Podcasts about michelle witte

Michelle Witte serves as the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, founded in 1919 to further empower voters and defend democracy after the passage of the 19th Amendment which expanded votes for women. Michelle has served as ED since 2017, and is deeply passionate about serving voters through our vibrant nonpartisan…

JP Der Boghossian and Jim Pounds fill in for Matt today. 97 days to Election Day; guests today are Michelle Witte from the League of Women Voters; Cathy Renne of the LGBTQ Task Force; Patrick Coolican of the Minnesota Reformer; Rev. Harry Hartigan of Let’s Do Lunch.

Michelle Witte serves as the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, founded in 1919 to further empower voters and defend democracy after the passage of the 19th Amendment which expanded votes for women. Michelle has served as ED since 2017, and is deeply passionate about serving voters through our vibrant nonpartisan…

This episode includes my recent interview with John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte as well as some additional commentary on the assassination attempt. Special thanks to Dana Chavarria for producing the episode! Music: "Some Say" by Mock Orange

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapses after shipping container collision and more in this episode of Political Misfits with Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou.

When you Google John Kiriakou, the descriptive label that pops up with his name is Whistleblower.John was an analyst and case officer for the Central Intelligence Agency during the anti-communist era and then the anti-terrorist era. (Where did all the communists go? Aren't they a threat anymore? Were they ever? Those will have to be questions for another day.)He is also an author, activist, and co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik. He and Michelle Witte regularly have Steve on their show as a guest to talk about (what else?) macroeconomics. Now we get to hear his story, working with—and then against—the CIA.Of the 14 CIA agents who were offered to be trained in ‘enhanced interrogation' techniques during the hunt for al-Qaeda in 2002, John was the only one who declined. He also came to be the only CIA employee to go to prison in connection with the torture program. He was charged with passing classified information to a reporter.In addition to sharing his personal experience, John talks with Steve about the history and role of the deep state, how it has transformed over the years, and both the public and political level of tolerance for it. If you still think power rests in the hands of our elected officials, you should listen to this episode.John Kiriakou is an author, journalist, and whistleblower. He is co-host, with Michelle Witte, of Political Misfits. Kiriakou was a CIA analyst and case officer. In 2007, he became the first U.S. government official to confirm that water-boarding was used to interrogate al-Qaeda prisoners, which he described as torture. In 2012, Kiriakou was convicted of passing classified information to a reporter and received a 30-month sentence.He is the author of Doing Time Like a Spy: How the CIA Taught Me to Survive and Thrive in Prison; The Convenient Terrorist: Abu Zubaydah and the Weird Wonderland of America's Secret Wars; The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA's War on Terror; The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis.Find his work on johnkiriakou.substack.com@JohnKiriakou on Twitter

Jim Jatras, former US diplomat and former senior foreign policy advisor to the Senate Republican leadership, joins Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the expulsion of the US deputy ambassador from Russia and the accusations Ukraine and Russia are exchanging of cease-fire violations, as the US secretary of state addresses the UN Security Council on the crisis. Chris Garaffa, editor of TechForThePeople.org, breaks down the Future of Tech commission's recent recommendations on limiting data collection, and the need for more forceful action on privacy violations. They also discuss new legislation to protect childrens' privacy online and Google's plans to (pretend to) protect your privacy. Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell professor of law and a professor of public policy at Cornell University, gets into the Justice Department's investigation of short selling on Wall Street. He also helps explain the ramifications of the Canadian government's new emergency powers as they relate to private banking and breaks down what the about face of the Trump Organization's accounting firm means. Austin Pelli, cohost of Fault Lines, reports from Ottawa, where a crackdown on the anti-mandate trucker convoy is underway. Protestors appear to be unconcerned with the threats of arrest, and promise the protest will continue.

Peter Oliver, RT foreign correspondent, joins Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss Washington's written response to Russia's security concerns and the state of negotiations over Ukraine. Tina Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for status coup, breaks down Los Angeles' efforts to cover up its homelessness problem ahead of the Super Bowl, and California's ongoing housing and homelessness crisis. Keean Bexte, editor in chief of The Counter Signal, brings an update on the trucker convoy making its way across Canada to protest vaccine mandates. Sputnik News journalist Morgan Artyukhina reports live from a rally outside the White House to protest war with Russia. Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist and security and privacy consultant, reviews the weak state of regulations governing how our private data is stored and protected by the corporations that collect it, and offers some suggestions as to who might be behind the internet outage in North Korea this week.The Misfits also discussed reports of a secret CIA research program in Denmark, noted some new support for political prisoner Leonard Peltier, and bashed the NFT hype – again.

International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfit hosts John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte to discuss the newfound “unity” US President Joe Biden has supposedly achieved among European powers in facing down Russia. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English Literature and Orientalism at University of Tehran, updates us on the status of talks between Iran and Western powers on the country's nuclear program, and identifies the stumbling blocks in the way of any new accord. Author and journalist Dan Lazare breaks down the shambolic reaction of the US legal system to mask mandates and asks how much former President Donald Trump should fear the investigation into his election pressure in Georgia. He also outlines the affirmative action cases soon to be heading to the Supreme Court. Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center and editor of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News magazines, discusses the punitive use of solitary confinement and “communication management” in prisons, and talks about what it would take to reform the Bureau of Prisons.

Misfits John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte speak to international security analyst Mark Sleboda about the negotiations underway between Russia, Europe and the United States over Ukraine. What's actually being discussed might be much more specific than the generalities the mainstream focuses on. Mustafa Santiago Ali, vice president of environmental justice, climate, and community revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation, joined to discuss the future of the Build Back Better agenda and what Congressional Democrats could be doing to rally support for their policy priorities ahead of the midterm elections. Journalist and author Dan Lazare helped break down the violence in Kazakhstan and the way Russia's involvement has been spun. He also brought an update on nuclear negotiations with Iran and discussed the role of the NYPD in New York politics. In the Miss the Press segment, John and Michelle dissected the typical American myopia when it comes to the foreign affairs and relationships of other countries, and scoffed at American politicians accusing other countries of maintaining spheres of influence.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talk about Iran vowing revenge on the U.S. for the assassination of their military leader, Biden holding Jan. 6th memorials as his popularity plummets, and get the full scoop on why Kazakhstan finds itself in chaos.Guests:Scott Ritter - Former U.N. Weapons Inspector | Iran Vows Revenge if Trump and Pompeo Aren't ProsecutedMisty Winston - Activist and Analyst | As Biden Lectures D.C. on Jan. 6th, His Popularity PlummetsMichelle Witte - Host of Political Misfits | Social Context of Kazakhstani RiotsMark Sleboda - International Security Analyst | Initially Peaceful Protests in Kazakhstan Hijacked by Shady MilitantsIn the first hour Scott Ritter joined the show to talk about how the U.S. fabricated a so-called imminent attack from Iran to justify assassinating their military leader Soleimani, as Iran calls for Trump and former Sec. of State Pompeo to be prosecuted for the killing.In the second hour Fault Lines was joined by Misty Winston for a general discussion on domestic politics as Biden's approval ratings fell to new low on the memorial of January 6th. We were also joined by Michelle Witte to talk about the chaos in Kazakhstan as a violent uprising triggered by public unrest over inflation and soaring gas prices takes place.In the third hour Mark Sleboda joined the conversation for a foreign policy analysis on the unexpected violent uprising in Kazakhstan, typically thought of as a stable and well off country, after initially peaceful protests were infiltrated by shady and violent individuals as an attempt to take power

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Asa Winstanley, investigative journalist and Associate editor with The Electronic Intifada to discuss the end of the 141-day hunger strike of Hisham Abu Hawwash, who has been illegally detained without trial, the use of so-called administrative detention by Israel to indefinitely detain Palestinians, and the history of interfaith solidarity and resistance of Palestinians.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits, which you can hear from 12 to 2 PM EST right here on Radio Sputnik to discuss the state of emergency instituted in Kazakhstan amid widespread protests over the financial burden of fuel prices, the rumors surrounding ethnic tensions sparking this current uprising and the reality of exploitation of workers in Kazakhstan at play, the underlying issues in Kazakh society that may have contributed to this uprising, and what the US and Russian responses to this uprising might look like.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Dr. Johanna Fernandez, Associate Professor of History at Baruch College of the City University, author of the book The Young Lords: A Radical History and editor of Writing on the Wall: Selected Prison Writings of Mumia Abu-Jamal to discuss nw evidence of bias in the trial of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Larry Krasner's stance and role in Mumia's case and the influence of the Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia politics, the push for a new trial for Mumia., and the links between Mumia's case and the crisis of white supremacy.Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Esther Iverem, artist, author and independent journalist, and host and producer of On The Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation's Capital on Pacifica Radio to discuss the incomplete and slanted narratives that the corporate media is churning out about Ukraine and Russia, the bad week that ex-cops turned mayors LoriLightfoot and Eric Adams are having with regard to teachers and so-called “low-skilled workers,” and the brutality of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and of Israel's military on the Middle East.

