Soledad speaks with Victor Cha on the intersection in U.S. relations with China and North Korea; Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) on the House Freedom Caucus and healthcare reform; Peter Zeidenberg on investigation options for the Russian interference probe; and Andrea Prasow on human rights abuses in Syria.
Soledad O’Brien is joined by Mayor Ras Baraka, of Newark, NJ, to talk about his opposition to the administration’s stance on community police reform and sanctuary cities. Former congressman Patrick Kennedy discusses his battle with addiction and the need to medically treat it like a chronic disease. And we meet the refugees of Fugees Academy in Georgia who are working to make America a second home.
This weekend on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien we dive into Republican town halls with Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR); an ethics lawsuit against President Trump with Deepak Gupta; and funding for Planned Parenthood, which some states stand to lose.
This weekend on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, we look at President Trump’s first 100 days with freshman Congress members Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), check in with a new partnership hoping to retrain coal miners into solar farmers, and dive into the failures of Hillary Clinton’s campaign with “Shattered” authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes.
This weekend on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, we dive into the First Amendment with constitutional lawyer Floyd Abrams, “Truth Decay” with RAND Corporation President & CEO Michael Rich and the state of Black America in the heartland with Gary, IN Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien visits DNC headquarter to ask Chair Tom Perez whether the resistance will backfire on Democrats and his thoughts on FBI Director James Comey’s firing. Then, she then speaks with Peter Zeidenberg, a 17-year veteran of the Department of Justice, for his take on what is the next step in the Russia probe. We also meet up with Ronnie Cho, a candidate for New York City’s city council who says he won’t count out millennials, and we hear from freelance journalist Jennifer Davis, who tells in her own words how healthcare policy will deeply affect her family.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Tulsa, OK Public School Superintendent Deborah Gist who drills down on what budget cuts will mean for education, especially for schools with low state funding. Then, Soledad sits down with Anita Earls, a civil right attorney, to take a look at a Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering which could impact the future political balance of Congress. And, Dennis Slater, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, explains how manufacturers are working to attract a new generation of skilled employees.
Soledad O’Brien speaks with Watergate special prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks to discuss the Russia probe, standards for obstruction of justice and compares investigations to the Watergate hearings. Next, Sarah Ladislaw, a Bush administration energy policy adviser, joins the program to talk about the international and economic repercussions of the United States backing out of the Paris Climate Accord. Then, Soledad has an in-depth discussion about the removal of confederate monuments with Garrett Epps, southern native and contributing editor for The Atlantic.
Soledad O’Brien sits down with Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Al Franken (D-MN) to discuss infrastructure, health care and bipartisanship in the Senate. Then, we revisit the story of Michael Bornstein, child prisoner of Auschwitz, as more Holocaust survivors have recognized themselves on the cover of his recent memoir. And Soledad speaks with Elizabeth Bodine-Baron from RAND Corporation to learn more about the specific tactics terrorists use to recruit online and the countermeasures used by U.S. tech companies.
Soledad O’Brien takes on the new Senate healthcare bill with senators from both sides of the aisle. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) says he won’t support any bill that doesn’t meet President Trump’s promises on the campaign trail while Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) says any vote is too soon. Then, Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, the new president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, gives a preview of the bipartisan weekend meeting and details what’s at the top of the agenda for most American mayors. And, Maggie Elehwany from the National Rural Health Association digs into why rural Americans and their hospitals struggled under the ACA.
Soledad O’Brien is joined by Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, to talk about why the caucus declined a follow-up meeting with President Trump. Then, Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) joins the program to talk about Democratic strategies for reaching out to voters in the heartland of America. Finally, Jen Mishory, Executive Director of the Young Invincibles, explains how a cut to Medicaid could be especially damaging to millennials.
In the wake of news about Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian attorney for dirt on Hillary Clinton, Soledad O’Brien speaks with law professor Kathleen Clark to walk through the questions that need answering and why claims of treason are a stretch too far. Then, Soledad speaks with Ezekiel Emanuel, an architect of the Affordable Care Act, to discuss the bigger issues of healthcare in America that are not being addressed in policy talks. And, we revisit the issue of Confederate monuments with Charlottesville’s Mayor Michael Signer who says he wants them to stay put.
Soledad O’Brien speaks with Paul Butler, a former federal prosecutor, who is out with his new book called “Chokehold: Policing Black Men.” He explains his idea that the criminal justice system is working exactly the way it is intended to work. Then a look ahead to our themed program on Detroit with retired Sen. Fred Harris for the 50th anniversary of Summer of 1967 riots and the Kerner Commission. And we take a look at a new driver’s ed course requirement – learning how to handle a traffic stop.
Soledad O’Brien covers a tumultuous moment in American history – the nationwide civil unrest during the summer of 1967. In July of that year, five days of protest broke out in Detroit leaving 43 people dead, 1189 inured, over 7000 arrests and more than 2000 buildings destroyed, making it the deadliest instance of civil disorder since the Civil War draft riots. It served as a catalyst for Pres. Lyndon Baines Johnson’s establishment of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which was tasked with finding the cause of these outbreaks. Their conclusion: “We are moving toward two societies, one black, one white – separate and unequal.” Soledad O’Brien visits Detroit to see how the city is moving forward with its past and interviews the last surviving member of the Commission to see how those lessons can be applied today. Then, she speaks with a panel of Detroit journalists to discuss the city’s current challenges and opportunities for growth. And, correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us inside the Detroit Historical Museum where they are still debating the question the civil unrest of 1967 was a riot or a rebellion.
Soledad O’Brien sits down with moderate U.S. Representatives Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Jim Himes (D-CT) – co-chair of the Tuesday Group and chair of the New Democrats, respectively – to discuss the fight for a return to bipartisanship in Congress. And, Urban Policy Director Erika Poethig of the Urban Institute joins Soledad to discuss why nearly 40 million American live in housing they cannot afford and the long term impact on the national economy. Then, Heather Korbulic, Director of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, explains why over 8,000 Nevadans could be without health insurance in 2018 and how her state is working to find resources.
A protest over Confederate monuments that the Southern Poverty Law Center says is “shaping up to be the largest hate-gathering of its kind in decades” is scheduled for this weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. It’s the latest development in a series of incidents and debates across the nation of what to do with symbols honoring the Confederate South. Soledad O’Brien explores the controversy with contributing Atlantic editor Garrett Epps, native from Richmond, VA, and Charlottesville, VA mayor Mike Signer. Disclaimer: This program and included interviews were taped prior to the events in Charlottesville, VA on August 12.
This week, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at August 28th –a date memorialized in the nation’s journey toward equality. We revisit August 28, 1955, when 14-year-old Emmett Till, an African American boy from Chicago, was killed by two white men who accused him of making sexual advances toward a white woman. An all white jury cleared the two men, although they later admitted to the crime. Till’s death galvanized the Civil Rights movement, serving as inspiration for Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., who chose August 28, 1963 as the date of his “I Have a Dream Speech.” We speak with historian Timothy Tyson who unearthed the lie that led to Till’s brutal murder. Then, we visit the Emmett Till interpretative center, where Mississippian Patrick Weems is keeping Till’s story and its significance alive.
Soledad O’Brien checks in with freshman Congress members Rep. Jim Banks (R-IL) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) to discuss their priorities for the remainder of the year, concerns about North Korea, and what they think Congress will be able to accomplish. Then, we’re joined by Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-NV) a formerly undocumented immigrant who was brought into the U.S. at age 8 by his Mexican parents and is calling on Congress to pass the DREAM Act – a controversial piece of legislation that would allow a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants who were brought to America as children. And, after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Steve Ellis from the nonpartisan budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, discusses the costs of the recent damage and possible solutions for future mitigation.
First, a report out of Wisconsin on an upcoming Supreme Court on partisan gerrymandering, when state lawmakers draw district lines to give their party – Republican or Democrat – an advantage in state elections. Then, journalist and author Sam Quinones, who spent five years studying the opioid crisis across America, joins Soledad O’Brien to explain his observance of a medical system out of whack and the need to address the immediate crisis. And are we living in a fantasy-land? Author Kurt Anderson says yes and that it’s the logical progression of America’s timeline.
Senate Republicans are giving Obamacare repeal another try with their latest piece of legislation by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Sabrina Corlette, Research Professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University, sits down with Soledad O’Brien to evaluate the plan. And, you might be one of the 143 million American consumers whose sensitive personal information was exposed in a data breach at Equifax. Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center, explains how consumer protection laws protect you and in what areas they are lacking. Then, the Supreme Court will hear its first case on partisan gerrymandering in over decade. Soledad asks for a brief of the oral arguments to be presented before the court from Attorney General Brad Schimel, representing the state of Wisconsin, and Campaign Legal Center’s Gerry Hebert for the plaintiffs.
On this episode of Matter of Fact, we focus on the scene on the ground in Puerto Rico in devastation left by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Soledad O’Brien checks in with Sean Williamson, who is part of disaster relief team Atlas Humanitarian Rescue, and Puerto Rican journalist Jay Fonseca for an assessment on the damage and the federal response. Then, Soledad visits the biggest manufacturing hub in the nation – Los Angeles. She meets with the founders of “Make in LA,” an incubator supporting manufacturing start-ups specializing in hardware or tech devices. And, co-founder of AOL Steve Case joins us in studio for a discussion on taking innovation out of Silicon Valley and bringing it to the rest of the country.
Soledad O’Brien sits down with Colin Goddard, a survivor of the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech whose hip and knee still contain bullets shot by the murderer. He and Soledad discuss his views on why Congress fails to place restrictions on gun rights, even those supported by the majority of Americans. Then, we check in with Puerto Rican anchor Luz Velez on what she sees on the ground and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, the sole congressional representative of 3.5 million Puerto Ricans, joins Soledad to discuss what she is seeing on the island and her assessment of the federal government’s response to the disaster. Finally, Dr. Rahul Gupta, West Virginia’s State Health Officer, details the history of the opioid crisis that ravages his state and explains the difficulty of stopping illegal use while appropriately treating those with chronic pain.
Puerto Ricans continue to struggle with survival issues and Congress grapples with an aid package. This week, Soledad O’Brien meets with Luis Fotuño, former Governor of Puerto Rico, to discuss comeback strategies, and the long term plan that could turn Puerto Rico into an economic powerhouse. Plus, a special report on female veterans at risk for death by suicide. Correspondent Diane Roberts goes to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to speak with Nicole Langhorst, who has turned the loss of her sister into a quest to help other veterans. Then, retired Gen. Peter Chiarelli, former Vice Chief of Staff for the Army, joins Soledad for an important discussion on post-traumatic stress, the research on diagnosis and treatment, and the connection between traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
This week Soledad O’Brien speaks with Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons and Republican strategist Ford O’Connell to discuss the breakdown of parties and bipartisanship in Congress. Then, Julie Mix McPeak, president-elect of the the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, explains how the President’s cut of subsidy payments mandated by the ACA will affect access, premiums and coverage options, as well as why middle class families may end up footing the bill. And, as more sexual harassment victims step forward, we ask the question: have we reached a tipping point yet? Chai Feldblum, Commissioner of the EEOC, joins Soledad to talk about why victims don’t report their experiences to bosses, how silent bystanders promotes a culture of consent, and how non-disclosure agreements keep “super star” harassers on the job.
This week, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at Steve Bannon’s war on the Republican establishment. Joshua Green, a journalist with direct access to Trump’s former White House Strategist, sits down with Soledad to discuss the fight for control of the Republican party and why Bannon’s views are resonating. Plus, correspondent Jessica Gomez meets a Democrat running in deep Red Georgia, who could make history as the first African American woman to become governor in the United States. And, Democrats looking to take back control of state legislatures after losing over 1,000 legislative seats during President Obama’s two terms. Jessica Post, the Executive Director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, joins Soledad to talk about the Democrats’ ground game for 2018.
This week on Matter of Fact, open enrollment is underway for the state insurance exchanges, and some states are struggling to provide enough options for their citizens. In Iowa, 72,000 residents who are in the exchange have just one provider option, and premiums are up by over 50 percent. Doug Ommen, Iowa’s Insurance Commissioner, joins Soledad from Des Moines for a conversation about why their state wants to pull out of the Affordable Care Act, their plan for a statewide health care system, and what legislative fixes they want Congress to make in order to create access and bring costs down. Then, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) joins Soledad in studio to talk about the bipartisan effort to improve the Affordable Care Act . He’s a vocal co-sponsor of the Alexander-Murray bill to stabilize insurance exchanges, Carper outlines the provisions of the legislation and the impact on states. And, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a member of the President’s Opioid Commission, sits down with Soledad to discuss what the Commission accomplished, where resources should be channeled, what’s missing in the report, and the funding challenges ahead.
This Veteran’s Day weekend, Soledad O’Brien explores the story of two Medal of Honor Recipients from the Vietnam War, Col. Harvey Barnum and Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris. One was bestowed the honor within two years after being recommended for consideration; the other waited decades to receive the Medal of Honor and its lifetime benefits. Hear both their stories of bravery and how the United States worked to right historical wrongs.
