Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien

This week on Matter of Fact, should you pay to defend the president in court? Law Professor Stephen Saltzburg tells Soledad O’Brien government lawyers have no business getting involved in the president’s personal legal battles. Plus, how did Washington, D.C. become the U.S. capital? As Special Contributor Joie Chen shows us, it’s a story about slavery and the people who cast the monuments to a freedom they did not share. Plus, what does it mean to be an American?

This week on Matter of Fact, separating fact from fiction. We speak with Angie Holan of Politifact. Then, how our partisan biases filter which facts we accept. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Whitney Phillips from Syracuse University about how the combination of our own biases and social media can shape what we believe. Then, the West Coast is facing a deadly and record-breaking wildfire season. We document the families trying to piece their lives back together after Paradise, CA was destroying in the 2018 wildfires. Plus, former Olympic gymnast Chellsie Memmel shows us you’re never too old to chase your dreams.

This week on Matter of Fact, is voting a right or a privilege? Soledad O’Brien talks to NAACP attorney Janai Nelson about the legal battles across the country to either grant or deny access to the polls. Plus, how did USPS become a political battleground? Special Contributor Joie Chen shows us the Post Office’s past and its possible future. And, Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us to Wisconsin where a chef is using an anonymous donation to plant a seed of hope in her community.

This week on Matter of Fact, Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us to St. Helena, SC where a Gullah community is fighting to keep their homes passed down for centuries. Then, a look at the lives behind the rising coronavirus death toll. Plus, nearly half of U.S. adults say the pandemic is affecting their mental health. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dr. Vaile Wright from the American Psychological Association about what could be an emerging mental health crisis. And, Wes Moore, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, explains why you cannot understand poverty without understanding race.

This week, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien takes you to the center of the country’s first confrontation with COVID-19. We reveal some of the first moments leaders in Seattle, Washington began grappling with a new and deadly coronavirus, never before seen in the United States. In our documentary-style episode, we will introduce you to a family struggling on the streets during the pandemic; a daughter fighting to get care for her father while he is quarantined inside a nursing home; and local caregivers working to protect the most vulnerable in the community.

This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Jaime Harrison, the Democratic challenger to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) senate seat. Plus, we return to West Louisville, Kentucky to see the role public schools play in revitalizing a community. And, how does bias create stereotypes? Soledad speaks with Stanford University professor Jennifer Eberhardt about how bias impacts every part of our lives.

This week on Matter of Fact, 537 votes and a Supreme Court ruling made George W. Bush president in 2000. Could we see an election recount in 2020? Soledad O’Brien speaks with Billy Corben, the director of HBO’s documentary “537 Votes.” Then, a group of top conservative strategists are working to take down President Trump. They’re called the Lincoln Project and are running ads against the President in several swing states. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Fred Wellman who says this isn’t about saving the Republican Party. Plus, how do you combat bias in the media? Soledad O’Brien speaks with three prominent journalists: Maria Hinajosa, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA; Luis Rios, director of photography for the San Antonio Express News; and Matter of Fact Special Contributor Joie Chen.

This weekend, we look at voting in America. First, the president is calling for his supporters to “watch” the polls. Why an official poll watcher says that could lead to chaos. Plus, a watchdog group is calling on the media to reveal their election coverage plans. Then, a dark moment in New Jersey’s election history. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how voting measures in 1980 kept some people from going to the polls. And finally, we look at the challenges facing Native American voters, from not enough post offices and polling sites to few voter resources

This weekend, while all eyes have been on the presidential election, the United States is still struggling to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Correspondent Jessica Gomez and photojournalist Scott Curty have been following an ER doctor and his family in the Milwaukee area since the beginning of the pandemic and show us their journey. Then, a look at how the lives lost to COVID have touched so many others. Plus, a high school football team so good no one wanted to play them, forcing them to drop out of the league. Now, HBO is featuring the team in a docuseries called “The Cost of Winning.”

This weekend on Matter of Fact, we look at one state’s fight over electoral college votes. Nebraska divides its electoral votes depending who congressional districts support. Republicans want to make the contest winner-take-all, but progressive state Senator Ernie Chambers is standing in their way. Then, 2020 proved pollsters wrong again when the blue wave they forecast failed to make a splash. Communication Professor W. Joseph Campbell explains why he calls those polling problems a failure of journalism. And, several battleground states flipped from red to blue this election and the race in GA is still too close to call. That’s due in part to Black women showing up at the polls in force. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us their political power in Detroit.

