Loud & Clear

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Trump Sues Bannon: Wheels Keep Coming Off White House Wagon Jan 04, 2018

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Lee Stranahan, co-host of Radio Sputnik’s “Fault Lines” program.
President Trump today filed a libel suit against his former campaign manager Steve Bannon, saying his former senior advisor violated a non-disclosure agreement with the Trump Organization by disparaging him in a recent book by Michael Wolff.
Trump is seeking to block the publication of the controversial book by Michael Wolff, which is scheduled for Tuesday, and is already #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. Anoa Changa, host of the radio show The Way With Anoa, joins the show.
Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, currently under a dozen federal indictments, sued the Justice Department yesterday accusing special counsel Robert Mueller of prosecutorial overreach. Brian and John speak with Jim Kavanagh, the editor of ThePolemicist.net, and Kevin Zeese, co-coordinator of Popular Resistance.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions yesterday rescinded an Obama-era policy that called for non-interference in marijuana-friendly state laws. Lindsay Robinson, the executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Association, Morgan Fox, Communications Manager of the Marijuana Policy Project joins the show.
The Attorney General of Washington State is suing Motel 6 after corporate leaders admitted that the motel chain’s employees secretly provided guest lists to Immigration and Customs Enforcement when those lists contained what are being described as “Latino-sounding” names.” Matt Adams, legal director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, joins Brian and John.
South Korea and the United States have announced that they will be postponing their annual massive military exercises in the latest sign that the North and South are heading towards negotiations. Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space and a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus, joins the show.
After a year of battle with US intelligence agencies, President Trump today will bestow one of the US government’s highest honors on the outgoing deputy director of the NSA. Meanwhile, the security of widely-used computer chips is back in the news. Bill Binney, a former NSA technical director who became a legendary national security whistleblower, joins Brian and John.
A critical election for a Virginia state assembly seat that ended in a tie was decided today when election officials draw the name of the Republican candidate out of a film canister. It’s a tie-breaking method that dates to 1703 and it gives Republicans a 51-49 majority. Drew Spencer Penrose, Legal and Policy Director at the election reform advocacy organization FairVote, joins the show.

From Friendship to All-Out War: Trump vs. Bannon Battle Takes Shape Jan 03, 2018

Show notes

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.

Iran Street Protests: Trump and Democrats Hope for Regime Change Jan 02, 2018

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by author and journalist Mazda Majidi and Phil Wilayto of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality.
Demonstrations throughout Iran have been heavily praised by Donald Trump. Who are the demonstrators, what are they fighting for. Is this a spontaneous uprising, or is there something more sinister behind it?
South Korea today offered talks with North Korea amid a standoff over its weapons program a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he was open to negotiations, but that his country would push ahead with the production of nuclear weapons. Brian and John speak with Professor Simone Chun, a fellow at the Korea Policy Institute and Hyun Lee, a writer for Zoominkorea.org.
California yesterday became the largest state in the country to allow the recreational use of marijuana. The state also enacted one of the most progressive sentencing and criminal justice reforms related to marijuana ever. Alex Friedmann, managing editor of Prison Legal News, joins the show.
President Trump ripped Pakistan in his first tweet of 2018, accusing the US ally of “lies and deceit” in its counterterrorism work. Marvin Weinbaum, the Scholar-in-Residence for the Middle East Institute’s Center for Pakistan Studies, joins Brian and John.
Congress is back in town and Congressional leaders are at the White House to discuss their legislative agenda. Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek, joins the show.
The Central Committee of Israel’s governing Likud Party passed a resolution on Sunday calling for the annexation of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank. Journalist and filmmaker Dan Cohen joins Brian and John.
Donald Trump took to twitter to implore the Justice Department to pursue charges against top Clinton aide Huma Abedin for mishandling classified information.

Trump Trashes Iran Nuclear Deal: On a Path Toward a New Middle East War Dec 28, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Gareth Porter and Catherine Shakdam, both journalists and authors.
Donald Trump may kill the Iran deal in January, a move that could open the door to an Iranian nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, the U.S. mainstream media continues a drumbeat of hostility against Tehran that certainly will do nothing for peace in the Middle East or even for American economic well-being.
Loud & Clear Listener Steve Patt has an interesting take on Congressional priorities. He posted on Facebook recently that the Democratic congresspeople in his neck of northern California recently wrote to FCC chairman Ajit Pai, not about net neutrality issues, but about the dangerous Russian bear taking over US airwaves.
A federal judge has ruled that an American citizen accused of being an ISIS fighter has a right to an attorney. But doesn’t EVERY American deserve Constitutional rights, no matter his politics? Zachary Wolfe, a lawyer and activist who teaches at George Washington University, joins the show.
The Trump Administration continues its attacks on the environment, pushing oil exploration in Alaska, decommissioning national parks in Utah, and subsidizing coal, among other things. Can 2018 be any worse? Author Fred Magdoff joins Brian and John to discuss.

Trump, Republicans, Wall St. Plan 2018 War Against Social Safety Net Dec 27, 2017

Show notes

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

Israel adding 300K Illegal Homes in Jerusalem after Trump Announcement? Dec 26, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Ali Abunimah, the co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of the book The Battle for Justice in Palestine.
The Palestinian foreign ministry has denounced a new Israeli settlement construction plan, which includes the building of 300,000 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem.
The head of the Venezuelan diplomatic mission to Canada has been expelled from the country, escalating a conflict that saw the Canadian ambassador to Venezuela expelled days earlier. In the run up to next year’s crucial presidential election, what does this all mean? Brian and Walter are joined by Carlos Ron, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in Washington, DC.
The Trump administration has decided to send advanced Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, inflaming the simmering civil war in the east of the country. International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins the show.
The Washington Post attacked progressive news outlet CounterPunch in their latest installment of outrageous Russiagate propaganda. Joining the show to discuss this issue is Jim Kavanagh, editor of ThePolemicist.net.
According to USA Today Sen. Jeff Flake already has bowed out on a re-election run next year, but the GOP lawmaker isn’t ruling out challenging President Trump in 2020. Will there be a split in the Republican Party? Ted Rall, editorial cartoonist and columnist, joins the show.
As war continues to loom in Korea, what explains Russia and China’s actions at the United Nations? Are they appeasing the Trump administration, or are they winning real concessions to clear the path to negotiations? China analyst Keith Bennett comments on these developments.