This week, Soledad O’Brien looks ahead to the 2018 midterm elections with former Maryland Governor and 2016 presidential contender Martin O’Malley, who has been stumping for democrats in 18 states, hoping to flip statehouses and local elections. He tells Soleadad what he has been hearing from candidates, his take on how most of America has shifted since the Presidential election, and why the national parties are still holding on. Then, Renee DiResta, a Silicon V Alley tech entrepreneur, helped prepare members of Congress for the Intelligence hearing with social media giants Facebook, Twitter and Google over Russian influence on their platforms during the election. She explains to Soledad how hijacked accounts are automating the distribution of fake news, and how bad actors all over the globe are creating real world events that bring protest movements together in volatile settings. And, a march for Puerto Rico in the nation’s capital as the U.S. territory continues to struggle. Evelyn Mejil, organizer of the Unity March for Puerto Rico, sits down with Soledad to talk about how she says the hurricane turned Puerto Rico into a third world country, and why those who’ve fled the island are creating a dangerous brain drain that could have a dramatic impact on the future.
This week, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at what works. First, a community college program in New York doubling graduation rates and keeping students out of debt. See why other colleges have implemented similar plans and what makes the biggest difference. Then, 13 American children don’t know when they’ll get their next meal, and the hunger they experience is seriously hampering their ability to learn. But many aren’t eating the free meals at school due to “food bullying” – shaming children whose families can’t afford to pay for lunch. Soledad looks at a simple solution by several school districts, to ensure every child is receiving the nutrition they need to learn. And, author Pat Hedley is challenging young professionals to meet 100 people, providing real world guidance on how to network and data on why you should be making your requests face-to-face.
This week, Soledad O’Brien looks into the allegations of sexual misconduct piling up against the politically powerful, forcing leaders on Capitol Hill to grapple with their own rules of conduct, and how to hold members accountable. Melanie Sloan, a Washington ethics lawyer who went public with accusations against now-former Rep. John Conyers, sits down with Soledad O’Brien to talk about the reporting process on the Hill, the rules that insulate members of Congress, and the need for reforming standards and reporting practices. Then, Soledad interview the man who developed the theory of “net neutrality,” Columbia professor Tim Wu. As the FCC looks to take down net neutrality regulations, Wu explains the reason broadband companies support relaxing regulation and the impact to consumers, content providers, e-commerce, and democracy itself. Plus, a special report on undocumented children who are sent to immigration court without legal representation. Jess Gomez meets with a group of lawyers working pro-bono to help these children obtain legal status.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien checks in the University of Alabama law professor Ron Krotoszynski on recourse for Republicans should GOP candidate Roy Moore win the election. After Moore has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers, Krotoszynski says Republicans as a party could face consequences should they seat him in the Senate unchallenged. Then, there are nearly a quarter of million Alabamians unable to vote. Why? They’re ex-felons, and haven’t been able to pay off the remainder of their court fees and fines despite serving their time. Correspondent Jess Gomez visits with a man suing to reclaim his right to vote. And, Anquan Boldin, former wide receiver in the NFL and a co-founder of the Players Coalition, sits down with Soledad O’Brien. Join us for engaging conversation on why some players have called the $90 million donated by the League “hush money,” and the ongoing challenge of confronting racial inequality in America.
This week, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at the nearly nine million children in the U.S. are at risk of losing health care coverage because Congress missed a re-authorization deadline. CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, covers children whose parents earn too much for Medicaid but struggle to afford private insurance. New Hampshire’s Republican Governor, Chris Sununu, joins Soledad from his office in Concord, to talk about why he thinks Congress needs to act now, what he’s heard in conversations with the White House, and why he thinks the program should be turned over to the states. Then, Capitol Hill has a long to-do list before they head home for the holidays. Soledad looks at what’s been accomplished with freshmen Reps. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). Plus, Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative reporter for the New York Times Magazine and winner of the MacArthur “Genius” award, sits down with Soledad for a surprising discussion of persistent racial segregation in America’s schools. Find out why she says the increasing segregation is intentional, and harming America’s future.
Does American politics have you praying for some divine intervention? U. S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black joins Soledad in studio to talk about the divisive issues facing the nation, the role of faith in confronting them, the guidance he gives to the Senators in his flock, and the use of his Senate pulpit to push and prod some of the nation’s most powerful figures to seek a higher good. Then, a look at a controversial classroom lesson inspired by the assassination of Martin Luther King 50 years ago. Jessica Gomez travels to Iowa to meet with Jane Elliott, the teacher who created the blue eyes-brown eyes experiment, to learn why she says racism is worse today than five decades ago. And, meet Cesar Vargas, an immigration lawyer helping immigrant children to obtain legal status. He’s also a Dreamer and at risk of being deported if Congress can’t find a solution. He sits down with Soledad to explain why he thinks Democratic leadership failed the Dreamers and to identify the opportunities he sees for a bi-partisan immigration solution.
This week on Matter of Fact, a frank conversation with the chair of the Democratic National Party, Tom Perez. He says the Democrats took constituents for granted in 2016 and ignored parts of the country that are key to success on the national political stage. He tells Soledad his party is looking to change that ahead of the 2018 midterms. Will it work? And, Homeland Security is terminating protections for 200,000 Salvadoran refugees who have been legally living the U.S., meaning they’ll need to return home by September 2019. But a bipartisan group of lawmakers are opposed, saying it is not safe for them to return. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) tells Soledad El Salvador is not prepared to take these immigrants back and that the ripple effect could have a negative impact on some of the most vulnerable sections of the American economy. Then, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joins Soledad in studio to explain why she’s asking for $25 billion dollars in federal funding as part of a government spending deal to combat the opioid crisis.
Soledad O’Brien takes Matter of Fact to Miami, FL this week. It is one of the nation’s most global cities and over half of the residents are foreign born, something Mayor Francis Saurez says is a “badge of honor.” He sits down with Soledad O’Brien for conversation about diversity and tackling his city’s most pressing issue: bridging the gap between the wealthy and those might be financially struggling. Then, Matter of Fact correspondent Jessica Gomez visits the Old Dixie Highway, which in some parts has been renamed the Barack Obama Highway. It runs through several communities each with different perspectives on President Trump’s first year in office. And, Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), joins Soledad for a conversation on the need to be responsive to Puerto Ricans seeking refuge from Hurricane Maria, why he disagrees with Trump on DACA, and why he’ll continue to seek membership in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, even after they told him no.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien goes to Capitol to talk with Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, President Trump’s toughest Republican critic, about what he hopes to hear in Trump’s first State of the Union Address. Flake says that while Trump’s rhetoric may inspire his base to win national elections, ultimately the President could make it harder for Republicans to win important local races. Then, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner joins Soledad in studio to talk about recovery efforts in his city following Hurricane Harvey in the fall. His message to Washington? Don’t leave us behind. Plus, is social media helpful or harmful to democracy? Soledad O’Brien sits down with Harvard professor Cass Sunstein to discuss how personalizing your news feed can make you more susceptible to fake news and drive extremism.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) to discuss America’s crumbling infrastructure. In the State of the Union address, President Trump said his infrastructure plan will raise $1.5 trillion dollars, but that’s still far short of the $4.6 trillion the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates it will really take. While politicians may not like talking about raising taxes, both of our guests believe Americans understand how important this issue is and will support the move. And everyone knows Jack. Jack Daniel’s whiskey that is. But outside Lynchburg, Tennessee no one really knew the origins of the best selling American whiskey in the world. It turns out Jack Daniel learned everything he knew about distilling whiskey from a former slave named Nathan “Nearest” Green. Now, the company is fully embracing its history. Then joining us from Austin, Texas, Olympic historian John Hoberman explains why some of the most competitive gameplaying at the upcoming winter Olympics may be taking place behind the scenes. Although expressly prohibited in the Olympic charter, politics and sports have always been intertwined. Soledad examines the impact of political engagement and activism on the games themselves.
This week on Matter of Fact, how do you keep gerrymandering from happening across the states? Both Republicans and Democrats do it, using it to provide job security for elected officials. One state that seems to have it right is Iowa, which has avoided gerrymandering since the 1960’s. David Yepsen is a veteran political reporter in Iowa and joins Soledad from Des Moines to explain why nonpartisan redistricting works in Iowa and how gerrymandering is suppressing moderate voters. And, local election officials are preparing for the midterm primaries, working to protect their electoral systems from malicious cyber attacks. It’s a big concern for Noah Praetz, the election director in Cook County, Illinois. In 2016, Illinois’ system was hacked, compromises thousands of voter records. He joins us from Chicago and tells Soledad that one of the biggest challenges election officials face is that the cyber threat is constantly changing, but America’s election infrastructure hasn’t. Plus, Soledad takes a look at the deadly flu still infecting thousands of Americans. Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s top flu expert at the National Institutes of Health, joins Soledad in studio to talk about the search for a universal flu vaccine that would keep you healthy for years.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at young teens looking to make a difference by running for office. Last year, then 16-year-old Jack Bergeson found a loophole in the law showing that there are no age requirements to hold a statewide office in Kansas. He decided to run for governor as a Democrat. Then, he invited 17-year-old Tyler Ruzich to run as a Republican. Soledad O’Brien sits down with both teens for a conversation about why they say their national parties are out of touch with young voters and their hopes for the future of gun legislation following the school shooting in Parkdale, Florida. Then, Nelson Mandela was a fierce advocate for equality and a champion for the power of young people. Yet, his grandson Kweku says today’s youth may recognize the name, but many don’t understand what he represented. He is hoping to change that through his new initiative 100 Conversations. Soledad O’Brien moderated the very first conversation between Kweku Mandela and Academy Award winning actor Charlize Theron as they discussed issues related to the icon’s legacy. And, it’s being called the labor case of the century as the Supreme Court hearing arguments on whether force public employees to pay non-member union fees is a violation of their freedom of speech. UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh joins Soledad from L.A. for a conversation on the historical nuances of the case and why he says this case has nothing to do with the First Amendment.
The U.S. Constitution’s 13th Amendment officially ended slavery in America, yet modern day slavery is not only still alive, it’s thriving in the form of human trafficking. Experts say approximately 20 to 40 million victims worldwide are enslaved and exploited. Kenneth Morris, Jr., great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass, says were the abolitionist alive today, he’d be fighting human trafficking. Morris joins Soledad O’Brien in studio to discuss how he is using his family’s foundation to combat modern slavery and why he believes the answer to ending slavery lies in his ancestor’s own story of freedom. Then, when it comes to teaching students about slavery, it turns out schools aren’t doing a very good job, so museums are taking up the challenge to fix that. Correspondent Diane Roberts visits the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore as they commemorate Frederick Douglass’ bicentennial by having local students combine art and history. And, over 12 million people have submitted DNA samples through genetic ancestry companies since 2012 in order to learn more about their heritage. But what if your genealogical search revealed an entirely new family?
Soledad O’Brien speaks with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on gun reform. His purple state passed new laws following the mass shooting at the Aurora theater, in spite of its long history of gun-ownership. Could the federal government do the same? Plus, Jorge Ramos joins Soledad to discuss the challenges of being a Latino immigrant in America today. He explains why he feels like a stranger in the country he has lived in for 35 years and his optimism for the future of Dreamers. And, do you know who can access your email data? In the age of cloud computing, federal privacy laws haven’t kept up. Soledad takes a look at a Supreme Court case that could decide the future of your data privacy.
This week on Matter of Fact, investors, both corporations and individuals, are looking at divesting from gun companies. Elizabeth Levy, from the oldest social responsible investment firm in America, joins Soledad O’Brien to discuss how the Parkland shooting has become a call to action for many of their clients. Plus, a killer drug is making a comeback. Matter of Fact Correspondent Jennifer Davis travels to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where health officials say they’ve seen a 300 percent increase in meth overdoses. And, Reddit is under fire as a platform by facilitating the spread of extremist views and fake news. Journalist Andrew Marantz joins Soledad for a conversation on how these internet pioneers are looking to protect their legacy as champions of free speech while also protecting democracy.
Many universities say they are seeing an increase in Title IX complaints in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Soledad O’Brien sits down with Debora Osgood, a civil rights attorney with a focus on education, to discuss. Then, Matter of Fact correspondent Diane Roberts explores the pay gap disparity among women coaches with University of Maryland head coach Brenda Frese. Even, when women win championships, they still make far less than the men. And, how does exercise impact your brain? Research from NYU neurologist Dr. Wendy Suzuki shows that not only does exercise improve your mood through dopamine, it might even delay’s the effects of Alzheimer’s.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with two students who walked out of their high schools recently to protest gun violence in the United States. Daniel Meakem, from McLean, VA, says he worries about the next mass shooting while Imani Holt, a junior in Baltimore, says gun violence is a part of her daily life. Then, some states are looking to cash in a $150 billion industry if they receive a favorable Supreme Court ruling. New Jersey argues that the federal law banning sports gambling is unconstitutional, while the NCAA and sports leagues say state-sponsored betting could ruin the integrity of the game. High profile attorney and former Solicitor General Ted Olson, argued for plaintiff New Jersey in December; he joins Soledad O’Brien to discuss the case. And, you may not recognize the name Nell Scovell, but you probably know her work; she’s one of Hollywood’s most successful comedy writers. Her credits include the Simpsons, the Late Show with David Letterman, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and even Pres. Obama. Scovell sits down with Soledad O’Brien to discuss her new memoir, Just the Funny Parts, on how she broke into the business of being funny and why she is helping the next generation succeed.