This week on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, hundreds of rural hospitals are in danger of closing, overwhelmed by the growing number of coronavirus patients. Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from Titus County, TX where their regional medical center is being pushed to its limits. Then, as progress is made on a COVID vaccine, experts say they’re worried getting vaccinated could become politicized like wearing a mask. Top immunologist Dr. James E. K. Hildreth explains why vaccines need to be seen as a public health issue, rather than a political one. Plus, millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table. Soledad O’Brien speaks with Trinity Tran who runs Urban Partners Los Angeles, one of the largest food banks in the country.

A free pop-up clinic in Brooklyn, NY; a random act of kindness helps Black farmers; an all-Black rowing team; three Korean-American women are elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; a father has to stay outdoors while his child is born.

School shutdowns and re-openings; a day of online learning for a disabled child; making over Louisville's west end; attempting to stop the ocean from claiming Charleston S.C.; push alerts for coronavirus protection; kelp burgers

This weekend on Matter of Fact, America is getting ready for its first shot at freedom. Within the next couple of days our health care workers will begin getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Stephanie Jackson’s in charge of the vital operation for Honor Health in Maricopa County, AZ. She takes us inside the hospital’s urgent preparations to immunize 1500 health care workers a day. Then, how do you know if your social media feed is telling you the truth? Whitney Phillips, an assistant professor who teaches media literacy at Syracuse University, tells Soledad it’s time we “reimagine our relationship with facts.” Plus, do churches have a higher calling to help more than just its congregation? Soledad takes us to Louisville, KY to see the role churches play in creating jobs and economic opportunity within the community.

This week on Matter of Fact, we look at how the Latino community is struggling to make an economic comeback from the pandemic. Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Chicago to show us the challenges facing Latinos trying to get back on their feet. Plus, how a college is working to give lower income graduates a leg up without being crushed by student loan debt. And, health care workers have been fighting on the frontlines, struggling to keep patients alive at the hospital, and their families safe at home. We look at the journey of one ER doctor and his family.

The Presidential Medal of Honor; what happens when a hero is overlooked; a Marine who lost both legs in combat runs marathons; the Women in Military Service for America Memorial

A look back at the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.; challenges it makes on a homeless family; a woman tries to insure her father is getting necessary care while quarantined in a nursing home; public health officials and caregivers.

This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien speaks with former Representative Bakari Sellers about his recent memoir, “My Vanishing Country.” In it, he calls his father’s arrest, 16 years before his birth, the most important day of his life. Then, how do you combat bias in law enforcement? Dr. Rashawn Ray conducts implicit bias training for police departments and writes about policing in America. Soledad O’Brien spoke with him recently about fighting systemic racism. And, Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Immokalee, Florida, a town of mostly migrant workers, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. But even as cases continue to spread, many workers can’t afford to take off work even if they’re sick.

This week on Matter of Fact, a rare interview with federal district court judge. Judge Robert Brack handles criminal immigration cases, saying he has presided over a process that destroys families. He tells Correspondent Jessica Gomez that he wants to help fix the damage by reuniting families separated at the border. Plus, how do you call out lawmakers when they lie? Soledad O’Brien talks with Brown University Political Science Professor Corey Brettschneider about the media’s failures to fact check. Then, how responsible is social media for the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol? Soledad O’Brien talks with Fordham University Law Professor Olivier Sylvain about balancing First Amendment rights and big tech’s influence over what appears online. And, a look at vaccination efforts in the viewfinder.

This week on Matter of Fact, a look at the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She’s the first woman, first Black person and first person of South Asian descent to hold the second highest office in the land. Soledad O’Brien talks with Tal Kopan, from the San Francisco Chronicle, about why she says Harris will be one of the most empowered vice presidents ever. Plus, is the U.S. ready for a major third party? Special Correspondent Joie Chen travels to Pennsylvania to see if both parties could be headed for a breakup. Then, President Joe Biden is already untangling much of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. But it will take more than an executive pen to create real reform. Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from Juarez, Mexico where thousands of asylum seekers are stuck between the policies of two presidents.

