Unauthorized Disclosure

In this free edited version of the weekly "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Kevin Gosztola speaks with Azadeh Shahshahani. Azadeh is the legal and advocacy director for Project South and a past president of the National Lawyers Guild. In our conversation, Azadeh discusses the deactivation of Palestinian activist or solidarity groups on university campuses, legal scholars and law students facing repercussions for speaking out in support of Palestinians, and the cruel indifference of the Biden administration to violence in Gaza (as well as the West Bank). BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Go to patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure or subscribe at TheDissenter.org

Andy Worthington, a journalist known for his work chronicling the inhumane and unjust detention of prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay military prison, returns to the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast. He's also involved in the Close Guantanamo campaign, which supports monthly vigils demanding the release of prisoners approved for release and that the United States detention camps be shut down. *For early access to full episodes and exclusive content, subscribe at TheDissenter.org

Note: This is not an episode of "Unauthorized Disclosure," but rather an interview that co-host Kevin Gosztola recorded that he is sharing with listeners of this podcast.Tom Mueller, journalist and author of Crisis of Conscience: Whistleblowing In An Age Of Fraud, continues his work covering whistleblowers with his latest book, How To Make A Killing: Blood, Death, And Dollars In American Medicine.The book details the monopolistic nature of dialysis corporations and how clinics or treatment centers label individuals “problem patients” when they become whistleblowers and dare to challenge their abuse, fraud, or malpractice.

Get early access to episodes by subscribing at TheDissenter.org Micah Herskind, an organizer and writer who has been based in Atlanta, joined the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss the movement and the efforts by Mayor Andre Dickens and other Democrats to engage in voter suppression and prevent a public vote on "Cop City."

In this week's "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola speak with Zoe Alexandra, a contributor with People's Dispatch. Zoe discusses the turmoil that has been unfolding around Guatemala's elections, and more.

(Free edition) Norman Solomon, co-founder of RootsAction.org, joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to talk about his new book, War Made Invisible: How America Hides The Human Toll Of Its Military Machine.

Returning to the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast, CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou helps Kevin Gosztola what will happen next to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Many believe extradition to the United States could be imminent. John also reflects on his mentor and friend Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who died last week. John shares an incredible story about Ellsberg from 2016. It involves a PEN America awards ceremony in Beverly Hills and acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola. Kevin and John also highlight a remarkable example of media malpractice from US media pundits David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart, who used the death of Ellsberg to further their attacks on NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. 

Corporate armies. Corporate cities. Corporate justice. Corporate welfare. Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola speak with journalist Matt Kennard about the new book that he co-authored, "Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy." Kennard (and co-author Claire Provost) traveled to five different continents and visited several countries to investigate and document the sheer extent to which corporations now influence and control governments. TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: Go to TheDissenter.org and sign up at the lowest tier for $3/month.

Journalist and author Antony Loewenstein joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss his new book, The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World. The book from Verso Books will be published on May 23, and it comprehensively documents how Israel's military industrial complex uses the occupied Palestinian territories as a testing ground for the development of weapons and surveillance technology. In our interview, Antony describes the impact Israeli military support and weapons have had on populations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He specifically highlights the alliance Colombia formed with the Israeli military in a brutal war against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or the FARC. Social media companies, as Antony details, do not like Palestinians. He tells us about some of the ways in which Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc, censor Palestinians.

For this week's episode of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by human rights and environmental attorney Steven Donziger.Steven was the target of a political case sponsored by Chevron. The super-major oil corporation hijacked the judiciary to stop Steven from standing up for the indigenous people of Ecuador, who had their land destroyed by Chevron.Rania and Kevin talk with Steven about post-prison life and corruption in the U.S. judicial branch. They discuss how President Joe Biden has allowed the fossil fuel industry to expand more oil drilling projects on federal land than President Donald Trump. And they also call attention to the Willow and Alaska LNG projects that Biden has greenlit.Later in the episode, Steven addresses the use of a "domestic terrorism" law in Georgia to try and stop the #StopCopCity protest against the construction of a police compound that would destroy forested land. He comments on the case of Manuel "Tortugita" Teran, a forest defender who was executed by police.

