Loud & Clear

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The Trump budget: Boosting Pentagon, Cutting on the Poor Mar 17, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Trina Realmuto, an attorney with the National Lawyers Guild’s National Immigration Project.
Once again, the administration’s travel ban targeting majority-Muslim countries has been defeated in court, and Donald Trump is furious.
Is ISIS about to be defeated in Iraq? As U.S.-backed forces make a final push on Mosul, the humanitarian situation is catastrophic with more than 100,000 people displaced. Alberto Garcia Watson, a journalist and former senior Middle East correspondent for HispanTV, joins the show.
The Trump administration’s budget outline proposes devastating cuts -- If they get their way, the burden of the huge Pentagon boost will fall squarely on the back of the poor and working class. Anoa Changa, editor at large with the Progressive Army and host of the weekly radio show The Way With Anoa, discuses this with Brian.

Wilders Fails to Win the Netherlands Vote But Islamophobic Tide Grows Mar 16, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Eugene Puryear, host of Radio Sputnik's By Any Means Necessary, and Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek.
The Netherlands voted yesterday in an election that was a test of how widespread both anti-immigrant and anti-EU sentiment has become. But the far right wing party failed in its effort to win the election. What will this mean for the EU and for Europe?
U.S. attack drones are headed to South Korea on the heels of a massive simulated invasion of the North. Will the Trump administration pursue an even more hostile policy towards North Korea, or will political developments in the South make that impossible? Will Griffin, a member of a U.S. based task force to Stop THAAD in Korea and U.S. Militarism in Asia and & Pacific, joins Brian.
The federal government’s power to borrow money to pay its bills expires today as the Senate’s majority leader says the debt ceiling will definitely be increased but has not said when. Will Trump also support the increase despite railing against doing so in the past? Steve Keen, professor of economics at Kingston University and the author of Debunking Economics: The Naked Emperor of the Social Sciences, joins the show to discuss.

Syria Blames Turkey for Opposition Boycott of Astana Peace Talks Mar 15, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by political commentator and analyst Marwa Osman.
With the opposition set to boycott the latest round of Astana peace talks, is a negotiated settlement to the Syrian war slipping out of reach?
We are just hours away from President Trump’s new travel ban executive order targeting six majority-Muslim countries. But grassroots activists and lawyers are fighting back. Jorge Baron, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project’s Executive Director, joins Brian.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson begins his tour of Asia today with a visit to Japan as the region reels from heightened tension and U.S. belligerence. Patrick Lawrence, columnist and author, joins the show to discuss what's next for the continued pivot to Asia.

Scotland Ready to Divorce Britain after Britain Divorces the EU? Mar 14, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by John Wight, host of Radio Sputnik's "Hard Facts"
British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to trigger Article 50 today as the Scottish First Minister announces her intention to organize another independence referendum. As Britain steps into the unknown, what’s next for the country and the EU?
A deepening diplomatic crisis between Turkey and several European governments, including the Netherlands, continues. As rallies are banned and accusations of Nazism fly, how far will this escalate? Walter Smolarek, producer of Loud & Clear, joins the show.
South Korean politics and the geopolitics of East Asia has been scrambled by the impeachment of ex-President Park Geun-hye. Will the next president pursue a thaw in relations with the North? Brian is joined by Hyun Lee, a member of the Solidarity Committee for Democracy and Peace in Korea.

Leaked CIA Cyberweapon Cache Reveals Grave Danger to Civil Liberties Mar 13, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by John Kiriakou, former CIA analyst and case officer as well as a prominent whistleblower; and by Ben Norton, who is a contributor to AlterNet’s GrayZone Project.
Last week, Wikileaks released the largest disclosure of CIA secrets ever. Although Donald Trump once said he loved Wikileaks, the White House was quick to attack the release of CIA secrets. Today, we take a big-picture look at leaks. Why are successive administrations so intent on persecuting whistleblowers? Is there anything Trump can do to stop them? And how do leaks help the people hold the government accountable?

Here We Go Again: Growing U.S. Military Deployment to Syria Mar 10, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by political commentator and author Catherine Shakdam.
Hundreds of Marines equipped with artillery will soon be deployed to northern Syria. This latest escalation of the U.S. intervention comes shortly after Defense Secretary Mattis submitted a new strategy to President Trump that ostensibly is aimed at fighting ISIS.
The long and treacherous road to Britain’s exit from the European Union has gotten even more complicated following a maneuver by the unelected House of Lords. Brian is joined by legendary British Parliamentarian George Galloway.
Ukraine is taking Russia to court. Despite all the hysteria about Trump and Russia, will his administration follow effectively the same path of anti-Russia aggression in Ukraine? Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, discusses a range of issues.

Putin Meets Erdogan Hoping to Solve Syrian War Puzzle Mar 09, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by political analyst and journalist Dmitry Babich.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with Turkey’s President Erdogan in Moscow over the next two days. Although ties were re-established last year after a period of deep tension, do Moscow and Ankara see eye to eye on key issues such as Syria?
Leaders of the European Union are gathering for a summit that will debate the future of the bloc. The summit is also expected to attack the protectionist policies of Donald Trump. Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran, joins the show to discuss the importance of the summit.
As the U.S. and South Korean militaries stage massive simulated invasions of the North, China has floated a diplomatic proposal to decrease tensions. Activist and political analyst Hyun Lee, joins Brian.

John Whitehead on CIA Vault 7 Release: This is No Longer a Democracy Mar 08, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by attorney and author John Whitehead.
Wikileaks has released the largest ever leak of documents from the CIA - a batch of thousands of documents code-named Vault 7. It shows that the agency has the ability to hack into virtually all popular encryption apps. Is there nowhere to hide from illegal govt spying?
Republicans have released their plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Are they gearing up to try to pass through an even bigger giveaway to the insurance companies? Brian is joined by Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance.
Today International Women’s Day is being marked around the world, including in many countries where it’s a national holiday. Here in the United States, organizers are planning a “Day Without Women” strike aimed at the Trump administration’s policies. Jodi Dean, professor and author, joins the show.

NSA Whistleblower Binney: Trump No Exception to Surveillance State Mar 07, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by legendary NSA whistleblower William Binney.
President Trump has ordered an investigation into alleged Watergate style-wiretapping he says was committed by the Obama administration during the presidential election. Is there merit to the accusations?
The Trump administration has issued a new travel ban executive order to replace the earlier order that was defeated by a combination of grassroots and legal struggle. But will this one also be struck down? Trina Realmuto, an attorney with the National Lawyers Guild’s National Immigration Project, joins the show.
China’s National People’s Congress opened over the weekend with discussion expected on economic growth as well as how the country will deal with the aggressive policy of the United States under President Trump. China expert Keith Bennett discusses the importance of the Congress.

Trumponomics: Wall Street Bubbles, Bank Deregulation, Privatization Mar 06, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Daniel Sankey, a financial policy analyst, and by Professor Steve Keen of Kingston University.
Nearly ten years on from the Great Recession, we take a look at the state of the economy. As the Trump administration’s plans start to take form, how will his proposed policies such as deregulation, a border tax, domestic tax reform and infrastructure spending affect the economy? Will his protectionist policies lead to global trade contracting? And with the Dow crossing 21,000, is the stock market in a bubble?

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