More than a decade after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the country is once again in turmoil. The memory of our nation’s long, deadly and costly war now casts a large shadow over Washington as lawmakers debate possible responses to attacks on major Iraqi cities by the Islamic militant group ISIS.
Host Melissa Harris-Perry will talk with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who earned admiration and notoriety alike for, in 2001, casting the lone vote in Congress against another costly U.S. intervention in Afghanistan.
After a momentous court decision this week, job security and workplace protections for teachers all across the state of California have been imperiled. Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu struck down the state’s teacher tenure laws, claiming they discriminate against poor and minority students by keeping “grossly ineffective” teachers from being fired. But can we really say that the problems in the California school system stem from the fact that not enough teachers are losing their jobs? Harris-Perry will talk with American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten about the details of the case and the future of teacher tenure.
20 years ago next week, 95 million Americans sat transfixed in front of their televisions as they watched former NFL star O.J. Simpson’s white Bronco drive down the highways of Los Angeles in what would become one of the most high profile car chases in history. On Sunday's Melissa Harris-Perry, we will discuss that infamous day and what the subsequent trial and media coverage taught us about race and justice in America.
In 1964, despite the best efforts of local civil rights activists, fewer than 7% of African Americans were registered to vote in the state of Mississippi. But that year, students from across the country sojourned down to the Magnolia State, braving the threat of violence and brutality to engage in what we remember today as a seminal season of coordinated non-violent civil disobedience. As we enter the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, Melissa will be joined by documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson to talk about his new PBS documentary that documents the experiences of those student activists and the history they made.
And also, our host will remind you why we call this #nerdland, as she breaks down the intersection of "Star Wars," Disney and gender. Plus, a special Father’s Day tribute that you definitely won’t want to miss.
Be sure to read what we’ve linked above, and watch Melissa Harris-Perry Saturday at 10am ET on msnbc! Also, don’t forget to join us on Facebook, and on Twitter with the hashtag #nerdland.