Loud & Clear

Latest Episodes:

Korea in the Crosshairs: Back from the Brink or a Rush to the Abyss? Aug 15, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by journalist and author Stephen Gowans.
While the U.S. government continues to ratchet up their rhetoric and war threats, the governments of North and South Korea have taken measures to de-escalate the situation. Will they succeed?
72 years ago today Japan announced that it would surrender, effectively ending the Second World War. Under what circumstances could such a catastrophic war happen? Peter Kuznick, Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, joins the show.
Despite the Trump administration’s announcement that it would stop providing support to anti-government rebels, has the CIA really stopped backing armed groups in Syria? A militia once known as the New Syrian Army says they are in talks with the U.S.-led coalition. John Kiriakou, former CIA analyst, joins Brian.

Charlottesville: Nazi Violence and Murder -- What was Role of Police? Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Phil Wilayto and Tighe Barry, who were both at this past weekend's anti-white supremacist rally.
Far-right violence on Saturday in Charlottesville was responsible for the death of a courageous anti-racist protester. Eyewitnesses to the 'Unite and Right' rally and counter-mobilization recall what took place.
Is Donald Trump pushing a trade war with China? As he demands China’s ‘help’ with North Korea, the administration is ordering an investigation into what they call ‘unfair trade practices’ by China. David Ewing, chair of the San Francisco branch of the US-China People's Friendship Association, joins the show.
Vice President Mike Pence has started a trip to Latin America following President Trump threat of US military intervention in Venezuela. Arnold August, lecturer, journalist and author, joins Brian to discuss the ongoing aggression toward Venezuela's government.

Trump Says U.S. 'Locked & Loaded' for War Against DPRK Aug 11, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek fills in for Brian Becker and is joined by Paul Atwood, the author of “War and Empire: The American Way of Life”.
Donald Trump continues to escalate aggression toward North Korea, saying that his ‘fire and fury’ comments were perhaps not ‘tough enough’ and refusing to rule out what he called a ‘preventive’ strike against the country.
Charlottesville is bracing itself for a what is being called possibly the largest white supremacist rally in decades, but counter-protesters are promising to confront the bigots each step of the way. Phil Wilayto of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, joins the show.
Donald Trump says he’s very close to deciding on a strategy for the U.S. war on Afghanistan, but a frustrated John McCain has released his own strategy that involve a major escalation of the war. Walter is joined by Jeremy Kuzmarov, professor of history at the University of Tulsa and author of Modernizing Repression: Police Training and Nation-Building in the American Century.

Corruption Scandal: The Beginning of the End for Israeli PM Netanyahu? Aug 10, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek fills in for Brian Becker and is joined by journalist and filmmaker Dan Cohen.
Is the era of Netanyahu approaching an end? Dramatic developments in the investigation into the Israeli Prime Minister for bribery, fraud and a breach of trust could signal the beginning of the end for his far-right government.
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister has hit back at new U.S. sanctions targeting eight Venezuelan leaders, calling them “illegal and absurd”. The newly-elected Constituent Assembly is continuing to make rapid progress towards the restoration of peace in the country and the deepening of the Bolivarian Revolution. Carlos Ron, the Charges d’Affairs at the embassy of Venezuela, joins the show.
The fallout continues after reports surfaced that the FBI conducted a pre-dawn raid on the home of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort last month, using a search warrant to seize documents deemed to be important to the so-called Russiagate investigation. Nationally syndicated radio and television personality Lionel joins Walter to discuss the ongoing investigation.

10,000 Dead: Saudi-led War a Death Sentence for Sick Yemenis Aug 09, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek fills in Brian Becker and is joined by Alexander Mercouris, editor in chief of The Duran. A shocking new report has found that at least 10,000 people have died in Yemen in the past year due to the Saudi-led coalition’s closing of the country’s airspace, but the war continues despite the immense suffering.
Today marks the ten year anniversary of the beginning of the financial crisis that rippled across the world and caused tremendous suffering and instability. A decade later, have the causes of the crisis been resolved, or could it happen again? Steve Keen,
professor of economics at Kingston University, joins Walter.
The
day after Donald Trump threatened North Korea with ‘fire and fury’, tensions continue to escalate and the threat of war grows.
Keith Bennett, China and Korea expert, joins Walter to discuss the latest developments.