In this free clip from the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss how a spokesperson for the US State Department responded when asked why Cuba is designated a state sponsor of terrorism. They also read from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's letter to King Charles about prison conditions at Her Majesty's Prison Belmarsh, where Assange is detained. **Become a subcriber at TheDissenter.org or join the Shadowproof YouTube channel for access to full episodes.**

In this free clip from the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss a report on the U.S. military industrial-complex, particularly the revolving door between the government and military contractors. As of 2021, 672 former government officials, military officers, members of Congress, and senior legislative staff were working for major military contractors like Boeing, Raytheon, or Lockheed Martin. **Join the Shadowproof YouTube channel as a member to get full access to Unauthorized Disclosure episodes or subscribe at TheDissenter.org.**

Eugene Puryear, host on BreakThrough News, joins Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola to discuss the violence that has unfolded this past week in Sudan.Fighting has escalated between General Abdel Fattah Burhan and Sudan's military and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti) and a paramilitary force known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).During the conversation, Eugene describes who the players are and how the people of Sudan are caught in between their jostling for power. He also addresses the widespread claim that somehow Russia must be behind the skirmishes.Later, Kevin asks Eugene and Rania to comment on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and their partnership with the Sesame Workshop on programming for children in Iraq. Samantha Power, a warmonger and poser for human rights who leads USAID, characterized the project in a very nauseating way.The show concludes with Eugene reacting to the U.S. Justice Department indicting Chairman Omali Yeshitela of the African People's Socialist Party and at least two other members affiliated with the Black liberation group. In 2022, the FBI targeted them in raids.Yeshitela spoke at an antiwar rally in Washington, D.C., on the 20th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The demonstration, which was livestreamed by BreakThrough News, also called for diplomatic negotiations instead of further escalation in the war in Ukraine.

Brian Becker, national director for the ANSWER Coalition and host of BreakThrough News' "Socialist Program," joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq and a major antiwar rally planned for March 18 in Washington, D.C. During the episode, Brian reflects on the antiwar movement before and during the Iraq War and what can be learned from organizing in the 2000s as activists struggle for an end to the war in Ukraine. Brian also comments on the role of the press in helping the US government spread lies that justified the war.

This show was unlocked for all viewers. Become a subscriber at TheDissenter.org to help keep the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast going. Kari Lydersen, a Chicago-based reporter, author, and journalist instructor, joins the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast to discuss her feature story for In These Times, "The Case For Nationalizing the Railroads." Lydersen has covered labor in Chicago and throughout the United States for many years. In this interview, she shares the experiences of railroad workers who united around a strike to help them win paid sick days in their contract. But President Joe Biden sided with the railroad barons and helped corporate executives stop the strike. Profit margins for the major railroad companies are staggering. Later, Lydersen highlights the four corporations that control US railroads. She describes some of the health and safety struggles that railroad workers deal with daily. She talks about why we see around 1,700 train derailments in any given year. She also addresses what nationalization of the US railroad system might look like and also why so many shipments of goods are transported by trucks than trains, even though trains are more efficient.

This is an edited version. For full episodes, subscribe to the podcast at TheDissenter.org. Ollie Vargas, a contributor to Kawsachun News and co-host of Latin America Review, returns to the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast to discuss the latest developments in Peru. Back in 2022, a right-wing coup removed Peru President Pedro Castillo from power. He was replaced by Dina Boluarte, who had been his vice president. Boluarte has chosen to serve the interests of the oligarchy over indigenous and working class people the country. As part of our conversation, Ollie provides an overview of the violence and repression that Boluarte's US-backed regime has inflicted upon Peruvians in the past months. General strikes have unfolded for several weeks. He offers a recap of this resistance. Ollie addresses the US role in propping up the government, and he describes what grassroots groups have learned as they reflect on what they must do when they regain power in order to prevent a coup from happening again.

Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK co-founder and co-author of War In Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, and Ann Wright, a CODEPINK member, retired Army colonel, and former State Department diplomat, join “Unauthorized Disclosure” hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola to discuss the high stakes of a protracted conflict in Ukraine. Initially, President Joe Biden said the United States would not ship tank to Ukraine. That line was crossed, and now Ukraine would like fighter jets. Both Medea and Ann address the issue of escalating with more and more weapons and military equipment and crossing red lines that are drawn by officials. Medea draws from her experience in antiwar organizing to share how difficult it has been to advocate for a diplomatic settlement and mobilize Americans to oppose fueling this war. Later in the conversation, Ann, who lives in Hawaii, responds to the prevalent idea that the conflict in Ukraine against Russia has been a test run for a war over Taiwan against China. Hawaii is a US military launchpad for Asia-Pacific exercises and actions intended to curtail China's influence in the region. The Chinese “spy balloon” incident shows just how rapidly a scenario could develop that resulted in a devastating conflict.

Please enjoy free access to a full and uncut episode of the Unauthorized Disclosure weekly podcast typically available for only subscribers. Ben Norton, editor for Multipolarista, returns to the podcast to discuss the United States-backed coups and lawfare in Peru and Argentina. Peru President Pedro Castillo, who came from a background as an indigenous peasant, was removed from power by the right-wing legislature and arrested. A show trial was held, and he has been sentenced to 18 months of "preventative detention." In Argentina, Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was barred by the judiciary from running for president again. The political charge against her bears a lot of similarity to the political charge that was leveled by the right-wing in Brazil against President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Ben challenges several misconceptions about Castillo and the coup in Peru while also recounting events that led up to the third impeachment against him that created the conditions for his removal. He also highlights how the US ambassador to Peru was in the CIA. While providing an overview of recent events in Argentina, Ben details the extent to which oligarchs in the country hold influence over the judiciary.

Todd Miller is a journalist and editor for The Border Chronicle, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. He consistently has documented life at the United States-Mexico border. And he returns to the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast this week. Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola talk with Todd about how President Joe Biden's Justice Department is fighting for a Trump-era border policy, progress on the "smart" border wall, and "wall sickness"—the psychological impact that people living in communities near the border experience.

NOTE: This interview was not produced as part of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, but it is shared here to help give Stefania and her book some additional exposure. Italian journalist Stefania Maurizi partnered with WikiLeaks and covered military reports on the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars and US diplomatic cables related to Italy and the Vatican. She met WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange multiple times. She saw firsthand how WikiLeaks worked on publications, even as the United States government ramped up its efforts to target and suppress the media organization. Now, the English-translation of Stefania's book, "Secret Power: WikiLeaks and Its Enemies," is out from Pluto Press, and she joins Shadowproof's Kevin Gosztola to discuss this chronicle centered on her time as a media partner. The book also details her efforts to pursue freedom of information lawsuits against the US, United Kingdom, Sweden, and Australia for denying her access to documents related to the prosecution of Assange. Stefania kindly endorsed Kevin's forthcoming book on the Assange case, and Kevin is pleased to be able to show his support for Stefania's work and share this interview.

Joshua Frank, journalist and co-editor of CounterPunch, joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast to discuss his book, Atomic Days: The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America. It examines the Hanford nuclear waste site in Washington state and all the dangers that the site poses to humanity, despite the fact that numerous whistleblowers have risked their lives to warn us of potential catastrophes. ***ENJOY THE INTERVIEW? Become a subscriber at TheDissenter.org*** In the interview, Joshua recounts the role that Hanford played in the development of the US atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He describes how Hanford is part of the "permanent disaster economy" and the corruption that surrounds the US Energy Department's contracts for cleanup and maintenance of the nuclear site.

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, recently co-authored the book, "War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict," and is touring the United States. She joined the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast to discuss the missile incident in Poland and obstacles to pursuing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. ***BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Go to TheDissenter.org*** Later in the interview, Medea highlights the work that CODEPINK did on COP27, the climate conference which was held in Egypt. They challenged Egypt's repression and jailing of activists of like Alaa Abd El-Fattah and urged world leaders to pay more attention to how wars fuel climate change. She also addresses how the Biden administration has continued to invoke "state-sponsored terrorism" to strangle Cuba and why that must end.

Carey Shenkman is a constitutional lawyer and recognized expert on the United States Espionage Act. He joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast this week to discuss the book A Century of Repression: The Espionage Act and Freedom of the Press, which he co-authored with Ralph Engelman. ***BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Go to TheDissenter.org*** Co-host Kevin Gosztola asks Carey to outline the origins of the Espionage Act and how President Woodrow Wilson's administration developed it as a tool that could suppress antiwar dissent, labor organizers, and socialist and communist groups.

