Purdue Pharma criminally charged for role in opioid crisis

The Department of Justice announced a massive $8 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma, the OxyContin maker widely accused of fueling the nation’s opioid crisis. The settlement resolves criminal and civil investigations into Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of its powerful painkillers. However, the staggering amount is largely symbolic, as Purdue is tied up in bankruptcy proceedings and lacks the assets to pay the full amount. “Boom Bust” co-host and investigative journalist Ben Swann joins to discuss. Thousands are taking to the streets in Colombia’s capital city of Bogota for a meeting with President Ivan Duque to discuss government policies they say are crucial for their survival. This massive group includes anti-government protesters, teachers, unions and indigenous groups. Protesters say their survival is being threatened by COVID-19, police violence and drug cartels and they want their government to do more. RT America’s Rachel Blevins has the details. More than two years since the Trump administration launched a “zero tolerance” policy that separated migrant children from their parents at the US-Mexico border, hundreds of children are still without their parents. The tragic news comes after a federal judge ordered government officials to reunite the families. RT America’s Trinity Chavez has the story.