This week on Matter of Fact, award-winning hip hop artist turned advocate Common joins Soledad O’Brien for a discussion on social activism, artistic power and potential political aspirations. Why he is using his platform and musical influence to call out gun violence and mass incarceration. Then, April marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. While the country broke out into riots following his death, a teacher in rural Iowa was inspired to teach her students a lesson in discrimination, sparking national controversy. Why she says there is more racism today than in 1968. And, Pastor Samuel Rodriguez is a Latino evangelical minister, who preaches to thousands each week in Sacramento and around the country. He is also an unofficial adviser to President Trump. He joins Soledad O’Brien to discuss separating the political agenda from a candidate’s personal moral turpitude and why he believes he is on a mission from God.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify before Congress this week, answering questions about user data privacy. What is Congress looking to hear? Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is on both Senate committees that will hear Facebook’s testimony and says regulation could be in Facebook’s future. Then, rising tension between the U.S. and China over tariffs has America’s heartland worried about the potential fallout. Craig Hill, head of the Iowa Farm Bureau, says Iowans could begin to lose their farms. He joins Soledad O’Brien for conversation on how the rhetoric has already cost some farmers this year’s profit and the dangers of American agriculture losing its reliability. And, black students continue to be disciplined more frequently and more harshly than white students. Grade school suspensions and expulsions can negatively shape students for the rest of their lives, affecting their academic performance as well as social and emotional development. Soledad O’Brien sits down with Cami Anderson, founder of the Discipline Revolution Project, to discuss a better way to discipline.
This week on Matter of Fact, we take a look at women running for office in unprecedented numbers. First, correspondent Jessica Gomez take us to one of Emerge America’s boot camp for Democratic female candidates. Last year, the organization got 152 women elected; can they beat that this year? Then, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Missy Shorey who is the executive director of Maggie’s List, an organization whose mission is to advise and support conservative women candidates for office. And, Soledad talks with Flint, MI Mayor Karen Weaver following the governor’s decision to no longer provide bottled water to residents. Weaver says the city still has two more years of construction to replace the corroded pipes, during which lead levels in the water could still spike. How does she plan to keep her residents safe?
This weekend on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with former prosecutor Peter Zeidenberg to talk about the ongoing Russia probe, if attorney-client privilege applies in this case and why he says Republicans need to voice their support for Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Then, former GOP Rep. Bob Inglis went from climate skeptic to a believer after a visit to the South Pole. He joins Soledad O’Brien to discuss green energy policies with conservative values. And, can’t get your kid to stop playing video games? Psychologist Ed Spector explains how parents can manage their child’s relationship with technology.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien goes to St. Louis to hear the story of Fred Watson, who is suing the city of Ferguson for violating his civil rights. A list of minor traffic violations, which he calls unwarranted, lost him his job, his house and his security clearance. Then, Soledad O’Brien sits down with former Missouri GOP chairman John Hancock and former Missouri Democratic chairman Michael Kelly to talk about Missouri’s embattled governor and the potential impact on national politics. Plus, correspondent Diane Roberts visits Lawrence, Massachusetts, New England’s first minority-majority city. And, the early bird gets the worm, as Matter of Fact takes a look at the headquarters of “Wake Up To Politics,” a political newsletter with thousands of readers written by 16-year-old Gabe Fliesher.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with maternal health advocate Christy Turlington Burns and OBGYN Dr. Lisa Gittens-Williams to discuss the crisis of maternal mortality in America. More women die in the United States from childbirth than any other industrialized country. What solutions do they see? Then, correspondent Jessica Gomez visits a school near Dallas, Texas that could be the blueprint for future schools. Their infrastructure was specifically designed to protect students from potential school shooters. And, “Enemies in Love” author Alexis Clark joins Soledad to how she uncovered the story of an African-American nurse, a German prisoner of war and an unlikely romance in an Arizona POW camp during WWII. Plus, Soledad gives a history lesson on Kanye West’s recent controversial comments.
This week on Matter of Fact, lawmakers in Congress are making a renewed push to implement term limits on Senators and House members. But they’ll need to change the Constitution to do it. Soledad O’Brien speaks with freshmen Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) who say their bipartisan bill is needed to improve democracy. Then, Soledad sits down with former Ambassador to Israel Edward Walker to discuss the embassy move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the U.S. pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. What’s the impact to America’s international leadership role? And, skin lightening is a booming global business, raking in over $10 billion a year. Millions of women around the world bleach their skin despite the health risks. Soledad O’Brien recently spoke with Amira Adawe, a Somali-American and public health advocate, who’s trying to change that narrative.
This weekend, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) who is part of a group of House Republicans who are rebelling against their leadership, attempting to force a series of votes on protections for Dreamers. Can Congress reach a permanent solution? Then, over 44 million Americans hold $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) joins Soledad O’Brien to talk about his bipartisan bill to ease student loan repayment. And, African-American women face some of the greatest health risks in the U.S., especially when it comes to heart disease. But GirlTrek, a public health nonprofit for African-American women, is looking to change those statistics one step at a time.
This weekend, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at what it means to assimilate in America, following the viral video of a Border Patrol Agent stopped two American women for speaking Spanish. Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA), who migrated from Guatemala, calls the incident “racial profiling” and “insulting.” Then, is the soul of the nation at risk? Some Christian leaders say yes, including Bishop Michael Curry, the head of the Episcopal Church who stole the show at the Royal Wedding with his passionate sermon on love. Soledad O’Brien sits down with him to talk about why he says our deepening divisions are destroying democracy. And, could Stacey Abrams become the first African-American woman elected governor? Correspondent Jessica Gomez caught up with her on the campaign trail last fall.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at the new estimates that nearly 5,000 people died in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Dr. Irwin Redlener, a national leader in disaster preparedness, joins Soledad to discuss why the hurricane’s aftermath was so deadly. Then, correspondent Diane Roberts travels to Alabama to meet with Tim Lanier, one of ten felons who are suing they state. They say the state’s law against felons voting is unconstitutional and a modern day poll tax. And, where does the modern white power movement come from? Soledad speaks with historian Kathleen Belew about the historical rise of the far-right and the connection to the Vietnam War.
This weekend, is the so-called blue wave now the blue ripple? Soledad O’Brien sits down with bipartisan strategists John Feehery and Nayyera Haq to discuss midterm messaging and why an anti-Trump message will fail. Then, rural Illinois counties say the state legislature is out of touch. In response, they’re creating “gun sanctuaries.” Soledad O’Brien speaks with David Campbell, member of Effingham County Board, about why he introduced the first resolution and the deepening urban-rural divide. Also, Brooke Feldman says she recovered from her addiction through many second chances. She explains in her own words how her white privilege played a role. And, special guest contributor David Litt explains what rescission is and how could impact healthcare for millions of children.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who visited a group of asylum-seeking mothers whose children were taken from them at the Mexican border. She tells Soledad O’Brien what she heard from those women and why she says neither House immigration bill is a viable solution. Then, meet Christy Coleman, the African-American woman in charge of preserving the confederacy. Correspondent Jessica Gomez traveled to Richmond, VA to hear her story. And, a multi-state court battle could repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY), who supports repealing and replacing the law, calls this a mistake and says it would impact his own family.
This week on Matter of Fact, the Trump administration announced that it will stop criminally prosecuting migrant families illegally crossing the border, although officials say the “zero tolerance” policy is still in effect. However, families still be detained if a federal court amends the Flores agreement, as the Trump administration has asked it to do. Soledad O’Brien sits down with retired immigration judge Paul Wickham Schmidt to discuss what the law says about family separations and applying for asylum. Plus, the administration has yet to lay out an official plan to reunite families previously separated. Could the U.S. make a return to orphanages? Charles Nelson, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard University, joins Soledad O’Brien to discuss the history of orphanages in the United States and the psychological impact of impersonal care. And, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from partisan extremes says they can fix America’s crumbling infrastructure, pay down its overwhelming deficit, and do it all without raising taxes. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee, and Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), a member of the liberal Congressional Black Caucus, discuss why they decided to work together and how infrastructure projects can revitalize some of America’s poorest cities.
This week on Matter of Fact, the administration’s immigration policy is not only cracking down on illegal immigration but restricting legal immigration as well. Georgetown professor Katherine Benton-Cohen joins Soledad O’Brien to discuss the history of immigration in America and explain how these kinds of restrictions are nothing new. Plus, this Trump supporter could lose her multi-million dollar company due to tariffs implemented by the president. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Mary Buchzeiger, CEO of auto supply company Lucerne International, about the impact of these tariffs on her business and why she still supports the president. And, Harvard University is under fire for allegedly holding Asian applicants to higher standards than students of other races, according to a discrimination lawsuit filed by the Students for Fair Admissions. Harvard Law alumna and professor Jeannie Suk Gersen breaks down the case and explains why she hopes the lawsuit will begin a conversation about the consequences of affirmative action.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Georgetown Law professor David Super to discuss how House Republicans’ proposed Farm Bill could make it harder for low-income families to put food on the table. Then, a look at a group of lawyers working pro-bono to help migrant children navigate the legal system and obtain legal status in the U.S. And, are federal regulations keeping scientists from researching the benefits and harms of marijuana? Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dr. Chinazo Cunningham about her work looking at cannabis as an alternative to opioids in pain management.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with latinoTech CEO Elizabeth Vilchis about her work on an app designed to help reunite families separated at the Southern border. And it’s personal; at 7 years old, Vilchis was separated from her own parents when crossing into the United States. Then, Kimberly Reed is out with a new documentary, “Dark Money,” on the aftermath of the 2010 Citizens United Decision. She joins Soledad O’Brien for a discussion on the film and why disclosure is more important than spending limits. And, did you know there are undocumented Americans living in Tijuana, Mexico while working in San Diego?
This weekend, Soledad O’Brien speaks with former CDC researcher Dr. Mark Rosenberg about the lack of federal gun research. He explains how research can be done without restricting weapons. Then, the federal government is reopening the investigation into the 1955 murder of Emmett Till after finding “new information.” Matter of Fact takes an inside look at what happened and speaks with a witness who says he was never interviewed by authorities. And, Michelle Saahene and Melissa DePino were in the Philadelphia Starbucks the day when two black men were arrested while waiting for their friend. Soledad O’Brien sits down with both of them to discuss their initiative, From Privilege to Progress, encouraging people – especially white people – need to speak up.
This weekend, Soledad O’Brien speaks with investigative journalist Nikole Hannah Jones about the increasing segregation of public schools. Then, Dr. Wendy Suzuki explains how exercise can repair your brain and even delay Alzheimer’s disease. And, who really taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey?
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Vermont’s Secretary of State about how they are defending their election systems from more than 800,000 cyber attacks a day. Then, hear from the average mom fighting to save her daughter’s life as struggles to pay for her medication. And, a year after the deadly rally in Charlottesville, the mayor says time has not healed all the city’s wounds.
This weekend, Soledad O’Brien sits down with economist Nell Abernathy to discuss why voters aren’t feeling the “booming” economy. Then, Akeem Browder lost his brother to suicide, after his brother spend three years at the infamous Rikers Island jail. Now Akeem has made it his mission to make sure other teens do not face the same fate. And, immigration attorney and former DACA recipient Cesar Vargas explains why he says Congress isn’t listening to the people.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Sen. Cardin (D-MD) to discuss the Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination and the Democratic strategy. Then, residents of small cities up and down the Gulf Coast are still recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Soledad O’Brien checks in with Port Arthur, TX Mayor Derrick Freeman about why recovery efforts have been so slow. And, Richmond, Virginia, once the capital of the Confederate South, is still struggling to decide what to do with its confederate monuments. Christy Coleman, CEO of the American Civil War museum, and says although she is African-American, she understands why the statues should remain.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor of pediatrics and vaccine scientist, says he knows that vaccines were not the cause of his daughter’s autism. He joins Soledad O’Brien to discuss the research behind autism and the growing distrust in science. Then, housing advocates say a rule change will make it easier for housing discrimination to go unnoticed. Lisa Rice, President of the National Fair Housing Alliance, sits down with Soledad O’Brien to explain her concerns for the future of fair housing. And, Michael Bornstein was liberated from Auschwitz at four years old. He kept silent about his experiences for over 70 years, even from his family. That was until he saw Holocaust deniers using his photo as an example that stories of Holocaust were exaggerated.
This week on Matter of Fact, is asbestos making a comeback in America? Soledad O’Brien speaks with cancer survivor Heather Von St. James and Mary Hesdorffer, from the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, about the costs of the EPA’s looser regulations. Then, what happens when you give free lunch to all students? New York City found there are benefits beyond the cafeteria. And meet the GirlTrekkers, fighting to save African-American women’s health, one step at a time.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, the use of artificial intelligence is booming. It’s being used for everything from finding friends on social media, to helping companies decide if you’ll be considered for a job. But there’s a problem: AI is biased. Will President Trump’s trade war spoil his relationship with struggling dairy farmers who supported his campaign? Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti eyes a run for the White House, but will problems in his city ruin his chances?
