The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell Season 2016 Episode 21 Season 7, Episode 21

The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell is a political news show on MSNBC that first aired in 2010. The show covers current events, politics, and social issues through interviews with experts and analysis by the host and guests. The show is known for its progressive perspective and its focus on criminal justice reform and economic inequality.

Season 7, Episode 21 of The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell aired on May 30, 2016, and began with a discussion of the news of the day. O' Donnell and his guests analyzed the latest developments in the 2016 presidential race, including Hillary Clinton's ongoing battle with Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination and Donald Trump's controversial comments about Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was presiding over a case involving Trump University. O' Donnell also discussed recent polls and predicted how the general election might play out.

The episode then turned to a segment on criminal justice reform, an issue that O' Donnell has been passionate about for years. He interviewed Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) about his efforts to reform the criminal justice system, including his work on the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act. Booker argued that the current system is broken and disproportionately affects people of color, and he urged lawmakers to take action to address the issue. O' Donnell and Booker also discussed the politics of criminal justice reform and the importance of bipartisanship in getting legislation passed.

The next segment focused on the economy, specifically on income inequality and the minimum wage. O' Donnell interviewed Saru Jayaraman, the director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley and a leading advocate for workers' rights. Jayaraman argued that the minimum wage should be raised to a living wage, and that the tipped minimum wage should be eliminated altogether. O' Donnell and Jayaraman discussed the impact that raising the minimum wage would have on the economy, and O' Donnell pointed out that the current federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009.

The episode concluded with a segment on gun control, a topic that has become increasingly relevant in the wake of mass shootings and incidents of police violence. O' Donnell interviewed Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots organization that advocates for gun reform. Watts argued that the Second Amendment does not protect the right to own military-style weapons, and that Congress should pass laws to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to public safety. O' Donnell and Watts also discussed the role of mental illness in gun violence, and the need for a comprehensive approach to address the issue.

Overall, Season 7, Episode 21 of The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell was a thought-provoking and informative episode that covered a wide range of important issues. From politics to criminal justice reform to the economy to gun control, the show tackled some of the most pressing challenges facing the country today. O' Donnell's interviews with expert guests provided valuable insights and perspectives on these issues, and his analysis and commentary helped viewers better understand the complexities of these topics.