Podcasts about scapegoat russia

In his third appearance on Macro N Cheese, Dan Kovalik talks with Steve about his upcoming book, The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care. As with many of our guests, the episode is more of a conversation – a passionate one – than an interview.“First of all ... this conflict did not begin on October 7th, though we're led to believe it did. This conflict – well, it depends on when you want to say it started – but certainly a good starting place is 1948 in the Nakba, when 700,000 to 900,000 Palestinians were violently displaced by Israelis who came in to take over their land and their homes. And the takeover of land and homes has continued since that time.Gaza itself has been penned in with a giant fence since about 2007 in what some refer to as the largest open-air prison in the world. Others call it the biggest concentration camp in the world — where Israel has regulated the water they get, the food they get. And they've kept all those things, intentionally, to a minimum.”They both argue that the violence of the oppressor (Israel) cannot be equated with the violence of the oppressed. Any resistance against oppression is justified.While condemning the Zionist government of Israel, they stress the culpability of the US government. They discuss the lack of difference between Democratic and Republican presidents in terms of their foreign policies, particularly on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a conversation about current American and international politics, Dan and Steve agree on a number of things, including the need for disruptive targeted protests in addition to sustained movements, a long-term commitment to resistance, and international solidarity.Where they disagree, however, is on the matter of so-called taxpayer money. As always, Steve makes sure to correct the record. Several times.Dan Kovalik is a labor and human rights lawyer and peace activist. He is the author of several books, including The Plot to Scapegoat Russia, Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention and Resistance, and the upcoming The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care.@danielmkovalik on Twitter

Author Dan Kovalik talks to Steve about his recent book, Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention and Resistance. His perspective includes his own experiences in Nicaragua and the personal connections he made there.From the 1910 occupation and eventual ouster of US Marines, through the dictatorships of several members of the Samosa family, the conditions for revolution were ripe. Dan describes the 1979 revolution as a David and Goliath story. The Sandinistas inherited a country steeped in poverty, with no infrastructure. The US-backed counterrevolution began almost immediately. Ronald Reagan and the Contras are just a small piece of it.Dan grew up believing the US was the beacon on the hill, committed to spreading democracy and freedom. His first trip to Nicaragua changed his politics and his life.Dan Kovalik is a labor and human rights lawyer and peace activist. He teaches International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is the author of several books, including The Plot to Scapegoat Russia and Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention and Resistance.@danielmkovalik on Twitter

On this edition of The Other Side of Midnight: Frank Morano is a yes-man. But not about the casino proposal for Manhattan! We remember Bobby Rydell, revisiting his music and past interviews, Carl Hoffman, a former contributing editor of Wired and National Geographic Traveler and the best-selling author of five books, including “Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art” joins us for our Morano Mystery: What really happened to Michael Rockefeller? Dan Kovalik, human rights activist, labor rights lawyer and author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia” offers some more info on Russia-Ukraine war. Plus more distraction, debate, and discovery on The Other Side, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Kovalik, human rights activist, labor rights lawyer and author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia” offers some more info on Russia-Ukraine war. Plus more distraction, debate, and discovery on The Other Side, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cisco and Falzon Hour Broadcast in Politics Call in to speak with the host: Cisco Acosta, Mark Falzon, and guest (845) 262-0988 Join us tonight, at 9:00 pm eastern time, with our guest: PUBLIUS GUEST AUTHOR: Daniel Kovalik, is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, and author of The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia. Topics for discussion:  Does Putin want to rewrite Europe's security order wholesale, and roll back the democratic, NATO-led gains of the past two decades, prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, Is Putin goal to collapse the US dollar.  Show Writer: Doreen Ann Show Sponsor: Studentsforabetterfuture.com

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the still increasing costs of many necessities, as the United States flounders in the economic crisis that's now been ongoing for several years. To what extent is the war in Ukraine having an effect? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can check out his work at rdwolff.com. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia Cisco and Falzon Hour Broadcast in Politics Call in to speak with the host: Cisco Acosta, Mark Falzon, and guest (845) 262-0988 Join us tonight, at 9:00 pm eastern time, with our guest: PUBLIUS GUEST AUTHOR: Daniel Kovalik, is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, and author of The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia. Topics for discussion:  Does Putin want to rewrite Europe's security order wholesale, and roll back the democratic, NATO-led gains of the past two decades, prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, Putin goal to collapse the US dollar.  Show Writer: Doreen Ann Show Sponsor: Studentsforabetterfuture.com