This weekend on Matter of Fact, is President Trump testing the boundaries of his political power or violating the constitution when it comes to current laws? In honor of Constitution Day, September 17, we talk to author Corey Brettschneider about his new book, The Oath and the Office. Americans are saying “adios” to expensive housing and finding relief south of the border. Could you commute to work from Mexico? Is a program designed to prevent inequality in public schools making it worse? Nora Gordon is a professor of public policy at Georgetown University and serves on the Dept. of Education’s expert panel on Title I, and says the program needs serious changes. Plus zero-gravity champagne is on the way, but astronauts can’t toast to this news.
This week Soledad O’Brien talks historic midterm wins with Congressional nominee from Massachusetts, Ayanna Pressley. Plus, 77% of Latinas say sexual harassment in the workplace is a major problem, how social media is helping. And, Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau talks political satire in the age of President Trump.
After the destruction of Hurricane Florence across the Southeast, the housing crisis is worse than ever in North Carolina, especially for poorer communities. Plus, more and Americans are choosing to live in Mexico to follow their undocumented spouses. And, meet one of the MacArthur Foundation grant winners for her performance on life after sexual violence.
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, how do you turn climate change deniers into believers? This Evangelical Christian scientist may have the answer. Plus, why are politicians getting more and more partisan? And, the obstacles Native Americans face in making their voting voices heard.
This week on Matter of Fact, can Republicans run on protecting parts of Obamacare? Plus, the founder of the #MeToo says men accused of sexual assault should be allowed to come back society. And, Matthew Shepard, 20 years after being brutally murdered, is finally be laid to rest.
This week on Matter of Fact, how do you drive minority voters to the polls? Turns out it’s not through inciting anger. Plus, what it will take either party to bring Latino voters out in full force. And, the late Senator John McCain was known as a fiery maverick, who stood up for his beliefs. Will the next generation take up the call?
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with organizers looking to get out the youth vote for the midterm election. Plus, how does your brain keep you trapped in your political ideology? And, Soledad speaks with an artist with a unique way of photographing events he never witnessed.
This week on Matter of Fact, Florida voters agreed to give felons the right to vote. Is this the beginning of a movement? Plus, why one of the top high school football teams can’t find any opponents. And, a lifelong conservative explains why he left the GOP.
This week on Matter of Fact, a business looking to change the way other companies treat women in the workplace. Plus, a company investing in future employees by helping them get clean. And, how these twin sisters ran for different parties without fighting each other.
This week on Matter of Fact, a father explains his family’s terror after his son contracted a mysterious polio-like illness. How the CDC is looking to find a cure. Plus, nearly half of all college students are struggling to eat, but Sara Goldrick-Rab says there are solutions the government can put in place. And, Rep. Speier shares why she says Capitol Hill is a breeding ground for sexual harassment.
This week on Matter of Fact, the simple question “Are you an American citizen?” is causing a lot of controversy. Plus, a women who overdosed and still wanted to use, explains what keeps her strong today. And, WI lawmakers are changing the laws to limit the powers of incoming Democrats.
This week on Matter of Fact, how a new hotline is working to bring down the number of innocent people in America’s prisons. Plus, artificial intelligence is biased but this woman is working to change that. And, Latinos start businesses faster than any other group. So why are they struggling to get capital?
This week on Matter of Fact, Native American women and girls are disappearing across the country. Correspondent Leone Lahkani speaks with families of victims who say they are outraged, but law enforcement isn’t doing enough. Then, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) about what he thinks need to be done in his state where 30% of missing women are Native American. Plus, a discussion with analysts on both sides about what we can expect in the upcoming Congressional session.
This week on Matter of Fact, a rare interview with Justice Sonia Sotomayor on civics in America and democracy. Plus, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Lin-Manuel Miranda and his father about bringing Hamilton to Puerto Rico.
This week on Matter of Fact, two co-authors are sharing a collection of America’s immigration stories. Plus, a teen with autism is helping police officers learn to handle mental crisis situations. And, the Brazilian state where some African-Americans are finding their roots.
This week on Matter of Fact, Colorado’s governor talks about the political shifts in the 2018 midterms. Plus, a former teen bride trying to tackle U.S. visas being approved for child brides. And, a group of Americans following their undocumented spouses to Mexico.
This week on Matter of Fact, a city works to update its neighborhoods without pushing out lower-income residents. Plus, the President of the US Mayors Conference says mayors are better prepared to run the country. And, the author of “Be Fearless” explains how one person can change the world.
This week, some lawmakers are trying to get the Equal Rights Amendment back on the Congress floor. Plus, flawed forensics may have wrongly sent people to prison for decades. And, a woman’s life went from middle class to poverty; now, she wants others to understand the struggle.
This week on Matter of Fact, some top prosecutors are deciding to no longer prosecute pot users. Plus, more than a million Americans do not have access to running water in their homes. And, are American schools failing to teach students basic civics.
This week on Matter of Fact, more Americans than ever say they’re already impacted by climate change. Plus, why can’t one of the top high school football teams find a team in their league to play against? And, quitting your smartphone addiction might be easier than you think.
A special edition of Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien from Puerto Rico. First, Soledad O’Brien sits down with the island’s governor, Ricardo Rossello, to discuss why he says Puerto Ricans are treated like second class citizens. Then, more families are turning to solar power to try to keep the lights on ahead of the next big hurricane. And music in Puerto Rico as a form of expression for the frustration felt after Hurricane Maria.
This week on Matter of Fact, will “Medicare for All” become a litmus test for Democratic presidential candidates? Soledad O’Brien talks with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) is the chair of the Medicare for All Congressional Caucus. Native American women are murdered ten times more than non-Native women. Now, their families searching for justice on their own.
This week on Matter of Fact, social media is giving rise to political candidates that don’t need the establishment’s blessing. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Republican strategist Bruce Mehlman about the potential downsides. Plus, how immigration how shaped New England’s first minority-majority city. And, military burn pits have been called the Agent Orange of our generation. Soledad speaks with Bonnie Carroll, founder of TAPS, and Coleen Bowman, whose husband died after being exposed to toxic fumes from the pits.
This week on Matter of Fact, the devastating financial and emotional toll farmers are facing as communities work to keep down suicide rates. Plus, climate change could make this year’s historic flooding across the Midwest the new normal. And, what’s it like being an undocumented immigrant in America? The answer could depend on the color of your skin.
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad, we continue to push the conversation about climate change out of the political sphere and into science, where it belongs. 97% of U.S. government scientists agree that global warming is happening, including NASA’s chief scientist, Dr. James Green. He joins Soledad to explain how the space agency is using satellite technology to track changing rivers, peer deep into snowpacks, and work to predict future flooding before it becomes a humanitarian disaster. Plus, it’s been called the most beautiful building in Washington, and once you look inside you’ll see why. Soledad heads to the Library of Congress for a special tour with Carla Hayden. She’s the first woman, and first African-American to become Librarian of Congress. She not only shares her plan to keep libraries relevant in the digital age but also tells Soledad what her all time favorite book is. (We bet you haven’t heard of it.) And would you give up your First Amendment rights to get a job? 26 states have passed anti-BDS legislation. The laws are meant to show political support for Israel, and ban states from doing business with people and companies who protest Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians through BDS – boycott, divestment, and sanctions. But when does supporting an ally become unconstitutional? Soledad sits down with ACLU attorney Brian Hauss to find out. In our weekly segment, “we’re paying attention even if you’re too busy”, it’s not the sexiest topic on Capitol Hill but it could be the most important to your daily life: infrastructure. New analysis finds more than 235,000 bridges in the country are in need of repair and nearly 50,000 are structurally deficient. And without more funding from Congress, it could take a century to fix them all. And finally, emoji are getting a diversity upgrade. Emoji need to be officially approved by a special consortium. There are about 15 emoji that show hair, but not one is an afro. We’ll show how two women a
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, we return to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It’s one of the poorest areas in America, and has been devastated by major flooding that washed out roads and bridges leaving some residents stranded for weeks. Contributing correspondent, Joie Chen, traveled to Pine Ridge and shows us a community that’s in crisis but determined to rebuild. And journalism can be a dangerous business. Just ask Shahidul Alam. An award-winning photojournalist from Bangladesh, he was arrested last year after criticizing the government’s deadly crackdown against protestors. He was jailed for 107 days before being granted bail in November. Alam is in the U.S. where he received an award from the International Center of Photography in New York, but he’s returning to Bangladesh on Sunday. He’s due back in court on Monday and he admits he doesn’t know what fate awaits him. But Alam tells Soledad, as a journalist, he must return to stand up for freedom and the fourth estate. Plus, is man inherently good? It’s a question philosophers have been asking for centuries. With the hyper-partisanship in America, social media fueled rants, and depressing news headlines, you might think the answer is no. But Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a social scientist at Yale University, says you’d be wrong. He says our evolutionary DNA is built on love and kindness. He defends his optimism in his new book, Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society and joins Soledad to discuss the evidence of positive natural selection. In our weekly segment, “we’re paying attention even if you’re too busy” you Monday is the deadline to file your tax return. This year, the IRS is expecting a record number of Americans to file for an extension. The reason? This is the first filing since President Trump’s sweeping changes to the tax code took effect. But while extensions are up, refunds are down. The IRS says the average refund is down about $30 dollars ove
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, when it comes to vaccination, when does public safety override individual rights? That’s what elected officials, judges, religious leaders, and doctors are asking right now as a measles outbreak is hitting New York. And it’s not just New York, measles outbreaks have also been reported in New Jersey, Michigan, Washington, California. Can the government force everyone to get vaccinated? Soledad talks with Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the health commissioner for New York, to find out how the city is working to stop the spread of highly contagious virus. Plus, the lack of affordable housing is a problem for many Americans but for adults with disabilities it’s on the verge of becoming a disaster. There are nearly 1-million intellectually or developmentally disabled people living with a caregiver 60 years of age or older. As those caregivers age, many worry their adult children risk being institutionalized or becoming homeless. The warning comes as a massive wave of children with autism, about a half a million, will reach adulthood within the next decade. Correspondent Jessica Gomez tells us, in many parts of the country (including Wisconsin and Vriginia) parents are now taking matters into their own hands. Monday is Earth Day. Since 1970, Earth Day has been a celebration of achievements in protecting the environment and a call to action. Soledad talks to Denis Hayes, one of the founders of the Earth Day movement to find out what have been the biggest environmental policy successes in the past fifty years, and what are the two biggest threats facing the planet right now. Plus, for the first time, drivers in Mississippi can order a special license plate with a flag design that doesn’t include the Confederate emblem. Mississippi is that last state with a Confederate symbol on its official flag. This new flag was designed by the granddaughter of the state’s former U.S. Senator, John Stennis, who was a staunch segregationist du
City of Change; Chef on a Mission; Facebook's relationship with democracy
Capping Costs on prescriptions?; Stance against statues; The new American Dream?
The 19th Amendment
Leaving for Love?; Deportee Wives Club; Cool Crop
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien takes our listening tour to Sacramento for a special show on California. California has the fifth largest economy, is home to Hollywood and Silicon Valley. But the Golden State is also face some serious challenges, including massive wildfires. We travel to the town of Paradise, about ninety miles north of Sacramento, to see how the town is rebuilding six months after it was almost completely destroyed by a wildfire last November. Plus, former Governor Jerry Brown sits down for a one on one with Soledad O’Brien. Gov. Brown gets honest with Soledad about some of the biggest threats facing California (and the world), the future of high speed rail, and his new life making olive oil at his off the grid ranch in Colusa. And Californians struggle with some of the highest home prices in the country with a median price that tops half a million dollars. We travel to the Bay Area to find out how people with six figure salaries are struggling to make ends meet. Just outside of Sacramento is Stockton, California. This river port city is called the Gateway to the Central Valley and for years enjoyed a vibrant economy fueled by its ties to the ag industry. But Stockton has suffered in recent years and had to declare bankruptcy. Now, with funding from private sources, it’s making headlines for a new economic initiative. Stockton is the first city in the country to handout out cash – no strings attached – as part of a universal basic income study. And finally, no visit to Northern California would be complete without mentioning the iconic giant redwoods. These trees- some of the tallest and largest in the country – can be more than a thousand years old, and now scientists from U.C. Davis are working to map their genetic codes. It’s like “23 and me” but for trees. Researchers hope the information will help them determine which trees are better at resisting droughts and wildfires so they can better protect one of California’
Art Imitating Life; Legal Legacy; Leading the Future
James Patterson's Mission; The Deep Fake; Paying the Price of Trump's trade war with China
Pride Month
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien we are in America’s birthplace- Philadelphia. Pennsylvania is a critical battleground state in the upcoming 2020 Presidential election. As part of our MOF Listening Tour, we examine the issues that will drive voters to the polls here in the Keystone state. Since 1992, Pennsylvania’s electoral college votes had gone to the Democratic candidate but that changed in 2016. Donald Trump’s victory was driven in large part by support from voters in rural counties, including Erie. That’s where our special contributor, Joie Chen traveled to find out if voters will still turn out for Trump. Perhaps no one is better at understanding Pennsylvania voters than Ed Rendell. He served as governor from 2003 to 2011 and was also the mayor of Philadelphia. Gov. Rendell sits down with Soledad and has some advice for Democrats hoping to flip Pennsylvania from blue to red next year: “get ready for the fight of your life.” He also explains why progressive Democratic candidates could have a hard time selling their message in Pennsylvania. One issue that’s important to younger voters is student debt. That’s especially true in Pennsylvania which has the highest average student debt in the country, more than $36,000 per graduate. Millennial voters in Philadelphia tell our correspondent Jessica Gomez, they are looking for candidates who have concrete plans to fix the debt crisis impacting millions of voters. When it comes to partisan gerrymandering Pennsylvania had the dubious distinction of being one of the worst states in the country. In 2011, Republicans drew district maps in bizarre shapes that virtually guaranteed their candidates would win. Finally, the state Supreme Court stepped in and ruled it unconstitutional. A new map was drawn but as we find out, this issue is far from settled. Finally, no trip to Philadelphia would be complete without a little history lesson. We look back at how Philadelphia, which served as the unofficial capita
Border Blame Game; Faith at the Border; Deadly Crossing
Money Matters w/Bruce Mehlman; "Cell"ing Out; Reservation Relief
Face Off!, Privacy & the FBI; Back to the Moon, 50 years later; Hair Discrimination, Women of Color
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Erika Wilson, a professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina to discuss why public school equality is still a political fight. Plus, more Americans are choosing to live in Tijuana, Mexico to beat the high cost of housing in California. And, marine biologist Dr. Ayana Johnson talks with Soledad about working to find solutions for coastal communities.
