Democracy Now! Audio Democracy Now! 2025-12-16 Tuesday
Dec 16, 2025
Zoe Weissman, a Brown University student and Parkland shooting survivor, shares her passionate call for gun violence prevention and highlights the surge in student activism since the tragedy. Patrick Marquis discusses the housing crisis, emphasizing how affordability drives homelessness in today's society. Emmy Award-winning reporter Aram Raston reveals findings about U.S. contractors preparing to rebuild Gaza, linking political maneuvering with the humanitarian crisis. The conversation intertwines urgent social issues with powerful personal stories, inspiring listeners to reflect and act.
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Survivor’s Immediate Lockdown And Longstanding Grief
- Zoe Weissman described receiving a call and campus alerts and locking down in her dorm after the Brown shooting.
- She contrasted having processed Parkland grief over seven years with renewed anger after Brown.
Push Lawmakers To Pass Federal Gun Laws
- Zoe Weissman urged politicians to pass federal gun violence prevention legislation or face being voted out.
- She emphasized America's unique scale of gun ownership as the root of repeated school massacres.
Australia’s Policy Response Shows What’s Possible
- Zoe contrasted Australia's post-Port Arthur reforms with U.S. inaction and noted fewer mass shootings there afterward.
- She argued political will and prioritizing lives over corporate funding explain differing outcomes.