Podcasts about Julie Hirschfeld Davis

Warning: this episode contains strong language.In his first week as president-elect, Donald J. Trump moved at breakneck speed to fill out his cabinet with a set of loyalists who were both conventional and deeply unconventional, the U.S. Senate chose a leader who could complicate Trump's agenda, and President Joe Biden welcomed Trump back to the White House.Times Journalists Michael Barbaro, Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman, sat down to make sense of it all.Guest: Julie Hirschfeld Davis, who covers politics for The New York Times.Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times.Maggie Haberman, a senior political correspondent for The New York Times.Background reading: Matt Gaetz is Mr. Trump's pick for attorney general.John Thune is set to become the next Senate majority leader.Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump's brief public display of civility was followed by a two-hour meeting behind closed doors.For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

It's democracy vs. fascism in the most consequential election of our lifetime. We talk about its implications for border communities. Also, Todd talks about his latest reporting from Mexico, where migrants are continually being sent back to the country's southern border, creating a cycle of futility and suffering. Melissa recalls reporting on Trump's Operation Faithful Patriot, in which Trump set up military camps at the U.S. southern border before the 2018 midterm election. He also used special Border Patrol teams to kidnap protesters in Portland, Oregon. If he's elected, it will be much worse this time. We also discuss Kamala Harris's tough stance on border security and the bipartisan bill rejected by Trump, and the broader implications of this for human rights and migration. And we get into misconceptions about “open borders,” and we talk about the role of “robodogs” and other technology in border enforcement. And much more. Give it a listen and leave a comment. How are you feeling leading up to November 5? Leave a comment Also, during the podcast, neither Todd nor Melissa could remember the name of a great book on immigration policy under the Trump administration  (it's been that kind of a month): it's Border Wars: Inside Trump's Assault on Immigration, by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael Shear. It's chock-full of details about what went down inside the administration during that chaotic era. And here's a post featuring the infamous robodogs from March, when Todd crashed the annual Border Security expo in El Paso, Texas, even though the expo banned journalists. And one last thing—don't forget to vote. Our democracy depends on it! Read and listen to more at theborderchronicle.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/border-chronicle/support

Michael's conversation with Julie Hirschfeld Davis, co-author (with Michael D. Shear) of "Border Wars: Inside Trump's Assault on Immigration." Two New York Times Washington correspondents provide a detailed, “fact-based account of what precipitated some of this administration's more brazen assaults on immigration” (The Washington Post) filled with never-before-told stories of this key issue of Donald Trump's presidency. No issue matters more to Donald Trump and his administration than restricting immigration. Original air date 9 October 2019. The book was published on 8 October 2019.

Could Donald Trump's promise to be a dictator on day one come true?On this episode of “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts debate which policies could be most consequential in a potential second Trump term and whether a proposal set out by conservative allies could provide the tools to execute his vision.And Michelle Cottle shares her passion for a trend that can only be achieved with lots of volume.(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.) Mentioned in this episode:February 2024 Times/Siena Poll of Registered Voters Nationwide“Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” edited by Paul Dans and Steven Groves“What I Learned When I Read 887 Pages of Plans for Trump's Second Term,” by Carlos Lozada in The Times“Border Wars: Inside Trump's Assault on Immigration,” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear“The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021,” by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser“Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America,” by Maggie Haberman“Trump Can't Be Dictator on ‘Day One' — Or in a Second Term. Here's Why,” by Asli Aydintasbas in Politico Thoughts about the show? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

Los reporteros de The New York Times, Julie Hirschfeld Davis y Michael D. Shear, revelaron la secreta negociación que Marcelo Ebrard sostuvo con funcionarios de Donald Trump para aceptar el programa “Permanezca en México”.

Nicolle Wallace discusses a judge denying Trump's attempt to shield White House documents requested by the January 6th select committee. Plus, Biden speaks about the economy and his infrastructure plan, the national security risks of the Big Lie, the 13 Republicans who voted for Biden's infrastructure bill are facing threats, and a dramatic day in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. Joined by: Luke Broadwater, Betsy Woodruff Swan, Harry Litman, Donna Edwards, Robert Gibbs, Charlie Sykes, Matthew Miller, John Heilemann, Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Rep. Jim Himes, Ron Klain, and Corri Hess

Democrats are split as they head into a critical week on Capitol Hill: moderates and progressives can't agree on the scope or price tag of the reconciliation bill that addresses everything from climate change to paid family leave. And progressives say they'll vote down the bipartisan infrastructure bill until the reconciliation bill gets a vote. Meanwhile, the country is barreling towards a government shutdown at the end of the month. Plus, a sham election audit led by Republicans in Arizona's largest county once again confirmed President Biden's victory. So why are some Republicans calling for similar audits in other states? And the White House faces bipartisan outrage at chaos on the Southern border. On today's panel: CNN's Jeremy Diamond, Julie Hirschfeld Davis of the New York Times, Politico's Burgess Everett, Seung Min Kim of the Washington Post, CNN's Pricilla Alvarez, CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Breaking news: The Justice Department releases harrowing new videos from January 6th showing a Trump supporter taunting, stalking and punching law enforcement outside the US Capitol. Plus, Republicans gathering at a conservative conference take aim at a new target: critical race theory And, Senator Mitch McConnell dashes Democratic Senator Joe Manchin’s dreams of a bipartisan voting rights compromise. On today’s show: CNN’s Abby Phillip, Jessica Schneider and Jeremy Diamond; CNN Law Enforcement Analyst Andrew McCabe; Jackie Kucinich of The Daily Beast; Julie Hirschfeld Davis of The New York Times; Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Univ. Center for Health Security; and University of Texas Public Affairs and History Professor Peniel Joseph.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

An 8-day trip nearly 50 years in the making – President Joe Biden embarks on his first foreign trip as commander-in-chief. The President leaves behind a stalled domestic agenda and faces his first summit with Vladimir Putin. Plus, Vice President Kamala Harris' answer on visiting the border worries some in the White House – as she faces criticism from both sides of the aisle. On today’s show: CNN’s Arlette Saenz and Dana Bash; Seung Min Kim of The Washington Post; Lisa Lerer and Julie Hirschfeld Davis of The New York Times; and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Can President Biden make a deal with Republicans to re-shape America's infrastructure? The White House rejected the GOP's latest offer, but Biden says he's not ready to give up on negotiations. Plus, Democrats see an existential threat as Republican-led states advance voting restriction bills. But do they have any chance at passing an election reform bill after Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said he'll only support a voting bill that's bipartisan? Former President Donald Trump is back at the podium -- peddling the same 2020 election fraud claims and slamming President Biden for his handling of the economy. At today's roundtable: CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report, Julie Hirschfeld Davis of the New York Times and Spectrum NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Today’s show was abbreviated due to breaking news of a mass shooting in San Jose, California. John King spoke to Carol Leonnig of The Washington Post, Julie Hirschfeld Davis of The New York Times and CNN’s Kara Scannell about Trump’s legal woes as the Manhattan District Attorney’s office convenes a special grand jury in its criminal probe of the former president’s businesses. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

There are over 96 million Americans fully vaccinated, and today the CDC released updated guidance on how safe it is for them to do activities like walking outdoors without a mask or dining in an indoor restaurant. John King breaks down these guidelines with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Kaitlan Collins. Also on the show, what the 2020 U.S. Census says about the political landscape in America. John discusses with Inside Elections' Nathan Gonzales and the New York Times' Julie Hirschfeld Davis. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

DEBATE! Thom Vs Julio Rivera - Why Do Republican's Support Trump's and His Cronies White Supremacists Opposition to Immigration Reform?Professor John A. Powell - Chauvin trial and the roots of systemic racism in America.