The new housing crisis; political journalism/ a vertical farm run by people with disabilities; the Baseball Hall of Fame; a virtual view of the Sistine Chapel.

This week on Matter of Fact, a look at who’s often doing most of the work at home. As mothers face historic job losses during the pandemic, should they get paid just to be moms? Reshma Saujani is the CEO of “Girls Who Code” and now she’s leading the effort behind the “Marshall Plan for Moms.” Then, changing the pattern of racial disparity in American health care. Soledad O’Brien talks with Dr. James E. K. Hildreth, one of the nation’s leading immunologists, would bringing COVID vaccines directly to communities of color. And, Dr. Chris Pernell, a fellow at the American College of Preventive Medicine, explains in her own words what its like fighting the virus on the frontlines. Plus, Super Bowl LV isn’t the only championship game to be played during an international crisis. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how Super Bowl XIV provided a lifeline to American hostages in Iran.

This week on Matter of Fact, a look at the struggle to reunite families split up at the U.S.-Mexico border. Correspondent Jessica Gomez talks to a mother who was deported and hasn’t seen her sons since 2017. Plus, were there warning signs before the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol? Soledad O’Brien talks with former DHS analyst Daryl Johnson who says there were, but they were dismissed. And, “Writing into the Wound.” Soledad O’Brien talks with NYT best-selling author Roxane Gay about her new essay speaking to the hurt felt by the nation over the past year through a pandemic, racial injustice and volatile politics.

This week on Matter of Fact, we meet a group of young activists leading the charge against Anti-Asian American violence in the Bay area. They’re fighting a spike in attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, that have been on the rise since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last spring. This is just latest in hared against the Asian American community. In 1982, two white men beat Vincent Chin to death. He was Chinese, but they blamed him for the rise Japan’s auto industry, while America lost manufacturing jobs. Soledad O’Brien talks to Helen Zia, who was a journalist during that time, before becoming the spokesperson for the Justice for Chin campaign. And, a retired mother of two determined to mount an Olympic comeback. We follow her quest for a spot on the women’s USA gymnastics team.

This week on Matter of Fact, we talk to West Virginia’s COVID czar Dr. Clay Marsh. His state has vaccinated nearly 10 percent of its population. That’s one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. What are they doing right? Plus, What does the post-pandemic workplace look like? Elisabeth Reynolds, head of MIT’s Work of the Future, says we’ll probably see a hybrid model of being in the office and working remote. Soledad also talks to her about what we can do to make Americans with fewer tech skills aren’t left behind. And, preserving the unique heritage of the low country. Special Contributor Joie Chen travels into the heart of Gullah culture to show us how descendants of slaves held on to their rich traditions for nearly four centuries.

This week on Matter of Fact, we look at how the water crisis in Flint, Michigan eroded trust in the community. Now, its overshadowing efforts to vaccinate the vulnerable. Plus, people living near California’s Salton Sea are facing high rates of both asthma and COVID-19. Why they’ve already been struggling to breathe for decades. And, what does it mean to be an American? Meet federal judge Nancy Joseph, a naturalized American, rolling out the welcome mat for our nation’s newest citizens.

This week on Matter of Fact, we’re taking a look at the Biden administration’s attempts to overhaul immigration policy. A federal judge who oversees criminal immigration cases gives us an inside perspective on what he sees in his court room every day. Why he says he has presided over a process that destroys families. Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Juarez, Mexico to talk to a Honduran mom who was deported in 2017 and hasn’t seen her two sons ever since. And, dozens of landowners living along the southern border have been fighting for years to keep their property from being used for a barrier wall. After the Biden administration paused construction, they’re now in legal limbo.

This week on Matter of Fact, we look at gun reform in the U.S. After the Sandy Hook massacre, when a gunman killed 20 little kids and 6 adults, Shannon Watts founded “Moms Demand Action.” She talks to Soledad about how her group is working to pass stronger gun laws, in the wake of two mass shootings less than a week apart. Plus, we look at the possible future of the coronavirus pandemic by studying the history of the deadly 1918 flu pandemic. And, Soledad talks to poet Sonia Sanchez about her legacy and why she’s still hopeful her words can bring peace in a chaotic world.

