Loud & Clear

Latest Episodes:

Twitter Bows to McCarthyist Witch Hunt, Bans RT and Sputnik Ads Oct 26, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by journalist and bestselling author Max Blumenthal, as well as by Bruce Fein, a former Assistant Attorney General of the United States to discuss Twitter's announcement that it is banning advertising by RT and Sputnik.
The Senate Intelligence Committee voted yesterday to not only renew the “702 program” of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that authorizes domestic surveillance, but in fact to expand it! What can be done to defend privacy rights and civil liberties? Bill Binney, a former NSA technical director who became a legendary whistleblower, joins the show.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont appears to be out of options as he refuses to declare independence or call snap elections. But will a grassroots surge in favor of independence force him to act -- or even push him aside? Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly, joins Brian and John.
A huge military buildup by the U.S. navy within striking distance of North Korea has the region and the world on edge as the Trump administration’s full court press continues. Simone Chun, a fellow at the Korea Policy Institute, talks about the latest developments.
The deaths of four special operations troops in Niger has brought to the fore the expansive U.S. military presence across West Africa. Vijay Prashad, author and professor, discusses the role of the U.S. across the continent.
Big developments have been taking place in Congress -- first the Congressional Budget Office released its much-awaited analysis of the Murray-Alexander healthcare bill, and today the House passed a crucial budget resolution paving the way for the Republican tax plan. Dr. Carol Paris, President of Physicians for a National Health Plan, and by Jane Cutter, Editor of LiberationNews.org, join the show.

The Curtain Rises on Dossier Scandal: The Role of Clinton, DNC and FBI Oct 25, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda.
Yet another twist has emerged in the “Steele dossier” prepared by the opposition research firm Fusion GPS -- it turns out that the Clinton campaign and the DNC were financial backers of the report.
The battle between Donald Trump and Republicans in the Senate continues, as the high profile feud with Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee escalates. What next in the Republican Party civil war? Eugene Puryear, the host of Radio Sputnik’s By Any Means Necessary, and Bob Schlehuber, the producer of By Any Means Necessary, join the show for that discussion.
After the expiration of its 120-day prohibition on refugee resettlement, the Trump administration has now come out with a new order banning refugees from 11 countries from coming into the United States for another 90 days. Anoa Changa, host of the weekly radio show The Way With Anoa, joins Brian and John.
Following large scale Iraqi military maneuvers, the Kurdistan Regional Government has now offered to suspend the results of the referendum on Kurdish independence and has signaled its openness to negotiations. Ali Musawi, war correspondent based in Iraq, joins the show along with Kani Xulam, director of the American Kurdish Information Network.
The final batch of documents relating to the 1963 assassination of president John Kennedy are about to be released, but some are calling for key pieces of information to be withheld. Congressman Walter Jones joins the show.
Finally, the U.S. government’s attack on civil liberties didn’t begin with Donald Trump, but he certainly hasn’t made it any better. In this segment, we’ll take a look at the mass arrests and felony prosecutions of protesters at Trump’s inauguration. Chip Gibbons, policy and legislative counsel for Defending Rights & Dissent, joins Brian and John along with Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund.

Loot, Plunder, Pillage: Trump Tax Plan a Declaration of War on the Poor Oct 24, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey.
The high-stakes balancing act on the budget and tax reform has become even more fragile in the wake of Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with Senator Bob Corker. But behind the drama, is Congress gearing up for a huge giveaway to corporations?
Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman has voiced his desire to, in his words, “return” his country to “moderate Islam”. But does he really have any intention of easing the theocratic regime that rules Saudi Arabia? Catherine Shakdam, an independent journalist and author, is our guest.
While Puerto Ricans are still struggling to survive in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes, corporations are salivating over lucrative reconstruction contracts and set their sights on the ultimate prize -- privatizing Puerto Rico’s electric grid. Activist Greg Cruz joins the show.
Fresh off of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decisive reelection, U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces kicked off a two-day series of military exercises directed at North Korea. Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran, joins John and Brian.
The twice-a-decade Chinese Communist Party Congress has voted to make reference to “Xi Jinping thought” in its constitution. As the first living Chinese President to have his name added to the party constitution since Mao Zedong, will Xi bring about major changes in the country? Political analyst Ajit Singh comments on the moves.
The Environmental Protection Agency blocked its scientists from addressing a conference in Rhode Island yesterday in the latest move by the Trump administration to cover up the facts when it comes to climate change. Professor and author Fred Magdoff joins the show.

