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Former UN Ambassador Richardson nominated for Nobel Peace Prize on August 25, 2023 at 8:40 pm
Bill Richardson, the Democrat who parlayed a political career into a unique role as a global crisis negotiator, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to free hostages and political prisoners around the world.
Richardson was nominated along with Richardson Center for Global Engagement, a nonprofit he founded, by four Democratic senators, Bob Menéndez (N.J.), Joe Manchin (W.V.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.).
“Needless to say, I am honored by this nomination of a prestigious award, knowing it’s a long shot,” Richardson told The Hill.
“I’m especially humbled by the support of American hostage families and human rights families. But hostage diplomacy worldwide is only going to increase and is at the very least here to stay, especially affecting Americans.”
Richardson has been nominated for the prestigious award before, but this nomination is notable because it is backed by four senators.
In their nominating letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the lawmakers touted Richardson’s central role in the liberation of 15 political prisoners, including professional basketball player Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed, both repatriated after high-stakes prisoner swaps with Russia.
Richardson’s nomination is also supported by 14 letters from former hostages and their families, praising his role in their liberation.
“We feel lucky to have been introduced to the Richardson Center and will forever be grateful for them. I am confident that without their experience, commitment, and passion for the work to reunite families, I would not be home today,” wrote Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner.
Yet Richardson’s initiation as a hostage negotiator was circumstantial.
In 1994, Richardson — then in his 6th term in Congress — was tapped by former President Clinton to negotiate the release of two U.S. pilots shot down after their helicopter strayed into North Korean airspace.
“He was there on a visit and basically – back then it was the Clinton administration – and Clinton asked him, ‘hey, you stay there until we can get our pilot back.’ And so he did,” said Mickey Bergman, vice president and executive director of the Richardson Center.
Richardson secured the release of Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Hall, who survived the crash, and the repatriation of the other pilot’s body, setting the stage for the next phase of his political career.
In 1997, Clinton named him UN ambassador, then secretary of energy in 1998, Richardson served two terms as governor of New Mexico from 2003 to 2011, and mounted a presidential run in 2008.
But throughout, Richardson stuck to the role of geopolitical freelancer with a specialty in hostage negotiations.
Both Richardson and Bergman — who Richardson calls “the soul of this operation” — said they were hooked on the risky work when they first experienced a family reunification.
“The day-to-day is very, very hard and grinding and frustrating. And so seeing that reminds you why you do what you do, motivates you and also locks you in. And once you have that, you know you cannot walk away from it. You have to keep doing that,” said Bergman.
The most obvious risk in these high-stakes negotiations involves paying house calls in places where authorities are in the business of taking political prisoners or hostages.
Sanitary risks are also a concern — one rescue involved flying from Myanmar with an unvaccinated hostage recently released from a Burmese jail.
And political risks can threaten the success of rescue operations.
In 2022, Biden administration officials came close to publicly chastising Richardson for his role in negotiations to release Griner and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who is still detained in Russia.
“Our concern is that private citizens attempting to broker a deal do not and cannot speak for the U.S. government,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price in a November 2022 briefing, referring to Richardson’s efforts in those cases.
The four senators who nominated Richardson specifically praised the center’s role in those cases, as well as 14 other resolved cases and eight pending ones, “amongst other discrete cases.”
Political tensions come with the territory — in Richardson’s final days in office as governor, he risked angering the Obama administration by talking to North Korea to defuse tensions after an artillery attack on a South Korean island.
Richardson’s capital is in his political connections, domestic and otherwise, and his ability to talk to people on a human level.
Richardson credits his people skills to growing up bilingual and bicultural – he spent his childhood in Mexico City before returning to the United States as a teenager.
“It’s about emotional intelligence,” said Bergman. “For him it’s a gift.”
Those talks require access, for which Richardson has to tread carefully in his dealings with some of the world’s most calculating political operators, including those in Washington, D.C.
And success sometimes requires risking that access.
Paula Reed, Trevor Reed’s mother, wrote in her letter of support for the Nobel nomination that Richardson and Bergman informed her in February of 2022 of a prospective deal cut with Russia for Trevor’s release, which was time-sensitive and not yet approved by the Biden administration.
In March of that year, the Reed family protested a visit by President Biden to Fort Worth and eventually got a meeting with the president in Washington, where they told Biden they knew a deal was available.
“I know without a doubt in my mind, that us having the prior knowledge of Governor’s and Mickey’s trip to Russia and the deal laid out there, and us relaying that to President, was a huge factor in President Biden deciding to approve the deal. I honestly believe that was a crucial element to bringing Trevor back home,” wrote Reed.
Bill Richardson, the Democrat who parlayed a political career into a unique role as a global crisis negotiator, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to free hostages and political prisoners around the world. Richardson was nominated along with Richardson Center for Global Engagement, a nonprofit he founded, by four Democratic…
President Donald Trump says the United States might one day get rid of federal income tax because of money the government collects from tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs are extra taxes the U.S. puts on products that come from other countries.