This week on Matter of Fact, we visit Evanston, Illinois where some residents could get a form of reparations for housing discrimination. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how where you grow up can have a major impact on your success in life. Plus, next week is National Library Week. Soledad talks with Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and African-American to serve as the Librarian of Congress. And, how street artists in Washington, D.C. are using art as a voice of protest against racial injustice.

This week on Matter of Fact, we look at how the pandemic is feeding the global hunger crisis. Correspondent Jessica Gomez takes us to Lincoln, Nebraska where resettled refugees are struggling to feed their families here and in the countries they left behind. Plus, Soledad talks to award-winning photojournalist Shahidul Alam about his fight for freedom of the press. And, NASCAR drove into controversy over the confederate flag last summer. Special Correspondent Joie Chen introduces us to a new driver hoping to steer a new generation to the sport.

This week on Matter of Fact, we take on the tug-of-war over voting rights. Last week, more than 100 business leaders got on a Zoom call to talk about what those proposals could lead to and how they could add their voice to the conversation. CEO of the Leadership Now Project Daniella Ballou-Aares tells us what they plan to do next. Plus, Soledad talks to investigative reporter Judd Legum about his take on the corporate involvement in the voting rights debate. Then, Native American women and girls are disappearing across the country. We talk to the families of victims who say they are outraged, but law enforcement isn’t doing enough. And, Maryland is taking a step toward police reform, starting with the repeal of their Law Enforcement Bill of Rights. Soledad talks to Dr. Rashawn Ray about how Maryland’s landmark reforms could increase transparency and accountability in policing.

This week, Soledad talks to Dr. Steven Kniffley. He leads the Collective Care Center at Spaulding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and specialized in treating race-based trauma. Plus, we talk to Shaka King, director and one of the writers of “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Why he says the specifics of this story matter to our political dialogue. Then, Soledad talks with Andrea James. She spent time behind bars and wants to right the racial injustice she saw in prison.

This week, Policing reforms in New Jersey; how Americans think democracy should work; the tight housing market; the U.S. census and congressional representation; how two former slaves made Kentucky Derby history

This week, we’re taking a look at a first-of-its kind high school in Alabama looking to lead students to success with a radical idea. Correspondent Jessica Gomez heads to Birmingham’s Build UP High School to show us how it all works. Plus, during World War II, 23-year-old Californian Fred Korematsu was thrown in jail for refusing to go to a Japanese internment camp. His daughter Karen shares his story. Then, America is in the middle of a monumental shift as the younger generation redefines pop culture. It’s not the first time. Journalist and CNN analyst Ron Brownstein chronicles the nation’s shift after the 1960’s in his book, “Rock Me on the Water.”

This week on Matter of Fact, we look at the emerging worker shortage. A small grocery store chain owner shares his struggle to rebuild his business. And we get a perspective from labor economist Valerie Wilson about what this could mean for the workforce of the future. Plus, what happens when the justice system gets it wrong? Soledad talks to Jason Flom. He’s a founding board member of The Innocence Project and host of the podcast, “Wrongful Conviction.” And, we show you a young two-spirit couple in Nevada is redefining cultural norms in their Native American community.

This week, we take a look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, 100 years later. On May 31st, 1921, white mobs laid siege to a neighborhood known as Black Wall Street. And yet, it’s a major historical event that doesn’t make it into many U.S. history books. Plus, Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us the generational trauma left by the most violent election day in U.S. history in 1920. Then, disability justice advocate and attorney Lydia X. Z. Brown talks about what it’s like to be multiply marginalized in America. And, we head to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas to see how the pandemic is changing the way we train our military recruits.

A recent Pew Research study shows more young adults are living with their parents than during the Great Depression. Soledad talks to Jeffrey Passel from the Pew Research Center about the changing timeline for those who want to set up their own households. Plus, a recent grad shares what she’s learned living with three generations of adults under the same roof. Then, we head to North Carolina to hear a tale of two pastors. One leads a predominantly Black church; the other a predominantly white church. See how this married couple is trying to foster racial reconciliation. And, Soledad talks to Dr. Brian Castrucci, head of the de Beaumont Foundation, about helping parents overcome vaccine hesitancy.