Republican Rivals; Rossello Resigns; No Free Lunch
Return to Paradise; Booked and Busy; Enemies in Love
Motor City Makeover, Detroit from bankrupt to booming; Brink of Bankruptcy, Michigan farmers struggle; Leading Ladies, Black Women Voting in Michigan
A Classic Revival, To Kill a Mockingbird actor Gbenga Akinnagbe; Fighting for Victims, social media & online harassment; Supporting Veterans, suicide & supports animals
Church & State; Office Politics; No Place Like Home
Handcuffed at Home; Strange Encounters; Diploma Debt
Water Wars, coastal storms; World of Reading, librarian of congress; The Blob is back, marine biologists are worried
Hunting Isis; Climate Warrior; The Photo Ark
A Key Demographic, Asian American Voters; Rising Rent, how to survive rising costs; Taking Center Stage, a stage play blends tech & theater
Laughing Out Loud, Aida Rodriguez; Out of Okinawa, the Women of Okinawa; City of Change, fight of gentrification
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, our listening tour rolls into Chicago. Altgeld Gardens, a housing project once described as a “Garden of Eden,” was later dubbed a “Toxic Doughnut.” Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how this environmental nightmare could haunt Democratic presidential candidates in 2020. In January, Illinois will become the first state to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana. But one chronic problem remains. How do you handle the thousands of prior pot convictions? Soledad interviews Darius Ballinger, who’s fighting to get his cannabis conviction expunged. Emmanuel Pratt started the Sweet Water Foundation to literally grow a better neighborhood. He integrates agriculture, education and design in a resident-driven approach to community development. He gives Soledad a tour of the neglected city block he’s revitalized with pastures of produce and immaculate architecture. He calls it “urban acupuncture.”
Degrees of Debt, government tuition programs; Revolutionary Care?, a doctor's different approach to patient cost; Do Polls Matter?, a year from the next presidential election
Promised Position, a Cherokee delegate; Fight to Vote, is there violation of rights with I.D.'s; Hair We Are, women of color & hair discrimination
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien takes a look at a neighborhood in West Louisville as residents look to revitalize the area without pushing out the residents who already live there. Then, Soledad sits down with GOP strategist Bruce Hehlman as Republicans look to overtake the U.S. House in 2020. And Robert X. Fogarty explains how his passion project, Dear World, transformed into something much bigger.
Cuba Restrictions; Gitmo's Future; Farmers Struggling
Success Story, author Stephanie Land; Asian "Dreamers", DACA's future remains uncertain; Good for Democracy?, social media helping or hurting democracy
Caring Cure; Three's a Crowd?; Farm & the City
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien visits Stony Brook University to look into its groundbreaking program focused on creating upward social mobility for lower-income students. Then, award-winning journalist Andrea Bernstein joins her in studio to discuss her new book “American Oligarchy” and the rise of both the Trump and Kushner families. And, Soledad speaks MacArthur “Genius” award winner Annie Dorsen about how she is pushing the limits of artificial intelligence on stage.
This week on Matter of Fact, correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Pennsylvania where local lawmakers are working to help residents with student loan debt, as America’s bill reached a total of $1.6 trillion. Then, Soledad O’Brien speaks with National Geographic photographic Joel Sartore about his new book “The Photo Ark,” which features our planet’s most endangered animals. And Matter of Fact follows Ronald MacIntyre, one of nearly 700,000 people set to lose access to food stamps due to a new Trump administration rule.
This week on Matter of Fact is in Florida on the latest stop of the listening tour. First, Special Contributor Joie Chen speaks with Puerto Ricans living in the sunshine state. Many relocated after Hurricane Maria and could be a powerful voting block in the swing state. Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to the space coast which seeing a financial boost from the new space race. Then, Soledad O’Brien breaks down why the biggest swing state is such a political conundrum. And, we look at the history of why Iowa is the first in the nation.
This week on Matter of Fact, all eyes turn now to New Hampshire for the first primary in the 2020 election. Special contributor Joie Chen reports as thousands of potential voters are being kept from the polls. Then, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Rob Richie, the President and CEO of FairVote, about changing how we vote for the president. Plus, Soledad chats with Dr. Timothy Wong who doesn’t take insurance and charges just $35 per medical problem.
This week on Matter of Fact, the United States is on track to record its first $1 trillion deficit since 2012. Soledad O’Brien sits down with Joelle Gamble, an economist with the Omidyar Network, to discuss our nation’s growing debt. Then, Matter of Fact Correspondent Leone Lahkani sees how a farm is creating economic options for people with disabilities. Plus, Soledad speaks with NALEO’s Lizzette Escobedo about the controversial citizenship question and the misconceptions around the census.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien heads to South Carolina ahead of the state’s primary. She speaks with professors H. Gibbs Knotts and Jordan Ragusa, co-authors of “First in the South: Why South Carolina’s Presidential Primary Matters.” Then, Correspondent Jessica Gomez heads to Charleston where the city is preparing for rising sea levels. And, Special Contributor Joie Chen travels to the low country of South Carolina where Gullah artists are preserving their culture through tradition.
This week on Matter of Fact, Super Tuesday is right around the corner. Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from Virginia where a gun debate is dividing voters. Then, Soledad O’Brien sits down with UMass Amherst professor Tatishe Nteta to discuss what African-American voters are looking for. Here’s a hint: they don’t all want the same thing. Plus, professor Kelly Dittmar talks with Soledad O’Brien about the fine line women candidates walk. And, Soledad breaks down the math that makes Super Tuesday super.
This week on Matter of Fact, Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Michigan to speak with farmers who say the president’s trade policies have pushed them to the brink of bankruptcy. Plus, it’s essentially a two-man race for the White House. Will voters push for moderate former Vice President Joe Biden or progressive Senator Bernie Sanders? Whoever they pick, Democratic strategist Roshni Nedungadi tells Soledad O’Brien the party will have to change. And Matter of Fact heads to the Bay Area, where Californians are struggling to pay their rent, even those who make six figures.
This week on Matter of Fact, Chicago’s “Toxic Doughnut” turning back into the “Garden of Eden.” Special contributor Joie Chen shows us how this environmental nightmare could haunt democratic candidates in 2020. Plus, student debt has now reached an all time high of $1.6 trillion. Matter of Fact heads to Louisiana to see why state funds don’t always get to the students who need it. And, we travel to Three-Part Harmony food that working to help low income D.C. residents get access to healthy, affordable food.
This week on Matter of Fact, we go inside the “Rightfully Hers” exhibit at the National Archives, looking at the right to vote. Three historians -Ann Gordon, Marcia Chatelain, and Maggie Blackhawk-join Soledad for a discussion about the 19th Amendment. Then, Soledad speaks with two students to discuss how the 19th Amendment shapes their political engagement today. And, Soledad gets a special look at some of the most interesting items on display with exhibit curator, Corinne Porter.
This week on Matter of Fact, we bring you the remarkable story of women raising their babies behind bars. Before the COVID-19 crisis was a threat, Soledad talked to pregnant prisoners on the waiting list for a room in the J-Unit, at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. In the J-Unit, non-violent offenders get to bond with their newborns while serving time. In this week’s program, we follow a mom raising her daughter in the J-Unit, a mother on the waiting list, and one who learns she’ll lose her baby immediately after giving birth.
This week on Matter of Fact, millions of students across the country rely on school lunches to be fed throughout the week. We take a look at an army of volunteers working to feed students in Milwaukee during the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Brian Castrucci, head of the de Beaumont Foundation, about the importance of funneling funding into the public health care system both during and after the crisis. Then, Soledad speaks with Dr. Leo Seoane from Ochsner Health, about the alarming disparity in infection and death rates among minorities.
This Week on Matter of Fact, Special contributor Joie Chen takes us to Washington, DC, one of the most dangerous places in the U.S. to give birth, where some first-time parents are rethinking their delivery plans. Then, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Bryan Finney, founder of Democracy Live, about casting your ballot from your phone. Then, she speaks with Rev. Martin Montonye, from NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue, about how hospitals chaplains are still providing comfort from outside the patient’s room.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, how soon is too soon to reopen the country amid the coronavirus pandemic? Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dr. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director and CEO/President of Resolve to Save Lives. Then, a distance learning dilemma. Correspondent Jessica Gomez talks to parents struggling to ensure their children with learning disabilities don’t regress as schools remain closed. Plus, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dean Seneca, of the Seneca tribe, about the rapid spread of the coronavirus through tribal lands.
This week on Matter of Fact, how long can farmers get food to your table? Correspondent Jessica Gomez shows us how the coronavirus pandemic is straining our food supply chain. Plus, millions of jobless Americans are waiting on unemployment checks. Soledad O’Brien talks to Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist with the Economic Policy Institute, about how to fix the backlog. Then, Soledad speaks with New York Times best-selling author Michael Arcenaux about his new book, “I Don’t Won’t To Die Poor,” focusing on the struggle of student loan borrowers.
What can the 1918 flu pandemic teach us about our current pandemic? Special Contributor Joie Chen introduces us to a historian who fears we’ll see a second wave of COVID-19. Plus, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller about what kind of help cities need from Washington, D.C. during the crisis. Then, an app just for food stamp recipients designed to make the most of their benefits.
This week on Matter of Fact, states are looking to get people back to work while keeping them healthy. Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us to Detroit, where the Motor City is reassembling the pieces. Then, political tensions over mail-in ballots. Soledad O’Brien talks to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) about how her state has done mail-in elections for 22 years and how other states can make the switch. Plus, could the pandemic lead to a universal basic income? Soledad O’Brien talks to Annie Lowrey about her book “Give People Money.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, a salute to the brave who put our country first. We look at the paths of two service members, Col. Harvey Barnum whose career soared after receiving this medal, and Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris, whose honor was delayed for decades. Plus, a marine who lost both legs in combat keeps on running. Why he committed to a month of marathons.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at efforts to quickly find a vaccine for the coronavirus. Special Contributor Joie Chen shows us what it takes to develop a vaccine and a controversial type of testing. Then, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Johns Hopkins’ Dan Salmon about the process of rolling out the vaccine. Plus, Milwaukee was expecting thousands of visitors for the Democratic Convention. Soledad speaks with Mayor Tom Barrett about the alternatives during the pandemic.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with attorney and former politician Bakari Sellers about his new memoir, “My Vanishing Country.” Why he says his father’s arrest, more than a decade before his birth, was the most important day of his life. Then, she discusses with sociologist Dr. Rashawn Ray how the protests of George Floyd’s death could mark a turning point in the larger fight against systemic racism. Plus, as the nation confronts a racial crisis, we are still fighting a health pandemic. Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from a town of mostly migrant workers who are facing a severe coronavirus outbreak but can’t afford to stay home.
This week on Matter of Fact, challenging the future of policing in America. Soledad talks to former Camden, NJ Police Chief Scott Thomson about how they rebuilt their police force after disbanding the department. Then, she speaks with Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby about redefining public safety. Plus, a mother seeks sanctuary in a Maryland church for more than 500 days, sheltering from deportment. And, how Seattle tackled its homelessness crisis in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
There Goes the Neighborhood, Sweet Water Foundation; Poisoned Politics, an environmental nightmare; Second to None, top city of Chicago
This week, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien takes you to the center of the country’s first confrontation with COVID-19. We reveal some of the first moments leaders in Seattle, Washington began grappling with a new and deadly coronavirus, never before seen in the United States. In our documentary-style episode, we will introduce you to a family struggling on the streets during the pandemic; a daughter fighting to get care for her father while he is quarantined inside a nursing home; and local caregivers working to protect the most vulnerable in the community.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at what it means to be an American. We follow a naturalized immigrant judge as she swears in new citizens in Milwaukee. Then, Special Contributor Joie takes us inside a controversial vaccine shortcut known as “Human Challenge Trials.” Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez shows us a Detroit boxing gym has become an unlikely source of community support during the pandemic. And, a conversation with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor about the state of civics.
