Real Time with Bill Maher: General Michael Hayden on National Security and the Election (HBO)

Former NSA and CIA Director Michael Hayden joins Bill Maher to discuss a hypothetical Trump presidency in this clip from February 26, 2016.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/pC7-RMhfSos

Barbara Lee: Post-9/11 Vote Should Not Be Used as Blank Check to Keep Waging Perpetual War

A year ago today, President Obama sought congressional approval to attack the self-proclaimed Islamic State. The request came six months after the U.S. began bombing Iraq and Syria. The resolution imposed a three-year limit on U.S. operations but did not put any geographic constraints. It also opened the door for ground combat operations in limited circumstances. However, Congress has yet to hold the constitutionally mandated debate and vote on the war against ISIL. Instead, the strikes have been carried out using an outdated authorization passed by Congress in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Now, over 20 members of Congress have sent a bipartisan letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan calling for a debate and vote on the multibillion-dollar war raging in the Middle East. We speak to one of the signatories, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA). She’s the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Peace and Security Task Force and the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/T7xpdmMMNHw

Ted Cruz says Barack Obama 'dramatically degraded our military'

"Barack Obama right now, No. 1, over seven years, has dramatically degraded our military. You know, just two weeks ago was the 25th anniversary of the first Persian Gulf war," the Texas senator said. "When that war began, we had 8,000 planes. Today, we have about 4,000. When that war began, we had 529 ships. Today, we have 272."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jan/28/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-says-barack-obama-has-dramatically-degrad/

Should We Go All-In On ISIS? (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

The heat on President Obama to go heavy with military action against ISIS is high now. There are body bags in Paris, multiple deadly ISIS attacks outside its self-proclaimed caliphate, and a political season on in the US that amps up everything. Critics say that in his determination to get the US out of a central role in the Middle East, Obama has been too restrained. And ISIS has grown. The President is clearly skeptical of big intervention. But the debate is on, again. This hour On Point, the next move. Roger Cohen calls for rage and NATO intervention. Barry Posen says even now, restraint. — Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/11/23/isis-syria-iraq-paris-attacks-ground-troops

Robert Gates: Republicans' Grasp of National Security Is at Child's Level

Former defense secretary says level of dialogue among candidates "would embarrass a middle schooler."
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/robert-gates-republicans-grasp-national-security-childs-level

'Gutted?' 'Disaster?' AP Fact Checks 2016 GOPers' False Claims About Military

Trashing Obama and arguing that he has failed to spend enough on defense has become a staple for Republican presidential hopefuls. At the debates and campaign stops, they've cast him as a feckless commander in chief, standing idly by while the world's finest military withers away...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fact-check-gop-us-military

Shocking New Report Exposes Widespread Dysfunction on U.S. Military Bases

Over 100,000 soldiers are non-deployable because they do not meet proper standards of sleep, nutrition or physical activity...
http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/shocking-new-report-exposes-widespread-dysfunction-us-military-bases

Democrats Accuse Mitch McConnell Of Holding Up Funding For 9/11 First Responders

It's "just plain wrong to play politics with the healthcare of these 9/11 heroes," Chuck Schumer said...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mitch-mcconnell-911-first-responders_565e0601e4b08e945fecfc61

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Bernie Sanders: "Instead of fighting ISIS, (the Saudis) have focused more on a campaign to oust Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen."

"Saudi Arabia, turns out, has the third-largest defense budget in the world," Sanders said on Nov. 19. "Yet instead of fighting ISIS they have focused more on a campaign to oust Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/24/bernie-s/bernie-sanders-right-saudi-arabia-more-focused-con/

America's Descent into a Third World-Style Kleptocracy

According to the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International, our country comes in 17th in the least-corrupt sweepstakes.
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/americas-descent-third-world-style-kleptocracy

These Bipartisan Security Experts Say Climate Change Is A National Security Threat

The impacts are real, and the costs of inaction are unacceptable."  ... Read more

Obama Vetoes $612B Defense Bill In Rebuke To Republicans

UPDATE: Oct. 22, 2015, 4:52 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama vetoed a sweeping $612 billion defense policy bill Wednesday in a rebuke... Read more

Obama uses veto for only fifth time, rejecting defense authorization bill - The Washington Post

“The president believes that the men and women who serve in our armed forces deserve adequate and responsible funding, not through a gimmick or not through a slush fund but one that would — could withstand scrutiny,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/president-to-use-veto-for-only-fifth-time-to-reject-defense-authorization-bill/2015/10/22/58a455a6-78d4-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_story.html

Whoa, Pentagon Influences TV Shows Like 'American Idol'? New Documents Show Collaboration

The military is everywhere in our arts and entertainment looking for a way to promote its public relations agenda.
...  Read more

The Republican Party's Ridiculous Parade of Phony Libertarians

Politicians like Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul seem to contradict the ideals of libertarianism.
...  Read more

Real Time with Bill Maher: Rand Is Off Brand (HBO)

Bill and panelists Neera Tanden, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and Jon Meacham discuss Rand Paul's pivot from his former beliefs.
https://youtu.be/-VoMoV8Mg7c

Sanders on Budget Priorities

https://youtu.be/VU_wOiNS-Ik

Rand Paul Changes His Tune On Defense Spending

Late Wednesday, he introduced a budget amendment which would increase the defense budget by 16 percent over the next two ... Read more

14 Reasons Why House and Senate Republicans Have Declared Economic War On Average Americans

Poll after poll finds Americans want the exact opposite of what the GOP proposes.
...  Read more

Budget Amendment on Auditing the Dept. of Defense

http://youtu.be/y6Gti3iXXds