The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia By Daniel Kovalik PUBLIUS GUEST AUTHOR: Daniel Kovalik, is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, and author of The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia. An in-depth look at the decades-long effort to escalate hostilities with Russia and what it portends for the future. Ambassador: Putin 'doesn't give sh*t about sanctions'... What created new, more aggressive Putin... BIDEN WARNS PUTIN Since 1945, the US has justified numerous wars, interventions, and military build-ups based on the pretext of the Russian Red Menace, even after the Soviet Union collapsed at the end of 1991 and Russia stopped being Red. In fact, the two biggest post-war American conflicts, the Korean and Vietnam wars, were not, as has been frequently claimed, about stopping Soviet aggression or even influence, but about maintaining old colonial relationships. Similarly, many lesser interventions and conflicts, such as those in Latin America, were also based upon an alleged Soviet threat, which was greatly overblown or nonexistent. And now the specter of a Russian Menace has been raised again in the wake of Donald Trump's election. The Plot to Scapegoat Russia examines the recent proliferation of stories, usually sourced from American state actors, blaming, and manipulating the threat of Russia, and the long history of which this episode is but the latest chapter. It will show readers two key things: (1) the ways in which the United States has needlessly provoked Russia, especially after the collapse of the USSR, thereby squandering hopes for peace and cooperation; and (2) how Americans have lost out from this missed opportunity, and from decades of conflicts based upon false premises. These revelations, amongst other, make The Plot to Scapegoat Russia one of the timeliest reads of our time. PLUG BOOK: The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia BIO: I am a labor & human rights attorney. I have been writing since I was in college and have never stopped. I feel compelled to write about matters of public concern, and truthfully, to be a dissident voice. Since travelling to Nicaragua in 1987, and seeing U.S. intervention up close, I have been against U.S. intervention in other countries and against the pr

Guest Left Bitch, European Parliament Member and Irish socialist Clare Daly is clapping back at her EU colleagues who are scapegoating external “threats” like (surprise!) Russia to prop up the arms industry across the pond. Sound familiar? So how do we break the cycle? Through the power of politicians? Or through the power of the people? Also, what’s the European left’s take on Biden? Could 46 be even worse from a foreign policy standpoint than 45? Plus, we touch on Cold War smears, the tragic case of Julian Assange, and standing up to the powers that be. What’s the price of telling it how it is? The Left Bitches are Anissa Naouai, Erica Marable, Rania Khalek, and Amanda Getty. Produced by Gregory Haddock with music by Jonathan Hurley. Visit patreon.com/leftbitches for same-day release, bonus episodes, and more. Get more Clare Daly on Twitter @ClareDalyMEP

