Listen to this segment | the entire program

In light of the signing into law of SB 1070, Arizona’s draconian anti-immigrant law, the government of Mexico issued a travel warning to its citizens heading to Arizona. However, Mexico’s own horrific record of its treatment of Central American migrants makes the travel warning highly ironic. Amnesty International released a new report this week entitled Invisible Victims: Migrants on the Move in Mexico, revealing widespread abuse of Central Americans traveling through Mexico on their way to the United States. A large fraction of those abused point the finger at direct involvement of government officials. According to my guest, Rupert Knox, “Persistent failure by the authorities to tackle abuses carried out against irregular migrants has made their journey through Mexico one of the most dangerous in the world.” Last year nearly …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

In the last several years immigrant communities in the US and their advocates have chosen the first of May as a day to protest the treatment of immigrants and demand full rights. This year, in the wake of Arizona’s SB 1070 law and momentum on Capital Hill to pass comprehensive immigration reform, new energy has been infused into the preparations for this Saturday. Events are being planned across the nation. Here in Los Angeles, one of the most diverse and immigrant-rich cities in the world, activists have formed a coalition called Full Rights for Immigrants. They plan a march on May 1st at 10 am starting at the corner of Broadway and Olympic commencing to Temple. Meanwhile a new Zogby poll released today found that a whopping 79% of those surveyed …

“I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.” — Bishop Desmond Tutu

We’ll look at the rapidly spreading oil spill off the Gulf Coast: what it means for the environment and the politics of offshore drilling. And, we’ll discuss a new report detailing the challenges migrants face when crossing from Central America to the US through Mexico, as well as a preview of what’s to come this May Day. Plus, a major annual conference of Palestinian rights activists is set to start this Friday in Orange County – we’ll find out what’s on the agenda.

Listen to this segment | the entire program

Members of a Senate Subcommittee grilled executives from Goldman Sachs yesterday attempting to finish up an investigation of the investment giant that has lasted more than a year. Both current and former executives were questioned for over three hours about the ethics and legality of their actions which included knowingly selling faulty mortgage-backed securities to customers. Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein testified for the first time since the investigation began, in the hearing headed by Senator Carl Levin for the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Meanwhile, the company was sued earlier this month by the Securities and Exchange Commission for fraud. That civil case is centered on a young bond trader named Fabrice Tourre whose emails to his girlfriend sent from his company account were released by Goldman Sachs and reveal that …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that a sex-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart could proceed as a class-action case. The narrow 6-5 decision by the San Francisco court exposes the retail giant to potential liabilities running in the billions of dollars. The lawsuit alleges that Wal-Mart’s corporate structure systematically discriminated against female employees in terms of compensation and promotions. The case, Dukes vs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., was originally filed nearly ten years ago by Betty Dukes and six other plaintiffs and may now finally move to trial in light of Monday’s ruling. Prior to the decision, the corporation that is the largest private employer in the United States had asked that the class-action status be dropped arguing that it was too large to be considered. The majority court opinion rejected …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

Andy Stern, the President of the nation’s most politically influential union, SEIU, announced his resignation recently, stunning many in the labor world. In an interview with the Washington Post, he said “every institution needs to renew itself, and I’ve seen way too many labor leaders stay way too long … and I have no intention of doing that.” With SEIU currently boasting more than two million registered members, Stern led the controversial move to split from the AFL-CIO some years ago. He is credited with making the SEIU a major force in the immigrant labor community, helping to elect Obama, and exerting great influence with the President. But Stern has also angered many in the labor movement with his top-down management style, and tendency to concede political concessions in the …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

Muhammad Ali’s Political Stance

Back in the day on April 28th 1967, heavyweight-boxing champion Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the United States Army. With the Vietnam War raging on, the legendary pugilist famously said to surrounding reporters, “Man, I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.” The bold stance taken by Ali resulted in immediate repercussions for the undefeated heavyweight champion. Following his remarks and refusal to be inducted, Ali was convicted of draft evasion, sentenced to five years in prison, fined ten thousand dollars, stripped of his title, lost millions of dollars and was banned from boxing for three years. The athlete avoided prison time on appeal, however, and returned to the squared circle in 1970. The following year the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his draft evasion …

“Let the workers organize. Let the toilers assemble. Let their crystallized voice proclaim their injustices and demand their privileges. Let all thoughtful citizens sustain them, for the future of Labor is the future of America.” — John L Lewis

We’ll speak with investigative journalist Matt Taibbi about investment giant Goldman Sachs whose executives are testifying this week on Capital Hill and are under fire from the SEC. And, we’ll examine a major class-action lawsuit against Walmart for gender discrimination. Plus, who will replace Andy Stern as head of the SEIU? It may not be Stern’s chosen replacement after all.