Background Briefing: October 1, 2023

 

Apart From Helping Putin, Why is Cutting Aid to Ukraine the Top Priority of Trump and a Handful of Republicans in Congress?

We begin with Putin telling Trump to cut aid to Ukraine, then Trump telling Marjorie Taylor Greene to cut the aid, then Margorie Taylor Greene telling Speaker McCarthy to cut Ukraine aid out of the bill the Democrats helped pass to prevent a government shutdown. Joining us to discuss why cutting aid to Ukraine is the top priority for Trump and a handful of Republicans in congress so much so that they would shut down the government is Scott Horton, a professor at Columbia Law School and a contributing editor at Harper’s in legal affairs and national security. He serves on the American branch of the International Law Association, and has represented a variety of journalists and whistleblowers.  

 

The Urgency to Replace Senator Feinstein as Governor Newsom Backtracks

Then we examine the urgency to replace Diane Feinstein in the US Senate and how California’s Governor Newsom has had to backtrack and speak with Sasha Abramsky, who writes regularly for The Nation. He is the author of several books, including Inside Obama’s Brain, Breadline USA, American Furies, The American Way of Poverty, and, most recently, Little Wonder: The Fabulous Story of Lottie Dod, the World’s First Female Sports Superstar. We discuss his latest article at The Nation, “Dianne Feinstein’s Empty Seat.

 

Astra Taylor on Her New Book The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart

Then finally we speak with Astra Taylor, a documentary filmmaker, writer, and political organizer. She is the director of What Is Democracy? and the author of Remake the World: Essays, Reflections, Rebellions, Democracy May Not Exist, but We’ll Miss It When It’s Gone and the American Book Award winner The People’s Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age. She is co-founder of the Debt Collective and her latest book, just out, is The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart.