The Nicole Sandler Show

A bit of what's news for now

It's the Monday after a big holiday weekend and it feels like it should be a holiday, but it isn't. The news is awful, as it has been for the recent past, and there's no end in sight to the ugliness. We're seeing it in Ukraine as Russian bombs and soldiers reign their terror down on people who are no threat to them. And Putin's style of strong man governing seems to be spreading. Today, we'll turn the spotlight on China who's flexing it's own authoritarian muscles all over Hong Kong. We here in the US don't concern ourselves much with what's happening there. So when I saw there was a new book coming out about that situation, I invited Louisa Lim on the show, and I'm glad I did! The book is called Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong [https://bookshop.org/a/1630/9780593191811], and I think we all learned quite a bit about a part of the world our media doesn't spend much time or energy on...

A bit of what's news for now

We end this week with another visit from Marcy Wheeler. If you're one of the few who don't know, Marcy Wheeler has been doing an amazing job keeping track of all of the Jan 6 insurrectionists at emptywheel.net -- the plea deals, the trials, the investigations. She also is somehow able to stay abreast of the 1-6 Committee's work, the DOJ's work, the SDNY investigation, etc. You get the idea. Today, I pick Marcy Wheeler's brain about all of this. She answers my questions for the better part of the hour! So strap in and get ready for a big information download!

A bit of what's news for now

It's Thursday, so Howie Klein is here. Today, I know exactly what we'll be talking about. There are a few reports out today about the Congressional Progressive Caucus endorsing an actual New Dem (Shontel Brown) over a true progressive (Nina Turner). An article about it from The Lever (David Sirota's new outlet) blamed Pramila Jayapal; Howie says she's not the one to blame... I say there's plenty of blame to go around! We'll start there... But first, there's other news to tell you about today. Unfortunately, most of it is not very good...

A bit of what's news for now

It's a busy Wednesday. I have Tulane Law Professor Amy Gajda coming on as today's guest. She'll tell us about her new book, "Seek and Hide: The Tangled History of the Right to Privacy." Certainly an important topic, especially these days! But before I talk with Amy, I'll share the conversation I had this morning with Tanya, our friend from Ukraine. Since we met her six weeks ago when I cold called the Friends Forever Hostel in Kyiv, we've been communicating via text messages on the Telegram app. This morning, we connected, with video, via Zoom. I'll share some of our conversation at the top of the show.

A bit of what's news for now

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies from public office any individual who has taken an oath to uphold the US Constitution and then engages in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or gives aid or comfort to those who have. Hmm. It seems that we have quite a few who fit that description who are again running for Congress in 2022 and perhaps another who might run for president in 24. So who's going to make sure this provision in the Constitution is followed? Today's guest is John Bonifaz. He's the co-founder and President of Free Speech for People [freespeechforpeople.org] . And yes, he's a constitutional attorney. He'll tell us of their work challenging Madison Cawthorn's, Marjorie Taylor Greene's, Paul Gosar's, Andy Biggs' and Mark Finchems's candidacies. And more! But the show got off to a weird start, as I just learned of Gilbert Gottfried's death. I know his wife, Dara, since before she and Gilbert got married. They have two beautiful children. My heart aches for them. So, I was a bit off today. Sorry about that...