This week on Matter of Fact, an uncontrollable surge in coronavirus cases leads to dire warnings from health experts. What can the flu of 1918 teach us about the present pandemic? Plus, calculating the cost of economic recovery. Economist Heidi Shierholz explains how even employed Americans could feel the impact of unemployment benefits expiring. Then, Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from Lincoln, Nebraska where a large population of resettled refugees are struggling to help their families here and across the globe.
This week on Matter of Fact, as the United States struggles to get a handle on the coronavirus pandemic, an eviction crisis could be on the horizon. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Darlene Turner, who stands to lose her apartment of two decades, and Matt Desmond, from Princeton University’s Eviction Lab and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.” Then, millions of families are facing a difficult decision as the school year approaches: to keep their children at home or send them back to the classroom. Merrie Najimy, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, talks about the tough choices ahead of the new school year. Then, “A Most Beautiful Thing.” A documentary on the first all-Black high school rowing team is ready to be released at the end of the month. Soledad O’Brien talks with filmmaker Mary Mazzio, Arshay Cooper, the film’s inspiration, and executive producer Grant Hill.
This week on Matter of Fact, we show you a day in the life of a contact tracer. Meet Sivnathy Vasanthan, one of the thousands working to tell people when they’ve been exposed to COVID-19. Then, hope on the horizon for coronavirus patients. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dr. Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins University about the most promising treatments available. Plus, the U.S. Postal Service is set to run out of money by the end of the year. Special Contributor Joie Chen shows us the agency past and what could happen if the money dries up. And, the role of gender in American politics. Kelly Dittmar from Rutgers University-Camden returns to discuss how a woman VP could impact the election.
This week on Matter of Fact, Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us inside a rural hospital on life support. How the coronavirus pandemic could force facilities to close when residents need them the most. Then, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dr. Vaile Wright from the American Psychological Association about what could be a mental health crisis on the horizon. Plus, democracy is set to face a big test in November. Soledad talks to Matthew Weil, from the Bipartisan Policy Center, about why calling this year’s election will be unlike any other.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with immunologist Dr. James E. K. Hildreth, president and CEO of Meharry, about why we may need to adjust our expectations if we’re hoping to see a COVID vaccine by the end of the year. Then, some 130,000 Puerto Ricans have moved to the mainland following Hurricane Maria’s destruction. Special contributor Joie Chen shows us why some believe these American voters could help turn Florida blue in November. Plus, Native American women are speaking out as they say their daughters are disappearing without a trace.
This month marks 100 years since women won the right to vote in America. Historians -Ann Gordon, Marcia Chatelain, and Maggie Blackhawk-join Soledad for a discussion about how women shape democracy now and how they changed it even before they could vote. Plus, Soledad speaks with two young women, a Republican and a Democrat, about what role gender plays in the upcoming 2020 election. Then, we go inside the “Rightfully Hers” exhibit at the National Archives for a look back at the 19th Amendment.
This week on Matter of Fact, while congress fights over the next stimulus package, more people are turning to food banks. But how long can they feed this need? Soledad O’Brien speaks with Trinity Tran of Urban Partners Los Angeles, who says people are waiting in lines for hours to get food. Plus, will your vote count? Soledad talks with Trevor Potter, founder of the Campaign Legal Center, about what you can do to make sure your voice is heard in the 2020 presidential election. Then, NASCAR driving into controversy over the confederate flag. Special Correspondent Joie Chen introduces us to a new driver hoping to steer a new generation to the sport. And, what do students think about reopening schools in the pandemic?
This week on Matter of Fact, are both major parties missing the largest minority voting group? Antonio Arellano is the Interim Director of JOLT, the largest civic engagement effort in Texas. Soledad O’Brien asks him why he believes his generation of Latinos could make a big difference in November. Then, some states are passing laws to restrict protesters as demonstrators take to the streets calling for an end to racial injustice and police brutality. Soledad speaks with Tennessee State Rep. Jason Hodges about why he voted against a bill that could lead to felonies for protesters. Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez goes to Lincoln, Nebraska to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is feeding the hunger crisis around the world. And, we look at how election officials are preparing for a flood of mail-in ballots ahead of the November election.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with attorney and former State Rep. Bakari Sellers about his new memoir, “My Vanishing Country.” His father, a civil rights activist, was shot and charged with inciting a riot 16 years before Sellers was born. He says it was the most important day of his life. Then, in the aftermath of ongoing police shootings, Soledad talks with sociologist Dr. Rashawn Ray about whether this could mark a turning point in the fight against systemic racism. Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from a small Florida town of mostly migrant workers who are facing a severe coronavirus outbreak but can’t afford to stay home.
This week on Matter of Fact, should you pay to defend the president in court? Law Professor Stephen Saltzburg tells Soledad O’Brien government lawyers have no business getting involved in the president’s personal legal battles. Plus, how did Washington, D.C. become the U.S. capital? As Special Contributor Joie Chen shows us, it’s a story about slavery and the people who cast the monuments to a freedom they did not share. Plus, what does it mean to be an American?
This week on Matter of Fact, separating fact from fiction. We speak with Angie Holan of Politifact. Then, how our partisan biases filter which facts we accept. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Whitney Phillips from Syracuse University about how the combination of our own biases and social media can shape what we believe. Then, the West Coast is facing a deadly and record-breaking wildfire season. We document the families trying to piece their lives back together after Paradise, CA was destroying in the 2018 wildfires. Plus, former Olympic gymnast Chellsie Memmel shows us you’re never too old to chase your dreams.
This week on Matter of Fact, is voting a right or a privilege? Soledad O’Brien talks to NAACP attorney Janai Nelson about the legal battles across the country to either grant or deny access to the polls. Plus, how did USPS become a political battleground? Special Contributor Joie Chen shows us the Post Office’s past and its possible future. And, Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us to Wisconsin where a chef is using an anonymous donation to plant a seed of hope in her community.
This week on Matter of Fact, Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us to St. Helena, SC where a Gullah community is fighting to keep their homes passed down for centuries. Then, a look at the lives behind the rising coronavirus death toll. Plus, nearly half of U.S. adults say the pandemic is affecting their mental health. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dr. Vaile Wright from the American Psychological Association about what could be an emerging mental health crisis. And, Wes Moore, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, explains why you cannot understand poverty without understanding race.
This week, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien takes you to the center of the country’s first confrontation with COVID-19. We reveal some of the first moments leaders in Seattle, Washington began grappling with a new and deadly coronavirus, never before seen in the United States. In our documentary-style episode, we will introduce you to a family struggling on the streets during the pandemic; a daughter fighting to get care for her father while he is quarantined inside a nursing home; and local caregivers working to protect the most vulnerable in the community.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Jaime Harrison, the Democratic challenger to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) senate seat. Plus, we return to West Louisville, Kentucky to see the role public schools play in revitalizing a community. And, how does bias create stereotypes? Soledad speaks with Stanford University professor Jennifer Eberhardt about how bias impacts every part of our lives.
This week on Matter of Fact, 537 votes and a Supreme Court ruling made George W. Bush president in 2000. Could we see an election recount in 2020? Soledad O’Brien speaks with Billy Corben, the director of HBO’s documentary “537 Votes.” Then, a group of top conservative strategists are working to take down President Trump. They’re called the Lincoln Project and are running ads against the President in several swing states. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Fred Wellman who says this isn’t about saving the Republican Party. Plus, how do you combat bias in the media? Soledad O’Brien speaks with three prominent journalists: Maria Hinajosa, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA; Luis Rios, director of photography for the San Antonio Express News; and Matter of Fact Special Contributor Joie Chen.
This weekend, we look at voting in America. First, the president is calling for his supporters to “watch” the polls. Why an official poll watcher says that could lead to chaos. Plus, a watchdog group is calling on the media to reveal their election coverage plans. Then, a dark moment in New Jersey’s election history. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how voting measures in 1980 kept some people from going to the polls. And finally, we look at the challenges facing Native American voters, from not enough post offices and polling sites to few voter resources
This weekend, while all eyes have been on the presidential election, the United States is still struggling to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Correspondent Jessica Gomez and photojournalist Scott Curty have been following an ER doctor and his family in the Milwaukee area since the beginning of the pandemic and show us their journey. Then, a look at how the lives lost to COVID have touched so many others. Plus, a high school football team so good no one wanted to play them, forcing them to drop out of the league. Now, HBO is featuring the team in a docuseries called “The Cost of Winning.”
This weekend on Matter of Fact, we look at one state’s fight over electoral college votes. Nebraska divides its electoral votes depending who congressional districts support. Republicans want to make the contest winner-take-all, but progressive state Senator Ernie Chambers is standing in their way. Then, 2020 proved pollsters wrong again when the blue wave they forecast failed to make a splash. Communication Professor W. Joseph Campbell explains why he calls those polling problems a failure of journalism. And, several battleground states flipped from red to blue this election and the race in GA is still too close to call. That’s due in part to Black women showing up at the polls in force. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us their political power in Detroit.
This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, hundreds of rural hospitals are in danger of closing, overwhelmed by the growing number of coronavirus patients. Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from Titus County, TX where their regional medical center is being pushed to its limits. Then, as progress is made on a COVID vaccine, experts say they’re worried getting vaccinated could become politicized like wearing a mask. Top immunologist Dr. James E. K. Hildreth explains why vaccines need to be seen as a public health issue, rather than a political one. Plus, millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Trinity Tran who runs Urban Partners Los Angeles, one of the largest food banks in the country.
A free pop-up clinic in Brooklyn, NY; a random act of kindness helps Black farmers; an all-Black rowing team; three Korean-American women are elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; a father has to stay outdoors while his child is born.
School shutdowns and re-openings; a day of online learning for a disabled child; making over Louisville's west end; attempting to stop the ocean from claiming Charleston S.C.; push alerts for coronavirus protection; kelp burgers
This weekend on Matter of Fact, America is getting ready for its first shot at freedom. Within the next couple of days our health care workers will begin getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Stephanie Jackson’s in charge of the vital operation for Honor Health in Maricopa County, AZ. She takes us inside the hospital’s urgent preparations to immunize 1500 health care workers a day. Then, how do you know if your social media feed is telling you the truth? Whitney Phillips, an assistant professor who teaches media literacy at Syracuse University, tells Soledad it’s time we “reimagine our relationship with facts.” Plus, do churches have a higher calling to help more than just its congregation? Soledad takes us to Louisville, KY to see the role churches play in creating jobs and economic opportunity within the community.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at how the Latino community is struggling to make an economic comeback from the pandemic. Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Chicago to show us the challenges facing Latinos trying to get back on their feet. Plus, how a college is working to give lower income graduates a leg up without being crushed by student loan debt. And, health care workers have been fighting on the frontlines, struggling to keep patients alive at the hospital, and their families safe at home. We look at the journey of one ER doctor and his family.
The Presidential Medal of Honor; what happens when a hero is overlooked; a Marine who lost both legs in combat runs marathons; the Women in Military Service for America Memorial
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with former Representative Bakari Sellers about his recent memoir, “My Vanishing Country.” In it, he calls his father’s arrest, 16 years before his birth, the most important day of his life. Then, how do you combat bias in law enforcement? Dr. Rashawn Ray conducts implicit bias training for police departments and writes about policing in America. Soledad O’Brien spoke with him recently about fighting systemic racism. And, Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Immokalee, Florida, a town of mostly migrant workers, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. But even as cases continue to spread, many workers can’t afford to take off work even if they’re sick.
This week on Matter of Fact, a rare interview with federal district court judge. Judge Robert Brack handles criminal immigration cases, saying he has presided over a process that destroys families. He tells Correspondent Jessica Gomez that he wants to help fix the damage by reuniting families separated at the border. Plus, how do you call out lawmakers when they lie? Soledad O’Brien talks with Brown University Political Science Professor Corey Brettschneider about the media’s failures to fact check. Then, how responsible is social media for the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol? Soledad O’Brien talks with Fordham University Law Professor Olivier Sylvain about balancing First Amendment rights and big tech’s influence over what appears online. And, a look at vaccination efforts in the viewfinder.
This week on Matter of Fact, a look at the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She’s the first woman, first Black person and first person of South Asian descent to hold the second highest office in the land. Soledad O’Brien talks with Tal Kopan, from the San Francisco Chronicle, about why she says Harris will be one of the most empowered vice presidents ever. Plus, is the U.S. ready for a major third party? Special Correspondent Joie Chen travels to Pennsylvania to see if both parties could be headed for a breakup. Then, President Joe Biden is already untangling much of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. But it will take more than an executive pen to create real reform. Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from Juarez, Mexico where thousands of asylum seekers are stuck between the policies of two presidents.
The new housing crisis; political journalism/ a vertical farm run by people with disabilities; the Baseball Hall of Fame; a virtual view of the Sistine Chapel.