Hadas Thier is an activist and socialist in New York and the author of A People's Guide to Capitalism: An Introduction to Marxist Economics. She is a regular contributor to Jacobin Magazine, and Hadas recently wrote a feature story for In These Times magazine called, "A Left Answer To Inflation." ***BECOME A SUBSCRIBER. Go to TheDissenter.org. *** Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola welcomed Hadas to the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss inflation and what working class people should support as a response to rising prices. Hadas outlined the ways that inflation is the site of class conflict and how it is used as a tool by wealthy executives and ruling elites to suppress labor organizing.

Asa Winstanley, associate editor for Electronic Intifada and co-host of the website's podcast, appeared on "Unauthorized Disclosure" to discuss The Labour Files, a bombshell documentary series from Al Jazeera English based on an unprecedented leak of files from within the UK's Labour Party. Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola pay particular attention to the second part of the series that delves into the manner in which Labour Party officials manufactured an "antisemitism crisis" and weaponized the issue to purge the party of left-leaning members, including Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Jewish members who oppose Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. The documentary series that outlines clear corruption has been virtually ignored by the British establishment media. The Labour Party is hoping the series just fades away. By highlighting a few clips and highlighting some of the damning revelations in the Labour Files, we are doing what little we can do to challenge the media blackout. For more from Asa, subscribe to his newsletter.

Zoe Alexandra is a journalist for People's Dispatch, who has been in Brazil covering the elections, including the race between far-right Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and leftist former Brazil President Lula da Silva. In this free edition of the show, Zoe shares her insights on the election results in Brazil and other developments in Latin America, including renewed resistance among leaders to US meddling in their countries. *FOR FULL EPISODES, subscribe at TheDissenter.org

Jared Ware, journalist and co-host of the "Millennials Are Killing Capitalism" podcast, stops by the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss a major prison strike that unfolded in state facilities throughout Alabama over the past week. ***For as little as $3/month, get access to all the full episodes and premium content from the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast. Subscribe and get a free trial: https://thedissenter.org/subscribe-to... *** We begin with an overview of the strike, which was on its fifth day when the interview was recorded. Jared describes why the work stoppages were organized now and what the response of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has been to the organized prisoners. Jared outlines the demands of prisoners, including a call to release prisoners who should be eligible for parole but have been denied. Prison authorities have tried several tactics to break the strike. Meals have been degrading. Lead organizers have been assaulted and thrown in solitary. Prisoners have been moved between facilities to act as scabs and help authorities break the strike. Visitations have been canceled for the weekend. Yet the strike pushed onward into the weekend, and you can follow updates on Twitter from Jared @jaybeware

Brian Nam-Sonenstein, co-host of the "Beyond Prisons" podcast and publishing editor of Shadowproof, appears on "Unauthorized Disclosure" to help the show outline the issue of censorship in United States prisons and jails. **BECOME A SUBSCRIBER at TheDissenter.org for as little as $3/month** Censorship is not limited to banning books. Nor is it only retaliation against an incarcerated individual who wants to write a letter for publication. He describes why free speech advocates should absolutely care and how censorship has intensified as facilities move away from physical mail. (Note: This is a free version of this week's episode. For the full episode, subscribe to the podcast at TheDissenter.org.)

This week, hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola spend some time expressing their amusement at the right-wing response to the Justice Department investigation into former President Donald Trump's possession of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. They laugh at a comment from Trump's attorney that the Espionage Act is some "mundane" statute. Rania and Kevin highlight Amazon's harassment of union organizers and cover one recent example involving Amazon whistleblower Christian Smalls, who played an instrumental role in organizing the union at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse. Finally, Kevin shares some clips from a recent Callin episode that he recorded, where he explored the question of what we all think is the left. Rania responds and adds her own insights.