Andy calls up The New York Times White House correspondent Michael Shear, one of three journalists who tested positive for COVID-19 in the days following the superspreader event in the Rose Garden. Shear recounts what happened to him, his experience covering the Trump administration's pandemic response, and what he thinks might happen after the election, either with a second Trump term or a Biden first. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt and Instagram @andyslavitt. Follow Michael Shear on Twitter @shearm.  In the Bubble is supported in part by listeners like you. Become a member, get exclusive bonus content, ask Andy questions, and get discounted merch at https://www.lemonadamedia.com/inthebubble/    Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Livinguard masks have the potential to deactivate COVID-19 based on the testing they have conducted from leading universities such as the University of Arizona and the Free University in Berlin, Germany. Go to shop.livinguard.com and use the code BUBBLE10 for 10% off. You can digitally purchase life insurance from Haven Life Insurance Agency at havenlife.com/bubble. Haven Term is a Term Life Insurance Policy (ICC17DTC) issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111 and offered exclusively through Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC. Policy and rider form numbers and features may vary by state and not be available in all states. Our Agency license number in California is 0K71922 and in Arkansas, 100139527.   Check out these resources from today’s episode:  Vote for In the Bubble for Best New Podcast of 2020: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5978795/2020-Discover-Pods-Awards-Finalists?utm_source=podnews.net&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=podnews.net:2020-10-26 Read all of Michael Shear’s White House coverage for The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-d-shear.  Pre-order Michael’s book with fellow journalist Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Border Wars: Inside Trump's Assault on Immigration, out in paperback November 3rd: https://www.amazon.com/Border-Wars-Inside-Assault-Immigration/dp/1982117400/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1570128485&sr=8-1.  Watch Michael on CNN talking about the White House’s lack of contact tracing: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/05/media/michael-shear-white-house-journalist/index.html  To find out where your polling place is, go to https://iwillvote.com/  Are you hoping to vote in the 2020 election? Are you confused about how to request an absentee ballot in your state? This website can help you with that: https://www.betterknowaballot.com/   Pre-order Andy’s book, Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response, here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to www.lemonadamedia.com/show/in-the-bubble shortly after the air date. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why did the debate between Trump and Biden devolve into interruptions and lies? Is there a connection to the deep racism Trump is actively courting- and encouraging?

Walls, a ban on Muslims, a promise to end DACA:  How did immigration become a central feature of Donald Trump's campaign for President? Alex Aleinikoff and Deb Amos talk with New York Times reporters Michael Shear and Julie Hirschfeld Davis who share their first hand accounts.

Coronavirus hits the West Wing - two White House staffers have tested positive, and three of the nation's top medical experts are now in self-imposed quarantine as a result of possible exposure. Despite that reminder of the continued risk, however, the White House and President Trump are forging ahead with an effort to reopen the country - even as may experts say it's far too soon. Driving that decision - the economic catastrophe gripping the U.S. More than 21 million jobs have been lost in just two months, adding financial uncertainty to American's already high levels of stress and anxiety about the future. On today's show: Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell; Dr. Thomas File, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America; Dr. Ashish Jha of the Harvard Global Health Institute and emergency room physician and Brown University researcher Dr. Megan Ranney; Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post and Julie Hirschfeld Davis of the New York Times; and CNN's Kristin Holmes, Will Ripley, Nick Paton Walsh, Melissa Bell, Ben Wedeman, and Kristie Lee Stout.

President Trump discusses the rapidly growing impact of coronavirus at the White House a day after his Oval Office address announcing European travel restrictions. He says restrictions on U.S. travel haven't been discussed, but remain a "possibility." Everyday life turned upside down: More states ban large gatherings, the NBA and MLS suspend their seasons, Florida urges early voting before next week's presidential primary and candidates call off rallies. House Democrats try to take the lead in responding: A new package up for a vote soon includes three months paid leave for those impacted. It also guarantees free coronavirus testing and provides help for children who normally get free lunch at schools that are closed because of the pandemic. Today's panel: Seung Min Kim with The Washington Post, CNN'S Phil Mattingly, Catherine Lucey with The Wall Street Journal, and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times Also on the show: CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Brian Stelter and Melissa Bell, and Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner

Joe Biden's stunning comeback upends the Democratic race. With six more states preparing to vote, will he cement his lead, or can Bernie Sanders turn things around? Plus, Warren ends her political campaign, but her exit revives the debate about sexism in politics. And as the administration scrambles to stop the spread of coronavirus, President Trump's mixed messages are only adding to the confusion. Today's panel: Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Jonathan Martin of the New York Times, Toluse Olorunnipa of the Washington Post, and Politico's Laura Barrón-López

President Trump tweets about an interview in which his attorney general complained... about his tweets. How is the President handling the public rebuke. The 2020 Democrats are getting more comfortable name checking each other in attacks in the countdown to the Nevada caucuses. And President Trump weighs in on which Democrat he'd most like to run against. Today's panel: Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times, Tarini Parti with The Wall Street Journal, Ginger Gibson with Reuters, and CNN's Jeff Zeleny Also on the program: CNN's Phil Mattingly, John Harwood and Shimon Prokupecz

President Trump new budget arrives on Capitol Hill. It will never pass, but it's sure to be a campaign year flashpoint. It includes deficit spending well past when candidate Trump promised to erase all red ink, and Democrats say it proposes heartless cuts to food stamps and education. The day before the New Hampshire primary our final CNN tracking poll shows a two-way race for first between Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. It also shows Amy Klobochar making a final weekend move. Can she make a statement by running stronger than the struggling Joe Biden? The President is in New Hampshire tonight, too, for his first post-impeachment rally. We'll hear from his GOP challenger, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld insists his GOP primary challenge is not a fool's errand. Today's panel: CNN's Manu Raju, Julie Hirschfeld Davis with the New York Times, Melanie Zanona Politico, Olivier Knox with Sirius XM Also on the program: CNN's Barbara Starr and Kaitlan Collins

In what is supposed to be a defining day in the 2020 presidential campaign, we are left with an uncertain mess. The candidates, now in New Hampshire ahead of next week's primary, not knowing if they're winners or losers due to technical issues with the count. Iowa's Democratic party, holding a conference call with the campaigns this hour, says delayed caucus results should come later today. In the meantime, frustration, anger and plenty of spin from the candidates. And President Trump, hoping to look past impeachment and ahead to the 2020 election in tonight's State of the Union speech. Today's panel: Seung Min Kim and Rachael Bade with The Washington Post, Julie Pace with the Associate Press, and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times. Also on the program: CNN's Leyla Santago and Jeff Zeleny.

President Trump made building a border wall between the US and Mexico a cornerstone of his 2016 presidential campaign. Since taking office, he has called for a travel ban on people from Muslim countries.  He has limited the rights of asylum seekers and presided over a family separation crisis at the southern border. New York Times journalists Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael Shear discuss the decisions and the ideologies shaping US immigration policy with  WorldAffairs co-host Markos Kounalakis. We want to hear from you! Please take part in a quick survey to tell us how we can improve our podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWZ7KMW

Breaking News: Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells colleagues the House will send the impeachment articles the Senate next week. From vague talk of an imminent threat to a new claim Iran's terror Chief was planning attacks on several U.S. Embassies -- team Trump's shifting story and the President's past trouble with the truth raise credibility questions at a most sensitive moment. And, the economy added 145,000 new jobs in December, closing out 2019 with proof the 11-year economic expansion still has steam as we head into election year 2020. On today's panel: CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Dan Balz with The Washington Post, Tarini Parti with The Wall Street Journal, Damian Paletta with The Washington Post and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times Also the program: CNN's Manu Raju and Frederik Pleitgen

A crossroads moment in American politics - as the House prepares to impeach President Trump and set up an election year trial in the Senate. Plus, Washington whiplash - some big bipartisan achievements for both President Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, even as Congress devolves into partisan bickering over impeachment, And Boris Johnson wins big in the United Kingdom. Is there a 2020 lesson there for Democrats caught in the middle of an identity crisis? Today's panel: Julie Hirschfeld Davis with the New York Times, Michael Bender of the Wall Street Journal, CNN's Manu Raju, and Laura Barrón-López.

