Background Briefing

Background Briefing

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Background Briefing offers an educational approach to providing information in an era of “fake news.”

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On the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, we examine how $21.7 billion in U.S. military aid has fueled Israel’s devastating war on Gaza, how a federal judge pushed back against Trump’s militarized overreach in Portland, and why author Cory Doctorow says the digital world has gone to s**t—and what we can do about it.

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On the Second Anniversary of the October 7 Massacre: The Role of $21.7 Billion in U.S. Military Aid We begin with the anniversary of the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas against mostly civilians two years ago and assess the role of the U.S. in enabling so much death and destruction that has followed, given … Continued

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We assess growing alarm over Trump’s mental state with psychiatrist Dr. Allen Frances, unpack Trump’s contradictory soybean bailouts with political scientist Maria Victoria Murillo, and examine America’s staggering wealth inequality with Chuck Collins, who reveals that 905 billionaires now own more than 66 million U.S. households combined.

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Is Trump Crazier Than Ever Or Has He Always Been Crazy? We begin with increasing alarm at Trump’s mental state and now Governor Pritzker of Illinois is calling for the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment which would require the cabinet to agree that the president is not mentally fit to continue in office, … Continued

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We examine Trump and Stephen Miller’s escalating crusade against Democrats they brand as “communists” and “terrorists,” with Elizabeth Goitein on the constitutional dangers of Trump’s threats to occupy blue cities, and Lisa Graves on how Chief Justice John Roberts, backed by billionaire interests, has quietly dismantled decades of civil and voting rights under the guise of judicial neutrality.

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Trump and Miller Broaden Their War on Democrats They Label as Communists and Terrorists We begin with an increasingly unhinged president and his dark-whisperer the shadow president Stephen Miller broadening their war on Democrats they label as communists and terrorists as Trump moves to use the government shutdown to make cuts in what he calls … Continued

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How Trump Turns Crisis Into Power: The Shutdown, the Military, and the War on Truth

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As a potential government shutdown looms, economist Robert Kuttner joins the program to unpack how Donald Trump is exploiting the crisis—using racist deepfakes and disinformation to shift blame and consolidate power. Later, historian Stuart Schrader discusses Trump’s alarming rhetoric to military leaders and the rise of “enemy within” narratives, while climate scientist Michael Mann exposes … Continued

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Trump’s DoJ Goons, a Gaza Flotilla Under Fire, and the Elusive Pursuit of Peace

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With former defense lawyers turned consiglieres running Trump’s Justice Department, the rule of law gives way to retribution as prosecutors target his perceived enemies. We then hear from an activist aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla attacked by Israeli drones, before turning to veteran peace negotiator Robert Malley for insight into the collapse of diplomacy and the … Continued

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Inside MAGA’s Authoritarian Blueprint: From Trump’s Leninists to Musk’s Techno-Fascism

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Sidney Blumenthal exposes the far-right ideologues—Bannon, Miller, Vance, and Leo—shaping Trump’s authoritarian vision to purge dissent and create a one-party state. Then, as Trump trashes the UN and cedes global leadership to China, we examine the rise of a new axis of power and the merging of Christian nationalism with Silicon Valley’s techno-fascism under Elon … Continued

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Could Democracy Collapse Before 2026? Media Censorship, Endless War, and the Return of Trump

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As billionaires tighten their grip on media and silence critical voices like Jimmy Kimmel, Richard Parker warns that corporate power is eroding the public’s access to truth and dissent. We then examine Zelensky’s grim warning of an arms race without end, and Chris Whipple’s revelations about how Biden’s inner circle helped pave the way for … Continued

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Trump’s UN Meltdown, Pseudoscience Promises, and Empty Words on War

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At the UN General Assembly, Trump insults world leaders, boasts of a “golden age,” and claims other nations are “going to hell” while offering hollow pledges to end global conflicts. Later, experts expose the deadly harm of his false “autism cure” announcement and the emptiness of his rhetoric on Gaza and Ukraine, revealing a presidency … Continued

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The Illusion of Recognition: Palestine, Bolsonaro, and the Politics of False Justice

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As Western nations rush to recognize Palestine, Ahmed Moor warns that symbolic gestures risk masking inaction while Gaza’s suffering continues without an arms embargo or accountability. We then turn to Brazil’s reckoning with Bolsonaro’s coup attempt—what the U.S. failed to do with Trump—and close with a reflection on faith and forgiveness amid the moral collapse … Continued