Winning is something President Obama has gotten quite used to over the past five years. Yes, there have been some bumps, fights, and scandals along the way, but for the most part, he has been able to accomplish his larger goals including comprehensive healthcare reform, appointing two women to the Supreme Court, repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”… the list continues. Now, he has the chance to pass a monumental immigration bill that will reform a system that hasn’t changed since Ronald Reagan occupied the White House. On Saturday, Melissa Harris-Perry guest host Ari Melber will discuss the Republicans who are moving to block the bill by adding amendment after amendment that threaten to vastly change the bill’s intent.
The show will turn its focus to education; specifically, a school-to-prison pipeline policy in Texas, where children who miss too much school could be charged with criminal misdemeanors, face a $500 fine along with other costs if the families choose to hire a private lawyer. Advocacy groups believe this program is unconstitutional, falling under “cruel and unusual punishment,” and hope the DOJ will agree with them.
Is disgraced former Senator Todd Akin making a political comeback? No–that was just Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., you heard discussing his thoughts on the rarity of pregnancy from rape earlier this week. Melber and our panel will break down the draconian anti-abortion bill Franks is sponsoring in Congress, as well as the newest wave of legislative assaults on women’s reproductive rights in Wisconsin along with other bills in Ohio, Alabama, and Texas.
Friday marks six months since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Our Melissa Harris-Perry panel will discuss the state of our national gun debate, efforts by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg to affect the 2014 midterms, and where we go from here.
Be sure to read what we’ve linked above, and watch Melissa Harris-Perry Saturday at 10 a.m. EST on msnbc! Also, don’t forget to join us on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #nerdland.
Rachel Zuckerman