The Nicole Sandler Show

We've come to the end of the second full week of the Biden-Harris administration and I admit to being pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it's just such a huge difference from the insanity we lived in and under for the last four years that it just feels so much better. Today, I'll go to an objective source. David Dayen is executive editor of The American Prospect, always a good magazine that's gotten even better since he joined last year. At prospect.org, they're running a comprehensive series on the First 100 Days of the new administration. So we'll talk with him today, to get his take on where we are 17 days in. We'll start with the latest news and hopefully a few laughs too.

A bit of what's news for now

It is a busy Thursday. As usual, Howie Klein will be here in the second half hour of the show. Today, we'll be talking about the insanity that is the Republican Party in the Trump era, and the civil war brewing. The House is voting on removing Marjorie Taylor Greene Q-GA from her committee assignments. It is surreal. We'll start the show with two of my fellow progressive Dems here in South Florida who've been working to transform the Florida Democratic Party from within. Today, they're here to tell us about a bill brewing in the FL legislature (and in state houses nationally) that would criminalize protests. At some point during this busy show, I'll fill you in on the rest of the news...

A bit of what's news for now

President Joe Biden has signed a bunch of Executive Orders in his first two weeks in office. As he said yesterday, he's not making new law, he's just eliminating bad policy. Last Wednesday was the day he tackled climate. On day one, Biden signed executive orders to re-join the Paris Climate Accord and another refocusing on the climate crisis and canceling the Keystone XL permit . Last Wednesday, day 8, he continued with another order to initiate a plan to combat climate change (in accordance with the Paris treaty), establishing the Office of Domestic Climate Policy and a national climate task force. And he brought science back to the White House, filling the position of Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (a position left open by Trump for the past 18 months), and also appoint him to serve as presidential science adviser. And, for the first time, that position was elevated to cabinet level. We've also seen Biden appoint new secretaries of Energy (Jennifer Granholm), Interior (Deb Haaland). And he named former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy the first White House National Climate Advisor, and appointed John Kerry as the first United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Friend of the show Sandy Schoelles is founder and creator of The Environmental Coffee House and joins us today to grade the new administration on its climate crisis concern and explain the good, the bad and the ugly. Of course, as usual, we'll begin with the latest news and insanity...

A bit of what's news for now

Things are getting better, but not quickly enough for my preference. Some things still just don't make sense... It's a good thing that it's Tuesday and GottaLaff is here, because we have lots to talk about. One thing that kept both Laffy and me awake last night (separately) was AOC's account of the events leading up to and the day of January 6. Yes, we'll have lots to say about that too.

A bit of what's news for now

Oligarchy is the word of the day, brought to us by Thom Hartmann who gives the subject his Hidden History treatment in his latest book, "The Hidden History of American Oligarchy: Reclaiming Our Democracy from the Ruling Class". But first, a few other things that are out of whack are on Nicole's mind...

A bit of what's news for now