trying to damage me as much as they possibly can. and i expect that to continue, because they can't really find a true scandal. >> amanda: well here's how things are shaking out on the democratic side in this same poll. hillary clinton's still in the lead among likely iowa voters, but bernie sanders is hanging on less than 10 points behind her. distant 3rd, martin o'malley at 4 percent. >> sabrina: well the terrorist attacks in paris, france have relaunched a serious discussion in america about terrorism and security. >> amanda: as the presidential candidates go back and forth about how best to keep the country safe, some of the things donald trump is saying are causing some controversy. trump not only calling for a stop to syrian refugees in to america, he's also calling for authorities to keep a closer wawah on some of the mososes in amerera. >> donald: i watched when the world trade center came tumbling down. and i watched in jersey city,

thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. thousands of people were cheering, so something's going on. we gotta find out what it is. i do want surveillance. i will absolutely take database on the people coming in from syria, if we can't stop it, but we're going to. and if i win, i'e it known. if i win, th're going back, we can't have 'em. they're going back. we can't have 'em. we can't have 'em. >> sabrina: now that claim about muslim americans cheering as the twin towers came down has been widely debunked since 9/11. >> amanda: still trump has been sharing that story on the campaign trail this week, but he is facing some criticism about it from other candidates, democrats and republicans alike.e. >> marco: again,n,t's not true and there's plenty of fact checks to prove that it isn't. as i said earlier in this campaign, if all i did all day was responto everything donald trump says that isn't true.

i wouldn't be able to run my campaign. >> bernie: i have not heard any evidence of this happening. i don't know where mr. trump getsis evidence, what he has seen, but i don't think any body else- >> amanda: we are just getting started with this conversation. (music) >> amanda: up next, a local terrorism expert and a state leader who also happens totoe muslim join us in the studio for their perspective on islamamn

(music) >> sabrina: welcome back everyone. we're here to talk about islam in america and as well as national security and why these 2 topics are now part of the same conversation. so to help me with that, i'm joined by state representative ako abdul-samad, as well as, someone who practices islam and securiri expert and commissisier for the iowa civil r rhts cocoission, tom conley. . gentlemen, thank you so much for being here. >> tom: thank you. >> ako: thank you for inviting us. >> sabrina: my pleasure. ok, so donald trump, as you heard at the beginning of the show, he's not only calling to stop syrian refugees from coming

in to america. bt he also is calling for authorites to watch over mosques in america as well as potentially keep a list of the muslims who are in this country. what's your reaction to that? >> ako: well, i'll let my elder go first. (laughter) >> tom: (clearing throat) um, one of the things that makes the united s stes of america different than any other country in the world is our civil liberties. so, there's a balance between those civil liberties and security. on one hand, it's unfair to tell the government, hey, we want you to keep us safe, but don't do anything. and on the other hand, we never want to cross that line by breaching our civil liberties. because then that fundamentally takes awaw the very thing that makes us unique in the world. >> sabrina: ok, ako what do you think? >> ako: first of all, we're a human family.

that supposeably are practicing the islamic religion tear us apart. not only can we not let them tear us apart, we cannot let others tear us apart and divide us as a human family. we have, america and the world is built on us trying to come together. trying to understand our differences, so our similarities have sstance. but if we start letting those individuals that tear us apart, to start fighting each other. to do surveillance on mosques and other religious groups and other people, then we let them win. we let them win and we as a human family, as americans, we're the ones that end up losing. >> sabrina: well donald trump isn't the onon one that wants to blblk syrian refugees from coming in to the country. ound 30 state governors seen in a map that we'll take right here, that'll be in dark orange. oh, there's the map. >> ako: yes. >> sabrina: ok, those in dark orange, those 30 state governors

have all said that they would like to block the refugees as well as a number of presidential candidates. so, tom is this the right move? >> tom: (clearing throat) excuse me. i believe it is right now from the standpoint that we have to know who these people are. we clearly have an illegal immigration problem in this country. there's different ideas on how to address it. but director comey recently said that we have almost a thousand active investigations in all 50 states. i have talked to some people who have actually been in europe and who the refugees are primarily comprised of is military age muslim males. and so, you know, the narritive about women and chchdren for those on the ground d not, is not holding true. we are a country that helps people in other countries, we shouldn't turn our back on people.

but to me, there's no reason why saudi arabia and other countries cannot help with refugee problem and have us fund that. but at the end of the day, we have to know who is coming in to our country and because of a lack of ininlligence, there's nono database to compare people to. so, that's the fundamental challenge is doing what america does, which is taking care of people, but not compromising our security. >> sabrina: ok, what do you think? are you concerned about the u.s. not being welcoming to refugees? >> ako: i'm very concerned about the u.s. not being welcoming. of course, and i agree with my friend, we have to protect. there are people and americans, that are on american soil. but that doesn't mean that we have to stop individuals from coming to this country. that we can create the databases, the mechanisms to be able to see who's coming in. you know, we do have mechanisms that are set up. the process that individuals go