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reflected the sentiment of many world leaders as his spokesman said he was "saddened" by the events at the US Capitol.Bob Schlehuber, host of Sputnik's Political Misfits; and Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to talk about the stunning violence as protesters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday. Hundreds of protesters rushed past Capitol police and wandered through the halls of Congress, calling for a revolution and confronting authorities. Analysts question whether this was a one-off event or the beginning of a long-term cycle of violence. Gary Flowers, radio talk show host and public policy analyst; and Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, join us to discuss the outcome of the Georgia Senate races. In a stunning turn of events, the Democrats swept both Senate seats and are poised to control the upper chamber. President-elect Joe Biden seems set to take office with his party in control of both houses of Congress. What will this mean for his domestic and foreign policy agendas?Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," joins us to discuss the outcome of Julian Assange's bail hearing in the UK. In a reversal of fortune, Judge Vanessa Baraitser denied bail for the WikiLeaks co-founder on Wednesday, arguing that he posed a flight risk. Assange will be held in jail indefinitely pending the outcome of the US Department of Justice's appeals to the extradition denial. Additionally, Lazare discusses the odds that Baraitser's extradition denial will be overturned.Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss the possibility of a new approach to economic stimulus under a Biden administration. Democratic control of both houses of Congress creates a scenario in which bold economic moves can be made. However, Biden's record of neoliberal conservatism indicates that such a strategy is unlikely. Also, the small- and medium-sized business sectors are pending collapse, and a considerable capital inflow is necessary to keep them afloat. Will a Biden administration wake up the economy or sit idly by while it turns to ashes?Dan Kovalik, labor and human rights lawyer, professor and author, joins us to discuss his book "The Plot to Scapegoat Russia." Kovalik argues that the CIA and the deep state have conspired to scapegoat Russia for US political and economic failings and that vilifying Russian President Vladimir Putin is a foundational part of their strategy.Teri Mattson, Latin America coordinator for Code Pink, joins us to discuss the political future of Juan Guaido. The EU has announced that it no longer recognizes Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela following the swearing-in of the new parliament. The US-backed opposition is struggling for legitimacy, as Venezuelans have executed an effective democratic election with over 100 political parties participating. KJ Noh, peace activist, writer and teacher, joins us to discuss China. Antony Blinken, Biden's nominee for secretary of state, is signaling that the incoming administration is planning to confront China over the issue of the US-funded "pro-democracy" movement in Hong Kong. China argues that the US has no business meddling in its internal affairs. Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to talk about international cooperation regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Venezuela is having difficulty paying for vaccines, as the US and its allies are refusing to unfreeze funds needed to cover the costs. Additionally, human rights organizations are demanding that the US cease and desist from activities that are inhibiting Iran from addressing its coronavirus outbreak.

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Dan Kovalik joins the Jiggy Jaguar Show in discussion of his released title, "The Plot to Scapegoat Russia".   About Dan Kovalik Dan Kovalik is a human rights, labor rights lawyer and peace activist. He has contributed to articles CounterPunch, Huffington Post and TeleSUR. He currently teaches International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.   www.buildgrowandenjoy.com

This week, we’re talking with Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer, as well as the author of The Plot to Scapegoat Russia. We’ll be discussing his latest book, The Plot to Attack Iran, for the full episode, and really digging into the history of U.S. overthrow of Iranian democracy.

This week, we’re talking with Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer, as well as the author of The Plot to Scapegoat Russia. We’ll be discussing his latest book, The Plot to Attack Iran, for the full episode, and really digging into the history of U.S. overthrow of Iranian democracy.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dan Kovalik, a human rights lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia,” Max Blumenthal, journalist and bestselling author, and Lee Stranahan, who’s on the ground in Helsinki covering the summit for Sputnik.President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met today in Helsinki, Finland. The nearly two-hour meeting reportedly covered Syria, trade and military issues, disarmament, and China. Trump said afterward that he wanted only good relations with Russia and that previous bilateral problems were the result of “Washington’s own foolishness and stupidity.”On Monday’s regular weekly half-hour segment Technology Rules with Chris Garaffa—a weekly guide on how monopoly corporations and the national surveillance state are threatening cherished freedoms, civil rights, and civil liberties, they talk about how GPS can track you even if it’s off, Twitter’s metadata haul, and how to secure your devices. Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa joins the show.President Trump wraps up his European trip today, with the last stop in Helsinki. He called the EU a foe, told British Prime Minister May to sue the EU, he said Boris Johnson would make a great prime minister of the UK, and he weighed in on the Nordstream pipeline that will pipe Russian gas to Germany much more cheaply than any US alternative. Brian and John speak with Jim Kavanagh, the editor of thepolemicist.net whose most recent piece is “Fighting Fake Stories: The New Yorker Serves Up a Doozie.”Police in Chicago shot and killed Harith Augustus on Saturday. Protests across the city became heated by Saturday night. And today the police released two bodycam videos of the incident to try to calm the public. Kofi Ademola, an activist and organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement, joins the show.Series “Stories from the National Museum of African American History and Culture” continues, where Dr. Alice Bonner highlights some of the most important episodes in Black history. Dr. Bonner, a volunteer docent at the newly opened National Museum of African American History and Culture, retired professor at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a longtime journalist at the Washington Post, joins the show.The White House yesterday ordered the State Department to seek direct negotiations with the Taliban in the hope of jumpstarting efforts to end the 17-year war there. The Taliban have said that they will only deal with the United States, but President Trump insists that the Afghan government take part. Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, joins the show.Monday’s regular segment “Education for Liberation” looks at the state of education across the country. What’s happening in our schools, colleges, and universities, and what impact does it have on the world around us? Today they talk about what patriotism means in the US and civic education in schools. Brian and John speak with Joel Westheimer, a professor and University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa, whose latest book is “What Kind of Citizen? Educating Our Children for the Common Good.”

