Red Lines with Anya Parampil

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter Oliver Stone about his new film "JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass," which was recently released on SHOWTIME. Stone explores misconceptions regarding JFK's legacy and discusses why he believes the US government refuses declassify documents related to the assassination even 58 years since it took place.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Vijay Prashad, historian and Chief Correspondent for Globetrotter, about the military's recent takeover in Myanmar.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, about her recent trip to Venezuela. In her first interview since the publication of the preliminary findings of her mission to Venezuela, Professor Douhan discusses her main take aways from the visit, her method for investigating, as well as the response to her report.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Rania Khalek of Soapbox about the drama surrounding the Trump impeachment trial. They reflect on the arguments made by democrats and republicans, the trial's impact on the reputation of US empire abroad, and its implications for free speech.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Prasanth Radhakrishnan, a New Delhi based journalist with Newclick.in and People's Dispatch, about the historic farmer strike currently sweeping India. Radhakrishnan explains why farmers are rising up, how they are organized, and how the neoliberal government of Narendra Modi has responded to the movement. Just one day after this interview, the Modi government raided the offices of Newsclick.in and detained its editors in what has been denounced as an act of intimidation against critical media. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3pgo69y​

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Max Keiser, host of The Keiser Report and The Orange Pill Podcast, about the recent Reddit-driven GameStop stock surge. They discuss the corrupt practices of the Robinhood stock trader app as well as the lasting impact this saga will have on Wall Street.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with investigative journalist Gareth Porter about his recent piece in The Grayzone which explores the role CENTCOM Chief General Kenneth McKenzie played in escalating tensions with Iran in the final days of the Trump Administration. Porter also discusses the role General McKenzie will have in the Biden Administration as well as the new president's Iran strategy.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou about a recent story in the New York Times which alleges Trump allies attempted to sell presidential pardons. Kiriakou speaks about his personal experience dealing with Trump insiders, including Rudy Giuliani, in order to secure a pardon, saying he was told Giuliani would work on his behalf in exchange for $2 million. Parampil also asks Kiriakou to share his thoughts on Biden’s intelligence picks.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks to Rune Agerhus, General Director of the Yemen Solidarity Council, about the Trump Administration's recent decision to classify the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization. In response to the decision the Yemen Solidarity Council announced it would cease operations in the United States, while other international aid groups have denounced the move as the deliberate criminalization of humanitarian work. Agerhus explains why the designation makes it difficult for aid organizations to provide humanitarian relief to Yemen while providing historic context on the rise of the Houthi movement as well as Saudi Arabia's geopolitical interests in the country. CORRECTION: Around 6:23 Rune Agerhus says Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi first ran for office in 1996 or 1997. He actually ran for the first time in 1994.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Brian Becker, host of The Socialist Program, about the implications of the recent Stop the Steal riot in Washington D.C. Becker analyzes direct coordination between rioters and the police and explains why he believes the Biden Era could be one of political instability in the United States. He also discusses the launch of his new podcast, The Socialist Program.

As Venezuela elects and swears in a new National Assembly Red Lines host Anya Parampil sits down with the country's Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza, in their latest conversation since the US launched its coup attempt against his government in January of 2019. They discuss the impact of US regime change policy on Venezuela's domestic political situation, why Juan Guaidó has not been arrested, hope for diplomacy with the incoming Biden Administration, the left's resurgence in Latin America, and more.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Beijing-based journalist Ian Goodrum about the recent signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in Asia. The agreement includes countries representing one-third of the global GDP and population, yet excludes the United States. They discuss the implications the deal will have for the world economy. ** Correction: At 1:41 Ian remarks that six countries representing 35% of GDP in the agreement must now ratify RCEP, however this is a provision in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, not the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Apologies for the error.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with The Grayzone's Ben Norton about his recent article investigating the Biden transition team's appointment of Richard Stengel to oversee a review of the United States Center for Global Media. They discuss his disturbing views regarding the first amendment as well as what his appointment means for alternative media and future social media censorship.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Leo Flores, the Latin American Campaign Coordinator for CODEPINK, about what the election of Joe Biden will mean for US Venezuela policy. They also discuss Venezuela's upcoming parliamentary elections and the fractured state of the country's opposition.

Anya Parampil speaks with journalist Ollie Vargas in La Paz, Bolivia about the historic victory of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party in the October 18 elections. They discuss the role of Bolivia's social movements in overturning the coup regime that came to power in 2019, as well as the expectations of average people as the new government of Luis Arce takes power.