This week on Matter of Fact, correspondent Jessica Gomez shows us the remarkable friendship between a cop and a man arrested that’s endured a murder conviction, prison time and nearly 30 years. Plus, how can businesses bring more women back into the workforce? Soledad talks to Beth Humberd, an associate professor of management at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and an expert on gender and diversity in the workplace. And, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas shares his thoughts around citizenship as an undocumented immigrant.

This week, we’re taking a closer look at child poverty in the U.S. Normally, parents would receive their child tax credit at the end of the year. But could receiving it in monthly installments help families struggling to put food on the table? A New Mexico family shares how this could be a lifeline for them. Soledad talks to New Mexico State Rep. Javier Martinez (D) about why he says the policy should be extended beyond this year. Plus, we’ve got a look at the history and possible future of the U.S. Postal Service. And, a forbidden love story in the middle of WWII. Soledad talks to Alexis Clark about her book, “Enemies in Love,” when a German solider in a POW camp fell in love with an African American nurse.

One in five Americans rely on rural hospitals for health care services. This week, we revisit a facility in rural Texas that’s one of hundreds fighting to keep their doors open. Plus, Soledad talks to Ilyasah Shabazz about her parents, Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, and her family’s legacy. Then, a look at the work of Benjamin Banneker, one of the first cicada researchers. And, in the VIEWFINDER, we show you the Emancipation Heritage Trail being proposed in Texas.

This week, we’re looking at discrimination against the LGBTQ community, especially those who are also people of color. Prejudice often hurts them more than their white peers, from their financial situation to their mental health. We talk to the National LGBTQ Task Force about setting up protections for the LGBTQ community. Plus, 11 percent of Washington, DC is considered to be a food desert. We walk through an urban farm that’s growing fresh produce for the community. And Soledad talks to Atlantic staff writer Annie Lowrey to talk about guaranteed income – also known as universal basic income.

This weekend on Matter of Fact, a salute to the brave who put our country first. We look at the paths of two service members, Col. Harvey Barnum whose career soared after receiving this medal, and Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris, whose honor was delayed for decades. Plus, a marine who lost both legs in combat keeps on running. Why he committed to a month of marathons.

This week on Matter of Fact, we look at what it means to be an American. Correspondent Jessica Gomez set off on a road trip from Denver to St. Louis to listen to how people feel about their American identity. Plus, Special Contributor Ray Suarez shares the story of one of the most important contributions from immigrants: the building of the transcontinental railroad. And, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Nikole Hannah Jones shares what inspired her work on the New York Times’ 1619 Project.

This week on Matter of Fact, we bring you the remarkable story of women raising their babies behind bars. Before the COVID-19 crisis was a threat, Soledad talked to pregnant prisoners on the waiting list for a room in the J-Unit, at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. In the J-Unit, non-violent offenders get to bond with their newborns while serving time. In this week’s program, we follow a mom raising her daughter in the J-Unit, a mother on the waiting list, and one who learns she’ll lose her baby immediately after giving birth.

This week on Matter of Fact, we visit with the residents of Paradise, California. The 2018 Camp Fire destroyed their home. How they’re working to rebuild their lives. Plus, employers are working to bring back more employees who are now accustomed to working from home. Soledad talks to Beth Humberd, an associate professor of management at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and an expert on gender and diversity in the workplace. And, millions of American families are now getting direct monthly payments from the Child Tax Credit. The push to make those payments permanent.

This week, we share the story of an unlikely friendship between a cop and a man he arrested. Plus, Soledad O’Brien talks with Dr. Brian Castrucci, head of the de Beaumont Foundation, about fighting vaccine hesitancy. Then, a look at the warning signs before the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol.

This week, a look at the growing tension between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. We follow a COVID survivor who is going door-to-door to get her Chicago community vaccinated. Soledad also talks to Dr. Laura Murray, a clinical psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, about the psychology behind vaccine hesitancy. Plus, a dire warning about climate change. We talk to Dr. Jessica Tierney, a lead author of the U.N.’s new report on global warming. And, Jessica Gomez shows us a new way to train workers for the skills employers are looking for.

Afghanistan withdrawal. Race Against Time; Women's Rights Threatened; Passport to Freedom

Mask Mandate Face-off; Remembering Emmitt Till; Help for Haiti