Aaron Good, political scientist and host of the American Exception podcast on Patreon, joins us to talk about the Ghislaine Maxwell trial and how it could be considered something of a distraction to redirect people's attention away from the larger function she and Jeffrey Epstein may have been serving for the national security state. We talk about the connections to the intelligence apparatus of the U.S. and how these agencies always serve the interests of the rich and a transnational core of power that acts without impunity. Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik News, talks to us about the reports that the COVID-19 Omicron variant is sweeping through the Washington, DC region, with an average of 1,192 new cases per day over the past seven days, and 169 cases per 100,000 people as of Monday, making it the highest-risk place in the nation for covid infections. We talk about the measures, or half measures, put in place to allegedly mitigate this crisis here and in the country and how it seems that limiting contagion has taken a back seat to vaccinations. Eugene Puryear, journalist, author, activist, politician, host at Breakthrough News, and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America,” joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the situation in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, how the TPLF has been pushed back to the Tigray region and the chances of finally resolving this conflict. We also talk about the evolving media coverage and how it seems that the pro-TPLF stance is slowly being discarded, and about the history of U.S. involvement in the Horn of Africa. Femi Ayanbadejo, certified nutritionist, human performance expert, NASA technology transfer partner, founder and CEO of HealthReel, a digital self-health assessment and education platform, and former NFL running back and special teams player, talks to us about the legacy of NFL legend Joe Madden, COVID-19 and the NBA, Shohei Ohtani winning the Male Athlete of Year award, and the ongoing MLB lockout.

Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss Biden's new plan to battle the Omicron variant as it sweeps the nation and has people on their toes as we officially enter the winter season. We talk about the plan to distribute 500 million tests by next month and whether this timeline will be sufficient to make a dent in the spread of the virus. We also talk about how workers are not being financially protected by temporary closures of businesses during this spike after emergency assistance was discontinued a few months ago, and how this may lead to people taking more risks to ensure their financial needs, further worsening the spread. Dr. Caroline Light, is a professor and researcher at Harvard University specializing in gender, critical race and ethnic studies, and author of "Stand Your Ground: A History of America's Love Affair with Lethal Self Defense.” Michael Harriot is a senior writer at TheRoot.com, where he covers the intersection of race, politics, and culture. They both join us to talk about the case of DJ Broadus, who was killed by Gardner Fraser in Florida in February 2018 after being shot four times at close range, twice after he had fallen to the ground, and how Fraser was not charged with homicide due to “stand your ground” laws in place in that state. We talk about the evolution of these laws, the intersection of class and race in these cases, and what could be done to change them.Ray Baker, political analyst and professor at Towson University, and Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the legal maneuvers the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department is engaged in to keep its officers of their force who have been charged with misconduct, DUIs, domestic abuse, and indecent exposure. We also talk about Kamala Harris's exchange with Charlamagne tha God and the ensuing meltdown, the end of the Kellogg's strike and how people are praising it as a huge win for workers, and the Democrats' indifference to the failure of the passage of the “Build Back Better” plan.

Luis Gárate, journalist and director of Comunicambio, an independent news media organization based in Perú, joins us to talk about results of the presidential run off election in Chile over the weekend, which brought a resounding win to a leftist former student organizer Gabriel Boric over right wind candidate José Antonio Kast. We also talk about Boric's campaign, pinning the blame for stratification and poverty on the neoliberal system brutally implemented in the 1970s and his promises to end it in the country, how Chile is undergoing deep political polarization and specific domestic issues that may make challenging the hegemonic system internationally a difficult proposition, and how the pushback from the U.S. and local elites may hamstring his domestic proposals. Lucy Komisar, investigative journalist focusing on corporate and financial corruption on thekomisarscoop.com, joins us to talk about a recent report that pored over financial disclosures from members of Congress and their connections to Wall Street that found that dozens of congresspeople and hundreds of staffers violated conflicts-of-interest laws, from investments in healthcare companies, military contractors, cryptocurrencies, and using non-public information as insider trading for their benefit. We also talk about Nancy Pelosi's response about the ethics of allowing lawmakers to trade stocks while in office, using the “free market economy” justification, and what could be done to fix this. Parisa Norouzi, executive director of Empower DC, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Washington D.C. schools closing as the omicron variant of COVID-19 slams the Capital region, with D.C. reporting the highest single-day total of new coronavirus cases since March 2020, and Maryland reporting that 1,257 people had been hospitalized with the virus, more than double the rate of 581 people this time last month. We also talk about the impacts of destroying homeless encampments by DC Mayor Muriel Boswer as DC's cold winter is around the corner, and how foreign investments across the United States are dramatically changing the real estate landscape and making access to affordable housing even more difficult.

Kim Ives, editor of the English section of Haiti Liberté, joins us to talk about the terrible tragedy that took place in Haiti this week, where at least 62 people have been killed and dozens injured after a tanker transporting gasoline exploded in Cap-Haitien, how fuel shortages played a role in this incident, with people lining up to collect fuel directly from the truck, and how precarity can lead people to take more risks to secure essential supplies. We also talk about new reports related to the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and how he allegedly kept lists of prominent politicians and public figures that were connected to the drug trade and how this may have played a part in his killing. Maru Mora Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and immigrant activist, talks to us about the new proposal spearheaded by Vice President Kamala Harris, where she announced that corporations like Pepsi and Cargill will make multi-billion dollar investments in Central America to allegedly “solve” the root causes of immigration there. We talk about how this is neither a novel nor the right solution to the issue, since this further entrenches the cycle of labor exploitation for companies that have already been there and have either eroded or destroyed labor and environmental regulations that, in fact, may be one of the main drivers of immigration. Shane Stranahan, co-host of Faultines on Radio Sputnik, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about a new study published by Cornell University which argues that we may be at an actual “tipping point” where no issue imaginable can unite Republicans and Democrats again, with political polarization at an all-time high. We talk about the methodology used and how constraints on framing issues within a two-party system and our economic paradigm can reinforce current political deadlock and undermine potential avenues for cooperation. Bryan Weaver, founder and executive director of Hoops Sagrado, talks to us about Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors breaking records, Enes Kanter Freedom's political postures, and widespread sexual harassment in the Washington Football Team workplace.

