro and First Lady Michelle Obama

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The 2012 Democratic National Convention kicked off in Charlotte on Tuesday with a heavy focus on President Obama’s achievements on issues ranging from healthcare and women’s rights to immigration and ending combat operations in Iraq. We hear excerpts of the speeches of three speakers: women’s equality leader Lilly Ledbetter, the namesake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill President Obama signed into law; San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, the first-ever Latino to keynote the DNC; and first lady Michelle Obama. [includes rush transcript]

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