Podcast appearances and mentions of patrick lawrence

When Emilio Hernandez and Patrick Lawrence started Occults, they had no intention of building a fanbase. The two best friends of nearly 25 years had a very simple goal — create music that they've loved as teens as an outlet during the global lockdowns at the start of the pandemic. Now, they are hitting the road and touring across the country with a stop in St. Louis — their hometown and where their friendship began.

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS!We are excited to bring an exciting and insightful two-part series on The Hangar Z Podcast as we explore the with Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence and Sergeant Nick Olivo.Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence is a distinguished aviation professional with a rich background in both military and civilian aviation. Lt. Lawrence holds a bachelor of science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has completed prestigious leadership programs with the Michigan State Police.His military career boasts accolades such as the Master Army Aviator Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal, among others. With extensive training and flight certifications including airline transport helicopter pilot and certified flight instructor, Patrick's expertise and commitment to aviation excellence shine through in every aspect of his career.Sergeant Nick Olivo is a seasoned law enforcement professional whose career spans multiple departments and roles. Since joining the Michigan State Police in 2013, Sgt. Olivo has made significant contributions as a trooper, tactical flight officer, and pilot.His journey from having zero flight experience to becoming a skilled rotary-wing pilot and unit safety officer is nothing short of remarkable.Prior to his time with the Michigan State Police, Sgt. Olivo served with the Saginaw Police Department as a major case detective and field training officer and started his career at the Flint Police Department.His dedication to the role of tactical flight officer and his passion for developing top-notch candidates are central to his approach in airborne law enforcement.Join us for these compelling episodes as we explore Michigan State Police Aviation with Lt. Patrick and Sgt. Nick Olivo. Their stories highlight the dedication, challenges, and triumphs of public safety aviation.Thank you to our sponsors Spectrum Aeromed, Robinson Helicopters, and Astronautics Corporation of America.

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS!We are excited to bring an exciting and insightful two-part series on The Hangar Z Podcast as we explore the with Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence and Sergeant Nick Olivo.Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence is a distinguished aviation professional with a rich background in both military and civilian aviation. Lt. Lawrence holds a bachelor of science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has completed prestigious leadership programs with the Michigan State Police.His military career boasts accolades such as the Master Army Aviator Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal, among others. With extensive training and flight certifications including airline transport helicopter pilot and certified flight instructor, Patrick's expertise and commitment to aviation excellence shine through in every aspect of his career.Sergeant Nick Olivo is a seasoned law enforcement professional whose career spans multiple departments and roles. Since joining the Michigan State Police in 2013, Sgt. Olivo has made significant contributions as a trooper, tactical flight officer, and pilot.His journey from having zero flight experience to becoming a skilled rotary-wing pilot and unit safety officer is nothing short of remarkable.Prior to his time with the Michigan State Police, Sgt. Olivo served with the Saginaw Police Department as a major case detective and field training officer and started his career at the Flint Police Department.His dedication to the role of tactical flight officer and his passion for developing top-notch candidates are central to his approach in airborne law enforcement.Join us for these compelling episodes as we explore Michigan State Police Aviation with Lt. Patrick and Sgt. Nick Olivo. Their stories highlight the dedication, challenges, and triumphs of public safety aviation.Thank you to our sponsors Bell, Precision Aviation Group, and Spectrum Aeromed.

Stand Out linebacker at Miami Palmetto Patrick Lawrence joins Larry Bluestein talking about his new coaches this coming fall and so much more

Tonight on Cryptique:  Ryan and J sit down with J's old friend Patrick Lawrence.  Patrick is a Los Angeles based professional Film Editor originally from St. Louis, Missouri.  Since 2014, he's edited 16 Feature Films, including Scare Me (Shudder) and Clara's Ghost (MGM/Orion), both of which world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival!  He tells us all about editing movies, the Hollywood strike, the evolution of digital media and what's on the horizon.  He also tells us about his experience in the band Occults, their influences, and some editing tricks they've used in videos. Los Angeles-based OCCULTS is a Post-Punk/Shoegaze revival project formed by #1 Billboard recording artist, Emilio Hernandez and drummer, Patrick Lawrence. He also tells us about his paranormal experiences in the Lemp Mansion, and a scary story about a toddler who sees dead people!  His film website is https://www.ptrcklwrnce.com/ and the Occults website is https://occultsofficial.bandcamp.com  So please support his projects!!!!! Please take a moment to like, subscribe, follow and share, that moves the needle for us! Definitely check out our YouTube channel @cryptiquepodcast for the video version of the show with slides and videos of what we're talking about. Let us know about your worst nightmares at cryptiquepodcast@gmail.com For a small one time donation, you can buy us a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/cryptiquepi Check out our slick designs on t shirts, hoodies, mugs, pint glasses, and stickers at cryptiquepodcaststore.com

In his new book, ¨Journalists and Their Shadows,¨ Patrick Lawrence describes his experience over decades as an editor and foreign correspondent of watching the media rise and fall in its ability to serve as a force to hold power accountable. Lawrence writes about the shadows, or authentic selves, that most journalists currently sacrifice in order to maintain employment in mainstream media outlets and the detrimental impact this has on public discourse. He also describes the antidote - an independent alternative media - and the current obstacles to creating a much-needed vibrant democratized media system. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.

Aaron and Bryce speak with Patrick Lawrence. A commentator, author, essayist, and lecturer, Patrick Lawrence has served as a correspondent and subsequently a columnist overseas for more than twenty years, chiefly for the International Herald Tribune and The New Yorker. He has won two Overseas Press Club Awards as well as other honors and prizes. His work has appeared in a wide variety of publications, including The Nation, The New York Times, Business Week, TIME, Salon, and CounterPunch. Lawrence currently writes at The Floutist on Substack and these columns are often carried by Consortium News and ScheerPost. Find Patrick's work here: The Floutist (Patrick Lawrence's Substack) Journalists and Their Shadows Special thanks to: Four Died Trying Dana Chavarria, production Casey Moore, graphics Michelle Boley, animated intro Mock Orange, music

History moves in many different directions at the same time. On this show author and independent journalist Patrick Lawrence explains how as we begin a new year there is optimism beneath the pessimism. The failure of our many imperial policies The post 2024: The Positive Breakdown of “Rules Based Order.” appeared first on Keeping Democracy Alive.

World class essayist and journalist Patrick Lawrence joins us to talk about his latest book, Journalists and Their Shadows. Check out: The Floutist (Patrick Lawrence's substack) Patrick Lawrence: Biden's Frankenstein The Banality of Propaganda Music: "Only in Dreams" by Mock Orange Special thanks to Dana Chavarria for producing the episode!

Chad Parsons and Jordan McNamara discuss 3 big things, discuss Justin Herbert's extension, Kadarius Toney's injury, and Javonte Williams-Breece Hall price spreads.  Plus, CMC, Jalen Hurts, Geno Smith, Patrick Lawrence, and Trevor Lawrence are in trades.Don't forget to check out our Patreon content where we do two more premium podcasts each week for Star Patrons.Follow Chad on Twitter: @chadparsonsNFLFollow Jordan on Twitter: @mcnamaradynastyYou can find our premium Patreon content here:  patreon.com/DynastyThinkTank

The recent accord between Saudi Arabia and Iran, facilitated by China, signifies a seismic shift in geopolitical dynamics. This was followed by a three-day summit between the presidents of China and Russia in Moscow where they signed agreements that deepen their cooperation. China has established itself as a force for creating peace and stability in the world, replacing the US as a power broker. Clearing the FOG speaks with Patrick Lawrence, a journalist and professor with expertise in Asia, about what good relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran mean for countries in the region that have been destabilized by the US, for Israel and for the US's military presence. Lawrence also discusses de-dollarization and why Russia and China are acting with urgency to create a global order that respects international law. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.

Are you wrestling with what you think might be God's Call for you to follow Him into Full-time Ministry? Do you know someone who has recently chosen to do so?  Then you will want to hear part 2 of this Star City Podcast as we talk with two Christians who left their careers as adults to follow Christ into Full-Time Ministry: Jay Dove and Patrick Lawrence. 

Are you wrestling with what you think might be God's Call for you to follow Him into Full-time Ministry? Do you know someone who has recently chosen to do so?  Then you will want to hear part 1 of this Star City Podcast as we talk with two Christians who left their careers as adults to follow Christ into Full-Time Ministry: Jay Dove and Patrick Lawrence. 

Do you think the idea of Holiness is only for super religious people like ministers and missionaries? Well today on Monday Matters, Patrick Lawrence and Bryan Smith discuss why “Holiness is Not an Option” for every Christian as they continue with their study of Jerry Bridges classic work, “The Pursuit of Holiness.”

Today we introduce Patrick Lawrence, our minister to Young Adults at First Roanoke. Together, Patrick and Pastor Bryan begin a multiple part study on "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges.

Reporters used to report, now there’s virtually no line between media and the national security state. Veteran international journalist Patrick Lawrence on this show notes the big change occurred 9/11; since then we have been subject to an information monoculture. The post The Collapse of Journalism and the Threat to Democracy appeared first on Keeping Democracy Alive.

Rich Myers Show Live Podcast

Patrick Lawrence, writer and executive editor of The Scrum, analyzes the roots of US foreign policy failures, how these are reflected in the current confrontation with Russia, which can be found the US establishment's weddedness to power and to an unwillingness to see the other's perspective.

The west's liberal world order has collapsed and the hegemony it sought to maintain and expand. The conflict in Ukraine is a proxy war, the real target is Russia and indirectly China. The law of unintended consequences is in play. In the end, it will be Europe that pays the highest price. CrossTalking with John Laughland, Patrick Lawrence, and Nebojsa Malic.

Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy," joins us to discuss US-German relations. President Biden revealed that he is in full control of Germany's economic policy when he declared that he has the power to shut down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University, joins us to discuss Asia. North Korea says they can shake the world with missiles that can strike the US. Also, China's Belt and Road Initiative will improve the Pakistan economy, according to some experts.Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss Iran. Senate Republicans vow to block the Iran deal if President Biden skips Congressional review. Also, the US is again saying that they believe a deal with the Islamic republic is in sight.Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink, joins us to discuss the Minsk agreement. Medea joins us to review her latest article in which she argues that the Minsk agreement is the key to resolving the Ukraine issue.Andrew Korybko, Moscow-based American journalist and analyst, joins us to discuss South Asia. Andrew argues that relations between Russia and India are countering the US empire's divide-and-rule ploy. Also, we discuss Russia's relations in South Asia, including Pakistan and India.National Director for Code Pink Ariel Gold joins us to discuss Israel. The Amnesty International report that named Israel as an apartheid state has sent shockwaves throughout the US empire and its Middle East protectorate states.Dr. Aisha Jumaan, founder and president of the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, joins us to discuss Yemen. The US military is joining the Saudi military in attacking the Ansarullah fighters in Yemen.Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss propaganda. Patrick Lawrence's latest Consortium News article examines the infamous Ned Price press conference debacle and argues that it is a sign that the wall of propaganda in the US empire is weakening.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss the NATO crisis on the Russian border. The Kremlin has explained why they made their security demands public. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained “We have made our initiative public, as explained by President Putin and the Foreign Ministry, because we are aware of the West's ability to obfuscate any uncomfortable issues for them.” Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss Syria. There is ample evidence that the US and UK provided material support for jihadist forces during their "dirty war" against the Syrian people. Also, Israel has increased attacks on Syria under the guise of attacking Iran-linked targets.Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Africa. The Ethiopian government was able to turn the tide against TPLF rebel forces using a combination of Turkish and Chinese drones. Also, we discuss the coup in Sudan and the AFRICOM and French connections.Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch and author of "Danger in Society: Against Vaccine Passports,” joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Jonathan Cook argues that the persecution of Julian Assange is a clear and intentional message to all independent journalists. Cook argues that the message is that they must remain silent to the war crimes of the US empire or face the same fate. Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss NATO's Waterloo. Patrick Lawrence has a brilliant article in Consortium News in which he reviews the situation on the Russian border. He argues that Europe is now the western end of Eurasia rather than the eastern shore of the Atlantic. Also, we talk about Ukraine as NATO's equivalent to Waterloo. Ajamu Baraka, 2016 US vice-presidential candidate for the Green Party, joins us to discuss the Global South. In a move of comedic farce, US puppet Juan Guaido has extended his interim government into 2022. The so-called interim government has been ongoing for two years and has only been used to pilfer money from international financial holdings of the Venezuelan government.Niko House, political activist, independent journalist, and podcaster, joins us to discuss domestic politics. The lack of accomplishment on either domestic or foreign policy seems to portend significant midterm losses for the Democratic Party.Martin Sieff, senior fellow at the American University in Moscow, joins us to discuss Ukraine's infestation with Nazis. Recently, only the US and Ukraine voted against a UN resolution condemning the Nazi ideology. Also, we review the Nazi volunteer battalions of the Ukraine military.

Enjoy this message from Pastor Bryan, Patrick Lawrence, Nelson Joway, and Anthony Talley as we dive into what the Messiah meant to so many people.

Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss the crisis in Eastern Europe. Russia is warning the US Empire that the situation in Ukraine is approaching a nightmare scenario. Also, the Russian Foreign Minister is stating that US medium-range missiles may soon be deployed in Europe, further destabilizing the situation.Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor, epidemiologist, veterinarian, and the daughter of former Nigerian President Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, joins us to discuss covid. The first case of the omicron variant has been documented in the United States. The case was found in a person who is fully vaccinated and the symptoms appear to be quite mild. The mild symptoms are consistent with the findings of the scientists in South Africa who first documented the variant.Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss the economy. Traditional neoliberal conservatives are arguing for austerity by blaming inflation on social spending. However, the issue of supply chain-related scarcity and other factors that would not support their case is being ignored. Dan Lazare, author, investigative journalist, and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss Russia-gate. Patrick Lawrence writes that Russia-gate has completely collapsed, but the insidious consequences of gaslighting the entire population of the West lives on. Lawrence argues that while Russia-gate is dead, the price we will pay for the intelligence operation is high, and we are destined to pay it for some time to come.John Burris, civil rights attorney, joins us to discuss the Supreme Court. Signals are coming out of the Supreme Court that it may be willing to uphold Mississippi's draconian abortion limits and effectively kill the Roe v. Wade decision. Meanwhile, calls mount for Congress to step in and address the issue.Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss President Biden's Summit for Democracy. Joe Biden's Summit for Democracy is revealed as an absurd caricature move to maintain US world hegemony as the planet rapidly exits the brief period of unipolarity. Carlos Castaneda, immigration lawyer, joins us to discuss immigration. President Biden's campaign promises to improve the situation at the border rings hollow as the dire situation for immigrants held in detention centers continues unabated.Teri Mattson, Latin American Coordinator for CodePink, joins us to discuss the Global South. Latin America has become the epicenter of the political-ideological struggle as nation after nation escapes the brutal grip of neoliberalism. Chile, Columbia, and Brazil are some of the last holdouts of the US empire's murderous Monroe Doctrine and observers expect upcoming elections to free them from the economic stranglehold of the US empire.

