Topic: Mentoring

President Obama's proclamation of National Mentoring Month is identified as a promotional vehicle for his "My Brother's Keeper" initiative. The program is described as a potential post-presidency NGO that utilizes government resources to build a private network. Other January proclamations include National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and National Stalking Awareness Month.

President Barack Obama's proclamations for January are reviewed, including National Mentoring Month and National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The mentoring initiative is identified as a push for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education and apprenticeship programs. The hosts express skepticism regarding the naming conventions and the organizations behind these awareness months.

President Barack Obama issued a proclamation designating January 2014 as National Mentoring Month, urging public officials and community leaders to support youth development. The period also marks National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The hosts note the irony of these proclamations given the high incarceration rates and labor practices within the United States prison system.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced that the UK would send military officers to Libya to assist the opposition forces. Hague insisted the mission is "mentoring" and "organizational assistance" rather than "training" or "arming," to remain within the bounds of UN Resolution 1973. Critics argue this distinction is semantic and represents a significant escalation of "boots on the ground."