On this week's “Unauthorized Disclosure” episode, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by journalist and MintPress News senior staff writer Alan MacLeod. Alan has spent the past few months digging through LinkedIn profiles to expose the revolving door between United States security agencies (CIA, FBI, etc) and social media companies. In particular, his reporting calls attention to the sheer number of people from the CIA who are at Facebook, including one notable former agent who is developing content moderation policies for the corporation. Facebook, as Alan points out, is “the most important news source around the world. Around 3 billion use Facebook every month for news, which means that something like forty percent of the world's population is dependent on their news feeds. And that gives Facebook an enormous amount of leverage and influence.” We also asked Alan to break down his coverage of the so-called fact checking organizations that Facebook relies upon, particularly to moderate content related to the war in Ukraine, and how most of them receive direct funding from the US government.

Returning to the show, Ben Norton, journalist and editor of Multipolarista.com, discusses the FBI raiding former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and some responses from people who are part of the left. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Sign up for the Unauthorized Podcast for $4/month here — https://thedissenter.org/#/portal/signup Ben also responds to an attack against his reporting by a neoconservative think tank that is funded by several Western governments, and he comments on the backlash among African countries to the US telling them what they can and can't import from Russia, when they are struggling and may have nowhere else to turn for particular goods.

In this free edition of the weekly Unauthorized Disclosure podcast, Matthew Hoh returns to the show. He's a former Marine, whistleblower, and Green Party candidate for the US Senate in North Carolina. Matthew provides an update on his Senate campaign. The Green Party was certified by the State Board of Elections, which means candidates may appear on the ballot in November. But the Democratic Party filed a lawsuit to stop the Green Party that was condemned by a major local newspaper. Later in the show, Matthew reacts to Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan and also comments on the US drone strike against Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and what that signified.

On this week's episode, Andrea Ritchie joins Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola for a conversation about organizing for abortion decriminalization in a post-Roe United States. Andrea is a Black lesbian immigrant, and the author of the book Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color. She is the co-author of the forthcoming book No More Police: A Case For Abolition, as well as the book Queer (In)Justice. And Andrea is the co-founder of Interrupting Criminalization. First, Andrea assesses the terrain for abortion decriminalization as it exists now that the US Supreme Court abolished federal rights to reproductive health care. She comments on the brewing threat of prosecutions against women and medical providers. Planned Parenthood in Montana announced they would no longer provide abortion medication to out-of-state patients. Andrea expresses her disgust and frustration with this decision. Later in the show, Andrea describes what people can do. Many of the ideas outlined stem from recognizing the connections between struggles for gender justice, migrant justice, economic and racial justice, sex workers' rights, disability justice, etc.

Kit Klarenberg, a contributor to The Grayzone, joins Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola to discuss his series of reports that show a right-wing intelligence plot in the UK to target antiwar academics, journalists, politicians, environmentalists, and other figures. It all connects to an increasingly popular brand of information warfare by elites to target those who make it more difficult for them to spread their preferred narratives about particular current events free from counterpoints and accountability. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure

Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss the steady overturning of rights by courts in the United States judiciary system, including the Supreme Court. They spend time talking about a decision by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a law requiring contractors in Arkansas to pledge their loyalty to Israel if they want to be given a contract. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER at Patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure for access to the full episode.

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Stefania Maurizi, who is an Italian journalist with the daily Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano. She is also the author of the book, Secret Power: WikiLeaks and Its Enemies, which is being translated into an English version. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure Stefania reacts to the decision by United Kingdom Home Secretary Priti Patel to approve the US government's extradition request against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Later in the interview, Stefania describes how she was surveilled and had her rights violated by a private security company's spying operation against the Ecuador embassy when she visited Assange. She discusses the criminal case that is pending in a Spanish court. Both the US and UK are obstructing this investigation. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Rokfin.com/UnauthorizedDis Stefania concludes by describing what happens next in the case and stating why it's important to be clear in our conversations that Assange is a journalist.

Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss all the action at the Summit of the Americas this past week. Rania's BreakThrough News team and attendees of a competing grassroots summit, the People's Summit For Democracy, were on the ground protesting and confronting officials, like US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. ***WANT EPISODES RIGHT WHEN THEY POST? Patrons get access to episodes on Friday. Become a patron at Patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure***

Matthew Hoh returns to Unauthorized Disclosure to discuss his campaign for the US Senate in North Carolina. He is running as a Green Party candidate and recently qualified for the ballot after submitting 22,000 signatures. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure Matthew shares what he experienced while asking voters to sign petitions to get him on the ballot. He lays out his campaign platform and why it is important to give voters a choice outside the two-party system. Later, Matthew comments on the uptick in shootings that have made headlines over the past weeks. He describes what he thinks should be done to deal with gun violence. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Rokfin.com/UnauthorizedDis Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola also talk with Matthew about the war in Ukraine, including President Joe Biden sending killer drones to Ukrainians—something that will only draw the US further into a conflict with Russia.