Trump Threatens 'Fire and Fury' Against North Korea Aug 08, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek fills in for Brian Becker, and is joined by Gregory Elich of the Solidarity Committee for Democracy and Peace in Korea.
Donald Trump is promising “fire and fury” in response to reports that North Korea has developed the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead so that it can be placed on a missile. North Korea is vowing to stay the course and fiercely defend its sovereignty.
A senior war crimes prosecutor is resigning from a United Nations panel investigating human rights abuses in Syria, saying that now ‘everyone is bad.’ Meanwhile, forces aligned with the Syrian government are making progress against terrorist organizations on the battlefield. Alberto Garcia Watson, former senior Middle East correspondent for HispanTV, joins the show.
As the Trump administration passes the 200 day mark, the increasingly embattled White House is struggling to maintain its core of support. Divisions within the Republican party are deepening along with dissatisfaction with the two-party establishment as a whole. Ted Rall, award winning editorial cartoonist and columnist, joins Walter.

Venezuela Resists Armed Opposition Attack, Threats from the U.S. Aug 07, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Lucas Koerner, a Venezuela-based activist and writer for VenezuelaAnalysis.com.
Venezuela’s government has repelled an attack on a military base that was conducted by armed elements of the right wing opposition -- the latest bid to destabilize the country after the inauguration of the constituent assembly.
Donald Trump has signaled his frustration with the situation in Afghanistan, where the brutal U.S.-led occupation is in its 16th year. A bitter divide within the administration and the growing influence of Washington’s opponents inside the country is further weakening the U.S. position. Brian Terrell, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence who has organized many solidarity trips to Afghanistan, joins the show.
As new sanctions are enacted against North Korea for more missile tests, the United States is banning its citizens from traveling to the country beginning on September 1. Is this ban on American travel a signal that the US might soon take military action? Juyeon Rhee of the Solidarity Committee for Democracy and Peace in Korea who recently led a peace delegation to South Korea opposing U.S. militarism, joins Brian to discuss the latest developments.

Grand Jury to Investigate Alleged Trump-Russia Ties -- What's Next? Aug 04, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Jim Kavanagh, editor of ThePolemicist.net.
Robert Mueller, the special counsel looking into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, is assembling a grand jury. Will members of Trump’s inner circle ultimately face indictments?
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats gave a fiery press conference addressing recent leaks. Sessions suggested that the Department of Justice could demand journalists give up their sources or face jail time. Brian is joined by Bob Schlehuber, Spuntik news analyst, and by Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Putin”
Venezuela’s constituent assembly has convened, but the right-wing opposition shows no signs of giving up on violent protests as the revolutionary government hits back at allegations of turnout manipulation. Brian is joined by Dr. James Cockroft, a founder of the Network of Intellectuals, Artists, and Social Movements in Defense of Humanity, who was an observer of July 30th's vote.

A Declaration of War Against America's Immigrant Communities Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Juan Jose Gutierrez, the executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition.
Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a hardline anti-immigrant bill proposed in the Senate that would see the amount of people admitted to the United States halved in the next decade. What can be done to fight back against the Trump administration’s escalating war on immigrants?
Donald Trump and and both parties in Congress seem intent on blowing up the Iran nuclear arms deal by imposing new sanctions on Iran. Iran has said that the latest U.S. sanctions that Donald Trump signed yesterday are meant to derail the nuclear deal. While Trump seems adamant on destroying it, at the summits of power in Washington opinion remains divided over whether or not to walk away from the deal. Brian is joined by Professor Mohammad Marandi to discuss what will happen next.
Brazil’s President Michel Temer has survived a corruption vote in Congress that would have put him on trial. Dr. Francisco Dominguez joins Brian to discuss what comes next for Latin America's largest country and the rest of the continent.

Venezuela's Constituent Assembly Moves Forward: Opposition in Disarray Aug 02, 2017

Show notes

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.

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