Political Misfits: Recent Episodes
Radio Sputnik
More on the show: Political Misfits brings you news, politics and culture ‒ without the red and blue treatment. We guide conversations that take new looks at the stories and topics that mean a lot to us, including corporate misconduct, foreign policy and secret wars, climate change, media criticism, poverty, pop culture, electoral politics and much, much more.
Political Misfits airs live daily Monday through Friday from 12-2 p.m. EST and is broadcast on 105.5 FM in Washington, DC, 102.9 FM in Kansas City, Missouri, and to 35 countries on signals such as FM, digital DAB/DAB+ (Digital Radio Broadcasting), and HD-Radio. The show is also made available globally live on SputnikNews.com and is distributed as a podcast shortly after broadcasting on iTunes, iHeartRadio, Spreaker and more, and you can check us out on Twitter @SputnikMisfits.
About us: Hosts John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte bring different backgrounds to Political Misfits, but arrive with a mutual curiosity and compassion. John is a former CIA officer, former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and former counterterrorism consultant for ABC News. In 2007, John blew the whistle on the CIA’s torture program, saying that the CIA tortured prisoners, that torture was official U.S. government policy, and that the policy had been approved by then-President George W. Bush. He was indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act – a law designed to punish spies – and served 23 months in prison as a result of the revelation. He won the PEN Center USA’s prestigious First Amendment Award in 2015, and won the first Blueprint International Whistleblowing Prize for Bravery and Integrity in the Public Interest and the Sam Adams Award for Integrity in Intelligence. John has written a number of books about his experiences in Washington’s secret wars and his time in the prison system.
Michelle is a committed explorer, observer and documentor of our big, beautiful planet and the strange creatures that inhabit it. A long-time writer, teacher and journalist, she returned to the US after ten years overseas with a broader perspective on American politics and culture and our impact on the world. She has worked, traveled and sometimes reported from Thailand, Lao PDR, Taiwan and Kazakhstan, and has spent significant time elsewhere in Asia. Michelle gets fired up about foreign policy, indigenous rights, responsible travel, good books and bad movies, animal welfare, baking and long-distance hikes.
Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor Emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, joins Michelle and John at the top of the show to discuss today’s diplomatic meetings set to ease tensions in Ukraine involving French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House.
Next, Bill Mew, leading digital ethics campaigner and CEO of cyber incident firm The Crisis Team, joins to discuss the proposed digital dollar. Why now? Why would the US need a digital dollar with so many digital currency options on the market, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum? A digital dollar that functions over an app could bring competition for banks that offer bank account transaction services and debit cards, according to Mew.
With talks between the United States and Iran on the JCPOA in their final phase, the US announced that it would restore sanctions waivers that would allow Russian, Chinese, and European companies to do nonproliferation work that would make it more difficult for Iran to use its nuclear sites for weapons development. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins Michelle and John to talk about the possible outcomes from the negotiations.
For the last segment, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, joins the Misfits to talk about Covid restrictions in light of new data indicating a fall in infection rates while hospital ICUs remain at capacity.
The Misfits sign off till Wednesday. Join us then to go against the grain, and keep organizing!
Dan Lazare is the author of the recent "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, The Supreme Court and Decline of American Democracy." He joins at the top of the first hour to break down the latest CNN controversy. The company’s president, Jeff Zucker, was forced to resign after an affair with another CNN executive. Star host Jake Tapper jumped into the fray in support of Zucker, saying that when fellow anchor Chris Cuomo was fired a few months ago, he decided to burn his bridges by reporting Zucker’s affair, which violated CNN’s HR rules. Then, Tapper called his colleague Chris Cuomo a terrorist.
For the next segment, Lydia Parker, founder and executive director of Hunters of Color, joins Michelle and John to talk about HOC’s recent change.org petition that is seeking a broader investigation of the Peter Spencer killing in rural western Pennsylvania. Lydia also explained the challenges that people of color encounter while engaging in outdoor activities in an environment where 97% of private land is occupied by white property owners. Lydia emphasizes HOC’s motto: "The outdoors is for everyone."
Chris Garaffa, editor of TechForThePeople.org, catches up with Michelle and John at the top of the second hour to talk about the latest cyber news. The FBI did indeed buy access to the powerful Pegasus spyware, saying it wanted to “stay abreast of emerging technologies and tradecraft.” But don’t worry, it was never used. They just wanted to test and evaluate it. Chris explains how the spyware has been acquired and used against journalists and protest movements. Then, the Misfits discuss the new robot dogs recently developed by the Department of Homeland Security.
George Szamuely is a senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute. He was a frequent columnist with the Taki’s Top Drawer pages of the New York Press. Szamuely has also written for Antiwar.com, Counterpunch, and the Center for Research and Globalization. He joins Michelle and John to discuss the recent change in tone from the mainstream media stressing there’s an imminent threat of war in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have said: "let’s not panic, we don’t think this is true." A reporter at the Guardian, Shaun Walker, ran some US claims about Russia moving blood supplies closer to the Ukrainian border. Turns out the source was unreliable, and officials from Ukraine are saying it simply isn’t a true account of what’s happening on the ground.
The Misfits close the show with 'Stories of the Weird.' Till next week...
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins Michelle and John at the top of the show to talk about how the White House walked back rhetoric after repeating that Ukraine was in “imminent” danger of a Russia invasion. This follows Biden’s comments about a “minor incursion.”
Juan Jose Gutierrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, joins John and Michelle to talk about the latest status of Joe Biden’s immigration promises from the campaign trail. Biden promised to end a Trump-era policy called the Migrant Protection Protocols. Since Biden has been in office, numerous migrants have been held in a detention center in Mexico.
Next, Nicholas Davies, independent journalist, researcher with Code Pink and author of "Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq," calls in to discuss the latest killing of an ISIS leader in Syria. During the night, the United States launched a special forces raid outside of Idlib, Syria, killing the leader of ISIS, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. Twelve other people were killed, including four women and six children.
Adriana Garriga Lopez is an associate professor of anthropology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, associate faculty of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, anthropologist and multidisciplinary artist. She joins us for the last segment of the show to talk about gentrification overrunning the real estate market in Puerto Rico and the impact that a new tax haven law is having on the displacement of native Puerto Ricans and their cultural rights.
