A Failed Coup in Bolivia, Protests in Kenya, and Assange’s Plea Deal
On this episode of American Prestige, headlines from around the globe.
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Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
On this week's American Prestige news roundup: in Palestine/Israel, a grim Save the Children report on Gaza (0:30), Netanyahu again rebuffs a ceasefire and suggests a new phase of the operation (2:41), a new court ruling on ultra-Orthodox Jews’ conscription (7:14), and Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich again pushes West Bank annexation (10:17); Lebanon is still on edge as the US—while hosting Israeli minister of defence Yoav Gallant—warns Hezbollah that it will not stop Israel from attacking (13:00); a preview of Friday’s presidential election in Iran (17:06); a disputed weapons test in the DPRK/North Korea (20:50); rumblings of an imminent coup in Burkina Faso (22:38); widespread protests break out in Kenya, leading President Ruto to back off of the controversial tax legislation (26:28); deadly attacks in Dagestan (29:47); the espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich begins in Russia (32:02); a failed coup attempt in Bolivia (33:16); Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to face armed groups (36:23); and Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the United States (38:27).
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Juan Mario Paulzen Sandy and Anibal Aguilar Gomez are escorted by policemen following their arrest, accused of being accomplices of now-dismissed army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga, after he led a military movement that attempted to seize the government palace by force in La Paz, on June 27, 2024.
(Aizar Raldes / AFP via Getty Images)This week’s American Prestige news roundup starts as usual with Palestine/Israel: Save the Children issues a grim report on Gaza (0:30); Netanyahu again rebuffs a cease-fire and suggests a new phase of the operation (2:41); a court rules on ultra-Orthodox Jews’ conscription (7:14); and Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich again pushes West Bank annexation (10:17). Lebanon is still on edge as the US—while hosting Israeli minister of defense Yoav Gallant—warns Hezbollah that it will not stop Israel from attacking (13:00). We preview Friday’s presidential election in Iran (17:06). North Korea stages a disputed weapons test (20:50). There are rumblings of an imminent coup in Burkina Faso (22:38). Widespread protests break out in Kenya, leading President Ruto to back off of controversial tax legislation (26:28). Dagestan is the scene of deadly attacks (29:47). The espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich begins in Russia (32:02). A coup attempt fails in Bolivia (33:16). Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to face armed groups (36:23). And Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the United States (38:27).
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Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek welcome back AP mega-guest Spencer Ackerman, author of the Forever Wars newsletter and soon-to-be-published issues of Marvel Comics’ Iron Man. The group explores Spencer’s inspiration to pursue more work in the world of comic books, writing for a character who is a defense contractor, bringing left-wing messaging into the medium, the sand box of Marvel Comics vs. the behemoth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plus Spencer’s impressions on some major current events.
NOTE: This interview was recorded on 8/30/24, prior to reports that the Israeli military had recovered the bodies of six hostages inside Gaza.
Click hear to learn how to pre-order Iron Man & get free merch!
More of Spencer’s work:
Further Reading:
- Annie Nocenti, journalist, writer, editor and filmmaker
- Six Stops on the National Security Tour by Miriam Pemberton
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