As his campaign rhetoric in the 2018 midterms demonstrated, no issue matters more to Donald Trump than immigration. And no issue—with the possible exception of his opposition to Robert Mueller’s investigation of his 2016 campaign—better defines his administration. Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear have covered the Trump administration from its earliest days. Now they join us at Town Hall to offer us a glimpse inside the White House with their book Border Wars, documenting how Trump and his allies blocked asylum-seekers and refugees, separated families, threatened deportation, and sought to erode the longstanding bipartisan consensus that immigration and immigrants make positive contributions to America. In conversation with Marcos Martinez, the Executive Director of Casa Latina, Davis and Shear contended that Trump has used immigration to stoke fears (“the caravan”), attack Democrats and the courts, and distract from negative news and political difficulties. They highlighted ways that Trump has used incendiary rhetoric and preyed on the imaginations of many Americans in an attempt to falsely elevate illegal immigration into a national crisis. Join Davis, Shear, and Martinez for insider accounts filled with previously unreported stories that reveal how Trump’s decision-making is driven by gut instinct and marked by disorganization, paranoia, and a constantly feuding staff. Julie Hirschfeld Davis is the congressional editor at The New York Times and deputy Washington editor. She has covered politics and policy from Washington for twenty-two years. She joined the Times in 2014 as a White House correspondent after stints at Bloomberg News, the Associated Press, The Baltimore Sun, and Congressional Quarterly. She won the 2009 Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress Michael D. Shear is a White House correspondent in The New York Times Washington bureau, where he covers President Trump. A veteran political correspondent, before coming to the Times in 2010, he spent eighteen years writing about local, state and national politics at The Washington Post, where he was also part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007. Marcos Martinez is the Executive Director of Casa Latina, a community organization dedicated to empowering low-wage Latino immigrants to move from economic insecurity to economic prosperity and to lift their voices to take action around public policy issues that affect them. Recorded live in The Forum by Town Hall Seattle on November 3, 2019. 

(Note: No more Inside Politics podcasts for the remainder of this week due to special impeachment coverage) President Trump attacks the witnesses ahead of tomorrow's Testimony, saying they're relying on second and third hand information. Democrats say they will prove the President's abuse of power. Plus, Dreamers and the Supreme Court: The justices hear arguments about whether to embrace or reject President Trump's decision to end Obama-era protections for younger undocumented immigrants. And Joe Biden listens to a 2020 rival and hears elitism... but says he's not really talking about Elizabeth Warren. Today's panel: Julie Pace with the Associated Press, CNN's Jeff Zeleny, Toluse Olorunnipa with The Washington Post, and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times Also on the program: CNN's Phil Mattingly, Joan Biskupic and Shimon Prokupecz

The President gets ready to rally supporters in deep-red Mississippi - and preview his impeachment rebuttal. As the impeachment fight ramps up in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she's not ready to be boxed in on a timeline for when the inquiry will go public, but there could be hearings this month. Plus, Elizabeth Warren has a new plan to pay for Medicare for All. She's banking on comprehensive immigration reform to do it. And a conversation about the jobs report with the New York Times' Jeanna Smialek. Nia-Malika Henderson hosts. Today's panel: Julie Pace with the Associated Press, Toluse Olorunnipa with the Washington Post, Bloomberg's Jordan Fabian, and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with the New York Times. Also on the show: CNN's Kaitlan Collins, MJ Lee, Christine Romans and Jeff Zeleny.

Between the alligator moat revelation and horrendous, inhumane taking of children from their parents, when considering Donald Trump’s immigration policy, it can be hard to get past the headlines. But it turns out, the immigration story serves as an incredibly useful way to consider the entire Trump presidency: Obsession, chaos, fear, depravity, and yet – meaningful, important, and potentially-lasting change that has shifted not only how the world views America, but how we view ourselves. The story has been told – through a combination of clear context, incredible detail, and expert storytelling by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear in their book, “Border Wars: Inside Trump’s Assault on Immigration.” As you’ll hear in our conversation, Davis and Shear bring us inside the rooms –uncomfortable places, really – as extreme ideas about immigration move directly from the collective minds of Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller and Jeff Sessions into the campaign and then presidency of Donald Trump. You’ll hear how Miller outmaneuvered generals and cabinet secretaries to seize control You also hear about the key player who might be most confounding of all: Former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. In fact as you hear more about these policymakers – and as you read Hirshfeld Davis and Shear’s book –it all seems to lead to the central questions of our time: Who are we, and what is America? Some background on Julie and Mike who, as far as I can tell from what is admittedly quick research, seem to have covered every important Washington D.C. story in the last 25 years. Julie is Congressional Editor at The New York Times; she also serves as a CNN political analyst. Michael is a White House Correspondent for The New York Times, and you can also catch him frequently on CNN. For show notes & my newsletter, go to chrisriback.com.

Critical testimony today as House Democrats build their abuse of power impeachment case. A Trump campaign donor turned ambassador tells Congress the President personally directed him to work with Rudy Giuliani - and that Giuliani tied Ukraine's hope for a White House meeting to its willingness to investigate the Bidens. Plus, VP Pence lobbies Turkey to halt its military operation in Syria -- as the President bristles at both Republicans and Democrats who say he is making America weaker and handing a gift to Russia, Iran and ISIS. And Congress loses a unique, booming voice: Elijah Cummings was a son of sharecroppers who rose to be chairman of the powerful House Oversight Committee. The Baltimore icon died this morning at the age of 68. Today's Panel: CNN's Dana Bash, Michael Bender with The Wall Street Journal, CNN's Kylie Atwood, Asma Khalid with NPR and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times

