Loud & Clear

Latest Episodes:

Trump Jr's Meeting With Russian Lawyer: Smoking Gun or Smoke & Mirrors? Jul 11, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by award-winning political cartoonist and columnist
Ted Rall, as well as by Glen Ford, the executive editor of Black Agenda Report.
Donald Trump Jr. has released the full emails related to a meeting he set up with a Russian lawyer during the election campaign. She was introduced to him by someone who said she was part of the Russian government effort to help Trump who had dirt on Hillary Clinton’s dealings with Russia. Democrats are calling this treason and the smoking gun? Is it a blip or a big deal?
The United States has deployed the highly advanced Patriot missile system to the Baltics for the first time as war exercises are set to commence. An arms race between the United States and Russia may be set to intensify.Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, joins the show.
Was an award-winning CNN documentary on Syria actually filmed by a member of the country’s al-Qaeda affiliate? The CNN journalist behind the documentary called the fighters ‘heroes on the ground’, but did she turn a blind eye to their atrocities to promote the regime change narrative?Ben Norton of AlterNet's The GrayZone Project, joins Brian to discuss an article he co-wrote exposing the CNN project.

ISIS Routed from Mosul, Ceasefire Holding in SW Syria but War Rages On Jul 10, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by John Wight, the host of the weekly show Hard Facts on Radio Sputnik.
A ceasefire in southwestern Syria brokered by Russia and the United States has taken effect and is said to be holding. As the last ISIS fighters in Mosul are defeated, are we finally seeing the beginnings of a resolution to the war?
The mainstream corporate media is in another frenzy over a meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a lawyer allegedly linked to the Russian government. Meanwhile, the political establishment is united in an effort to scuttle a proposed joint Russia-US commission on cybersecurity. Jim Kavanagh, editor of ThePolemicist.net, joins Brian.
The GOP proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare seems to be losing steam as more Republicans raise their voices against the bill and grassroots resistance intensifies, but Senate Republican leadership is promising a revised bill this week. Dr. Margaret Flowers, the co-director of Popular Resistance, joins the show.

Trump and Putin Agree on Syria, But Will Pentagon Go Along? Jul 07, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Jane Cutter, editor of LiberationNews.org; by Ray McGovern, activist and former CIA analyst; and by journalist Ben Norton.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have met for the first time on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. The meeting comes a day after Trump called on Russia to end what he called ‘destabilizing activities’, and referred to a clash of civilizations. But the two leaders have reached an agreement to establish a ceasefire in southwestern Syria.

Trump Pushes for the Clash of Civilizations Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran.
Donald Trump has made a major speech in Warsaw, using the platform promoting a clash of civilizations narratative. Hr also attacked Russia, Iran and Syria. The visit to Poland came just before Trump made his way to Germany for the start of the G20 Summit.
Google has been handed a $2.7 billion fine by the European Union for manipulating search results to favor its own shopping service. Brian talks to Dr. Robert Epstein about what this means for the future of google.
The Trump administration election integrity commission faces a backlash as at least 44 states have refused to fully give in to a sweeping information request. Trump says Voter Fraud is a huge problem and dramatic action needs to be taken but is this fact or political fiction? Brian is joined by Anoa Changa, the host of the weekly radio show The Way With Anoa and Deputy Director of MPACT; and by John Malcolm, Vice President for the Institute for Constitutional Government at the Heritage Foundation.

US Threatens War on North Korea: Who is the Real Provocateur? Jul 05, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Hyun Lee of the Solidarity Committee for Democracy and Peace in Korea and a writer for ZoominKorea.org.
North Korea says it has test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile. China and Russia have offered a plan to de escalate tensions, but the U.S. has convened the UN Security Council and is threatening war.
Donald Trump leaves for Europe today, with his first stop scheduled to be Poland where he’ll make a major speech tomorrow before traveling to Germany for the G20. Can the right-wing Polish government flatter him into taking a more hardline position against Russia? Brian is joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda.
Arab foreign ministers have gathered in Cairo after the deadline passed for Qatar to respond to the list of 13 demands placed on it by Saudi Arabia and its allies. What does this mean for the ongoing rift in the Gulf? Journalists Catherine Shakdam and Ben Norton join the show.