Shane Stranahan, co-host of Fault Lines, joins us to discuss US foreign policy. A recent study shows that the US and its allies are causing a worldwide decay of democracies through attacks on voting rights, judicial independence, and freedom of the press. According to the report, "36% of all democratic "backsliding" has happened in the U.S. and U.S.-aligned countries, including Turkey, Hungary, and Israel."Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch, joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Two unannounced inspections at Belmarsh Prison in London revealed that the embattled publisher is living in unbearable conditions. The inspections found that the deplorable conditions are not compatible with an inmate maintaining a reasonable state of mental health and that precautions to prevent self-harm are almost nonexistent.Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss the Pentagon budget. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has said that the US needs to get its priorities straight as he plans for a no vote on the latest military budget. Also, retired US Army Major Danny Sjursen argues that the US empire is pinching pennies for its citizens and opening the financial floodgates for the military-industrial complex.K.J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. President Xi Jinping has identified 3 basic principles and 4 priorities for the Asian world power. After he met with Biden, the Chinese leader made it clear that the US must turn his words of moderation into action. Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss the likelihood of the US joining in a military engagement to support the Neo-Nazi government of Ukraine and/or the island of Taiwan. Patrick Lawrence argues that the people of the US would not be willing to accept the losses involved in such acts of folly and that the US government is well aware of that reality.John Burris, civil rights attorney, joins us to discuss two major US court cases. The jury continues to deliberate on the Kyle Rittenhouse case, and the European Union is calling on Oklahoma to commute the execution of Julius Jones. A petition for the commutation of Jones's execution has garnered over 6 million signatures.James Carey, editor/co-owner at Geopoliticsalert.com, joins us to discuss Israel. In a move that some observers view as propaganda, Israeli security personnel are drilling for a potential "dirty bomb" attack ostensibly by Hezbollah. Also, Defense Minister Benny Gantz continues to ramp up hawkish rhetoric against Iran as he claims that Israel is ready to go to war with the Islamic Republic.Ricardo Vaz, political analyst and editor at VenezuelAnalysis.com, joins us to discuss Venezuela. The US State Department is again condemning the Venezuelan elections before they occur. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro lambasted the regime change neocons, stating that “It is shameful how the Department of State intends to interfere in the internal affairs of Venezuela.”

K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. President Joe Biden has reportedly advised the Japanese Prime Minister that the US is willing to go to war with China over the Senkakus Islands. Also, Taiwan's leader has been arguing that her nation is at the forefront of democracy worldwide and must therefore be protected from China.RT European correspondent Peter Oliver joins us to discuss gas prices in Europe. Gas prices in Europe have skyrocketed to the highest numbers in a decade, as political wrangling over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline dampens hope for immediate relief. The pipeline project is complete and the system is ready to transport badly needed fuel to European households.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. Democrats are working on the major spending bills, as indications from Capitol Hill spell major concessions from the left flank of the party. Also, President Biden is discussing the filibuster, and the discussion of minting a trillion-dollar coin has gained enough credibility for a mainstream discussion.Oscar Chacon, co-founder and executive director of Alianza Americas, joins us to discuss immigration. Immigrants and like-minded activists are gathering outside of the Brooklyn home of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to pressure him for action on a comprehensive immigration reform bill. In the absence of comprehensive legislation, activists want a path to citizenship added to the current spending bill.Ajamu Baraka, 2016 US vice-presidential candidate for the Green Party, joins us to discuss Africom. The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) has begun an "International Month of Action Against Africom." In their press release, the BAP explains that "The Black Alliance for Peace's International Month of Action Against AFRICOM aims to raise the public's awareness about the U.S. military's existence in Africa, and how the presence of U.S. forces exacerbates violence and instability throughout the continent."Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net & CounterPunch and the author of "Danger to Society: Against Vaccine Passports," joins us to discuss the John Durham investigation. The probe into the origins of the Russia-gate operation has revealed a tangled web of lies directly implicating the 2016 Clinton campaign. Is this investigation an honest inquiry or further insider dealings to cover the FBI's complicity in the project?Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss press freedom. Patrick Lawrence has a new article in consortiumnews.com in which he argues "in the failed corporate coverage of Steven Donziger and Julian Assange there is an imposition of darkness, ignorance inflicted on Americans with intent." Lawrence describes the way the news and information are controlled and corrupted in the US empire.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss Iran. The US State Department has spoken with China in an attempt to reduce their purchases of oil from Iran. US attempts at crushing the Iranian economy have been thwarted consistently by Russia and China. The acceptance of the Islamic Republic into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization appears to signal little or no future cooperation with US sanctions.

Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss the US empire. Patrick Lawrence has penned an excellent article in consortium news in which he revisits the cold war and explains how this one is similar. Lawrence writes "It is the U.S. that has assiduously sought to kindle Cold War II, just as it, and not the Soviet Union, was responsible for starting Cold War I."

Dr. Jemima Pierre, associate professor of Black studies and anthropology at the University of California, joins us to discuss the Haitian immigrant crisis. President Biden is struggling to find the right message regarding the Haitian immigrant crisis on the southern US border. Meanwhile, some Haitian officials are demanding a humanitarian moratorium on deporting the immigrants until the political crisis and earthquake response can be brought under control. Professor Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University and activist with Pivot to Peace, joins us to discuss China. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, the latest Raytheon employee to rise to the top of the military establishment in Washington, has said that his focus is on China and intends to see that considerably more money is spent to address his concerns. Observers and anti-war activists argue that this is merely another example of the war profiteering and corruption surrounding the US Empire's military machine. Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer joins us to discuss Biden's UN speech. In the shadow of a humiliating exit from Afghanistan, a murderous drone strike in Kabul, and a diplomatic row with Paris, President Joe Biden gave a speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday morning in New York. Biden reiterated US imperial rhetoric about leading the world against non-democratic nations.K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss AUKUS. Russian Security Council Chief Nikolai Patrushev argues that the new US, UK, and Australia alliance known as "AUKUS" is aimed directly at Russia and China. Also, North Korea is reacting to AUKUS with anger, and some analysts believe that the move will drive the small nuclear nation directly into the Chinese military and political orbit.Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss the Russian election. United Russia, the political party that is the political home of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has retained power in the latest election. The US empire and its vassal states are positing that the election is illegitimate and arguing that the Russian annexation of Crimea invalidates the results of the entire electoral process. Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss NATO expansion. In another dangerous expansion of NATO troops, the US Congress is moving to put more troops on the border of Russia. While some security analysts suspect that the move is for domestic purposes, the presence of US troops along with the constant regime change rhetoric coming out of US think tanks could be enough to spark a Russian response and create a disaster.Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss the US empire. Patrick Lawrence has penned an excellent article in Consortium News in which he revisits the Cold War and explains how this one is similar. Lawrence writes "It is the U.S. that has assiduously sought to kindle Cold War II, just as it, and not the Soviet Union, was responsible for starting Cold War I."Miko Peled, author and activist, joins us to discuss Israel. Miko Peled's latest Mintpress news article discusses the Israeli long-term move to change the foundational story of the Palestinian people in their homeland. Peled says that the narrative change has been an effective tool for Zionists to convince the world to forgive their horrendous crimes against the Palestinian populace.

Once a year, on International Overdose Awareness Day, organisations from all over Australia gather to remember, educate and prevent opiod-related deaths. Reporter Fae O'Toole tagged along this week and heard from CEO of First Steps, Patrick Lawrence.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam and Jay Mac welcome Patrick Lawrence and Emilio Hernadez of Post-Punk/Shoegaze duo Occults to talk about their new single, the origins of their band name and producing music remotely. Featuring the single "Physical" by Occults.

Jim Kavanaugh, writer at thepolemicist.net and Counter Punch, joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Amnesty International has again urged President Biden to drop the extradition request for Julian Assange and cease the "farcical prosecution" of the beleaguered publisher. Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, joins us to discuss Ukraine. In another dangerous and provocative maneuver, Ukrainian politicians are inviting the United States to station troops on the Russian border and install anti-aircraft and anti-missile batteries. Russia has signaled that it will take appropriate actions in the event that this request comes to fruition.Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. President Biden's budget "blueprint" moves forward from the Senate, as the Democrats signal that they will use the budget reconciliation process to pass the bill. GOP leaders have complained, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has reminded them that they used the same process to pass President Trump's signature corporate tax cut bill.James Carey, editor/co-owner at Geopoliticsalert.com, joins us to discuss Afghanistan. There are numerous reports that the US intelligence organizations are predicting that Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, will fall to the Taliban sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, the US has signaled that they are not prepared to recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan if they take power by force.Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss the rise of multilateralism. Patrick Lawrence has a brilliant new article in Consportiumnews.com in which he discusses changing dynamics in the international order. Lawrence posits that Russia and China have more or less openly given up all efforts to accommodate our fading empire. Kathy Kelly, American peace activist, joins us to discuss sanctions. Mnar Adley's mintpressnews.com article discusses the US empire's sanctions regime as a blatant breach of international law and a new form of economic warfare. This article is based on a video interview with journalist Rania Khalek in which she also argues that US imperialism is driving Lebanon's collapse.Niko House, political activist, independent journalist, and podcaster, joins us to discuss censorship. The Grayzone is reporting that Twitter is partnering with the Associated Press and Reuters, a CIA-linked media outlet to censor unwanted information on social media. A previous Grayzone article demonstrated that Reuters was working with the UK government on a clandestine information warfare program aimed at Russia.Teri Mattson, Latin America coordinator for Code Pink, joins us to discuss Brazil. A coalition of indigenous organizations have filed a legal brief at the Hague against right-wing Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Eloy Terena, the legal director of the "Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil" (APIB), released a statement that says "We believe that there are ongoing acts in Brazil that constitute crimes against humanity, genocide, and ecocide."

Whistleblower Daniel Hale, facing sentencing for his Espionage Act conviction, has written a letter explaining his actions.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist, author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss Daniel Hale. Drone Whistleblower Daniel Hale is scheduled to be sentenced for violating the Espionage Act. Hale wrote a letter to the judge explaining that his actions were taken as a result of his conscience. Also, we discuss the ongoing saga of CIA torture and abuse at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss China. Top US and Chinese diplomats held a discussion in China in which the Chinese Foreign Minister presented a list of demands including dropping sanctions. Also, the US and its allies are continuing to push the military envelope by sending more war machines and materials to the Asian sphere.Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Latin America. Evo Morales has argued that current US operations in Latin America are the equivalent of the infamous Operation Condor. Also, we discuss the pink tide in Latin America and the socialist alliance that is turning into an anti-imperialist bloc.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss Iraq. There is discord between the message that came from the meeting between President Biden and the Iraqi Prime Minister, as well as the Prime Minister's comments to various media outlets. We are told that the two leaders agreed on keeping US troops in Iraq, but the Prime Minister has told other outlets that the troops are not needed and should leave.Tunde Osazua, who is on the Africa Team of the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) and is the coordinator of BAP's The U.S. Out of Africa Network, joins us to discuss Africa. In light of the recent announcement that President Biden is resuming the bombing of impoverished nations in Africa such as Somalia, we discuss the real reasons behind these bombings and the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss Israel. Pro-Israel organization Zionist.org will be working with PayPal to monitor financial transactions in what they claim is a move to stop hate and antisemitism. Also, Patrick Lawrence argues that the Israeli pushback against Ben and Jerry's ice cream refusing to sell in the occupied territories is evidence that the BDS movement is increasing in its power.Jamarl Thomas, host of Faultlines on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss the January 6th Capital riot. The investigation of the incident has turned into another example of partisan bickering. We discuss the need for the investigation but the reality that we can no longer get an unbiased investigation.Jim Kavanaugh, writer at thepolemicist.net and Counter Punch and the author of "Over the Rainbow: Paths of Resistance after George Floyd," joins us to discuss Big Tech. RT is reporting that "Edward Snowden has urged the dismantling of this ‘Insecurity Industry' by banning trade in intrusive software and penalizing enablers." Snowden goes on to say that “The phone in your hand exists in a state of perpetual insecurity, open to infection by anyone willing to put money in the hand of this new Insecurity Industry.”

President Biden has abandoned his campaign promise to end the Yemen conflict and is doubling down on backing Saudi Arabia and arming terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).Nino Pagliccia, activist and writer, joins us to discuss Cuba. Investigative reporters have uncovered a mysterious social media operation that is directly related to the unrest in Cuba. Right-wing operators in South America are said to have used bots, algorithms, and accounts recently created to amplify messages issued by the directors of the illicit campaign. Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss President Biden's latest economic package. Congressional Democrats are preparing a $3.5 trillion reconciliation spending package that includes both safety net and infrastructure measures. The bill is said to be financed with tax increases on the wealthy and corporations. Kathy Kelly, American peace activist, joins us to discuss Yemen. President Biden has abandoned his campaign promise to end the Yemen conflict and is doubling down on backing Saudi Arabia and arming terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). His efforts seem to be failing, as the Houthis are regaining territory recently taken by the Saudi coalition.Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief at theduran.com and host of "The Alexander Mercouris Show" on YouTube, joins us to discuss Russia. As per their discussion at the Geneva summit, Presidents Putin and Biden seem to have agreed on a foundation to begin working on a joint cyberwarfare agreement of some kind. Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that President Biden is threatening President Putin with massive retaliation for attacks that the US intelligence agencies have argued are coming from inside of Russia.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss climate legislation. A recent expose by the investigative journalism arm of Greenpeace is sparking cries for action, as fossil fuel lobbyists are recorded discussing their plans to fight climate change legislation. The lobbyists brag about speaking with Senator Joe Manchin's (D-WV) office weekly, and argue that they are looking out for their shareholders.Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss the apparent propaganda war that is being waged against citizens of Western nations by their own elected leadership and corporate media. Alex Rubenstein tells of a media offer he received that was rescinded when he crossed the line on corporate censorship. Also, Patrick Lawrence has penned an excellent article in which he discusses a myriad of examples of media misinformation and just plain falsehoods.Tunde Osazua, coordinator of the Black Alliance for Peace Out of Africa Network, joins us to discuss Africa. Our guest comes on to discuss the new “Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Program Act of 2021” legislation, which passed with bipartisan support. As many agree that a change of US policy is desperately needed in Africa, many observers see this legislation as nothing more than a change of sentiment. Gary Flowers, radio talk show host and public policy analyst, joins us to discuss activist, author, and intellectual professor Cornel West, who has left Harvard University and penned an explosive letter in which he blasts the elite vine-covered university on a number of fronts. West cites "spiritual rot" and "deference to Palestinian preferences" being at the heart of his issues with the iconic institution.

Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss NATO. US troops are stationed a few miles from the Belarus border, causing many to fear that a mishap could start another world war. Also, NATO is arguing that Russia is the greatest menace to world peace as they plan a coalition to confront China. K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. In another sign of dangerous escalation, the Pentagon is seeking less bombs and more long range missiles in the 2022 budget for a potential extinction-level war against China. Also, a John Walsh article in Counterpunch examines the actual issues between the US and China, and comes to the conclusion that the true issue is that the US desires world dominance, and that China's economic expansion conflicts with US aims of imperial hegemony. Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss Syria. Kovalik recently returned from a fact-finding and election-observation mission in Syria. He reviews his latest article arguing that the Syrian's election and desire for peace and rebuilding must be respected. Also, NATO is stunned at the success that Syria has enjoyed in stopping their worldwide regime change machine. Does this signal the fall of a weak and impotent empire?Jonathan Kuttab, human rights lawyer, joins us to talk about Israel. In a sign of friction between Israel and its imperial sponsor, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that Israel may be ready to attack Iran even if it risks damaging his nation's relationship with the US. William Astore (pronounced uh-story), retired lieutenant colonel (USAF), and a senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, joins us to discuss the US empire. Patrick Lawrence has an article at Mintpress News in which he discusses the horror of a nuclear armed hegemonic empire that has lost his way. Lawrence maintains that an unbiased examination of US foreign policy reveals that there is no aim or direction, and he fears that this could result in a disastrous unintended military confrontationJames Carey, editor/co-owner at Geopoliticsalert.com joins us to discuss Afghanistan. In a sign that the US may be serious about exiting the decades-long occupation, the Air Force is handing over the huge Bagram air base to the Afghan government. Also, there are a number of US backed militias and we discuss the fate of those groups, who may be viewed as traitors, after the US exit.Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss Iran. In what many international observers are interpreting as a show of determination and independence, the Iranian navy is reportedly sending two warships to Venezuela. The US is deeply concerned and a standoff may be in the offing. Also, Iran and Russia have made it clear that they are working together on military and technical cooperation.Carlos Castaneda, immigration lawyer, joins us to discuss immigration. The Biden administration has announced that they intend to end the Trump administration's "migrant protection protocols" also known as the "remain in Mexico" rules. Judy Rabinovitz, the lead ACLU attorney for the case stated that "the administration must follow through on this announcement by ensuring that everyone who has been subjected to this policy can now pursue their asylum cases in the United States, in safety and without additional trauma or delay."

Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss Representative Maxine Waters' statements on the Derek Chauvin trial. Representative Waters recently made several statements regarding the potential outcome of the trial. The presiding judge in the trial has stated that her apparent call to action could be interpreted by the defense in a manner that could trigger an appeal. Also, as Representative Waters is a named plaintiff in a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump regarding the controversial January 6th event at the Capitol, law professor Jonathan Turley argues that it could also affect that case.KJ Noh, peace activist, writer and teacher, joins us to discuss US foreign policy towards China and Russia. A US House of Representatives bill condemning China for actions taken regarding Hong Kong passed by the near-unanimous vote of 418-1. Opponents argue that this is simply a manifestation of the hegemonic American exceptionalist attitude on Capitol Hill. Also, China is learning from the US and EU's methods of besieging the Russian Federation. Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss Iran. Iran has made its demands clear from the beginning of the negotiations to reinstate the nuclear agreement. The Biden administration is working to change and adjust the agreement, but failure to meet Iran's clear and legally defensible demands will certainly doom any chances for a successful resolution.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of America's Undeclared War, joins us to discuss the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. Both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas have made assertive statements indicating that they intend to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Maas stated that "I am skeptical that halting the Nord Stream 2 project would lead to a de-escalation by Moscow -- in fact, it could have the opposite effect."Danny Sjursen, retired US Army Major and author of "Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War," joins us to discuss his latest article, "America's Intel Vampires Can't See Themselves in the Mirror: DNI's Hypocritical and Self-Awareness-Absent Annual Threat Assessment." Sjursen reviews the latest DNI threat assessment and argues that it is simply one of many "vacuously vague bureaucratic reports peddling in platitudes."Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss war profiteering and Biden foreign policy. Former Raytheon board member and current US Defense Secretary Loyd Austin has already directed $2.6 billion dollars to his former company. Also, the Biden administration's incoherent foreign policy is creating potential disasters in every corner of the globe. Julie Varughese, solidarity network coordinator for the Black Alliance Committee for Peace, joins us to discuss Afghanistan. An article in Consortium News by Patrick Lawrence reviews the claims that the Biden team is leaving Afghanistan against current and historical data that argues otherwise. Lawrence says that no US politician dares to challenge the administration's policy and that "Exceptionalism and universalism are the third rails in the U.S.: any public figure who questions either will suffer a kind of political electrocution."Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri- Kansas City, joins us to discuss domestic policy. Recent studies show that the US could house all homeless persons for approximately $10 billion dollars per year, or roughly the cost of one aircraft carrier. Dr. Tauheed discusses the need to address structural economic problems versus wasting money on the US war machine.

Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss the latest Minneapolis police shooting. The issue of racism in America is exacerbated by the refusal of the nation to recognize and confront its history of colonialism and the related racist practices necessary to carry out colonialists' oppression. Also, the officer who shot Daunte Wright is claiming that she mistook her gun for a taser. Is this a plausible excuse?KJ Noh, peace activist, writer and teacher, joins us to discuss US foreign policy. Bombastic Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pushing the limits of international diplomacy as he proposes US domination over both Taiwan and Crimea. Patrick Buchanan writes that his actions are irresponsible because he refuses to recognize the strategic interests of the world's other great powers.Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss Iran. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has slammed the latest Iran sanctions by the EU. The sanctions were levied at the most inopportune and inappropriate time, as the EU facilitates discussion over the nuclear deal claiming to be an unbiased actor. Also, Scott Ritter's latest article posits that Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear program are sabotaging world peace.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss US sanctions on Syria. Patrick Lawrence argues that all questions about Joe Biden's Syria policies have been answered. He goes on to say that Biden's policies are unconscionable, and could prove far worse than anything the Trump administration came up with. He also discusses Biden's support for savage jihadis in his bloodthirsty quest for regime change.Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss the economy. The issue of evictions has been postponed repeatedly, as eviction moratoriums are a substitute for addressing the problem. Meanwhile, many families are getting evicted as they slip through the cracks of eviction moratorium legislation. Also, we discuss the absurdity of increasing the defense budget during a pandemic-induced economic depression. Professor Danny Shaw, author, activist and professor of Latin American studies, joins us to discuss the ongoing war on poor and indigenous people in the Global South. The Biden administration continues to support the illegitimate dictator Jovenel Moise in Haiti, and continues the centuries-long policy of oppressing and dominating the people of the island nation. Also, the Biden administration seems to be behind the ongoing firefights along the Venezuelan border, as the US President seems poised to push harder for regime change in the oil-rich nation.Miko Peled, author and activist, joins us to discuss Israel. The Biden administration has announced that they are only going to restore less than half of the funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) support of the Palestinians. The fund decrease means that fewer people will qualify for food and other aid, increasing hunger and suffering amongst the occupied peoples of Palestine. Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss the Fukushima nuclear disaster. China and several other Asian nations are protesting Japan's design to dump millions of gallons of radioactive water into the oceans. Those protesting argue that the move will cause centuries of damage to the ocean and the lives of humans living off its bounty.

EPISODE 7 - Good news: the movie is all shot! Bad news: there’s no money to edit it. And with Josh having cashed in his 401K, Scare Me is in danger of dying in post-production limbo. Meet editor Patrick Lawrence in his Ghostbusters-laden den, learn the importance of audio with sound designers/mixers John Moros and Ian Stynes of Great City Post, and hear composer Chris Maxwell try to one-up the greats. Plus, it’s time for the first test screenings and ooooh boy do people have opinions! Join host Aaron Kheifets as he leads you through post-production and beyond on Episode 7 of MAKE COOL SHIT. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/makecoolshit/support

Welcome to the IndependentLeft.News Daily Headlines podcast for Saturday, February 6th, 2021. Early Edition - https://independentleft.news/?edition_id=5f9756d0-6878-11eb-8105-002590a5ba2d&utm_source=anchor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=top-headlines-podcast&utm_content=ILN-Anchor-top-headlines-podcast-early-ed-02-06 Top Headlines: ❤️ YouTube Financially Deplatforms Swath Of Indie Media Accounts - Caitlin Johnstone ❤️ 'Downright Scary': In 2021 Alone, GOP Introduces 100+ Voter Suppression Bills in 28 States - Kenny Stancil, CommonDreams ❤️ Podcast: Liberal Wonks Are Trying To Blow It, Explained w/ Thomas Frank - David Sirota, The Daily Poster ❤️ “Sanctions and drift.” - Marshall Auerback, James W. Carden & Patrick Lawrence, The Scrum ❤️ Chicago educators organize independent opposition to teacher union's plans to reopen schools - Evan Blake, WSWS Top Videos: ❤️ Democrats Push $15 Min Wage to 2025 (15:46) - Richard Medhurst ❤️ Government Secrets With Lee Camp Ep 28 2/5/21 (1:41:13) - Graham Elwood ❤️ Lou Dobbs FIRED by Fox Business after being SUED for $2.7 Billion (3:58) - The Christo Aivalis Show ❤️ The Emergence of FinTech and the War on Cash with Brett Scott (51:14) - Real Progressives ❤️ Biden Prayer Breakfast Shows Bible-Thumping Is Bipartisan w/ Lady Bunny & Leslie Lee III (9:08) - The Katie Halper Show Evening Edition - https://independentleft.news/?edition_id=f6489da0-68dc-11eb-8105-002590a5ba2d&utm_source=anchor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=top-headlines-podcast&utm_content=ILN-Anchor-top-headlines-podcast-evening-ed-02-06 Top Headlines: ❤️ Chicago teachers poised to strike as mayor threatens another lockout - Kristina Betinis, WSWS ❤️ Philanthropy: Tool of the Capitalist System - Ezra Brain, Left Voice ❤️ Opinion | 65 Billion Reasons the Senate Can Pass a $15 Minimum Wage by Reconciliation - Michael Reich, Morning Consult via CommonDreams ❤️ January jobs report shows ongoing economic disaster as US Senate strips minimum wage increase from the relief bill - Shannon Jones, WSWS ❤️ Nevada Wants to Let Tech Companies Form Their Own Governments - Matt Novak, Gizmodo Top Videos: ❤️ Amazon Whistleblower: We Were Told to Lie on COVID Questionnaire (15:48) - Tina-Desiree Berg, Status Coup News ❤️ YouTube Censors Journalist's Insurrection Documentary Footage (5:57) - Kyle Kulinski ❤️ Is Rokfin the Best Alternative for Independent Media? w/ Niko House (49:38) - Franc Analysis ❤️ Let's talk about Biden's foreign policy signals.... (5:26) - Beau of the Fifth Column ❤️ Dems Move To Legalize Weed Nation Wide! (5:41) - Kyle Kulinski If you like this podcast, please help us grow by subscribing & giving us a 5-star review on your favorite podcasting platform.

Veteran Asia correspondent Patrick Lawrence tells James that America's leaders are concerned that China's success could undermine popular support for the worldwide U.S. empire.

I’m very pleased to welcome Patrick Lawrence back to Wider View.  Patrick was a correspondent abroad for many years, chiefly for the International Herald Tribune, and is currently a columnist, essayist, author, and lecturer. His most recent book is Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century.  Patrick's recent essays can be found at https://consortiumnews.com/tag/patrick-lawrence/ Patrick and I have a wide-ranging conversation mostly about US foreign policy and the contrast, or lack thereof, between the outgoing Trump Administration and the incoming Biden presidency.

3:10pm-Dave Aranda Sound Bites on...*How is his locker room and have they avoided any finger-pointing?*How can those on current roster who went through coaching transition help right now?*Addresses the alleged "death threats" his sister posted on social media on Saturday night.3:48pm-Kevin Hoffman, Mart Football Coach3:54pm-Greg Jacobs, Crawford Football Coach4:00pm-Patrick Lawrence, Former Baylor Offensive Lineman4:20pm-Triston Abron, Mexia Football Coach4:30pm-Baylor Women's Basketball Media Session (2-3 Audio Clips)4:45pm-Central Texas H.S. Football "Players of the Week"4:52pm-Craig Smoak's H.S. Football Q&A5:00pm-Phil Bennett, Former Baylor Defensive Coordinator5:30pm-Jordan Williams, Former Baylor Linebacker

Former @BUFootball Offensive Lineman @P_Lawrence77 joins @SicEm365Radio to discuss his time at #Baylor and give his thoughts on the current team

On this episode of The Grapevine, what does Australia's growing economic ties with Asia mean for the US alliance? Dylan and Kulja get on the line with US writer and journalist Patrick Lawrence to discuss Australia's future in Pacific region that he explores in his essay for Australian Foreign Affairs ‘Goodbye America - the remaking of Asia'.Then, as former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's petition for a royal commission into the Murdoch media monopoly gains hundreds of thousands of Australian signatures, Tim Dunlop explains the idea that the Australian media is ‘anti-audience' which he explores in his essay for Meanjin Quarterly 'Journalism Saves Democracy. That's Us'.And renewable energy expert Ketan Joshi calls in to talk about his new book ‘Windfall: unlocking a fossil-free future'. Joshi discusses how a decade of misinformation surrounding renewables has stalled effective climate policy in Australia, and what can be done going forward to break free from fossil fuel dependency.

DK hosts a VERY ORIGINAL audio podcast looking at current arts and entertainment, with a focus that changes each year.This year's focus is movies! Film! CINEMA! New episodes drop once a month.For the very ninth episode, DK interviews Patrick Lawrence, editor of the recently released Shudder original film, SCARE ME. DK and Patrick have a deep dive chat about his journey, whether or not "Nightmare Before Christmas" is a Halloween or Christmas movie, and the pandemic's effect on the industry. DK also finally watched Faith Based, and talks about it as well as the other movies he watched this month in a VERY SPOOKY VERY ORIGINAL POODCAST PODCAST EPISODE!

Even after Russiagate was debunked as a hoax, this conspiracy theory lives on. In fact, it appears to have become part and parcel of our political discourse. If you oppose someone or an idea, all you have to do is blame Putin and Russia. No facts necessary – slurs and baseless claims now suffice. CrossTalking with Patrick Lawrence and Daniel McAdams.

Thursday's debate saw US President Donald Trump try to portray Democratic challenger Joe Biden as a scandal-riddled, inadequate career politician, while Biden took aim at Trump's immigration policies and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.For our first segment, co-hosts Dr. Wilmer Leon and Garland Nixon discuss Thursday evening's presidential debate, the US embassy in Turkey warning American citizens about potential terror attacks targeting them in Istanbul and whether the Hunter Biden story is Russian disinformation. They also weigh in on Patrick Lawrence's story in Consortium News about the damage Russiagate has done, as well as this week's news about an alleged plan by a 19-year-old to assassinate Joe Biden. Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and pediatric obesity expert, reports on the latest developments in coronavirus news. "The daily number of COVID-19 cases reported in the US rose to its highest level since July, as data show cases spreading across communities in every region of the country," the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. "The US reported 71,671 cases on Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University — the most in a single day since July 24, when it hit 73,107, and the third-highest single-day total overall." Dr. Jack Rasmus, author and professor in the Economics and Politics departments at St. Mary's College of California, joins us to discuss Thursday night's debate and where the candidates stand on the economy. He also talks about the Republicans being angry that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin appears to be giving ground to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in search of a stimulus deal. For our first Friday panel, Dr. Emmitt Riley, political scientist, author and assistant professor of Africana studies at DePauw University, joins us, along with American columnist, political cartoonist and author Ted Rall. They talk about the Trump-Biden debate and conclude with the story about the alleged Biden assassination plot. According to a judge's order signed earlier this month, "A timeline of internet searches conducted by the Defendant between March and May 2020 show the young man seeking information about Vice President Joe Biden's home address, state gun laws, rifle parts, and night vision goggles." The order also claims that the defendant posted a meme online about killing Biden, purchased an AR-15 in New Hampshire, traveled to a Wendy's within 4 miles of Biden's home and wrote a checklist note ending with the words "execute."For our final panel, we are joined by Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents"; and Danny Haiphong, author and contributor to Black Agenda Report. Their discussion topics include the presidential debate and Biden's potential picks for his Cabinet, which his team says will consist of those with experience, instead of focusing on political preferences. Former Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE), one of Biden's advisors and his Senate successor, is quoted by Politico as saying, "I think this is about getting seasoned people that are qualified to do the job. We need people with experience, people that are smart as hell and people that reflect America."