Donald Trump. Ukraine. Joe Biden. A phone call. Election Interference. Impeachment! What the hell is going on? In this episode, an irritated Jen gives you the backstory that you need to know about the impeachment drama, including what the steps to impeachment are. Prepare yourself: Everyone devoted to the Republican or Democratic parties will be pissed off by this episode. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Click here to contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD167: Combating Russia NDAA CD102: The World Trade Organization: COOL? CD067: What do We Want in Ukraine CD068: Ukraine Aid Bill CD190: A Coup for Capitalism CD176: Target Venezuela Regime Change in Progress Articles/Documents Article: Pelosi, Trump may reach trade deal despite impeachment by Niv Elis, The Hill, October 3, 2019 Article: This 2016 letter proves that GOP attacks on Biden over Ukraine are nonsense by Alex Ward, Vox, October 3, 2019 Article: Civilian Deaths in U.S. Wars Are Skyrocketing Under Trump. It May Not Be Impeachable, but It’s a Crime. by Murtaza Hussain, The Intercept, October 2, 2019 Article: Hunter Biden, the black sheep who might accidentally bring down Trump, explained by Matthew Yglesias, Vox, October 1, 2019 Article: Shoot Migrants’ Legs, Build Alligator Moat: Behind Trump’s Ideas for Border by Michael D. Shear and Julie Hirschfeld Davis, The New York Times, October 1, 2019 Article: Impeachment inquiry erupts into battle between executive, legislative branches By Karen DeYoung, Josh Dawsey, Karoun Demirjian and John Hudson, The Washington Post, October 1, 2019 Article: McConnell says if House impeaches Trump, Senate rules would force him to start a trial by Seung Min Kim, The Washington Post, September 30, 2019 Article: Trump claim on stalled aid for Ukraine draws new scrutiny by Robert Burns, Lolita Baldor, and Andrew Taylor, The Associated Press, MilitaryTimes, September 30, 2019 Article: Hunter Biden: The Most Comprehensive Timeline by Jim Geraghty, National Review, September 30, 2019 Article: The gas tycoon and the vice president’s son: The story of Hunter Biden’s foray into Ukraine by Paul Sonne, Michael Kranish and Matt Viser, The Washington Post, September 28, 2019 Article: The gas tycoon and the vice president’s son: The story of Hunter Biden’s foray into Ukraine by Paul Sonne, Michael Kranish and Matt Viser, The Washington Post, September 28, 2019 Article: Piety and Power by Tom LoBianco, The New York Times, September 27, 2019 Article: White House Knew of Whistle-Blower’s Allegations Soon After Trump’s Call With Ukraine Leader by Julian E. Barnes, Michael S. Schmidt, Adam Goldman and Katie Benner, The New York Times, September 26, 2019 Article: Democrats, Please Don’t Mess This Up. Impeach Trump for All His Crimes, Not Just for Ukraine. by Mehdi Hasan, The Intercept, September 26, 2019 Document: S. 2583 [Report No. 116-126], September 26, 2019, Pg 144 Article: Here’s what you need to know about the US aid package to Ukraine that Trump delayed by Joe Gould and Howard Altman, Defense News, September 25, 2019 Article: Read the record of Trump’s controversial call to Ukraine’s president Zelensky by Ephrat Livni, Quartz, September 25, 2019 Article: How the Impeachment Process Works by Charlie Savage, The New York Times, September 24, 2019 Article: Trump ordered hold on military aid days before calling Ukrainian president, officials say By Karoun Demirjian, Josh Dawsey, Ellen Nakashima and Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post, September 23, 2019 Article: Ukraine military aid extension passes US House after White House delay by Joe Gould, Defense News, September 19, 2019 Article: US State Department clears Ukraine security assistance funding. Is the Pentagon next? by Aaron Mehta, Defense News, September 12, 2019 Document: S. 2474: Defense Appropriations Act, September 12, 2019, Pg 305 Document: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2020, September 12, 2019, Pg 148 Letter: For Chairman Burr and Chairman Schiff August 12, 2019 Article: Will Hunter Biden Jeopardize His Father’s Campaign? by Adam Entous, The New Yorker, July 1, 2019 Article: What Powers Does a Formal Impeachment Inquiry Give the House? by Molly E. Reynolds, Margaret Taylor, Lawfare, May 21, 2019 Article: U.S. ambassador to Ukraine is recalled after becoming a political target by Josh Rogin, The Washington Post, May 7, 2019 Article: Timeline in Ukraine Probe Casts Doubt on Giuliani’s Biden Claim by Stephanie Baker and Daryna Krasnolutska, Bloomberg, May 7, 2019 Article: How does impeachment work? Here is the step-by-step process by Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk, AJC, April 22, 2019 Article: Trump’s feud with Jerry Nadler rooted in decades-old New York real estate project by Rachael Bade and Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post, April 8, 2019 Article: Joe Biden's 2020 Ukrainian nightmare: A closed probe is revived by John Solomon, The Hill, April 1, 2019 Article: Senior Ukrainian official says he's opened probe into US election interference The Hill, March 20, 2019 Article: Top Ukrainian justice official says US ambassador gave him a do not prosecute list The Hill, March 20, 2019 Document: 2019 Funding Report, February 13, 2019 Article: The Danger of President Pence by Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, October 16, 2017 Article: Joe Biden, His Son and the Case Against a Ukrainian Oligarch by James Risen, The New York Times, December 8, 2015 Additional Resources Document: H.R. Full Committee Print, Department of State Appropriations Document: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2020, Pg 100 Prepared Remarks: Prepared Remarks by Senator John McCain on America’s Role in Europe’s East, Atlantic Council, December 19, 2013 Sound Clip Sources Interview with Mitch McConnell:, CNBC, September 30, 2019 Speakers: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Transcript: Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY): Yeah, it's a, it's a Senate rule related to impeachment that would take 67 votes to change. So I would have no choice but to take it up. How long you're on it is a whole different matter, but I would have no choice but to take it up. President Trump Meeting with Ukrainian President, C-SPAN, 74th U.N. General Assembly at United Nations headquarters in New York City, September 25, 2019 Speakers: Donald J. Trump President Zelensky Transcript: 1:45 Volodymyr Zelensky: It’s a great pleasure to me to be here, and it’s better to be on TV than by phone. 3:30 Volodymyr Zelensky: My priority to stop the war on Donbass and to get back our territories, –- thank you for your support in this case, thank you very much. 6:40 Volodymyr Zelensky: And to know when, I want world to know that now we have the new team, the new parliament, the new government. So now we – about 74 laws, new laws, which help for our new reforms, land reform, -- law about concessions, that we – general – and we launched the – secretary, and anti-corruption court. As we came, we launched the anti-corruption court, it began to work on the 5th of September. It was, you know, it was, after five days we had the new – So we are ready, we want to show that we just come, and if somebody, if you, you want to help us, so just let’s do business cases. We have many investment cases, we’re ready. 12:00 Reporter: Do you believe that the emaiIs from Hillary Clinton, do you believe that they are in Ukraine? Do you think this whole -- President Trump: I think they could be. You mean the 30,000 that she deleted? Reporter: Yes. President Trump: Yeah, I think they could very well, boy that was a nice question. I like, that's why, because frankly, I think that one of the great crimes committed is Hillary Clinton deleted 33,000 emails after Congress sends her a subpoena. Think of that. You can't even do that in a civil case. You can't get rid of evidence like that. She deleted 33,000 emails after, not before, after receiving the subpoena from the U.S. Congress. 16:00 Translator for Volodymyr Zelensky: During the investigation, actually, I want to underscore that Ukraine is an independent country. We have a new –- in Ukraine, a hired, professional man with a western education and history, to investigate any case he considers and deems -- Speaker Pelosi Announcement of Impeachment Inquiry, C-SPAN, September 24, 2019 Speakers: Nancy Pelosi 0:40 Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA): Shortly thereafter, press reports began to break of a phone call by the President of the United States calling upon a foreign power to intervene in his election. 4:30 Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA): And this week, the President has admitted to asking the President of Ukraine to take actions which would benefit him politically. The action of the Trump, the actions of the Trump presidency revealed dishonorable fact of the President's betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security, and betrayal of the integrity of our elections. Therefore, today, I'm announcing the House of Representatives moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. I'm directing our six committees to proceed with their investigations under that umbrella of impeachment inquiry. The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) talks with CNN's Erin Burnett, CNN, August 8, 2019 Speakers: Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) Transcript: Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY): This is formal impeachment proceedings. We are investigating all the evidence, we are gathering the evidence, and we will at the conclusion of this, hopefully by the end of the year, vote to, vote articles of impeachment to the House floor, or we won't. That's a decision that we'll have to make, but that, but that's exactly the process we're in right now. Council of Foreign Relations: Foreign Affairs Issue Launch with Former Vice President Joe Biden, Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Speakers: Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Michael R. Carpenter Presider, Richard N. Haass Transcript: 6:00* Joe Biden: I think there's a basic decision that they cannot compete against a unified West. And I think that is Putin's judgment. And so everything he can do to dismantle the post world war two liberal world order, including NATO and the EU, I think is viewed as they're in their immediate self-interest. 52:00 Joe Biden: I’ll give you one concrete example. I was—not I, it just happened to be that was the assignment I got. I got all the good ones. And so I got Ukraine. And I remember going over, convincing our team and our leaders, that we should be providing for loan guarantees. And I went over, I guess, the 12th, 13th time to Kiev. I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor, and they didn’t. So they said they were walking out to a press conference. I said, nah, I’m not going to—or, we’re not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. You’re not the president. The president said—I said, call him. (Laughter.) I said, I’m telling you, you’re not getting the billion dollars. I said, you’re not getting the billion. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. (Laughter) He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time. 54:00 Joe Biden: But always worked in Kiev because, as I said, look, it's simple proposition. If in fact you do not continue to show progress in terms of corruption, we are not going to be able to hold the rest of Europe on these sanctions and Russia is not going to roll across the inner line here and take over the rest of the country with their tanks. What they're going to do is they're going to take your economy down. You're going to be absolutely buried and you're going to be done, and that's when it all goes to hell. 56:00 Joe Biden: It's a very difficult spot to be in now, when foreign leaders call me, and they do, because I never, ever, ever would say anything negative to a foreign leader, and I mean this sincerely, about a sitting president, no matter how fundamentally I disagree with them. And it is not my role, not my role to make foreign policy. But the questions across the board range from, what the hell is going on, Joe, to what advice do you have for me? And my advice always is to, I give them names of individuals in the administration who I think to be knowledgeable and, and, and, and, and committed, and I say, you should talk to so and so. You should, and what I do, and every one of those times, I first call the vice president and tell him I received the call, tell him, and ask him whether he has any objection to my returning the call. And then what is the administration's position, if any, they want me to communicate to that country. Interview, ABC News, March 30, 2015 Speakers: Mike Pence George Stephanopoulos 8:00 George Stephanopoulos: One fix that people have talked about is simply adding sexual orientation as a protected class under the state civil rights laws. Will you push for that? Mike Pence: I will not push for that. That's not on my agenda. And that's not been an objective of the people of the state of Indiana. Transcript of leaked Nuland-Pyatt call, BBC News, February 7, 2014 Speakers: Victoria Nuland Geoffrey Pyatt Watch on YouTube Victoria Nuland: Good. So, I don’t think Klitsch should go into the government. I don’t think it’s necessary, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Geoffrey Pyatt: Yeah, I mean, I guess. In terms of him not going into the government, just let him sort of stay out and do his political homework and stuff. I’m just thinking in terms of sort of the process moving ahead, we want to keep the moderate Democrats together. The problem is going to be Tyahnybok and his guys, and I’m sure that’s part of what Yanukovych is calculating on all of this. I kind of— Victoria Nuland: I think Yats is the guy who’s got the economic experience, the governing experience. What he needs is Klitsch and Tyahnybok on the outside. He needs to be talking to them four times a week, you know? I just think Klitsch going in—he’s going to be at that level working for Yatsenyuk; it’s just not going to work. Victoria Nuland: So, on that piece, Geoff, when I wrote the note, Sullivan’s come back to me VFR, saying, you need Biden, and I said, probably tomorrow for an “atta-boy” and to get the deets to stick. Geoffrey Pyatt: Okay. Victoria Nuland: So, Biden’s willing. Geoffrey Pyatt: Okay, great. Thanks. Senator John McCain on Ukraine, C-SPAN, Atlantic Council of the U.S., December 13, 2013 Speakers: John S. McCain III Watch on YouTube Transcript: 16:45 Sen. John McCain: Finally, we must encourage the European Union and the IMF to keep their doors open to Ukraine. Ultimately, the support of both institutions is indispensible for Ukraine's future. And eventually, a Ukrainian President, either this one or a future one, will be prepared to accept the fundamental choice facing the country, which is this: While there are real short-term costs to the political and economic reforms required for IMF assistance and EU integration, and while President Putin will likely add to these costs by retaliating against Ukraine's economy, the long-term benefits for Ukraine in taking these tough steps are far greater and almost limitless. This decision cannot be borne by one person alone in Ukraine. Nor should it be. It must be shared—both the risks and the rewards—by all Ukrainians, especially the opposition and business elite. It must also be shared by the EU, the IMF and the United States. All of us in the West should be prepared to help Ukraine, financially and otherwise, to overcome the short-term pain that reforms will require and Russia may inflict. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)  