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

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia” and Jim Kavanagh, the editor of ThePolemicist.net. It’s Friday and it’s been a big week of news. Just today, the DNC announced they’re suing Trump, WikiLeaks, and the entire country of Russia, memos were released from James Comey that depict interactions with Trump, and the inspector general’s report on McCabe has been sent to the U.S. Attorney for potential criminal charges. In Friday’s regular update on elections, the competition to be the next Speaker of the House and Senator from California has been intense, but on one thing Congress seems to mostly agree—war against Syria. Jacqueline Luqman and Abdus Luqman, the co-editors-in-chief of Luqman Nation, join the show. All around the world, whistleblowers who expose the misdeeds of the rich and powerful are persecuted, but many countries have also adopted legislation to offer them some form of protection. Brian and Walter speak with Loud & Clear co-host John Kiriakou,who has been in Greece this week to address the Greek parliament and meet senior government officials as that country prepares to pass its first true whistleblower protection law. The Department of Health and Human Services is reportedly planning to issue regulations that will further restrict undocumented people's ability to access health care. The hosts have part two of an in-depth look at this latest attack on immigrants and the barriers to healthcare access that already existed. Leo Cuello, an attorney and the director of health policy for the National Health Law Program, joins the show. We’ve all heard about GMOs, or genetically modified foods. But new research has created what’s being called GMO.2, or gene-edited food. What is this new creation and is it any safer than GMO.1? Patty Lovera, Food and Water Policy Director at Food & Water Watch, joins Brian and John. The US and the UK took the highly unusual step of issued a joint technical alert this week, which says that Russia has hacked millions of personal and home technological devices. Is this true? What’s the big picture? Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa joins the show.The hosts continue the regular segment of the worst and most misleading headlines. Brian and Nicole Roussell, sitting in for 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.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia” and by Kevin Zeese, he is the co-coordinator of Popular Resistance.The highly anticipated “Nunes memo” was released today, showing what appears to be serious abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to conduct surveillance on the Trump campaign during the 2016 election based solely on an opposition research dossier prepared by former British spy Christopher Steele. Today, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned Syria not to launch chemical weapons attacks on civilians, noting, “you’ve all seen how we reacted to that” ... and this “would be ill advised.” He added, though, that there is no evidence that any attack has been committed. Brian and John speak with Rick Sterling, an investigative journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement. As the stock market suffers heavy losses, Bitcoin is headed for its biggest weekly loss this week since December 2013, with values dipping under $8,000 for the first time since November. In the jobs report, January saw 200,000 jobs added. Daniel Sankey, a financial policy analyst, joins the show.Medicaid is one of the most important and innovative programs in government, helping millions of Americans--in both the lower and middle economic strata--since its creation. Now it’s under attack from Republicans, who see it as wasteful. We’re going to start about the state of Medicaid and what comes next. Leonardo Cuello, an attorney and the director of health policy for the National Health Law Program, and Dr. Margaret Flowers, a medical doctor and the co-coordinator of Popular Resistance, join Brian and John

