Loud & Clear

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Summit Cancelled: Trump Anti-Immigrant Orders Cause U.S.-Mexico Crisis Jan 30, 2017

Show notes

Brian discusses the crisis in U.S.-Mexico Relations with Karina Garcia, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition in New York City, and Juan Jose Gutierrez, the director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto cancelled his meeting with Donald Trump as the relationship between the U.S. and Mexican government deteriorates. Trump has signed anti-immigrant executive orders and campaigned on a platform of anti-immigrant bigotry.

Trump's "safe zones" in Syria: theatrics or a wider war? Jan 27, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by independent political analyst Catherine Shakdam.
President Donald Trump has said he will establish so-called “safe zones” in Syria. What is a safe zone, how would they be established, and would this set the U.S. up for a much deeper illegal intervention?
Vice President Mike Pence is speaking today at the anti-abortion March for Life in Washington, part of a heavy Trump administration presence at the rally. Brian is joined by Jane Cutter, editor of LiberationNews.org, and Danielle Norwood, an organizer with Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD), to speak about Trump's anti-women agenda.
As the world marks the 50th anniversary of banning nuclear weapons in space, is the rush to militarize space bringing the prospect of war closer to realization? Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, joins the show.

Is Trump About To Bring Back Bush's "Black Site" Torture Program? Jan 26, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by former CIA analyst and political activist Ray McGovern.
What might be a draft executive order reinstating the CIA's "black site" torture program being prepared by the Trump administration was leaked to the press yesterday and reported in the NY Times, Washington Post and other media. The White House press spokesperson said that it was not a White House document. What was the document? Where did it come from? Is this fake news or is Trump getting ready to bring back one of the most infamous Bush administration policies?
Trump has signed an executive order pertaining to the infamous “wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border. As the economic and foreign ministers of Mexico visit Washington, is NAFTA on the way out? Pete Dolack, an organizer against NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Trade Justice New York Metro, talks about what's ahead for the U.S.-Mexico relationship.
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May becomes the first foreign leader to meet Donald Trump as the UK prepares to exit from the European Union. John Wight, host of Radio Sputnik's Hard Facts, joins the show to talk about the significance of the visit and the so-called "special relationship" between the UK and United States.

Syria Peace Talks Conclude: A War Without End or an End to the War? Jan 25, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Alberto Garcia Watson, former HispanTV senior correspondent for the Middle East, to discuss the result of the Astana Summit on Syria.
The Astana peace talks have concluded. Officials say the meeting was a success, but the outcome of the fight over the future of Syria is far from settled.
The UK’s Supreme Court has ruled that Prime Minister Theresa May can’t bypass Parliament before triggering Article 50 to begin the process of removing Britain from the European Union. Britain is leaving the European Union but is Scotland leaving the UK? Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran, joins the show.
Donald Trump has signed executive orders to advance the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines, setting up a new confrontation with indigenous nations and communities, environmental activists who are determined to fight back. Dennis Banks, co-founder of the American Indian Movement, discusses the ramifications of Trump's orders.

Can You Kill a Corpse? Trump Leaves TPP - What's His Economic Policy? Jan 24, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Vijay Prashad, author and Professor of International Studies at Trinity College.
On his first working day in office, Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing from the TPP, a move that came a day after he stated his intention to renegotiate NAFTA. But don’t be fooled - the Trump agenda is still 100% anti-worker.
Donald Trump spared no time once taking office on Friday in advancing his agenda, issuing an executive order to roll back Obamacare, followed by another executive order yesterday attacking abortion rights. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance, discusses what the order means for millions of Americans both insured and uninsured.
A peace summit aimed at ending Syria’s six year war continues today in Astana, Kazakhstan. Is this finally the beginning of the end, or are the Syrian government and opposition groups still not finding enough common ground? Walter Smolarek, producer of Loud & Clear, discusses the importance of the talks and if a breakthrough is on the horizon.

Astana Peace Talks: A Turning Point for Syria and World Politics? Jan 23, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined to by Marwa Osman, an independent political commentator; by
Alexander Mercouris, the editor-in-chief of The Duran; and by Catherine Shakdam, a political analyst and author.
Peace talks aimed at ending Syria’s nearly six year war are set to begin today in Astana, Kazakhstan, but unlike the Geneva talks that failed to bring about a resolution, this time the talks exclude the United States. What does the new relationship between Russia, Turkey and Iran mean for the prospects of achieving peace? What opposition groups are attending? Which ones aren’t? What will the role of the United States be now that Donald Trump has become the president?

Inauguration Day: The Dis-United States of America Jan 20, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Estevan Hernandez, a writer for Liberation News, Kevin Akin, State Chair of the California Peace and Freedom Party, and Walter Smolarek, producer of Loud & Clear.
oday is the Inauguration - a day of celebration for some, but anger and protest for many others. Since the November election, Donald Trump has rolled out a far right cabinet filled with generals and oligarchs. What is on the Trump agenda? And how will poor and working people and the many, many communities he has targeted fight back?

John Kiriakou - US Intel Veterans' Letter to Obama: Where's the Proof? Jan 19, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by former CIA analyst John Kiriakou.
More than 20 U.S. intelligence, diplomatic and military veterans have signed a statement calling on President Obama to present the proof of allegations that Russia was responsible for hacking during the election.
As Obama gets ready to leave office, his pledge to close the torture center at Guantanamo went unfulfilled, even though he says he wishes he could have closed the facility. What will happen to Guantanamo under the incoming Trump administration? Brian is joined by journalist and activist Andy Worthington of closeguantanamo.org.
On the eve of Donald Trump becoming president, Cuba and the U.S. have been scrambling to sign a series of accords that would make it more difficult for him to roll back moves toward normalizing relations. Helen Yaffe, Economic History Fellow at the London School of Economics, joins the show.

Grassroots Pressure Wins Chelsea Manning and Oscar Lopez Rivera Freedom Jan 18, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Camilo Matos from the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and by Noelle Hanrahan, the director of Prison Radio.
In a big victory for the movement to free political prisoners in the United States, Oscar Lopez Rivera and Chelsea Manning have had their sentences commuted. Who are these soon-to-be former political prisoners, and who is still behind bars for nothing more than speaking out for justice?
Days before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump is engaged in a war of words with intelligence agencies, accusing the outgoing CIA director of being behind the unverified dossier that was leaked last week. Ben Norton, writer for AlterNet, joins Becker to discuss the ongoing battle and how it was impact the country after Trump takes office on Friday.
China is firing back at Trump’s remarks about possibly ending U.S. recognition of the One China policy, as Chinese media says the gloves will come off if he attempts to do so. Is the incoming Trump administration gearing up for a serious global conflict? Patrick Lawrence, writer and author, discusses the ongoing fued between Beijing and the President-elect.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Real Legacy: A Socialist and Radical Jan 15, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Professor Anthony Monteiro, a scholar, writer and activist in the struggle for equality, freedom, and civil rights; as well as by Eugene Puryear, the host of Radio Sputnik’s By Any Means Necessary.
Yesterday people all across the Unites States officially honored the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the venerated leader who was who played a key role in struggling for and ultimately winning the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and then the 1965 Voting Rights Act that was passed to end the disenfranchisement of millions who had been barred from voting. Today, King’s legacy is appropriated by establishment politicians and often watered down, but who was the real Martin Luther King, Jr? Was he merely a pacifist, or was he a radical thinker and man of action?

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