The biggest story of the American election is being censored by the media and Big Tech.  Veteran journalist Patrick Lawrence writes that the scandal contained inside Hunter Biden’s abandoned laptop is now eclipsed by the efforts of America’s elites to keep it hidden from voters. And as usual, all of it ties back to Russiagate – the scandal that never was.  

The European nations don’t need enemies like the US does. Since geography is destiny, they see a bizarre American President and have their own economic interests beyond dependence on weapons systems. On this show international journalist Patrick Lawrence describes what The post Europe Going Its Own Way: Good for America Too? appeared first on Keeping Democracy Alive.

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by by Tina Landis, organizer and author of the new book, ‘Climate Solutions: Beyond Capitalism,' to talk about the catastrophic fires sweeping through California and why controlling an increasingly-volatile global climate requires a fundamental shift away from individualism and towards collective, socialist solutions.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Patrick Lawrence, a columnist, essayist, lecturer and author of "Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century," to talk about his new article in Consortium News, "Huawei, Tik Tok, WeChat & Other Handy Targets," and why the ruling class' willingness to effectively seize their more successful foreign competitors should worry us all.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Nate Wallace, co-host of Red Spin Sports podcast, for the latest edition of the new weekly segment “The Red Spin Report,” to talk about the latest in the chaotic College Football coronavirus response and why the sport's most pronounced institutional failures closely parallel those of capitalism in general. Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Max Blumenthal, Editor of The Grayzone, Co-host of the Moderate Rebels podcast, author of "The Management of Savagery," to talk about the newly-formed group of "Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden," the intensifying (and frequently US government-sponsored) attacks on successful alternative media outlets like The Grayzone, and the response to his recent article showing renowned Hong Kong expert "Kong Tsung-Gan" is actually white, American-born Brian Kern in yellowface.

“A sprawling report released Tuesday by a Republican-controlled Senate panel that spent three years investigating Russia's 2016 election interference laid out an extensive web of contacts between Trump campaign advisers and Russian government officials and other Russians, including some with ties to the country's intelligence services,” the Times reported. Are the accusations accurate?The Democrats kicked off their virtual nominating convention on Monday night. The evening was long on denunciations of US President Donald Trump and short on policy initiatives. What are we to make of this?"The global chip and smartphone industries are bracing for serious disruption after the United States launched tougher sanctions against Huawei that some say could mean 'death' for the company," the Financial Times reported Tuesday. What's going on here?We've been discussing the election in Belarus for the past week or so. On Tuesday, the Financial Times and other sources reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed the Belarusian election over the phone. Merkel's office said in a statement that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko should initiate a dialogue with the opposition. Is this significant, and why should it matter?"A massive explosion on August 4 devastated Lebanon's capital Beirut, killing more than 150 people, wounding thousands, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless, and ravaging a sizable chunk of the city," The Grayzone reported on August 13. What are the top 10 myths about Lebanon and its conflicts?Google, Facebook, Twitter and other major tech companies are increasing censorship on their platforms, using the excuse of protecting their users to do so. What are we to make of this?"The Trump regime is taking Huawei, TikTok and WeChat, three accomplished Chinese technology and social media companies, straight to the wall now, either banning them from the US market or, in the TikTok case, forcing its owner to sell its US assets to an American company," Patrick Lawrence wrote in Consortium News on Monday. "On Saturday President Donald Trump announced that there's more of this coming." How concerned should we be?US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement is spraying detained immigrants in California with HDQ Neutral, a dangerous, industrial-strength, disinfectant chemical, activists told The Independent last week. Will anyone be held accountable?Guests:Mark Sleboda - Moscow based international relations security analystDr. Clarence Lusane - Author, professor and activistDanny Haiphong - Author and contributor to the Black Agenda ReportDaniel Lazare - Investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup"Danny Sjursen - Retired US Army major and author of "Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War"Dave Lindorff - JournalistNiko House - Political Activist, Independent Journalist, PodcasterPatrick Lawrence, Writer, commentator, correspondent

A flurry of newsroom revolts has transformed the American press https://taibbi.substack.com/p/the-news-media-is-destroying-itself scenes of police clubbing and brutalizingCalls to “dominate” marchersonly” 21 millionreading Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” out loudfired* from a research firmretweetingsuggesting nonviolent protests may be more politically effectiverecord fine to a conservative Super PACinterviewLee Fang has been like this for years, but the current moment only makes his anti-Blackness more glaringLee Fang spouting racist bullshit it must be a day ending in dayformer Elizabeth Warren stafferGet himpublic apologypublicly thanked Fangwith no connection to police brutality at allMartin Luther King’s attitude toward violent protestshot to deathI don’t want to go to school! Five more minutes, MomBon Apetit Refinery29placed on leaveforcedSend in the troopsread originallyreads now58% of Americanssame poll cited by Cotton showedwholly intentionalEditor on downand Patrick Lawrencedeclassification of congressional testimonyascendance of women and people of colorRunning this puts Black @NYTimes staff in dangerprotesting during lockdownsnot protestingduring lockdownsadding a long Editor’s noteBennet was whackedanything that made them uncomfortableslashing tiresknocking overPhiladelphia police attacking protesters12 deaths in the first nine dayssecond74 cars stolen27 police officers injured during largely peaceful anti-racism protests in Londonshouted downGame of Thrones-style65% of Americans opposekneeling and prayingwashing the feetAfrican kente cloth scarvesansweredon live TVshe saidat our parody presidentthis tweet

CEO of Gulf State Analytics Giorgio Cafiero, Professor of Political Science A'sad AbuKhalil and Consortium News columnist Patrick Lawrence offer an in-depth analysis of Trump's Israeli Peace Deal, aka 'The Deal of the Century'.

I am very pleased to welcome writer and columnist Patrick Lawrence to Wider View.  Patrick is the author of 5 books, has taught at universities in the US and abroad, and has worked as a journalist and columnist for the Far Eastern Economic Review, the International Herald Tribune, the New Yorker and Consortium News.  His most recent book is “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century”. We begin by discussing his recent article for Consortium News, COVID-19: The US National Emergency and move on from there.

BONUS EPISODE! For our fourth bonus Sundance episode, Steve talks with Patrick Lawrence about “Scare Me.” You might recognize Patrick’s work on the Netflix show “Bonding." The Voices from Sundance series is sponsored by Endcrawl. Endcrawls cloud render engine turns around preview renders in minutes, and 2k and 4k renders in about a half hour. The Endcrawl render engine is on-demand 24/7 so even if you're in a late night session, you can sign in to your project, fix that typo — or add that late-breaking special thanks — with one click. Listeners of the Art of the Cut can skip the waitlist if you sign up using endcrawl.com/aotc. This is a limited time offer so if you want to skip the line go to endcrawl.com/aotc today! The Art of the Cut podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Anchor and many more platforms. If you like the podcast, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes and tell an editor friend!

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss Saudi Arabia, Epstein, Russia, and the Democratic primaries. The establishment has been working overtime to control the narratives.Guests:Patrick Henningsen - Founder of 21st Century Wire | Saudi Arabia, Epstein, Snowden, and AssangePatrick Lawrence - Foreign Affairs Commentary for a Variety of Publications | Is The U.S. Establishment Changing Its Tune on Russia?Tim Canova - Law Professor and Former Candidate for Congress in Florida | The state of the Democratic primaries Robert Driscoll - Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice | Part 1: Untangling The Lies About A 'Russian Spy'The drone attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, where 5% of the world's oil is produced, has driven oil prices up and created an ambiguous future in the oil market. Founder of 21st Century Wire Patrick Henningsen discusses the potential consequences this attack has created.The establishment has been relentlessly attacking Russia since 2016. As the narrative ages, it seems as though it is shifting. Patrick Lawrence is a foreign affairs commentator for a variety of publications. He joins the guys to discuss how the establishment is changing its tune. Maria Butina's lawyer Bob Driscoll discusses the lies against his client.This upcoming presidential election is going to be insane. The Democratic primaries have not disappointed with viral moments, especially from Joe Biden. Former candidate for Congress in Florida Tim Canova analyzes the primaries.

Featuring George Bebbe, former head of CIA Russia desk; Ray McGovern, former CIA Russia analyst; Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based analyst; Scott Ritter, former UN Weapons Inspector; Tony Kevin, former Australian diplomat in Russia; & Consortium News journalist, Patrick Lawrence.

Guest: Patrick Lawrence. We discuss President Trump’s relationship with his chosen cabinet hawks, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton and what Lawrence sees as a foreign policy coup by the Bolton-Pompeo axis. Patrick Lawrence is a columnist and essayist who specializes in foreign affairs and media analysis and his work is published at The Nation, Consortium News, Salon and other outlets.  Also he’s the author of the book “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century.” FOLLOW Patrick Lawrence @thefloutist. Find his work at his website patricklawrence.us and support his work at patreon.com/thefloutist. Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com. SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app. Recorded on May 16, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: A Week of Dangerous Developments from Iran to North Korea,  Patrick Lawrence, Consortium News The US Moves on Iran’s Oil Market as an Expression of an Irrational Foreign Policy, Patrick Lawrence, Consortium News Trump & the Bolton-Pompeo Axis, Patrick Lawrence, Consortium News White House Reviews Military Plans Against Iran, in Echoes of Iraq War, New York Times Pompeo, Russia’s Lavrov see hope for improved US-Russia ties, AP

Patrick Lawrence is an original San Diego SMOG member. Today he details some of his most personal experiences overcoming lifelong fear and how ocean swimming compliments his journey to live a higher purpose.

“It’s a weird incestuous relationship with me and The Killers (band).” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “I watch the Oscars and I wonder when is that job going to fall into my lap. When am I going to be able to do that?” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “Unlike music, where there is almost a time limit of how profitable you can be by age, film doesn’t really have that.” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “Stan Lee didn’t create Spiderman until he was 40 years old...that’s something that is really inspiring to me.” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra What does a filmmaker do to recharge creative batteries? Patrick Lawrence dusted off his drums and put the band back together. Patrick a music video director and feature film editor who is working towards his first Oscar. His band Nothing Still is currently recording their fourth album after a 7 year hiatus. He has recently edited “The Incredible Life of Darrell,” an upcoming series for Warner Brothers as well as the feature film “Clara’s Ghost. Check out Patrick’s creative work at www.ptrcklwrnce.com Follow Marlon and the campaign on twitter @ptrcklwrnce Photo by Ryan T. Phillips Visit Ken @ www.kencalcaterra.com and on various social media outlets and please share and comment on this episode. Sign up to our mailing list to receive updates on Ken’s video and photography work and Conversations with Calcaterra Special Thanks to show sponsors: Nothing Still – Check out Patrick’s band Nothing Still @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/5IEpkrOo46NUT2R0znkxef Yogabuzz – Yogabuzz offers a unique yoga experience at unique St. Louis venues. Enjoy the physical and mental benefits of yoga and then mingle. Steven Walden – The 3D painter utilizes vibrant colors to make his subjects jump off the canvas. Check out his sports and pop culture renderings at www.stevenwalden.com and follow him on various social media platforms. Dr. Mark Holland – http://chiroandrehab.com/ and http://www.mystlouischiropractor.com/

In August 2018, Consortium News launched Consortium News Radio. Now, we begin a second radio show in collaboration with Pacifica Radio’s Flashpoints, a biweekly interview program with Consortium News writers. In collaboration with Dennis Bernstein, host of Pacifica Radio’s syndicated show Flashpoints, Consortium News is launching its second radio program, Consortium News on Flashpoints. Recorded and produced in the Berkeley, Calif., studios of KPFA radio, Bernstein will interview three Consortium News writers about their recent articles published on this site. Each program will open with Consortium News Editor-in-Chief Joe Lauria discussing with Bernstein his picks of the three CN articles to be featured. The show will air twice a month on every other Friday.  On the first show, Bernstein interviews Sam Husseini on his piece "The Limits of Elizabeth Warren"; Patrick Lawrence about his article, "'Too Big to Fail': Russia-gate One Year After VIPS Showed a Leak, Not a Hack"; and Joe Lauria, on his retrospective of Kofi Annan, who died on Aug. 18.  Don't forget to subscribe to the show.

The challenged athletes foundation (CAF) strives to provide opportunity to support people with physical challenges so they can endeavor to participate in physical activity, exercise, and competitions. Patrick talks about the history, opportunities, and other aspects of CAF and also talks about his experience with adaptive volleyball.  To learn more about CAF: http://www.challengedathletes.org/

Host Ben Rice travels to Portland, Oregon, to drop in on Patrick Lawrence of Oregon Mead & Cider Company, with comedian, artist, podcaster, card game creator, and general creative Carolyn Main, to discuss the wonderful world of mead, a Barley & Me first! We talk the mead-creation process and how it compares to beer, cider, braggot, and more, plus the surprising ingredient that can cause cross-contamination and the importance of bees to mead and the world's food supply. And, as is par for the course, we trash the Star Wars prequels while talking about Carolyn's latest card game creation, Pitch Please!, where you create a movie pitch based on movie tropes. We also delve into Patrick's multiple jobs that have, despite his best efforts, centered around any and all kinds of apples, planned obsolescence in technology, and the fermentation tank naming process. All this and more, on episode 78 of Barley & Me. Enjoy! Find out more about Oregon Mead & Cider Co @ www.oregonmeadandcider.com or follow them on social media @ormeadandcider Follow Carolyn Main @carolynmain and don't forget to check out Pitch Please! in its podcast format or buy a set for home use! Go to pitchplease.fun for more info! Follow Barley & Me @barleyandmepod Email questions, comments, concerns, guest ideas, etc., to barleyandmepodcast@gmail.com Intro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart) Don't forget; you can buy a snazzy Barley & Me tee from Zen Threads (@zenthreads): http://bit.ly/BarleyZen This episode is brought to you by ABV Magazine (@abvmagbayarea) and the California Craft Beer Summit (www.californiacraftbeer.com). Get your tickets now, as the event runs Sept 6-8. Thanks for listening!

