Monday Briefing | February 6
Marine Le Pen launched campaign, calling for French “patriots” on the left and right to join with her. (MICHEL EULER / AP)
Stories to Follow
Marine Le Pen Launches Presidential Campaign with “France first” Platform
Marine Le Pen has formally launched her bid for the French presidency in a speech that promised liberty from globalization, the European Union, and “Islamic fundamentalism.” Using language that echoed Trump’s extremist and nationalistic views, Le Pen demonized both globalization and Islam as “two totalitarianisms” aimed to negate French values. Le Pen is the leader of France’s far-right National Front party, and polls show her having a greater lead than ever before.
“Grim” data reveals astonishing extent of child abuse in Australia’s Catholic Church
Data provided by Australia’s Catholic Church, and obtained by the country’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, has revealed that in a 50-year period, 7 percent of Australian priest were accused of child abuse. In a survey of 75 church authorities, the commission also found 4,444 alleged cases of child sex abuse. 90 percent of these victims were boys, and their average age was 11-and-a-half. The Australian government established the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2013 to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse in religious and non-religious institutions.
This week in JPI
Insights | Making Sense of the Trump-Putin Relationship by Natasha Bluth
Two days before Trump’s inauguration, Masha Gessen, a Russian-American journalist and anti-Putin activist, Will Englund, Asia and Russia editor for the Washington Post’s foreign desk, Kimberly Marten, director of the U.S. Russia relations program at the Harriman Institute for Russia, Eurasian and East European Studies, and Paul Sonne, Pentagon correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, gathered at the Kellogg Center, Columbia University for a talk on “The Trump-Putin Connection: What does it mean for journalists and global security?” Natasha Bluth reports and offers insights on the discussion.
Happening This Week
Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute | Monday, February 6, 2017 from 2:30pm-3:30pm
Agent Laurie Jacoby offers her advice on pursuing a career in broadcasting, followed by individual sessions to review your reels. RSVP required.
Shane Bauer in conversation with Ted Conover
Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute | Wednesday, February 8, 2017 from 6:30pm-8:00pm
Shane Bauer is a senior reporter at Mother Jones. In 2015, Bauer took a job as a prison guard to investigate corporate-run prisons. He is also the co-author, with Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal, of A Silver Light, a memoir of his two years as a prisoner in Iran.
The EU at 60: Europe Since the Treaty of Rome
East Gallery, Buell Hall, Columbia University | Friday, February 10, 2017 from 11:00am-3:30pm
2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economy Community, later to become the European Union. This event will offer an opportunity of dialogue among scholars and practitioners to reflect upon the origins of the EU and its future. RSVP required.
International Careers with the UN and Multilateral Organizations
Woolworth Building, 15 Barclay Street, 4th Floor | Wednesday, February 8, 2017 from 6:30pm-7:45pm
Meet international insiders who offer practical advice and share their real life experiences working in a variety of UN offices and agencies. Moderated by Anne Marie Goetz, clinical professor at the Center for Global Affairs; former Chief Adviser, Peace and Security, UN Women.
In Your Spare Time
In an unexpected appearance, Melissa McCarthy stole the show on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Kristen Stewart. Her portrayal of Sean M. Spicer, the White House press secretary, is not to be missed. At just over eight minutes run-time, be sure to check it out this comic relief when you get a chance.
This week’s Monday Briefing brought to you by Clare Church and Prianka Srinivasan.
