Podcasts about daoud kuttab

Do Arab leaders have an alternative to Donald Trump's proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza? Some have met to discuss the future of the war-torn strip, and they didn't hold back on their rejection of the US President's idea. But will they be able to make him change his mind? In this Episode: Dania Thafer, Executive Director, Gulf International Forum. Yossi Mekelberg, Senior Consulting Fellow, Chatham House. Daoud Kuttab, Palestinian Journalist. Host: James Bays Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

Hegseth Gives Up Ukraine's Leverage Before Russia/Ukraine Peace Talks Begin | Is the Trump Administration Already Capitulating to Putin? | An Assessment of the Awkward Meeting Between Jordan's King Abdullah and Trump backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

Daoud Kuttab, director general of the Amman-based Balad Radio discusses the new election law for the September 10 parliamentary race. Kuttab, a veteran Al-Monitor columnist, explains which political parties are expected to do well in the race. He details the key domestic policy issues being raised in the campaign along with how the Gaza war will impact the elections. Finally, Kuttab addresses expected voter turnout during the upcoming election.

Award-winning journalist Daoud Kuttab discusses Israel's intent on purging independent eyewitnesses of the ongoing Genocide and atrocities it is perpetrating in Gaza. Close to 70 days into Israel's assault on Gaza, more than 63 journalists have been killed due to Israeli bombardment and targeted killings. Several journalists had their entire families wiped out by Israel.

In another special edition of the podcast, we have the audio from the fourth edition of our live Q&A webinar series on the Israel-Hamas war, where Al-Monitor's Columnist Ali Hashem, Senior News Editor Joyce Karam, and Palestine Columnist Daoud Kuttab discussed the conflict's latest developments, including Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah's big speech and calls by US President Joe Biden for a humanitarian pause in the fighting, as well as answered guest questions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Award-winning journalist Daoud Kuttab discusses his recent article in Aljazeera , "Waiving US visas for Israelis would be a mistake." Kuttab explains that based on Israel's egregious record discriminating against Americans 'that the US should not give up protecting its own citizens just to present another political gift to the Israeli government.' https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/6/14/waiving-us-visas-for-israelis-would-be-a-mistake

Daoud Kuttab, Director General of the Amman-based Balad Radio, joins the podcast to discuss the December 2022 trucker demonstrations. Kuttab explains what sparked the protests and views the government's response to the discontent. He notes the role of Tik-Tok during the unrest and provides more information about the killing of the four Jordanian officers. Finally, Kuttab views whether these protests will bring strategic change to the Hashemite Kingdom.

Recording of a webinar with veteran Palestinian journalists Daoud Kuttab and Mohammed Daraghmeh on the challenges of  covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a Palestinian journalist.   

Al-Monitor columnist Daoud Kuttab discusses the background to the confrontations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and what comes next, whether Hamas is gaining in the West Bank, Palestinian perceptions of the Israeli Arab Raam Party, and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talked to Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab about the IOF attacks on the Al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, the current crisis in Israeli politics, the response of various Arab states to the attacks and the potential impacts during the normalization process, and more.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP's Lara Friedman speaks with award-winning Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab about the case of Mohamed Halabi -- a Palestinian employee of World Vision arrested by Israel in 2016 for alleged support for terrorism and held by Israel ever since. Among other things, they discuss: What does the Halabi case teach the world about Israel's politicization/weaponization of terrorism chargers? And what does it say about the ability of Palestinians to receive justice from an Israeli judicial system that is designed to promote the interests of Israel over the rights of Palestinians? For background, bio, and resources - please visit: https://fmep.org/resource/using-terrorism-charges-to-target-ngos-lessons-from-the-case-of-mohamed-halabi/

Join us for an in-depth discussion with veteran Amman-based journalist Daoud Kuttab and hosted by Aaron Magid about why Jordan dramatically boosted its ties with Syria a decade after King Abdullah called for President Assad's resignation.

Al-Monitor columnist Daoud Kuttab says that Jerusalem and settlements remain the big issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; why Hamas is gaining in popularity; how Palestinian President Mahmoud is managed the consequences of the Abraham Accords and thinking about his legacy and succession; and why we may see more Palestinian protests in the coming year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The upcoming May 22nd Palestinian parliamentary elections are a landmark event, which both indicates and enhances the vitality of Palestinian public life. This episode is an edited version of an April 16th 2021 webinar in which veteran Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab comments on the preparations for the elections - the first Palestinian national in 15 years. 

In this episode, BICOM's Sam Nurding speaks with Daoud Kuttab about the unprecedented public dispute in the Jordanian Royal Family, how it has affected the King's stability as well as the domestic and international challenges facing the country. They also discuss the upcoming Palestinian elections and whether PA President Abbas has passed the point of no return.    

Al-Monitor columnist and media activist Daoud Kuttab breaks down the present and future of Palestinian politics, assesses the impact of Israel’s normalization agreements and the prospects for a renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace track, and explains why he is optimistic, and relieved, about a Joe Biden Administration…as well as Andrew Parasiliti’s comment on the signals from Tehran on the pathways to a US-Iran nuclear deal.

Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab says US President Donald Trump has found weak links in some Arab countries to foster ties with Israel and get re-elected as president of the United States.

This is a slightly edited version of an August 27th 2020 APN webinar.  Daoud Kuttab is a Palestinian journalist and a media activist, a leading independent analyst and commentator on current events, and an activist working to advance the freedom of the press in the Arab world. He is currently the director general of the Community Media Network (CMN), a nonprofit media organization dedicated to advancing independent media in the Arab world.

Arab Talk co-host Jamal Dajani interviews award-winning journalist and former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University, Daoud Kuttab. From his shelter-in-place in Amman, Jordan, Professor Kuttab discusses the impact of the Coronavirus there and in Palestine.

Jabob Magid covers the West Bank for the Times of Israel. In this episode he talks about how Israel and the Palestinian Authority cooperate in the fight against the Coronavirus, about COVID-19 infection among West Bank settlers, and about the possible impact of the epidemic on Israeli government plans to annex parts of the West Bank.  Daoud Kuttab's aricle: How coronavirus outbreak has boosted Palestinian-Israeli cooperation Donate to APN  

So Trump released the final installment of his Israel-Palestine peace plan. But we’ve heard this song before - last year in Bahrain, when his son-in-law Jared Kushner announced an underwhelming “economic peace plan” for propping up Palestine. Those plans fell on deaf ears - so what’s in this new proposal, and what’s in it for both sides of the conflict? Phil and Cooper speak with Al-Monitor columnist and former Israeli peace negotiator Yossi Beilin and Al-Monitor Palestine Pulse columnist Daoud Kuttab to understand the effects of these political gestures from the Trump Administration. Trump’s Israeli-US deal is not a peace plan (Yossi Beilin) Trump's plan unveiled: Netanyahu's best and worst day ever (Ben Caspit) Netanyahu's land of the settlers (Shlomi Eldar) US peace plan may unwittingly unite Palestinians against it (Adnan Abu Amer) Rival Palestinian factions unite against US 'deal of century' (Adnan Abu Amer) Extra Listening: Episode #105,  Bahrain Drain (7/12/2019): Jared Kushner releases the first portion of the Israeli-Palestinian “deal of the century” - an economic “peace and prosperity” platform - but it didn’t get the response they were looking for. Episode #113,  Déjà-Yahu (9/20/2019): The second round of Israeli elections in 2019 show Gantz barely leading Netanyahu, but always signals another political stalemate. Episode #120,  Gantz Hardly Wait (12/6/2019): Prime Minister Netanyahu is being indicted for corruption, and neither him or his opponent Benny Gantz have been able to form a majority government, meaning that Israel will head into a third do-over election in March 2020. Music: Hassan el Shafei - “Galbek Ween” (Spotify | Apple Music)

