Tensions are rising in Iran as thousands of people are taking to the streets in protests against the government. Center for Human Rights in Iran's Deputy Director Omid Memarian explains the economic factors driving the unrest, and implications of social platforms being blocked inside the nation.
"The protests have been spontaneous," says Memarian. "Economy is one of the major problems in Iran. Embezzlement by Iranian officials--corruption is deeply rooted in ranking officials."
The Iranian government has blocked social media platforms including Facebook, Telegram, and Instagram. Memarian says this move is dangerous. "It shows how the government is very insecure," said Memarian.
The deadline for Congress to pass the budget is approaching, but Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) says there's another priority. He joined Cheddar to discuss why Dream Act recipients are pivotal to the economy.
Minneapolis's Andrea Jenkins, the first black, transgender woman to be elected to public office, discusses sexual harassment in politics and whether Democrats will be able to keep the momentum that brewed during the historic 2017 elections.
U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) shared her concerns over the Republican tax reform bill and her excitement for the SELF DRIVE Act.The bill meant to expedite the testing of autonomous vehicles was unanimously approved by the House.
After groundbreaking results in the 2017 off-year elections, newly elected Virginia delegate Elizabeth Guzman joins Cheddar from Capitol Hill. She discusses her pride in being a one of the few Latinas taking office, what it means to represent Latino children, and why the state of Virginia responded as it did at the ballot.
The one thing issue that could impact Hawaii more than it can any other state is North Korea, Colleen Hanabusa told Cheddar. "I'm just glad [Trump] didn't start tweeting while he was in South Korea."
New Jersey's first Sikh mayor spoke to Cheddar about 2017's groundbreaking elections. Bhalla says that American citizens wanted to have their voices heard at the ballot boxes.
This congressman believes that President Donald Trump understands what it takes to prevent North Korea from expanding its nuclear weapons project. As the president continues his multi-nation trip in Asia, this is the message he hopes Trump gets across to North Korea and other countries.
Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger joins Cheddar to remind us that Russia is not our ally. He says that the administration's possible involvement with Russian interference in the U.S. elections remains unclear, but the country needs to adopt a tougher stance on the issue.
"[Putin] is actually a bad dude," Kinzinger said. He points out that prior administrations that have been optimistic about smoothing over relations with him have never succeeded.
"He's really just an old KGB agent that wants to basically tear up the old way of Eastern Europe," Kinzinger said.
As Washington debates the future of Obamacare, the former Congresswoman representing the U.S. Virgin Islands says the statute is still "the law of the land," and it will be difficult to eliminate.
While the Republican Congressman from Ohio says passing new laws on gun control won't solve the problem, he points out that current laws need to be followed and that there's no right or wrong time to talk about the issue.