Top Marine General Tells Troops that US is Headed Towards "Big *ss" War Dec 22, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by peace activist and scholar Dr. Anthony Monteiro and author Paul Atwood.
Tensions across Eastern Europe are heating up as NATO inches towards the Russian border, disputes over missile installations flare, and the head of the U.S. Marine Corps bluntly declares, “there’s a war coming”.
Just how much longer can the “Russiagate” probes keep going? Despite uncovering no hard evidence, Nancy Pelosi is demanding that the House continue its investigation, and FBI Deputy Director McCabe appears before the intelligence committee. Brian and John speak with Peter Lavelle, host of RT's flagship show CrossTalk.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of violating the emoluments clause of the constitution. However, the judge did not rule that Trump was not in violation of the clause, simply that the plaintiff lacked standing. Dan Kovalik, a labor rights lawyers, joins the show to discuss the case.
Pro-independence political parties held onto their majority in the Catalan parliament in yesterday’s election. The stage appears to be set for another round of confrontation between Catalonia and the central Spanish government. Joining the show is political analyst Denis Rogatyuk.
Boris Johnson is in Moscow today for talks with Russian officials, the first such visit by a British Foreign Secretary in five years. Brian and John are joined by Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran.
Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Afghanistan yesterday, insisting that the U.S. was on a path to victory in the country and bragging about the Trump administration’s move to increase the military’s budget. Brian Terrell, a long time peace activist and a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, joins the show.
Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, resigned yesterday. The reasons are myriad, but what’s more important is what happens next for the company that has become synonymous with the internet.

Trump's Jerusalem Policy Unites United Nations — against United States! Dec 21, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, and by author and activist Miko Peled.
In a stinging rebuke to the Trump administration, a highly unusual emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Catalonia votes today in what many are calling a second round of the independence referendum. All indications are that the results will be extremely close. Brian and John speak with independent journalist Alberto Garcia Watson, and Dick Nichols of Green Left Weekly.
The Pentagon has admitted for the first time that it has carried out “multiple ground operations” in Yemen in 2017, as well as tripled the number of airstrikes from a year earlier. The horrific war drags on with the participation of the U.S. military. Independent political commentator Catherine Shakdam joins the show.
In a big win for the first amendment, six of the defendants in the “J20” inauguration day protest arrests were found not guilty earlier today. Chip Gibbons, the policy and legislative counsel for Defending Rights & Dissent, as well as a journalist, joins Brian and John to discuss the victory.
As of the time of this recording -- 3:00 p.m. eastern -- Congress looks set to pass a Continuing Resolution to avert a government shutdown. But funding will only last until January 19th, setting the stage for a shutdown on the one-year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration. Jim Kavanagh, editor of ThePolemicist.net, joins the show.
Jim Mattis became the first Secretary of Defense since Donald Rumsfeld in 2002 to visit the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, home to the infamous prison denounced around the world as a torture center. Tarak Kauff, a member of the Board of Directors of Veterans for Peace who in 2013 went on a hunger strike to demand the closure of Guantanamo Bay, joins Brian and John.
Theresa May’s government has suffered yet another embarrassing blow as her Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green was forced to resign amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. Joining the show is Robert Griffiths, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain.

Loot, Plunder, Pillage: Unmasking the Republican Tax Plan Dec 20, 2017

Show notes

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

1950s All Over Again: Jill Stein Is New "Russia Collusion" Target Dec 19, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by journalist and best-selling author Max Blumenthal, as well as by David Cobb, campaign manager of the 2016 Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka presidential campaign.
The Washington Post reported today that the campaign of Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein was under investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee for so-called “collusion” with the Russian government, a sign that the Senate investigation is expanding, even as the parallel House probe winds down.
The Trump Administration’s Homeland security advisor said in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today that the WannaCry ransomware virus is a North Korean cyber attack. We will discuss the evidence and the potential consequences. Financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey joins the show.
Public opposition to the Republican tax bill continues to mount as the House passes the bill and the Senate schedules its final vote. Editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall joins Brian and John to discuss the latest developments.
In the wake of a deadly train derailment in Washington State, public attention is turning again to the sorry state of America’s infrastructure. Why can’t Congress agree that the richest country in the world should have the best roads, bridges, airports, and transportation system? Andrew Herrmann, the former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the current president of the ASCE’s Structural Engineering Institute, joins the show.
Charlottesville Police Chief Alfred Thomas resigned yesterday in the wake of a scathing report about his handling of a white supremacist rally in August. Brian and John are joined by Eugene Puryear, the host of Radio Sputnik's By Any Means Necessary.
Cyril Ramaphosa, a former communist miners union leader who became the richest black man in South Africa was elected president of the African National Congress, defeating South African President Jacob Zuma’s ex-wife. Gerald Horne, professor and author, joins the show.
Don Blankenship, the former Massey Energy CEO, has announced his candidacy for US Senate from West Virginia. You may remember Massey. He went to prison for conspiracy to violate mine safety and health standards after an explosion in one of his mines killed 29 people in 2010. Brian and John speak with Travis Boothe, an organizer with the Morgantown Tenants’ Union.

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