Rania Khalek talks about her trip to Venezuela, including how she was called on by Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro to give a comment during a meeting she attended. She describes visiting Hugo Chavez's tomb and then breaks down the many ways you can clearly see that there are two Venezuelas—one for upper class communities, which the US supports, and one for the poor, which don't have that much support from the US. Then Rania and Kevin go through a letter from former US intelligence officials, who pleaded with Congress to not regulate monopolistic Big Tech companies because it will hamper their ability to help the US counter Russia.

Justin Podur, the host of the Anti-Empire Podcast, joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss the recent political developments in Pakistan. *BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed from power by the country's parliament. Some evidence points to support from the United States government for toppling Khan's government. Khan was replaced with Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif who served three terms as prime minister of Pakistan. *BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Rokfin.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure Podur shares his analysis of what transpired in Pakistan and comments on the backlash to Khan's failed attempts to save his government. Later, he describes how Khan rose to power and what earned him popular support. A small part of it involved Khan's opposition to US drone warfare. The episode concludes with our weekly censorship report that covers the harsh environment for freedom of expression that has intensified as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Zoe Alexandra from The People's Dispatch joins Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola for this week's episode of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast. During the show, Zoe breaks down the significance of elections that were held in Colombia, where the left enjoyed some success. She dives into the history of United States involvement in the country. A judge in Honduras approved the extradition of Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, to the U.S. government for prosecution on drug trafficking charges. As Zoe points out, the approval is made even more remarkable by the fact that Hernández was previously backed by the U.S. government in a coup. In the final part of the show, Zoe helps Rania and Kevin highlight censorship from the past week, including suppression of RT en Español, for their new weekly feature, the "Censorship Report."

Our guest for this week is Eli Clifton, a senior adviser at the Quincy Institute and an investigative journalist at large for Responsible Statecraft. Kevin and Rania talk with him about a report he produced on Annie M.H. Chan, a right-wing oligarch living in Hawaii who has fomented conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Later, Eli shares his assessment of the risks posed by all the arms flooding into Ukraine from North America and Europe. He also discusses some of the work he's done on Big War CEOs and how their corporations were primed and ready for this war.

Our guest on this episode of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast is comedian Lee Camp, who hosted "Redacted Tonight" on RT America for eight years until it shut down this past week. Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola talk with Lee about why RT America shut down and the censorship environment as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lee and Rania both make the case for why this was a result of censorship. We discuss how RT America journalists (along with other foreign journalists) were forced in 2019 to register as "foreign agents" while working in the United States. Later in the show, Lee raises the issue of support for a No Fly Zone over Ukraine. Lee assesses what happens next as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate—with arms shipments pouring in from US/NATO and Russia preparing for the next phase in their military offensive.

On this week's "Unauthorized Disclosure," we have one of our favorite guests, Ben Norton, who is the editor of Multipolarista and the host of "Propaganda Today." Ben describes how the so-called "trucker" protests (largely by non-truckers), which paralyzed the capitals of Brazil and Canada in the past six months, were backed by wealthy right-wing elites. Rania and Ben discuss fascism and the many forms it can take in a country. White working class people aren't the only group likely to engage in reactionary politics. Later, Kevin, Rania, and Ben go through examples of people at US think tanks and media outlets, who helped NATO and the military-industrial complex keep the temperature hot, even as Russia repeatedly stated it has no plans to invade Ukraine. On February 20, Russia is expected to conclude military exercises, including nuclear missile drill. Explosions were reported throughout February 18. Still, nothing points to an invasion of Ukraine yet. This weekend will be remarkable, as the laundering of disinformation around Russia and Ukraine enters its next phase. But one thing is certain: US journalists will continue to willingly publish the "intelligence" they receive, no matter how false or junky it may be.

