Loud & Clear

Latest Episodes:

George Galloway on the War Between Trump and the CIA Leadership Jan 13, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by George Galloway, a world-renown activist and former Member of Parliament in the UK.
The identity of the British intelligence officer who allegedly compiled the dossier on Donald Trump has been revealed. Who is the former MI6 agent Christopher Steele and what role did he play in the ongoing war between Trump and the CIA leadership?
Several Trump nominees sounded an extremely belligerent note in their confirmation hearings, targeting China and Russia. Will the positions stated by Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis, Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, and proposed CIA head Mike Pompeo lead to more confrontation with Russia and China dashing hopes for a reduction in international tensions that are boiling over? Brian is joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda.
In other confirmation hearing news, Jeff Sessions was questioned about his history of racist comments, will his racism be consider just a little blip or an actual obstacle to his confirmation. David Cobb, 2004 presidential candidate for the Green Party as well as Jill Stein’s campaign manager in this past election, joins the show.

Behind the CIA's Covert Ops Against Trump Jan 12, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by former CIA analyst and political activist Ray McGovern, and by editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall.
Trump prepares to take office in just over a week as unverified claims circulate that Russia has damaging information about him. Could this be a coup attempt on behalf of the state to make sure that Trump never takes office?

Deception and Empty Platitudes: Obama's Farewell Speech to the Nation Jan 11, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Medea Benjamin, the co-founder CODEPINK, history professor and author Jeremy Kuzmarov, and Loud & Clear Producer Walter Smolarek.
Barack Obama gave his farewell address last night and talked up the supposedly strong economy and his administration’s military action against terrorism. Is this really how history will remember him? What was left unsaid?

Abby Martin: Anti-Russia Intelligence Report "Audaciously Ridiculous" Jan 10, 2017

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On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Abby Martin, formerly the host of RT's Breaking The Set and currently host of TeleSUR's The Empire Files.
The U.S. intelligence agencies’ unclassified report on Russia’s involvement in the election didn’t provide any evidence of hacking, instead choosing to focus on media such as RT, including a show that hasn’t been on the air for nearly two years. Brian speaks with Abby Martin about why her show was included and the way the mainstream media has slandered her.
President Obama gives his farewell speech tonight in Chicago, just ten days before the end of his administration. What is his real legacy? Walter Smolarek, producer of Loud & Clear, discusses Obama's two terms and if he will challenge Trump in his final address.
Today marks ten years since George W. Bush ordered a troop surge in Iraq at the height of the U.S. occupation, but a decade later thousands of U.S. forces remain as the Iraqi army advances on Mosul. Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran, discusses the past decade of U.S. intervention in the Middle East.

Trump and Republicans Blitz Senate In Confirmation Battle Jan 09, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Anoa Changa, host of The Way With Anoa; by Kevin Zeese, the co-director of Popular Resistance; and by Kevin Akin, the California State chair of the Peace and Freedom Party.
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States in just 11 days time, but confirmation hearings will already take place beginning tomorrow. In a surprise move, Trump has planned expedited hearings, some of which will overlap with others, in a move that some Democrats say is an effort to avoid public scrutiny of his controversial picks. Will the strategy be successful, and who are Trump’s choices in what’s shaping up to be the richest administration ever, and certainly one of the most right wing?

An Absolute Farce: Senate Anti-Russia Hearing Offers Hot Air Not Facts Jan 06, 2017

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The Senate Armed Services committee held a hearing, broadcast on almost every TV network in the United States, on the alleged Russian hacking in the election. The hearing was supposed to reveal hard evidence about Russia’s alleged hacking, but this huge spectacle offered no evidence at all. Rather, the Director of National Intelligence stated that his agency had “high confidence” about Russia’s alleged involvement. Was this all smoke with no actual fire?
Donald Trump will finally be confirmed as the next president by Congress today, just two weeks before his inauguration. We’ll look at the complicated process of how the president is elected, or rather appointed. Drew Spencer, Legal Director at the election reform advocacy organization FairVote, joins the show to discuss the strange electoral system.
A battle rages over a statue of political prisoner Leonard Peltier at American University in Washington as a former prosecutor in his case calls for clemency. Rigo, the artist who created the sculpture as AU, joins Becker to talk about his work and why the Peltier case is so important.

Cyber Experts Blast Russia Hacking Allegations: Where's the Proof? Jan 05, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by by William Binney, former NSA official turned whistleblower; and by Jeffrey Carr, a cybersecurity consultant, author, and founder of the Suits and Spooks conference.
The Senate is set to hold an Armed Services Committee hearing on alleged Russian hacking today, but will any evidence finally be provided? Becker investigates the assertions of U.S. intelligence agencies and their motives for making these accusations.
President Obama has received a farewell tribute from the Armed Forces. Ben Norton, independent journalist, discusses Obama's legacy of eight years of war, occupation and intervention.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is officially investigated for corruption, pointing to endemic corruption in Israeli politics as the country becomes more estranged from the international community in the aftermath of the UN vote on settlements. Alberto Garcia Watson, a former senior correspondent based in the Middle East, joins the show.

Syria Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance: Turkey's Role Examined Jan 04, 2017

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by independent political analyst Marwa Osman.
Syria brought in the New Year with a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia, but the opposition has already frozen talks about upcoming peace negotiations. Can this be the year that Syria’s war finally comes to an end?
Two and a half months have passed since the operation to retake Mosul from the so-called Islamic State began. Iraq’s government had initially said the city would be retaken by the New Year, but progress appears slow amid fierce fighting. Catherine Shakdam, independent political commentator and author, joins the show.
After the U.S expulsion of 35 Russian diplomatic personnel and their families, President Putin’s measured response indicates his desire for a re-set in relations after Donald Trump becomes president. Former CIA analyst turned political activist Ray McGovern joins Becker to talk about the future of U.S.-Russia relations and the ongoing mainstream media campaign against Moscow.

North Korea in the Crosshairs: Trump's Advisers Demand Showdown Jan 03, 2017

Show notes

Few countries are as fiercely demonized as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - more commonly known as North Korea. The media presents the country as a dangerous and mysterious pariah that lashes out uncontrollably at its neighbors. But as we should come to expect from the corporate media, this is a total distortion. What’s the real history of U.S.-North Korean relations? As Donald Trump prepares to become the next president of the United States, what does this mean for the prospects of normalization between the U.S. and the DPRK? What’s the situation inside of North Korea? And how does this relate to the geopolitics of the region?
Lee, Rhee and Elich are involved in the Task Force to Stop THAAD in South Korea and Militarism in Asia and the Pacific. To find out more about their work, visit stopthaad.org or find them on Facebook (Stop THAAD)

Bill Ayers: The Need to Build a Movement Against War and Fascism Dec 30, 2016

Show notes

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined for the full hour by historic activist, author and educator Bill Ayers.
Though Ayers' life as a member of the Weather Underground in the 1960s and 70s is often discussed, less attention is given to his work as an award-winning educator and his work in curriculum and instruction. He has released over twenty books, many on education but also memoirs and political works. In "Demand the Impossible: A Radical Manifesto", Ayers discusses the progressive causes and anti-war activism that he has long been a champion of, and how these movements can lead to a fundamentally different world.

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