skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Power of Negotiation in Malheur Refuge Standoff

play audio
Play

Wednesday, February 17, 2016   

PORTLAND, Ore. - After 41 days of occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, the standoff between anti-government protesters and law enforcement ended peacefully last week.

Even after the arrest of the group's leadership three weeks ago and the shooting death of its spokesman, the FBI worked patiently and deliberately with the last four holdouts, proving the power of negotiations.

When trying to end situations such as the Malheur standoff, said Greg Vecchi, former chief of the FBI's behavioral science unit, negotiators can use past concessions as bargaining chips.

"We're not only trying to help you, here's some examples of where we really tried to meet your needs," he said. "We allowed food to come in, we allowed water to come in. If you needed medical stuff, we were happy to provide that. We have been very, very fair. You know, you promised you were going to come out after this, so I'm going to hold you to your promise and I really hope that you follow through."

The last four occupiers to leave face federal conspiracy charges.

Because the protesters did not trust federal agents, the FBI found third-party mediators sympathetic to the group's views to negotiate. Three different mediators worked at Malheur to de-escalate the situation, including a Nevada state representative and evangelical preacher Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham. Vecchi said the use of third-party intermediaries is a common negotiation strategy when groups won't talk to the FBI directly.

"You find somebody that these people will talk to and connect with," he said, "and then you basically sit in the background and coach these TPIs in the negotiation."

Even though the group was armed, Vecchi said, they weren't threatening anybody on the Malheur refuge, so the FBI was able to take its time with negotiations. In a violent situation, he said, the FBI would have reacted the same no matter who the occupiers were.

"They would have, let's say, took a hostage, or killed a hostage on the deadline, or started to shoot out the windows at the police, doesn't matter their race or ideology or their religion or anything like that," he said. "What would have happened is they would have busted into that place and taken them down."


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021