This week on Matter of Fact, a look at who’s often doing most of the work at home. As mothers face historic job losses during the pandemic, should they get paid just to be moms? Reshma Saujani is the CEO of “Girls Who Code” and now she’s leading the effort behind the “Marshall Plan for Moms.” Then, changing the pattern of racial disparity in American health care. Soledad O’Brien talks with Dr. James E. K. Hildreth, one of the nation’s leading immunologists, would bringing COVID vaccines directly to communities of color. And, Dr. Chris Pernell, a fellow at the American College of Preventive Medicine, explains in her own words what its like fighting the virus on the frontlines. Plus, Super Bowl LV isn’t the only championship game to be played during an international crisis. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how Super Bowl XIV provided a lifeline to American hostages in Iran.
This week on Matter of Fact, a look at the struggle to reunite families split up at the U.S.-Mexico border. Correspondent Jessica Gomez talks to a mother who was deported and hasn’t seen her sons since 2017. Plus, were there warning signs before the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol? Soledad O’Brien talks with former DHS analyst Daryl Johnson who says there were, but they were dismissed. And, “Writing into the Wound.” Soledad O’Brien talks with NYT best-selling author Roxane Gay about her new essay speaking to the hurt felt by the nation over the past year through a pandemic, racial injustice and volatile politics.
This week on Matter of Fact, we meet a group of young activists leading the charge against Anti-Asian American violence in the Bay area. They’re fighting a spike in attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, that have been on the rise since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last spring. This is just latest in hared against the Asian American community. In 1982, two white men beat Vincent Chin to death. He was Chinese, but they blamed him for the rise Japan’s auto industry, while America lost manufacturing jobs. Soledad O’Brien talks to Helen Zia, who was a journalist during that time, before becoming the spokesperson for the Justice for Chin campaign. And, a retired mother of two determined to mount an Olympic comeback. We follow her quest for a spot on the women’s USA gymnastics team.
This week on Matter of Fact, we talk to West Virginia’s COVID czar Dr. Clay Marsh. His state has vaccinated nearly 10 percent of its population. That’s one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. What are they doing right? Plus, What does the post-pandemic workplace look like? Elisabeth Reynolds, head of MIT’s Work of the Future, says we’ll probably see a hybrid model of being in the office and working remote. Soledad also talks to her about what we can do to make Americans with fewer tech skills aren’t left behind. And, preserving the unique heritage of the low country. Special Contributor Joie Chen travels into the heart of Gullah culture to show us how descendants of slaves held on to their rich traditions for nearly four centuries.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at how the water crisis in Flint, Michigan eroded trust in the community. Now, its overshadowing efforts to vaccinate the vulnerable. Plus, people living near California’s Salton Sea are facing high rates of both asthma and COVID-19. Why they’ve already been struggling to breathe for decades. And, what does it mean to be an American? Meet federal judge Nancy Joseph, a naturalized American, rolling out the welcome mat for our nation’s newest citizens.
This week on Matter of Fact, we’re taking a look at the Biden administration’s attempts to overhaul immigration policy. A federal judge who oversees criminal immigration cases gives us an inside perspective on what he sees in his court room every day. Why he says he has presided over a process that destroys families. Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Juarez, Mexico to talk to a Honduran mom who was deported in 2017 and hasn’t seen her two sons ever since. And, dozens of landowners living along the southern border have been fighting for years to keep their property from being used for a barrier wall. After the Biden administration paused construction, they’re now in legal limbo.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at gun reform in the U.S. After the Sandy Hook massacre, when a gunman killed 20 little kids and 6 adults, Shannon Watts founded “Moms Demand Action.” She talks to Soledad about how her group is working to pass stronger gun laws, in the wake of two mass shootings less than a week apart. Plus, we look at the possible future of the coronavirus pandemic by studying the history of the deadly 1918 flu pandemic. And, Soledad talks to poet Sonia Sanchez about her legacy and why she’s still hopeful her words can bring peace in a chaotic world.
This week on Matter of Fact, we visit Evanston, Illinois where some residents could get a form of reparations for housing discrimination. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how where you grow up can have a major impact on your success in life. Plus, next week is National Library Week. Soledad talks with Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and African-American to serve as the Librarian of Congress. And, how street artists in Washington, D.C. are using art as a voice of protest against racial injustice.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at how the pandemic is feeding the global hunger crisis. Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us to Lincoln, Nebraska where resettled refugees are struggling to feed their families here and in the countries they left behind. Plus, Soledad talks to award-winning photojournalist Shahidul Alam about his fight for freedom of the press. And, NASCAR drove into controversy over the confederate flag last summer. Special Correspondent Joie Chen introduces us to a new driver hoping to steer a new generation to the sport.
This week on Matter of Fact, we take on the tug-of-war over voting rights. Last week, more than 100 business leaders got on a Zoom call to talk about what those proposals could lead to and how they could add their voice to the conversation. CEO of the Leadership Now Project Daniella Ballou-Aares tells us what they plan to do next. Plus, Soledad talks to investigative reporter Judd Legum about his take on the corporate involvement in the voting rights debate. Then, Native American women and girls are disappearing across the country. We talk to the families of victims who say they are outraged, but law enforcement isn’t doing enough. And, Maryland is taking a step toward police reform, starting with the repeal of their Law Enforcement Bill of Rights. Soledad talks to Dr. Rashawn Ray about how Maryland’s landmark reforms could increase transparency and accountability in policing.
This week, Soledad talks to Dr. Steven Kniffley. He leads the Collective Care Center at Spaulding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and specialized in treating race-based trauma. Plus, we talk to Shaka King, director and one of the writers of “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Why he says the specifics of this story matter to our political dialogue. Then, Soledad talks with Andrea James. She spent time behind bars and wants to right the racial injustice she saw in prison.
This week, Policing reforms in New Jersey; how Americans think democracy should work; the tight housing market; the U.S. census and congressional representation; how two former slaves made Kentucky Derby history
This week, we’re taking a look at a first-of-its kind high school in Alabama looking to lead students to success with a radical idea. Correspondent Jessica Gomez heads to Birmingham’s Build UP High School to show us how it all works. Plus, during World War II, 23-year-old Californian Fred Korematsu was thrown in jail for refusing to go to a Japanese internment camp. His daughter Karen shares his story. Then, America is in the middle of a monumental shift as the younger generation redefines pop culture. It’s not the first time. Journalist and CNN analyst Ron Brownstein chronicles the nation’s shift after the 1960’s in his book, “Rock Me on the Water.”
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at the emerging worker shortage. A small grocery store chain owner shares his struggle to rebuild his business. And we get a perspective from labor economist Valerie Wilson about what this could mean for the workforce of the future. Plus, what happens when the justice system gets it wrong? Soledad talks to Jason Flom. He’s a founding board member of The Innocence Project and host of the podcast, “Wrongful Conviction.” And, we show you a young two-spirit couple in Nevada is redefining cultural norms in their Native American community.
This week, we take a look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, 100 years later. On May 31st, 1921, white mobs laid siege to a neighborhood known as Black Wall Street. And yet, it’s a major historical event that doesn’t make it into many U.S. history books. Plus, Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us the generational trauma left by the most violent election day in U.S. history in 1920. Then, disability justice advocate and attorney Lydia X. Z. Brown talks about what it’s like to be multiply marginalized in America. And, we head to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas to see how the pandemic is changing the way we train our military recruits.
A recent Pew Research study shows more young adults are living with their parents than during the Great Depression. Soledad talks to Jeffrey Passel from the Pew Research Center about the changing timeline for those who want to set up their own households. Plus, a recent grad shares what she’s learned living with three generations of adults under the same roof. Then, we head to North Carolina to hear a tale of two pastors. One leads a predominantly Black church; the other a predominantly white church. See how this married couple is trying to foster racial reconciliation. And, Soledad talks to Dr. Brian Castrucci, head of the de Beaumont Foundation, about helping parents overcome vaccine hesitancy.
This week on Matter of Fact, correspondent Jessica Gomez shows us the remarkable friendship between a cop and a man arrested that’s endured a murder conviction, prison time and nearly 30 years. Plus, how can businesses bring more women back into the workforce? Soledad talks to Beth Humberd, an associate professor of management at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and an expert on gender and diversity in the workplace. And, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas shares his thoughts around citizenship as an undocumented immigrant.
This week, we’re taking a closer look at child poverty in the U.S. Normally, parents would receive their child tax credit at the end of the year. But could receiving it in monthly installments help families struggling to put food on the table? A New Mexico family shares how this could be a lifeline for them. Soledad talks to New Mexico State Rep. Javier Martinez (D) about why he says the policy should be extended beyond this year. Plus, we’ve got a look at the history and possible future of the U.S. Postal Service. And, a forbidden love story in the middle of WWII. Soledad talks to Alexis Clark about her book, “Enemies in Love,” when a German solider in a POW camp fell in love with an African American nurse.
One in five Americans rely on rural hospitals for health care services. This week, we revisit a facility in rural Texas that’s one of hundreds fighting to keep their doors open. Plus, Soledad talks to Ilyasah Shabazz about her parents, Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, and her family’s legacy. Then, a look at the work of Benjamin Banneker, one of the first cicada researchers. And, in the VIEWFINDER, we show you the Emancipation Heritage Trail being proposed in Texas.
This week, we’re looking at discrimination against the LGBTQ community, especially those who are also people of color. Prejudice often hurts them more than their white peers, from their financial situation to their mental health. We talk to the National LGBTQ Task Force about setting up protections for the LGBTQ community. Plus, 11 percent of Washington, DC is considered to be a food desert. We walk through an urban farm that’s growing fresh produce for the community. And Soledad talks to Atlantic staff writer Annie Lowrey to talk about guaranteed income – also known as universal basic income.
This weekend on Matter of Fact, a salute to the brave who put our country first. We look at the paths of two service members, Col. Harvey Barnum whose career soared after receiving this medal, and Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris, whose honor was delayed for decades. Plus, a marine who lost both legs in combat keeps on running. Why he committed to a month of marathons.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at what it means to be an American. Correspondent Jessica Gomez set off on a road trip from Denver to St. Louis to listen to how people feel about their American identity. Plus, Special Contributor Ray Suarez shares the story of one of the most important contributions from immigrants: the building of the transcontinental railroad. And, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Nikole Hannah Jones shares what inspired her work on the New York Times’ 1619 Project.
This week on Matter of Fact, we bring you the remarkable story of women raising their babies behind bars. Before the COVID-19 crisis was a threat, Soledad talked to pregnant prisoners on the waiting list for a room in the J-Unit, at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. In the J-Unit, non-violent offenders get to bond with their newborns while serving time. In this week’s program, we follow a mom raising her daughter in the J-Unit, a mother on the waiting list, and one who learns she’ll lose her baby immediately after giving birth.
This week on Matter of Fact, we visit with the residents of Paradise, California. The 2018 Camp Fire destroyed their home. How they’re working to rebuild their lives. Plus, employers are working to bring back more employees who are now accustomed to working from home. Soledad talks to Beth Humberd, an associate professor of management at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and an expert on gender and diversity in the workplace. And, millions of American families are now getting direct monthly payments from the Child Tax Credit. The push to make those payments permanent.
This week, we share the story of an unlikely friendship between a cop and a man he arrested. Plus, Soledad O’Brien talks with Dr. Brian Castrucci, head of the de Beaumont Foundation, about fighting vaccine hesitancy. Then, a look at the warning signs before the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol.
This week, a look at the growing tension between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. We follow a COVID survivor who is going door-to-door to get her Chicago community vaccinated. Soledad also talks to Dr. Laura Murray, a clinical psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, about the psychology behind vaccine hesitancy. Plus, a dire warning about climate change. We talk to Dr. Jessica Tierney, a lead author of the U.N.’s new report on global warming. And, Jessica Gomez shows us a new way to train workers for the skills employers are looking for.
Afghanistan withdrawal. Race Against Time; Women's Rights Threatened; Passport to Freedom
Mask Mandate Face-off; Remembering Emmitt Till; Help for Haiti
Extreme Misery (climate change); Facing the Unimaginable (children with Covid-19); Olympic Courage (Bonnie St. John)
New beginnings for Afghan refugee families in America; whether the coronavirus relief packages worked; a microbrewery run by active gang members; a wrong turn by climate scientists leads to a discovery.
Global warming and disasters; environmental racism; plastic packaging; improving the cheetah's odds of survival; the Butterfly Highway in the United Kingdom
A Mississippi case barring abortion after 15 weeks; the deadliest disease outbreak in U.S. history; comic Gina Brillon shares her thoughts on Latinos in America; immigration courts; the United Farm Workers.
The mass exodus from jobs; Puerto Rico's power problems; rural Americans, hospital closures and COVID-19; increases in violent crime; a manmade glacier.
Critical infrastructure systems that need repair or replacement; Sylvia Mendez, whose legal case laid the foundation for Brown vs. Board of Education; a restaurant's comeback; vaccines for HIV and malaria; Beethoven's 10th Symphony completed.
This week on Matter of Fact, a look at the supply chain crisis, as it keeps products off of shelves and is causing prices to spike. Correspondent Dina Demetrius talks to a business owner who is anxiously waiting for his products to arrive. Plus, America has a drinking water problem. Catherine Coleman Flowers is a MacArthur Genius Award winner, and the founding director of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice. Soledad talks to her about how she’s looking for solutions to help communities suffering from lack of access to clean water. Then, how California’s shrinking Salton Sea is polluting the community around it.