Trump's Foreign Policy: An Empire in Decline Jul 03, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek fills in for Brian Becker and is joined by Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence; and by Derek Ford, a professor at DePauw University and the author of “Education and the Production of Space”.
Are world leaders moving from appeasing Donald Trump to a position of confrontation? As the Trump administration’s extremely aggressive foreign policy meets resistance both domestically and internationally, will the U.S. find itself isolated on the world stage?
Ahead of this year’s G20 Summit, protests are swelling in Hamburg, Germany. The EU leaders will include for the first time Emmanuel Macron, and confrontation looms on many fronts for the Trump administration. Reiner Braun, co-President of the International Peace Bureau, joins the show.
Saudi Arabia and its allies have extended the deadline for Qatar to meet a list of demands by another 48 hours. The Saudis have said that their demands are non-negotiable. What will come next in the Gulf standoff? Massoud Shadjareh, co-founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, joins Walter.

Trump Meets President Moon: War or Peace in Korea? Jun 30, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Walter Smolarek fills in for Brian Becker and is joined by author and journalist Patrick Lawrence.
Confrontation between the U.S. and China looks set to intensify after the Trump administration approved a $1.4 billion arms sale to Taiwan, casting a shadow over Donald Trump’s meeting with South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in.
Donald Trump’s travel ban came back into effect late Thursday night after a Supreme Court ruling lifted an injunction on parts of the executive order. What comes next in the fight against the ban? Ted Rall, columnist and political cartoonist, joins the show.
A new escalation in Syria looks to be on the horizon with Turkey possibly preparing an invasion of regions held by the Kurdish YPG in the northern region of Afrin. But the Kurdish forces are warning that they will put up fierce resistance. Walter speaks with Kani Xulam, the executive director of the American-Kurdish Information Network.

Daesh Crushed in Mosul But US War in Iraq Continues: Will US Ever Leave Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Iraqi journalist and filmmaker Mojtaba Masood.
The Iraqi government has proclaimed the liberation of Mosul as government forces take the mosque where the so-called Islamic State was declared three years ago to the day. Is this truly the end of the group’s Iraq?
South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in comes face to face with Donald Trump today at the White House. Moon has expressed optimism about talks on resolving the DPRK nuclear issue and skepticism about THAAD, but will he really be able to turn the tide in Korea away from confrontation and towards dialogue? Simone Chun, a professor and a fellow at the Korea Policy Institute and a member of the Korean Peace Network, joins the show.
The U.S. State Department has announced that it is downgrading China to its list of the world’s worst offenders when it comes to human trafficking, accusing them of assisting alleged slave labor operations run by the North Korean government. But what’s the real rationale behind this move? Dmitry Babich, independent journalist, joins Brian to discuss.

Venezuela Revolution vs. Counter-Revolution: Showdown Looms Jun 28, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Carlos Ron, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in Washington, D.C.
Venezuela’s government has denounced a terrorist attack on the country’s Supreme Court by a former police official who hijacked a helicopter and then threw four grenades from it towards the building. The Venezuelan revolution and counter-revolution seem to be entering a new stage in their competition.
Companies around the world have been crippled by another massive cyberattack, the second in just two months. What is the role of the NSA in this global outbreak? William Binney, former NSA intelligence analyst and whistleblower, joins the show.
Brazil’s President Michel Temer has officially been charged with corruption, the first sitting leader of the country to be prosecuted for a crime. Is his amazingly unpopular presidency soon to be over? Brian is joined by Brazilian-British journalist Victor Fraga, as well as by Aline Piva of Brazilian Expats for Democracy.

Trump, Pentagon Threaten Wider Syria War, Sabotaging Russian Peace Push Jun 27, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Rick Sterling, an investigative journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement, and by Ben Norton, a journalist with Alternet’s Grayzone Project.
The White House has issued a public threat against Syria, saying that they believe the government is preparing a chemical attack. Are we on the verge of another war based on a lie?
The Congressional Budget Office has said that a Republican bill to overhaul Obamacare would result in 22 million people losing their insurance by 2026. But the fight for healthcare as a right continues. Dr. Carol Paris, President of Physicians for a National Health Plan, as well as Sputnik News analyst Grant Ferowich, join the show.
Qatar’s foreign minister has visited the State Department, as Rex Tillerson frantically tries to repair the rift among the United States’ long time proxies in the Middle East. Independent journalist Marwa Osman joins Brian to discuss what the spat is all about.

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