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Mueller Takes the Wheel, The Legality of Leaks, Chuck Klosterman

The Takeaway

Coming up on today’s show:

  • On Wednesday evening, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Robert Mueller, the former director of the FBI, would step in and serve as a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the election. Robert Ray, a former federal prosecutor and independent counsel for the Whitewater investigation, explains how Mueller’s appointment could change the scope and timeline of the investigation.
  • Last night, our partners at The New York Times reported that the Trump transition team knew about the DOJ’s investigation into Michael Flynn, the president’s former national security adviser, before he came into the White House. Karen Tumulty, national political correspondent for The Washington Post, explains how the new revelations about Flynn may change the Russia probe. 
  • Leaks continue to come out of the Trump Administration. Paul Rosenzweig, an attorney, a homeland security consultant, and a professor at George Washington Law School, explores the difference between leakers and whistle-blowers, their legal protections, and whether the practice of revealing information sets a damaging precedent.
  • In recent months, there have been a number of deaths at the Adelanto Detention Facility, a privately run Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Southern California. Robin Urevich, a contributor to the publication “Capital and Main,” shares the story of Norma Gutierrez, a 41 year old woman who lost full use of her right arm and leg after suffering from what appears to be a stroke, and was refused treatment at the facility.
  • Many people living in coastal communities worry about sea level rise, inland farmers often fear increasing droughts, and others are concerned about super storms and hurricanes.All of these things have the same root cause: The gradual heating of the atmosphere. In Austin, KUT Reporter Mose Buchele explores how his community is working to cool things down. 
  • In his latest book, author Chuck Klosterman shares a series of essays on culture, sports, relationships, ethics and technology. Klosterman says that the work represents “a portrait of my interior life: I watch games, I listen to music, and I daydream about the rest of reality.” He joins The Takeaway to discuss his new work, which is entitled “Chuck Klosterman X.”
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