This White House is certainly not the first to offer a proposal for resolving the nearly eight-decade conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. And, judging by the response so far, Trump's proposal will likely not be the one to resolve this issue that has vexed American officials, and much of the world, since the 1960s. To understand why a solution has been so elusive, it's less essential to understand the specifics of the current plan on the table, than it is to understand those things that the Israelis and the Palestinians have long considered to be at stake. First, Israel's chief concern is its own security, not only from conventional military attacks at the hands of its many hostile neighbors, but also from terrorist attacks at the hands of non-state actors like Hamas.  A second, but just as central concern for both players in this conflict is the borders and nature of a Palestinian state.   A third concern is the status of Jerusalem, specifically, whether it will be the undivided capital of Israel or divided between both parties.   And finally, there is the question of what's known as “the right to return,” namely whether the estimated 4 million descendants of the Palestinian Arabs who fled what is now Israel in the aftermath of the 1947 Partition and subsequent wars should have the right to return, not only to the West Bank, but also to pre-1967 Israel.   Obviously, the questions of where to place borders and who ought to be considered security threats are interrelated concerns. And, making the already Herculean task only more difficult are the Israeli settlements on the West Bank, Palestinian harboring of bad actors, and a history of (to put it mildly) hatred and distrust. The Trump administration's plan is formally known as “Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People.” It runs fifty pages and offers very specific proposals. First, it rejects the “right of return,” a concern essential to Israel because the potential influx of millions of Arabs threatens its identity as a Jewish state and homeland.  This makes the proposal a non-starter for the Palestinians. Second, the plan would award virtually all of Jerusalem to Israel, while designating Abu Dis, a village bordering Jerusalem, as the capital of the Palestinian state.  Third, the map in the plan details the contours of the Palestinian state, granting to the Palestinians about 70 percent of the West Bank, plus Gaza and parts of the Negev Desert.  However, the current Israeli settlements would remain.  Also, according to the plan, the Palestinians would not be permitted their own military, and would be forced to renounce violence and disband Hamas. In exchange for this step toward Israeli security, they would receive $50 billion in economic assistance over 10 years.  How has “Peace to Prosperity” been received? Dr. Gerald McDermott, Anglican chair of Beeson Divinity School, told Christianity Today that it was “a realistic opportunity for peace.” He also noted the significant Arab support for the proposal, including “UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt.” Joel Rosenberg, co-founder of The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem, told Christianity Today  that the plan was “generous” to the Palestinians while giving the Israelis almost everything they wanted.   But others, including Arab Christians, disagreed. Dr. Salim Munayer of Musalaha Ministries, which promotes reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians based on biblical principles, told CT that “No Palestinian leader can accept this deal, because it doesn't meet our basic needs.”  Another Palestinian Evangelical, Daoud Kuttab, said that the plan “sounded more like a surrender dictate than a peace plan.”  More importantly, the Palestinian Authority's president Mahmoud Abbas called the plan a “conspiracy” and added “We say a thousand times over: no, no, no.” If this plan is conditioned on the Palestinians bringing Hamas in line, well, it's difficult to imagine that happening.   To paraphrase a former Canadian prime minister, if there was ever a place with “too much history” and “too little geography,” it's this part of the Middle East. That's why it's difficult to imagine that this plan will succeed where others have failed. Still, it is possible that it can be a step, even if a very small one, in a better direction. And so, we continue to follow the dictate of Psalm 122, and “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.”

This episode features a conversation with Daoud Kuttab, a veteran Palestinian journalist who splits his time between the West Bank and Amman, Jordan. He is the Director-General of the Community Media Network in Amman and a regular contributor to leading publications in both English and Arabic. Check out his and his very active Twitter account  and his web site 

Journalist Daoud Kuttab was barred from entering Egypt without being given a reason. His banning indicates the growing paranoia of the Egyptian regime in the face of mounting international criticism.

Daoud Kuttab discusses the demand by eight Palestinian factions to reconcile the differences between the two dominant parties, Hamas and Fatah, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announces his readiness to hold elections.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Ben Norton, a journalist with The Grayzone and co-host of the Moderate Rebels podcast.Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph McGuire testified before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees this morning on the whistleblower complaint about President Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Committee members took predictably partisan lines. But the Administration also released a redacted copy of the whistleblower complaint. It shows a president using his power to force a foreign leader to do something for him. And the complaint also says that the President ordered the call transcript “locked down,” that is, kept in a standalone computer in the National Security Council reserved for codeword material and covert action plans. However, critics are pointing out that the whistleblower was not actually on the call in question, and only heard about it from colleagues. The Trump Administration announced a migration deal on Wednesday that will give US immigration authorities the ability to send asylum seekers from the US-Mexico border to Honduras, a country wracked by violence and instability especially since the 2009 U.S.-backed coup. The deal was reached between the Department of Homeland Security and President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is widely seen as having been installed into office by the United States and also dogged by credible corruption allegations. Juan José Gutiérrez, the executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, joins the show. Israeli President Ruvin Rivlin has asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to form a new government. Netanyahu has six weeks to do so. If he fails, Rivlin will ask Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz to try to form a government. In the meantime, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced that he will call the first Palestinian elections since 2006. Brian and John speak with Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist. Thursday’s weekly series “Criminal Injustice” is about the most egregious conduct of our courts and prosecutors and how justice is denied to so many people in this country. Paul Wright, the founder and executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center and editor of Prison Legal News (PLN), and Kevin Gosztola, a writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, join the show. A regular Thursday segment deals with the ongoing militarization of space. As the US continues to withdraw from international arms treaties, will the weaponization and militarization of space bring the world closer to catastrophe? Brian and John speak with Prof. Karl Grossman, a full professor of journalism at the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury and the host of a nationally aired television program focused on environmental, energy, and space issues, and with Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space and a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus.