Right after we recorded, U.S. intelligence sources laundered disinformation through outlets like CNN and the New York Times that Russia could invade Ukraine before the Olympics conclude in Beijing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeated that an invasion "could begin at any time" and provided zero evidence for this statement recklessly shared in his official capacity. We note that because the beginning of this episode does not reflect this latest development. In fact, up until February 11, the Biden White House had entirely abandoned any suggestion that a threat of invasion was "imminent." They moved to President Vladimir Putin is operating on his own time table for an invasion, and it could be a long one. That means an invasion could come in the summer or the fall or never. Our guest this week is Branko Marcetic, a staff writer for Jacobin Magazine and the author of the book Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden. Branko starts by assessing the media coverage of the potential for Russia to invade Ukraine and then provides a brief overview of how we got to this moment. He broadens our discussion with a critique of Biden's foreign policy record. Later, Rania asks Branko about his views on some of the left's attitudes toward public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin also asks Branko to share his thoughts on the conservative media ecosystem developing in response to censorship and pressure from social media companies.

Our guest this week on Unauthorized Disclosure is Branko Marcetic, a staff writer for Jacobin Magazine and the author of the book "Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden." *BECOME A SUBSCRIBER at patreon.com/unauthorizeddisclosure Branko starts by assessing the media coverage of the potential for Russia to invade Ukraine and then provides a brief overview of how we got to this moment. He broadens our discussion with a critique of Biden's foreign policy record. Later, Rania asks Branko about his views on some of the left's attitudes toward public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin also asks Branko to share his thoughts on the conservative media ecosystem developing in response to censorship and pressure from social media companies. (Note: This was edited for broadcast. Full unedited episodes are available for subscribers.)

For the last episode of 2021, Mike Prysner, a producer for "Empire Files," joins Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola to share his reporting on the Red Hill fuel leaks at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Fuel tanks once again leaked petroleum and threatened the water supply of surrounding communities. The leaks poisoned military and non-military people, who rely on the same water. It is a problem that goes back decades and has likely resulted in hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel leaking into the water since World War II. Mike describes meeting with people impacted by the pollution and what indigenous communities are doing to fight back. He outlines the lies the U.S. Navy are telling Hawaiians and why they think they can get away with not shutting down the tanks, as even city officials in Honolulu are demanding. Later in the show, Mike comments on U.S. sanctions in Afghanistan and links it back to the suffering unfolding in communities nearby by the Pearl Harbor-Hickam military base.

Thank you for supporting the Unauthorized Disclosure weekly podcast. Rania Khalek was in Ethiopia with a Breakthrough News team, and we look forward to bringing you an episode in the next week or so that digs into what she witnessed and uncovered about the conflict and violence and destruction by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). But we still wanted you to have an episode so this week Kevin Gosztola highlights some of Rania's reporting that she managed to share. He also shares some of his commentary on the British High Court decision, which granted the US government's appeal and moved WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange closer to extradition.

***Thank you for listening to this free version of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast hosted by Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola.*** Zoe Alexandra, a journalist with People's Dispatch, joins the show to discuss the election in Honduras, where left-wing presidential campaign of Xiomara Castro triumphed at the polls. Going back to 2009, the United States backed a coup that forced President Manuel Zelaya out of power. The U.S. backed a fraudulent election in 2017. His wife, Xiomara, won in a free and fair election that somewhat astonishingly is not being contested by the U.S. government. That likely reflects just how corrupt and terrible 12 years of right-wing National Party rule has been for the people of Honduras. Zoe describes the deeply entrenched problems fueled by outgoing President Juan Orlando Hernandez and the role of the U.S. in making the root causes of poverty and violence worse through neoliberal exploitation, expansion of policing, and militarization of the country.

Krish Mohan, a radical comedian and the creator of "Road Reflections" and "Taboo Table Talk," joins Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola to talk about his work producing political comedy. We discuss how comedy actually got worse under Donald Trump and what it is like now with President Joe Biden. Later in the show, Krish describes some of the topics he covers in his comedy, and the conversation veers into identity, representation, stereotypes, and people who disrupt comedians while they're on stage. *Episode unlocked for all listeners.

In this free edition of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola talk with Grayzone assistant editor Ben Norton about the United States' hybrid war against Nicaragua that is entering a new phase as the elections in November approach.