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, John Kiriakou and Walter Smolarek (sitting in for Brian Becker) are joined by Patrick Lawrence, the author of “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century” and a columnist at The Nation, whose work is at patreon.com/thefloutist, and by co-host Brian Becker, who is in Singapore to cover the summit.The intense struggle over the budding peace process in Korea continued today, as President Trump said this morning that North Korea “is no longer a nuclear threat,” but a full mobilization of the corporate media and a wide range of politicians in Congress is seeking to undermine the progress made in Singapore. Beyond Nuclear with Kevin Kamps is Loud & Clear’s regular Wednesday segment. The hosts and Kevin look at nuclear issues, including weapons, energy, waste, and the future of nuclear technology in the United States. Today they focus on the proposed nuclear and coal bailout, as well as localities pushing back against poorly designed nuclear waste disposal. Kevin Kamps, the Radioactive Waste Watchdog at the organization Beyond Nuclear, and Loud & Clear producer Nicole Roussell join the show. South Carolina Congressman Mark Sanford was defeated in the Republican primary yesterday by a state legislator who criticized him for not supporting President Trump strongly enough. Trump tweeted his opposition to Sanford just hours before the polls closed yesterday. And that appears to have been enough to seal his fate. Brian and John speak with Ted Rall, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist whose work is at www.rall.com. Republican leaders late last night managed to pull together a long-awaited immigration agreement that satisfied both moderates and conservatives. The agreement calls for votes next week on two different immigration bills, a conservative one that will likely be defeated, and one that the Republican leadership will write this week with input from both of their factions. Miguel Andrade, the communications manager at the immigrant rights advocacy organization Juntos, and a member of the Board of Directors of the US Human Rights Network, joins the show. The US Senate is challenging President Trump by inserting language in the annual defense bill that would prohibit him from lifting sanctions on Chinese telecom ZTE. The company had agreed to pay a $1 billion fine and to allow American inspectors after it was caught selling prohibited items to Iran and North Korea. Dr. Jack Rasmus, a professor of economics at Saint Mary's College of California and author of the article in the World Review of Political Economy titled “Trump’s Déjà vu China Trade War,’ joins Walter and John. In a victory for Amazon, Starbucks, and other major corporations, the Seattle City Council voted to repeal a tax that was meant to fund efforts to combat Seattle’s homeless problem. The tax would have raised $47 million a year to fund affordable housing projects. Jane Cutter, the editor of LiberationNews.org, joins the show.In a major defeat for the Justice Department, a federal judge yesterday approved AT&T’s $85.4 billion merger with Time Warner. It’s a decision that is expected to unleash a wave of corporate mergers beginning with CVS and Aetna Insurance. Walter and John speak with Steve Keen, the author of “Debunking Economics” and the world’s first crowdfunded economist, whose work is at patreon.com/ProfSteveKeen.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jim Kavanagh, the editor of thepolemicist.net whose most recent piece is “Sacrificing Gaza: The Great March of Zionist Hypocrisy;” Ariel Gold, a peace activist and the national co-director of Code Pink; and longtime peace activist and member of Code Pink, Tighe Barry. Argentina yesterday canceled a pre-World Cup soccer match with Israel that was scheduled to take place in Jerusalem, after worldwide outcry from the BDS movement and a Palestinian Authority spokesman called for Palestinians to burn Argentine soccer jerseys. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have denied parole for Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi, who is serving eight months in jail for slapping an Israeli soldier. Her cousin Ezzadine Tamimi was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers yesterday.On the regular Thursday series “Criminal Injustice,” about the most egregious conduct of our courts and prosecutors and how justice is denied to so many people in this country, the hosts discuss a prison journalist, Kevin “Rahid” Johnson, who has been punished for talking to the press and Trump’s pardon of Alice Marie Johnson. Paul Wright, the founder and executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center and editor of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News, and Kevin Gosztola, a writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure. Former President Bill Clinton said yesterday that his wife Hillary lost her presidential bid only because the Russian government preferred Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Clinton claimed, disingenuously, that without Stein, Hillary would have won the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and with them, the presidency. Brian and John speak with Ajamu Baraka, the National Organizer, Black Alliance for Peace, a longtime human rights activist, organizer, and political activist, and the 2016 Green Party nominee for Vice President of the United States. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today announced an unconditional week-long ceasefire with the Taliban to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This is the first time that a ceasefire has been called without preconditions. Ghani specified, however, that it does not apply to other groups, including ISIS. Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, who just got back from Afghanistan, joins the show. Democrats are taking a very hard line on the North Korea summit, requiring “complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program” in order to remove the crippling US economic sanctions. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is visiting the White House today for meetings with President Trump. Abe reportedly is expressing his concerns over North Korea in advance of next week’s summit there. Patrick Lawrence, the author of “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century” and a columnist at The Nation whose work you can support at www.patreon.com/thefloutist, joins Brian and John. The White House’s top economic advisor said today that President Trump is not backing down from his hard line on trade, setting the stage for a showdown with top allies at the G7 summit in Canada this week. The meetings on Friday and Saturday will be the first time that allied leaders have had to confront Trump in person since he instituted steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. Sputnik News analyst and producer Walter Smolarek, who is in Quebec City, joins the show.Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Austria today as part of a policy to improve relations with the European Union. He’s also working to improve economic and trade relations with Europe in the aftermath of tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum by President Trump. Brian and John speak with legendary anti-war activist and former British parliamentarian George Galloway.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek (sitting in for Brian Becker) and John Kiriakou are joined by Jim Kavanagh, the editor of ThePolemicist.net, and Patrick Lawrence, author of “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century” whose work you can support at patreon.com/thefloutist. It was a busy week of news, with Donald Trump withdrawing from the planned summit with North Korea, announcing a laundry list of unrealistic demands for Iran, Venezuela presidential elections, and the FBI admitting that it had an informant, or a spy, or a rat, inside the Trump campaign. The hosts wrap up the week’s biggest news. The country is inching closer to midterm elections in November, and more states held primary elections this week. The hosts look at those races and more political news. Dr. Wilmer Leon, a political scientist, author, and host of a nationally broadcast talk radio show on Sirius/XM channel 126, joins the show. Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein turned himself in to New York police this morning to face felony rape charges. Weinstein also has been accused of sexually harassing, abusing, and assaulting dozens of women over the years. The massive #MeToo movement that has been in the streets all over this country has pushed the courts to act. Walter and John speak with Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director of the A. J. Muste Memorial Institute and former Executive Director of the National Lawyers Guild. Julian Assange’s nearly six-year refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London is in jeopardy, multiple sources are telling CNN. If the Ecuadorians expel him, he will likely be arrested by British authorities and extradited to the United States. Randy Credico, an activist, a comedian, the former director of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice, and a candidate for Governor of New York, joins the show. Australia and the Netherlands say they are holding Russia responsible for the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that killed 298 people in 2014. Dutch investigators on Thursday concluded that the missile that brought the jet down over rebel-held territory in Ukraine belonged to a Russian brigade. Is this a sure thing or is this a fog of war? Dmitry Babich, a journalist and commentator with Sputnik International, joins Brian and John. Colombia will hold national elections on Sunday, and it appears likely that left-wing candidate Gustavo Petro and far-right contender Ivan Duque will advance to the second round. The election is the first since an historic peace deal ended a 50-year-long war between the government and the FARC rebels and could decide its fate.It’s Friday! The hosts take a look at the worst, most misleading, and funniest headlines of the week. Walter and John speak with Steve Patt, an independent journalist whose critiques of the mainstream media have been a feature of his blog Left I on the News, which you can find at lefti.blogspot.com, and Loud & Clear producer Nicole Roussell.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jim Kavanagh, the editor of ThePolemicist.net, and Mark Sleboda, an international affairs analyst living in Moscow. President Trump today expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the United States and closed the Russian consulate in Seattle in reaction to the poisoning of a spy in the UK, which accuses Russia of the act. 16 EU members in addition to Britain have also followed suit and expelled Russian diplomats. The move is a major step up in the worsening of relations between the US and Russia.President Trump’s announcement last week that he will impose nearly $60 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports sent the Dow Jones Industrial Averages down more than 1,000 points. But over the weekend, the Chinese response was muted and Washington’s talking heads said on the Sunday morning news shows that cooler heads will prevail. Patrick Lawrence, the author of “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century” and a columnist at Salon and The Nation whose work is at www.patreon.com/thefloutist, and John Ross, the first non-Chinese citizen to be appointed to a full-time post at a leading think tank in China--Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China and an award-winning resident columnist, join the show. A deputy sheriff in Houston shot and killed an unarmed Black man last week, just days after another unarmed Black man, Stephon Clark, was shot and killed in his backyard in Sacramento. Danny Ray Thomas was shot once in the chest. The deputy said he “had something in his hand.” No object, a gun or otherwise, was found. Brian and John speak with Michelle Gross, the president of Communities United Against Police Brutality.Turkish President Erdogan said that his country was prepared to invade Sinjar in northern Iraq to fight PKK rebels there. The Iraqi government said it would not sit idly by while its territory was invaded. Kani Xulam, the founder of the American-Kurdish Information Network, joins the show. Today is another installation of the Monday segment “Education for Liberation with Bill Ayers,” where Bill helps us look at the state of education across the country. What’s happening in our schools, colleges, and universities, and what impact does it have on the world around us? Bill Ayers, an activist, educator, and the author of the book “Demand the Impossible: A Radical Manifesto,” joins Brian and John. Egypt’s president, Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi, will win reelection this week in an election largely viewed as a sham. Sisi’s only opponent actually endorsed him. But Sisi is worried about turnout because his security crackdown, which has left tens of thousands imprisoned, has created an undercurrent of anger across Egypt. Many observers believe it’s the same kind of anger that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak. Dr. May Darwich, an assistant professor in International Relations of the Middle East in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University, joins the show.Catalonian independence leader Carlos Puigdemont was arrested yesterday by German authorities as he was in transit from Denmark to Belgium. He is appearing before a German judge today. Puigdemont faces 30 years in prison in Spain on charges of sedition. Thousands of people demonstrated in Barcelona today calling for the Germans to release him. Brian and John speak with Dick Nichols, the correspondent for Spain and Catalonia for Green Left Weekly.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jana Nakhal, an independent researcher and a member of the Central Committee of Lebanese Communist Party, and Dan Cohen, a journalist and filmmaker.An Israeli fighter jet was shot down in Syria over the weekend, after the Israeli Air Force attacked Syrian installations. That attack was in response to an Iranian drone crossing into Israeli airspace. By the time it was all over, six Syrians were dead and many more wounded.The hosts talk about North and South Korea and the attitude of the Trump Administration. Mike Pence went out of his way to demonstrate unhappiness with the possibility that peace could break out on the Korean Peninsula. The two Koreas marched under one flag at the Olympics and North Korea has invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit Pyongyang for more talks. The Korean War began 68 years ago—might it finally be coming to a close? Patrick Lawrence, the author of “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century” and a columnist at Salon and The Nation, and Bruce Gagnon, the coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space and a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus, join the show.The Trump administration submitted today a budget proposal that would see massive cuts made to social programs, including Medicare, alongside a huge boost to military spending. Meanwhile, President Trump will unveil his infrastructure bill today that critics say falls well short of what is needed to address the country’s needs. Brian and John speak with Dr. Jack Rasmus, a professor of economics at Saint Mary's College of California and author of “Central Bankers at the End of Their Ropes: Monetary Policy and the Coming Depression.”Debate is set to begin today in the Senate on a new immigration reform bill, although no such debate has been scheduled in the House, casting doubt on Republican protestations that they want immigration reform. Meanwhile, 120 immigrants detained in an ICE facility in Washington State have begun a hunger strike. Jorge Barón, the executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, joins the show.Lissa Lucas was asked to testify before the West Virginia legislature on an oil and gas industry-sponsored bill that would allow companies to drill on private land without the owner's consent. A few minutes into her testimony, her microphone was turned off. And a few minutes after that, she was forcibly dragged from the room. Natalie Thompson, the Executive Director of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, joins Brian and John.The Ohio Attorney General is suing DuPont and its spinoff Chemour Co. for years of dumping toxic chemicals from its West Virginia plant into a river that fouled air, water, and land in neighboring Ohio, despite knowing the damage it was doing. Robin Blakeman, the Huntington Project Coordinator with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, joins the show.The New York Times reported over the weekend that the US intelligence community recently conducted a top secret operation to recover stolen classified documents from Russian operatives. The article says that the operation also inadvertently yielded a cache of documents related to Donald Trump and to Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The only problem is that the CIA, in a very rare public statement, says the report is “fantasy” and “patently false.”

