Alternative News

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.AMY GOODMAN: The confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, begins today amidst backlash over his history of sexual assault, misusing funds in his previous positions, possible ties to white nationalists, and various violations committed while under the influence of alcohol. The hearing is expected to be contentious, but Democrats do not have […]

MASK OFF: Former British lawmaker and LGBT advocate Ivor Caplin ARRESTED in pedophile sting operation Former lawmaker Ivor Caplin, a prominent figure in Tony Blair's government, was arrested on suspicion of engaging in online sexual communications with a child. Caplin's arrest, captured in a Facebook livestream, highlights concerns about child abuse and cover-ups within British politics, particularly given his public image as an LGBT supporter. Caplin's suspension from the Labour Party […]

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman. As Gaza ceasefire talks continue and less than a week before President Donald Trump takes office, outgoing President Joe Biden defended his foreign policy in a major address at the State Department yesterday, where he was met by protesters with signs that read “Biden’s policy is genocide.” PROTESTER: […]

Study: Higher fluoride levels in drinking water linked to lower IQ scores in children A groundbreaking NIH review published in JAMA Pediatrics found that higher fluoride levels in drinking water are associated with lower IQ scores in children. The analysis of 74 studies revealed a strong link, particularly when fluoride levels exceeded 1.5 mg/L, higher than the U.S. standard of 0.7 mg/L. A dose-response relationship was also observed, with […]

Human rights advocates and healthcare professionals around the world are demanding the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of the largest major hospital in northern Gaza, Kamal Adwan Hospital. Abu Safiya disappeared in December after Israeli forces raided and shut down Kamal Adwan. Released Palestinians say they saw him at Sde Teiman Israeli prison, which has been plagued by reports of gruesome abuses including torture and sexual violence […]

Texas AG Ken Paxton sues TikTok for exploiting minors and endangering national security Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of exposing minors to explicit content, misleading parents about its addictive nature, and posing national security risks due to its Chinese ownership. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok is filled with inappropriate content, including profanity, sexual themes, violence, and drug-related material, which is easily […]

Around Los Angeles, firefighting crews continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires and other smaller blazes. Nearly a thousand of the firefighters deployed to help contain the devastating fires are incarcerated. They have been working around the clock while earning as little as between $5.80 to $10.24 a day. For more on how California’s incarcerated firefighting program works, we speak to investigative journalist Keri Blakinger, who is herself formerly […]

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California faced criticism for claiming state reservoirs were "completely full" during an interview, despite a critical Los Angeles County reservoir being drained for over a year. Wildfires in Southern California have destroyed over 12,300 homes, killed at least 16 people and burned more than 40,000 acres, exacerbating the controversy surrounding Newsom's comments. President-elect Donald Trump accused Newsom of mismanaging California's water resources, leading to the governor's defense of […]

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.AMY GOODMAN: I want to also bring in Leah Stokes, associate professor of environmental politics at University of California, Santa Barbara, author of Short Circuiting Policy, co-host of the podcast A Matter of Degrees. Professor Stokes, talk about climate change and what we’re seeing today. There’s a lot of discussion about individuals responsible for these fires, almost no […]