iran

Senator Ed Markey was in Berkshire County this week, and discussed some of the week’s biggest headlines during his stop in Pittsfield, Massachusetts with WAMC.

Congressman Richard Neal was in Lee, Massachusetts Wednesday, and answered questions about the vice-presidential debate, war in the Middle East, immigration, and more.

Years ago I observed a minor traffic accident in Manhattan. One of the drivers jumped out of his car yelling “You Iranian” at the other. Of course he had no idea where the other driver was from but Iran was the villain of the day.

We just spent an evening with several Persian friends discussing Iran’s brutal response to the demonstrations there for the lives and freedom of Iranian women. Mahmood Karimi Hakak brought us together at his Café Dialogue. Mahmood is a long-time Persian-American member of the Siena faculty, who worked as a producer and director in Iran until forced to leave.

Iran’s rulers are responding to demonstrations with violence, imprisonment and murder. That’s very painful for many of us. I believe at least one of our Iranian friends lost her life as the result of the Revolution in 1979, though I haven’t been able to find out for certain. I’m sure some of our friends have experienced similar grief either in 1979 or coming from the current violence. Can America do anything about it?

The Barrington Stage Company presents the World Premiere production of “Andy Warhol in Iran,” written by Brent Askari and directed by Skip Greer. The show is running through the June 25th on BSC’s St. Germain Stage in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.In 1976 Andy Warhol, the portrait painter of the rich and famous, travels to Tehran to take Polaroids of the Shah’s wife. While there, Warhol encounters a young revolutionary who throws his plans into turmoil and makes him realize there is a world beyond himself.Actor Henry Stram plays Andy Warhol. Henry has been seen on Broadway in "Network," "The Elephant Man," "Junk," "Inherit the Wind," "The Crucible," and "Titanic."

I want to return to Iran because there’s a lot to be learned from our relationship. We treat the multi-power nuclear fuel agreement as a problem with Iran. But an important part of the problem has roots here and it’s to our benefit to straighten it out; it’s costly to have an antagonistic relationship with Iran particularly when it holds the petroleum card during Putin’s attempt to conquer Ukraine.

Some lawmakers have criticized the White House for moving ahead with the killing of Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani without consulting Congress.In today’s…

In today’s Congressional Corner WAMC’s Alan Chartock speaks with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of the 18th District of New York about his reaction to…

The amount that the American killing of Iran’s Qassim Suleimani on January 3 will escalate confrontation between the two countries remains to be seen.For…