Egypt is an ancient civilization with a newborn democracy. So, after revolutionaries toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak, growing pains were expected. The top generals have been ruling the country for six decades, and they weren’t about to give up power without a fight.
They dissolved the legislature in June after a court order, and they seized all law-making and executive authority. Egyptians recently elected a parliament dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. And in June, they elected a conservative Islamist as their first freely-elected president, Mohammed Morsi.
To provide some perspective on what’s happening in Egypt, host David Reed was joined by TIME Magazine’s correspondent in Cairo, Abigail Hauslohner. She joined the show by telephone from Egypt’s capital to give a behind-the-scenes view of the political confrontations that escalated this week.
