coming up on our t.v. state of the union did the president say anything groundbreaking last night or was he upstaged by a congressman who bred to throw a reporter off a balcony more on that coming up. and on capitol hill leaders from the major u.s. intelligence agencies are meeting to discuss global threats with congress it's no surprise they're talking terrorism but there's also concern over leakers like ad words no doubt more on that in just a moment. and we'll take a look at the shocking number of people dying in police custody and local u.s. jails lives lost due to the failure of staff to administer routine yet critical medicines we'll hear stories from families affected later on.

it's wednesday january twenty ninth five pm here in washington d.c. i'm liz wall and you're watching r.t. america president obama addressed the nation last night for the annual state of the union speech after that speech the situation turned to grim for one reporter covering covering the event and then why one news reporter was interviewing representative michael graham and asked him a question about an investigation into illegal fund raising for the congressman's campaign all this outrage graham would then resorted to threatening the reporter and it was all caught on camera. you're.

the. one with no. graham defended his actions but later apologized to that reporter he threatened that you die and you just saw there to talk more about the state of the union i'm joined now by r.t. correspondent ivan lopez and our t.v. producer katie fisher welcome ladies so meghan hopefully i know you're there covering this hopefully you didn't face the wrath of graham what were some of the highlights for you all the highlight for me as you just mentioned was not being threatened but there was another highlight obviously this was a much more moderate speech that president obama delivered than any of the save the unions that we've seen this past that's warring the executive action that he's threatened in terms of his some of the highlights he promised the same things that

he has an years past he promised once again that he wants one tom obey close for good in the detainee's transfer out of it he wanted to raise minimum wage he wants to reform the tax code reform voting rights in america and really he kind of got into very briefly immigration and gun control and also he defended as a health care obviously he was playing defense in the in the wake of the n.s.a. reform scandal and in the wake of the obamacare as a failed rollout so he was really on the defensive and on in the state of the union as never before on the defense because as we've seen he's had a hard time getting these a lot of these things done one take a look at the approval ratings the recent ratings for our elected leaders going into this take a look at congress first their disapproval rating is at eighty one point six per. and so their approval rating a very low just over twelve percent there and look at the president's ratings his disapproval rating as out forty nine percent his approval rating only at forty

three percent so that forty three percent is near the lowest that we've seen in his presidency of course katie frustration over his ability to get things done last night he announced executive orders mention touched upon it briefly their executive orders that he is going to take how is the climate in washington we see how low these approval ratings are led up to this i guess a last resort for him trying to do to get anything done something that really is i mean he is viewing his lowest approval ratings ever congress not doing so hot either worse in fact and so he's trying to get something done and to do so he feels yes to resort to these executive powers trying to pass legislation you heard in the speech that you know when he when there is progress me in places where there is progress being made in the house is an immigration etc he there is a lot more we being heard but when you you know really start hearing things that he can't get done he was calling for these executive orders i mean this is the least

productive congress since nine hundred forty seven but as we spoke with some of these congress people we saw that you know some of these democrats are ok with these executive orders but many congresspeople see that wait a second you're stepping into the separation of powers issue maybe you need to take a step back this is our job they're feeling a bit jealous so right right you did these executive orders some see it as a last resort some see it see it as taking it too far making you had mentioned earlier some of these promises they made one of them is closing get mo that's a promise that many see as a promise not failed and i think when you hear these speeches it kind of raises these questions. of how much of it is rhetoric how much of is it just talk and how much is this going to be reale. well the seat of the union historically has been more or less of a wish list that the president sets out each year one thing that is different with

this state of the union address versus other ones is this one really looked back more on the accomplishments and kind of was more of a pat on the back versus looking forward the other thing that was really different about this one is it did tone down some of that rhetoric making it again one of the more moderate speeches that we've seen come out of him in recent history in terms of rhetoric versus actual accomplishments it's very hard to determine right now how any of this is going to be done obviously it's a very big let's just moving the federal minimum wage up will be a huge battle both in local governments and so well as federally yes you can sign executive orders but really you know it's going to take a lot of smaller battles and then congressional battles in terms of immigration that's something that almost everybody agrees needs to happen but still it's not happening you know so there's a lot of different issues that should guess absolutely be on the agenda and absolutely be done but we just don't know right now anyway how congress is going to

react especially considering the fact that we're about to enter a twenty fourteen midterm election where all of the seats could be jumbled the senate could go swing back to republicans if they get eight more seats and everything could change and just to kind of go back on and look over the night i did put a piece together to kind of really highlight some of the things that he did talk about some of things he didn't talk about and some of the things that we're hoping to see moving forward six years ago president obama's message to congress and the nation was one of hope and change. so offer children and prosperity. yes we feel this is a term and a half later that message has transformed to this let's make this a year of action a year of action after arguably one of the least productive years in congressional history the president's speech comes during a time when the white house and national security agency are on the defense the president's own approval ratings have slipped to forty three percent piggy backing

