The Kim Brown Show » Podcasts

Today on The Kim Brown Show: Is JP Morgan Chase arbitrarily closing bank accounts of Muslim and Arab Americans on the basis of religion?  That's what the Michigan chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations wants the Treasury Department to find out.  They filed a federal complaint, alleging JP Morgan Chase offered curt notice to dozens of Muslims and Muslim-owned businesses before telling those customers to withdraw their funds from those accounts.  Dawud Walid is the Executive Director of CAIR in Michigan and he breaks down what is happening to his constituents. In a move that his severely compromised his cool points, Obama's adminstration announced yesterday that we will be offering military support to the Syrian rebels, though the White House has not articulated what form that support will take.  Listen, I get the deplorable humanitarian crisis that's happening in Syria, with over 90,000 people dead.  However, look at our track record in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.  When we engage in regime change, we have a tendency to leave the situation worse than how we found it.  Moreover, we don't know who the rebels are and whether or not they will later turn those arms on US. Lastly, Obama has been taking heat over the NSA surveillance program and rightfully so.  What is he doing with our emails and phone calls?  Better question, why has he followed in the footsteps of his predecessor and moving the goalposts on the government's legal limits to spy on its citizens?  Rachel Levinson-Waldman is the DC counsel for Liberty and National Security at the Brennan Center.  She breaks it DOWN.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: Fail to the Redskins! 10 members of Congress sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to request the Washington Redskins change their name.  In his response, he basically said beat it, echoing Redskins' owner Dan Snyder's sentiments.  Two white guys telling an ethnic group that they have no right to be offended by a racial slur used for the nation's capital professional football team.  Michael Tomasky wrote a great piece, where he details the racist history of this franchise, beginning with former owner George Preston Marshall.  White supremacy wins again. Also, imagine you are driving stone sober and you get pulled over by the police and are subsequently arrested for DUI.  There has to be another factor that contributed to your arrest, right?  Such was the case in Surprise, AZ for 64 year-old Jessie Thornton.  Jessie was driving home one night from the gym, after doing some laps in the pool.  It was late, and apparently Jessie crossed the center line one time.  After he was pulled over, the cop observed his red eyes.  Jessie told the officer that he had just come from swimming, which the officer immediately called shenanigans because, after all, everybody knows black folks can't swim.  Thornton was taken to the station, took a Brethalyzer test (he blew a 0.00), yet was still charges with DUI. WOW.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: I spoke with a Columbia University neuroscientist, Dr. Carl Hart, about his new book, "High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery that Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society".  The book is an autobiography, with the doctor's research about drug effects and addictions.  He asserts that most users of hard drugs are, in fact, not addicted. Dr. Hart also says the way America casually blames drug-addiction for societal ills, such as poverty, low-education and crime, are unfounded.  This guy comes from a position of authority on this issue.  As a research scientist, he's been putting in work in the lab, testing bammas, and drawing scientific conclusions.  Yet, he drew upon some of his difficult life experiences to annotate his findings. Good stuff. Also, have you seen this report out this week from the ACLU?  The War on Marijuana in Black and White: Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Arrests is a damning account of how racist law enforcement targets African-Americans for arrest, when studies prove the usage rates of marijuana between black and white Americans are relatively equal.  Racism is the only explanation as to why this disparity in arrests exists.  I go in.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: Kiss your civil liberties goodbye.  This week, the Supreme Court handed down a momentous decision regarding the police's ability to take a DNA sample from a person if they are arrested.  Here's how you know that the Maryland v. King decision is scary as shit: Antonin Scalia wrote the dissent.  When the most conservative justice on the bench takes major umbrage with government overreach into our bodies, its worth paying serious attention to it. The police can take your DNA, they will load it in a database, and will keep it there FOREVER, even if you are found not guilty. I'm not good at legal speak, but Gloria Browne-Marshall is.  She teaches Constitutional law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and she joins me to explain how chilling this court's ruling is on this case, especially for communities of color. Also, the police continue to be lawless thugs, shooting civilians with no consequences.  34 year-old Ricardo Diaz-Zeferino was unarmed, and killed by the police because they thought he was gesturing near his waistband.  His family (and witnesses) are calling bullshit on the cop's accounting of what happened last Sunday evening.  Bay Area journalist and activist, Davey D, has been covering heinous instances of police brutality and harassment.  We spoke about how police are more protected by the law than civilians, plus, why politicians on both sides of the aisle pay little attention to over-zealous law enforcement.  

