Democracy Now! Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Today's Headlines

• Senate Panel OKs Healthcare Reform Without Public Option
• Health Rallies to Be Held at Insurers’ Offices
• Thousands Rally in DC as Immigration Bill Unveiled
• Iraq: 85,000 Deaths Since 2004
• UN: 100,000 Displaced by Northern Iraq Drought
• Russia Rejects New Iran Sanctions
• Groups Warn of Civilian Toll in Congo Fighting
• Obama to Sign Pakistan Aid Bill
• Zelaya Delegation, Coup Regime Discuss Restoration
• Alleged Cuban Spy Re-Sentenced to 22 Years
• EPA Releases Email Ignored by Bush Admin
• Jury Selection Begins in Trial of Bear Stearns Execs

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  With Senate Finance Vote, Fate of Public Option Uncertain as Healthcare Reform Talks Move Behind Closed Doors

  The Senate Finance Committee has become the fifth and final congressional panel to approve legislation to reform the nation’s healthcare system, voting 14-to-9 to approve an $829 billion measure. Maine Senator Olympia Snowe was the only Republican to support the package, which omits a public option. Talks now move behind closed doors, where Senate leaders will craft final legislation. We get analysis from Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake. [includes rush transcript]

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  "Stripping Bare the Body: Politics, Violence, War": Groundbreaking Journalist Mark Danner on Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq and Torture

  Award-winning journalist, writer and professor Mark Danner has just released a new collection of dispatches about Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq and the use of torture in the US war on terror. It’s called Stripping Bare the Body: Politics, Violence, War. We speak to Danner about torture in the so-called war on terror and his career of chronicling US-backed human rights abuses abroad. [includes rush transcript]

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  As US and Other Wealthy Nations Slash Aid, UN Warns of "Silent Tsunami of Hunger" in Global Food Crisis

  The UN World Food Program is calling the current global food crisis “a silent tsunami of hunger.” This week the WFP warned that more than 40 million people will have their food rations reduced or eliminated because of the drastic aid cuts. We speak with award-winning Indian journalist, writer and activist Devinder Sharma. [includes rush transcript]