off a recent n.s.a. surveillance reform speech the president once again promised change but this time for a scandal he helped perpetuate working with this congress i will reform our surveillance programs because the vital work of our intelligence community depends on public confidence here and abroad the privacy of ordinary people is not being violated they are reforms congress is largely on board with i think the n.s.a. needs to be reformed and i think congress is of that opinion i don't think that's a particularly partisan issue and we want to make sure that the privacy of the american people is protected consistent with making sure that we overcome any threat we have from terrorists and i think we can achieve both goals at the same time we've got to make sure that as technology changes we also make sure that our values remain consistent but how many of those pledges actually go into effect and america's most secretive operations is still questionable at this point another

issue largely glazed over drones they're only mention america must move off a permanent war footing. that's why i have imposed approval limits on the use of drones for we will not be safer if people abroad believe we strike within their countries without regard for the consequence consequences like civilian casualties according to the bureau of investigative journalism at least twenty four hundred people were killed by strikes in pakistan yemen and somalia in the past five years hundreds of them were believed to be civilians including children consequences like international retribution pakistani prime minister nawaz sharif has voiced strong condemnation against the drone program and demanded for its end the issue of domestic drones was not addressed despite the fact that both the u.a.e. industry and the number of drone permits issued are skyrocketing in terms of

foreign policy the president mentioned afghanistan iraq and syria in brief but largely touted u.s. accomplishments instead of laying out a path moving forward continuing with his pledge to end american aggressions abroad he appealed to congress to rethink relations with iran let me be clear. if this congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to be real these talks i will veto it. for the sake of our national security. we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed the issue of loosening sanctions hit a sore spot for many members of congress the congress is deeply concerned that iran may be building a nuclear weapon we have to deal with the threat in iran as it relates to the possibility of them acquiring a nuclear weapon no decent person in the congress in the country across the world thinks that it's

a good idea for rent to acquire nuclear capability every year promises are made and every year more than a few of them are broken president obama spent the majority of the speech focusing on domestic economic issues like tax reform and raising the minimum wage in two thousand and thirteen president obama promised medicare reform tax reform and a budget medicare reform has yet to happen tax reform is nowhere closer to coming up for debate and the recent hack on target proves that america's cyber security is more vulnerable than ever congress did pass a budget but only after a three week government shutdown despite the president's push to tie the minimum wage to the cost of living his two thousand and thirteen speech not even the ten dollar ten cent proposal the president offered for federal employees this year meets that mark this year president obama made even more promises during his state of the union address but congress has the ultimate say in how much of that wishlist really gets done and with midterm elections right around the corner it's now

a race against time to see how many of those pledges will really be fulfilled before campaign season kicks into gear in washington meghan mopeds r.t. . and on capitol hill senior intelligence officials met today to discuss a worldwide threats leaders from the cia and f.b.i. face questions from senators on how they're handling current and future threats at least some of the lawmakers believe one of the greatest threats is leaking government secrets this prompted a heated debate over former n.s.a. contractor edward snowden so what exactly are the biggest threats and how is the administration dealing with them are the correspondent hereon boring is on the hill and has more on this. today the directors of the intelligence community testified right here in front of the senate intelligence committee to deliver their annual public worldwide threat assessment the number one global threat on their list as cyber the first country the cia says it is likely to launch office of cyber attacks

on the u.s. as russia the report says quote russian intelligence services continue to target u.s. and allied personnel with access to sensitive computer network information much of the discussions today were centered around edward snowden who thinking asylum in russia the implications of his intelligence leaks and the constitutionality behind the n.s.a. phone data collection program senator udall challenges the effectiveness of the n.s.a.'s surveillance program and outlined the scope of the cia i want to be able to reassure the american people especially given what's been happening. that the cia and the director understand the limits of their mission authorities we all are well aware of executive order twelve triple three that order prohibits the cia from engaging in domestic spying and searches of u.s. citizens within our borders another senator concerned with domestic spying is ron wyden to look for clarity and to the n.s.a.

the ability to track and the visuals using smartphone app he asked the f.b.i. director if the f.b.i. is required to have a probable cause in order to acquire american cell side the location information for intelligence purposes what he said might surprise you i don't believe so senator we in almost all circumstances we have to attain a court order but the showing is a reasonable basis to believe it's relevant to the investigation and the intelligence director's testifying today overwhelmingly agreed that edward snowden's leaks have threatened u.s. security the defense intelligence agency director said troops are in danger as a result the greatest cost. that is unknown today but we will we will likely. face is the cost in human lives on tomorrow's battlefield or in some in some some place we're where we will put our military forces you know when we ask them to go into harm's way while the n.s.a.

