Democracy Now! Friday, December 19, 2008

Today's Headlines

• US Accused of New Civilian Killings in Afghanistan
• Obama to Name Labor, Trade Selections
• Obama’s Intel Chief Pick Backed Indonesian Occupation of East Timor
• Pentagon Prepares to Shut Gitmo
• Rwandan Sentenced to Life in Prison in Genocide Trial
• US Opposes UN Declaration Affirming Gay Rights
• Castro Offers to Release Dissidents for Freedom of “Cuban 5”
• Coleman Lead Falls to 5 Votes in Minn. Recount
• New School Students Win Demands in Protest
• Cheney Declares Right to Withhold Records
• Chicago Activist, Journalist Beauty Turner Dies at 51
• Mark Felt, “Deep Throat” in Watergate Scandal, Dies at 95

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  US Auto Giants, Workers Face Uncertain Future as Bush Admin Mulls "Orderly" Bankruptcy

  The future of auto giants General Motors and Chrysler remains up in the air one week after Senate Republicans rejected a deal to grant the automakers $14 billion in emergency loans. Chrysler is closing all of its plants today. The White House says it is considering allowing the companies to go bankrupt in what it describes as an “orderly way.” We speak to union activist and writer Gregg Shotwell, a thirty-year General Motors retiree. [includes rush transcript]

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  Katrina's Hidden Race War: In Aftermath of Storm, White Vigilante Groups Shot 11 African Americans in New Orelans

  In a shocking new report, The Nation magazine exposes how white vigilante groups patrolled the streets of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, shooting at least eleven African American men. Local police have never conducted investigations into the shootings. We speak to reporter A.C. Thompson and New Orleans resident Donnell Herrington, who nearly died after being shot by a white vigilante.

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  Take Back the Land: Miami Grassroots Group Moves Struggling Families into Vacant Homes

  The Miami grassroots group Take Back the Land has launched a campaign to help some of the victims of the foreclosure crisis. The group has been helping homeless families illegally move into vacant homes that have been foreclosed. We speak to Take Back the Land founder Max Rameau.