Democracy Now
Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 20, 2026
Global tensions escalate as President Trump threatens European allies over Greenland, faces domestic backlash for ICE crackdowns, and proposes a 'Board of Peace' to rival the UN, while an Oxfam report highlights record billionaire wealth and its impact on democracy.
MLK Day Special: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in His Own Words
This episode presents Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s radical critiques of US foreign policy, economic injustice, and the urgent call for a 'revolution of values' and 'dangerous unselfishness' from his pivotal 'Beyond Vietnam' and 'I've Been to the Mountaintop' speeches.
“All That’s Left of You”: Oscar-Shortlisted Film Traces Palestinian Family’s Love & Loss Since 1948
Director Shireen Dabis discusses her Oscar-shortlisted film, 'All That's Left of You,' which chronicles seven decades of Palestinian history through one family's experience, highlighting their extraordinary will to survive amidst ongoing political turmoil.
Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Speaks Out as New Ruling Could Lead to His Rearrest, Deportation
Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khali faces potential rearrest and deportation after a federal appeals court reversed his release, a move his legal team frames as the Trump administration weaponizing the legal system to suppress pro-Palestine speech.
ICE Arresting U.S. Citizens, Using Banned Chokeholds: Explosive ProPublica Report
A ProPublica investigation reveals ICE agents routinely use banned chokeholds and other dangerous restraints, including kneeling on necks, and have detained over 170 U.S. citizens, often while they were documenting operations.
Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 16, 2026
This episode details a wide array of escalating domestic and international crises, from aggressive federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota to US military interventions in Venezuela and the Middle East, alongside ongoing violence in Gaza and challenges to democratic norms.
Director Jafar Panahi on Deadly Iran Protests & Filmmaking Under Censorship
Renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, defying a travel ban and prison sentence, speaks out against the Iranian regime's brutal crackdown on nationwide protests, detailing the 'bloodbath' and his commitment to filmmaking as an act of resistance.
FBI Raids Home of Washington Post Reporter as Attacks on Press Freedom Intensify Under Trump
The FBI's rare raid on a Pulitzer-winning Washington Post reporter's home signals a severe escalation in government efforts to intimidate the press and silence sources, with profound implications for journalistic independence and public accountability.
Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 15, 2026
This report details escalating global and domestic tensions, including US military withdrawals and threats against Iran, widespread ICE abuses across the US, and significant political and humanitarian crises in Gaza and Venezuela.
"ICE Is OK with Renee Good's Killing": Journalist Ken Klippenstein on ICE Tactics & Recruitment
Investigative reporter Ken Klippenstein reveals how ICE is deploying a 'wartime recruitment strategy' targeting far-right demographics, tripling its budget, and operating with unchanged use-of-force policies despite an expanded, militarized mission, leading to internal dissent and public backlash.
"Federal Invasion": Minnesota Officials Condemn Violent ICE Raids, Arrests
Minnesota officials and residents describe federal immigration enforcement actions as a 'federal invasion,' leading to widespread fear, local lawsuits, and resignations within the Justice Department.
Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 14, 2026
This episode details a day of escalating global tensions and domestic policy shifts, covering violent crackdowns in Iran, US military actions in Venezuela, and controversial US immigration and civil rights decisions.
"Empire in Decline": Historian Alfred McCoy on U.S. Aggression in Venezuela, Iran & Beyond
Historian Alfred McCoy argues the United States is an empire in decline, characterized by micromilitarism abroad and domestic instability, while China rapidly ascends to global hegemony through dominance in green energy and electric vehicle production.
"State of Siege": Iran Protest Death Toll Rises to 2,000 After U.S. Sanctions Spawn Economic Crisis
US sanctions have intensified Iran's economic crisis, fueling widespread anti-government protests where the death toll has reportedly reached 2,000, while direct US military intervention is deemed impractical.
"Stolen from Us": Family Demands Justice for Keith Porter, Black Father Killed by Off-Duty ICE Agent
An off-duty ICE agent fatally shot 43-year-old Black father Keith Porter Jr. on New Year's Eve, sparking demands for accountability from his family and Black Lives Matter activists amidst broader concerns over escalating federal agent violence and lack of transparency.
Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 13, 2026
This episode details a range of critical global and domestic events, from federal overreach in immigration enforcement and international conflicts to significant labor disputes and threats to press freedom.
L.A. Fire Survivors Fight Foreclosure & Demand Justice in Altadena
Altadena fire survivors, predominantly Black homeowners, face foreclosures and predatory developers after a devastating fire caused by Southern California Edison, highlighting systemic injustices and corporate negligence.
"We Had Whistles. They Had Guns": Nationwide Protests Held over ICE Killing of Renee Good
ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good, a mother of three, in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide protests and a federal-state conflict over the investigation as top officials defend the agent and label Good a 'domestic terrorist.'
Iran Escalates Deadly Crackdown on Mass Protests as Trump Threatens to Launch Military Attack
Amidst a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran, the US and Israel issue military threats and support for protesters, while experts warn such foreign intervention exacerbates internal repression and endangers activists.
Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 12, 2026
This episode details a series of escalating global and domestic crises, including violent protests in Iran, ongoing conflict in Gaza, nationwide anti-ICE demonstrations, and aggressive US foreign policy actions towards Venezuela, Cuba, and Denmark.
"What Are You Hiding?" Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Says ICE Killing Must Be Investigated
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison condemns the federal government's obstruction of the state's independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, challenging claims of absolute immunity and linking the death to an 'unwarranted, unconstitutional escalation' of federal immigration tactics.
"The Voice of Hind Rajab," Shortlisted for Oscar, Uses Audio of 6-Year-Old Girl Killed in Gaza
The Oscar-shortlisted docudrama 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' reconstructs the final hours of a six-year-old Palestinian girl trapped under Israeli fire in Gaza, using her actual phone calls to Red Crescent dispatchers.
Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 9, 2026
A Democracy Now report details escalating tensions surrounding ICE operations in the US, controversial US foreign policy moves regarding Venezuela and Greenland, and ongoing global conflicts, highlighting a disregard for international law and domestic accountability.
Trump Vows to “Indefinitely” Control Venezuela’s Oil
The US seized Venezuelan oil tankers and allegedly abducted President Maduro, with President Trump declaring indefinite control over Venezuela's oil sales, sparking debate over international law and internal Venezuelan dynamics.
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