as someone from syria cannot just walk in this country. that's reality. you know, but to stop that mother who is fleeing for her life with her children from coming in to this country is more criminal than any thing else. again, we are allow those who are challenging our very way of life to win and we cannot allow them to do that. we have accepted individuals under our circumstances of immigrants that have in to this country. we cannot stop now. do we have to better the process? with out a doubt. >> sabrina: ok, so what's the solution? how do we balance between religious liberty and being a human family and national security? >> ako: well, i think it's not easy. (laughter) >> ako: you know, it's not easy, but we've done it for centuries. we have done it for decades, you know, we have individuals that

the time of now. we have always been able to balance that, you know. >> sabrina: but isis didn't exist then. >> ako: well, you had other terrorist groups. you know, the point is we've always had terrorism. whether it's domestic or whether it's been internatioiol. we've always dealt with that. you know, one of the things that we also have to look at is the fact that when isis, we look at all the other islamic groups. you know, boko haram, all of those, we have to understand that we have to take it a step further. it's time for america to be able to lead and not police the world. we have to begin to address that, but at the same time, we don'n'turn around and stopop families from coming in this country. we don't stop individuals that need us at this point. and i do agree with my colleague, other countries have to step up. but we can step up together and

when, until paris happened, we were trying to get other countries to come aboard with us to say let's fight isis. we can't wait till a crisis happened for us to attack those who challenge the very fiber of the human family. >> sabrina: ok, it's an interesting convertion. >> ako: yeah. >> sabrina: gentlemen, thank you so much. (music) >> sabrina: so, we're gonna stick around with tom for a few minutes. up next, the u.s. government issues a travel alert for americans. what do you need to know as you make your holiday plans. tom sticks with us for that

(music) >> sabrina: welcome back everyone. we are in the midst of the busiest travel season of the year and the u.s. issued a worldwide travel alert for americans as concerns rise over terror g gups and individuals planning m me attacks after thee paris massacres. the alert does not instruct americans to avoid travel, but it does urge u.s. citizens to exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation.

stuck around with us to talk about national security. tom, thanks for sticking around. >> tom: sure. >> sabrina: so what do iowans need to know about this travel ban? >> tom: really the travel warning is a way, candidly, for e u.s. government to cover it's hininend. (laughter) sabrina: ok. >> tom: very seriously, they don't want to be responsible and i understand why. they don't want to be responsible for having a terrorist incident occur and they didn't put out a warning. be aware of your surroundings, that's nothing new. (clearing throat) excuse me, and really what does that mean different than what you should be doing everyday? so there's really quote-unquote nothing new here. it is a good reminder though for people to remain maybe on that heightened state of vigilance. the reality is, if the terrorists are gonna hit a target, you're probably not gonna see it coming. i mean, that's just the reality and there's a problem between the classified side and

unclassified. the fact is there a lot of threats, but they're on the classified side. so, that's why the government is saying there's not. >> sabrina: well, they're saying there are no credible threats to the homeland. so, you're saying that's not true? >> tom: i don't believe it's true. >> sabrina: ok. tom: at all. and a credible threat is different than an imminent attack planned. >> sabrina: ok. >> tom: a credible threat can be a cell that's planning and by director colmey's direct admission, they have almost 1,000 investigations in all 50 states. so, if there weren't credible threats, why would there be investigations, rhetorically. >> sabrina: so in your opinion as a former naval officer, someone who still teaches about terrorism to the navy. do you think that this is some thing that we need to be extrememy concerned about? >> tom: we should truly be extremely concerned in my view. i'm still a naval reservist, still possess my security

you that isis is here. terrorists are here and i am absolutely shocked and stunned that we have not had an attack so far. i am stunned, grateful, but stunned. >> sabrina: god, that scares you esn't it? >> tom: well it is scary. i meanant is scary and on the classified side, it's no wonder that intelligence specialists take anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication. you can't live in that world all day and not be affected by all the threats out there. >> sabrina: alright, tom thank you so much for input. >> tom: thank you sabrina. (music) >> sabrina: we appreciate it.

(music) >> amanda: welcome back everyone. we hear politicians talk all the time about how to improve things for the middle class. but you don't hear as much about their ans to help lift americans out of poverty. the last census shows 46.7 million americans live below the poverty line.

nearly 400,000 of them are iowans. because it is the holiday time of year when things like those christmas fundraising drives and soup kitchens are more top of mind. we wanted to bring the politics of poverty, if you will, in to this discussion during our show today. thank you both for being here. joining me now are some of the people behind iowa's non-profits. matt unger is the program director for the food bank of iowa and jim cain is executive director for the family promise center of greater des moines. again, appreciate both of time during busy holiday season. why don't you just start, each of you, by tellings us a little bit about your organizations? >> jim: family promise of greater des moines provides shelter to homeless families with children. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> jim: we do it through a network of 12 congregations here in the des moines s ea. >> amanda: ok. >> jim: and they provide the overnight accocoodations one wewe every quarter. >> amanda: ok, and m mt? >> matt: a a the food bank of iowa is a 501c3 non-profit organization. we operate a network of food pantries, soup kitchens and the like in a 55 county area to