Ruth Anna Buffalo, member of the North Dakota House of Representatives and first Native American Democratic woman elected to the North Dakota Legislature, and citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, joins us to talk about a report revealing that that there has been an 86.5 percent growth in the Native population in the US between the 2010 and 2010 census, with more people self-identifying as indigenous. We talk about the implications of these changes, and how there could be some positive outcomes from this, as it could signify growing political power, but also the issues associated with quantifying and assigning identity, which delves into a long standing and complex issue dealing with the concept of race, belonging, and culture that has its roots with the dispossession and disenfranchisement of native communities in the U.S.Matthew Telles, Instacart driver and organizer, joins us to talk about news that the company DoorDash is opening a new location in New York City, where it's moving away from the contractor model and designating its workers as full time employees in the subsidiary company known as DashCorps. We talk about how this could be considered a small victory for workers, since they will now be entitled a guaranteed wage, albeit a low one, and benefits usually denied to gig workers in the industry across the country, and whether we will see similar moves in other app-based companies. Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, and Bomani Armah, hip-hop artist and educator, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about thousands of students getting sick with COVID-19 and more quarantined just days before the winter break, as D.C. Public Schools is dealing with a coronavirus outbreak, and a new bill introduced in Oklahoma that takes aim at the 1619 Project and which looks to dictate how the history of slavery is taught across the state.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talk about record high inflation numbers, shocking texts from GOP officials and Fox anchors to Mark Meadows, and Putin's and Xi's virtual summit to resist efforts to wedge the two nations apart.Guests:Mark Frost - Economist | Rising Inflation As ‘Silent Tax' on Middle ClassTed Rall - Political Cartoonist | Shocking Texts Reveals Republicans Urging Trump to Call Off Jan. 6thMichelle Witte - Host of Political Misfits | Biden's Chaotic Foreign Policy After ‘Nice Guy' PromiseIn the first hour Fault Lines was joined by Mark Frost to talk about how inflation acts as a silent tax to poor and working class earners and if any relief is laid out in Biden's ‘Build Back Better' plan.In the second hour we were joined by Ted Rall for a discussion on text messages that Ted says proves we live in an opposite world. We also talked about D.C. suing two far right groups, the Proud Boys and the Oathkeepers, for allegedly conspiring to terrorize the city on January 6th.In the third hour Michelle Witte joined the conversation to talk about the first statements coming out from the virtual summit between Russian and Chinese leaders. We also talk about Biden's chaotic foreign policy and compare it to what he promised voters when running against Trump.

John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the curious case of Operation Whistle Pig, where a reporter was contacted by a potential source, only to be revealed later that this “source” was actually planting information and had mined data on the reporter in order to vet her. We talk about how the FBI eventually got involved and eventually revealed a wide web of surveillance that goes beyond this particular case, and how this story up-ends perceptions about whistleblowing, the objectives of certain leakers, and how government agencies deal with cases like these. Dan Kovalik, author and human rights and labor lawyer, joins us to talk about the annoying tensions between the U.S., Russia, Ukraine, the EU and NATO, and how we sometimes need to look beyond the bluster portrayed in the media, which has been inflating the risks over a war in the region. We talk about how despite the media bombast which has portrayed Biden and NATO standing fast in their demands in the region, there has been a recognition of grievances by Russia and the rebel regions despite Ukraine requesting more Western involvement. We also talk about the school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, and the legal fallout so far, and the labor struggle at Kellogg's, where workers are continuing their strike after failed negotiations with management.Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the ongoing negotiations over the nuclear deal with Iran taking place in Vienna, the ups and downs that have seen them almost fall apart, but that now seem to be taking a more positive note. We also talk about the visit of Israeli PM Naftali Bennett to the United Arab Emirates, as the two countries seek to deepen ties following the Abraham Accords and will likely discuss Iran's nuclear program, as well as the Israeli government labeling six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist groups and how this is yet another effort to destroy Palestinian civil society.

Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, joins us to talk about the response to the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, which is rapidly spreading around the world and just made landfall in the U.S. We talk about how there has not been a consistent response to Omicron across the board, and whether it really is more contagious than the Delta variant. We also talk about how we will have to learn with spikes and new variants in the foreseeable future, how healthcare costs keep rising in the U.S., and what could be done about it. Alan MacLeod, senior staff writer for MintPress News, author, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joins us to tell us about the intersection of Silicon Valley, the national security state and the Open Technology Fund, which bills itself as an independent provider of privacy apps, but is actually funded and controlled by the United States Agency for Global Media, a government body responsible for overseeing U.S.-funded state media outlets overseas, including Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, and how these apps are used to advance U.S. interests abroad and destabilize governments they consider to be enemies. David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," talks to us about how the Pentagon "cover-up" in the Kabul drone killing of a family continues, with the news that no U.S. troops will be punished for deadly Kabul strike, how impunity is rampant in the military, and war crimes accusations only apply to our opponents. We also talk about the strike force Talon Anvil, which operated in Syria from 2014 to 2019 and is responsible for countless civilian deaths and how the burden of responsibility gets shifted across the board. Roz White, award winning actress, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the play “Seven Guitars,” and the journey of each of the characters through the music, through the hope, and through the pain that links them all together.

Julian Assange at risk of extradition as judge sides with U.S. How the U.S. prosecutes whistleblowers under the pretext of national security.Nebiyu Asfaw, co-founder of the Ethiopian American Development Council, joins us to talk about the ongoing situation in the conflict in Ethiopia, as the Ethiopian National Defense forces have been able to make gains against the Tigray People's Liberation Front and have now recaptured Kombolcha and Dessie, along with a host of other towns across the Amhara state, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Lalibela. We talk about the work that the Ethiopian diaspora in the U.S. has done to reveal the truth about the conflict despite widespread media disinformation that has sided mostly with the TPLF narrative, the importance of independent voices to understand the situation on the ground, and what needs to be done to ensure that peace is achieved in this conflict. Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, talks to us about inflammatory policy statements by the new German government about current tensions related to NATO, nuclear weapons, Russia, Ukraine, and China, with the incoming Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stating that there would be a high price to pay for any invasion of Ukraine, that Germany was considering boycotting the Beijing Olympics, and contemplating a nuclear armed Germany in the future. We also talk about the certification of Nord Stream 2 under the new German government, and whether this project will languish in this new government, as well as Biden's phone call with President Putin and whether there is any real possibility of an invasion of Ukraine and a regional conflict. Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to discuss the case of Julian Assange, which now sees him closer to being extradited to the U.S. over hacking allegations and violations of the Espionage Act after a U.K. judge sided with the U.S. in an appeal over concerns of his mental health and potential imprisonment in the U.S., and how this is a reality check of the U.S. government's commitment to free speech and a free press as the Biden administration holds a democracy summit at the White House.

Laith Marouf, international affairs analyst and media law consultant, joins us to discuss the White House's new U.S. Government Strategy on Countering Corruption, which has been billed as the first of its kind and a commitment to supporting good governance around the world. We talk about how these claims fall flat in the face of the reality of institutionalized corruption with the U.S. government itself, with the public service to private industry pipeline, which sees politicians enter lobbying firms once they quit Congress, the outsized influence of wealthy donors in elections after the Citizens United decision, gerrymandering, voter suppression, the way the U.S. supports and influences other governments that engage in corrupt practices, and how soft power institutions like the NED and USAID end up cementing U.S. corporate interests abroad with no regard to democratic practices. We also talk about the meeting between Biden and Putin, the growing tensions in Ukraine and threats of further sanctions on Russia.Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, his latest book is "The Stringer", and co-host of the DMZ America podcast, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the “democratization” of drone use in conflict zones around the world, that has seen fighters and militants take advantage of the technology which is increasingly easier to acquire. We also talk about a United Kingdom senior desk officer at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office who is now being called a whistleblower after speaking out on the UK Foreign Office's handling of the Afghan evacuation, and reports of US officials using vaccine donations for political favors abroad after accusing other countries of engaging in similar practices.Justin Williams, co-host of Redspin Sports, talks to us about the Biden administration formally announcing that the US will enact a diplomatic boycott of the games as a protest against the alleged human rights violations of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang by the Chinese government, whether we will see a full boycott of the games, and what this means for increasing tensions between China and the U.S.