Two weeks ago, the Trump White House unveiled the first half of their long-awaited Israel-Palestine peace plan, called “Peace & Prosperity,” at a workshop event in Bahrain. But even before the summit began, analysts and leaders in the region criticized the circumstances of the event, especially after it was announced that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians would have official representatives attending. So in the aftermath of Jared Kushner’s killer Powerpoint skills, what were the reactions to the peace plan, and what happens next? To get both perspectives, Phil and Cooper speak with Israel Pulse columnist Shlomi Eldar and Palestine Pulse columnist Daoud Kuttab.  The winners and losers of the Bahrain conference (Daoud Kuttab) US Bahrain conference premature (Yossi Beilin) Why Bahrain conference won’t be enough for peace (Akiva Eldar) US, Netanyahu hand-pick Israeli journalists for Bahrain conference (Shlomi Eldar) Palestinians expect little from Bahrain summit (Daoud Kuttab) Under US plan, Palestinian refugees will still be refugees (Adnan Abu Amer) Why Arabs are pressuring PA to take part in Bahrain summit (Ahmad Melhem) Extra Listening: Episode #16, The Trump Doctrine (8/2/2017): A review of President Trump’s Middle East policy. Episode #34, Quds You Be More Wrong? (12/13/2017): Phil and Cooper discuss President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Episode #40, Two to Tango (2/9/2018): Daoud Kuttab joins the pod for the first time to talk about the floundering peace talks. Episode #67, Deep Cuts (8/30/2018): The US makes massive cuts in aid to Palestine. Music: Maysa Daw - “Your Eyes” (Spotify | Apple Music)

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Amanda Reyes, the executive director of Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion fund in Alabama to help women get abortion procedures.The Alabama State Senate passed a hotly debated bill yesterday banning all abortion except in cases of “serious health risk” for the mother. The bill does ban abortions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The Senate approved this bill 25 to 6. The U.S. government has ordered the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel from Iraq due to alleged threats by Iranian-aligned militias in the country, a charge Iran rejects as an attempt to create a false pretense for U.S. military aggression. Meanwhile the Iranian government has announced changes in its nuclear policy as a means to express frustration that Western powers are not living up to their side of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Shabbir Razvi, an economist and political analyst, joins the show. Pamela Turner, a 44 year old Black woman who lived in the Baytown suburb of Houston, was shot and killed by a police officer on Monday. The killing, which was captured on video, has caused outrage across the country. Brian speaks with Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston and author of many books, including “The Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy and Capitalism in Seventeenth Century North America and the Caribbean.” Palestinian and their supporters around the world are marking Nakba Day today. 71 years ago, the state of Israel was formally created, launching a mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in a brutal campaign of colonization that continues today with renewed intensity. Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, whose latest book is “Sesame Street Palestine: The Ups and Downs of Producing a Children’s Program,” joins the show. San Francisco became the first major city in the country to ban the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement. The measure, passed by an overwhelming margin by the city’s Board of Supervisors, cited the near certainty that the technology would be used to carry out civil rights violations. Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa joins Brian. Wednesday’s weekly series, In the News, is where the hosts look at the most important ongoing developments of the week and put them into perspective. Sputnik news analysts and producers Walter Smolarek and Nicole Roussell join the show.Wednesday’s regular segment, Beyond Nuclear, is about nuclear issues, including weapons, energy, waste, and the future of nuclear technology in the United States. Kevin Kamps, the Radioactive Waste Watchdog at the organization Beyond Nuclear, and Sputnik news analyst and producer Nicole Roussell, join the show.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Coleen Rowley, a former FBI special agent who in 2002 was named Time Magazine person of the year, Gareth Porter, a historian and investigative journalist, and Ted Rall, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist whose work is at www.rall.com.Special Counsel Robert Mueller has completed his investigation into alleged collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign and has found no evidence of wrongdoing. The final report is with Attorney General William Barr and is on its way to Congress. Mueller’s finding of no collusion and no criminality on the part of the president has Democrats reeling and calling for new Congressional investigations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump in Washington today for a ceremony in which the U.S. formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan region of Syria. The visit is being cut short, however, because a rocket fired from Gaza hit an Israeli house in Tel Aviv, injuring seven people. Sensing yet another opportunity to present himself as a hardliner ahead of the April 9 election, Netanyahu ordered the mobilization of ground units and the Israeli air force launched a wave of strikes. Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, whose latest book is “Sesame Street Palestine: The Ups and Downs of Producing a Children’s Program,” joins the show. British members of parliament began debating a series of alternatives today to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan, with an eye toward holding a third vote on the deal. The Prime Minister met with her cabinet at Number 10 Downing Street this morning, where reports say she was confronted over her inability to unify her party. Meanwhile, a petition calling for a new referendum on Brexit has gathered more than 5 million signatures. Brian and John speak with Alexander Mercouris, the editor-in-chief of The Duran. Monday’s segment “Education for Liberation with Bill Ayers” is where Bill helps us look at the state of education across the country. What’s happening in our schools, colleges, and universities, and what impact does it have on the world around us? Bill Ayers, an activist, educator and the author of the book “Demand the Impossible: A Radical Manifesto,” joins Brian and John. Monday’s regular segment Technology Rules with Chris Garaffa is a weekly guide on how monopoly corporations and the national surveillance state are threatening cherished freedoms, civil rights and civil liberties. Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa joins the show.

How will we miss 2018? Let me count the ways. Alright, we’re done - let’s get this year over with. Phil and Cooper speak with Al-Monitor’s Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris about the recent Senate vote on Yemen, and we will hear from him and many other Al-Monitor editors and columnists about their predictions for the coming year, featuring Mazal Mualem, Daoud Kuttab, Laura Rozen, Mohammad Shabbani, Ali Mamouri, Amberin Zaman, and Max Suchkov. Also, give a warm welcome to guest host, the late John McLaughlin. This is the last episode of 2018, see you in January! Senate votes to end US involvement in Yemen war (Bryant Harris)  Music: Fairuz – “Laylet Eid” (iTunes | Spotify)

