Loud & Clear

Latest Episodes:

Hurricane Trump Came Ashore 100 Days Ago: How Much Damage? Apr 28, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Anoa Changa, host of the weekly radio show The Way With Anoa; political activist Kevin Akin; Yahne Ndgo from the Ubuntu Nation project; and Walter Smolarek, Sputnik news analyst and Loud & Clear producer.
Tomorrow marks 100 days since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Even before he was inaugurated, a new wave of protest swept the country against his proposed policies and the campaign of bigotry that he ran. This people’s movement has grown since he took
office as he has attempted to usher in racist immigration orders and put forward a pro-corporate and anti-worker agenda, as well as accelerating U.S. aggression through his foreign policy.

A Manufactured Crisis: Senators Meet at White House for Korea Briefing Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by journalist Ben Norton.
The entire U.S. Senate was summoned to the White House for a briefing on Korea yesterday afternoon, fueling speculation that Trump could be getting ready to attack North Korea, as the U.S. and South Korea said the THAAD missile system would be operational within days.
Donald Trump has released a tax plan that proposes sharp cuts for businesses and those who return overseas corporate profits to the U.S. But what does his tax plan mean for working people in the U.S? Daniel Sankey, financial policy analyst, joins the show.
The semi-annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, begins today in Manila and is a milestone in President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial presidency. Bernadette Ellorin, the chairperson of BAYAN, joins Brian to discuss the significance of the summit.

Playing with Fire: Britain Says it is Prepared to Initiate Nuclear War Apr 26, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran.
The UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said that Prime Minister Theresa May would be willing to initiate a nuclear war -- the so-called first strike policy. The comments provoked fury both at home and abroad as the general election approaches.
The leaders of the House Oversight Committee announced that they believe former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn broke the law in receiving payments from foreign governments. What’s behind this attempt to re energize the anti-Russia witch hunt?Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and activist, joins Brian.
New revelations from Edward Snowden shows that the U.S. operated three NSA offices out of Japan which helped to greatly expand Washington’s global surveillance network.
William Binney, former NSA technical director turned whistle blower, joins the show.

Is Trump planning major escalation of war in Afghanistan? Apr 25, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, who recently returned from Afghanistan.
Secretary of Defence James Mattis made an unannounced
visit to Afghanistan on Monday. The visit came on the heels of Donald Trump dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb on the country and the Taliban stepping up its attacks across the country -- is a serious U.S. escalation on the horizon?
As the U.S. sends aircraft carrier USS Vinson and a accompanying “armada” of vessels toward the Korean Peninsula ahead of another important holiday in the North, Xi Jinping has urged restraint in a phone call with Donald Trump. Brian speaks with Will Griffin, an organizer with U.S.-based Stop THAAD in Korea and US Militarism in Asia and & Pacific, and
Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance.
Venezuela’s opposition openly calls for an economic war against the government of Nicolas Maduro as deadly right-wing protests continue around the country, but large pro-government demonstrations are ignored by the western media. Journalist and lecturer Arnold August joins the show.

Thinker, Fighter Mumia Abu Jamal: "A Life of Revolutionary Purpose" Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by by Ramona Africa, minister of communication for the MOVE organization; by activist and scholar Dr. Anthony Monteiro; and by Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
Today is the 63rd birthday of Mumia Abu-Jamal, perhaps the most well known of the political prisoners currently being held in the United States. Mumia is also in court today, as his supporters will take to the streets in Philadelphia. His lifetime of struggle, beginning with his membership in the Black Panther Party, has been an inspiration for generations of activists, and his case has been taken up by those seeking social justice across the world. But Mumia is far from the only political prisoner being held in U.S. prisons today. We’ll discuss this for the full hour today.

A Political Earthquake in France? Apr 21, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by show producer Walter Smolarek.
The first round of France’s presidential election
takes place this weekend, with the chance that the traditionally mainstream parties will be brushed aside by voters as candidates from the far-right and radical left soar in the polls.
Peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front and the government of the Philippines are set to continue in the near future in Oslo, but with a ceasefire now off the table what are the prospects for lasting peace coming to the country after almost half a century of war? Brian is joined by Edre Olalia, Legal Consultant of the Peace Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the peace negotiations and President of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers.
Bernie Sanders has joined the new chair of the DNC Tom Perez for a unity tour across the U.S., but is the Democratic Party actually serious about transforming itself into a progressive organization, or is it likely to remain the graveyard of social movements? Ted Rall, editorial cartoonist and columnist, joins the show.

Trump Preparing to Blow Up Iran "Nuclear" Deal? Apr 20, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Massoud Shadjareh, the executive director is the Islamic Human Rights Commission, as well as by Jeremy Kuzmarov, professor of history at the University of Tulsa.
Donald Trump apprears to be setting the stage for new sanctions on Iran despite Secretary of State Rex Tillerson telling Congress that Iran is in compliance with the Iran nuclear arms deal.
Donald Trump was lying last week when he announced that he was sending an Armada toward the Korean peninsula. What are the politics behind the sabre rattling and war threats? Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins the show.
Rex Tillerson attended the U.S.-Saudi CEO Summit yesterday a day after Secretary of Defence James Mattis visited the country.
Is an even cozier relationship developing between the U.S. and the Saudi monarchy under the Trump administration? Alberto Garcia Watson, former senior correspondent for HispanTV, speaks with Brian.

Tory Surprise! Snap UK Election and the Fate of Brexit Apr 19, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Steve Hedley, the Senior Assistant General Secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) in Britain.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a snap general election to be held on June 8th, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcoming the move. With Brexit, a second Scottish independence referendum, and the possibility of a coup against Corbyn looming, this election is crucial to the future of the UK.
Palestinian prisoners have launched the largest mass hunger strike ever in Israeli jails, as more than 1,600 have so far announced that they are taking part and Israel rules out talks with the hunger strikers. Brian is joined by independent filmmaker and journalist Dan Cohen.
Defence Secretary James Mattis was in Saudi Arabia yesterday on the first leg of a trip to the region on the heels of National Security Advisor HR McMaster’s trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan. What do Trump’s generals have in mind for the Middle East? Loud & Clear's producer Walter Smolarek discusses the importance of the trip.

"All Options on the Table": Mike Pence Threatens War with North Korea Apr 18, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by author and analyst Patrick Lawrence. Vice President Mike Pence is in Japan after visiting the demilitarized zone along the border between North and South Korea and announcing that the era of “strategic patience” is over. Is a new Korean War on the horizon?
Turkey has narrowly voted yes in a referendum to vastly expand the powers of President Erdogan, but as the opposition alleges fraud and protests mount will Erdogan be able to consolidate his victory? Güney Işıkara, political analyst and PhD student in economics at the New School for Social Research, joins Brian.
The European Union and China begin a three day summit today. These talks have taken on heightened significance ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU and the global pushback against neo-liberal trade deals. China expert Keith Bennett joins the show to examine the significance of the summit.

New Trump "Military First" Policy Puts Generals in Charge Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Ann Wright, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former U.S. State Department official, who resigned in protest of the invasion of Iraq; as well as by Cindy Sheehan, legendary anti-war activist.
Donald Trump has unleashed a wave of aggressive foreign policy moves in recent weeks. From the Tomahawk missile strikes against Syria to the dropping of the largest non-nuclear bomb on Afghanistan, and moving what he called an ‘Armada’ toward the Korean peninsula, the Trump administration is signalling that it is ready for war -- globally. This contrasts sharply with his isolationist message on the campaign trail. Are Trump’s beloved generals fully in the driver’s seat when it comes to his administration’s foreign policy?

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