Loud & Clear

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What Human Rights? US Lifts Arms Embargo on Bahrain Mar 31, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Massoud Shadjareh, the executive director of the Islamic Human Rights Commission.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has decided to lift all human rights conditions on the sale of arms to Bahrain. This is a clear signal that the Trump administration is planning to step up aggression against Iran and move closer to the Saudi-led Gulf state bloc of tyrannical monarchies.
As conflict and extreme instability prevails in large parts of the world, NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels today. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to press the other countries to increase their military spending -- a thinly veiled handout to U.S. arms manufacturers. Brian is joined by Loud & Clear producer Walter Smolarek.
Bernie Sanders is set to announce a single payer health bill that grants Medicare to all. A single payer system is popular with the public, but does health care reform in America actually require a political revolution against the power of Big Money? Dr. Carol Paris, president of Physicians for a National Health Program, joins the show.

As Battles Rage, U.S. and Turkey Discuss Future of the Middle East Mar 30, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Ben Norton, a contributor to AlterNet's GrayZone Project.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Turkey today for talks with President Erdogan. Will there be a re-set or can we anticipate further frosty relations between Washington and Ankara as the battle for Raqqa heats up?
Ahead of the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, the cybersecurity firm that claimed to link Democratic Party computers to Russian hackers has retracted statements about Russia hacking into a Ukrainian artillery app. Will their whole story unravel? Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins the show.
Is the Trump administration on the verge of a serious escalation of U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war against Yemen? Millions are on the brink of starvation as the war looks set to deepen. Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODE PINK, joins Brian.

Theresa May Triggers Brexit, But Will The Breakup of the UK Be Next? Mar 29, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will officially trigger Article 50 today to begin the process of withdrawal of Britain from the European Union -- but as the Scottish parliament votes to hold another independence referendum, is the UK itself on the verge of breaking up?
A Chinese father of five, was killed by police in Paris, sparking street demonstrations and diplomatic protests. As political tensions reach new highs ahead of the presidential election, is this part of a wave of racist violence in France? Brian is joined by Louis-Georges Tin, President of the Representative Council of Black Organizations of France.
Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani continues his visit to Russia for a third and final day, signalling increased cooperation between the two countries. How will the visit impact the war in Syria, and what will be the wider geopolitical ramifications? Political analyst and commentator Catherine Shakdam joins the show.

Trump Tax Plan: "All Power to the Rich!" Mar 28, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall.
Donald Trump is set to unveil his tax plan after his stunning defeat in Congress over plans to replace Obamacare. Will his party tow the line this time, or will Trump be humiliated once again?
The ongoing anti-Russia witch hunt that shows no signs of letting up. Accusations of hacking, surveillance and interference are being hurled from every direction -- how can we make sense of all this? Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and activist, joins the show.
The Iraqi Army suspended the operation to retake the city of Mosul after U.S. airstrikes killed at least 150 people in a single district. As outrage grows over this latest atrocity of the U.S. in Iraq, what will be the next moves of the Trump administration? Alberto Garcia Watson, a former senior correspondent for HispanTV, joins Brian.

As Public Opinion Turns: AIPAC and Israel Declare War on BDS Campaign Mar 27, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Dr. Nazia Kazi, professor of Anthropology at Stockton University; activist and author Miko Peled, and by author Richard Becker.
The America-Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, is currently convening in Washington, D.C. for its annual summit. While high level politicians, including Vice President Mike Pence, are in attendance, protesters have been gathering outside to voice their solidarity with Palestine. As the Trump administration’s foreign policy takes shape, what will their orientation towards Israel be? How does AIPAC effect the political climate in the United States? Will the BDS movement and public support for Palestine continue to grow? We spend the full episode today discussing these questions and more.

"Wiretap" of Trump Shows Vastness of U.S. Surveillance State Mar 24, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by legendary NSA whistleblower William Binney.
The war between the intelligence agencies and the Trump administration deepens with House Intelligence Committee chair Devin Nunes’ explosive announcement that members of the Trump transition team were subject to “incidental” surveillance.
Peace talks are underway in Geneva between the Syrian government and opposition, but fierce fighting is underway throughout the country. Political analyst Marwa Osman joins the show.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is visiting Australia and New Zealand this week amid uncertainty over the Trump administration’s protectionist orientation towards international trade. Will China fill the vacuum? China expert Keith Bennett discuses this with Brian.

Congress Gets Ready to Vote: Will 24 Million Americans Lose Healthcare? Mar 23, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance; Preston Wood, Registered Nurse Case Manager at the USC Keck Hospital; Tim Robinson, CEO of Addiction Recovery Care in Kentucky; and by Jason Bailey, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.
Republicans spent all day yesterday scrambling to round up the votes to pass their much-anticipated healthcare law to replace the Affordable Care Act. 28 million people would lose their insurance, but many Republicans oppose the bill on the grounds that it is not cruel enough. Today Brian spends the full hour taking an in-depth look at what is in this bill.

FBI Begins Investigation of Media Outlets: Anti-Russia Witch Hunt Grows Mar 22, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Tim Karr, Senior Director of Strategy at the advocacy organization FreePress.
The FBI has confirmed that wide-ranging investigations into media outlets are underway. Is the first amendment about to fall victim to the anti-Russia campaign?
Ministers from 68 countries are gathering in Washington, D.C. for a summit of the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition. But perhaps the summit is most notable for who is left out -- Syria, Russia and Iran -- whose governments are doing perhaps the most to combat Daesh. Catherine Shakdam, independent political commentator and author, joins the show.
Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and Stephen Hadley, George W. Bush’s National Security Advisor, testified on capitol hill regarding “America’s place in the world”. As the biggest names in the foreign policy establishment weigh in, how is Trump’s foreign policy shaping up? Is he really an isolationist? Jeremy Kuzmarov, author and professor of history at the University of Tulsa, discuses this with Brian.

Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch Was Apologist for Bush Era Torture Mar 21, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall.
Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation hearings are underway as Gorsuch himself is scheduled to testify today. What would it mean if this hard-right conservative takes a seat on the Supreme Court?
International controversy rages as a high-ranking UN official is forced to resign after releasing a report labeling Israel an apartheid state. Lara Kiswani, Executive Director of the Arab Resource & Organizing Center, and Mike Prysner, a journalist with TeleSur, join the show.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met with President Trump in the White House yesterday. Trump is now the fifth consecutive president to bomb the country -- is there any hope of the U.S. government getting its hands off of Iraq? Raed Jarrar, Government Relations Manager at the American Friends Service Committee, discuses this with Brian.

Let the Games Begin: Congress Opens Anti-Russia Witch Hunt Hearings Mar 20, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Ray McGovern, an activist and a former CIA analyst, and Mark Sleboda, an international affairs and security analyst.
Today’s House Intelligence Committee public hearing is set to take the anti-Russia witch hunt in the United States to new heights. Several government officials agree that there isn’t any evidence of collussion between Trump and the Russians but will the establishment continue its campaign of demonization nonetheless? And will the people buy it?

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