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Peter Kuznick, a professor of history and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University and the co-author with Oliver Stone of the book and TV show “The Untold History of the United States,” and Alexander Mercouris, the editor-in-chief of The Duran.President Trump went to Paris over the weekend to attend a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the first World War. By the time he left France on Monday, he was being scorned from several quarters. As U.S. relations with its European allies have dramatically shifted during the past two years, French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders have introduced the idea of the creation of a “European Army.” Tuesday’s weekly series is False Profits—A Weekly Look at Wall Street and Corporate Capitalism with Daniel Sankey. Financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey joins the show. Midterm elections were held a week ago today, but more than a dozen races are yet to be decided. The most inflammatory fight is in the Florida Senate race, where Governor Rick Scott, who is leading by only 12,500 votes out of more than eight million cast, accused incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of voter fraud for asking for a recount. Scott is going with a scorched earth strategy to secure the seat, while in Arizona, Republican Senate candidate Martha McSally gracefully conceded to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema after falling behind by 38,000 votes out of more than two million cast. Brian and John speak with Dave Lindorff, an investigative reporter and founder of This Can’t Be Happening!, as well as a columnist for CounterPunch, and a contributor to the London Review of Books, The Nation, Extra! Tarbell, and Salon.com. Special Counsel Robert Mueller could issue new indictments in the so-called Russian investigation as early as today. Jerome Corsi, a figure on the right-wing fringe, told his followers in a YouTube video that he expects to be indicted on perjury charges today. Meanwhile, the media is speculating that several people close to President Trump and other friends of Republican consultant Roger Stone also could be indicted. Daniel Lazare, a journalist and author of three books—“The Frozen Republic,” “The Velvet Coup,” and “America's Undeclared War,” joins the show. Wildfires in northern and southern California continued to spread over the holiday weekend, resulting in 44 deaths and becoming the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in the state’s history. More than 200 people are still missing. Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted that the fires are so severe only because of mismanagement by state fire prevention officials. That tweet was roundly condemned on both sides of the political aisle. Fred Magdoff, professor emeritus of plant and soil science at the University of Vermont and the co-author of “What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know About Capitalism” and “Creating an Ecological Society: Toward a Revolutionary Transformation” from Monthly Review Press, joins Brian and John. A botched Israeli commando raid into Gaza late last night brought Israel and the Palestinians to the brink of war before Egyptian mediators convinced both sides to step back from the brink. Israeli forces killed seven Palestinians last night, an action which led to the largest-scale rocket fire into Israel since 2004. An Israeli officer was also killed. Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, joins the show.Last week, John sat in Athens with former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and renowned UBS whistleblower Brad Birkenfeld. They recorded their conversation about whistleblowing in the financial and banking sectors and about Varoufakis’s experience standing up to the Troika of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Central Bank, which was then in control of the Greek economy. Additionally, Varoufakis discussed his plans with Senator Bernie Sanders and other international progressive leaders to found a new international progressive movement.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war activist and journalist whose son Casey was killed during the Iraq War, and Bonnie Caracciolo, publisher of the blog “Vietnam: My War Too.” Cindy and Bonnie are the co-organizers of the Women’s March on the Pentagon.The 2018 Women’s March on the Pentagon takes place on Sunday following a day of workshops in response to the continuing course of US military aggression and spending and to put an anti-war agenda back in the political spotlight. Marchers are calling for an end to wars abroad, the closure of foreign bases, and deep cuts to the military budget. Friday is Loud & Clear’s regular segment on the midterms, taking a look at political races around the country in the runup to midterm elections in November. Jacqueline Luqman, the co-editor-in-chief of Luqman Nation, which hosts a livestream every Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. on Facebook, joins the show. A massive caravan of 3,000 Honduran migrants that has drawn the ire of Donald Trump has begun to mass on Guatemala’s border with Mexico, setting up a showdown with Mexican authorities who have vowed to stop it from continuing to the United States. Guatemalan authorities arrested the caravan’s organizer, former Honduran congressman Bartolo Fuentes, and deported him back to Honduras. Brian and John speak with Jackie McVicar, a member of the Atlantic Region Solidarity Network, working in solidarity with people struggling for social justice and environmental protection in Latin America, the Caribbean and Atlantic Canada. Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right candidate in Brazil’s October 28 presidential runoff, is the heavy favorite to win that race. Stirred by government corruption and rising crime, some voters are willing to look past his homophobia, misogyny, racism, and comments in support of dictators, including Adolf Hitler. But a rising movement in Brazil says Bolsonaro is a threat to democracy, and are supporting leftist Fernando Haddad. Now, a scandal related to illegal advertisements through the messaging app WhatsApp is shaking the race. Aline Piva, she is a journalist and a member of Brazilians for Democracy and Social Justice, joins the show. Harvard University is on trial for allegedly discriminating against Asian-American applicants. The group Students for Fair Admissions alleges that Harvard violated the Civil Rights Act because the university’s so-called “holistic” approach to applicants—weighing things like leadership, extracurriculars, and personal factors—harms minorities and is unconstitutional. Dr. Kevin Kumashiro, an internationally recognized expert on educational policy, school reform, and educational equity and social justice, and the former dean of the School of Education at the University of San Francisco, joins Brian and John. Israel’s Supreme Court ruled yesterday that American student Palestinian rights activist Lara Alqasem was permitted to remain in Israel to study human rights at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Supreme Court said in its decision that Alqasem’s detention during her appeal was “an extreme and dangerous step which could lead to the crumbling of the pillars upon which democracy stands.” Meanwhile, the U.S. state department caused outrage by announcing that it would be closing its consulate handling relations with the Palestinians and replacing it with a Palestinian Affairs Unit that would operate out of the controversial U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, joins the show.It’s Friday! So it’s time for the week’s worst and most misleading headlines. Brian and John speak with Steve Patt, an independent journalist whose critiques of the mainstream media have been a feature of his blog Left I on the News and on twitter @leftiblog, and Sputnik producer Nicole Roussell.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by international affairs and security analyst.The latest round of sanctions targeting Russia is already taking a toll, as forces in the U.S. military and foreign policy establishment continue their campaign to ensure that the two countries remain on a collision course. Dozens of people, including many children, were killed in Yemen today by an airstrike launched by the Saudi-led coalition waging war on that country. The bombing, which hit a school bus, is causing outrage around the world. Medea Benjamin, an anti-war activist who is the co-founder of Code Pink, joins the show. Thursday’s weekly series “Criminal Injustice” is about the most egregious conduct of our courts and prosecutors and how justice is denied to so many people in this country. Brian and John speak with Kevin Gosztola, a writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, and Paul Wright, the founder and Executive Director of the Human Rights Defense Center and editor of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News. Besieged Gazans fired on Israel last night, and received massive rocket fire in return. This happened as a ceasefire was in the works. So what happened? Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, joins the show. Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former head of the National Assembly Julio Borges, who currently lives in exile in Colombia. Paul Dobson, a writer for VenezuelaAnalysis.com, joins Brian and John. The initial count of fatalities in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria was initially assessed at 64. But according to a revised report submitted to Congress today, the number of fatalities is actually 1,427. Dr. Adriana Garriga-López, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Kalamazoo College, joins the show.Brazil’s Workers Party nominated imprisoned former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as its presidential candidate despite the fact that the Supreme Court will likely seek to keep him off the ballot. Meanwhile, far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who is a frontrunner, chose an outspoken general as his running mate. General Hamilton Murao has spoken in favor of a military coup in Brazil. Brian and John speak with Brazilian-British activist Victor Fraga with Democracy Brazil UK. Periodic series Stories from the National Museum of African American History and Culture is where Dr. Alice Bonner highlights some of the most important episodes in Black history. This installation is about Ida B. Wells’ legacy. Dr. Alice Bonner, a volunteer docent at the newly opened National Museum of African American History and Culture, retired professor at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a longtime journalist at the Washington Post who wrote her dissertation on a history of press desegregation, joins the show.

