Democracy Now! Friday, June 6, 2008

Today's Headlines

• US Holds $50 Billion of Iraq’s Financial Reserves Hostage
• Senate Report: Bush Deliberately Distorted Pre-War Intelligence
• Obama and Clinton Meet in Private
• Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Arraigned for 9/11 Attacks
• Gates Removes Top Air Force Leaders Following Nuclear Gaffes
• Senate Considers $455 Billion in Nuclear Subsidies
• American Households Lose $1.7 Trillion in First Quarter
• Jailed Afghan Journalist Sues US Over Detention
• Domestic Workers Gather in NYC
• D.C. Police Set Up Neighborhood Checkpoints
• St. Paul Police Arrest Protester at Obama Rally for Leafleting

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  Robert McChesney and Josh Silver of Free Press on the National Conference on Media Reform

  Nearly 3,000 people have come from across the nation for what’s become known as the most important gathering of the growing movement for media reform. Participants will hear lectures, take workshops and strategize on efforts to fight media consolidation and democratize the airwaves. Speakers include Dan Rather, Bill Moyers, Arianna Huffington, Van Jones, Naomi Klein and dozens more. [includes rush transcript]

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  FCC Urged To Probe Pentagon Propaganda Program

  Lawmakers are urging the Federal Communications Commissions to investigate the Pentagon’s propaganda program to determine if the major TV networks or the Pentagon-backed analysts violated federal law. We speak to FCC Commissioner Michael Copps.

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  Adrienne Maree Brown of the Ruckus Society on Media Justice, Election Protection and the Issue of Race in the 2008 Election

  The National Conference for Media Reform isn’t just a gathering on media policy—it’s also an educational event for hands-on media activism and citizen journalism. Adrienne Maree Brown is the Executive Director of The Ruckus Society, which trains and supports social justice groups in nonviolent direct action.

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  Native American Writer and Independent Book Seller Louise Erdrich

  Louise Erdrich is the author of many books, including twelve novels, from her first, “Love Medicine”, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction; to her latest, “The Plague of Doves”, which has just come out to rave reviews. Louise Erdrich is widely known as one of the most prominent Native-American writers today. She is also an independent book seller, owning the local Birchbark Books here in Minneapolis.