Leela Anand, organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, joins us to talk about the current situation in Myanmar, after a military court issues the first of many sentences condemning Aung San Suu Kyi to four years in detention, which was immediately reduced to two years. We also talk about other measures that the military have taken against other opposition figures, what this means for the future of democracy in Myanmar, and about the lawsuit filed against Facebook by Rohingya refugees over the promotion of hate speech. John Ross, author and economist, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, talks to us about how the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization found that global food commodity prices have risen 27.3% on the year, whether supply chain issues are the main driver of these price hikes, and whether price controls could be a solution or exacerbate the problem.Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, and Chuck Modiano, justice journalist and sports writer at Deadspin, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about increases in car crash deaths in 2020 and 2021, how some experts say that behavior on the road is likely a reflection of widespread feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression in the broader society, and how these may also be the drivers for increasing homicide rates. We also talk about the state of protests in the United States and how it feels like the country finds itself in a bit of a lull, and the case of Antwan Gilmore. Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources, ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, talks to us about President Biden's plan to make the government carbon neutral by 2050, the merits of the measures outlined in the proposal, whether they'll actually result in a carbon neutral government by 2050, and how even if this is feasible. The 2050 goal post could prove to be too late to mitigate the destructive effects of climate change.

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits, which you can hear from 12 to 2 PM EST right here on Radio Sputnik to discuss the ongoing trial of Ghislaine Maxwell and the portrayal of Maxwell as a victim of Jeffery Epstein rather than as an accomplice in sexual assault, the weaponization of gender stereotypes by sexual abusers to lure victims, the mysterious backgrounds of Epstein and Maxwell, and what this case shows about the value of girls and young women.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda to discuss the so-called Russian military buildup on its border with Ukraine, the real aggressions of NATO in Ukraine and eastern Europe, the cold war mentality that is driving this aggression and other actions against Russia, and the gall of Joe Biden and the US for presenting Russia as an aggressor in Eastern Europe as it masses troops on Ukraine's border.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by technologist Chris Garaffa, the editor of TechforthePeople.org to discuss the selling of data by location surveillance app Life360 and the dangerous history of selling location data, the hacking of US officials with spyware created by NSO Group, and the growing movement to restrict the use of artificial intelligence technology in broad sectors of society.Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Daryle Lamont Jenkins, Executive Director of One People's Project to discuss the rally held by right-wing group Patriot Front in Washington, DC and social media giants' complicity in the rise of white supremacist violence, the media's representation of anti-fascist activism as clashes between two fringe ideological groups instead of acknowledging the subtext of the opposition between the interests of capital and the interests of poor and working people, and the Department of Justice's closing of its inquiry into the murder of Emmett Till.

Dr. Sheila Vakharia, Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement for the Drug Policy Alliance, joins us to discuss the news of New York City opening two safe injection sites, one in East Harlem and the other in Washington Heights, which are the first of their kind in the nation and look to deliver on saving lives, saving money, and increasing public health and safety writ large. We also talk about the pushback against these sites, which some argue may encourage drug use, and how this represents a misunderstanding of harm reduction strategies that strive to look at and treat addiction from a public health perspective and not a criminal one. Juan José Gutiérrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, talks to us about how the Biden administration is expanding the use of for-profit detention facilities for immigrants, and how this represents yet another broken campaign promise that has left migrants in the lurch and keeps entrenching a two-tiered justice system in the country. We also talk about the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which the Biden administration promised to rescind, but now is back in place after several state lawsuits, and how it has now been expanded to not only include Latino immigrants, but immigrants from Haiti, as well. Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience, former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the tools the U.S. government is using to track down people involved in the January 6 Capitol insurrection, and how it's setting off alarm bells for some people who warn that the use of this kind of bulk data collection and facial recognition software could go beyond identifying these rioters and further expand the surveillance state. We also talk about Twitter announcing a rule change to prevent people's private images from being shared, unless those images are of public figures, and how debt collectors are now contacting people through social media.

Maurice Cook, executive director and lead organizer at Serve Your City, joins us to talk about the homelessness crisis in Washington, DC, and the failure of city officials to address it, which this week saw DC police and DC government officials using heavy machinery to clear a local park of tents that people had been living in. We talk about how the collusion between city officials and real estate developers that have purposely ignored the housing crisis in the city, and how half-hearted attempts at providing affordable housing have made the city inaccessible to working class people. Chris Smalls, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, tells us about the ongoing labor struggles at Amazon, which saw a small victory this week when the Attorney General of New York filed a motion for an injunction against Amazon to reinstate workers and address health and safety concerns at their fulfillment centers. We also talk about a report by the Strategic Organizing Center that found that despite announcing in October 2020 that it had found nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases nationally among its employees, Amazon only reported only 27 cases to OSHA. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, joins us to discuss the fight for reproductive rights in the U.S., with the Supreme Court hearing arguments over Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, and how it seems to be that the restriction itself will very likely be allowed to stand. We talk about the fallout should this precedent be set, how it will negatively affect women's rights, and how it threatens to undermine the legitimacy of the court. Jeff Pearce, writer and historian, and Simon Tesfamariam, organizer, writer, and analyst at the New Africa Institute, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the range of people who are spoiling peace efforts, from Twitter to the US government, to think tanks, government officials, and retired ambassadors, by taking a pro-TPLF stance, and the way forward negotiate a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Richard Becker, author of "Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire" joins us to discuss the ongoing campaign against the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which saw a local newspaper in Arkansas threatened with a withdrawal of advertising from a local company due to a state law that asks businesses to pledge not to support any boycotts of Israel. We talk about the pervasiveness of such laws, with 30 states having laws similar to the one Arkansas passed in 2017, and whether we are starting to see some resistance to knee-jerk support for Israel. Katherine Rahill, Senior Scientist for the Office of the Chief Scientist of NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, joins us to talk about the news of NASA's DART mission attempting to manually alter the course of an asteroid by smashing a spacecraft into it at high speeds to test a defense mechanism against wayward asteroids that may threaten Earth. We also discuss the prospects of the mission's success and whether we will see a planetary defense system in the future.Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary, The Grayzone, and The Real News, talks to us about the dangerous implications of a new Nationality and Borders bill currently moving through the British House of Commons, which would allow the government to remove a person's citizenship without having to give them notice so long as it is deemed in the public interest or the interests of national security. We discuss the impact this bill could have not only on naturalized immigrants, but citizens born in the UK as well. Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation's Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about a jury awarding $26 million in the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally civil case, the latest developments in Ethiopia, and two examples of how American society and our judicial system are not designed to rehabilitate people.

Baba Zak A. Kondo, professor of history at Baltimore City Community College and author of "Conspiracies: Unraveling the Assassination of Malcolm X,” tells us about developments in the case of the assassination of Malcolm X, where two of the men found guilty of the killing got their convictions thrown out on Thursday, and the tragedy of having the lives of two innocent men destroyed due to these wrongful convictions. We talk about how this is representative of the story of the system of state violence in America, the role of the FBI and FBI informants in this case, whether the U.S. government was involved, and the importance of finding out the truth about Malcolm X's death. Lena Taylor, state senator from Wisconsin, joins us to discuss the fight for voting rights in the U.S., the protests in front of the White House, where dozens were arrested, and the importance of engaging in direct action to fight for fundamental rights and representation in our democracy. We also talk about the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, whether justice will be served, one of the central themes in this case that hinges on who has the right to space and who gets to claim self defense, and how these concepts and rights get allotted unequally. Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Wall Street bankers and traders being in line for the biggest bonus increases since 2009, in some cases 30% to 35% increases, and how this exacerbates inequality, with most working class people seeing wages stagnate and navigating increasing precarity. We talk about the “Great Resignation” and the debate around its causes and its scale, whether this is a sign of workers gaining a certain degree of agency or if there are other elements at play, the debate around the origins and causes of the current wave of inflation, and how the conventional wisdom analysis of this phenomenon is ideologically loaded.

