The Death Penalty in the US

Australia to "do everything" to stop live-streamed execution

The Australian government will do everything in its power to prevent the US execution of Nidal Hasan from being viewed online within the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated this to ABC.

Last week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the public would be able to follow Hasan’s execution live.

Albanese acknowledges that practically preventing a live broadcast will be difficult, but notes that they intend to convey to social media companies that "it should not appear in our country."

Both the UN and the Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives have previously leveled harsh criticism against...

Republican criticism: "Recruitment tool"

Republican and Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, criticizes the plan to live-stream Nidal Hasan's execution. In an interview with CBS, he voices his concerns and notes that many within the party share his view.

"The risk is creating a video that could serve as a recruitment tool for future terrorists," he says.

Johnson states that the matter falls outside his jurisdiction, but that he feels an obligation to tell the White House what he and others think.

Last week, President Donald Trump approved the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth raised the possibility of making the execution "available to the public." No decision has been made on the matter, and many within Trump's own staff are reportedly critical as well. Hasan was sentenced to death back in 2013, four years after shooting and killing 13 people and wounding 31 at the Fort Hood military base in Texas. 

The Christa Pike Case
Emergency call reporting Pike was alive was not taken seriously

Transcripts of emergency calls to medical services reveal several misunderstandings during the State of Tennessee's attempt to execute Christa Pike, the Associated Press reports.

Among other things, a person reporting that Pike had survived the execution attempts was reportedly unable to provide a specific code to verify they were calling from the prison. Shortly thereafter, an emergency dispatcher reportedly stated that it was a false alarm.

When an ambulance subsequently arrived at the prison, there was a further delay before it was allowed through the gates.

After receiving hospital treatment, the 50-year-old Pike is now back in prison. It is unclear whether authorities will attempt to execute her again.