Democracy Now! Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Today's Headlines

• Admin: “Not Enough Political Support” for Public Option
• Toyota Exec Unsure if Recall Will Address Acceleration Issues
• Wall St. Securities Bonuses Up 17%
• Loans Hit 60-Year Low; 700 Banks at Risk
• Dems Losing Wall St. Donations Amid Regulatory Push
• Latin American, Caribbean Nations Form New Regional Grouping
• Blackwater Diverted Weapons Intended for Afghan Army
• Palestinians Protest Israeli Decision on West Bank Shrines
• FBI, US Attorney Probing Penn. School District’s Computer Spying

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  In Historic Vote, Vermont Poised to Shut Down Lone Nuclear Reactor

  The nuclear power industry—and President Obama’s plans to fund its growth—is bracing for a major setback today as the Vermont state senate is expected to vote to shut down the Vermont Yankee plant, a nuclear reactor with a history of leaks. We speak to nuclear engineer and former industry executive Arnie Gundersen, who first sounded the bell on the Vermont Yankee. [includes rush transcript]

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  Anti-Nuclear Activists Mobilize to Oppose Obama-Funded Construction of Georgia Nuke Plants

  The news in Vermont follows Obama’s announcement last week of $8.3 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of the first new nuclear power plants in the United States in close to three decades. The loan guarantees will help the Atlanta-based Southern Company build two more nuclear reactors in Burke County, Georgia, near the city of Augusta. We speak to Nuclear Watch South coordinator Glenn Carroll, who has been leading efforts against the construction of the new plants. [includes rush transcript]

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  “The Media-Lobbying Complex”: Investigation Exposes Undisclosed Corporate Ties of Network Political Pundits

  A four-month investigation into the covert corporate influence on cable news found that since 2007 at least seventy-five registered lobbyists, public relations representatives and corporate officials have repeatedly appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, CNBC and Fox Business Network with no disclosure that they are paid by corporate interests. We speak to journalist Sebastian Jones, who carried out the investigation for The Nation magazine.

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  Juan Gonzalez Receives 2010 Justice in Action Award

  Democracy Now! co-host and Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez received the 2010 Justice in Action Award from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund last week. We play an excerpt of his acceptance speech.