A small American town responds to the changing dynamics and needs of its community; Minneapolis voters may impact police departments around the U.S.; Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's work; sponsoring Afghan families; retire wind-turbines
The Supreme Court hears a major case that could change how and where Americans carry guns; a farmer in a male-dominated industry; the EPA Presidential Innovation award winner; overloaded emergency rooms; a boxing gym gets a massive outdoor complex.
Why women are leaving the workforce; America's schools face shortages; the climate change crisis; a possible planet in another galaxy; the origin of Veterans Day.
Two women who started the Black and Missing Foundation; an innovation training program; a brutal massacre in Florida's history; New Dehli, India, chokes on toxic air; wind turbine walls.
A high school changes students' lives; athlete, scholar, executive and White House adviser Bonnie St. John; a restaurant owner attracts and keeps employees; gay sweetheart dancers take part in a Pow Wow; how cranberries are grown and picked.
Vaccination numbers have dropped in West Virginia; jury selection and how serving on a high-profile trial can impact jurors; Roe vs. Wade; a road trip from Denver to St. Louis; Africans build a great wall of plants and trees.
Attitudes about bias and racism; racial stereotypes through the years in Hollywood; author Wes Moore; rapper Genesis Israeli Rose Schmitz Briggs Be.
What people say about their American identities; challenges and what holds the nation together; builders of the Transcontinental Railroad; the Chinese Exclusion Act; founder of the New York Times 1619 Project Nikole Hannah Jones; Jose Antonio Vargas.
A program that pays kids to go to school and provides them with job training; Paralympic skier, author and public speaker Bonnie St. John; chef Amanda Cohen; competitive sweetheart dancers Sean Snyder and Adrian Stevens; cranberries.
Exploring the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak; stories of people trying to find safety and protect the most vulnerable as the outbreak spreads; how the U.S. is dealing with the Omicron variant.
Voters worry about the stability of the U.S. electoral system; a mega-drought grips the western U.S., affecting farmers; students protest the banning of books; the Child Tax Credit; the January 6th attack.
Whether COVID will become endemic; missing persons of color; early civil rights activist Claudette Colvin; Afghan evacuees in need of permanent housing.
The "No Surprises" Act is intended to reduce individuals' medical debt; Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas; Kyren and Kyng Gibson; the education crisis; four-day work weeks.
Immigrants help to revitalize the economy; starvation in Afghanistan; a new way to staff a police force; the oil spill off the Pervuvian coast; the U.S. blood crisis.
Inflation, house prices and rent; the 1980 Super Bowl; Alex Paen, who secured access to the U.S. compound during the Iranian hostage crisis; effects of making neighborhoods greener; the 5G rollout; giving redwood forests back to Native Americans.
Matter of Fact brings seven strangers together for a virtual social experience. See what happens when texting turns to talking – as they react to viral videos showing racial bias. Plus, how symbols and on-screen representation impact the way we see each other.
The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on schools; tiny houses; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu; indigenous women who have gone missing or been murdered; palm trees and the environments.
In a far-reaching interview, Soledad O’Brien speaks with the multi-talented John Legend about his musical roots and his passion to fix what he calls the “ criminal punishment system.”
No, the pandemic is not over. As vaccine and mask restrictions ease, Matter of Fact looks at how immunocompromised and COVID-19 long haulers will be affected in this new phase. Plus, a look at the amount of disinformation and misinformation about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Battling big polluters in North Carolina; the megadrought in the western U.S.; urban farms help to fight food insecurity; palm trees may be harming the environment.
In this episode of Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien looks at some of the changemakers working to close the inequity gaps in American society. Author Ibram X Kendi; the Hope Chicago scholarship program; racial activist Beth Howard; civil rights activist Dolores Huerta; Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
This week Matter of Fact visits the community of Jackson, Mississippi, to see how police officers and non-profits are coming together to curb gun violence. Plus, we look at the effects of inflation on millennials and Gen Z-ers, and talk with one of the last American athletes to escape Ukraine.
This week Matter of Fact looks at why more than 20,000 ballots were rejected in last month’s Texas primary. Plus, we look at how Ukrainian Holocaust survivors are being evacuated to Germany and sit down with Jackson, Mississippi’s mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba to see where he stands on police funding and abolishing open carry laws.
Teenagers in crisis. This week, Matter of Fact looks at teen mental health as rates of depression and anxiety are on the rise, worsened by the pandemic. Plus, we look at the connection between diabetes and COVID-19.
Separate is never equal. This week, Matter of Fact catches up with Sylvia Mendez, a pioneering civil rights leader who as a child paved the way for integrated schools – years before Brown v. Education. Plus, we look at how a North Carolina brewery is bringing rival gangs together to curb violence and meet up with a rising star and one of the changing faces of NASCAR.
Memory loss. Physical exhaustion. This week Matter of Fact takes a closer look at how COVID-19 long haulers — up to an estimated 23 million Americans — are struggling to access medical care. Plus, evictions are higher than before the pandemic and North American indigenous nations are getting back some of their land.
Abortion Rights. This week, Matter of Fact takes a closer look at the leaked majority opinion regarding the future of Roe v Wade. Plus, how the wide-scale use of facial recognition monitoring technology is raising questions about privacy rights and civil liberties.
Child care is expensive. This week, Matter of Fact looks at how both parents and child care providers are struggling to keep up with the costs. Plus, innovative safe homes are helping women return to community instead of prison and an update on an “unlikely friendship.”
Traumatic Grief. This week, Matter of Fact looks backs on another community impacted by the violence from racism and white supremacy: Charleston, South Carolina. Plus, a look at why children in one New York neighborhood are at higher risk of asthma. Then, how gun violence is now the leading cause of American youth deaths.
A high school football coach makes a documentary to destigmatize suicide; children's and adolescents' mental health; touring production "Drumfolk" tells the story of Stono Rebellion; climate change and sleep; the murder of George Floyd.
This week Matter of Fact looks at the hard truth of bias.
This week, Matter of Fact revisits the Listening Tour, “To Be An American.
This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad speaks with civil rights leaders Dolores Huerta and Ibram X. Kendi. Plus, a sit-down with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and a closer look at Rednecks for Black Lives and Hope Chicago.
Digital deserts. This week Matter of Fact meets with a group of rural Arkansans working to get what millions of Americans already have: an affordable, reliable Internet connection. Plus, a closer look at how equipped the current power grids are to handle heat waves and an interview with WNBA player-turned-owner Renee Montgomery on the importance of Title IX.
Basketball for change. This week, Matter of Fact connects with the Miami Heat basketball team to see how they’re working to bridge relationships between police officers and local communities. Plus, a closer look at the harassment and threats facing local election officials and a behind-the-scenes look at Capitol Hill’s newest statue of legendary educator and civil rights leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
Tech in your backyard. This week, Matter of Fact catches up with a trio of entrepreneurs who are building a tech hub in their hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, to create jobs and inspiring a new generation of innovators. Plus, legendary comedian Margaret Cho gets candid about finding her voice and a conversation with composer Andrea Ramsey about how she’s bringing the past to the present.
Sweet potato gin and vodka. This week Matter of Fact takes a look at the legacy of one farm family in Arkansas and how it’s putting a new spin on an old crop. Plus, how a group of dedicated public health researchers is combatting misinformation in BIPOC communities, and California schools have a new plan to increase the number of school counselors desperately needed by students.
Climate change and asthma. This week Matter of Fact looks at how children in one New York neighborhood are at higher risk of developing asthma than anywhere else in the city. Plus, a closer look at the legendary baseball player Roberto Clemente and questions about the long-term stability of our power grids in the face of prolonged heat waves.
This week Matter of Fact looks at the 100-year-old history of Japanese-American boarding houses and meets with three LA-based men worried about losing the only home they’ve known for decades to a hot real estate market. Plus, HBO “Katrina Babies” filmmaker Edward Buckles, Jr, speaks with Soledad & poet Elizabeth Acevedo performs “Inheritance,” based on her poem, “Hair.”
A national shortage of the truck drivers, mechanics, and technicians. This week Matter of Fact looks at an innovative training program helping workers get the skills to get the jobs. A visit with the CEO of American Diesel Training Centers to see its effort to have companies pay for tuition is successfully recruiting and retaining new hires. Plus, a conversation on criminal justice reform between Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and abolitionist Richie Reseda.
Food waste and test scores. This week Matter of Fact looks at a group of Brooklyn bikers who are trying to reduce and change the way New Yorkers think about food waste. Plus, what to do about low test scores among 3rd graders and a look at the science behind why so many online daters are tired of swiping.
Bills, bills, bills. This week Matter of Fact looks at the large number of Americans falling behind on utility bills and struggling to keep food on their tables. Plus, how one man is quite literally following in the footsteps of abolitionist Harriet Tubman and what’s next for Golden Globe winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.
This week Matter of Fact travels to a West Virginian community recruiting high school students for an innovative teacher education program, in hopes of tackling the nationwide teacher shortage. Plus, the future of space travel, how a drought in the West is affecting livelihoods and why a rock-n-roll band made it to the Supreme Court.
Priced out. This week Matter of Fact looks at the competitive housing market keeping wannabe-buyers as renters and the innovative role that one Milwaukee non-profit is playing to get more families affordable mortgages. Plus, how the 2022 voting process has changed in Georgia and the growing movement to restore stolen land to Native Americans.
Dangerous deliveries. This week Matter of Fact looks at some of the reasons behind the soaring costs and deaths associated with pregnancy in the U.S. by speaking with women in rural Texas who are traveling hours to reach a maternity ward. Plus a look at the future of affirmative action now before the Supreme Court and how justice was denied to a young Emmett Till in 1955.
Meek. Tired. This week Matter of Fact looks at how history has simplified Rosa Parks’ legacy, dismissing her decades-long activism before — and after — her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1955. Plus, how climate change impacted America’s first Asian American settlement and the struggles that many COVID long-haulers have when it comes to memory and physical stamina.
Guns. Inflation. Abortion. This week Matter of Fact drives across the country to meet with Americans stressed about how they’re going to pay their bills, protect their kids and ensure that tomorrow is better than today. Plus, how a non-profit is paying off Americans’ medical debt and the difficulties of tracking voter migration across state lines.
This week Matter of Fact continues our journey across the U.S., talking with Americans about the impact of rising costs, the debate over abortion and concerns about the future. Plus, how Hurricane Ian is impacting Florida’s elections and community residents rallying to lift the Bronx neighborhoods out of poverty.
Education. This week Matter of Fact explores the debate over what should be taught in the classroom — and catches up with a four young women who fled Afghanistan with their family, now getting the education their peers cannot. Plus, a look at the growing tech manufacturing industry in Los Angeles and crash dummies that finally reflect reality.
Creating new spaces. This week Matter of Fact looks at one Louisiana woman’s mission to help formerly incarcerated individuals get a college education. Plus, an artist resisting gentrification and a filmmaker designing a new company to spotlight Latino and Hispanic stories.
From Colorado to Maryland, correspondent Jessica Gomez takes Matter of Fact viewers across the U.S. to talk with Americans about what keeps them up at night – and what keeps them going.
Digital connection. This week Matter of Fact looks at how TikTok is helping teach people on limited budgets make healthy food choices and advocate for their own well-being. Plus, a Match.com biological anthropologist shares the science behind what so many Americans already know — dating is exhausting.
This week Matter of Fact looks at how state bans on abortion have left gynecology students scrambling to find residency programs that provide the training they need to be certified in obstetrics. Plus, research that could move companies toward a four-day work week and a long-promised seat in Congress might be in sight for one Native American nation.
Shortages. This week Matter of Fact looks at the shortage of labor and delivery nurses across America, especially in remote areas. Plus, how a shortage of mental health resources and affordable housing inspired a new California law aimed at helping unhoused people suffering with mental illness.. The show also takes a closer look at two high-profile SCOTUS cases— one that could shift the federal courts’ ability to oversee elections, and the other re-examines the line between free speech and discrimination.
New strategies. With the growing number of homeless around the country, Matter of Fact looks at housing affordability issues and the best ways to address the “state of emergency.” Plus, a closer look at how medical schools are scrambling to accommodate new abortion bans, and we hear from suicide prevention advocates who are hoping a new number will save more lives.
This week, Matter of Fact of heads to Chicago to talk to a community group training high school students and residents to treat victims on gun violence on the scene. They say this training could save lives in neighborhoods with slow emergency response times. Plus, Soledad chats with Mariko Bennett, the author of “The Blueprint to Manifest Your Dreams,” about following through on the goals you set for yourself. Also, the U.S. Census redefines what rural and urban living mean and find out how a slower grocery checkout lane encourages connections.
Correspondent Jessica Gomez visits cousins who continue to document the Iranian regime's crimes at risk to their own safety; artificial intelligence in schools; long COVID; ancient Romans' cement; a scientist protected trees in American cities.
The U.S. skilled trades sector faces a dire worker shortage; the 1980 Super Bowl and the Iranian hostage crisis; efforts to save a local newspaper; a shape-shifting robot; a game teaches children about the devastating effects of climate change.
Depression and suicide in teens who are constantly online; banned books; a Black-owned distillery; dying trees; an unusual museum in Alaska.