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Background Briefing offers an educational approach to providing information in an era of “fake news.”
As Gazans Starve, Will Netanyahu Cross Biden’s “Red Line” and Invade Rafah? We begin with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and assess whether there is a deliberate policy of starvation underway, while the US and others resort to BandAid solutions of air drops and building a pier. Joining us to discuss Biden’s warning that Netanyahu … Continued
Of the $1.6 Trillion in Discretionary Spending in Biden’s 2025 Budget, a Trillion Goes to the Military and $499 Billion For Everything Else We begin with Biden’s $7.266 trillion 2025 budget released Monday of which $1.6 trillion is discretionary spending and a trillion of that (69%) goes to the military while $499 billion (31%) goes … Continued
Have Israel’s Right Wing Supporters and the AIPAC Lobby Lost the Narrative on Israel in Popular Culture? We begin with last night’s Academy Awards at which Jonathan Glazer, the winning international film director of The Zone of Interest, a movie about the banality of evil, portraying the family of the Commandant of Auschwitz living ordinary lives … Continued
What Biden Might, Should and Will Say in Tonight’s State of the Union Address We begin ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address tonight with an analysis of what might be said, what needs to be said and what we know will be said and speak with a Democratic political strategist who has … Continued
Can Biden Pick up Haley’s Voters While Placating the Uncommitted Young Democrats? We begin with Mitch McConnell’s craven endorsement of Trump now that he has the nomination all but locked up and whether, after Nikki Haley’s withdrawal, can Biden pick up the 20 to 30% of Republicans who are disaffected with Trump at the same … Continued
VP Harris’s Clear Rebuke of Netanyahu Calling For a Ceasefire and What Amounts to Regime Change We begin with Vice President Harris making news with a speech on Sunday in Selma, Alabama commemorating the 59th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” at which she called for an immediate six weeks ceasefire in Gaza. Then, in a clear … Continued
Following the Massacre of Desperate Gazans Storming Food Trucks, Ceasefire Talks Are Underway We begin with the US airdrop of food to the starving Gazans that many see as a BandAid over a gaping wound while talks underway in Cairo could bring about as much as a six-week ceasefire although Hamas has yet to agree. … Continued
The Naked Partisanship of the Supreme Court’s Right Wing Majority We begin with what appears to be naked partisanship on the part of the right wing majority on the Supreme Court who are delaying the January 6 insurrection case by entertaining Trump’s bogus immunity case that legal experts argue has no basis in the Constitution … Continued
The Michigan Vote as an Indicator of How the Gaza War Threatens Biden’s Reelection We begin with the results of yesterday’s Michigan primaries which had Biden at 81% of the Democratic vote with the uncommitted protest vote against Biden’s stance on Gaza at 13%. Joining us to discuss how much Biden’s ties to Netanyahu threaten … Continued
The President and Congressional Leaders Meet to Prevent Another Government Shutdown We begin with the government running out of money on Saturday, meaning that the departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Education, Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development will shut down. Joining us to discuss today’s meeting in the White House between President Biden and … Continued