At the Brink: Showdown Looms Between Spain and Catalonia Oct 23, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly in Barcelona.
With the imposition of direct rule by the central government looming in Catalonia, pro-independence forces are scrambling to come up with a response.
Crises and tensions are piling up in Asia as China continues to rise and the United States pulls out all the stops to maintain its power in the region. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s victory in yesterday’s election clears the way for a fully remilitarized Japan. Jude Woodward, the author of the new book “The US vs China: Asia's new Cold War?” is our guest for this discussion.
The United States has put its formidable fleet of nuclear B-52 bombers on 24-hour alert for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Kevin Kamps, nuclear waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, joins the show.
Next, Rex Tillerson made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan today before heading off to Iraq, as the Trump administration struggles to implement what it calls a new strategy to combat the Afghan insurgency. Ann Wright, a former U.S. State Department official and anti-war activist, joins Brian and John.
An article in today’s New York Times is the latest indicator that promoters of the “Russiagate” theory have no “smoking gun” and are seeking to control expectations -- but that doesn’t mean that the investigations are going to end any time soon. Ted Rall, editorial cartoonist and columnist, joins the show.
Rex Tillerson lashed out at Iran and allied armed groups ahead of his trip to Iraq today to meet with the country’s Prime Minister. Middle East analyst Robert Carter joins Brian and John to discuss these developments.

Vijay Prashad: What the Bush, Obama v. Trump Debate Is Really About Oct 20, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by Vijay Prashad, Professor of International Studies at Trinity College, as well as author of the book, The Death of the Nation and the Future of the Arab Revolution.
50 years ago today, Edgar Ray Killen, the main organizer of the infamous 1964 murders of civil rights activists Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman was acquitted by an all-white jury. We’ll take an in-depth look at “Mississippi Burning” and the heroic battle against Jim Crow apartheid with Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston and author of Race to Revolution: The U.S. and Cuba During Slavery and Jim Crow.
Continuing its assault on both reproductive and immigrant rights, lawyers for the Trump administration were in court today trying to deny a 17-year old undocumented immigrant who is being held in a detention center the right to an abortion. Samantha Herrera, an organizer for reproductive and economic justice along the Texas-Mexico border discusses this issue.
Next, The Trump administration has reversed course on the Murray-Alexander healthcare bill, demanding the rollback of key components of the Affordable Care Act in return for the White House’s support. Marc Stier, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, joins the show.
On the heels of its embarrassing defeat in last weekend’s regional elections, the Venezuelan opposition is pushing for more international pressure on their own country, but remain divided over recognizing the legitimacy of the vote. Arnold August, lecturer, journalist and author of the new book Cuba-US Relations: Obama and Beyond, joins Brian and Walter.
Finally, Jeremy Corbyn’s meeting with lead European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has heaped even more pressure on the government of British Prime Minister Theresa May. Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran, discusses the developments in negotiations.

Spanish PM Invokes "Nuclear Option", Will Disband Catalonia Government Oct 19, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Alberto Garcia Watson, former Middle East correspondent for HispanTV.
The Spanish Prime Minister has announced his intention to disband the Catalan government in a major escalation of the conflict over the region’s push for independence.
Newly released diplomatic cables show that U.S. officials were fully complicit in the 1965-1966 anti-communist genocide in Indonesia. Brian and Walter are joined by Peter Kuznick, a Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University and the co-author with Oliver Stone of “The Untold History of the United States.”
The United States is under fire for its continued refusal to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Greg Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group and Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear join the show.
70 years ago, more than 750,000 Palestinian were expelled from their home in a horrific act of ethnic cleansing to make way for the creation of the new state of Israel. This event came to be known as the Nakba, the Arabic word for catastrophe. Amena El-Ashkar and Khawla Hammad, who are on a speaking tour of the United States to educate the public on the Nakba, join Brian and Walter.
Israeli forces raided media outlets across the West Bank yesterday, shutting down 8 stations. Independent analyst Jafar Ramini joins the show to discuss the clampdown on Palestinian media.
Finally, we talk about the communication between Donald Trump and other US presidents with the families of soldiers and marines killed in action, as Rory Fanning and Cindy Sheehan join the show.

Understanding China: Does Xi Jinping's Speech Signify a New Era? Oct 18, 2017

Show notes

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.