provide for the clients that need those foods. >> amanda: ok, so busy time of year for you guys. >> matt: very much. >> amanda: it goes without saying. jim let's start with you, you do receive some of your funding from state and federal grants. >> jim: mmhmm. >> amanda: so, because of that government reliance, how closely do you watch what these state and federal politicians are doing and saying? >> jim: well, only about 15 percent of our money comes f fm state or federal sources. >> amanda: ok. >> jim: so, when i watch, i'm looking more at not so much about how the race impacts my organization. but at how it impacts, potentially impacts,he lives of the families that we serve. >> amanda: mmhmm. and matt, many oyour clients at the food bank use some of those existing government programs that are out there, like wic and snap for example. do you worry at all about changes that could be happening to those programs or do you think that maybe the programs need some sort of overhaul? >> matt: y yh, we certainly worry about the funding and having the funding to supporor those programs. particularlylyith snap, which most people knew as the food stamp program. there's a lot of just

misconceptions and stereotypes and it's a very small benefit that doesn't, it doesn't make a family whole where food is concerned. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> matt: and that's why food banks exist and to be able to make up the difference there. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> matt: cause there's only so much we can do in a charitable response. >> amanda: sure. now this question is for both of you, is there anything that you have heard these politicians who are out on the campaign trail. anything you've heard them say that either cocoerns you or maybe the opposite, maybe gets you excited about some of their ideas? ji start with you. >> jim: well, what ccerns me the most is what haven't heard. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> jim: i haven't heard any discussion about affordable housing and i'm talking about folks who are in homeless shelters. the working poor who need housing assistance. the one thing that i've heard that is encouraging to me is bobo clinton and sanders have talked about things like increasing the minimum wage.

post high school education, which are 2 important factors for the families. the adults in the families that we serve. >> amanda: sure. anything for you matt that you've heard that either concerns you or excites you, i guess, one way or the other? >> matt: i would largely echo jim. i don't feel like i've heard enough- >> amanda: mmhmm. >> matt: um, you know, poverty is not a simple issue and there's a number of spokes that go in to the whehe of poverty. and we really neededo look at that in a holistic way, with things like minimum wage increases. what are we doing with job outreach and things of that nature? cause most of these folks that are taking advantage of these benefits are working people. they're educated, they just aren't making enough to get by. >> amanda: if i could ask you to maybe speculate a little bit. why is it that politicians and these people running as president of the united states aren't talking about these issues as much as you would like them to? >> jim: well, i think that the truth of t t matter is is that money talks in our political

clientele doesn't have money. we don't feed the coffers, they don't feed the coffers of campaigns. they're busy just taking care of their basic needs. >> amanda: right. >> jim: and so, often times don't have the time to engage in the political process as much as we would, you know, like them to do. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> jim: or politicians say that they should do. >> amanda: and let's be honest, it's probably not a segment of the population that's getting out to vote or to go caucus on caucus night. they may havavother things that they're worried about. >> matt: sure- >> amanda: just daily life. >> matt: they just don't have time to go to an evening caucus where they're gonna spend several hours there with their neighbors and friends. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> matt: that's why it's really incumbent on those of us who do have that time to be able to get out and be the voice for these folks that are doing everything they can to scrape by. and really, you know, make it for their families and that's where organizations like jim and mine and those that support our organizations really have to be the voice for these folks. >> jim: there was a family that just left our program 2 weeks ago and they both work 12 hour days.

one worked like monday, tuesday, wednesday. the other one worked like thursday, friday, saturday. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> jim: and so the only time they saw each other was on sunday. so, they have 2 kids and so their life has just kept up with work and day to day life stuff. >> amanda: sure. >> jim: and so there's not time there to go caucus or to go to a political rally. >> amanda: mmhmm, real quickly, we're almost out of time here. but i want to ask you, the people that are running for president, most of them arar consnsered wealthy by mostst standards. although m mco rubio does talk about his lower class upbringing. how important do you think that sort of background is for a candidate to have? >> jim: i think it depends on how they use that background. that if you are gonna say, well i pulled myself up by my bootstraps, i expect everybody else to do. that's not realisitic, because everybody doesn't have access to the resources that that person may have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. >> amanda: matt, what do you think? >> matt: i think i'm less concerned with them having been through that situation, but more concerned that they have a willingness to listen to the folks who have.

and learn from the folks who have to where maybe some of these programs could be chged in some ways to make things better. >> amanda: mmhmm. >> matt: but really try to identify with these folks and what they're going through. >> amanda: alright, matt, jim. thank you both so much for being here. >> matt: thank you. >> amanda: we'll be right back

(music)n this week in iowa, governor branstad will be joining us for a wide ranging interview on some important topics, including syrian r rugees and medicaid. weweope you'll tune in for that. usic) >> sabrina: i can't wait for that, but or now, thanks for joining us for this week in iowa. we hope to see you again next sunday. (music) (music)

(music) b: hello, and welcome to ag phd. i'm brian hefty. d: and i'm darren hefty. thanks for joining us today. you know, one of the best jobs to be doing and most important jobs to be doing right after harvest is checking your grain bins. we'll talk about a few things you should be looking for and some problems that are already starting to hahaen