Belle's Library

Episode 4: Who Putin Wants to Question and Why

In this episode we look at some of the fallout from the Helsinki Summit and the press conference that followed it, during which Putin said he would like Russian law enforcement to question certain American citizens. Who does he want to talk to, and why? We go into some recent Russian history.

Bonus Episode: Reactions to Sheridan Visit

This bonus episode consists mainly of audio recorded during the drive home from the press conference at Sheridan Federal Prison last Saturday. It includes some initial impressions of what I'd learned and some additional thoughts about the detainment of immigrants and separation of families. While much of the factual information is duplicated in the main episode, this is a more raw, sometimes emotional reaction that I think is very valuable, given what is happening in our nation right now.

Belle's Library Episode 2: Jeff Merkley Press Conference, Trauma in Immigrant Children

In this episode, I report on a press conference I attended after Senator Merkley's visit to Sheridan Federal Prison in Oregon. From there we take a look at the effects of trauma on young children, especially immigrant children separated from their families and held in detention centers.

Belle's Library Episode 1: Merriam-Webster and Immigration Rumors

In this debut episode of Belle's Library, we visit the Reference Desk to explore the history of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and its role in the history of American English, as well as its influence on today's social media. We'll also take a look at some recent headlines about immigration that are very emotionally charged, delving into them to separate fact from rumor in Citation Needed.