the phone data collection program is still a controversial topic of debate on capitol hill many of the senators today expressed their concern with the scope of edward snowden's leaks snowden leaked one point seven million documents which not only expose the n.s.a. but implications over the entire intelligence and defense community so for attacks atop the list of worldwide threats because more and more aspects of life including communication personal information and government functions are migrating online in washington d.c. perry and boring r.t. while some senators see snowden as a dangerous threat others see him as a fighter for peace the former n.s.a. contractor was nominated for the nobel peace prize today his name was added by two norwegian politicians that say he has made the world a safer place one of the nominators said quote the public debate and changes in policy that are followed in the wake of snowden's whistle blowing have contributed

to a more stable and peaceful world order and we'll find out who the peace prize winner is in october and speaking of sparking a public debate attorney general eric holder testified on the hill today and the hearing before the senate judiciary committee he faced questions about the controversial n.s.a. spying program but try to assure the senators that the justice department is taking action. it is imperative that we continue striving to protect our national security while upholding the civil liberties that that all of us hold dear on monday we took a significant step forward in this regard when the department acted to allow detailed disclosures about the number of national security orders and requests that are issued to communications providers in number of customer accounts targeted under those orders and requests and the underlying legal authorities this is one of many discussions on the hill of regarding big controversial spying program and the

way of revelations by snowden. still ahead here on our very man is arguing that the state cannot execute. its lethal injection drugs secret why the supreme court is putting his death sentence on hold coming up. we welcome aaron. to a precocious work. it's going to be. never i'll give you the information you make the decision. and consciousness. would be described as angry i think in a strong you know under single. the first thing. everybody go to do is go did you know the price is the only industry

specifically mentioned in the constitution and. that's because a free and open press is critical to our democracy should threaten all those. rules . in fact the single biggest threat facing our nation today is the corporate takeover of our government and our cynical we've been hijacked why handful of transnational corporations will profit by destroying what our founding fathers once built just by job market it on this show we reveal the big picture of what's actually going on in the world we go beyond identifying the problem. rational debate and the real discussion critical issues facing america ever heard you ready to join the movement then welcome to the third.

i think. i'm. a missouri and made has escaped death for now at least fifty six year old arbors smalls was scheduled to die this morning but the supreme court granted him a stay of execution smalls was convicted of killing the owner of a jewelry store during a robbery back in one thousand nine hundred one he was sentenced to death by lethal injection he was granted a last minute appeal his lawyers arguing that the state needs to disclose the makeup of the lethal injection drug that are unfair and c. of drugs used in executions has been called into question lately as pharmaceutical pharmaceutical. but he's back away from providing drugs that can be used to carry out the death penalty consequently states are using something called compound drugs

where they mix more than one drug to make it deadly but the defense lawyers in this case and critics of the drug mixing practice say the secrecy surrounding the drugs makes it impossible to know if the compounds cause and reasonable pain and suffering the stay of the stay on smalls is execution is temporary as the supreme court reviews the case. but even without the death penalty some are dying behind bars the latest available numbers show that eight hundred eighty five n. may have died in custody of local jails in two thousand and eleven this according to the bureau of justice statistics are the correspondent a mere david brings you the story of one woman accused of a nonviolent crime who died in a brooklyn jail she was supposed to be there temporarily but as you'll see she spent her final days behind bars. were

her. it's a mother still in mourning distraught over her thirty seven year old daughter died after spending several agonizing hours lying on the floor of a brooklyn jail cell the day which led to kyin livingston's death this past summer stemmed from a nonviolent altercation with her grandmother but after her arrest police brought her here to brooklyn central booking where she was held waiting to be arraigned by a judge unfortunately she would never make it to a court or ever officially be charged with a crime. instead livingston would spend the remainder of her life in a jail cell suffering from severe stomach pains diarrhoea and convulsions but despite her physical distress livingston son alex says a witness told him n.y.p.d.

officers ignored the pleas of his mother and others who were with her in the cell they started banging on the bars of the cells and screaming at the office to get help to get medical help and everything and there's a scene off that i walk by oh she's just having a seizure my grandson has seizures all thought it'll pass and why p.d. officials tell the family that livingston was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital but one witness and fellow inmate told the daily news that livingston had been dead for twenty minutes before the e.m.'s had even arrived the department which is now being sued by the family has declined requests to turn over key surveillance video and release the names of the officers who oversaw her care in a statement to r.t. regarding the case a spokesman for the new york city law department said this involved a tragic matter but given the pending litigation we cannot comment further but