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Heather Benno, the managing attorney at Esperanza Center, and Juan José Gutiérrez, the executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition.The hosts discuss Trump’s immigration proposal, which would end family immigration. Is it a poison pill that will get nowhere or will it be adopted, tearing families apart based on geography?The hosts analyze a new piece that alleges to have uncovered the source behind the McCarthyite PropOrNot website. Joe Lauria, a journalist, political commentator, and author of the book "How I Lost, By Hillary Clinton," and Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek join the show.The House Intelligence Committee is voting on whether or not to release the so-called Nunes Memo, which will likely allege an FBI conspiracy to take down the Trump presidency. Is it based on intelligence or on Republican fantasies? Meanwhile, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe resigned today, prior to his scheduled March departure. Brian and John speak with Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer, who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia.”The Afghan capital of Kabul has been wracked by an unusually high level of violence over the past week, with attacks coming from both the Taliban and ISIS. More than 125 people have been killed. Brian Terrell, a long time peace activist and a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, joins the show.Robert Parry, the legendary journalist and founder of Consortium News, has died at 68. He was a longtime reporter for the Associated Press, and was a Pulitzer finalist for uncovering the production of a CIA assassination manual for Central American rebels. Ray McGovern, a CIA analyst turned anti-war activist and a close friend of Robert Parry, joins Brian and John.U.S. authorities today are set to arrest several people implicated in connection with a federal investigation into something called “spoofing,” and manipulation of the U.S. futures markets by three European banks. Brad Birkenfeld, a whistleblower who exposed billions of dollars of financial fraud committed by banking giant UBS who writes at lucifersbanker.com, joins the show.If you thought the war in Yemen couldn’t get any more complicated, you are wrong. Separatists allied with the United Arab Emirates are fighting troops allied with Saudi Arabia for control of the southern part of Yemen. Some observers are now predicting the secession of southern Yemen. Brian and John speak with Mustafa Akhwand, the executive director of Shia Rights Watch.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dan Kovalik, the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia.”Senator Dianne Feinstein has released the Senate Committee testimony of Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson against the wishes of Chuck Grassley, the chair of the committee, in the latest twist to the “Russiagate” saga.Tenants in Maryland are suing that a property management firm controlled by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner’s real estate company and an Israeli Corporate entity provided $30 million to Kushner’s properties before Trump sent Kushner to Israel and the Middle East and before Trump announced that the US was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Matt Hill, an attorney representing aggrieved tenants in a class action suit brought against Kushner and his companies, joins the show.North Korea announced yesterday that it would send a team of athletes to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, while South Korea confirmed the first high-level talks between the two countries in more than two years. Brian and John speak with Professor Simone Chun, a fellow at the Korea Policy Institute and a member of the Korean Peace Network.After ignoring a court order about racial profiling, being convicted of contempt of court, and being pardoned by President Trump, America’s former “toughest sheriff” Joe Arpaio threw his hat in the ring today for an Arizona senate seat. Juan José Gutiérrez, the executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, joins the show.The Trump Administration is likely to re-impose sanctions on Iran this week, even though it would hurt U.S. manufacturers doing business with the country. Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, joins Brian and John.The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this week unanimously rejected a proposal by Energy Secretary Rick Perry that would have propped up nuclear and coal power plants struggling in competitive electricity markets. Four of the five members of the commission were appointed by President Trump. Fred Magdoff, author and professor emeritus at the University of Vermont, joins the show.With a ceasefire set to expire, Colombia’s government and ELN guerrillas are pushing for a permanent peace deal. Brian and John speak with James Jordan, a member of the Alliance for Global Justice.

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.

Colombia and Venezuela: two neighboring countries that receive extremely different treatment by the US Empire and the mass media. While Colombia is known for one of the worst human rights records in the world, it remains a top recipient of US military aid and enjoys uncritical press coverage in Western media. To explain the 50+ year history of US intervention and human rights reality in Colombia, Abby Martin interviews human rights attorney Dan Kovalik, who has done extensive work in Latin America. He also serves as Associate General Counsel of the United Steelworkers union, teaches International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and is the author of the new book "The Plot to Scapegoat Russia." FOLLOW // twitter.com/empirefiles LIKE // facebook.com/theempirefiles