COP26 wraps up amid controversy over commitments and funding. Are we running out of time to reach a consensus? Rishika Pardikar, freelance journalist writing from Bangalore, India covering wildlife, climate change & free speech, joins us to discuss the COP26 conference, which is wrapping up today, with reports of a walkout by a number of civil society delegates, and whether any significant proposals and commitments were reached in the conference. We talk about the intense debates over wording in joint texts involving phasing out coal versus phasing out “unabated coal power,” and what other disagreements ensued. We also discuss whether any progress was made toward a loss and damage fund, which would benefit developing countries, the debate about the financing mechanisms for this initiative and how it's being set up, the role of the U.S. at the conference, and the allegations of “greenwashing.”Coleen Rowley, a retired FBI agent, joins us to talk about a case that the Supreme Court heard on Monday to consider whether the FBI could be sued for discrimination after it engaged in a mass surveillance campaign against Muslims in the U.S., where it planted informants in mosques and collected troves of personal information from congregants. We talk about how the government and the courts have continuously invoked the state secrets defense in cases such as these, how this has been abused, and whether this is used as a cover to shield them from charges of discrimination, excessive surveillance, and repression.Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, co-host of the DMZ America podcast, and author, his latest book is "The Stringer," joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Amy Klobuchar being forced to leave the stage at a fundraiser for Connie Bernardy on November 11 after being confronted by protesters calling for Line 3 in Minnesota to be stopped, the hand wringing over the appropriate “etiquette” for protestors, the passage of the slimmed-down bipartisan infrastructure bill, and how workers have to make do with crumbs within a bill awash with corporate handouts and as military budgets keep soaring, and Anthony Blinken's upcoming trip to Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, where Ethiopia will be high up on the list of topics.

Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the situation in Ethiopia, where Western media has been presenting a completely different picture of the conflict that generally favors the TPLF narrative and contrasts with on-the-ground reports. He tells us about the experiences of having conversations about the future of the country with Ethiopian citizens, how this conflict could decide the future of the horn of Africa, and how a peaceful solution to the conflict should be the main goal of potential future negotiations. Wyatt Reed, Radio Sputnik correspondent, tells us about the elections that took place in Nicaragua on Sunday, where the incumbent Daniel Ortega emerged victorious, and how despite proof of transparency in the elections, mainstream Western media outlets keep describing the vote as a sham. We also talk about the White House statement on the election, and whether this signals that the U.S. will take an even harsher line against Nicaragua and expand its sanctions. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, talks to us about growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and an incident last week where Iran alleged that the U.S. tried to seize an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which elicited a rebuke from the U.S. denying such actions, and reports that the tanker in this incident may have transporting oil to Venezuela. We also talk about reports of a drone attack on the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi, and what this means for the current power struggle in Iraq. Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Austin Pelli to discuss the messy negotiations over the infrastructure bill, where the slimmed down bipartisan version passed on Friday, and whether this means that the more ambitious Build Back Better Plan could be permanently shelved. We also talk about COP26 and how people are growing more impatient and skeptical that promises made there will be followed through, and what it would take to enact meaningful climate legislation.

Joshua Harris, Vice President of the Baltimore branch of the NAACP and incoming VP of the Maryland NAACP, joins us to talk about news that the FDA has authorized emergency use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11, what this will mean for schools, what sort of pushback we will see from parents if vaccine mandates are instituted as a requirement for school attendance, and how this connects to a growing resistance against mandates, where we have seen walkouts, “sick-outs” and direct opposition to vaccine mandates, with cases like New York, where 2,000 firefighters have walked out on their jobs due to vaccine requirements. We also talk about whether we will see a migration of workers to states where vaccine requirements are less stringent, and we look at possible alternatives to sort out this fight. China Dickerson, political strategist and National Political Director for Forward Majority, joins us to talk about the Supreme Court looking into Texas SB 8, the abortion law that puts the power to restrict abortions in the hands of private citizens and not state officials, what is at stake for Texas women if this law is allowed to stand, and legal stakes for the federal government, where 100 current and federal prosecutors and judges filed a brief calling Texas law SB 8 the most blatant attempt to subvert federal authority since the Jim Crow era. We also talk about what sort of resistance we have seen in Texas, whether a compromise will be reached, and whether we will see a further erosion of abortion rights at the national level. Jon Jeter is an author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience. He is also a former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, and joins hosts Michelle Witte and Austin Pelli to talk about highlights from the G20 meetings, where climate change has taken center stage, and how the responsibilities borne by wealthier countries have been laid bare, considering the harm climate change is causing in developing countries, and Elon Musks' $6 billion “offer” to solve world hunger.

Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary, The Grayzone, and The Real News, joins us to talk about the court proceedings in the appeal filed by the U.S. in the extradition case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. We talk about whether the Yahoo News report describing conversations within the U.S. government about, among other ideas, assassinating Assange, has colored the public perception of the case, and whether it will affect the outcome of the case itself.Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik News, joins us to talk about Mark Zuckerberg's new plan to change the way we live our lives by unveiling his concept of the metaverse, which envisions conducting our daily interactions through avatars in virtual reality. We talk about how this move means that Facebook is treading even more into public utility territory, whether this transformation will make our government reconsider the way Facebook as a communication device is treated, and whether the company's ambitions are actually achievable. Reilly Colin Dixon, reporter for Yellow Springs News, joins us to talk about plans by famous and controversial comedian Dave Chappelle's plans to develop his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio by building a comedy club, restaurant, production studio and offices, and a business/housing mixed development project, the intersection between comedy and politics, whether celebrities are the best spokespeople for political causes, and the long history of activism and and counterculture of the town. Laith Marouf, international affairs analyst and media law consultant, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about President Biden's visit to Europe, where G-20 leaders are expected to endorse a 15 percent global minimum corporate tax rate, hold discussions on Iran, and seek to iron out supply chain issues. We also talk about Israel's announcement targeting six Palestinian groups, allowing authorities to freeze their funds and potentially arrest their leaders, as well as the ongoing crisis in Lebanon that has suffered shortages of essential goods and has seen multiple deadly protests, and how corruption at the top has been one of the main drivers of this crisis.

Niemat Ahmadi, President of the Darfur Women Action Group, joins us to talk about the evolving situation in Sudan where the military have apparently ousted the caretaker government in what is more and more looking like a coup d'etat. We talk about how former ruler Omar Al-Bashir still casts a long shadow in the country, with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan consolidating his power by placing Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, his wife and other ministers under arrest, arguing that civilian political infighting represented “a threat” to the country, the timing of these arrests, and whether a potential investigation into crimes committed by the military in the past years may have played a role in this power grab. Alex Rubinstein, investigative reporter and co-host of the podcast Pro-Democracy Pod, joins us to talk about how dozens of media outlets are collaborating on what is now being called The Facebook Papers project, how Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has been cultivated and legally represented by an organization led by former intelligence insiders with close ties to the US national security state, how this colors her statements to Congress and the reaction by those in power, and whether there is a long term project to increase surveillance in social media platforms in the guise of security concerns. Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the trial around "Unite the Right" rally, where dozens were injured and one person died in the chaos, to decide whether organizers planned for a violent showdown from the start. We also talk about the issue of money in politics, with a New York mayoral debate where several candidates who are on the ballot weren't allowed to be part of the debate because they hadn't raised and spent the required nearly $200,000 at the time, as well as Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen still out promoting their podcast and their book, and the limits and pitfalls of celebrity politicians.

William Camacaro, senior analyst at the Council of Hemispheric Affairs, artist, radio host, and activist, joins us to talk about U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's tour of Latin American countries, stopping in Ecuador and Colombia to promote the U.S. brand and to “promote democracy” in the region. We talk about the actual chequered history of U.S. intervention in the hemisphere that has, more often than not, led to undemocratic regimes, how these interventions have shaped and often times scarred the countries affected, with consequences that can be felt after generations, and how the immigration crisis could be directly linked to U.S. support for conservative and right wing groups in the hemisphere. We also talk about how this visit, particularly in Colombia, is related to the continuing economic stranglehold on Venezuela and support for the opposition there. John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, tells us about drone whistleblower Daniel Hale being sent to the notorious Communications Management Unit at the maximum-security U.S. Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois to serve a 45-month sentence, rather than the low-security prison at Butner, North Carolina and how this could be used to set an example and have a chilling effect on other potential whistleblowers. We also talk about the Biden administration's top spies and scientists releasing the first-ever National Intelligence Estimate on the global security threats posed by climate change, and how diminished energy supplies, food, and water security could shape international relations in the future.Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to discuss the controversy at the Federal Reserve, where it has been revealed that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sold between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock from his personal account during the pandemic in 2020, which raises questions about ethics and insider trading, Biden saying that he doesn't think there are enough Democratic votes to raise tax rates in a deal on his economic agenda.

