Helsinki, Ireland, Family Separation

Trump’s Disastrous Summit Performance Could Derail U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control Talks
Interview with Mel Goodman, former CIA analyst, now a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, conducted by Scott Harris

The Helsinki summit meeting between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be remembered as one of the most bizarre in American presidential history. Following a two hour meeting between the two leaders with only interpreters present, Trump and Putin held a press conference. There Mr. Trump stunned the world by once again casting doubt on U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion that Russia was responsible for meddling on behalf of Trump in the 2106 U.S. election, while insisting that Putin’s denials were credible. The President also condemned special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, calling it a “a disaster for our country.”

The summit took place just a few days after Trump’s own Justice Dept. indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers on charges that they had hacked into the Democratic National Committee’s computer and released embarrassing information regarding Hillary Clinton and the Democratic party’s staff attempt to support Clinton against Bernie Sanders during the primary campaign.

Although it’s not certain what Trump and Putin discussed during their 2 hour private meeting, it’s doubtful that major issues causing friction between the two nations, including the war in Syria, Ukraine and arms control agreements, were substantively addressed. Between The Lines’ Scott Harris spoke with Mel Goodman, a former CIA analyst at the office of Soviet Affairs, and author who currently serves as a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy. Here, Goodman assesses the strange meeting between Trump and Putin and expresses concern that critical nuclear arms control negotiations may fall victim to the U.S. 2016 election scandal.

Mel Goodman is a former CIA analyst and author who currently serves as a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy. His new book, “American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump,” will be published later this year. Visit his website at melvingoodman.com. For information on the Center for International Policy, visit his staff page at ciponline.org.

Ireland is First Nation in World to Fully Divest from Fossil Fuel Industry
Interview with Richard Brooks, North America iconic divestment campaigns coordinator with 350.org, conducted by Scott Harris

Ireland is set to become the first nation in the world to fully divest public funds from investment in the fossil fuel industry. Divestment legislation was approved by the Irish lower house on July 12, and now awaits approval by the country’s Senate. Ireland’s $10.4 billion Strategic Investment Fund had approximately $371 million invested in fossil fuel companies last year. The bill mandates divestment from fossil fuel companies within five years and bars future investments in the industry.

Those working to divest believe that reducing the flow of money to oil, coal and gas companies will help curb expensive new drilling and mining projects to extract fossil fuels that produce carbon and greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. While some climate activists believe they can be more effective by working from the inside as shareholders to change corporate policies, the worldwide divestment campaign is growing by leaps and bounds.

Nations including Norway are moving toward full divestment and New York City recently announced it plans to divest their $189 billion pension fund from fossil fuel companies within the next five years. Between The Lines’ Scott Harris spoke with Richard Brooks, North America iconic divestment campaigns coordinator with the climate justice group 350.org. Here, he examines the significance of Ireland’s fossil fuel divestment – and updates us on other divestment campaigns being undertaken in cities, states, religious institutions, corporations and universities.

That was Richard Brooks, North America Iconic Divestment Campaigns Coordinator with the climate justice group 350.org.

CT Lawsuit Targeting Family Separation Policy Succeeds in Reuniting Children with Their Parents

Excerpt of speeches by Muneer Ahmed, Vanesa Suarez and Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, recorded and produced by Melinda Tuhus

A few days after attorneys in Connecticut filed lawsuits on behalf of two immigrant children who were separated from their parents at the U.S. border and brought to Connecticut, a federal judge on July 13 ruled the separation was unconstitutional and the two families were reunited three days later. The two families, one from El Salvador and the other from Honduras, are now receiving legal, social and emotional support as they consider their next steps.

While the court victory was cause for celebration, speakers at a press conference at the Yale University Law School in New Haven on July 17 noted that most of the 3,000 other children separated from their parents have not yet been reunited, and that it appears the goal of the Trump administration is to deport entire families back to the violence they fled once they are reunited.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus covered the press conference and presents excerpts from some of the speakers there. We hear first from Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy who said he was glad the children were brought to his state, where there are public and private legal resources available to those in need. He also described the Trump administration as “sadistic.”

Speakers included Vanesa Suarez, with the immigrant rights groups Unidad Latina en Accion and Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance, Muneer Ahmed, co-director of the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School, which, along with Connecticut Legal Services, filed the lawsuits and Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy.

Find more information on this case and commentary on the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy by visiting the Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance on Facebook or Connecticut Legal Services at ctlegal.org.

Share This Episode