After Daesh's Defeat in Raqqa, What's Next for Syria and for the Kurds? Oct 17, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined from Germany by Dastan Jasim, and from London by Mark Campbell, both are supporters of the Kurdish movement in Syria.
The Kurdish YPG forces did the bulk of the fighting in the liberation of the Raqqa from ISIS, but the future of Syria is far from certain. U.S. military forces supported the Kurdish-led offensive. But the Syrian government demands that all U.S. forces leave Syria. We discuss the political position of the Kurdish movement as it relates to the United States and the Syrian government. Meanwhile, fears of all-out war between the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and the central government Baghdad continue following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from the disputed city of Kirkuk.
The future of healthcare in the United States is in the headlines, as a new proposal from Senators Michael Bennet and Tim Kaine is announced and Trump’s “drug tsar” nominee is forced to step down due to his ties with pharmaceutical companies fueling the opioid crisis. Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance, joins the show.
Next, The Chinese Communist Party’s congress opens tomorrow, as President Xi Jinping seeks to solidify his leadership and congress delegates discuss the future of the country’s economic and political reforms. Brian and Walter are joined by political analyst Ajit Singh.
Then, Mexico’s currency is tumbling as the United States takes a hard line in NAFTA negotiations. Are we headed towards a complete breakdown of the agreement. Economist Steve Keen discusses developments in the ongoing negotiations.
The judge in Senator Robert Menendez’s corruption case refused to throw out the case yesterday, ordering the trial to move forward. Who is Robert Menendez, and will this scandal claim his career? Andrés Gómez, the Editor of Areito Digital, joins the show.

A War Within a War: Iraqi Forces Seize Kirkuk from Kurds Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by journalist Mojtaba Masood and Kani Xulam, founder of the American-Kurdish Information Network.
Iraqi pro-government forces have swept into the disputed region of Kirkuk, taking Kirkuk city from Kurdish peshmerga soldiers. As the fight over the shape of post-ISIS Iraq ensues, could another war be on the horizon?
In a surprise turn of events in Venezuela, pro-government candidates won the vast majority of governorships in yesterday's elections. The opposition is crying fraud, but the government says that the election shows that the momentum is with the country’s Bolivarian Revolution. We are joined by Carlos Ron, the Charge D’affairs leading the Venezuelan embassy in the United States, and by Lucas Koerner, a journalist with Venezuelanalysis.com
The Supreme Court will hear a major case on about e-mail privacy. Does the government’s ability to subpoena personal e-mails extend to every corner of the globe? Editorial cartoonist Ted Rall and news analyst Daniel Sankey join the show.
Next, tension is growing as as the Spanish government threatens to invoke a controversial article of the constitution to dissolve the regional government of Catalonia while left-wing pro-independence forces press him to declare independence. Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly, joins the show the discuss these developments.
The right wing surged in yesterday’s election in Austria, and the far-right Freedom Party is expected to enter the government following a stinging defeat for the ruling Social Democrats. Ilona Pfeffer, Sputnik News analyst, joins Brian and Walter.
European Union Foreign Ministers gathering for a summit in Luxembourg have taken a strong stand in support of the Iran nuclear deal in the latest sign of friction between the EU and the Trump administration. Brian and Walter are joined by Catherine Shakdam, independent journalist.

Trump Trashes Nuclear Deal, Sets Path for New Confrontation with Iran Oct 13, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by political analysts Shabir Razvi and Ajit Singh, as well as Mohammad Marandi from the University of Tehran, to look at Trump's Iran policy after he confirmed that he will be decertifying the nuclear deal and went on a tirade against the country, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism.
Donald Trump delivered what many consider to be a death blow to the Affordable Care Act today by cutting off cost-sharing subsidies. The healthcare system in the United States is in crisis. Dr. Carol Paris, President of Physicians for a National Health Plan, joins the show.
A new study from Harvard University has found that a shocking number of people who were killed by police had their cause of death misreported on death certificates. Brian and Walter speak with Aislinn Borsini, an organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Crucial elections are taking place to elect state governors in Venezuela on Sunday, and the future of the country’s Bolivarian Revolution hangs in the balance. Joining the show from Caracas are Lucas Koerner, an activist and writer for VenezuelAnalysis.com, as well as Steve Hedley who is in Venezuela as an election observer.
A heavily armored convoy of Turkish troops have entered Idlib province of Syria to set up a “de-escalation zone”. Will clashes with Al-Qaeda follow? Rick Sterling, investigative journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement, joins the show.

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