What Trump Is Saying
Trump has said that tariff money could become so large that it might allow the government to cut income taxes “almost completely.” He has also talked about possibly phasing out income tax over the next few years if tariff money keeps going up.
How Taxes Work Now
Right now, the federal government gets much more money from income taxes than from tariffs. Income taxes bring in trillions of dollars each year, while tariffs bring in only a small part of that total. Because of this gap, experts say tariffs would need to grow by many times to replace income tax money.
Questions From Experts
Many economists and tax experts doubt that tariffs alone could pay for the whole federal budget. They warn that very high tariffs could make many imported goods more expensive for shoppers in the United States. This could hit lower- and middle‑income families hardest, because they spend a big share of their money on everyday items.
What Congress Must Do
The president can change some tariffs, but only Congress can change or end the federal income tax. That means any real plan to remove income tax would need new laws passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. So far, there is no detailed law or full budget plan on this idea.
What It Means Right Now
For now, Trump’s comments are a proposal, not a change in the law. People and businesses still have to pay federal income tax under the current rules. The debate over using tariffs instead of income taxes is likely to continue among lawmakers, experts, and voters.
Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to declassify all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose death in 2019 continues to fuel controversy and speculation.
The order, signed Wednesday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, instructs the FBI, Department of Justice, and intelligence agencies to release documents detailing Epstein’s network, finances, and alleged connections to high-profile figures. Trump described the move as “a step toward transparency and public trust,” promising that no names would be shielded from scrutiny.
“This information belongs to the American people,” Trump said in a televised statement. “For too long, powerful interests have tried to bury the truth. That ends now.”
U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that preparations for the release are already underway. According to sources familiar with the process, the first batch of documents is expected to be made public within the next 30 days, with additional releases scheduled over several months.
Reactions poured in across the political spectrum. Supporters praised the decision as a bold act of accountability, while critics alleged it was politically motivated, timed to draw attention during a volatile election season. Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, emphasized caution, warning that some records could expose private victims or ongoing legal matters.
The Epstein case, which implicated figures in politics, business, and entertainment, remains one of the most talked-about scandals of the past decade. Epstein’s connections to influential individuals—including politicians, royals, and executives—have long sparked speculation about the extent of his operations and who may have been involved.
Former federal prosecutor Lauren Fields said the release could mark a turning point in public discourse surrounding government transparency. “Regardless of political stance, this declassification has the potential to reshape how Americans view power and accountability,” Fields noted.
Officials say redactions may still occur to protect sensitive intelligence or personal information, but the intent is a near-complete disclosure. For years, critics of the government’s handling of Epstein’s case have accused agencies of concealing evidence or shielding elites from exposure. Trump’s order promises to change that narrative.
As anticipation builds, journalists, legal analysts, and online commentators are preparing for what could be one of the most consequential information releases in recent history.
What Happened at the United Nations
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, defending Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. As he spoke, more than 100 delegates from over 50 countries stood up and left the chamber—a rare and significant diplomatic walkout. Outside the UN, thousands of protesters gathered to voice opposition to Netanyahu’s policies and call for accountability, including some who labeled him a war criminal. The protest included activists from Palestinian and Jewish groups, along with international allies.
Why Did Delegates and Protesters Walk Out?
The walkouts and protests were a response to Israel’s continued offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in widespread destruction and a significant humanitarian crisis. Many countries and individuals have accused Israel of excessive use of force, and some international prosecutors have suggested Netanyahu should face investigation by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, including claims that starvation was used as a weapon against civilians. At the same time, a record number of nations—over 150—recently recognized the State of Palestine, leaving the United States as the only permanent UN Security Council member not to join them.
International Reaction and Significance
The diplomatic walkouts and street protests demonstrate increasing global concern over the situation in Gaza and growing support for Palestinian statehood. Several world leaders, including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, showed visible solidarity with protesters. Petro called for international intervention and, controversially, for US troops not to follow orders he viewed as supporting ongoing conflict. The US later revoked Petro’s visa over his role in the protests, which he argued was evidence of a declining respect for international law.
Why Is This News Important?
The Gaza conflict is one of the world’s most contentious and closely-watched issues. It has drawn strong feelings and differing opinions from governments, activists, and ordinary people worldwide. The United Nations, as an international organization focused on peace and human rights, is a key arena for these debates. The events surrounding Netanyahu’s speech show that many nations and voices are urging new action—from recognition of Palestinian rights to calls for sanctions against Israel—while discussion and disagreement over the best path forward continue.
This episode at the UN highlights how international diplomacy, public protests, and official policy are all intersecting in real time as the search for solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains urgent and unresolved.
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