President Trump unplugged and unrepentant as the impeachment crisis grips his administration Plus, House Democrats subpoena the White House - and hit the vice president with a sweeping request for documents for their impeachment inquiry. And Joe Biden fights back, taking aim at a president he says is "unhinged." Today's Panel: Seung Min Kim and Toluse Olorunnipa with the Washington Post, CNN's Jeff Zeleny, and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with the New York Times.

President Trump asks for foreign election help - at the same time a key impeachment witness is being questioned on Capitol Hill about that very thing. The President's anger against Democrats pushing for impeachment is raw and very public. In contrast, the Vice President's team is working frantically - but behind the scenes - to try to shield him from any Ukraine backlash. And Bernie Sanders says he'll be on the debate stage in two weeks, despite undergoing a hear procedure this week. Today's panel: Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times, Michael Shear with The New York Times, Laura Barrón-López with POLITICO and Julie Pace with Associated Press Also on today's show: CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Manu Raju

A whir of new developments connected to the whistleblower complaint that is now the lynchpin of the Democratic impeachment push. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refusing today to put a specific timeline on the investigation, but the committee taking the lead told reporters to expect subpoenas for key witnesses and told its members to be ready to work during a planned two week recess. A big question today: Are House Democrats on their own, or will the Republican-led Senate look into the allegations raised in the explosive whistleblower complaint? Today's Panel: Julie Pace with the Associated Press, Sahil Kapur with Bloomberg, Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times, and CNN's Abby Phillip Also on the Program: CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Manu Raju

President Trump announces new sanctions on Iran and his pick for a new National Security Adviser. This as Secretary of State Pompeo arrives in Saudi Arabia -- and the Saudis display what they say are Iranian weapons used to attack the kingdom's oil facilities. Plus, Joe Biden still leads the Democratic pack. But the first national poll after the latest debate shows Elizabeth Warren closing in -- and outpacing all her rivals when it comes to voter enthusiasm. And new wrinkles in the House Democratic family feud over impeachment. This as Trump confidante Corey Lewandowski tells Congress there is nothing wrong with lying -- and then gets schooled on CNN. On today's panel: Vivian Salama with The Wall Street Journal , Paul Kane with The Washington Post, CNN's Kylie Atwood, Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times, and Tarini Parti with The Wall Street Journal Also on the program: CNN's Oren Liebermann, Clarissa Ward, and Douglas Brinkley

This week Katie and Joe take a look at what's happening on Capitol Hill with Julie Hirschfeld Davis the new congressional editor for the The New York Times. Julie has covered politics from Washington for two decades, writing on Congress, three presidential campaigns and three presidents. She is a CNN political analyst and next month Julie and Mike Shear have a new book out, Border Wars: Inside Trump’s Assault On Immigration, the inside story of how Trump and his team seized on immigration as a defining political issue and have redefined how America thinks about immigration and immigrants. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New tensions between the Trump White House and Iran after a stunning attack on Saudi oil facilities. Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, but the Trump administration is blaming Iran. CNN's Senior International Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh joins us with a report from Tehran and CNN's John Kirby provides analysis. Plus, the Democratic presidential race turns testy as summer gives way to fall. Julian Castro questioned Joe Biden's memory and Cory Booker suggested Biden could fumble away any chance of beating President Trump. Today's panel: Margaret Talev of Axios, CNN's Nia Malika Henderson, Julie Hirschfeld Davis of The New York Times, and Vice News' Shawna Thomas.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler announces he's going to court to get Mueller's Grand Jury materials ahead of a possible impeachment inquiry. The number of Democrats who support impeachment is now at 96. Plus, 2020 candidates are rolling out proposals and making a pitch to voters on the economy ahead of the CNN debates. Today's Panel: Seung Min Kim with The Washington Post, Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times, Laura Barron Lopez with POLITICO, and Catherine Lucey with The Wall Street Journal. Also on the Program: CNN's Manu Raju and Vanessa Yurkevich

