Loud & Clear

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Generals Over Trump's White House: Gen. Kelly Asserts Control Aug 01, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by award-winning cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall.
Is Trump’s new chief of staff John Kelly consolidating control in the White House? The rise of the Generals continues, but the administration is now dealing with new allegations relating to Trump’s personal involvement in Donald Trump Jr.’s initial response to the controversy around his meeting with a Russian lawyer.
Vice President Mike Pence is on a tour where he is denouncing what he terms ‘Russian aggression’. He stopped in Georgia today after a visit to Estonia and ahead of a trip to Montenegro, an itinerary that highlights NATO’s march eastwards. Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran, joins the show.
China has officially opened its first ever overseas military base in Djibouti today. What will be the role of the base, and what does it say about the changing geopolitical landscape and China’s role in the world? Brian is joined by David Ewing, chair of the San Francisco chapter of the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association.

Russia Retaliates As Europe Reacts Angrily to New U.S. Sanctions Jul 31, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by analyst Mark Sleboda.
Russia has responded to new U.S. sanctions that were almost unanimously passed by Congress by forcing the U.S. to cut most of its diplomatic staff in the country. US-Russia relations continue to spiral downward.
Venezuela has voted in elections for a constituent assembly, with over 8 million people participating despite violence and threats from the right wing opposition. What’s next for the country’s Bolivarian revolution? Arnold August, lecturer and journalist, joins the show.
The United States has said that the ‘time for talk is over’ after North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile test and the Moon Jae-in administration in the South considers expanding the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile system. Simone Chun of the Korea Policy Institute joins Brian.

Venezuela Resists Regime Change: Opposition Forming Parallel Government Jul 21, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek fills in for Brian Becker and is joined by Carlos Ron, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in the United States.
A deadly strike called by the Venezuelan right-wing opposition went ahead yesterday with at least four people killed, but is the corporate media once against misleading the world about the nature of events in the country?
On a tumultuous day in Washington, tensions between special counsel Robert Mueller and the Trump administration heated up as Press Secretary Sean Spicer and the spokesman for Trump’s legal team resigned. Walter is joined by editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall and Jim Kavanagh, editor of ThePolemicist.net.
Mass protests are taking place today at the al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem as Israel further restricts the rights of Palestinians living under occupation and confrontation reaches a boiling point. Ben Norton, a journalist with AlterNet’s The GreyZone Project, joins the show.

Trump, CIA Abandon U.S. Arming of Al-Qaeda in Syria Jul 20, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Rick Sterling of the Syria Solidarity Movement.
Donald Trump and the CIA have reportedly decided to end the covert arming of Syrian rebels. But were these forces ever really ‘moderate’ and does this really signal a major policy change of the U.S. government in Syria?
Today marks six months since Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States. We’ll look at how his first half year in office contrasts with his campaign promises, as well as freewheeling and strange interview with the NY Times this week. Anoa Changa, host of The Way With Anoa, and Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse, join Brian.
U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to make participation of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement in solidarity with Palestine a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. This is the latest in a long running campaign of repression against pro-Palestine activities in the United States. Miko Peled, author of the upcoming book 'Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five' joins the show.

How Dare They?! Putin, Trump Talk at G20 Triggers Huge Backlash Jul 19, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Peter Lavelle, host of RT's flagship show CrossTalk.
Donald Trump has confirmed that he held a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin during dinner at the G20 Summit, but the media is once again in a frenzy about the so-called ‘secret’ meeting.
The second round of Brexit talks concludes in Brussels tomorrow. Theresa May’s fragile government faces steep demands from the European Union, and some UK politicians are now calling for Brexit to be cancelled. Steve Hedley, the assistant general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) joins Brian.
Britain is set to spend billions of pounds on the new F-35 fighter jet, but is the purchase of the world’s most expensive war plane a massive waste of money? Defence Secretary Michael Fallon says the plane is the "most powerful and comprehensive" in history, but critics argue that the number of problems with the F-35 are immense. Pierre Sprey, one of the designers of the F-16, joins the show.