Phil and Cooper speak with Al-Monitor Palestine Pulse columnist Daoud Kuttab, about his new longform piece ‘Abbas bids Adieu,’ which delves into the Palestinian president’s ongoing struggles to renew his legacy and how it compares to his predecessor Yasser Arafat’s way of doing business. Also, zoo troubles in Egypt. Abbas bids Adieu (Daoud Kuttab) Music: Ali Hassan Kuban - Mabruk (iTunes | Spotify | YouTube)

Touching on two topics today: first, Israel passed a controversial new law that makes their Jewish roots official, though it’s been legislated at the expense of Arab Israelis and other minorities in the country. Second, Mike Pompeo made a bombastic speech about freedom in Iran – what does it say about the Trump policy on dealing with the Islamic Republic? Also, ABBA. 03:56 - Israeli legislators strip Arabic of official language status (Shlomi Eldar) 03:56 - Palestinians outraged at Jewish nation-state law (Daoud Kuttab) 11:55 - More fire and fury: Trump, Pompeo offer mixed messages on Iran (Laura Rozen) 11:55 - Rouhani, Trump in a war of words Music: Hashemesh Tizrach - Guy & Yahel (iTunes | Spotify)  

“The Nation-State Law is actually affirming a lot of the practices that were in place for decades. In many ways, it’s nothing particularly new, and the right wing is just making it more explicit. The center-left wants to keep it delicate enough so that you maintain that democratic image. For Palestinian citizens of Israel, these two debates are unacceptable. We’re not looking for an overt system that legitimizes our inequality, and we’re not looking for a delicate system either that still legitimizes our inequality.” — Amjad Iraqi On July 19, the Israeli Knesset passed the "Nation-State Bill" in a 62-55 vote. Many critics of the bill say that it undermines Israel's historic claim to be both Jewish and democratic in character. But does this new law actually change anything, or only make explicit the way things have been for decades? Is it possible for a state to be both affirmatively Jewish and treat its citizens equally? Producer Ilana Levinson spoke to Amjad Iraqi, a Palestinian writer and policy adviser who was in the Knesset for the final debates before the Nation-State Bill was passed into law.   This episode of Unsettled was produced and edited by Ilana Levinson, with technical help from Asaf Calderon. Original music by Nat Rosenzweig. Amjad Iraqi is a writer for +972 Magazine, a policy member of Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, and was a projects and international advocacy coordinator at Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.     REFERENCES David M. Halbfinger and Isabel Kershner, "Israeli Law Declares the Country the ‘Nation-State of the Jewish People’" (New York Times, July 19, 2018) Israel's Basic Laws Yousef Jabareen, "Israel just dropped the pretense of equality for Palestinian citizens" (Los Angeles Times, July 20th 2018) Daoud Kuttab, "Palestinians outraged at Jewish nation-state law" (Al-Monitor, July 20, 2018) _Preview image: James Emery, via Wikimedia Commons _

“The Nation-State Law is actually affirming a lot of the practices that were in place for decades. In many ways, it’s nothing particularly new, and the right wing is just making it more explicit. The center-left wants to keep it delicate enough so that you maintain that democratic image. For Palestinian citizens of Israel, these two debates are unacceptable. We’re not looking for an overt system that legitimizes our inequality, and we’re not looking for a delicate system either that still legitimizes our inequality.” — Amjad Iraqi On July 19, the Israeli Knesset passed the "Nation-State Bill" in a 62-55 vote. Many critics of the bill say that it undermines Israel's historic claim to be both Jewish and democratic in character. But does this new law actually change anything, or only make explicit the way things have been for decades? Is it possible for a state to be both affirmatively Jewish and treat its citizens equally? Producer Ilana Levinson spoke to Amjad Iraqi, a Palestinian writer and policy adviser who was in the Knesset for the final debates before the Nation-State Bill was passed into law.   This episode of Unsettled was produced and edited by Ilana Levinson, with technical help from Asaf Calderon. Original music by Nat Rosenzweig. Amjad Iraqi is a writer for +972 Magazine, a policy member of Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, and was a projects and international advocacy coordinator at Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.     REFERENCES David M. Halbfinger and Isabel Kershner, "Israeli Law Declares the Country the ‘Nation-State of the Jewish People’" (New York Times, July 19, 2018) Israel's Basic Laws Yousef Jabareen, "Israel just dropped the pretense of equality for Palestinian citizens" (Los Angeles Times, July 20th 2018) Daoud Kuttab, "Palestinians outraged at Jewish nation-state law" (Al-Monitor, July 20, 2018) _Preview image: James Emery, via Wikimedia Commons _

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Nevzat Evrim Önal, a journalist with the Turkish newspaper SoL, and Max Zirngast, an independent writer in Istanbul.In a victory address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to fight terrorist groups and to enhance the country’s international stature. Erdogan won reelection on Sunday with 52.5 percent of the vote. More importantly, though, the country has moved from a parliamentary democracy to one with an executive presidency. And the position of Prime Minister has been abolished. Many international observers are concerned that there is now too much power in the hands of one man in Turkey. Technology Rules with Chris Garaffa, our new full half-hour technology and privacy segment, is a weekly guide on how monopoly corporations and the National Surveillance State are threatening cherished freedoms, civil rights, and civil liberties. Today they focus on companies working with ICE, Google products secretly recording conversations, and how to choose a strong password. Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa joins the show. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Sunday that the military will build two temporary camps at unused military bases to house as many as 20,000 children in the deportation process, a sign of increasing military support for the Trump Administration’s hardline immigration policy. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security apparently has no idea how to reunite the children, who were forcibly separated from their parents. Brian and John speak with Isabel Garcia, co-founder of Coalición de Derechos Humanos. The new Italian government torpedoed an EU summit on migration over the weekend, saying that refugees and migrants are a threat to Europe’s borders and to free movement in the EU. Several countries boycotted the meeting, which was meant to shore up the position of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and, in the end, no policy decisions were made. Alexander Mercouris, the editor-in-chief of The Duran, joins the show. Monday’s regular segment “Education for Liberation with Bill Ayers” looks at the state of education across the country. What’s happening in our schools, colleges, and universities, and what impact does it have on the world around us? Today continues a conversation on racism in admissions to private and charter schools. The hosts speak with Bill Ayers, an activist, educator and the author of the book “Demand the Impossible: A Radical Manifesto.” Defense Secretary James Mattis is making his first official visit to China this week. He’ll also make stops in South Korea and Japan. Much of the discussion will be about North Korea. But Mattis also has another agenda--trade with China. Jude Woodward, the author of the new book “The US vs China: Asia's new Cold War?,” joins the show.Presidential son-in-law and Middle East peace czar Jared Kushner is in Israel today, where he harshly criticized Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Kushner’s comments appear to be an attempt to head off criticism of the as-yet-unannounced Trump Middle East peace plan, which is also opposed by Jordan. Saudi Arabia, though, will throw its considerable weight and money behind Kushner and Israel. Brian and John speak with Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia;” Jim Kavanagh, the editor of ThePolemicist.net; and Dave Lindorff, an investigative reporter and a columnist for CounterPunch.In a confidential 20-page letter to the Special Counsel, President Trump’s attorneys argue that he cannot be compelled to testify in the Russia investigation and he cannot be indicted for obstruction of justice because he has unfettered authority over all federal investigations. The letter apparently was leaked to the New York Times by someone in the Special Counsel’s office. The US is inching closer to imposing sanctions on European Union companies that do business with Iran or that are engaged in the construction of the new Nordstream 2 pipeline that would deliver gas to the EU from Russia. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has rebuked Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’s attempts to secure further trade concessions from the country. John Ross, an award-winning resident columnist with several Chinese media organizations, and Reiner Braun, co-president of the International Peace Bureau, join the show. At least 33 people died yesterday when Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted,.spewing ash, rock, and gas into the sky just 25 miles from the capital of Guatemala City. It’s the country’s deadliest volcanic eruption since 1902. How have colonization and deep inequalities in Guatemala contributed to the death toll? Brian and John speak with Jackie McVicar, a member of the Atlantic Region Solidarity Network, working in solidarity with people struggling for social justice and environmental protection in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Atlantic Canada, and a former co-coordinator of the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Solidarity Network. Jordan’s King Abdallah replaced Prime Minister Hani Mulki today in an attempt to appease Jordanians who are protesting IMF-backed reforms that have hit the country’s poor particularly hard. The government also plans to end taxes that have brought thousands of people into the streets in the capital of Amman. Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning journalist reporting from Jordan, joins the show. Monday’s regular segment “Education for Liberation with Bill Ayers” looks at the state of education across the country. What’s happening in our schools, colleges, and universities, and what impact does it have on the world around us? Today focuses on research showing that the series of school closings in Chicago worsened the outcomes of children. The hosts speak with Bill Ayers, an activist, educator and the author of the book “Demand the Impossible: A Radical Manifesto.” On “Connected Lives, Private Profits with Chris Garaffa,” Chris helps the hosts look at technological issues that shape our world and how we can fight to maintain our civil rights and civil liberties in the face of increasingly advanced, and sometimes hostile, technology. Today they focus on recent news about Google and Facebook. Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa joins the show.The Yemeni army is on the verge of recapturing the coastal town of Hodeidah, which was taken over by Houthi rebels in 2014, and the US is being urged to step up its involvement. The port’s capture would effectively cut off supplies of arms and ammunition to the Houthis and it would severely limit the Houthis ability to fire rockets at Saudi Arabia. It was Hodeidah’s capture in 2014 that led to the Saudi invasion of Yemen. Brian and John speak with Catherine Shakdam, a political commentator and analyst focusing on the Middle East, and the author of “A Tale Of Grand Resistance: Yemen, The Wahhabi And The House Of Saud.”