Today on The Kim Brown Show: After yesterday's show, two additional egregious stories about police brutality and murder came to my attention and we talked about them today.  In Miami, a 14 year old boy was trying to avoid a confrontation with police by walking away.  The police, in turn, slammed him to the ground, choked him, and arrested him.  They claim the boy's "dehumanizing stares" were threatening.  Wow.  Some of these punk ass cops can't deal with someone mugging them? Aren't they the ones with the guns and training? Then, in St. Louis, a 25 year old college honor student was shot 25 times by police after placing his weapon on the ground.  The police are out of control, nationwide.  People of color, especially young men, are the police's primary targets.  Again, silence from the political right on the issue of government intrusion, harassment, and definite overreach into communities of color. But the Right was quick to speak up on this: 40% of American households with children aged 18 and younger, have women as the primary breadwinners.  To me, this finding says a few things.  Women are getting educated and handling their business at record rates.  It also says, either women are deciding not to deal with some men's bullshit or that men are just not stepping up, thereby requiring women to assume more of a hunter role.  But of course, the conservative freak out turned sexist, as somehow these responsible women are being blamed for the disintegration of both marriage and families.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: An associate of one of the alleged Boston Marathon bombing was killed by the FBI while being questioned. 27 year-old Ibragim Todashev was killed by federal agents, after they claim he went crazy and began to stab at one of the officers, with a blade.  The FBI even claimed the agent sustained non-life threatening injuries. Welp. That was a lie. New reports cite unnamed sources that say Todashev was unarmed.  So why is he dead?  We discuss. Plus, the very disturbing case out of Kern County, California about 33 year-old David Silva who was beaten to death by police, in front of bystanders.  Some of the witnesses captured the beating on their cell phones.  One witness claims their phone was confiscated by police, then returned with the video of the incident missing. Boolsheeit. Can we trust the police to investigate themselves?  Do we, as citizens and taxpayers, have any recourse against un-justified killings of unarmed citizens?

Today on The Kim Brown Show: The President gave a very interesting speech this week about national security.  I know issues of national security can sometimes wind up as a snoozefest, but I felt this one had some gravity.  There was a lot of the President doing a bunch of CYA (cover your ass) regarding his drone program.  My impression was, this was a legacy speech.  Could be one of the more definitive speeches of his administration.  He attempted to be apolitical.  He explained how he's kicked al-Qaeda's ass, but did little to address how to quell domestic, home-grown terrorism.  He implored Congress, once again, to close down Guantanamo Bay prison. Oh, and he was also politely interrupted by the co-founder of Code Pink, Madea Benjamin.  She voiced her displeasure over the treatment of those being detained in Gitmo.  I agree.  Either charge those people with a crime, or send them home.  Check out the entire speech below.  Definitely worth watching.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: It's graduation season! Time for the class of 2013 to get their celebrity commencement speech, get their proverbial pat on the tush, and head out into the world.  The Obamas were on the commencement speech circuit, and they both addressed historically black colleges and universities (HBCU's).  Michelle stayed local and spoke at Bowie State University, while the President traveled to Morehouse College in Atlanta.  These speeches raised a good opportunity to analyze how the Obamas speak to black America.  The President has been criticized (justifiably) for not specifically addressing issues affecting black America, while taking the time to write executive orders that overwhelmingly assist Latinos and offering verbal support for the gay community. Obama received over 90% of the black vote in 2008 and 2012.  What did black America gain for its  unilateral support for the first black President of the United States?  From what I can tell, not much.  Is it too late for the black community to hold Obama accountable? Also, there's a governor's race in Virginia.  Both candidates are kinda meh, but the Republican ticket got a dash of crazy from a black conservative.  Bishop E.W. Jackson is the nominee for Lieutenant Governor, behind the very scary Ken Cuccinelli, and on behalf of liberals, we THANK the GOP for selecting these frightening gentlemen.  In case you haven't heard the good Bishop's word, uh...here ya go?

Today on The Kim Brown Show: There are kids in middle school today whose entire existence has been spent with America in an armed conflict, halfway around the globe.  After 9/11, most folks understood why U.S. military forces invaded Afghanistan: the Taliban had set up shop and supposedly, that's where Osama bin Laden conceived and executed those attacks.  But in 2003, when President George W. Bush started to expand our shit-list of regimes that he said "supported terror", most were surprised when the war drum began to beat for Iraq.  That was 2003.  We just left there at the tail-end of 2011. My guest today is Michael O'Brien.  He has written a book called "America's Failure in Iraq: Intervention to Withdrawal 1991-2010".  Michael was a Department of Defense contractor in Iraq, plus he's former military and a conservative.  During our conversation, he explains how the initial failure in Iraq began in 1991, after President Bush failed to finish the job of removing Sadaam Hussein from power.  I argue that America has a bad habit of arming people who later turn those weapons on us or our allies, like Hussein, bin Laden, and many others. Michael is very passionate about this topic and he's very strident of his love for his country.  Listen to this conservative tell it like it is.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: The stunning rescue of three young women in Ohio, who were being held captive for several years, captivated the country this week.  Less important, though slightly more captivating, is the soundbyte machine that is Charles Ramsey.  Mr. Ramsey is the dutiful, McDonald's-munching, permed out hero who helped kick in the door that freed Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight, and Gina DeJesus.  I talk about how Charles, and the lesser known hero Angel Cordero, took personal risk to intervene in this situation.  Heroes. Also, the Congressional hearings on the Benghazi attacks continued this week.  They've held nine of these.  Jon Stewart does a great job putting this in perspective, compared to the three congressional hearings held during the Bush administration on more attacks on American diplomatic outlets.  Four Americans gave their lives in service of this nation; the tragic way in which they met their end should not be ammunition for political advantage.  Its very evident that Republicans want to tie Benghazi to Hillary Clinton's ankle, like a cinderblock.  Meanwhile, I chastise the Obama administration for not doing a better job of checking in with the families of the victims of the Benghazi consulate attacks. Plus, I discuss the gross expectation of security in a nation where we participated in regime change (Libya) and how the subsequent instability makes a high-level of security impossible.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: On Saturday, I went to the DC 101 Chili Cook-Off to see one band: RDGLDGRN.  I LOOOVE these guys!  Could barely contain my glee as I sat down with them for a few minutes.  Check out my man-on-the-street interview with one of their fans and me kickin' it with the band backstage.  These guys are super dope, super talented, super DMV'ers, AND they are influenced by go-go.  Look at this video to see DAVE GROHL and PHARRELL bigging up these fine young men. Also, I spoke with the writer and director of the new documentary about Angela Davis.  Shola Lynch spoke with me about her latest project, Free Angela.  Here's the plot outline of this compelling story: The high stakes crime, political movement, and trial that catapults the 26 year-old newly appointed philosophy professor at the University of California at Los Angeles into a seventies revolutionary political icon. Nearly forty years later, and for the first time, Angela Davis speaks frankly about the actions that branded her as a terrorist and simultaneously spurred a worldwide political movement for her freedom. Lastly, my Voice of Russia colleague, Carmen Russell-Sluchansky, calls in to recap the special election held Tuesday in South Carolina's first Congressional district.  Former governor Mark Sanford turned into Political Lazarus, resurrecting his  elected career. all with his jumpoff fiancee by his side.  Find out how he was able to put the whammy on Steven Colbert's sister, who Carmen says ran a decent campaign.  