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Joe Lauria, a journalist, political commentator, and author of the book, “How I Lost, By Hillary Clinton.”In a major new story, the New York Times reported today that President Trump decided last June to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller because his investigation had moved beyond Russia and collusion. White House Counsel Dan McGahn, however, said he would resign, and Trump backed off. Many observers say that firing Mueller would have led to a constitutional crisis.President Trump spoke in Davos, Switzerland, today at the World Economic Forum. He emphasized his “America First” policy, and also softened his previously strong anti-globalization stance that has earned him support from workers around the country. Patrick Lawrence, the author of “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century” and a columnist at The Nation, joins the show.In the last 24 hours, Turkey has unleashed some aggressive threats against the United States. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said pointedly that if the United States wants to "avoid a confrontation with Turkey—which neither they nor Turkey want—the way to this is clear: they must cut support given to terrorists.” Meanwhile, the Kurds in Afrin have taken a big hit from Turkish forces. What is Turkey’s goal in threatening the United States, and will it make good on its threats to “cleanse” Afrin of Kurds? Brian and John speak with Peter Ford, the former UK Ambassador to Syria, and Stephen Gowans, a journalist and author of “Washington’s Long War on Syria.”House Speaker Paul Ryan met yesterday with senior officials of the United Arab Emirates, despite the fact that the UAE is running a torture program in Yemen’s secret prisons. US forces have interrogated detainees in the same facilities. Additionally, just today, the UN reported a mass drowning of at least 30 African refugees off the coast of Yemen. Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, joins the show.As protests continue to rage in Honduras against the Inauguration of U.S.-ally Juan Orlando Hernandez, a report has emerged that the newly appointed police chief of Honduras, long supported by the US military as helping prevent cocaine movement into the US, is implicated in a security report that shows he helped a cartel move a truckload of cocaine. Vicki Cervantes, the North America coordinator of the Honduras Solidarity Network, joins Brian and John.Albuquerque has tried to criminalize homelessness with an ordinance passed in November 2017 that prohibits interactions between drivers and pedestrians who are on medians and freeway entrances, including panhandling. The New Mexico ACLU has filed a lawsuit against Albuquerque in federal court. Marissa Sanchez, an activist with Act Now to Stop War and End Racism and a plaintiff in the case, joins the show.Vast inequality is on the rise in the nation’s capital, as longtime residents are forced out, overpoliced, and denied a decent education. What are the city’s priorities? And what does it say about the state of the country? Brian and John speak with Bob Schlehuber, a DC resident and the producer of Radio Sputnik’s By Any Means Necessary, which you can listen to every weekday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.In a weekly segment with Steve Patt, journalist at lefti.blogspot.com, the hosts and Steve take a look at the worst and most misleading headlines of the week.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek and Lee Stranahan, co-host of Radio Sputnik’s “Fault Lines” program. Donald Trump issued a statement that read in part: “Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my Presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind”. In an explosive new book by Michael Wolff, former White House counselor Steve Bannon described the Trump Tower meeting between Donald Trump, Jr., Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner and a Russian lawyer during the 2016 campaign as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.”President Trump threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinians yesterday unless the Palestinian Authority agrees to peace negotiations. PA President Mahmoud Abbas responded that the president has no credibility, following his decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Brian and John speak with Ali Abunimah, the co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of the book The Battle for Justice in Palestine.Fusion GPS, the research firm responsible for the Steele Dossier, defended itself yesterday against what it called “conspiracy theories” spun by Republicans and President Trump, and insisting that the company was being punished for exposing Trump’s ties to Russia. Max Blumenthal, journalist and bestselling author, joins the show.Pro-government demonstrators took to the streets across Iran today as one Iranian general declared the protests “defeated.” Massoud Shadjareh, founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, joins Brian and John.Syrian air attacks intensified in eastern Ghouta today as the government moved to crush rebels near Damascus. Rick Sterling, an investigative journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement, joins the show.As President Trump taunted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the size of his nuclear button, North Korean and South Korean military officials re-initiated their “red phone” line of communication to prevent an accidental military escalation. Patrick Lawrence, an author and columnist at Salon and The Nation, joins Brian and John.Are Democrats willing to turn their backs on some of their core constituencies in exchange for a deal? Ken Silverstein, editor-in-chief and lead writer for WashingtonBabylon.com, joins the show.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war activist and journalist whose son Casey was killed during the Iraq War; by Patrick Lawrence, the author of Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century and a columnist at The Nation; and by Greg Mello, the Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group.President Trump outlined his foreign policy vision that includes an increasingly adversarial view of Russia and China, a tougher focus on what he calls “rogue states,” and increased counter terrorism operations.The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would render Donald Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem “null and void”. Palestine's ambassador to the UK, Manuel Hassassian, joins the show. The Organization of American States has called for a new election in Honduras, as that country’s incumbent president appears to have stolen the race from a popular opposition candidate.Jeanette Charles, who has worked as the Honduras Program Liaison and Southwest Regional director of the solidarity organization Witness for Peace, joins Brian and John. A conservative billionaire and former president has won Chile's presidential election runoff. The election is a clear move to the right for a country which is currently led by the center-left alliance. Karla Martin, who was an organizer in the student movement while she was attending the University of Chile, joins the show. President Trump said yesterday that he was not considering firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Dan Kovalik, a labor lawyer and author of 'The Plot to Scapegoat Russia' joins the show.The United Nations mandate for Libya’s Government of National Accord expired yesterday, casting doubt on the immediate future of the country’s coalition government. International human rights lawyer Christopher Black discusses the ongoing turbulence in Libya along with Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by journalist and author Patrick Lawrence, as well as Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek.Donald Trump is off to Asia for nearly two weeks, where he will visit five countries. While a range of issues will be discussed, his top priority appears to be beating the drums of war against North Korea.The fallout is continuing from Donna Brazile’s claim that Hillary Clinton orchestrated, in her words, “a secret takeover of the DNC” before becoming the party’s candidate in the 2016 election. Journalist and best-selling author Max Blumenthal joins the show.In a startling attack on one of the foundations of the U.S. legal system, Robert Mueller’s team based their indictment of Paul Manafort in part on the testimony of Manafort’s own lawyer. Brian and John are joined by Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, the executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund. Daesh has been driven out of its last pocket of the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor by pro-government forces as the race for control of oil-rich eastern Syria continues. Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins the show.Donald Trump is furious that Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. army soldier held in captivity in Afghanistan for five years, was not given jail time as part of the sentence passed today. Michael Prysner, a former Marine and anti-war activist, joins the show to discuss.Spanish authorities have imprisoned eight ministers of the now-suspended government of Catalonia, as the region gears up for a dramatic showdown in the December 21 Catalan election. Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly, discusses the latest developments.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by David Ewing of the US-China People’s Friendship Association; by political analyst Ajit Singh; and by Patrick Lawrence, the author of Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century. In our first hour we take an in-depth look at Xi Jinping’s big speech at the opening of the Chinese Communist Party’s Congress. The address, an event which happens once every five years, lays out his vision for the future of China at home and abroad. Will China be able to break apart the U.S.-dominated world order? Can the country manage growing inequality as it seeks to continue its rapid growth? The massive, classified CIA torture report produced during the Obama administration is back in the news, this time because of a controversy over a copy of the report the CIA claimed it had destroyed, but has now been found. Jeremy Varon of Witness Against Torture joins the show, and Loud & Clear co-host John Kiriakou returns to take part in the discussion. Huge demonstrations are once again taking place across Catalonia, this time in outrage over the arrest of top pro-independence leaders as the Spanish central government threatens to dissolve the Catalan regional government. John Wight, host of Radio Sputnik's Hard Facts, discusses these developments. A new report claims that during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State a major nuclear deal involving a Russian firm was approved despite evidence of corruption. Dan Kovalik, human rights and labor lawyer, joins the show. Ousted Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is in court seeking to have her impeachment overturned after evidence emerged that her opponents engaged in vote buying. Journalist Victor Fraga discusses whether Rousseff could once again be President, and Michel Temer could be ousted.

On today’s episode of Loud & Clear, Pepe Escobar, a writer and political analyst, Prof. Simone Chun, a fellow at the Korea Policy Institute and author and columnist Patrick Lawrence, join the show.The Russian and Chinese speeches at the United Nations General Assembly were delivered today, but neither Vladimir Putin nor Xi Xinping took to the podium. Is this a boycott? What else was discussed today at the General Assembly debate?Today is the International Day of Peace, but you wouldn’t know it from listening to Donald Trump’s rhetoric at the United Nations. Is the world on the verge of a major conflict? Can we step back from the brink?. The hosts are joined by activist, educator and author Bill Ayers.High ranking officials in the Catalonia autonomous community of Spain have been arrested by the central government as the region’s president denounces Madrid’s “totalitarian” actions and vows to go ahead with the October 1st independence vote. Journalist Alberto Garcia Watson talks about the issue.Is the United States a rising power or a hegemon in decline? Speaking to a celebration held by Forbes magazine, billionaire Warren Buffett called people who were pessimistic about the future of the country “out of their mind”. Author and economist Steve Keen joins the show.Last year the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced its largest fine ever -- a $100 million penalty to Wells Fargo for opening accounts without customers’ permission. But newly-released documents show that the government chose CFPB could have in fact levied a $10 billion fine, but chose to cut a deal with the bank. Daniel Sankey, a financial policy analyst, discusses these developments.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined for the first time by co-host John Kiriakou.In the first hour, John and Brian discuss how the September 11th attacks changed the United States and the world, alongside professor and author Peter Kuznick and author and columnist Patrick Lawrence.To start the second hour, Brian and John address how the FBI is investigating Sputnik for possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act along with Sputnik US editor-in-chief Mindia Gavasheli.Next, Hurricane Irma is ripping through Florida, causing huge devastation in its wake. Were preparations adequate? And how will residents rebuild? Ruth Beltran of the Tampa Chapter of Black Lives Matter and Juliana Musheyev, a board member of the Sarasota Peace Education and Action Center, join the show.The United Nations is set to vote today on additional sanctions against North Korea. Will China and Russia stand up to the United States, which are seeking suffocating new measures? Gregory Elich of the Committee for Peace and Democracy in Korea discusses the vote.Hillary Clinton’s memoir of her election defeat is released tomorrow in which she blames seemingly everyone for her shocking loss to Donald Trump. As Schumer and Pelosi cozy up to President Trump, is the Democratic Party elite completely incapable of learning from their mistakes? Ted Rall, editorial cartoonist and columnist, joins Brian and John to discuss.The Syrian Army is advancing on the city of Deir ez-Zor at the same time that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have started an operation to clear Daesh from the countryside to the north of the city. Rick Sterling of the Syria Solidarity Movement talks about these developments.

Patrick Lawrence is the Senior Programs Manager for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and he joins us to talk about CAF and specifically their grant program in order to empower the athlete in all of us! One of the ways we manage life with a disability is to stay as active as we can.  But staying active when you have a disability looks a lot different than it does for able-bodied people. Whether traveling to an accessible location, finding equipment that we can use, or locating a coach ready and able to help us stay active - it becomes more complicated with a disability.       Kyle knows that firsthand, when he realized that a recumbent trike suitable to him was well beyond his price range. He found out about the Challenged Athletes Foundation, an organization that provides grants for people with disabilities. Kyle applied for a grant, and received the money that enabled him to get his Catrike, which enabled him to ride across the US in the Race Across America.   We are happy to bring you this interview with Patrick Lawrence, Senior Programs Manager at CAF. He tells us how he became involved with CAF, and tells us about this company’s mission.   We hope to encourage any of our listeners with disabilities to apply for a grant through CAF. Both Sean and Kyle can attest to the unbelievable medicine that is staying active, despite disability. Do not let the word “Athlete” in the organization’s title intimidate you. Their grants are for people at all levels of activity- whether you are looking for an adaptive machine or a gym membership for the first time or whether you are a trained Paralympic athlete.   We want to thank Patrick for letting us know a little more about the awesome initiatives the Challenged Athletes Foundation accomplishes. We encourage all our listeners to STAY ACTIVE, TAKE INITIATIVE and APPLY!   Keep living with urgency.   Apply here for a CAF grant.

