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Between the Lines
"Between the Lines" is a national, half-hour program that provides a platform for individuals and spokespersons from progressive organizations generally ignored or marginalized by the mainstream media.
Listen to the entire program using these links, or to individual interviews via the links appearing prior to each segment description below.
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Israel’s Election Outcome Confirms Death of 2-State Solution, Demands New U.S. Middle East Policy
Interview with Josh Ruebner, policy director with the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, conducted by Scott Harris
U.S. Israeli-relations hit a new low after a series of actions taken by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the lead up to his successful re-election campaign. The Israeli leader’s breach of protocol in not informing the White House about the Republican party’s invitation to address a joint session of Congress in early March was followed by the speech itself where he called on members of Congress to reject any agreement that President Obama may secure in international talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Story continues
Republicans and White House Push for Major Increases in Military Spending in 2016 Budget
Interview with Lindsay Koshgarian, research director at the National Priorities Project, conducted by Melinda Tuhus
As the budget process works its way through the federal government, President Obama’s proposed budget – as well as the Republican House and Senate proposals – all increase military spending, some more drastically than others. Meanwhile, domestic spending stands to take a big hit, especially in the House proposal. The House Budget Committee has proposed dramatic domestic spending cuts similar to those put forward last year by 2012 GOP vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. (The only budget that differs significantly is that of the Congressional Progressive Caucus that is the subject of another interview in this week’s program.) Story continues
The Congressional Progressive Caucus’ ‘People’s Budget’ Takes on the Issue of Income Inequality
Interview with Dave Johnson, a fellow with the Campaign for America’s Future, conducted by Scott Harris
Republicans, who won a majority in the U.S. Senate last November, are currently debating the 2016 federal budget, their first since taking control of Congress. GOP-proposed budgets would cut about $5 trillion over the next ten years with programs that assist working families hit the hardest. Programs targeted for major reductions include Medicare and Medicaid, college tuition, job training, medical research and rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. Both the Senate and House budgets would repeal the Obamacare health plan that now provides health insurance to more than 16 million people and would force 11 million people off the food stamps programs known as SNAP. Story continues
This week’s summary of under-reported news
Compiled by Bob Nixon
- A day after a million people filled the streets of Brazilian cities in anti-government protests, prosecutors charged the treasurer of the ruling Workers Party, Jaoa Vaccari, and 28 others in receiving kickbacks from Petrobras, the state oil company and related contractors. (“Brazil ruling party’s treasurer charged in Petrobras scandal,” Reuters, March 16, 2015; “Brazil in crisis mode as ruling party sees public trust rapidly dissolving,” Guardian, March 17, 2015; “Brazil protests: Do calls for Rousseff impeachment signal progress?” Christian Science Monitor, March 16, 2015)
- A standoff between marching students and riot police turned violent in Myanmar in mid-March as police used batons to break up a protest march opposing a new education law. (“Myanmar frees some student protesters arrested in violent crackdown,” Reuters, March 11, 2015; “Here’s why students in Burma are taking to the streets,” Washington Post, March 10, 2015; “In Myanmar, batons fly as student protesters meet harsh response,” Christian Science Monitor, March 10, 2015)
- Before the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in New York City, which together sparked months of protest and the birth of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, U.S. Department of Justice officials knew they had a problem. Top data crunchers concluded they could not adequately count the number of police killings across the country each year. (“The uncounted: why the U.S. can’t keep track of people killed by police,” Guardian, March 18, 2015)
