Brakkton Booker, POLITICO

Brakkton Booker

POLITICO

Washington, DC, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • POLITICO
  • NPR
  • WBUR
  • KTOO

Past articles by Brakkton:

Nikki Haley’s complicated racial dance

With help from Ella Creamer, Jesse Naranjo, Jesús Rodríguez and Teresa Wiltz What up, Recast family! Let us wish you a Happy Valentines, Galentine’s ... or for those celebrating … Singles Awareness Day! President Joe Biden fires the scandal-plagued Capitol manager and former President Donald Trump disses Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance. First, though, we kick things off with a look at the… → Read More

Scoop: PAC to spend $1M to oust ‘Squad’ member Tlaib-

With help from Ella Creamer and Chris Suellentrop What up, Recast family! Today we have a scoop about a liberal-leaning new PAC planning to spend big to take out “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). A new PAC endorsed by Bakari Sellers says it’s going to spend upward of $1 million to support one of the candidates trying to unseat progressive firebrand Rashida Tlaib. The stated mission of… → Read More

Bobby Rush doesn't want to call it ‘retirement’

With help from Rishika Dugyala and Teresa Wiltz What up, Recast family! Happy New Year! The Food and Drug Administration approves Pfizer’s Covid boosters for those ages 12 to 15 as Omicron cases soar, GOP. Rep. Devin Nunes officially resigns from the U.S. House and this week marks one year since the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. But we kick things off with the announcement that Rep. Bobby Rush… → Read More

Diving into ‘woke racism’ with John McWhorter

With help from Rishika Dugyala, Tyler Weyant and Teresa Wiltz What up Recast family! It’s the final weekend ahead of closely watched gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, Facebook goes meta and the president’s signature domestic agenda hangs in the balance as he meets with the pope. We kick things off with a chat about who gets a seat at the table when discussing race in America.… → Read More

NPR

A Year After Breonna Taylor's Killing, Family Says There's 'No Accountability'

Taylor was shot and killed in her apartment by Louisville police last March. "I can't believe it's a year later and we're still just asking people to do the right thing," her mother said recently. → Read More

NPR

WNBA Team Co-Owned By Ex-Sen. Kelly Loeffler Is Sold After Players' Criticism

The new three-member investor group which purchased the team includes former Dream player Renee Montgomery, making her the first retired player to have become both a co-owner and a WNBA executive. → Read More

NPR

Who Is The Senate Parliamentarian Who Ruled Against A Minimum Wage Increase?

The parliamentarian is often called the referee of arcane Senate rules. MacDonough has been thrust into the spotlight for ruling against adding a minimum wage hike to the coronavirus relief package. → Read More

NPR

Former USA Gymnastics Coach Charged With Abuse Dies By Suicide

John Geddert, 63, who coached the women's gold medal team in the 2012 Summer Olympics, was charged Thursday with two dozen criminal counts. An official says he took his life later the same day. → Read More

NPR

'No Cheering': Tokyo Olympic Organizers Release Guidelines For Torch Relay

The Tokyo Organizing Committee are urging spectators to only clap, not cheer, when the Olympic torchbearers make their way through Japan starting March 25. → Read More

NPR

One of LAPD's First Black Officers Reinstated More Than 120 Years After His Firing

Robert Stewart was among the first Black officers hired by the LAPD. He spent 11 years on the force before he was unjustly terminated, according to the Los Angeles Police Commission. → Read More

NPR

Mother Of Ahmaud Arbery Files Civil Lawsuit On Anniversary Of Son's Killing

The suit names Gregory and Travis McMichael, as well as William "Roddie" Bryan, who are all facing felony murder charges in connection with Arbery's death. → Read More

NPR

Winter Storm Leaves Many In Texas Without Power And Water

Nearly 3 million Texas electricity customers are enduring extreme cold and some cities say tap water must be boiled. One utility says its repair crews have been harassed by angry residents. → Read More

NPR

Amy Cooper, White Woman Who Called Police On Black Bird-Watcher, Has Charge Dismissed

Amy Cooper had been facing a charge of falsely reporting an incident to police, after she told them Christian Cooper, who is not related to her, threatened her in a New York City park. He did not. → Read More

NPR

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Makes History As WTO's First African And Female Leader

As she takes the helm of the World Trade Organization, the former Nigerian finance minister faces challenges from COVID-19 response to navigating trade frictions between the U.S. and China. → Read More

NPR

Trump Impeachment Trial Verdict: How Senators Voted

Democrats did not gain enough Republican support to convict former President Donald Trump of inciting insurrection, but seven GOP senators did break with their own party. See the vote breakdown. → Read More

NPR

Trump's Legal Defense Team Concludes Case In Fraction Of Allotted Time

Trump's defense used roughly three of their 16 hours to push back on House impeachment managers' case that Trump should be convicted for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. → Read More

NPR

Trump's Legal Team Points To 2017 Attempt To Block Election Certification As Defense

In 2017, several House Democrats stood and objected to the certification of then President-elect Trump's electoral victory. Then-Vice President Biden was presiding. → Read More

NPR

House Democrats Use Trump's Own Words To Argue He Showed No Remorse After Attack

Impeachment managers said Trump's lack of contrition indicates he remains a threat to democracy and must be disqualified from holding office. → Read More

NPR

Stacey Plaskett Is 1st Nonvoting House Delegate To Argue An Impeachment Trial

She touched on her unlikely journey from projects in Brooklyn, N.Y., to St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, "and now as an adult woman representing an island territory speaking to the U.S. Senate." → Read More

NPR

House Impeachment Managers Say Trump's 'Incitement' Is Not Protected Speech

Rep. Jamie Raskin called former President Donald Trump the "inciter in chief" and rejected the defense's claim that his calls to overturn the election constitute free speech under the First Amendment. → Read More