On August 2nd, President Trump signed a new law that passed Congress with the overwhelming support of both political parties, which imposes sanctions on three countries: Russia, North Korea, and Iran. In this episode, we examine the new sanctions and the big-picture motivations behind them. In the process, we jump down the rabbit hole of the U.S. involvement in the 2014 regime change in Ukraine. Please support Congressional Dish: Click here to contribute using credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD041: Why Attack Syria? CD067: What Do We Want In Ukraine? CD068: Ukraine Aid Bill CD108: Regime Change CD150: Pivot to North Korea Episode Outline H.R. 3364: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act Title I: Iran Sanctions Gives the Executive Branch additional power to block property or exclude from the United States both companies and people who materially contribute to Iran's ballistic missile program. Orders the President to enact sanctions that block property and financial transactions for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard-Corps Quds Force and it's affiliates starting 90 days after enactment, which is November 1, 2017. Orders the President to block property and prohibit from the United States any person or company that materially contributes to the transfer to Iran any battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, artillery systems, combat planes, attack helicopters, warships, missiles, or parts of those items. Sanctions prohibiting travel to the United States and financial transactions are exempted for humanitarian purposes. The President can waive the sanctions for two 180-day periods by notifying Congress. Title II: Russia Sanctions Subtitle A: Sanction related to terrorism and illicit financing Sense of Congress "It is the sense of Congress that the President should continue to uphold and seek unity with European and other key partners on sanctions implemented against the Russian Federation, which have been effective and instrumental in countering Russian aggression in Ukraine" Part 1: Trump Report Orders the President to submit reports outlining his reasons to Congress before terminating or waiving sanctions relating to Russia, Ukraine, and Syria The President can not terminate or waive the sanctions on Russia, Ukraine, and Syria within 30 days of submitting his report unless a branch of Congress passes a resolution to allow it. Part 2: Sanctions on Russia Makes state-owned companies in the rail, metals, and mining sectors subject to sanctions. Limits financial loans to Russian industries. Prohibits the transfer of goods & services (except banking) that support new Russian deepwater oil drilling, Arctic offshore drilling, or shale projects. Russians need to be have a 33% share or more in the company for the sanctions to apply. Forces the President to enact sanctions in situations when it was previously optional. Gives the President the option to enact sanctions on companies and individuals who provide materials to Russia for energy export pipelines valued at $1 million or more. Forces the President to block property and deny visas to anyone who provides the government of Syria financial, material, or technical support for getting almost any kind of weapon. The sanctions do not apply to products for Russia that are for space launches. Subtitle B: Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Appropriates $250 million for a "Countering Russian Influence Fund" which will be used for "protecting critical infrastructure and electoral mechanisms" for members of NATO, the European Union, and "countries that are participating in the enlargement process of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the European Union, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Kosovo, Serbia, and Ukraine." The money can also be used to information distribution. There is a list of nongovernmental & international organizations eligible to receive the money. The Secretary of State will work with the Ukrainian government to increase the amount of energy produced in Ukraine. This will "include strategies for market liberalization" including survey work need to "help attract qualified investment into exploration and development of areas with untapped resources in Ukraine." The plan will also support the implementation of a new gas law "including pricing, tariff structure, and legal regulatory implementation." and "privatization of government owned energy companies." American tax money is contributing $50 million for this effort from the 2014 Ukraine aid law and $30 million more from this law. The money will be available until August 2022. Title III: North Korea Sanctions Subtitle A: Sanctions to enforce and implement United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea Expands existing mandatory sanctions to include anyone who provides North Korea with any weapons or war service, aviation fuel, or insurance or registration for aircraft or vessels. Also expands sanctions to include anyone who gets minerals, including gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore, copper, silver, nickel, zinc, or rare earth minerals from North Korea. Expand optional sanctions to include anyone who purchases above-the-U.N.-limited amounts of coal, iron, textiles, money, metals, gems, oil, gas, food, or fishing rights from North Korea. Also sanctions anyone who hires North Korean workers, conducts transactions for the North Korean transportation, mining, energy, or banking industries, or participates in online commerce, including online gambling, provided by the government of North Korea. Prohibits North Korean ships from entering US waters. Additional Reading Article: Iran could quit nuclear deal in 'hours' if new U.S. sanctions imposed: Rouhani, Reuters, August 15, 2017. Article: The Nation is reviewing a story casting doubt on Russian hack of DNC by Erik Wemple, The Washington Post, August 15, 2017. Article: Iranian Parliament, Facing U.S. Sanctions, Votes to Raise Military Spending by Thomas Erdbrink, The New York Times, August 13, 2017. Article: A New Report Raises Big Questions About Last Year's DNC Hack by Patrick Lawrence, The Nation, August 9, 2017. Article: North Korea's missile tests by Joshua Berlinger, CNN, August 7, 2017. Article: Iran Says New U.S. Sanctions Violate Nuclear Deal by Rick Gladstone, The New York Times, August 1, 2017. Article: Iran Reports Successful Launch of Missile as U.S. Considers New Sanctions by Thomas Erdbrink, The New York Times, July 27, 2017. Article: Trump Ends Covert Aid to Syrian Rebels Trying to Topple Assad by David E. Sanger, Eric Schmitt and Ben Hubbard, The New York Times, July 19, 2017. Article: Trump Recertifies Iran Nuclear Deal, but Only Reluctantly by Peter Baker, The New York Times, July 17, 2017. Article: Russians targeted election systems in 21 states, but didn't change any results, officials say by Joseph Tanfani, Los Angeles Times, June 21, 2017. Article: Top-Secret NSA Report Details Russian Hacking Effort Days Before 2016 Election by Matthew Cole, Richard Esposito, Sam Biddle and Ryan Grim, The Intercept, June 5, 2017. Article: The $110 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia is fake news by Bruce Riedel, Brookings, June 5, 2017. Article: Iran Nuclear Deal Will Remain for Now, White House Signals by Gardiner Harris and David E. Sanger, The New York Times, May 17, 2017. Report: Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections, National Intelligence Council, January 6, 2017. Article: Obama Strikes Back at Russia for Election Hacking by David E. Sanger, The New York Times, December 29, 2016. Article: Murphy leads CT delegation in official overseas travel by Ana Radelat, The CT Mirror, March 13, 2015. Article: Major Study Finds The US Is An Oligarchy by Zachary Davies Boren, Business Insider, April 16, 2014. Article: Ukraine wins IMF lifeline as Russia faces growth slump by Natalia Zinets and Elizabeth Piper, Reuters, March 27, 2014. Article: Ukraine orders Crimea troop withdrawal as Russia seizes naval base by Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Victoria Butenko, CNN, March 25, 2014. Article: Defense Ministry: 50% Of Ukrainian Troops in Crimea Defect to Russia, Ukrainian News Agency, March 24, 2014. Article: European Union signs landmark association agreement with Ukraine by Adrian Croft, Reuters, March 21, 2014. Article: Crimea applies to be part of Russian Federation after vote to leave Ukraine by Luke Harding and Shaun Walker, The Guardian, March 17, 2014. Article: The February Revolution, The Economist, February 27, 2014. Article: Ukrainian MPs vote to oust President Yanukovych, BBC News, February 22, 2014. Article: Ukraine: Yulila Tymoshenko released as country lurches towards split by Conal Urquhart, The Guardian, February 22, 2014. Transcript: Ukraine Crisis: Transcript of leaked Nuland-Pyatt call, BBC, February 7, 2014. Article: Putin: Russia to buy $15 billion in Ukraine bonds by Vladimir Isachenkov and Maria Danilova, USA Today, December 17, 2013. Article: EU suspends trade talks with Ukraine, crowds rally against govt, Reuters, December 15, 2013. Article: Senators McCain, Murphy join massive Ukraine anti-government protest, threaten sanctions, Fox News, December 15, 2013. Article: Ukraine parliament rejects proposed laws to release Tymoshenko by Richard Balmforth and Pavel Polityuk, Reuters, November 21, 2013. Article: Ukraine suspends talks on EU trade pact as Putin wins tug of war by Ian Traynor and Oksana Grytsenko, The Guardian, November 21, 2013. Article: Ukraine signs $10 billion shale gas deal with Chevron by Pavel Polityuk and Richard Balmforth, Reuters, November 5, 2013. Article: Exclusive - EU, IMF coordinate on Ukraine as Russia threat looms by Luke Baker and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters, October 31, 2013. Press Release: Statement by IMF Mission to Ukraine, International Monetary Fund, October 31, 2013. Article: Ukraine's EU trade deal will be catastrophic, says Russia by Shaun Walker, The Guardian, September 22, 2013. Article: U.S. Repeals Propaganda Ban, Spreads Government-Made News to Americans by John Hudson, ForeignPolicy.com, July 14, 2013. Article: Ukrainian tycoon Firtash takes over bank Nadra, Reuters, May 4, 2011. References GovTrack: H.R. 3364: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act Overview House Vote Senate Vote GovTrack: H.R. 4152: Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 Overview GovTrack: H.R. 5859: Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 IMF Report: Ukraine 2012 Article IV Consultation CSPAN Video: Iran's Response to U.S. Sanctions, July 18, 2017. CSPAN Video: British Prime Minister Camerson Question Time, December 18, 2013. CSPAN: Victoria Nuland Profile CSPAN: Anne W. Patterson Profile Executive Orders Executive Order 13757: Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities, December 28, 2016 Annex to Executive Order 13757 Executive Order 13694: Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities, April 1, 2015 Executive Order 13685: Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to the Crimea Region in Ukraine, December 19, 2014 Executive Order 13662: Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine, March 20, 2014 Executive Order 13661: Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine, March 16, 2014 Executive Order 13660: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine, March 6, 2014 Visual References Image source Sound Clip Sources House Debate: House Debate on Russia, Iran and North Korea Sanctions, July 25, 2017. Timestamps & Transcripts 1500 Rep. Pete Sessions (TX): The bill that was passed by the Senate risked giving Russian energy firms a competitive advantage across the globe by inadvertently denying American companies access to neutral third-party energy markets where there would simply be a small or diminished Russian presence. The bill before us today prevents Russia from being able to weaponize these sanctions against U.S. energy firms. And I want to thank Chairman Royce for his hard work on this issue. I also want to ensure that we have an understanding of the definition of the word controlling in Section 223(d) of H.R. 3364. For purposes of clarification and legislative intent, the term controlling means the power to direct, determine, or resolve fundamental, operational, and financial decisions of an oil project through the ownership of a majority of the voting interests of the oil project. 1515 Rep. Tim Ryan (OH): What’s happening with these sanctions here in the targeting of Russian gas pipelines—their number one export—I think is entirely appropriate. The Nord Stream 2, which carries gas from Russia through the Baltics to Germany—and I know Germany isn’t happy about it, but this is something that we have to do. And the point I want to make is we have to address this issue in a comprehensive way. We must continue to focus on how we get our gas here in the United States, our natural gas, to Europe, to our allies, so they’re not so dependent on Russia. We’ve got to have the sanctions, but we’ve also got to be shipping liquid natural gas to some of these allies of ours so they’re not so dependent on the Russians, which is part and parcel of this entire approach. Senate Session: "Skinny Repeal" vote down, July 27, 2017. Transcript Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY): Mr. President, and last year we know the United States was victim of an attack by a foreign power on the very foundation of this dear democracy: the right of the people to a free and fair election. The consensus view of 17 agencies is that Mr. Putin interfered in the 2016 election. Hearing: North Korea Policy, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cyber Security, July 25, 2017. Witnesses Bruce Klingner: Senior Research Fellow of the Heritage Foundation Leon Sigal: Director of Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project at the Social Science Research Council (SSRSC) Susan Thornton: Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Screenshot: No other Senators in the room Timestamps & Transcripts 3:48 Sen. Cory Gardner (CO): Last Congress, I lead the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act, which passed the Senate by a vote of 96 to nothing. This legislation was the first stand-alone legislation in Congress regarding North Korea to impose mandatory sanctions on the regime’s proliferation activities, human-rights violations, and malicious cyber behavior. According to recent analysis from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, North Korea’s sanctions have more than doubled since that legislation came into effect on February 18, 2016. Prior to that date, North Korea ranked 8th behind Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Iraq, the Balkans, Syria, Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Even with the 130% sanctions increase after the legislation passed this Congress, North Korea is today still only the 5th most sanctioned country by the United States. 21:22 Sen. Cory Gardner: Could you talk a little bit about the timing of the travel ban? Susan Thornton: Yeah. So, we believe that within the coming week we will publish a notice in the Federal Register, outlining the period of consultation and what we’re proposing, which is a general travel restriction, that will be in the Federal Register for a 30-day comment period. And the proposal is to, I think as you know, make U.S. passports not valid for travel into North Korea unless you get—an application is made for a one-time trip, and you get a license or sort of a permission to make that trip. And so that’ll be in the Federal Register for 30 days. Gardner: Is that trip allowable under a humanitarian exemption? Is that the purpose of that allow— Thornton: Right, right. For the subsequent appl— you’d have to make an in-person application for a trip to— Gardner: And are we encouraging other nations to do the same, and have others made the same decision? Thornton: We have encouraged other people to make decisions about restricting travel and other—because tourism is obviously also a resource for the regime that we would like to see diminished. I don’t think so far there are other people that have pursued this but this will be sort of the initial one, and we will keep talking to others about that. 1:12:32 Leon Sigal: A policy of maximum pressure and engagement can only succeed if nuclear diplomacy is soon resumed and the North’s security concerns are addressed. We must not lose sight of the fact that it’s North Korea that we need to persuade, not China, and that means taking account of North Korea’s strategy. During the Cold War, Kim Il Sung played China off against the Soviet Union to maintain his freedom of maneuver. In 1988, anticipating the collapse of the Soviet Union, he reached out to improve relations with the United States, South Korea, and Japan in order to avoid overdependence on China. That has been the Kims’ objective ever since. From Pyongyang’s vantage point, that aim was the basis of the 1994 Agreed Framework and the September 2005 six-party joint statement. For Washington, obviously, suspension of Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs was the point of those agreements, which succeeded for a time in shuttering the North’s production of fissile material and stopping the test launches of medium- and longer-range missiles. Both agreements collapsed, however, when Washington did little to implement its commitment to improve relations, and, of course, Pyongyang reneged on denuclearization. That past is prologue. Now there are indications that a suspension of North Korean missile and nuclear testing and fissile material production may again prove negotiable. In return for a suspension of its production of plutonium and enriched uranium, the Trading with the Enemy Act sanctions imposed before the nuclear issue arose could be relaxed for yet a third time, and energy assistance unilaterally halted by South Korea in 2008 could be resumed. An agreement will require addressing Pyongyang’s security needs, including adjusting our joint exercises with South Korea, for instance by suspending flights of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers into Korean airspace. Those flights were only resumed, I want to remind you, to reassure our allies in the aftermath of the North’s nuclear tests. If those tests are suspended, B-52 flights can be, too, without any sacrifice of deterrence. North Korea’s well aware of the reach of U.S. ICBMs and SLBMs, which, by the way, were recently test launched to remind them. The U.S. can also continue to bolster, rotate, and exercise forces in the region so conventional deterrence will remain robust. The chances of persuading North Korea to go beyond another temporary suspension to dismantle its nuclear missile programs, however, are slim without firm commitments from Washington and Seoul to move toward political and economic normalization; engage in a peace process to end the Korean War; and negotiate security arrangements, among them a nuclear-weapons-free zone that would provide a multilateral legal framework for denuclearization. In that context, President Trump’s willingness to hold out the prospect of a summit with Kim Jong-un would also be a significant inducement. 1:23:06 Sen. Ed Markey (MA): We “convinced” Qaddafi to give up his nuclear-weapon program, we “convinced” Saddam Hussein to give up his nuclear-weapon program, and then subsequently we participated in a process that led to their deaths. Emergency Meeting: U.N. Security Council Meeting on North Korea Sanctions, August 5, 2017. Timestamps & Transcripts 3:47 Nikki Haley (US Ambassador): This resolution is the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against the North Korean regime. The price the North Korean leadership will pay for its continued nuclear and missile development will be the loss of 1/3 of its exports and hard currency. This is the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation. 6:30 Matthew John Rycroft (British Ambassador to the U.N.): Make no mistake: as North Korea’s missile capabilities advance, so too does their contempt and disregard for this security council. We must meet this belligerence with clear, unequivocal condemnation and with clear, unequivocal consequences. Today, Mr. President, we have banned North Korean exports of coal, iron ore, lead, and seafood. These are the lifeline exports that sustain Kim Jong-un’s deadly aspirations. In simple terms, should the North Korean regime continue its reckless pursuit of an illegal missile program and a deadly nuclear program, they will have vastly less [unclear]. We’ve also capped the number of foreign workers from North Korea. Every year, DPRK sends thousands of ordinary workers overseas. They often endure poor conditions and long hours, and their toil serves to provide critical foreign currency for North Korean government coffers. This is undoubtedly a form of modern slavery, and today we have taken the first step to ending it. The world will now monitor and curtail work authorizations for these desperate ex-patriots. 28:11 Vasily Nebenzya (Russian Ambassador): We share the feeling of neighboring states in the region. The ballistic missiles, which were launched without warning from North Korea, pose a major risk to marine and air transit in the region as well as to the lives of ordinary civilians. We call upon the North Korean government to end the banned programs and to return to the NPT, nonproliferation regime, and the IAEA oversights as well as to join the Chemical Weapons Convention. All must understand that progress towards denuclearization of the Korean peninsula will be difficult so long as the DPRK perceives a direct threat to its own security, for that is how the North Koreans view the military buildup in the region, which takes on the forms of frequent, wide-ranging exercises in maneuvers of the U.S. and allies as they deploy strategic bombers, naval forces, and aircraft carriers to the region. Another destabilizing factor in the region is the scaling up in North Korea of the THAAD, the U.S. antimissile defense elements. We repeatedly noted not only this constitutes an irritant, but this also undermines the overall military balance in the region and calls into question the security of neighboring states. We would like to hope that the U.S. secretary of state’s assurances were sincere, that the U.S. is not seeking to dismantle the existing DPRK situation or to forcibly unite the peninsula or militarily intervene in the country. However, we are concerned that our proposed, our paragraph in the draft resolution was not supported. The possible military misadventures by any side are liable to cause a disaster for regional and global stability. Discussion: Senator John McCain on Ukraine, December 19, 2013. Witness Frederick Kempe: President & CEO of the Atlantic Council Transcripts Frederick Kempe: Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday said he had agreed to loan Ukraine $15 billion and cut the price of critical natural gas supplies. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Azarov called the deal historic. In Brussels a draft EU document, reported this morning by the Wall Street Journal, indicated Ukraine could have gained even more from the West, though with different conditions and perhaps not as plainly put. Had it signed the EU pact, it might have had $26 billion of loans and grants from the EU over the next seven years, and if it had also agreed to the IMF package. While the Ukraine pivots economically eastward, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians continue to pivot westward, standing together in protest for their continued desire to be part of a Europe, whole and free. And it’s in that context that we welcome back a great friend of the Atlantic Council, Senator John McCain, who visited these protestors over the weekend with Senator Chris Murphy, and continues to play a consistent and leading and principled role in supporting democratic change both in Eastern Europe and around the world and thinking through what role the United States should be playing in these challenging times. Sen. John McCain (AZ): If Ukraine’s political crisis persists or deepens, which is a real possibility, we must support creative Ukrainian efforts to resolve it. Senator Murphy and I heard a few such ideas last weekend. From holding early elections, as the opposition is now demanding, to the institution of a technocratic government, with a mandate to make the difficult reforms required for Ukraine’s long-term economic health and sustainable development. Sen. John McCain (AZ): And eventually, a Ukrainian president, either this one or a future one, will be prepared to accept the fundamental choices facing the country, which is this: while there are real short-term costs to the political and economic reforms required for IMF assistance and EU integration, and while President Putin will likely add to these costs by retaliating against Ukraine’s economy, the long-term benefits for Ukraine in taking these tough steps are far greater and almost limitless. This decision cannot be born by one person alone in Ukraine, nor should it be. It must be shared, both the risks and the rewards, by all Ukrainians, especially the opposition and business elite. It must also be shared by the EU, the IMF, and the United States. YouTube: Victoria Nuland call with the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, February 7, 2017. Click here to see the full transcript Transcripts Victoria Nuland: What do you think? Geoffrey Pyatt: I think we’re in play. The Klitschko piece is obviously the complicated electron here, especially the announcement of him as deputy prime minister. And you’ve seen some of my notes on the troubles in the marriage right now, so we’re trying to get a read really fast on where he is on this stuff. But I think your argument to him, which you’ll need to make, I think that’s the next phone call you’ll want to set up, is exactly the one you made to Yats. And I’m glad you sort of put him on the spot on where he fits in this scenario, and I’m very glad he said what he said in response. Nuland: Good. So, I don’t think Klitsch should go into the government. I don’t think it’s necessary, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Pyatt: Yeah, I mean, I guess. In terms of him not going into the government, just let him sort of stay out and do his political homework and stuff. I’m just thinking in terms of sort of the process moving ahead, we want to keep the moderate Democrats together. The problem is going to be Tyahnybok and his guys, and I’m sure that’s part of what Yanukovych is calculating on all of this. I kind of— Nuland: I think Yats is the guy who’s got the economic experience, the governing experience. What he needs is Klitsch and Tyahnybok on the outside. He needs to be talking to them four times a week, you know? I just think Klitsch going in—he’s going to be at that level working for Yatsenyuk; it’s just not going to work. Victoria Nuland: Can’t remember if I told you this or if I only told Washington this, that when I talked to Jeff Feltman this morning, he had a new name for the U.N. guy, Robert Serry. Did I write you that this morning? Geoffrey Pyatt: Yeah. Yeah, I saw that. Nuland: Okay. He’s not gotten both Serry and Ban Ki-moon to agree that Serry could come in Monday or Tuesday. Pyatt: Okay. Nuland: So that would be great, I think, to help glue this thing and have the U.N. help glue it, and, you know, fuck the EU. Pyatt: No, exactly. And I think we’ve got to do something to make it stick together because you can be pretty sure that if it does start to gain altitude, the Russians will be working behind the scenes to try to torpedo it. Geoffrey Pyatt: I think we want to try to get somebody with an international personality to come out here and help to midwife this thing. And then the other issue is some kind of out reach to Yanukovych, but we probably regroup on that tomorrow as we see how things start to fall into place. Victoria Nuland: So, on that piece, Geoff, when I wrote the note, Sullivan’s come back to me VFR, saying, you need Biden, and I said, probably tomorrow for an “atta-boy” and to get the deets to stick. Pyatt: Okay. Nuland: So, Biden’s willing. Pyatt: Okay, great. Thanks. Briefing: State Department Daily Briefing, February 6, 2014 Witness Jen Psaki: State Department Spokesperson Timestamps & Transcripts 0:19 Male Reporter: Can you say whether you—if this call is a recording of an authentic conversation between Assistant Secretary Nuland and Ambassador Pyatt? Jen Psaki: Well, I’m not going to confirm or outline details. I understand there are a lot of reports out there, and there’s a recording out there, but I’m not going to confirm a private diplomatic conversation. Reporter: So you are not saying that you believe this is a—you think this is not authentic? You think this is a— Psaki: It’s not an accusation I’m making. I’m just not going to confirm the specifics of it. Reporter: Well, you can’t even say whether there was a—that this call—you believe that this call, you believe that this recording is a recording of a real telephone call? Psaki: I didn’t say it was inauthentic. I think we can leave it at that. Reporter: Okay, so, you’re allowing the fact that it is authentic. Psaki: Yes. Reporter: “Yes,” okay. Psaki: Do you have a question about it? 7:40 Female Reporter: This was two top U.S. officials that are on the ground, discussing a plan that they have to broker a future government and bringing officials from the U.N. to kind of seal the deal. This is more than the U.S. trying to make suggestions; this is the U.S. midwifing the process Hearing: Ukraine Anti-Government Protests, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, January 15, 2014. Witnesses Zbigniew Brzezinski Carter’s National Security Advisor 77-81 Center for Strategic & International Studies, counselor & Trustee Thomas Melia: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Rights & Labor at the Department of State Victoria Nuland: Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Timestamps & Transcripts 32:27 Thomas Melia: Our approach to Ukraine complements that of our EU partners and what they sought in their association agreement, a Ukraine that is more responsive to its citizens, that offers its people opportunities that a growing free-market economy would provide based on the rule of law. 34:19 Victoria Nuland: The point that we have made repeatedly to Russia, and that I certainly made on my trip to Russia between two trips to Ukraine in December, was that a Ukraine that is economically stable and prosperous should be no threat to Russia, that this is not a zero-sum game that we are playing here, and that, in fact, the same benefits that the EU was offering to Ukraine—benefits of association and economic integration—are also available to a Russia that wants to take the same market opening and democratic reform steps that Ukraine has already taken, 18 pieces of legislation having already been completed. 58:43 Senator John McCain (AZ): This is a country that wants to be European. They don’t want to be Russian. That’s what this is all about. 59:52 Senator John McCain (AZ): I’m somewhat taken aback by your, “well, it’s sort of up to the Ukrainian people.” We ought to be assisting morally the Ukrainian people for seeking what we want everybody on this earth to have, and so it’s not just up to the Ukrainian people. They cry out for our assistance. Panel: Internet and Democracy, Aspen Ideas Festival, June 26, 2017. Witnesses Ory Rinat: White House Interim Chief Digital Officer Farhad Majoo: New York Times Correspondent Transcripts Ory Rinat: What drives social engagement? What drives Internet engagement? It’s shares. And that’s not a social-media thing; that’s back to forwarding chain emails. It’s when people share, that’s the source of engagement. And what drives people to share? It’s anger. It’s sadness. It’s inspiration. It’s really rare; it happens, but it’s rare that somebody says, wow, I just read an objective, fascinating piece that represents both sides; let me share it on Facebook. That’s not what people share. And so what happens is we’ve incentivized, as a society, sensationalism in journalism. I was giving an example earlier: during the transition, there was an article in a publication that should not be named that said something along the lines of, Trump transition website lifts passages from nonprofit group. Okay. Doesn’t sound that great. Couple of paragraphs in, they mention that the website actually sourced and cited the nonprofit. Couple of paragraphs later, they quote the CO of the nonprofit saying it was okay. Couple of paragraphs later, they quote a lawyer saying even if it wasn’t okay, even if they didn’t have permission, and even if they didn’t cite it, it was probably still legal. But that headline was so sensationalized, and people want to click on something that makes them angry, and so everybody just needs to take a breath, and it’s not the Internet’s fault. Farhad Manjoo: Well, it’s the Internet ad model’s fault, right? It’s the fact that those sites—Facebook, every news site you can think of—is getting paid based on clicks. So is sort of the fundamental fix here some other business model for online news and everything else? Ory Rinat: Sure, I just can’t think of one. Farhad Manjoo: Right. Panel: U.S. Global Leadership, The Aspen Institute, August 4, 2017. Witnesses Nick Burns: Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Bush) Condoleezza Rice: Former National Security Advisor (Bush) Tom Donilon: Former National Security Advisor (Obama) Stephen Hadley: Former National Security Advisor (Bush) Susan Rice: National Security Advisor Timestamps & Transcripts 9:00 Condoleezza Rice: The liberal order was born, it was an idea, designed after World War II, when people looked out at the world that they had inherited after World War I and said, let’s not do that again. And it had two important elements, and it had one important fact. One element was they really believed that the international economy did not have to be a zero-sum game. It could be competitive, but it could be a growing economy and a positive-sum game, so my gains were not your losses, and that’s why they wanted to have free trade, and they wanted to have a comparative advantage among countries. And as you said, they set up institutions to do it, an International Monetary Fund and exchange rates, a World Bank eventually starting as a European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, which would rebuild economies and actually would become a source of capital for countries coming out of colonialism. And in some ways the most remarkable one, the general agreement on tariffs and trade, which was not a set of trade agreements but rules of the road to level the playing field so that the international economy could grow. So it was by its very nature supposed to get us away from conflict in the international system. They hated the fact that there’d been beggar-thy-neighbor trading policies and competition over resources. It was violent. So they weren’t going to do that again. Then, the important fact: they were going to try to create the democratic peace where they could, so they rebuilt Germany as a democracy, Japan as a democracy, and it was all going to be protected by American military power. And so that was the liberal order. 12:00 Condoleezza Rice: It is being challenged by Russia because Russia unfortunately doesn’t really have a foot in the economic side and, therefore, uses its military power for its respect. But it’s also being challenged by the four horsemen of the Apocalypse—populism, nativism, isolationism, and protectionism—and they tend to run together. And so one of the questions that we ought to be asking is not just the challenge to the liberal order from transnational terrorism or cyber warfare or from big powers like Russia and China but how do we deal with the fact that it does seem that there are those who believe that they were left behind by the global order, and they’re fighting back. They found people who will give them an answer as to why they didn’t succeed. Populists always have an answer: it’s the other—the Chinese; the illegal immigrants; if you’re from the Left, the big banks. And, oh, by the way, the other this time around is not just taking your jobs; the other is dangerous—so refugees and immigrants—and so I think the challenge is this time not just one that we foreign-policy people can understand but one that has to go internally to these societies and see what’s happening. That’s why I’m glad for the Aspen Strategy Group, that we are having this wonderful session that _____(01:30) will help to lead, because this is a really big challenge from the inside and from the out. And, yes, I’m worried that the liberal order might not survive it. 31:00 Condoleezza Rice: Leading differently obviously means finding a role for others—that’s very important—but it also means—and I know we can’t retire from this role, but there is a weariness among the American people, and we can’t ignore it. We can’t as foreign-policy people simply say, look, we’ve had to get back there and lead. We have to say, we’re going to lead because it’s in our interests, it’s with our values, and our allies have to appreciate it, right? And they have to be a part of it. That’s my point. I think we really haven’t gotten from the allies. What we get mostly from the allies is criticism for not leading, because the only thing the world hates more than unilateral American leadership is no American leadership, but we do need our allies to step up, and some of them have. On Minsk, for instance, the Germans stepped up to try and settle the Ukrainian circumstances. But let’s not underestimate outside of foreign-policy leads, the degree to which the American people are asking questions about how much more we can do. Unknown Speaker: Well, this is a good transition point to Russia. Let me just frame it this way: since Putin’s invasion and annexation of Crimea, 20 of the 28 allies have raised their defense spending, and they feel the threat. And I would even say right now, Merkel is leading NATO, not so much the United States; she’s leading NATO on this. So, Condi, you studied the Russians and the Soviets your life; we’ve got a dilemma here. Putin attacked our election and tried to discredit our democracy. We know he did that. Putin annexed Crimea. He still has troops in the Donbass and Eastern Ukraine, dividing that country. He has been a malevolent force in Syria. So, what’s the strategy for President Trump here? How does he respond to this? And we saw this extraordinary situation where the president was essentially repudiated by the Republicans in Congress on this big vote in the Senate and House to sanction Russia. If you were to give advice to him, what would it be? Not to put you on the spot too much. Rice: Well, thanks. Well, the first advice I would give is, be sure you know who Vladimir Putin is, right? And Vladimir Putin is someone who likes to humiliate, someone who likes to dominate, and someone who essentially understands power. And so don’t go into a room with Vladimir Putin unless you are in a pretty powerful position, and that means when you go to talk to Vladimir Putin, first let’s continue the policy that the Obama administration began, maybe even accelerate the policy of putting forces, at least on a rotating basis but possibly on a permanent basis, in places like Poland and the Baltic states so that you say to him, this far and no further. Secondly, I like raising the defense budget as a signal to the Russians. Third, I think you have to say to the Russians, we know you did it on the electoral process; we will, at a time of our choosing, by means of our choosing, we will deal with it, but we have confidence in our electoral system, so don’t think that you’re undermining American confidence by what you’re doing, because he feeds on the sense that he’s succeeding in undermining our confidence. And the final thing I’d say to him is, stop flying your planes so close to our ships and aircraft; somebody’s going to get shot down, because once you’ve established the kind of ground rules with Vladimir Putin, now you can talk about possible areas of cooperation. By the way, there’s one other thing I’d do: I’d arm the Ukrainians. I think that you have got to raise the cost to the Russians of what they’re doing in Ukraine, and it’s not on the front pages anymore, but in Eastern Ukraine, people are dying every day because of those little Russian green men, the Russian separatists, who, with Russian military training and Russian military intelligence and Russian military capability, are making a mess of Eastern Ukraine and making it impossible for Kiev to govern the country. And so I think it’s time to arm them. 33:30 Nick Burns: I think President Obama actually put in place a lot of what Condi’s saying. Is there bipartisan agreement on this tough policy? Susan Rice: I think there’s certainly bipartisan agreement on the steps that Condi described that we characterized as the European Response Initiative, where we got NATO with our leadership to put in those four countries, the three Baltics, plus Poland, a continuous, rotating, augmented presence and _____(00:26) deployed not only personnel but equipment, and we have reversed the trend of the downsizing of our presence in Europe, and that’s vitally important. 36:00 Tom Donilon: It’s important to recognize some of the fundamentals here, right, which is that we are in an actively hostile posture with the Russians right now. And it’s not just in Europe; it’s in Syria, it’s in Afghanistan, it’s in Syria, and it was in our own elections, and it’ll be in the European elections going through the next year as well, and it’ll probably be in our elections 2018 and 2020 unless we act to prevent it. So, we’re in, I think, in an actively hostile posture with the Russians, coming from their side. 40:00 Stephen Hadley: We’re putting battalions—we, NATO—putting battalions in the three Baltic states and in Poland and in Bucharest. Battalions are 1200 people, 1500 people. Russia is going to have an exercise in Belarus that newspaper reports suggest maybe up to 100,000 people and 8,000 tanks—I think I’ve got that number right— Unknown Speaker: This month. Hadley: —more tanks than Germany, France, and U.K. have combined. And we have to be careful that we don’t get in this very confrontational, rhetorical position with Russia and not have the resources to back it up. 58:00 Condoleezza Rice: Democracy promotion—democracy support, I like to call it—is not just the morally right thing to do, but, actually, democracies don’t fight each other. They don’t send their 10-year-olds as child soldiers. They don’t traffic their women into the sex trade. They don’t attack their neighbors. They don’t harbor terrorists. And so democracies are kind of good for the world, and so when you talk about American interests and you say you’re not sure that we ought to promote democracy, I’m not sure you’ve got a clear concept, or a clear grasp, on what constitutes American interests. Speech: Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton National Security Address, Council of Foreign Relations, November 19, 2015. Transcript Hillary Clinton: So we need to move simultaneously toward a political solution to the civil war that paves the way for a new government with new leadership and to encourage more Syrians to take on ISIS as well. To support them, we should immediately deploy the special operations force President Obama has already authorized and be prepared to deploy more as more Syrians get into the fight, and we should retool and ramp up our efforts to support and equip viable Syrian opposition units. Our increased support should go hand in hand with increased support from our Arab and European partners, including Special Forces who can contribute to the fight on the ground. We should also work with the coalition and the neighbors to impose no-fly zones that will stop Assad from slaughtering civilians and the opposition from the air. Hearing: U.S. Policy and Russian Involvement in Syria, House Foreign Affairs Committee, November 4, 2015. Witnesses Anne W. Patterson: Assistant Secretary Department of State, Near Eastern Affairs Transcript Rep. David Cicilline (RI): Who are we talking about when we’re speaking about moderate opposition, and do they, in fact, include elements of al-Qaeda and al-Nusra and other more extremist groups? Anne Patterson: Well, let me take the civilian moderate opposition, too, and that’s the assistance figure that you’re referring to, and that is groups within Syria and groups that live in Turkey and Lebanon and other places; and what that project is designed to do is to keep these people, not only alive physically, but also keep them viable for a future Syria, because we have managed to, even areas under control of ISIL—I won’t mention them—but we have managed to provide money to city councils, to health clinics, to teachers and policemen so these people can still provide public services and form the basis for a new Syria. So that’s—a good portion of that money goes into efforts like that. There’s also the opposition on the ground, and I think they’ve sort of gotten a bum rap in this hearing because I think they are more extensive than it’s generally recognized, particularly in the south, and they, yes, of course, in the north, some of these individuals have affiliated with Nusra because there was nowhere else to go. Anne Patterson: Moscow has cynically tried to claim that its strikes are focused on terrorists, but so far eighty-five to ninety percent of Syrian strikes have hit the moderate Syrian opposition, and they have killed civilians in the process. Despite our urging, Moscow has yet to stop the Assad regime’s horrific practice of barrel bombing the Syrian people, so we know that Russia’s primary intent is to preserve the regime. Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio) Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Lucas Koerner, an activist and writer for VenezuelaAnalysis.com, and by Dan Kovalik, an author and human rights lawyer.The results have been announced for Venezuela’s constituent assembly that was elected on Sunday and convenes tomorrow. The Constituent Assembly is convening despite threats from the United States and sanctions against President Maduro.Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the U.S. is not interested in regime change and seeks dialogue with North Korea if it gives up nuclear weapons, but Senator Lindsey Graham has called for the destruction of the country. This comes as the Senate’s top Democrat Chuck Schumer urges Trump to take a harder line against Chinese investments in the U.S. Patrick Lawrence, author and columnist, joins the show.The Trump administration’s attack on civil rights continues, as the Justice Department under Attorney General Jeff Sessions announces that it will use the power of the federal government to end affirmative action in college admissions. Mondale Robinson, Electoral Campaign Manager at Democracy for America, speaks to Brian about the implications of this move.