When Malcolm Gladwell presented NPR's ThruLine podcast with a Peabody Award,
he praised it for its historical and moral clarity.
On ThruLine, we take you back in time to the origins of what's in the news,
like presidential power, aging, and evangelicalism.
Time travel with us every week on the ThruLine podcast from NPR.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders held a rally in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters,
the independent called on President Trump to dismantle the oligarchy that he says has taken over American democracy.
So I invite the president to come to LA. Tell the people here why you think it's a great idea to cut Medicaid and nutrition and health care so you can give tax breaks to billionaires.
The event drew thousands of activists, union members, and climate advocates,
many of whom express frustration with both major political parties.
The Justice Department is cutting millions of dollars in federal grants for the Vera Institute of Justice,
one of the nation's oldest criminal justice reform non-profits.
NPR's Meg Anderson reports,
institute leaders believe the DOJ targeted them because they opposed the administration's immigration tactics.
The grants helped train prison guards, bolstered police alternatives for mental health crises,
and trained police to communicate with deaf people.
The Justice Department told the institute those initiatives, quote, no longer effectuate its priorities.
Amy Fedig, who leads fair and just prosecution, said the cuts should raise alarms for anyone getting federal money.