Juan José Gutiérrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, joins us to talk about how immigration reform may be put in the back burner again as the infrastructure bill keeps getting pared down, and the Senate parliamentarian is recommending not including it in the reconciliation bill. We talk about how the promises by the Biden administration have been broken, with increasing numbers of arrests at the border and stalled policies, and how Latinos in the U.S. are gearing up to mobilize and make it known that they will not be a sure vote for the Democrats in the next election.John Kane, Mohawk activist and educator, producer and host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast and co-host of Resistance Radio on WBAI Pacifica Radio NY, joins us to talk about the indigenous-led protests that took place last week at the Capitol and the Department of the Interior against fossil fuel industries after long-standing actions against Line 3. We talk about how detrimental policies are continuing despite the Department being led now by Secretary Deb Haaland, and the limits of politics of representation. Tina Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the city of San Diego not disclosing the identity of a suspect who allegedly threw an incendiary device at anti-Trump demonstrators at a Pacific Beach “Patriot March” on January 9, the deal between IATSE and the movie studios and the ensuing division among members, and the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11 and the anti-vaxxer backlash. Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, talks to us about whether Mark Zuckerberg should be held personally liable for giving third party apps access to user data, how Facebook's own oversight board is being sidelined, and how no corporation should be in charge of policing itself. We also talk about how the company is being rebranded, including changing its name, to focus on what Zuckerberg has called “the metaverse.”

Lee Stranahan, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the breaking news of an FBI raid at the Washington, DC home of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who has had ties to former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, whether this raid is in connection to this and continuing efforts targeting Russian oligarchs, and how Russiagate is still alive and well in the U.S. Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, talks to us about Russia suspending its observer mission to NATO after 8 of its diplomats were expelled after allegations of spying, what sort of diplomatic engagement did Russia have in NATO prior to this incident, what impact this decision could have in relations between Russia and NATO countries, and what this means for other countries like the Ukraine and China. We also talk about the extradition of Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab to the United States and the continued siege of the U.S. against Venezuela.Amanda Hall, campaign director for Dream Corps JUSTICE, joins us to talk about a recent academic study from the University of Chicago that conducted a wide ranging meta-analysis which concluded, among other revelations, that continued incarceration does not serve as an effective crime deterrent, and that in fact, could actually increase recidivism. We also talk about other alternatives to incarceration, like restorative justice, that could better serve society by not focusing on punishment or isolation from society and encouraging rehabilitation. Ra Shad Frazier-Gaines, founder and chair of the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of America and founder and chair of Black Progressives, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the continued failure of the Democratic Party to pass Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda, the continued backlash to America's two-party system, and the dirty money influencing the Virginia gubernatorial election.

Keith Mackey, founder of Mackey International, an aviation consulting firm specializing in aviation safety, risk management, accident investigation, air carrier certification and safety/compliance audits, tells us about chaos in the airline industry during the COVID-19 pandemic after Southwest Airlines cancelled over 2,000 flights over the weekend, with disruptions carrying over into the week. We talk about the airline's explanation for these disruptions, citing weather and staffing issues, how Southwest's vaccine mandates may have provoked a slow-down by its pilots, what the union is saying, and whether we will see similar disruptions in other airlines in the future.Dr. Wilmer Leon, political scientist and host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss the trial in absentia of Blaise Compaoré, who stands accused of being involved in the assassination of Burkina Faso leader Thomas Sankara in the 80's. We talk about the figure of Sankara and his legacy, how his left-leaning and pan-African politics may have led to his assassination, and the role that that France, the United States, and international financial institutions may have played in his killing. Monica Cruz, host and reporter with BreakThrough News, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the shocking numbers from the US economy, with the Labor Department revealing that workers left their jobs at a record pace in August, totalling 4.3 million, and about 2.9 percent of the workforce within the bar and restaurant industry, as well as retail staff, quitting in droves. We talk about how the pandemic has revealed the precarious conditions of workers, how this could be seen as a protest, and how this could energize workers towards organizing. Chuck Modiano, justice journalist and sports writer at Deadspin, joins us to talk about the firing of Las Vegas Raiders head coach John Gruden over racist, misogynistic, and homophobic emails, the Tyson Fury vs. Donte Wilder fight, and San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich using his pulpit as an NBA coach to speak out on social justice issues.

Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation's Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins us to talk about a couple of stories reflective on the state of policing in the country, with the case of Clifford Owensby, a paraplegic man who was pulled out of his car during a search under suspicion of drug possession in Ohio, and four Maryland police officers not being charged after a fatal shooting where the evidence does not exactly fit the officers' narratives. David Rosen is writer on media, tech, politics and sex whose books include “Sex, Sin & Subversion: The Transformation of 1950s New York's Forbidden into America's New Normal” and “Sex Scandal America: Politics & the Ritual of Public Shaming.” His most recent book is "Prohibition New York City: Speakeasy Queen Texas Guinan, Blind Pigs, Drag Balls and More.” He tells us about the growing digital divide in the U.S., why our internet is both so bad and so expensive, how we have fallen so far behind some other countries, how telecom giants are becoming a new cartel, and how community broadband networks could not just fill in gaps big internet providers won't cover, but also offer an alternative to those companies.James Early, former Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the looting of cultural artifacts at a global scale after new revelations from the Pandora Papers, how not only collectors, but also recognized elite institutions engage in theft of priceless cultural items, and efforts underway to try to get stolen artifacts returned to their rightful homes.Sean Wilson, National Organizing Director for Dream Corps JUSTICE, talks to us about how hard it can be to access any books in prisons sometimes, what it's like trying to send books to people in prison, and how administrators engage in arbitrary censorship.

Kathy Kelly, American peace activist and author, joins us to talk about the news that the U.N. Human Rights Council is ending its investigation into war crimes in the conflict in Yemen, in a controversial vote that hints at a rebuke to Western nations. We talk about the significance of this investigation, what it means to be abruptly ended, whether there was any horse-trading in the vote, and what Saudi Arabia gains from this.K.J. Noh, a global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, joins us to discuss how the CIA is pivoting to the Asia Pacific theater with the opening of a new mission center that would focus on China, what this means for escalating tensions with the U.S. on the heels of weapons sales to Australia, whether this means that terrorism is no longer the main designated threat for the U.S., and the impact this will have on trade and climate negotiations. Bill Mew, leading digital ethics campaigner and CEO of cyber incident firm The Crisis Team, talks to us about new efforts by the US government to protect pipelines and rail transit systems from cyber attacks, which includes issuing and promising new industry regulations intended to strengthen cyber defense in those industries. We talk about whether these proposed regulations will be enough to stave off a cyberattack on energy infrastructure, and the pushback from the industries themselves. We also talk about the TSA imposing new regulations on high risk railroad and rail transit systems, and what these regulations might be.Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the Facebook leaks and whistleblower testimony, which revealed a bit of Facebook's role in US foreign policy, and why a private business would align itself with the US government, as well as CIA interests and talking points. We also talk about the public political fight that unfolded over the Iron Dome funding and whether this represents a significant step forward for the Palestinian rights movement.