The House will vote this evening on a resolution condemning President Trump's racist tweets and words attacking four Democratic women of color. The President is showing the very opposite of remorse or pause -- insisting today he is not racist and tweeting that if you don't like it here, you can leave. Plus, a new CNN poll shows more warning signs for Joe Biden. The former Vice President narrowly leads a tight race in the first primary state - New Hampshire -- and voters there don't see him as the best candidate on health care. Today's Panel: CNN's Abby Phillip, Jonathan Martin with The New York Times, NPR'S Asma Khalid, and Julie Hirschfeld Davis with The New York Times. Also on the Program: CNN's Manu Raju and Phil Mattingly.

Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves, is a country that has been experimenting with a new so-called “socialist” economic model for twenty years. For this sin, two consecutive Venezuelan Presidents have been targeted for regime change by the architects of the “free market” World Trade System, an economic system they intend to be global. In this episode, learn the recent history of Venezuela and hear the highlights of a March 2017 Congressional hearing (which was not aired on television in the United States) during which strategies for a Venezuelan regime change were discussed, and then learn about the regime change steps that have been taken since that hearing which have unfolded exactly how the witnesses advised. Pat Grogan joins Jen for Thank Yous.  Please Support Congressional Dish - Quick Links Click here to contribute a lump sum or set up a monthly contribution via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Use your bank’s online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North Number 4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Additional Reading Report: OAS adopts resolution, could bring suspension of Venezuela by Luis Alonso Lugo, AP News, June 6, 2018. Article: Venezuela scores victory as US fails to secure votes for OAS suspension, TeleSUR, June 6, 2018. Opinion: It's time for a coup in Venezuela by Jose R. Cardenas, Foreign Policy, June 5, 2018. Report: Venezuela's 2018 presidential elections, FAS, May 24, 2018. Article: Trump's team gets payback for Rubio on Venezuelan assassination plot by Marc Caputo, Potlitico, May 22, 2018. Article: U.S. places new sanctions on Venezuela day after election by Julie Hirschfeld Davis, The New York Times, May 21, 2018. Opinion: Marco Rubio: It's time to hasten Maduro's exit from power by Marco Rubio, CNN, May 16, 2018. Article: ConocoPhillips could bring deeper trouble to Venezuela by Nick Cunningham, Business Insider, May 12, 2018. Report: ConocoPhillips wins $2 billion ruling over Venezuelan seizure by Clifford Krauss, The New York Times, April 25, 2018. Article: Exclusive: Russia secretly helped VEnezuela launch a cryptocurrency to evade U.S. sanctions by Simon Shuster, Time, March 20, 2018. Article: Tillerson floats possible Venezuelan military coup, says US does not advocate 'regime change' by Max Greenwood, The Hill, February 1, 2018. Report: Venezuela's economic crisis: Issues for Congress by Rebecca M. Nelson, Congressional Research Service, January 10, 2018. Article: Venezuela's ruling party wins surprise victory in regional elections by Scott Neuman, NPR, October 16, 2017. Report: New financial sanctions on Venezuela: Key issues, FAS, September 1, 2017. Article: Venezuela's pro-Maduro assembly seizes congressional powers by Colin Dwyer, NPR, August 18, 2017. Article: Pence vows to end 'the tragedy of tyranny' in Venezuela through 'peaceable means' by Philip Rucker, The Washington Post, August 13, 2017. Report: Trump alarms Venezuela with talk of a 'military option,' The New York Times, August 12, 2017. Article: The battle for Venezuela and its oil by Jeremy Scahill, The Intercept, August 12, 2017. Article: Venezuela's dubious new constituent assembly explained by Jennifer L. McCoy, The Washington Post, August 1, 2017. Article: In wake of 'sham election,' U.S. sanctions Venezuelan President Maduro by Colin Dwyer, NPR, July 31, 2017. Report: U.S. Petroleum trade with Venezuela: Financial and economic considerations with possible sanctions, FAS, July 27, 2017. Article: Venezuela row as National Assembly appoints judges, BBC News, July 22, 2017. Report: Exxon blocked from enforcing Venezuela arbitration award: U.S. appeals court by Jonathan Stempel, Reuters, July 11, 2017. Article: Maduro wants to rewrite Venezuela's constitution, that's rocket fuel on the fire, The Washington Post, June 10, 2017. Article: Venezuela eyes assembly vote in July; man set ablaze dies by Alexandra Ulmer and Deisy Buitrago, Reuters, June 4, 2017. Article: Riven by fire and fiery rhetoric, Venezuela decides its future in the streets by Colin Dwyer, NPR, May 5, 2017. Report: AP explains: Venezuela's 'anti-capitalist' constitution by Hannah Dreier, Yahoo News, May 4, 2017. Article: Venezuela plan to rewrite constitution branded a coup by former regional allies by Jonathan Watts and Virginia Lopez, The Guardian, May 2, 2017. Article: Venezuela's Maduro sees local elections later in 2017 by Andrew Cawthorne, Reuters, April 30, 2017. Article: Opposition parties in Venezuela prepare for elections, hoping they will come by John Otis, NPR, April 8, 2017. Article: Venezuelan court revises ruling that nullified legislature by Nicholas Casey and Patricia Torres, The New York Times, April 1, 2017. Article: Venezuela's top court and president reverse course, restore powers to legislature by Jason Slotkin, NPR, April 1, 2017. Article: Venezuela muzzles legislature, moving closer to one-man rule by Nicholas Casey and Patricia Torres, The New York Times, March 30, 2017. Article: Venezuelan political crisis grows after High Court dissolves Congress by Richard Gonzelez, NPR, March 30, 2017. Article: Venezuela court effectively shuts down congress as opposition cries 'coup' by Jim Wyss, Miami Herald, March 30, 2017. Article: Order for Venezuela to pay Exxon $1.4 bln in damages overturned - lawyer by Reuters Staff, CNBC, March 10, 2017. Report: Venezuela President Maduro hikes wages, distributes social housing, DW, January 5, 2017. Article: Did Hilary Clinton stand by as Honduras coup ushered in era of violence? by Nina Lakhani, The Guardian, August 31, 2016. Article: Inside the booming smuggling trade between Venezuela and Colombia by Ezra Kaplan, Time, March 31, 2016. Article: Venezuela's constitutional crisis: How did we get here? by Juan Cristobal Nagel, Caracas Chronicles, January 12, 2016. Article: Venezuela: What changes will the new Congress bring?, BBC News, January 7, 2016. Article: Oil giants punish Venezuela through Dutch treaty by Frank Mulder, Inter Press Service News Agency, January 4, 2016. Report: Venezuela top court blocks four lawmakers-elect from taking office by Reuters Staff, Reuters, December 30, 2015. Report: Venezuela's departing legislature approves 13 new justices by Patricia Torres and William Neuman, The New York Times, December 23, 2015. Report: Venezuela's outgoing Congress names 13 Supreme Court justices by Diego Ore, Reuters, December 23, 2015. Article: Venezuela: Curb plan to pack Supreme Court, Human Rights Watch, December 10, 2015. Article: Venezuela election: Opposition coalition secures 'supermajority' by Associated Press, The Guardian, December 8, 2015. Article: Venezuela's high-life hope hard-hit poor will abandon Chavez's legacy by Sibylla Brodzinsky, The Guardian, December 5, 2015. Article: Snowden leak reveals Obama government ordered NSA, CIA to spy on Venzuela oil firm by Charles Davis and Andrew Fishman, Common Dreams, November 19, 2015. Article: The long war: Venezuela and ExxonMobil, Telesur TV, November 18, 2015. Article: Obama vs. Chavismo by Boris Munoz, The New Yorker, March 18, 2015. Article: A tale of two countries: Venezuela, the United States and international investment by John G. Murphy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, October 17, 2014. Article: The dirty hand of the National Endowment for Democracy in Venezuela by Eva Golinger, Counter Punch, April 25, 2014. Article: The 2002 oil lockout: 10 years later by Yuleidys Hernandez Toledo, Venezuelan Analysis, December 7, 2012. Article: Declassified documents show that the US finances groups opposed to Chavez since 2002, Grupo Tortuga, September 2, 2006. Article: Documents show C.I.A knew of a coup plot in Venezuela by Juan Forero, The New York Times, December 3, 2004. Report: Documents show C.I.A knew of a coup plot in Venezuela by Juan Forero, The New York Times, December 3, 2004. Article: The coup connection by Joshua Kurlantzick, Mother Jones, November/December 2004. Article: Pyrrhus of Caracas, The Economist, January 2, 2003. Article: Strike cripples Venezuela's oil industry by Jarrett Murphy, CBS News, December 10, 2002. Article: The coup that wasn't by Marc Cooper, The Nation, September 11, 2002. Article: Our gang in Venezuela? by David Corn, The Nation, July 18, 2002. Article: American navy 'helped Venezuelan coup' by Duncan Campbell, The Guardian, April 29, 2002. Article: Venezuela coup linked to Bush team by Ed Vulliamy, The Guardian, April 21, 2002. Article: Chavez rises from very peculiar coup by Alex Bellos, The Guardian, April 15, 2002. Resources Congressional Research Service: Venezuela: Issues for Congress, 2013-2016, Mark P. Sullivan, January 23, 2017. Congressional Research Service: Venezuela: U.S. Policy Overview, May 20, 2015. Global Affairs Canada: Canadian Sanctions Related to Venezuela Government of Canada: Venezuela Sanctions House Foreign Relations Committee Hearing Transcript: The State of Democracy in Venezuela, June 24, 2004. Human Development Report 2016: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Library of Congress: Crude Oil Royalty Rates Organization of American States: Inter-American Democratic Charter Resolution of San Jose, Costa Rica Organization of American States: Historic Background of the Inter-American Democratic Charter Public Citizen Report: Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS): Extraordinary Corporate Power in "Trade" Deals USAID Report: Venezuela 2002-2010 Venezuelan Constitution: Title IX: Constitutional Reforms (Art. 340-350) WikiLeaks: The Global Intelligence Files Re: Reliable Source for Venezuelan Inflation Statistics? WikiLeaks: USAID/OTI Programmatic Support for Country Team 5 Point Strategy, Public Library of Diplomacy, November 9, 2006. Visual References Data: How did Venezuela change under Hugo Chavez, The Guardian, October 4, 2012 Sound Clip Sources Hearing: Democracy Promotion in a Challenging World, House Foreign Affairs Committee, June 14, 2018. Video: Debunking John Oliver on Venezuela, The Real News Network, June 9, 2018. Hearing: Advancing US Business Investment and Trade in the Americas, House Foreign Affairs Committee, June 7, 2018. Video: Pompeo calls for kicking Venezuela out of OAS and more sanctions, The Washington Post, June 4, 2018. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: “In addition to suspension, I call on member states to apply additional pressure on the Maduro regime with financial sanctions and diplomatic isolation until such time as it takes the actions necessary to return genuine democracy and provide people desperately needed access to international humanitarian aid" Hearing: Advancing U.S. Interests Through the Organization of American States, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, February 14, 2018. Hearing: The Venezuela Crisis: The Malicious Influence of State and Criminal Actors, House Foreign Affairs Committee, September 13, 2017. Empire Files: Constituent Assembly Dictatorship or Democracy in Venezuela? TeleSUR English, July 19, 2017. Hearing:The Collapse of The Rule of Law in Venezuela: What the United States and the International Community Can Do to Restore Democracy, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee, July 19, 2017. 07:15 Senator Marco Rubio: I also know this, and I do not speak for the president, but I’ve certainly spoken to the president, and I will only reiterate what he has already said, and I’ve been saying this now for a number of days: it is my—I have 100% confidence that if democracy is destroyed once and for all in Venezuela on the 30th in terms of the Maduro regime, the president of the U.S. is prepared to act unilaterally in a significant and swift way. And that is not a threat; that is the reporting of the truth. 10:38 Senator Bob Menendez: Even as their president prevents international support for the basic humanitarian needs of its citizens—blocking an effort by the National Assembly to facilitate international systems—they are voting to demand fundamental freedoms. Despite the suffering of his people, and the international outcry, Maduro insists on clinging onto the shreds of a failed ideology his predecessor and a few colleagues in the region still champion. Empire Files: Abby Martin Meets the Venezuelan Opposition, TeleSUR English, July 3, 2017. Empire Files: Venezuela Economy Minister-Sabotage, Not Socialism, is the Problem, TeleSUR English, June 17, 2017. Hearing: Venezuela's Tragic Meltdown, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, March 28, 2017. Hearing: Venezuela: Options for U.S. Policy, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, March 2, 2017. 21:30 Shannon O’Neil: The United States can and should also delve into Venezuela’s recent financial transactions, and specifically, its use of U.S.-based Citgo assets to collateralize its loans. CFIUS should investigate bond purchases by the Russian state-controlled oil company, Rosneft, who may, in the case of default, actually gain majority control of this critical refinery infrastructure here in the United States. 21:53 Shannon O’Neil: Multilateral initiatives are perhaps more important and potentially more fruitful as a means to influence Venezuela. This will mean working behind the scenes to galvanize opposition and condemnation for the Maduro regime. This’ll be more effective than U.S. efforts alone as it will be much harder for the Venezuelan government to dismiss the criticisms and the actions of its South American neighbors as imperialist overreach. And such a coalition is much more possible today than in any time in the recent past, due both to the accelerating repression and the breaking of the last democratic norms in Venezuela, and due to the very different stances of South America’s recently elected leaders, particularly in Peru, in Brazil, and in Argentina. The OAS remains a venue and an instrument to focus these efforts. The U.S. should call on the organization to again invoke the Inter-American Charter to evaluate Venezuela’s democratic credentials and its compliance with them, and this could lead, potentially to sanctions and suspension of Venezuela from this multilateral body. 23:00 Shannon O’Neil: And then, finally, the United States should begin preparing for change. If the Maduro regime is forced out or it collapses, the country will likely face humanitarian, economic, and financial chaos. And there’re two particular things the United States can start preparing for. The first is a wave of refugees. This will hit Venezuela’s neighbors the hardest—Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, nearby Caribbean nations. It’s important to help them with money, with supplies, potentially with personnel, and to back international NGOs in multilateral efforts to ease the suffering of these people. The second aspect to prepare for is a restructuring of Venezuela’s finances and its economy. A new government will need to renegotiate 140 billion dollars’ worth of external debt, whether or not the government has already defaulted upon it or not. And this massive undertaking will likely require an IMF rescue package and the baking of the international community and creditors. The U.S. will be vital in facilitating this as well as in helping a new government take the tough economic policy choices to turn the economy around. These will include, freeing the exchange rate, reinducing market prices, creating sustainable policies for the poor, and rooting out corruption. And thought this is complicated, the faster it occurs, the faster Venezuela’s economy will grow again. 