dn2026-0429-es

This episode of Democracy Now! covers a series of escalating geopolitical and domestic crises in 2026. The U.S. under President Trump intensifies its confrontational stance toward Iran, with Trump issuing public threats on Truth Social and the U.S. imposing new economic sanctions that impact Iran’s oil trade with China, driving crude prices to $112,000. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation faces internal turmoil, with former FBI Director James Comey formally charged over a social media post interpreted as a threat against Trump, amid a broader pattern of political targeting of justice officials. Domestically, the Federal Communications Commission launches a politically charged investigation into Disney’s diversity policies after Trump and First Lady Melania Trump publicly criticized Jimmy Kimmel’s joke about her. The episode also highlights the Trump administration’s dismantling of scientific institutions, including the firing of 22 members from the National Science Foundation and the cancellation of over $1 billion in grants via the now-defunct DOGE agency. Immigration policy is further militarized, with plans to convert hazardous waste sites into immigrant detention centers, sparking legal challenges and health concerns. In South Africa, xenophobic violence escalates ahead of elections, and in Colombia, drone and bomb attacks surge, with political figures warning of a right-wing terror campaign aimed at destabilizing democracy. The episode paints a picture of global instability fueled by authoritarian governance, institutional erosion, and rising violence.