Gonzales Defends Patriot Act at Judiciary Hearing as Congress Mulls Renewal
At a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended the Patriot Act and urged Congress to renew controversial parts of the legislation that are due to expire this year. We go to an excerpt of the hearing.
Florida Lawmakers Expand Law to Kill in Self Defense
The Florida legislature Tuesday passed a bill allowing people to use deadly force in a public place if they have a reasonable belief that they are in danger of death or great bodily harm. We host a debate between a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association and the executive director of the Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
Conservative ‘Academic Bill of Rights’ Limits "Controversial Matter" in Classroom
Members of the Florida State legislature heard testimony Tuesday about the so-called "academic freedom" bill that would develop a statewide "bill of rights" for faculty to follow in the interest of delivering what they call a "fair and balanced" curriculum. We host a debate between the Florida legislator who introduced the bill and the President of the Faculty Union of University of South Florida.
Columbia U. Prof. Rashid Khalidi: "Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom Are Necessary For Unpopular and Difficult Ideas"
After months of closed-door hearings a, faculty committee at Columbia University released a report that largely cleared professors of Middle Eastern studies of charges that they were intimidating students and stated that there was no evidence of anti-Semitism. We hear professor Rashid Khalidi speaking at a teach-in on academic freedom.