Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Podcasts Take Two
Friday Flashback: Obama's sanctions against Russia, Hillary's presidential bid and more
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Jul 18, 2014
Listen 10:57
Friday Flashback: Obama's sanctions against Russia, Hillary's presidential bid and more
A look back at the week's biggest stories focuses on Obama's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Hillary's yet-to-be declared presidential bid.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 09:  U.S. President Barack Obama answers questions during a press conference in the East Room of the White House August 9, 2013 in Washington, DC. Obama answered questions on national security issues and related matters during the press conferece.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama answers questions during a press conference in the East Room of the White House.
(
Win McNamee/Getty Images
)

A look back at the week's biggest stories focuses on Obama's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Hillary's yet-to-be declared presidential bid.

It's Friday, and we're taking a look back at this week's biggest news stories: President Obama's sanctions against Russia, why Hillary Clinton needs to focus on African-American voters if she's running for president, and how a sex trafficking law is creating a backlog at the U.S. border.

Take Two is joined this week by Robin Abcarian, political reporter with the L.A. Times, and Jamelle Bouie, a staff writer with Slate.

First up: Obama's decision to increase sanctions against Russia over its actions in the Ukraine conflict. Chief among those targeted by the White House are energy firms, financial institutions and arms suppliers. How do Obama's actions differ from sanctions made by European leaders? 

Just today, Vladimir Putin asked for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Could this mark the beginning of a resolution? 

Moving to national issues, there's the matter of Hillary Clinton currying favor with voters. Even though she has yet to formally announce her bid for president, she may want to focus her attention on black voters, who will prove crucial in winning the Democratic primary.

Does Clinton have reason to worry about Senator Elizabeth Warren, another likely presidential hopeful? And how remarkable is it that these two women are getting so much presidential buzz?

Finally, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, a 2008 law that aims to stop sex trafficking, is causing a backlog of Central American immigrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexican border.

Why? The law requires all underage immigrants from countries aside from Mexico and Canada to stand before an immigration judge prior to deportation. A bill by Texas congress representatives attempts to solve the problem by simply sending those children back to their home country without visiting a judge.