RT America -- December 31, 2014

Critics of the New York City Police Department are accusing the law enforcement agency of conducting a “virtual work stoppage” to protest anti-brutality demonstrators and Mayor Bill de Blasio. Arrests are down 66 percent from this time last year, while traffic tickets and parking violations have both dropped by over 90 percent. Robert Gangi, director of PROP, offers insight.

A lobbyist for Academi--the controversial defense contractor formerly known as Blackwater--will become the top staff member for the House Intelligence Committee when congress returns in 2015. Critics are crying foul, saying that a lobbyist for such a highly profitable security firm with a horrendous safety record should not be given even more influence within the government. RT’s Alexey Yaroshevsky takes a look.