livingston's story is not exactly unique she represents just one of hundreds of deaths that take place every year in local jails across the country according to the most recent department of justice statistics of ala. in two thousand and eleven eight hundred eighty five inmates died while detained by local police departments deaths which have typically stemmed from a preexisting health condition it's a statistic that kara to bash nick of cooney center on mediocre crime injustice has called the alarming it could be somebody that has a condition that has never been diagnosed before adding the stress of the situation could bring that out it could be anybody eighty percent of the people under jails have some sort of medical a chronic condition and that's why to batch nick says these officers need to be aware of inmates illnesses and trained on how to react to dire medical conditions and that's what this community is demanding six months after livingston's tragic

death they're calling for accountability and they're insisting on changes to the u.s. jail system that could prevent others from falling victim to the same fate in new york i'm your david are. locked away and forgotten that is what happened to an indiana woman that was sentenced to serve two days behind bars instead she spent five months in jail destiny hoffman is now filing a civil suit against clark county for serving away more time than she was supposed to it wasn't until a clark county prosecutor was sifting through old case files when she noticed something didn't look right hoffman was sentenced to do some minor time for diluting her drug test results she claims she wrote letters to a judge and a drug court staff member while behind bars but never got a response vandana news interview and said the special judge called the extended stay a quote big screw up how so much time went by without someone saying something is

unclear all charges against hoffman are expected to be dropped the incident is highlighting problems with indiana's drug treatment program and employees are being investigated. now to ukraine where mass protests have crippled the council of kiev protests have led to the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet but now with the leadership warns the country is on the brink of a civil war are you correspondent peter all over is on the ground with the latest on the violent uprising. i was talking to some of the more extreme members the of the nationalist organizations of being out on the streets here they've been telling me this that there's no way this amnesty would see them put down their weapons that they have bought and leave the barricades that was a stipulation that the government had put forward the president picked a covert you put forward in concessions he made to opposition leaders in talks that

took place over the weekend he said that as long as people left the streets then those who would be detained would receive amnesty the opposition leaders though saying they want that i missed the without any conditions in terms of what we think from a nationalist on the streets right now a group of five thousand miles from here on independence square over to a monument elsewhere in kiev this is a monument to those who fought against the bolsheviks in one thousand eight seeing now they were waving nationalist flags a lot of them carrying some kind of homemade weaponry sticks helmets the likes of ukraine has seen bloody violence in the past involving nationalist groups my colleague alexey other ships he has this report so i must warn you though some of the images in alexa's report some viewers may find disturbing. us love him a shift key barely remembers the currituck offensive nine hundred forty three when ukrainian insurgents came to slaughter his village in western ukraine but the most

tragic things live well in his memory. the reason one of them caught up and shot from close range there was a huge noise a bullet hit an ear well it touched the temple my mom fell down she was unconscious the blood was everywhere they started filburn went to the village the murder they didn't kill they murdered with pitchforks and axes survive to become poland's first and only man in space nineteen members of his family including his father and more than eighty thousand poles jews and their meanings were not as lucky. some of murders in what was a genuine ethnic cleansing by troops were extremely gruesome people cut in pieces with a saw one thousand. conducted a total ethnic cleansing. that is to destroy living on our territory they consider their property after the bowling slaughter murders but the call continued.

and through the region over there were a green youth who tried to help. but those ukrainian. seven decades later when ukraine's opposition faced off with the government pictures of those behind. resurfaced in the heart of the protest the man who formed the nine hundred forty s. insurgent movement in ukraine step on when there is still pretty much tearing the country apart while many call him a killer and cannot forgive the atrocities his movement had committed some at them i don't i clearly guarding him as a hero warsaw has been supportive of ukraine's protesters all along despite a chunk of the radical right there is supporting the man who brought so much pain to the polish nation unpunished minors which haven't been prosecuted will always spawn new martyrs standing at his father's grave after musharraf says he feels no hate towards ukrainians but he wants the truth to be told and things to be named as

they should be. reporting from kiev in ukraine. back here in the u.s. new video of an arizona police shooting that turned deadly calls into question what exactly led the police to pull the trigger on january fourteenth the man well lange goriot led police on a high speed chase that ended up in a confrontation with officers in which he was shot and killed here's the video of the penal now excuse me county sheriff said the suspect who they believe was driving a stolen vehicle refused to listen to demands and suddenly reached into the back of the car prompting police to shoot in their defense but just released video is raising questions you see along oriya actually has his hands up before he is shot while artie reached out to the penhallow county sheriff's office for comment on what this video shows they say the suspect has a long record of violent crime and recalled the scene where mom gloria repeatedly

said he had a gun and he wouldn't be taken alive he kept his right hand behind his back which deputies and officers on scene thought it was on a gun he said he had and they maintained that the officer shot the man to stop a threat that is going to do it for now thanks for tuning in and liz of all. the. technology innovation and all the developments around russia. the future of the bird.