Catalan Independence, Russian Interference on Social Media, Bowe Bergdahl Pleads Guilty

Guest: Eric Jensen, JD, Professor of International Law, Brigham Young University DECLARING INDEPENDENCE Spain’s top court has declared the Catalan referendum for independence invalid and two prominent activists for Catalonia’s secession have been jailed. The Prime Minister of Spain has threatened to take over some or all of Catalonia’s regional powers if its separatist leaders don’t get back in line with national unity by Thursday morning.  Meanwhile, tensions have flared between Iraq’s government and leaders of that country’s Kurdish state, which is also agitating for independence. Iraqi forces said Monday they seized a military base, an oil field and other key infrastructure from Kurdish soldiers near the northern city of Kirkuk. Just what does it take for a region to succeed in declaring independence? RUSSIAN MEDDLING IN THE 2106 ELECTION Next month, executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter have been asked to appear before the House intelligence committee investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.   BOWE BERGDAHL Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl pleaded guilty yesterday to desertion and to endangering the American troops sent to search for him.