Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at Background Briefing.org.

I'm Ian Masters, and today we'll examine a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with today's court appearance by James Comey, the former director of the FBI,

who pleaded not guilty to making false statements to lawmakers and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

Before the trial date set for January 5th,

Comey's lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, said he would have

the case dismissed on the grounds his client, a critic of President Trump, was being targeted,

and they planned to file motions to dismiss the case, arguing the prosecution was vindictive

and that a U.S. attorney was unlawfully appointed to take over the case.

Joining us is Lawrence Douglas, the James Grosfeld chair in law, jurisprudence, and social

thought at Amherst College, and a contributing opinion writer for The Guardian.

We will discuss his latest article at The Guardian, James Comey's real crime, daring to put the law

before loyalty to Trump.

Then, with Trump apparently determined to provoke a war within, as he sends troops from Texas

to the streets of Chicago and calls for the arrest of the governor of Illinois and the mayor of

Chicago, will speak with Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the

University of Chicago, specializing in political violence and international security affairs.

He's the author of Cutting the Fuse, The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism, and How to Stop

It, Dying to Win, the Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism, and Bombing to Win, Airpower and Co suicide terrorism, and bombing to win, air power and coercion

in war. Then finally, we'll speak with Lincoln Mitchell, who teaches in the School of

International and Public Affairs and the Department of Political Science at Columbia University.

He has written numerous books and articles about international affairs, American politics,

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