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, and Ali Abunimah, the co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of the book The Battle for Justice in Palestine.Today is Nakba Day, or Yawm an-Nakba, the “Day of Catastrophe,” commemorated on May 15, the day after Israel’s declaration of independence. The day commemorates the estimated 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled and the hundreds of Palestinian towns and villages that were depopulated or destroyed. These refugees and their descendants now number more than 2 million. At least 60 Palestinians were killed yesterday and thousands wounded in demonstrations in Gaza over Nakba Day. What were the global reactions to this massacre? Tuesday’s weekly series “False Profits—A Weekly Look at Wall Street and Corporate Capitalism with Daniel Sankey” continues looking at the top economic issues of the day, today focusing what unemployment numbers really mean and how the price of oil is affecting geopolitics. Financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey joins the show. After the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza yesterday, where over 60 people were killed and over 2,700 wounded, protests erupted worldwide. Brian and John speak with Ariel Gold, a peace activist and a member of Code Pink who organized protests yesterday and today here in Washington, and Bob Schlehuber, the producer of the Sputnik Radio show By Any Means Necessary, who reports on protests from Tel Aviv. While the US imposes economic sanctions on Iran, the UK and its European partners have prepared a package of initiatives to protect the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal, after the US withdrawal. The British, French, and German Foreign Ministers will meet with their Iranian counterpart to discuss the proposal. It is unclear when such a meeting would take place and what the initiatives include. Massoud Shadjareh, the founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, joins the show. The US and China are closing in on a deal that would give China’s ZTE telecommunications company a reprieve from crippling sanctions in exchange for Beijing removing tariffs from billions of dollars worth of US agricultural goods, especially soybeans. Jude Woodward, the author of the new book “The US vs China: Asia's new Cold War?,” joins Brian and John. The city of Seattle is introducing a new tax on large employers, namely Amazon, Starbucks, and Boeing, that will help fund programs for the homeless and for affordable housing. Amazon’s multi-billionaire founder Jeff Bezos is furious, and is threatening to reconsider the company’s large footprint in Seattle. Jane Cutter, the editor of LiberationNews.org, joins the show.What’s the easiest way to get arrested for marijuana possession in New York? According to a New York Times analysis, you just have to be black or Hispanic. In fact, Across the city, African-Americans are arrested at eight times the rate of whites. Hispanics are arrested at five times the rate of whites. In Manhattan, the rates for African-Americans increases to 15 times the arrests for whites. Brian and John speak with Kevin Zeese, the co-coordinator of Popular Resistance, you can check out their work at popularresistance.org.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jamier Sale, an activist with the ANSWER Coalition who has been organizing protests demanding justice for Stephon Clark; Gloria La Riva, the Peace and Freedom Party’s 2018 California gubernatorial candidate; and Aislinn Borsini, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Chicago.An independent inquest has found that Stephon Clark, the African-American man killed by police in Sacramento last week, was shot eight times. Six of those shots were from behind. Protests in Sacramento have grown steadily since Clark was killed, and sympathetic protests have taken place all over the country. Israeli soldiers killed 17 Palestinians and wounded at least 1400 more on Friday during Land Day demonstrations in Gaza. Twenty Palestinians remain in critical condition. No Israelis were killed or wounded. Why would these protesters put their lives on the line? And why would the Israelis kill them? Longtime peace activist and Code Pink member Tighe Barry and Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist whose latest book is “Sesame Street Palestine: The Ups and Downs of Producing a Children’s Program,” join the show. Monday’s regular segment “Education for Liberation with Bill Ayers” looks at the state of education across the country. What’s happening in our schools, colleges, and universities, and what impact does it have on the world around us? Today focuses on the teacher strikes across the nation with Bill Ayers, an activist, educator and the author of the book “Demand the Impossible: A Radical Manifesto.” President Trump killed any hope for a DACA deal just minutes before entering church on Easter Sunday, when he tweeted about an imaginary caravan of illegal immigrants making its way to the United States, that the U.S. does not have any border laws because liberals in Congress prevented them from being passed, and that he would kill NAFTA if Mexico doesn’t do more to close the border. All of Trump’s claims in these tweets are demonstrably false. Carolyn Gomez, a labor organizer and community activist, joins the show. China announced an additional $3 billion in tariffs on US goods, including pork, fruits, and seamless steel pipes, in the wake of President Trump’s initiation of a trade war with that country. The new Chinese tariffs will hit farmers in many states that Trump won in the 2016 election. Jude Woodward, London mayor Ken Livingstone's advisor on culture and creative industries and the author of the new book “The US vs China: Asia's new Cold War?” and Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek join Brian and John. Winnie Mandela, the former wife of South African President and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, has died at 81. Winnie Mandela fought apartheid with her husband for decades, but the two grew apart during his incarceration and divorced soon after his release from prison. The hosts discuss her important legacy. Mwiza Munthali, the host of the WPFW radio show “Africa Now!”and formerly with the advocacy group TransAfrica Forum, joins the show.President Trump said today that he would freeze $200 million earmarked for Syrian recovery and development, just days after saying he wanted to pull out of Syria as soon as possible. The freeze and the president’s comments contradict both State Department and Defense Department policies. Brian and John speak with Massoud Shadjareh, founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Medea Benjamin, the co-founder of Code Pink, Ajit Singh, a writer and political analyst, and Bill Binney, a former NSA technical director who became a legendary national security whistleblower.The Senate Intelligence Committee today will hear from the Director of National Intelligence and the Directors of the CIA, NSA, and FBI and others on the global threats facing the United States. Those threats haven’t changed much since last year. They include cyberattacks, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Syria. But for the first time, terrorism wasn’t at or near the top of the list.The hosts continue the weekly series looking at the economic issues of the day with financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey. The three also examine President Trump’s proposed infrastructure bill.A judge in the UK today refused to cancel an arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, ruling that he could still be arrested by UK police if he leaves the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Brian and John speak with Randy Credico, an activist, a comedian, and the former director of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice.Three staff members of a jail formerly run by conservative activist sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee were arrested yesterday and charged with multiple felonies after a mentally ill prisoner, Terrill Thomas, died of thirst. The staff members had denied him water for a week to punish him for behavioral problems. Michelle Gross, the president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, and Peter Koneazny, the litigation director for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, join the show.The government of Kuwait yesterday opened a weeklong conference dedicated to raising money for the reconstruction of Iraq following the devastating war against ISIS. Experts estimate that Iraq needs more than $88 billion. Dr. Jeremy Kuzmarov, a professor at the University of Tulsa and author of the book “Modernizing Repression: Police Training and Nation Building in the American Century,” joins Brian and John.Israeli police are expected to recommend today that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted on charges of bribery and abuse of power, charges that he insists he will fight. Meanwhile, Ahed Tamimi, a 17-year-old Palestinian girl, was put on trial yesterday in an Israeli military court on charges that she slapped an Israeli soldier after her cousin was shot with a rubber bullet. The case has attracted the attention of diplomats, human rights groups, Hollywood celebrities, and the media. Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, joins the show.CIA whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling was released from a halfway house in St. Louis yesterday, arriving home in the late morning for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years. Sterling was prosecuted after alleging racial discrimination at the Agency and found guilty of a number of national security crimes, all of which he denied all the way through trial. The federal Bureau of Prisons did all it could to break Sterling even after he was released from prison.tags: CIA, NSA, FBI, Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence, global threats, war, peace, cyberattacks, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Syria, terrorism