John Ross, author, economist, and senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, joins us to talk about the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, after U.S. Trade Representative Catherine Tai gave a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which revealed that the Biden administration, despite hinting at extending an olive branch to China, is continuing the confrontational stance and policies of the Trump administration. We also talk about the criticism leveled at China's economic model, and the effect that tariffs have had on Chinese and American consumers.Jonathan Kuttab, co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International, tells us about a report revealing that there has been a surge in Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the past two years, with more cases of anti-Palestinian violence in the first half of 2021 than in all of 2019, and the fight to reinstate the PayPal service to Palestininans in the West Bank and Gaza.Dr. Bill Honigman, retired emergency physician and California state coordinator and healthcare issue team coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about how plans to cover millions of uninsured people and offer dental and vision benefits to people on Medicare in the infrastructure bill are being held hostage by congressional opposition from both Democrats and Republicans to lowering drug prices, reports that hospitals are suffering financially during the pandemic, and how a focus on efficiencies are often mistaken for proper health provision.Femi Ayanbadejo, certified nutritionist, human performance expert, NASA technology transfer partner, and founder and CEO of HealthReel, a digital self-health assessment and education platform, joins us to talk about NFL coach Urban Meyer landing in hot water after being filmed at a sports bar fondling a patron, and the ongoing controversy in the NBA where some players are refusing the vaccine and incurring serious monetary losses.

Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent, joins us to talk about the ongoing fallout from the revelations in the Pandora Papers. We discuss the details of how these individuals and corporations constitute a global kleptocratic regime, and the people, organizations, and states that help them by operating and sustaining the offshoring industry. We also talk about the effects that these practices have on populations abroad, by siphoning money from the state through tax evasion and increasing precarity and inequality.David Rosen, widely published author whose most recent book is "Prohibition New York City: Speakeasy Queen Texas Guinan, Blind Pigs, Drag Balls and More", and an author of book reviews and popular pieces on media-tech, telecom, politics, sex and American life, joins us to talk ongoing Epstein saga: the status of a fund set up for his victims, how the fund set up to compensate Epstein's alleged victims has perhaps been falling short, the looming legal woes of Prince Andrew after he reportedly spent time at the Bahamas mansion of fashion designer Peter Nygard, who has now been accused of a number of sex crimes, and the state of Ghislaine Maxwell's trial. Jacqui Luqman and Sean Blackmon, hosts of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the undue power vested in the tech giant Facebook, and how the various allegations against it come as no surprise considering the lax regulation on technology companies, whose only goal is to increase their profits. We also talk about the extremely popular show “Squid Game,” the impact of its social critique and what U.S. film and television programs can learn from it. Red Grant, comedian and 2022 mayoral candidate for Washington, DC, talks to us about the experience of transitioning from the arts, culture and community into politics, and the importance of bringing unique perspectives into political dialogue and practice.

Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins us to talk about the revelations from the Pandora Papers, totalling between 12 million records from offshore companies, giving a glimpse into the ways the wealthy and powerful move, manage and hide their money. We talk about how this group includes over 330 politicians, 130 Forbes billionaires, members of royal families, and religious leaders, among others, and the implications for figures and governments who claim to be against corruption, but now find themselves enmeshed in this scandal. We also talk about whether these revelations will have a meaningful impact, considering the precedent of the Panama Papers, and whether the Biden administration's proposed changes to tax regulation will actually curtail offshore tax havens used by companies. Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio correspondent, joins us to discuss the revelations from a new report highlighting the lengths Virginia-based Dominion Energy went to make sure their dirty name appeared clean in the press, including how Dominion spent nearly $19 million in lobbying, advertising, market research, political payouts, and membership fees over the last four years, including direct payments to newspaper columnists and academic professors. We also talk about the similarities of this case to others at the national level, and how this is representative of a larger issue of institutionalized corruption. Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author whose latest book is “The Stringer,” joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to discuss the fallout of the “60 Minutes” interview with Frances Haugen, a Facebook whistleblower who has revealed that Facebook has been putting profits over the well being of its users for a long time, how its algorithms promote misinformation, and even violence, and how higher-ups in the company turned a blind eye to these issues. We also talk about the bombing in Afghanistan that left many civilians dead in Kabul on Sunday, and the Western media coverage of the incident.

Adriana Garriga López, associate professor of anthropology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, associate faculty of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, anthropologist and multidisciplinary artist, and Esteban Gómez, historian and co-host of the “Plan de Contingencia” podcast, join us to talk about the ongoing energy crisis which has seen hundreds of thousands of citizens affected by rolling power outages throughout weeks, and what role the new private energy company Luma has played in this crisis. We talk about how this is yet another example of disaster capitalism and how public-private partnerships have wreaked havoc for workers and the provision of essential services in the name of profit.Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, and Heather Keeler, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, join us to talk about the news that the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline is going operational today, despite months-long protests. We also talk about some of the social impacts of projects like these beyond the environmental harm, the documented effects of bringing this kind of work, done this kind of way, into indigenous communities, how resistance will continue against this project, what future actions could look like, and the often overlooked tragedy of missing native women. Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for IL-16, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the intraparty fight among Democrats over the proposed infrastructure bill, which now seems certain to be considerably slimmed down, how this manufactured crisis goes beyond characters like Sinema and Manchin, and how disunity conveniently happens whenever there actual meaningful policy at stake. We also talk about how funding for infrastructure is usually disbursed, whether it actually goes to fund the public good and not deepening the pockets of private contractors, the Biden administration announcing new rules that require authorities to only pursue migrants who recently crossed into the country without permission or are deemed to pose a threat to public safety, the future of DACA, and the long racist history of U.S. immigration policies.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talk about the conviction of R. Kelly that finally occurred after 30 years, the implementation of vaccine mandates in New York, the possible government shutdown, results of the German election, and the new wave of talks between the US and Russia.Guests:Cordell Woodland - Producer for Fault Lines | R. Kelly Human Trafficking Conviction Ted Rall - Political cartoonist and syndicated columnist | Fight Over Biden's Economic Agenda & NY Vaccine Deadline ExpiresMichelle Witte - Sputnik News analyst and host of Political Misfits | German ElectionsMark Sleboda - International relations and security analyst | 2nd Series of Talks Between US and RussiaIn the first hour Cordell Woodland joined the show to talk about the utter failure of the music industry and legal system to allow R. Kelly to go unpunished for so long. This comes as R. Kelly finally gets convicted of Human Trafficking. In the second hour Fault Lines was joined by Ted Rall for a discussion on the actual implementation of vaccine mandates in America and specifically New York. Ted also talked about the pending government shutdown and what Democrats can do to prevent this. Michelle Witte also joined the conversation to talk about the results of the German election.In the third hour Mark Sleboda joined the conversation to talk about the next round of stability talks between the United States of America and Russia. It is expected that a public announcement gets made on space weapon programs.

Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss the political fallout in Germany after the SPD secured victory in the federal election and upcoming task of building a coalition, as well as plans by Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel to allegedly kidnap or kill Julian Assange while he was living at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.Chris Smalls, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, joins us in a discussion of Amazon's continuing worker suppression and the efforts to fight back, with the National Labor Relations Board set hold a hearing on September 28 to review charges that Amazon illegally retaliated against two of its most outspoken internal critics, and the chilling effects of Amazon's practices on labor organizing.Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, tells us about the New York governor declaring a ‘disaster emergency' amid a staffing shortage crisis prompted by vaccine resisters, what could be done to overcome these challenges, Pfizer beginning a late-stage trial of its potential COVID-19 pill as a preventive treatment, and how this could work in conjunction with vaccines.Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, and Nick Cruse, Cofounder of Fred Hampton Leftists and citizen journalist focusing on state violence, the class war, and foreign policy, join us to talk about a New York Times story citing a spike in murders throughout 2020 to make the argument that what the country needs is more police, and the redesign of Monument Avenue in Richmond after the Robert E. Lee statue was taken down.Dr. Robert Epstein, author, editor, longtime psychology researcher and professor, former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today, and current Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, joins us to talk about YouTube announcing new restrictions on what is considered “advancing false claims” related to the German elections and how these tech giants could pose a threat to press freedom, and Facebook pausing development of an Instagram Kids service that would be tailored for children 13 years old or younger.