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 the Lebanese Communist Party, and by Middle East political analyst Robert Carter.Saudi Arabia continues to push its regional offensive against Iran. The Saudis have denounced Iran at an extraordinary Arab League summit held in Cairo yesterday, and the region awaits the imminent return of Saad Hariri to Lebanon, where he is expected to explain the mysterious events surrounding his resignation.New accusations have hit Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr. over communications pertaining to Russia, are more indictments on the way? Plus, Sputnik has once again been the target of fake news, with the Daily Beast and several other outlets falsely claiming that we have registered as a foreign agent. Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia”, Jim Kavanagh, editor of ThePolemicist.net, and Dr. Robert Epstein, Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, join the show.Coalition talks in Germany have collapsed, with the Free Democratic Party withdrawing from negotiations led by Chancellor Angela Merkel. As political uncertainty deepens, will the country have to call another election? Reiner Braun, chair of the International Peace Bureau, discusses these developments.On the heels of a controversy over a NATO war game where the enemy units were designated “Ataturk” and Erdogan, a top advisor to the Turkish president has called into question Turkey’s membership in NATO altogether. Ceyda Karan, a Columnist at Cumhuriyet Daily, and Alexander Mercouris, the Editor in Chief of The Duran, join the show.The Trump administration has officially designated North Korea to be a state sponsor of terror, ratcheting up tensions days after the head of U.S. Strategic Command openly discussed the possibility of the military refusing illegal orders to launch a nuclear strike. Kevin Kamps, the radioactive waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, discusses the issue with Brian and John.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jim Kavanagh, the editor of ThePolemicist.net, as well as by Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia”.Indictments have been issued targeting Paul Manafort, Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos. What is Special Counsel Mueller’s strategy in the ongoing investigation? Are others likely to be indicted? None of the charges are related to Russian interference in the 2016 election, but “Russiagate” continues to gain steam.Catalan President Puigdemont has gone to Belgium along with several other Catalan officials following the announcement of heavy charges against pro-independence leaders. Meanwhile, the central government has declared that a new regional election will take place in December. Brian and John are joined by Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly.Longtime leader of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masoud Barzani has resigned following an independence referendum that prompted an Iraqi government offensive that retook the contested city of Kirkuk. Following clashes in the Kurdish parliament, what comes next for the KRG and Iraq? Ali Musawi, war correspondent based in Iraq, joins the show along with Kani Xulam, director of the Kurdish American Information Network.Another round of Syria peace talks convened by Russia, Iran and Turkey are underway in Astana, with delegates set to discuss the future of the country’s four “de-escalation zones”. Peter Ford, former British ambassador to Syria, discusses the prospects for peace.Some of the most revealing documents in the “JFK files” were in fact about Cuba. Evidence has now emerged that the U.S. government was considering biological warfare on Cuban agriculture and a staged bombing campaign that would be blamed on the Cuban government, among other schemes. Brian and John are joined by Dr. Helen Yaffe, an Economic History Fellow at the London School of Economics and author of the book “Che Guevara: The Economics of Revolution”.

Daniel Kovalik is author of the recently-released book The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia. He teaches International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He has worked on Alien Tort Claims Act cases against The Coca-Cola Company and Occidental Petroleum – cases arising out of egregious human rights abuses in Colombia. The Christian Science Monitor, referring to his work defending Colombian unionists under threat of assassination, recently described Mr. Kovalik as “one of the most prominent defenders of Colombian workers in the United States.” Mr. Kovalik received the David W. Mills Mentoring Fellowship from Stanford University School of Law and was the recipient of the Project Censored Award for his article exposing the unprecedented killing of trade unionists in Colombia.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Dan Kovalik, a labor and human rights lawyer and the author of ‘The Plot to Scapegoat Russia’.The mainstream media continues to keep the story about Trump Jr’s meeting with a Russia lawyer alive, now saying a former Soviet spy attended the meeting. Is this latest supposed revelation simply more smoke without fire?Opposition protests and violence continue in Venezuela, with the fugitive pilot who recently attacked the Supreme Court attending a rally and the UN calling on the government to recognize an unofficial referendum. But the government continues to be resilient ahead of the planned constituent assembly elections. Carlos Ron, the Charge d’Affairs at the embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Washington, D.C., joins the show.The Trump administration considered the prospect of using a private army in Afghanistan, proposing that the infamous Blackwater and other mercenary companies be given contracts rather than a troop surge. But the Pentagon rejected the plans, at least for now. Brian Terrell, the co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, joins Brian.

The Plot to Scapegoat Russia, new book by Dan Kovalik