This week’s episode is a Palestinian-centric pod, focusing on recent events such as the recognition of Jerusalem, the dead-in-the-water peace talks, and divisions between Fatah and Hamas. Phil and Cooper speak with Al-Monitor Palestine Pulse columnist Daoud Kuttab about these issues and more. Also, the Super Bowl. 05:24 - Abbas' diplomatic turn puts Washington in the rear-view mirror (Daoud Kuttab) 05:24 - Europe emerges as new sponsor of Mideast peace (Daoud Kuttab) 05:24 - Hamas chief's inclusion on US terror list will further derail peace efforts (Daoud Kuttab) Music: A-WA - Habib Galbi (iTunes | Spotify)

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, and Ambassador Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK.Vice President Mike Pence’s speech to the Israeli Knesset yesterday was met with both standing ovations and physical scuffles, as Arab members were evicted for protesting the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the New York Times Sunday Magazine has an article that strongly suggests that then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat to be assassinated in 2004.Did you know that Donald Trump’s father started off building affordable housing? That Donald Trump may be descended from a serial killer? Did you know that Trump is the first president to have children by three different women? Or that his children have never been permitted to have pets? Ruth Ann Monti, the author of a terrifically entertaining new book called “Donald Trump in 100 Facts,” joins the show.The Attorney General has announced that the Department of Justice will be opening an investigation into the deletion of text messages that are suspected to demonstrate a political bias of two former members of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s “Russiagate” team. Brian and John speak with Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer, and Walter Smolarek, Sputnik news analyst.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing the wrath of his own party following the government shutdown. Progressive Democrats are upset that Schumer won almost nothing tangible in exchange for providing the votes to pass a continuing resolution, largely seen as a victory for President Trump. Dave Lindorff, an investigative reporter and columnist for CounterPunch, joins the show.Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said yesterday that Turkey’s offensive against Syria is disrupting efforts to finish off ISIS. French President Macron, meanwhile, criticized Turkey’s human rights record in Syria. Massoud Shadjareh, the founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, joins Brian and John.As NAFTA renegotiations enter a decisive stage, the Trump administration announced harsh new tariffs of as high as 50 percent on solar panels and washing machines, angering China and South Korea, where they are manufactured. Observers say these are only the first of Donald Trump’s “America First” tariffs. Baldemar Velasquez, the President of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, and Pete Dolack, an activist and writer with Trade Justice New York Metro, join the show.Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is a giant in Brazilian politics. But the former president is at a crossroads. He could finish this year in prison serving a nine-and-a-half year sentence for corruption, or finish this year once again as President of Brazil. Brian and John speak with Valeska Teixeira Martins, President Lula’s personal attorney.Today, Brian, John, and financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey begin a new weekly segment that takes a look at the economic direction of the country.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance. Now that he has signed a tax scheme into law that will turn over more than $1 trillion dollars in wealth to the richest people in America, Donald Trump has set his sights on dismantling New Deal programs that form the basis of our social safety net.Turkish President Erdogan said today that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was a “terrorist” and that any hope of peace in the war-torn country would be impossible with Assad leading it. What does Turkey’s leader hope to accomplish with this rhetoric? And what might the next year have in store for Syria? Peter Ford, the former UK ambassador to Syria, joins the show. The Trump Administration has cut funding for the United Nations in the aftermath of a resounding defeat on Jerusalem in the UN General Assembly. Joining the show to discuss Trump's decision is award-winning Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab. As the year draws to a close, war continues to rage around the world, from Yemen to Myanmar to Syria, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, usually with the United States in the middle of it. We look at the prospects for peace in 2018 with activist Cindy Sheehan. Three days after being granted a medical pardon, former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori asked the Peruvian people to forgive him for years of corruption and authoritarian government. Andrea Alvarado, a political analyst and an activist with the Broad Front political alliance, and Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek, join the show. Then, Brian and John are joined by Ethelbert Miller, a poet, author, activist, and longtime educator whose new book is “If God Invented Baseball: Poems.”City governments in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York have sued the Department of Defense for failing to report crimes by service members to the national background check system that is used for gun purchases. Can Pentagon impunity be checked? Timour Kamran, a political activist involved in local Philadelphia issues, joins Brian and John.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by journalist and author Daniel Lazare and investigative reporter Dave Lindorff.The Republican tax bill will soon become law. What does it all mean?Congress is once again inching its way toward a government shutdown. But a deal may still be possible on dreamers and on funding federal operations for the entire fiscal year. Joining the show are Angie Kim, an immigrant rights activist, and Juan Jose Gutierrez, executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition.An Associated Press investigation has found that between 9,000 and 11,000 civilians were killed during the nine-month battle to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from ISIS fighters. War correspondent Ali Musawi joins the show to discuss the AP report. Catalonians are set to vote today in parliamentary elections that are largely seen as another referendum on independence. With most of the regions leaders in jail, will the results be any different this time around? John and Brian are joined by Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly.The European Union has triggered Article 7 of the EU charter against Poland, a move that could result in a suspension of Poland’s voting rights in the EU and sanctions against the country. Joining the show are international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda, and Reiner Braun, co-President of the International Peace Bureau.The Trump administration is lashing out and threatening to cut off aid to countries who vote in favor of a resolution in the United Nations condemning his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Brian and John speak with award-winning Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was quietly summoned to Riyadh yesterday for meetings with King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad, apparently to discuss ways to jump start Arab-Israeli peace talks in the wake of the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Jafar Ramini, Palestinian journalist, joins the show.