Beating the Drums of War With Iran: Trump Imposes New Sanctions Jul 18, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Dan Kovalik, professor of International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Russia.”
While the Trump administration has conceded that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal, is also announced new sanctions against Tehran. Is the U.S.-Iran thaw that began in 2015 suffering a death by a thousand cuts?
The push to pass the revised Senate healthcare bill has fizzled out as two more Republican senators announced their opposition. While the worst has been avoided for now, the U.S. healthcare system remains fundamentally broken. Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance, joins the show,
The Trump administration has issued a new document outlining its objectives for negotiations to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement -- NAFTA. Trump trashed NAFTA on the campaign trail, will he follow through on his promises? Pete Dolack, an organizer with Trade Justice New York Metro and author of "It’s Not Over: Learning from the Socialist Experiment", joins Brian.

Venezuela at a "Tipping Point? Corporate Media Is Not Telling the Truth Jul 17, 2017

Show notes

On today’s episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Francisco Dominguez, head of the Centre for Brazilian and Latin American Studies at Middlesex University.
Venezuela’s right-wing opposition carried out an illegal referendum on Sunday while the government held a dry run for the upcoming constituent assembly election. The opposition vote included several questions -- including one to authorize a coup against President Nicolas Maduro, and now the opposition is planning a general strike in an effort to shut down the country on Thursday.
Ahead of a high level diplomatic meeting in Washington, Russia has rejected any pre-conditions for the return of its diplomatic compounds that were seized in the last days of the Obama administration. Where are U.S.-Russia relations headed? Author and analyst Daniel Lazare joins Brian.
Is French President Emmanuel Macron looking to exploit Britain’s departure from the European Union to weaken its financial sector? As negotiations resume this week, it’s France that has taken the most aggressive position toward the UK. Independent journalist Steve Topple joins the show

Getting Weird: Trump Jr Story Draws in Clinton Russian Bank Payoff Jul 14, 2017

Show notes

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.

Brazil ex-Pres. Lula's Attorney Exposes Truth Behind Legal Persecution Jul 13, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Valeska Teixeira Martins, a lawyer for former President of Brazil, Lula da Silva.
Former President of Brazil Lula da Silva was convicted of corruption yesterday and could face nearly ten years in prison -- but his legal team says that no evidence was produced and the charges were politically motivated. We’ll speak with one of his lawyers about the case and the coming appeal.
Donald Trump is in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of Bastille Day commemorations. The corporate media is emphasizing the stylistic differences between the two men, but they have at least one thing in common -- waging war on Syria. Brian is joined by Dr. Christopher Davidson, professor and the author of 'Shadow Wars: The Secret Struggle for the Middle East'.
Senate Republicans have released a new version of their healthcare bill that will lead to millions losing their insurance. But with a slim Republican majority, the bill’s success remains very much in doubt. Dr. Carol Paris, President of Physicians for a National Health Plan, Marc Stier, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, and Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek join the show.

Lula Given 10 Years: Brazilian Elites And US Regime Change Strategy Jul 12, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by activist and author James Cockroft.
Lula da Silva, the founder of the Brazilian workers party and former President of Brazil, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on corruption charges. But is this one more right wing political effort to stop Lula from re-winning the presidency in 2018?
Christopher Wray testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. While he was full of praise for the constitution, he wasn't challenged about his own record in violating the rights of protesters, dissenters and the Muslim community, or his own role in George W. Bush’s torture regime. Chip Gibbons, the Policy & Legislative Counsel for Defending Rights and Dissent, joins Brian to discuss.
The fallout continues in the aftermath of the revelations that Donald Trump Jr. set up a meeting with a Russian lawyer during the campaign -- but is this really the smoking gun that shows collusion by the Trump team with Russia, or was the meeting of little to no importance? Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance, joins the show.

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