Marjorie Cohn, professor of law at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, joins us to discuss Afghanistan. Professor Cohn has written an extensive article in which she posits that the exit of troops from Afghanistan is not an end to the conflict. She argues that the Biden administration will continue the violence using illegal drone warfare.Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss Pentagon spending. Corruption in Congress glares as investigative reporters have determined that many of the House members who strongly support increased Pentagon spending are receiving large donations from weapons manufacturers. Also, is the Democratic party hamstrung by its right-wing or are they used as foils to intentionally kill progressive legislation?George Koo, journalist, social activist, international business consultant, and chemical engineer, joins us to discuss China. As the Chinese real estate giant Evergrande faces fiscal challenges, the Chinese government looks at the US using housing as a speculatory vehicle for profit and decides to move in a different direction. We discuss economist Michael Hudson's interview on this subject.Margaret Flowers, pediatrician, health reform activist, and co-director at Popular Resistance, joins us to discuss the murder rate increase. The US pandemic disaster has also precipitated a dramatic increase in crime. The homeland of the US empire is experiencing a nearly 30 percent increase in violent crime.Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the two fiscal bills in the US Congress. There appears to be a pitched partisan congressional battle over the two major fiscal bills in Congress. However, Dr. Rasmus argues that the fiscal battle in Congress is really between the corporate wing of the Democrats and the wing that sees the passage of both bills in their current form as necessary to ensure a sustained economic recovery.Nino Pagliccia, activist and writer, joins us to discuss the Global South. The US Empire puppets of the Juan Guaido's "Popular Will" party have plundered hundreds of millions of dollars in Venezuela's foreign assets. This discussion is happening in light of the US client state Colombia's announcement that they will steal Venezuela's PDVSA assets in their nation.Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits, joins us to discuss German elections. Michelle joins us from Germany, where she is covering the results of the German elections. There is much wrangling over the Nord Stream 2 project, as anti-Russia forces move to block it, but fuel prices are skyrocketing. Will the government act to smite the Russians even though the business and working people will suffer?Ajamu Baraka, 2016 US vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, joins us to discuss the US empire. Our guest joins us to discuss the possible decline of the US empire. As other world powers such as Russia and China are rising, the US still maintains significant economic and military horsepower. However, the ballooning debt and internal divisiveness may point to a precipitous decrease in US hegemonic aspiration.

Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the results of the federal elections in Germany, where the Social Democrats won a narrow victory, paving the way for a center-left coalition. We talk about what this coalition building effort may look like, who will become kingmaker, and how the right-wing Alternative for Germany Party lost seats, but still came ahead of the leftist party Die Linke. We also talk about how the Greens have lost influence, and what lies ahead for the party. John Kiriakou, co host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about how CIA officials during the Trump administration had contemplated either abducting or even assassinating Julian Assange, with Mike Pompeo publicly describing Wikileaks in 2017 as a “non-state hostile intelligence service.” We talk about some of the proposals that, at times, took an outlandish quality, and whether they would have been able to pull any of these off. Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and the CEO and Founder of KCG Consulting Services, joins us to talk about the Minnesota Supreme Court throwing out the third-degree murder conviction of a former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot a woman who had called 911 to report a possible rape behind her home, whether this ruling could give former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin grounds to appeal his own third-degree murder conviction, and the legal tools to hold police accountable Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to talk about the ongoing fight over President Biden's $3.5 trillion infrastructure deal, how it has become a do-or-die fight that now includes the threat of a government closure if the debt ceiling is not expanded by September 30th. We also talk about how Biden, despite presenting himself as the great uniter of both the Democrats and Republicans, is now struggling to unite his own party, and how some profitable corporations may still pay no taxes under a Democratic proposal.

John Kiriakou, journalist, author and host of The Back Story, joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Numerous reports are surfacing about Mike Pompeo's fury towards Julian Assange and his apparent disregard for the law. According to CIA sources, the Mike Pompeo-led CIA considered kidnapping and murdering Julian Assange, and seemed unconcerned about overt violations of law.Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits, joins us to discuss German election results. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party lost to the Social Democrats in a German electoral close call. The leader of the Social Democrats has stated that a strong EU is his main priority. David Schultz, author and professor of political science and law at Hamline University, joins us to discuss US legal issues. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has filed an appeal arguing that his conviction was invalid due to many issues. Also, the conservative US Supreme Court is facing great scrutiny as divisive issues, such as gun rights and abortion, hit the docket for 2022.K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. Huawei executive Weng Manzhou has been released from Canada and received a hero's welcome in Beijing upon her arrival. China is spinning this as a victory, and the US seems to be on radio silence about the issue. China also released a pair of Canadian businessmen, apparently as part of the agreement for dropping the charges against her.Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he intends to take Israel to the International Criminal Court for illegal settlements. His move is a result of the one-year deadline that he presented in 2020 for Israel to abandon Jerusalem settlements and retreat to the 1967 borders.Obi Egbuna, activist, and US Rep for The Zimbabwean Newspapers, joins us to discuss Africa. The US empire has a long-running sanctions program in Africa including more countries than any other continent. International observers are calling for the empire to remove its African sanctions, beginning with Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe sanctions have been ongoing for 20 years.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss Syria. A recent count of casualties in Syria shows that a minimum of 350,000 persons have been killed since the US Empire and its allies attacked the country. Also, Russian airstrikes hit a rebel base near Afrin as Russian and Turkish leaders prepare to meet.Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss Nicaragua. Warhawks and imperialists in Congress are preparing another round of economic attacks on Nicaragua as the small Latin nation prepares for its elections. The US hawks refuse to allow political independence in the Global South, and this move comes as the leaders of these nations work to start a new group and overcome the constant attacks by the OAS and other US tools of regime change.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talk about Facebook's public move to censor their platform, the kidnapping and assassination plot against Julian Assange, and though the technical execution of Assange did not occur, the world is watching him suffer a slow death.Guests:Peter Coffin - Video essayist, YouTuber, podcaster and author | Facebook Goes To War To Defend It's ImageJohn Kiriakou - Former CIA Officer, and host of The Backstory | Kidnapping & Assassination Against Assange While In EmbassyMichelle Witte - Sputnik News analyst and host of Political Misfits | German Election ResultsMisty Winston - Political activist, organizer, and podcast host | The Plot To Murder AssangeIn the first hour Peter Coffin joined the show to talk about Facebook's push to both add a form of censorship and distance Mark Zuckerberg from scandals. Peter points out that there is a lot of opportunity for abuse in this new model, but how this manifests remains to be determined.In the second hour Fault Lines was joined by John Kirakou for a discussion on a groundbreaking report that documented the idea by the White House to assassinate Julian Assange. Michelle Witte also joined the show to talk about the results of the German election.In the third hour Misty Winston joined the conversation to talk about why the CIA wanted Julian Assange out of the way and WikiLeaks to be terminated permanently. Although this assassination did not take place, the world is watching a slow form execution of Assange right now.

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits here on Radio Sputnik, which you can hear from 12 to 2 PM EST to discuss the political outlook in Germany after its closely contested parliamentary elections, what the change in leadership might mean for European politics and Germany's relationship with the US, and the complex contours of the German political and social landscape.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Erica Caines, founder of Liberation Through Reading and Editor of Hood Communist Blog to discuss the slight of hand that the Department of Justice's new policing policies represent, how these policies ignore the roots of policing as protection of property and settler colonialism, and how the popular calls to defund the police continue to be ignored.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Ollie Vargas, writer and journalist with Radio Kawsachun Coca to discuss Latin America's new challenge to the Monroe Doctrine and the OAS via the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the historical and contemporary context of American actions toward Latin America, and how this organization amounts to a reassertion of Latin American sovereignty. Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Ted Rall, award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist, and author of the new graphic novel, "The Stringer," to discuss missing white woman syndrome and its connection to media coverage of the disappearance of Gabby Petito, the abuse of immigrants at the Del Rio bridge and how the media coverage of that situation contrasts with that of the disappearance of Petito, upcoming congressional hearings about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and growing disillusionment with the two-party system and the American political system at large.