We’re playing catch-up this week on Off the Hookah, discussing President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the recent death of Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and what Saleh's legacy bodes for the future of the country. 03:19 - Arab leaders plan major response to Trump's Jerusalem move (Daoud Kuttab) 03:19 - Will Trump recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital? (Shlomi Eldar) 03:19 - Jerusalem recognition serves mainly Trump, Netanyahu (Ben Caspit) 11:53 - Yemen’s new, dangerous post-Saleh power vacuum (Giorgio Cafiero) 11:53 - Saudis fail at their own conspiracy (Bruce Riedel) Music: DAM - Street Poetry (iTunes | Spotify)

President Donald Trump said yesterday that Defense Secretary James Mattis “knocked the hell” out of ISIS because the president and his policies made it possible. Is Trump already trying to rewrite history? War correspondent Ali Musawi and journalist Joe Lauria join the show. Brian and John are then joined by Historian and Author Alfred McCoy to discuss his new book "In the Shadows of the American Century-- The Rise and Decline of US Global Power."Protests across the Middle East and the world have erupted in outrage at Donald Trump’s announcement yesterday that the United States was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab joins the show to discuss these developments. Protesters are demonstrating against the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed repeal of net neutrality rules at hundreds of Verizon stores around the country beginning today. Why Verizon? Because FCC chairman Ajit Pai is the company’s former General Counsel, and it would benefit handsomely from the proposed changes. Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese, co-directors of Popular Resistance, joins Brian and John.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting the Greek capital of Athens today, the first sitting Turkish leader to do so in 65 years. Will relations between the two countries that have found themselves on the brink of war three times in the last two decades improve, or will Erdogan’s call to redraw current borders nullify any chance of better relations? Joining the show is Basil Mossaidis, Executive Director of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.A government shutdown is looming on Capitol Hill as House Speaker Paul Ryan works to negotiate a deal with Tea Party members of his own party. The Republicans appear to have cut Democrats out of the process. Where does that leave Dreamers, health care, and other issues important to so many Americans?Democratic Senator Al Franken announced his resignation at a press conference in Washington this morning just one day after a sixth woman came forward to say that Franken had sexually harassed her. Does this portend an attitudinal change on Capitol Hill, at least among Democrats, or will the party, like the Republicans, continue to rally around their own accused? Jane Cutter, editor of LiberationNews.org, joins the show.

Phil and Cooper spend this week reviewing the Middle East policy of Donald Trump, or the lack thereof — from the Iran nuclear deal to the Syrian civil war. Also, Lebanese snails and the Jersey Shore. 03:58 - Trump's plan for Mideast peace fades (Ben Caspit) 03:58 - Trump risks fallout from Iran deal assault (Laura Rozen) 03:58 - Palestinians, Israelis disappointed over US envoy's talks (Uri Savir) 03:58 - Kushner's first foray into Mideast peace reveals challenges ahead (Daoud Kuttab) 24:45 - Lebanese entrepreneurs discover an appetite for snails (Chloe Domat) Song: Eyal Golan - Come Today (iTunes | Spotify | YouTube)

In the US, the biggest constraint on watchdog reporting is diminished resources brought about by declining advertising and circulation revenues. This panel will look at successful models of news organizations that have pursued watchdog journalism despite shrinking budgets. The first speaker will be an editor from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, which continues to support investigative or projects teams even with reduced resources. The paper’s watchdog unit recently won the AP Innovators Award. The paper’s watchdog editor, Mark Katches, will talk about civic responsibility and also how watchdog journalism has an audience. WNYC, New York’s public broadcasting radio network, has pioneered crowd-sourcing – getting listeners to help in research and reporting – as a way of getting community involvement in investigations. At the same time, investigative reporting is going global. In China, a new generation of investigative reporters has braved the restrictions of the Chinese Communist Party to report on level corruption, financial scams and social issues. Weiqiang Ye of Caijing will speak about muckraking in China, while Daoud Kuttab will speak on finding the spaces for this kind of journalism in the Arab world.Moderator: Brant Houston, Knight Chair for Investigative and Enterprise Reporting at the University of Illinois Mark Katches, investigative editor, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (winner, AP Award for Innovations in Investigative Reporting) Brian Lehrer, WNYC Radio: Public radio as a home for investigative reporting; “crowd-sourcing” and other techniques Daoud Kuttab, Chairman of ARIJ (Arab reporters for Investigative Journalism) and Founder of AmmanNet: Finding space for investigative journalism in the Arab world Weiqiang Ye, Assistant Managing Editor, Caijing: Muckraking in China amid Communist Party restrictions

In the US, the biggest constraint on watchdog reporting is diminished resources brought about by declining advertising and circulation revenues. This panel will look at successful models of news organizations that have pursued watchdog journalism despite shrinking budgets. The first speaker will be an editor from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, which continues to support investigative or projects teams even with reduced resources. The paper’s watchdog unit recently won the AP Innovators Award. The paper’s watchdog editor, Mark Katches, will talk about civic responsibility and also how watchdog journalism has an audience. WNYC, New York’s public broadcasting radio network, has pioneered crowd-sourcing – getting listeners to help in research and reporting – as a way of getting community involvement in investigations. At the same time, investigative reporting is going global. In China, a new generation of investigative reporters has braved the restrictions of the Chinese Communist Party to report on level corruption, financial scams and social issues. Weiqiang Ye of Caijing will speak about muckraking in China, while Daoud Kuttab will speak on finding the spaces for this kind of journalism in the Arab world.Moderator: Brant Houston, Knight Chair for Investigative and Enterprise Reporting at the University of Illinois Mark Katches, investigative editor, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (winner, AP Award for Innovations in Investigative Reporting) Brian Lehrer, WNYC Radio: Public radio as a home for investigative reporting; “crowd-sourcing” and other techniques Daoud Kuttab, Chairman of ARIJ (Arab reporters for Investigative Journalism) and Founder of AmmanNet: Finding space for investigative journalism in the Arab world Weiqiang Ye, Assistant Managing Editor, Caijing: Muckraking in China amid Communist Party restrictions