Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
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.