Today on The Kim Brown Show: I recap the White House Correspondents dinner and the best of Barry Obama.  The President showed his comedic chops were display.  He properly skewered the media, his detractors, and the obstinate Republicans in Congress. Winning. Also, the major announcement from Washington Wizards center Jason Collins, that he is gay.  He's the first active male athlete in the three major, American, professional sports leagues to reveal his homosexuality.  Not sure why this is a big deal, considering many WNBA players have come out of the closet.  Of course, the religious crazies also came out of the closet to condemn Collins' revalations, including ESPN's Chris Brussard and the host of The 700 Club, Pat Robertson.      

Today on The Kim Brown Show: As the investigation continues into the Boston Marathon bombings, I've been struck by the tone of surprise and incredulity from the American media at how Russian intelligence helped to bring the Tsarnaevs onto our radar.  There's this gross misconception that somehow Russia remains our old, Cold War enemy.  While we've had some recent, public spats over adoption bans and Magnitsky lists, our two nations share a lot of counter-terrorism intelligence and joint military exercises.  Obama is cool with Putin, and vice-versa. I attempt to quell some of these stereotypes. Its been alleged that chemical weapons are now being used in Syria.  Why is this important to us?  The international community senses the urgency in getting involved in the Syrian conflict to stop the bloodshed, estimated to be about 70,000 dead over the past two years, which means we will be in this somehow.  The President addressed this at his press conference this week and I'm joined with Salman Shaikh, the Director of the Brookings Doha (Qatar) Center , to explain the gravity of the Syrian situation and how the risk of regional instability could affect the entire world.  

Today on The Kim Brown Show: When I debate conservatives, they are always quick to point out that Democrats of yore were inherently racist, opposed to the civil rights movement, and founded the Ku Klux Klan.  All true. What my conservative friends conveniently overlook is most of those "DixieCrats" eventually moved along to the Republican party and their remnants remain in the modern-day GOP. But don't believe me.  Let's ask the professors. My first guest is Joseph Crespino, a professor of history at Emory University.  He's also the author of the book, "Strom Thurmond's America".  No one's career demonstrates the evolution of the mid-century Democrats into present day Republicans, better than Thurmond's.  The majority of his Congressional career was rooted in styming advances in civil rights for black people.  All while secretly having a black child. THIS guy.... Later in the program, I was also joined with David Lublin, a government professor at American University.  David brings us up to speed on the "Southern Strategy" and helps us to understand the disconnect between the Republican party and black Americans.  If you've ever had questions about the ideological switch between the two major political parties, this show is a must listen.

Today on The Kim Brown Show: The investigation continues into the Boston Marathon bombings and the motivations of the Tsarnaev brothers.  What's been troublesome are the calls for the suspension of Constitutional rights for Dzohkhar Tsarnaev, who became a naturalized citizen last year.  Some lawmakers, like Senator Lindsay Graham, have called for Tsarnaev to be held and tried as an enemy combatant.  Which is preposterous. Famed civil liberties attorney and Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz joins me to fully explain the legalities involving what the rights of American citizens when it comes to being charged with acts of terror.  Plus, I get his take on the tacit implementation of martial law in the Boston area, as the search for the bombing suspects reached its zenith. Plus, I openly wonder why some think radical Islamists are our biggest threat to national security and not radical, American, white supremacists like Wade Michael Page.  The perpetrators behind some of our nation's most horrific mass shootings, were born here and trained here in our military.  Those combatants are not seen (certainly not reported in the media), as being a "threat".