Bill Moyers's Blog, page 14

Web Exclusive: More from Mark Danner

The taping of last week's interview with journalist Mark Danner included more valuable insights and analysis than we could fit into the JOURNAL broadcast. In the web-exclusive video below, Danner shares his thoughts on the nature of evil:

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Stripping Bare the Body of America

(Photo by Robin Holland)

In this week's JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with journalist Mark Danner, who shared his perspective on how decades of American intervention abroad has shaped our nation and its international reputation.

Danner explained the significance of the title of his latest book, STRIPPING BARE THE BODY:

"It comes from a former Haitian President, who survived in office for about four months before being overthrown in a coup...

Organizing the Grassroots

This week, the JOURNAL profiled community health advocate America Bracho and her organization, Latino Health Access. Working in Santa Ana, California, they have organized community-based programs relating to diabetes and domestic violence, among other concerns. Recently, they led a successful campaign to procure permission and land so that they will be able to build a neighborhood community center.

Bracho said:

"What I want our community...

Michael Winship: The Nobel Prize with an Asterisk

(Photo by Robin Holland)

Below is an article by JOURNAL senior writer Michael Winship. We welcome your comments below.

"The Nobel Prize with an Asterisk"

By Michael Winship

Despite the graciousness of his speech at the White House last Friday, President Obama's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize did have an air slightly reminiscent of Lincoln's story about the man who was tarred, feathered and ridden out of town on a rail – if it wasn't for the honor of the thing he'd just as soon walk.

Inger-M...

Wall Street vs. Reform?

(Photos by Robin Holland)

This week on the JOURNAL, Bill Moyers' guests were one of Congress' leading progressives, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and former IMF chief economist Simon Johnson, who shared their perspectives on Washington's failure to reform the financial sector since last year's economic catastrophe.

While Kaptur and Johnson broadly agreed that Wall Street's influence has stymied government efforts to rein in large banks and trace how several hundred billion dollars of bailout money...

Bill Moyers & Michael Winship: In Washington, Revolving Doors are Bad for Your Health

Below is an article by Bill Moyers and JOURNAL senior writer Michael Winship. We welcome your comments below.

"In Washington, Revolving Doors are Bad for Your Health"

By Bill Moyers & Michael Winship

On Tuesday, October 13, the Senate Finance Committee finally is scheduled to vote on its version of health care insurance reform. And therein lies yet another story in the endless saga of money and politics.

The majority of Americans favor a non-profit alternative – like Medicare – that would give t...

No JOURNAL this Week

This week, the JOURNAL is preempted in most areas for Ken Burns' documentary THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA. Some stations will air an encore presentation of Bill Moyers' interview with David Simon, creator of the award-winning series THE WIRE.

In the meantime, you can comment on the David Simon interview, explore previous broadcasts in our archive section, and read JOURNAL senior writer Michael Winship's latest column below.

Michael Winship - Gelbart and Schulberg: Two Writers Depart an Ever Stranger Land

(Photo by Robin Holland)

Below is an article by JOURNAL senior writer Michael Winship. We welcome your comments below.

"Gelbart and Schulberg: Two Writers Depart an Ever Stranger Land"

By Michael Winship

You certainly can argue that the depths to which our so-called democratic dialogue has sunk are nothing new. Politicians and advocates have been slinging mud since the earth was cool enough to hurl.

The undeniable difference today is the speed and variety of the compost being thrown. With the...

Obama's Strategy for Afghanistan... and the Next Election

(Photo by Robin Holland)

This week on the JOURNAL, guest host Lynn Sherr talked with Rory Stewart, an expert on Afghanistan and director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University, for his perspective on America's lengthy war in that fractured country.

In a recently leaked memo, the United States' top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, recommended that the Obama administration send tens of thousands of troops – or, he wrote, the mission "will likely end ...

Women Making A Difference

(Photo by Robin Holland)

In this week's JOURNAL, guest host Lynn Sherr talked with Kavita Ramdas, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, about women's contributions to building a better world.

Ramdas said:

"People are realizing [that:] women and girls are not just simply victims, but are really standing up and are leaders in their communities and are standing up to be able to stand by us, the rest of the world, to make change... I...