We entered the power base of Bolivia's far-right, Santa Cruz, where the 2019 coup was hatched, and where the country's elite seeks to consolidate its hold on power in the election this October 18. Anya Parampil filed this dispatch with Max Blumenthal.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with London-based journalist Afshin Rattansi, host of "Going Underground" on RT UK, about a recent UK government report which admits the consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had no role in influencing the country's 2016 vote to leave the European Union. The findings contradict years of establishment media reporting which claimed the firm was responsible for the Brexit vote. Anya and Afshin also discuss the status of Brexit, the trial of Julian Assange, and Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer's links to British intelligence agencies.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Syrian journalist Bashar Barazi, the correspondent for HispanTV in Damascus, about recent developments in the country. They discuss the impact of the new "Cesar sanctions" on the Syrian public, US and Turkish maneuvers within Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's recent visit to the country, as well as the average Syrian's response to efforts from Gulf countries to normalize relations with Israel. Barazi explains why he believes the US is seeking to "create a new base in Syria".

*All four individuals have been released since this interview was recorded. They still face charges, including kidnapping, for their involvement in the anti-racist movement. More info: https://www.pslweb.org/ Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Eugene Puryear, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, about the recent arrest of four party members in Denver, Colorado. Joel Northam, Lillian House, Russell Ruch, and Eliza Lucero were arrested on September 17 in a coordinated crackdown against leaders of the movement demanding justice for Elijah McClain, a 23 three year old black man who was killed by police in August of 2019. The activists are facing a retaliatory prosecution designed to discourage future protests against police brutality. Joel, Lillian, and Eliza were held in jail for 7 days before being allowed to post bond.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with human rights lawyer Santiago Salinas Miranda about a wave of massacres and political assassinations sweeping Colombia. They discuss the Colombian government's role in the murders and ask why the international community has turned a blind eye to the killings.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Caracas-based journalist Diego Sequera, a columnist with Mision Verdad, about recent developments in Venezuela. They discuss Venezuela's recent arrest of a US spy which the government claims was plotting to sabotage oil refineries in the country, as well as upcoming parliamentary elections in December. They explore the impact the vote could have on US-backed politician Juan Guaidó as well as the fractured state of Venezuela's political opposition. They close by taking a look at a recent report out of Miami which accuses Guaidó officials of engaging in federal crimes, including extortion, in the United States.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speakers with Shahid Buttar, who is running against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to represent California’s 12 district in the House of Representatives. Buttar explains why he differs from Pelosi on issues of war and whistleblowers. They discuss Buttar’s position on Julian Assange, Latin America, Israel, and more.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with The Grayzone's Ben Norton about his recent piece "U.S. govt-linked PR firm ran fake news networks for right-wing Latin American regimes." They discuss Facebook's recent announcement that it deleted dozens of accounts run by a Washington D.C. based PR firm called CLS Strategies. The accounts sought to undermine the democratically elected governments of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico, as well as boost support for the Bolivian coup regime. They also address CLS Strategies' close ties to the Democratic Party and a potential Biden Administration.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with journalist Juan Passarelli, director of the film "The War on Journalism: the Case of Julian Assange," about the trial of Julian Assange as well as his experience working with Wikileaks.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with René González, a member of the Cuban Five whose real life experience inspired the recent Netflix film "The Wasp Network". They discuss his reaction to the film as well as what it was like for him to work as a Cuban agent in the 1990s monitoring right-wing terrorist networks in Miami. Anya also asks González about current US-Cuba relations.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Ali Abunimah, co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, about the recent announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates plan to normalize relations. They discuss the conditions which led to the deal as well as what the agreement will mean for Palestinians, particularly those in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil talks to Danny Haiphong, a Contributor at the Black Agenda Report, about why some US leftwing media outlets repeat State Department talking points when it comes to China. Danny also dispels some of the most common talking points, including "China is capitalist" and "China has imperialist ambitions".

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with award winning screenwriter and director Oliver Stone about his memoir, "Chasing the Light". They discuss his experience as a soldier during the Vietnam War, his films including "Platoon" and "Scarface", his work on Latin America, and his views on Hollywood today. Buy Oliver's book today: https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/Chasing-the-Light/9780358394938

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Ben Norton of The Grayzone about his latest report "Document exposes new US plot to overthrow Nicaragua’s elected socialist gov’t". The leaked document from the US embassy in Managua reveals how Washington seeks to bring a free market to Nicaragua as well as purge Sandinistas from public life. Ben discusses the disturbing details as well as the document's frightening implications for working people in Nicaragua

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with journalist Wyatt Reed, producer for the show By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, about his coverage of the federal troop deployment to Portland, Oregon.

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with investigative journalist Gareth Porter about his latest report "How the Pentagon failed to sell Afghan government’s bunk ‘Bountygate’ story to US intelligence agencies".

Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Bolivian journalist Ollie Vargas to get an update on the situation in Bolivia. The military dictatorship has done little to aid the country's working class as coronavirus spreads. Meanwhile Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), the party of ousted President Evo Morales, is trying to respond to the nation's health crisis on a local level. Elections in the country have been postponed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.