25:30 Senator Ben Cardin: We look at ways in which we can change the direction here, and it starts with the governance. When you have a corrupt government, it’s going to be very difficult to see international organizations willing to come in to help refinance their economy. Even though they have wealth, it’s going to be difficult to figure out how that takes place unless they have basic changes in the way their government’s doing business. And we don’t see any indication that that’s taking place. So, you’ve made a couple suggestions. One is we need to work with our regional partners, which I fully agree. So let’s start with OAS, which is the entire region, as to whether it’s realistic that the Democratic Charter provisions can in fact lead to change in Venezuela. Ultimately, it will require us to have the threat of at least two-thirds of the countries if we’re going to be able to invoke the Charter with some teeth. What is the likelihood that OAS could be effective as a real force in bringing about change by the Maduro government? Mr. Feierstein? Mark Feierstein: Well, thank you very much for that question, and actually, if I can hit on your two other points as well; first, with regard to humanitarian assistance. Under the Obama administration, the USAID in fact did put together a contingency plan to provide assistance if in fact, even when, the Venezuelan government is willing to receive it, and USAID has a warehouse in Miami that’s prepared to provide assistance. I know international organizations are prepared as well. There has been some dialog between the government and the Inter-American Development Bank with regard to economic reform, though, frankly at fairly lower levels, and there’s no indication at senior levels that they’re inclined at serious attempts at economic reform. With regard to the OAS, I think that we’re much better positioned now than we were a couple years ago, and that’s because of some changes in some key governments in the region—Argentina; Peru; Brazil; there was a reference to Ecuador, a potential change there as well. And I think that patience has clearly run out with Maduro. I think countries are more inclined now to take action. There has been hesitation to do so as long as the dialog was alive and long as the Vatican was engaged. One of the challenges has been with regard to the Caribbean countries, which receive significant petroleum assistance from Venezuela, and that has somewhat silenced them, and there’s been some divisions within the Caribbean. That said, I’m hopeful that in the coming months that as the situation deteriorates in Venezuela, and as that it becomes clear that the dialog cannot be successful unless there is more pressure. And I think there needs to be three forms of pressure: There needs to be domestic mobilization within Venezuela, in the form of protests. I think there needs to be additional sanctions applied by the United States to other countries. And I think there needs to be action within the OAS, including a threat of suspension of Venezuela from the organization if it does not comply with the Inter-American Democratic Charter. 41:50 Senator Bob Menendez: Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, and its subsidiary, Citgo, which has energy infrastructure in the United States, are under extreme financial pressure and may not be able to pay their bills in the near future. Under a recent deal, 49.9% of Citgo was mortgaged to Rosneft, the Russian government-owned oil company run by Vladimir Putin’s crony Igor Sechin. It’s also possible that Rosneft acquired other PDVSA bonds on the open market that could bring their ownership potential to over 50%. If Citgo defaults on its debts, Rosneft, an entity currently under American sanctions because of Russia’s belligerent behavior, could come to own a majority stake in strategic U.S. energy infrastructure, including three refineries and several pipelines. Given the close ties between Rosneft and Putin, Putin’s interest in undermining the United States, and Putin’s willingness to use energy as a weapon, does this potential deal concern you should a sanctioned Russian company have control over critical U.S. energy infrastructure? I would hate to see Rosneft be the sign hanging over Fenway Park. 44:50 Senator Bob Menendez: They’re— Unknown Speaker: No, I didn’t take it that way. Sen. Menendez: —just to the administration, because I think we can chew and walk gum—I know that my dear colleague, Senator Young, had a comment for me last week. I wish he was here—we can chew and walk gum, you know, and walk at the same time, which means as we’re going through cabinet officials, doesn’t mean we couldn’t get nominations that this committee, on a bipartisan basis, is generally processed very quickly. 49:50 Senator Marco Rubio: On the USAID piece, there’s a reason why we’re not in there: they don’t let us. The Venezuelan government does not allow open aid because they deny that there’s an emergency. *51:00 Mark Feierstein: As I noted before, I think we are better positioned now than we were a couple years ago because of changes in certain governments in the region, as we talked about—Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and others. I believe that, again, in the coming months, I think that some of the—that there is an opportunity—there will be an opportunity to invoke the Charter to threaten the suspension of Venezuela from the organization. And, I guess—I noted what I think, you know, we need. We need three forms of pressure for the dialog to succeed. I agree with you: dialog has not succeeded. The government has used it to buy time, to defuse domestic protests, to keep the international community at bay. But if the opposition’s able to mobilize internally; if we’re able to apply additional sanctions, and ideally, multilateralize them; and if we’re able to mobilize countries in the OAS to invoke the Charter to threaten the suspension of Venezuela from the OAS; I think, then, there would be greater prospects for a positive outcome in Venezuela. 54:55 Senator Tom Udall: I didn’t vote in favor of increased sanctions against Venezuela (Ven-su-way-la). I thought then and I believe now they’re counterproductive and could lead to further entrenchment of the current Venezuelan (Ven-su-way-len) regime, and that’s exactly what happened. The Venezuelan (Ven-su-way-len) people, many who oppose the government, are suffering. They’re going without food, without medicine, without power, without the essentials. 55:40 Senator Tom Udall: Mr. Smilde, are you clear that taking a hardline approach to Venezuela (Ven-su-way-la) will likely lead to a Cubanization of our policies there? 56:11 Senator Tom Udall: As to Venezuela (Ven-su-way-la), can you outline what role you think the Foreign Relations Committee or others should take to encourage a multilateral effort to ensure that elections are held in 2018 and to prevent a Cubanization of policies in Venezuela (Ven-su-way-la)? 58:00 Senator Tom Udall: Dr. O’Neil, would you agree that in Venezuela (Ven-su-way-la) different factions now view the situation as a zero-sum game? 1:14:25 Shannon O’Neil: One thing that has in the past in Venezuela brought the opposition together is elections, right, is a mechanism that you’re pushing towards a particular goal. And so as we look forward for 2017, there’s a party-registration process that is about to begin, and there’s questions about who may or may not qualify there and if the National Electoral committee will actually play fair in that sense. That is something that you could rally together different groups if it’s seen unfair in terms of qualifications. And then we have pending elections that did not happen at the end of last year, regional elections that may or may not be put on the table. And so I think internally, a push for elections—because that is a constitutional mechanism for parties to participate in democracy—and perhaps outside as well, we can be pushing for these parts, even we know democracy is not existent there anymore, but can we push for elections, can we push, and that’s something, at least, to galvanize those that are not in power today. Video: Trump: "The war in Iraq was a BIG FAT MISTAKE", Youtube, February 15, 2016. Hearing: Deepening Political and Economic Crisis in Venezuela: Implications for U.S. Interests and the Western Hemisphere, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee, C-SPAN, March 17, 2015. Hearing: Assessing Venezuela's Political Crisis: Human Rights Violations and Beyond, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, C-SPAN May 8, 2014. White House Daily Briefing: Middle East Conflict and Coup in Venezuela, C-Span, April 16, 2002. State Dept Daily Briefing: Middle East Situation and Failed Coup in Venezuela, C-SPAN, April 15, 2002. Community Suggestions Podcast: The Corbett Report: NGOs Documentary: South of the Border ~ Hugo Chavez and the New Latin America Book: The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today's Students by Allan Bloom FB Thread: Operation Regime Change - articles compiled by Ramesh Mantri See more Community Suggestions HERE. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)  

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