Join us tomorrow for more breaking news and ‘Stories of the Weird.’
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, joins Michelle and John at the top of the show to discuss the latest developments from Ukraine, as well as Germany banning the German-language Russian RT broadcast.
Next, Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principal at TML Communications, talks with Michelle and John about the recent story published in New York Magazine regarding the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's missing money mystery.
Ted Rall is an award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, his latest book is "The Stringer," and is co-host of the podcast DMZ America. You can find his work at www.rall.com. Ted meets up with the Misfits to talk about the latest news out of New York. The Albany County New York DA said this morning that former Governor Andrew Cuomo would not be charged in the criminal case involving allegations that he groped a former aide in the Executive Mansion in 2020. Cuomo lost his job and his reputation over the allegation, but he apparently won’t lose his freedom.
For the last segment, Tim Stevens, Chairman and CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) based in Pittsburgh, joined the show to talk about the killing of Peter Spencer. An immigrant from Jamaica, Spencer lived in Pittsburgh, and was invited to join his white colleagues in the woods and was found dead a few hours later. No one has been charged with Spencer’s murder.
Michelle and John close with conversation about Tom Brady retiring and the new name for the Washington team. Oh please, are they really going to call themselves the Washington Commanders?
We begin with Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, who joins the show during the first segment to break down the latest in Ukraine. Hungary and Ukraine expand their deal on gas imports to alleviate dependence on Russian natural gas. Mark points out that the “lethal aid” which the Western alliance has provided Ukraine since 2014 has been used by Ukrainians to kill fellow Ukrainians. John and Michelle ask Mark about the UK, Poland, and Ukraine working on a trilateral security pact.
Next, Paul Wright, managing editor of Prison Legal News and executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center, joins John and Michelle to discuss the latest news that all federal prisons are in a nationwide lockdown today following the murder of two prisoners at the US penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas. The dead are apparently both members of the MS-13 street gang. The BOP is in disarray and stressed over multiple factors, including the latest gang incident and having trouble finding people to hire and keep on staff. John explains that the eligibility to be a prison guard is remedial and problematic, which is exacerbating the problem of hiring qualified prison workers.
For the first segment in the second hour, we are joined by Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience. He is a former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents. Jon catches up with the Misfits to talk about the impact of the pandemic economy and recent news from the New York Times highlighting Paycheck Protection Program fraud and missing money. More resources should have been given to workers who create consumer demand rather than fund a trickle-down economics approach to stimulus that emerged, which supplies the rich and draws down on the consumer, according to Jeter.
For the last segment, Keean Bexte is on the ground in Ottawa, Canada. He’s reporting on the latest developments from the Freedom Convoy, and checked in with Michelle and John to talk about the truckers protest over the weekend. Keean clarified their demands: since the Justin Trudeau administration implemented pandemic mandates, ten to fifteen percent of truckers lost their jobs. The convoy is demanding an end to all pandemic related mandates. The group has amassed a whopping $10 million. Keean says the convoy has enough cash to idle at the capital of Ottawa for about two and half years.
Michelle and John end the program by sharing news about the killing of Peter Spencer, a Jamaican immigrant living in Pittsburgh who went on a trip in the woods with his white coworkers and was discovered dead a few hours later. No charges have been filed. More about this story on tomorrow’s broadcast.
At the top of the show, Dr. Kenneth Surin: Professor Emeritus of literature, religion and critical theory at Duke University joins to talk about the escalating tensions in Ukraine and how the UK and US continue to fan the flames in the region.
For the next segment, John Kane: Mohawk activist and educator, producer and Host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast, and co-host of Resistance Radio on WBAI Pacifica Radio NY joins John and Michelle to talk about a recent story involving a California redwood forest that’s officially been returned to a group of Native tribes.
During the second hour, Daniel Mc Adams: Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. And co-Producer/co-Host, Ron Paul Liberty Report which can be heard on YouTube. Daniel served as the foreign affairs, civil liberties, and defense/intel policy advisor to U.S. Congressman Ron Paul MD (R) TX from 2001 to 2012. Daniel joined the Misfits to talk about the GOP and Trump’s latest speech over the weekend in Texas. Daniel points out that Democrats live in illusion over the rising support of working class Hispanics, Many of whom voted for Trump after hearing Biden, during his campaign threatened to end oil drilling in the region.
Next on the show, A month ago, the Virginia State Water Control Board handed the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a crucial permit for crossing streams and wetlands. But last week, the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rescinded the approval the pipeline had won from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to build across a section of the Jefferson National Forest in Giles and Montgomery counties in Virginia. To talk about this victory with Michelle and John they were joined by Rose, a volunteer for Appalachians Against Pipelines. Rose explained that it took several direct action protests to win the reversal and stall the development of the pipeline.
The Misfits sign-off till tomorrow.
At the top of the show: Mindia Gavasheli, Bureau Chief, Washington DC for Sputnik Radio stops by to discuss the crisis in the Ukraine and the fallout from Biden’s call to Ukraine’s Zelensky. It seems CNN and the Ukrainian governments spectacularly failed to get their story straight. CNN’s reporting on what some Ukrainian sources said about Biden’s call has earned a rebuke from the White House - and caused some high placed reporters to back away while a couple of others are standing by their source.
Aaron Good: political scientist and host of the American Exception podcast on Patreon. His doctoral dissertation is going to published by Skyhorse in April under the title 'American Exception: Empire and the Deep State’ joins John and Michelle to discuss Xiomara Castro inauguration yesterday in front of a cheering crowd that included Vice President Kamala Harris. She pledged closer US-Honduran ties and assistance in combating corruption and undocumented migration.
Gregg Mosson: state and federal court litigator in private practice in Maryland, at Mosson Law, LLC, and author of “Employee Rights in Maryland: A Concise Guide” joins the Misfits during the second hour to discuss the SCOTUS horserace. Joe Biden is going to get a chance to nominate a justice to the Supreme Court, and he has pledged to nominate a black woman to the position. Justice Kamala Harris?
For the last segment Dan Kovalik: author, human rights and labor lawyer. His most recent book is “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests” talks about Vice President Harris in Honduras and what’s the state of US-Honduran relations right now?
Its Friday time for News of the Weird. The Misfits sign off with a delicious story about a hairy tongue and Super Bowl performers asked to dance for no dollars. Till next time, happy weekend!
Peter Oliver, RT foreign correspondent, joins Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss Washington’s written response to Russia’s security concerns and the state of negotiations over Ukraine.
Tina Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for status coup, breaks down Los Angeles’ efforts to cover up its homelessness problem ahead of the Super Bowl, and California’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis.
Keean Bexte, editor in chief of The Counter Signal, brings an update on the trucker convoy making its way across Canada to protest vaccine mandates.
Sputnik News journalist Morgan Artyukhina reports live from a rally outside the White House to protest war with Russia.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist and security and privacy consultant, reviews the weak state of regulations governing how our private data is stored and protected by the corporations that collect it, and offers some suggestions as to who might be behind the internet outage in North Korea this week.
The Misfits also discussed reports of a secret CIA research program in Denmark, noted some new support for political prisoner Leonard Peltier, and bashed the NFT hype – again.
Jim Jatras, deputy director of the American Institute in Ukraine, a former US diplomat, and former senior foreign policy advisor to the Senate Republican leadership, discussed the possibilities for a diplomatic solution in Ukraine, how the US could secure an energy supply for Europe, and what subpoena powers Congress does and should have. .
Richard Wolff, professor emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a visiting professor in the graduate program in International Affairs of the New School University, and host of the weekly show Economic Update, talked about the actual value of reading Federal Reserve tea leaves, what impact coming interest rate hikes will have, and who in government actually has the power to stop inflation and why they won’t use it.
Tom Fitzpatrick, former long-time New York City judge, discusses why 82-year-old Nancy Pelosi would run for Congress again, what former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s weight says about his political ambitions, and the redistricting fights that will play out in federal court.
Levi Rickert editor and publisher of Tribal Business News; and founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online, broke down the Biden administration's scorecard so far with tribal governments and what battles remain.
The Misfits also talked about New York Mayor Eric Adams’ new anti-crime program, the unending misery of NFTs, and royals scamming Spotify.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfit hosts John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte to discuss the newfound “unity” US President Joe Biden has supposedly achieved among European powers in facing down Russia.
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English Literature and Orientalism at University of Tehran, updates us on the status of talks between Iran and Western powers on the country’s nuclear program, and identifies the stumbling blocks in the way of any new accord.
Author and journalist Dan Lazare breaks down the shambolic reaction of the US legal system to mask mandates and asks how much former President Donald Trump should fear the investigation into his election pressure in Georgia. He also outlines the affirmative action cases soon to be heading to the Supreme Court.
Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center and editor of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News magazines, discusses the punitive use of solitary confinement and “communication management” in prisons, and talks about what it would take to reform the Bureau of Prisons.
At the top of the show, Michelle and John connect with Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor Emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, to talk about the latest developments in Ukraine. The US press today is shouting from the rooftops about “100,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukraine border.” The 100,000 have always been there. They are about 160 miles away from the border, closer to Belarus than to Ukraine. It is highly unlikely the Western alliance would act preemptively, in a serious way, before anyone fires a shot. Until someone actually makes a move, it's a game of ‘smoke and mirrors,’ according to Dr. Surin.
Ford Fischer, a primary source documentarian who has worked on Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning films, and editor-in-chief at n2sreports, covered the protests this weekend in Washington. Friday was the March for Life, then Sunday was the Defeat the Mandate rally. Ford talked about the group Patriot Front, a far right group that tried to co-op the event. Many in the March for Life crowd were offended by Patriot Front. The Defeat the Mandate rally on Sunday consisted of a more right of center non-violent crowd. Ford described the scene as more positive than the recent protest at the Capitol. Michelle and John also talked with Ford about Twitter not making a distinction between reporters and hate groups when censoring and canceling accounts.
At the top of the second hour, Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary, The Grayzone, and The Dissenter, joins the show to talk about the latest possible outcomes for Julian Assange. Today was a narrow victory for Assange at the British High Court. The High Court refused to grant Assange leave to appeal to the British Supreme Court.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents,” joins Michelle and John to talk about celebrity lawsuits, including Alec Baldwin and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the latter of whom is suing the New York Times, saying that the paper defamed her in a 2017 editorial that incorrectly asserted a link between her political rhetoric and a 2011 mass shooting that left six people dead. Oh, and let’s not forget about the Stormy Daniels case. So much to talk about…
The Misfits close with sharing a story about a 75-year-old Frenchman who set out to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone in a specialized rowboat and has gone missing after activating two distress signals, according to his team. His boat was found on Friday - his body has not been. Jean-Jacques Savin in 2019 successfully crossed the Atlantic in an orange barrel-shaped capsule. Let’s wish the best for him….
Journalist Mohamed Elmaazi discusses today's High Court decision in the extradition case of Julian Assange.
At the top of the show, Michelle and John talk with Chris Garaffa, editor of TechForThePeople.org. The IRS will soon implement a program whereby taxpayers will have to use facial recognition software to access their taxes.They are using a third-party company, ID.me, plagued with well-documented problems. Chris warns that such software is an invitation for hackers. Anyone in the database is at risk of identity theft. More on the cyberwar front: weapons like IPegasus software created in Israel are used by governments to attack states and individuals through their phones. You don’t even have to click the link, warns Chris.
Next, Steven Donziger, lawyer, writer, former journalist and environmental advocate currently known for leading an unrelenting 24 years legal battle against Chevron Corporation related to its contamination of the Ecuadorian rainforest, joins to talk about Exxon. Steven describes an obscure Rule 202 that allows corporations to go on a fishing expedition for incriminating evidence. They are able to question individuals under oath and demand access to documents even before any legal action is filed against them. Exxon wants to use the provision to force California officials to travel to Texas to be questioned by the firm’s lawyers about what the company describes as “lawfare” – the misuse of the legal system for political ends.
Michelle and John caught up on all the latest developments with RT correspondent Peter Oliver. Talks in Geneva closed with nothing agreed upon. The US decision to send Stinger missiles to Ukraine seems to be a provocative one. After all, Stingers turned around the Afghan war against the Soviets. Russia suggested military deployment to Venezuela and Cuba remain an option.
During the second hour, John Feffer, director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, joins us. John’s latest book, "Songlands," the third and final novel in the Splinterland Trilogy, is out now. John and Michelle discuss the latest lethal airstrikes in Yemen that knocked out the internet. According to Save the Children, this is a war that had gone somewhat quiet for a while, but has really heated back up again over the past week, with both the Houthis and the Saudi and US backed forces launching strikes. Not surprising, says Feffer, that neither the Washington Post or the New York Times’ mentioned the extent of the US role in this war.
Lee Camp is a comedian, activist, journalist, host of the show “Redacted Tonight” on RT America, and author of the recent book, “Bullet Points & Punch Lines.” Lee joins for the last segment to talk about the insane amount the US spends on police. Spending on police is greater in the US than the amount any other nation spends on their entire military. The only military budgets that are greater than what the US spends on police are China and the US. John and Michelle ask Lee about the recent government papers that deem RT and Sputnik News as networks of propaganda. John mentions the history of Voice of America, which was hatched by the CIA.
The Misfits sign off, till next week…..
For the first segment, Peter Oliver, RT correspondent and friend of the show, joined us from Geneva. Ukraine is the top story around the world. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his British, French, and German counterparts in Berlin in preparation for his meeting Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. John and Peter discuss their role in the talks. CIA Director Bill Burns is also in Berlin on the heels of a meeting in Moscow with President Putin. Also, how will Russia respond to sanctions? Would there be ways around them?
In the second segment, John caught up with commentator and political cartoonist Ted Rall. They talked about Biden’s marathon press conference that the White House promoted. Multiple public opinion polls this week show Biden mired at about a 41 percent approval rating, the lowest of any modern president at the one-year mark of his presidency besides Donald Trump, who was a few points lower. Biden came out strongly against what he called Republican obstructionism on his legislative agenda, he predicted a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and he said that he could still get his agenda passed by breaking it up into a series of smaller bills.
The next segment features Dr. Mikhail Kogan, Medical Director at the George Washington Center for Integrated Medicine, associate professor of medicine at George Washington University and founder and executive director of the AIM Health Institute, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit delivering integrated services to the vulnerable. The latest is that Russia and China are not the culprits behind the Havana Syndrome plaguing diplomats. There is mounting evidence that an allergic reaction to black mold is a contributing factor, according to Dr. Kogan.
It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to talk a little about the week in sports. We’re joined by Austin Pelli, the cohost of Sputnik’s News’s Fault Lines, which you can hear every day, Monday through Friday. The games were blowouts. ESPN is saying that the NFL’s decision to expand wildcards in the playoffs has created bad football. This seemed to be the case last weekend.
John and Austin then talk about Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, telling Fox News that trans women should not compete in sports with women who were born women. This has been increasingly controversial, especially in college sports. It seems that we’re getting to a point where this issue is coming to a head. How should it be handled? Austin says it is complicated, that segregation in sports is unfortunate, but each group needs their own category for sports to remain fair for all athletes.
Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief at The Duran and writer on international affairs with a special interest in Russia and law, talks with John and Michelle about the latest developments in the Ukraine. The United States keeps saying that war in Ukraine is imminent and that the West wants to deescalate tensions. Meanwhile, the CIA is training Ukrainian paramilitary troops in North Carolina.
In the third segment, Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a Professor of Public Policy at Cornell University in New York, senior counsel at Westwood Capital and a fellow of The Century Foundation, joins the show to break down the surge in energy inflation. Robert says that the seven year high in oil has been spiked by speculators in the futures market. The disappointment from the Build Back Better and the Green New Deal legislations that are stalled in the Senate dampens expectations for robust economic growth.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com, and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins the Misfits to discuss how the Biden administration is planning a ‘reset’ ahead of the 2022 midterms. A key failure is a lack of focus explaining policy: how does new legislation benefit voters and why should people care? A two party system solidifies the status quo, according to Kevin.
In our last segment, Richard Becker, author of "Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire,” talks about Yemen. The West remains unaware and complicit in understanding the human right atrocities carried out with drone strikes in Yemen. The United States and Saudi Arabia have been embattled in Yemen since after 9-11. Yemen is important to the United States because defense manufactures are in the business of supplying the weapons, according to Richard.
Returning from a holiday weekend, John and Michelle unwrap a busy weekend in the news with a focus on developments in the Ukraine and how Democrats will recalibrate in preparation for the midterm elections after suffering a year of legislative losses.
Michelle and John talk with Peter Oliver, RT correspondent, as he joins to discuss Antony Blinken flying to Kiev today, next stop Berlin, then ending the week in Geneva to de-escalate tensions with Russia. Peter explains that the narrative that Russia is preparing a ‘false flag’ in Ukraine is media clickbait.
In the next segment, Ariel Gold, co-executive director of Code Pink, speaks about what it means to have AIPAC shepherding money through the US political system and whether Benjamin Netanyahu has a political career worth salvaging with a plea deal.
It's Art and Music Tuesday: John Hinckley, who infamously tried to assassinate US President Ronald Reagan in 1981, is forming a band. Hinckley has used music as part of his therapy and rehabilitation. Once Hinckley was released from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC a few years ago, the government dropped all remaining restrictions on him. So, who knows? You might see him in a club in Williamsburg, VA sometime soon.
For the final segment, Dan Kovalik, author and human rights labor lawyer, calls in to talk about the nationwide decline in union membership at a time when the staff of the DNC forms a labor union.
Michelle opens with the Supreme Court yesterday blocked the Biden administration’s vaccine or testing mandate for large employers. Michelle mentions an NPR’s interview with a business owner who was relieved that the mandate was struck down, not because he didn’t believe in vaccines, but because so many businesses are still in chaos over all the other pandemic fallout. John shares with listeners an article from Yahoo News about the CIA training Ukrainian paramilitary.
Then, Aaron Good, political scientist and host of the American Exception podcast on Patreon. His doctoral dissertation is going to published by Skyhorse in April under the title 'American Exception: Empire and the Deep State' joins the Misfits. Aaron explains Newsom’s decision not to release Sirhan Sirhan, alleged assassin of Robert Kennedy Jr. Good points out that the autopsy, witness accounts and a second shooter clears Sirhan yet Establishment Democrats have long been opposed to Sirhan’s release.
Next, John and Michelle are joined by Eugene Craig, Republican strategist and former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party they delve into likely contenders for the 2022 midterms and 2024 run for president. No Trump 2.0 in 2024 Trump would prefer a role such as, Speaker of the House instead. No long campaign because you do not need to be a member of congress to be Speaker. Not likely because some Republicans will be opposed and certainly all Democrats.
Mitch McConnell remains important to Republicans as an effective leader while Kevin McCarthy is a shell of leadership abilities. Former governor of Maryland Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican, not likely to run for president. Hogan does not want to risk a loosing campaign running for POTUS yet he’s likely to run for Senate.
Steve Grumbine, Founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action. He’s host of the podcast Macro n Cheese. He's also a leading activist and evangelist for Modern Monetary Theory. Talks with the Misfits about what’s behind the story of spiking inflection. The severity of the surge will wane once supply chains catch up. Opportunistic monopolies are exploiting the pandemic and raising prices.
Last, the misfits look ahead to all that Prince Andrew, formally known as the Duke of York, has to look forward to.
First up, RT correspondent Peter Oliver describes the situation in Ukraine as dire. Russia is making it clear that Ukraine joining the Western Alliance is unacceptable and a non-starter for negotiations. Russia has indicated a willingness to deploy military to Venezuela and Cuba if tensions with the United States continue to escalate, prompting a possible second Cuban Missile Crisis.
Garland Nixon, co-host of the Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik and also a retired police officer, stopped by to talk about Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Department’s database of alleged drug gang members. A story in The Intercept recently noted that the database has almost tripled in size over the past eight years, and nearly nine out of ten entries with a race listed are Black people, who make up 46 percent of D.C.’s population. Garland explains that many who are listed in the database have no idea until arrested. In federal prison, those on the list are precluded from early release and other penalties. Once on the list, it's nearly impossible to be freed from the database dungeon.
Next, Ted Rall, an award winning political cartoonist, columnist, author and co-host of the DMZ America podcast with Ted Rall & Scott Stantis, calls in to discuss Biden's filibuster fall out. Biden, after years of supporting the filibuster, does a 180 degree turn. Ted prognosticates: what happens when Dems lose in the midterms and the GOP holds the majority? Biden knew he did not have the votes, then he set an unreasonable deadline and it failed. They also discuss an effort to placate progressive voting rights, which many protested in Georgia. Additionally, Foreign Affairs is making the case for a more "just drone war." Drone attacks can be more "just" if fewer people are killed. Ted emphasized that flying drones over foreign air space assassinating targets is an invasion and an act of war.
Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center, editor and publisher of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News magazines, meets up with the Misfits over the current chaos at Rikers Island Jail. The New York Times reported inmates at New York City’s notorious Rikers Island Jail have been staging "fight nights" where prisoners are forced to fight each other, with the victor winning a cigarette. Paul says that the problematic jail's population has decreased from 20,000 to 7,000 in recent years. Prisoners remain at risk not only from guards, they are at risk when seeking medical care from physicians with suspended licenses who remain eligible for employment at jails and prisons across the country.
Michelle and John open with a discussion about who is taking a big part of the blame for surging inflation - spoiler alert: its lower income folks receiving unemployment and stimulus checks. Meanwhile, the Fed plows trillions of dollars into bond buying programs.
Coleen Rowley, former senior FBI agent and renowned whistleblower, joins the Misfits to talk about the Department of Justice’s new Domestic Terrorism Unit - a reaction to the breach of the Capitol. Coleen gives context by citing several examples of domestic terrorist incidents with higher fatalities than January 6, 2020 which did not result in creating a new FBI unit.
The Biden administration announced that private insurers will have to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. Bill Honigman is a retired emergency physician and California State Coordinator and Healthcare Issue Team Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). He breaks down the challenges to receiving the actual reimbursement. Why is every solution for Americans to spend more of their limited free time filling out forms to try to keep from being gouged by private companies?
Later on, John and Michelle catch up with David Swanson, executive director of World Beyond War, to talk about the latest developments with NATO and conflict zones around the world. David explains it's possible the West cares more about Ukraine joining the EU more than concerns over joining NATO. John points out that the direct link between EU membership and increased well-being for the population is questionable. Hungary joined the EU, and that isn’t what happened.
David Shultz, professor of political science and legal studies at Hamline University, explains a lawsuit filed in an Illinois federal court that universities engaged in price fixing and unfairly limited aid by using a shared methodology to calculate applicants’ financial need. David explains the civil suit against the universities alleges colluding that benefits the university as a business. The collusion means students are unable to strike more competitive deals with colleges before deciding where to attend.
Democrats are flipping out over the filibuster. Jim Kavanagh, editor of the Polemicist, joins to talk about why. President Joe Biden does not have the votes needed to pass a filibuster carveout for voting rights. In Georgia, some progressives protest Biden's speech on voting rights legislation.
Dr Erika Nesvold, co-founder of the JustSpace Alliance, discusses StarLink's space junk problem, private versus public space exploration and governing outer space. Who is going to pay to pick up all the stellar trash?
Laith Marouf, activist, multimedia consultant and producer, brings us up to date on developments in the Middle East. There's unhappiness in Israel with Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, and Lebanon's economy has yet to hit bottom, with no international help in sight.
In their Politics of Art segment, the Misfits discuss the illegal antiquities trade and why the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, has been hollowed out.
Misfits John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte speak to international security analyst Mark Sleboda about the negotiations underway between Russia, Europe and the United States over Ukraine. What’s actually being discussed might be much more specific than the generalities the mainstream focuses on.
Mustafa Santiago Ali, vice president of environmental justice, climate, and community revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation, joined to discuss the future of the Build Back Better agenda and what Congressional Democrats could be doing to rally support for their policy priorities ahead of the midterm elections.
Journalist and author Dan Lazare helped break down the violence in Kazakhstan and the way Russia’s involvement has been spun. He also brought an update on nuclear negotiations with Iran and discussed the role of the NYPD in New York politics.
In the Miss the Press segment, John and Michelle dissected the typical American myopia when it comes to the foreign affairs and relationships of other countries, and scoffed at American politicians accusing other countries of maintaining spheres of influence.
Dr. Peter Kuznick, professor of history and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, join us to talk about what year did 2021 most resemble historically in either US or global history, how we are moving from a unilateral to multi-polar world as U.S. hegemony is challenged, the state of global economic inequality, the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the looming catastrophe brought forth by anthropogenic climate change, and what changes we could see in 2022 to tackle challenges facing humanity.
Jacqui Luqman and Sean Blackmon, hosts of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, join us to talk about the most important stories covered on their show in 2021, including the trial and verdict of Derek Chauvin, the indictment of Igor Danchenko and the collapse of the Russiagate conspiracy theory, the continuity we saw between the Biden and Trump administrations, particularly concerning immigration, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and billionaires in space.
Medea Benjamin, anti-war and anti-torture activist and the co-founder of Code Pink, and Monica Cruz, host and reporter with BreakThrough News, join us to talk about the positive stories that have come out of the pandemic, which saw people help out their neighbors and strangers through mutual aid and organizing, the possibility of a return to labor power, the end of the war in Afghanistan, and what we need to keep doing to change the world through people power.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about what’s in and out in 2022 with the Great Procrastination taking the place of the Great Resignation, meme stocks versus troll philanthropy, the great Tesla recall, and the prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula.
The Misfits also talk about the trial of the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, where the jury delivered a guilty verdict on five out of six counts related to sex trafficking, whether there will be further repercussions for others related to this scandal, and look back to a year of protests and political movements locally and across the globe.
Aaron Good, political scientist and host of the American Exception podcast on Patreon, joins us to talk about the Ghislaine Maxwell trial and how it could be considered something of a distraction to redirect people’s attention away from the larger function she and Jeffrey Epstein may have been serving for the national security state. We talk about the connections to the intelligence apparatus of the U.S. and how these agencies always serve the interests of the rich and a transnational core of power that acts without impunity.
Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik News, talks to us about the reports that the COVID-19 Omicron variant is sweeping through the Washington, DC region, with an average of 1,192 new cases per day over the past seven days, and 169 cases per 100,000 people as of Monday, making it the highest-risk place in the nation for covid infections. We talk about the measures, or half measures, put in place to allegedly mitigate this crisis here and in the country and how it seems that limiting contagion has taken a back seat to vaccinations.
Eugene Puryear, journalist, author, activist, politician, host at Breakthrough News, and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America,” joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the situation in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, how the TPLF has been pushed back to the Tigray region and the chances of finally resolving this conflict. We also talk about the evolving media coverage and how it seems that the pro-TPLF stance is slowly being discarded, and about the history of U.S. involvement in the Horn of Africa.
Femi Ayanbadejo, certified nutritionist, human performance expert, NASA technology transfer partner, founder and CEO of HealthReel, a digital self-health assessment and education platform, and former NFL running back and special teams player, talks to us about the legacy of NFL legend Joe Madden, COVID-19 and the NBA, Shohei Ohtani winning the Male Athlete of Year award, and the ongoing MLB lockout.
Richard Becker, author of "Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire," joins us to talk about Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announcing that Israel intends to double the number of settlers in the occupied Golan Heights with a multimillion-dollar plan meant to further consolidate Israel’s hold on the territory it captured from Syria more than 50 years ago. We talk about how the Trump administration's moves in the region gave the green light for these moves, and how the Biden administration has not walked back any of the support for further expansion of settlements in the Golan, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem despite widespread international condemnation. We also talk about the still unfolding stories of spies within the Council on American-Islamic Relations who were paid by anti-Muslim groups in the U.S.
Greg Palast, independent journalist on corporate malfeasance and labor, and author of “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy,” talks to us about the two bills before the Senate to protect the right to vote: the Freedom to Vote Act, which permits all voters to cast mail-in ballots in federal elections and also makes Election Day a federal holiday, among other measures; and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would impose pre-clearance procedures for states that want to change the way voting is done in their states, and the uphill battle these bills face in Congress.
Jon Jeter, author, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and former Washington Post bureau chief, joins us to talk about about a report on why older women face greater financial hardships than older men, along with 30 percent of women over age 65 reported feeling very or somewhat worried about their financial situation, how these discrepancies increase when taking class and race as factors, and what could be done to ensure dignity for our aging population. We also talk about the Office of National Drug Control Policy subsidizing major network TV shows in exchange for helping push War on Drugs propaganda in the late 1990s, and the tragic police shooting in Los Angeles that killed an innocent bystander.
Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, co-host of the DMZ America podcast, and author whose latest book is "The Stringer," joins us to talk about the trial of the men accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, where five of the accused filed a 20-page motion this weekend asking for the indictment to be dismissed on the grounds that they were entrapped, and how this has been a common practice by the authorities that was constantly used in the Global War on Terror. We also talk about the case of 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, who faces 24 counts of first-degree murder, along with manslaughter charges against his parents, and the ongoing chaos in the airline industry as the Omicron variant sweeps the country.
Bill Fletcher, Jr., longtime trade unionist, writer and a past president of TransAfrica Forum, talks to us about the legacy of Desmond Tutu, who passed away this weekend. We talk about his important work fighting against apartheid, the impression he made on those he met and how he inspired others to fight for justice. We also talk about how his work has informed activism in Palestine, where there are parallels with the South African experience, and in the United States in the fight against segregation, classism, and sexism.
Tina Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, joins us to talk about Joe Biden embracing “Let’s Go Brandon” in a White House phone call over the weekend, the divisions among conservatives after Trump looked to take credit for the development of the COVID-19 vaccines under the project name Operation Warp Speed and coming out pro-booster, which has anti-vaxxers seeing red. We also talk about the controversy over the efficacy of boosters and whether we should reassess our approach to controlling the pandemic to mitigation or outright eradication of the virus, which seems more difficult every day, as well as plans by Israel to to double its settlements in the Golan Heights.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, joins us to talk about how Amazon is tipping off the FBI to investigate its own employees or sellers on its platform under the guise of sniffing out counterfeit goods and protecting intellectual property, but conveniently forgetting that its own business model promotes the sale of counterfeits by its goal to sell goods at the lowest price. We also talk about the requirement for all kinds of employees to be constantly connected and have data plans on their phones that constitute a tax on low wage and gig-economy workers, and how internet connectivity should be treated like right.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, talks to us about the intersection between cryptocurrencies and corruption, how some lawmakers that have a vested interest in crypto have taken a very lax approach at its regulation, and how this also opens the door to insider trading on this very speculative commodity. We also talk about Guns N’ Bitcoin, a community for the growing movement to ensure an endless source of untraceable firearms.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for Illinois’ 16th district, joins us to talk about how the FBI deployed surveillance teams inside Portland protests last year by deploying informants, conducting video surveillance, tailing protesters, what this means for our First Amendment rights and how this could be considered a violation of the Fourth Amendment. We also talk about Proud Boys member Matthew Greene pleading guilty to conspiring with other members to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote, what this means for the January 6 investigation, and revelations that vaccine skeptic Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) owns stock in three major vaccine makers.
Behailu Assefa, managing director at ASC Engineering Service, talks to us about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, how it will impact Sudan and Egypt as the Nile River that flows north through both countries is what is to be dammed in Ethiopia, and how we could reach a peaceful solution to this impasse.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss Biden’s new plan to battle the Omicron variant as it sweeps the nation and has people on their toes as we officially enter the winter season. We talk about the plan to distribute 500 million tests by next month and whether this timeline will be sufficient to make a dent in the spread of the virus. We also talk about how workers are not being financially protected by temporary closures of businesses during this spike after emergency assistance was discontinued a few months ago, and how this may lead to people taking more risks to ensure their financial needs, further worsening the spread.
Dr. Caroline Light, is a professor and researcher at Harvard University specializing in gender, critical race and ethnic studies, and author of "Stand Your Ground: A History of America’s Love Affair with Lethal Self Defense.” Michael Harriot is a senior writer at TheRoot.com, where he covers the intersection of race, politics, and culture. They both join us to talk about the case of DJ Broadus, who was killed by Gardner Fraser in Florida in February 2018 after being shot four times at close range, twice after he had fallen to the ground, and how Fraser was not charged with homicide due to “stand your ground” laws in place in that state. We talk about the evolution of these laws, the intersection of class and race in these cases, and what could be done to change them.
Ray Baker, political analyst and professor at Towson University, and Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the legal maneuvers the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department is engaged in to keep its officers of their force who have been charged with misconduct, DUIs, domestic abuse, and indecent exposure. We also talk about Kamala Harris’s exchange with Charlamagne tha God and the ensuing meltdown, the end of the Kellogg’s strike and how people are praising it as a huge win for workers, and the Democrats’ indifference to the failure of the passage of the “Build Back Better” plan.
Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik News, joins us to talk about the news from Ethiopia, where the leader of the TPLF has announced a withdrawal of their forces from the northern states of Afar and Amhara, which marks a major pause of a year long war that saw them fail to violently take control of the country away from the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. We talk about whether this is a full retreat or whether they are only reorganizing for another offensive, the use of drones in this conflict, and whether we will see full resolution of the war.
Niemat Ahmadi, President of the Darfur Women Action Group, tells us about the situation in Sudan on the third anniversary of the start of popular uprisings that ousted longtime leader Omar al-Bashir from power and continued against the transitional government. We talk about the actions that civilians can now take against the military, the truce with the civilian head of the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, the role of women in the revolution, the work of the Sudanese diaspora, and the prospects for a full return to a civilian government.
Donna Davis, political consultant, political organizer and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Tampa, talks to us about reports of a coordinated campaign by Spanish-language media in Florida to attack Vice President Kamala Harris, allegations that there is a GOP campaign behind it, and the valid criticism of Harris’s performance.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins us to talk about the more than a billion dollars worth of gold seized by the Bank of England owned by the government of Venezuela which could be used to alleviate poverty in the country and combat the coronavirus pandemic, and how sanctions enacted by rich countries in order to “promote democratic change” have disastrous effects on populations. We also talk about a report on civilian casualties by the New York Times, how an ex-ante approach on civilian risks could give pause to conducting disastrous wars, and the unfolding disaster in Afghanistan as its people face severe food shortages and the West remains steadfast in isolating the country.
Luis Gárate, journalist and director of Comunicambio, an independent news media organization based in Perú, joins us to talk about results of the presidential run off election in Chile over the weekend, which brought a resounding win to a leftist former student organizer Gabriel Boric over right wind candidate José Antonio Kast. We also talk about Boric’s campaign, pinning the blame for stratification and poverty on the neoliberal system brutally implemented in the 1970s and his promises to end it in the country, how Chile is undergoing deep political polarization and specific domestic issues that may make challenging the hegemonic system internationally a difficult proposition, and how the pushback from the U.S. and local elites may hamstring his domestic proposals.
Lucy Komisar, investigative journalist focusing on corporate and financial corruption on thekomisarscoop.com, joins us to talk about a recent report that pored over financial disclosures from members of Congress and their connections to Wall Street that found that dozens of congresspeople and hundreds of staffers violated conflicts-of-interest laws, from investments in healthcare companies, military contractors, cryptocurrencies, and using non-public information as insider trading for their benefit. We also talk about Nancy Pelosi’s response about the ethics of allowing lawmakers to trade stocks while in office, using the “free market economy” justification, and what could be done to fix this.
Parisa Norouzi, executive director of Empower DC, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Washington D.C. schools closing as the omicron variant of COVID-19 slams the Capital region, with D.C. reporting the highest single-day total of new coronavirus cases since March 2020, and Maryland reporting that 1,257 people had been hospitalized with the virus, more than double the rate of 581 people this time last month. We also talk about the impacts of destroying homeless encampments by DC Mayor Muriel Boswer as DC’s cold winter is around the corner, and how foreign investments across the United States are dramatically changing the real estate landscape and making access to affordable housing even more difficult.
Ron Clewer, Illinois market president at Gorman & Company and affordable housing advocate, and Paul Jones, president of the Columbia Heights Village Tenant Association, join us to talk about America’s real estate industry and its domination by huge global corporations who have taken advantage of the post-housing crisis and liquidity crisis of 2010 by hoarding housing stock in the country and making it even more difficult for middle and working-class people to purchase a home. We talk about a case in Tennessee where corporations take advantage of legal loopholes to purchase homes, how they behave like slumlords, and we look at alternatives to the for-profit housing model.
Chelsea Moore, policy manager for Dream Corps Justice, joins us to talk about the mass incarceration crisis in the U.S., which has in places reached the level of a humanitarian crisis. We talk about a case in Alabama, where the Department of Justice concluded that the constitutional rights of the inmates were being violated everyday at every prison, how one of the solutions put forward by the state was to build even more prisons using federal stimulus money, how the solution to crime is not to warehouse humans for an extended period of time, and how we should address the root causes of crime and focus on actual rehabilitation in prisons.
John Feffer, director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, talks to us about how the far right continues its spread globally, with xenophobic and nationalist parties becoming more prominent in many countries, what could be the drivers of this, and what could be done to push back against this wave. We also talk about the tensions between the Ukraine, the U.S., NATO, and Russia, and what could be done to defuse them and reach a peaceful settlement.
Michael Sampson, member of the national leadership of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and co-host of Redspin Sports, joins us to talk about Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer, fired after going 2-11 to start his NFL coaching career, and his incident with kicker Josh Lambo.
Ruth Anna Buffalo, member of the North Dakota House of Representatives and first Native American Democratic woman elected to the North Dakota Legislature, and citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, joins us to talk about a report revealing that that there has been an 86.5 percent growth in the Native population in the US between the 2010 and 2010 census, with more people self-identifying as indigenous. We talk about the implications of these changes, and how there could be some positive outcomes from this, as it could signify growing political power, but also the issues associated with quantifying and assigning identity, which delves into a long standing and complex issue dealing with the concept of race, belonging, and culture that has its roots with the dispossession and disenfranchisement of native communities in the U.S.
Matthew Telles, Instacart driver and organizer, joins us to talk about news that the company DoorDash is opening a new location in New York City, where it’s moving away from the contractor model and designating its workers as full time employees in the subsidiary company known as DashCorps. We talk about how this could be considered a small victory for workers, since they will now be entitled a guaranteed wage, albeit a low one, and benefits usually denied to gig workers in the industry across the country, and whether we will see similar moves in other app-based companies.
Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, and Bomani Armah, hip-hop artist and educator, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about thousands of students getting sick with COVID-19 and more quarantined just days before the winter break, as D.C. Public Schools is dealing with a coronavirus outbreak, and a new bill introduced in Oklahoma that takes aim at the 1619 Project and which looks to dictate how the history of slavery is taught across the state.
Kim Ives, editor of the English section of Haiti Liberté, joins us to talk about the terrible tragedy that took place in Haiti this week, where at least 62 people have been killed and dozens injured after a tanker transporting gasoline exploded in Cap-Haitien, how fuel shortages played a role in this incident, with people lining up to collect fuel directly from the truck, and how precarity can lead people to take more risks to secure essential supplies. We also talk about new reports related to the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and how he allegedly kept lists of prominent politicians and public figures that were connected to the drug trade and how this may have played a part in his killing.
Maru Mora Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and immigrant activist, talks to us about the new proposal spearheaded by Vice President Kamala Harris, where she announced that corporations like Pepsi and Cargill will make multi-billion dollar investments in Central America to allegedly “solve” the root causes of immigration there. We talk about how this is neither a novel nor the right solution to the issue, since this further entrenches the cycle of labor exploitation for companies that have already been there and have either eroded or destroyed labor and environmental regulations that, in fact, may be one of the main drivers of immigration.
Shane Stranahan, co-host of Faultines on Radio Sputnik, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about a new study published by Cornell University which argues that we may be at an actual “tipping point” where no issue imaginable can unite Republicans and Democrats again, with political polarization at an all-time high. We talk about the methodology used and how constraints on framing issues within a two-party system and our economic paradigm can reinforce current political deadlock and undermine potential avenues for cooperation.
Bryan Weaver, founder and executive director of Hoops Sagrado, talks to us about Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors breaking records, Enes Kanter Freedom’s political postures, and widespread sexual harassment in the Washington Football Team workplace.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, joins us to talk about the response to the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, which is rapidly spreading around the world and just made landfall in the U.S. We talk about how there has not been a consistent response to Omicron across the board, and whether it really is more contagious than the Delta variant. We also talk about how we will have to learn with spikes and new variants in the foreseeable future, how healthcare costs keep rising in the U.S., and what could be done about it.
Alan MacLeod, senior staff writer for MintPress News, author, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joins us to tell us about the intersection of Silicon Valley, the national security state and the Open Technology Fund, which bills itself as an independent provider of privacy apps, but is actually funded and controlled by the United States Agency for Global Media, a government body responsible for overseeing U.S.-funded state media outlets overseas, including Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, and how these apps are used to advance U.S. interests abroad and destabilize governments they consider to be enemies.
David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," talks to us about how the Pentagon "cover-up" in the Kabul drone killing of a family continues, with the news that no U.S. troops will be punished for deadly Kabul strike, how impunity is rampant in the military, and war crimes accusations only apply to our opponents. We also talk about the strike force Talon Anvil, which operated in Syria from 2014 to 2019 and is responsible for countless civilian deaths and how the burden of responsibility gets shifted across the board.
Roz White, award winning actress, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the play “Seven Guitars,” and the journey of each of the characters through the music, through the hope, and through the pain that links them all together.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the curious case of Operation Whistle Pig, where a reporter was contacted by a potential source, only to be revealed later that this “source” was actually planting information and had mined data on the reporter in order to vet her. We talk about how the FBI eventually got involved and eventually revealed a wide web of surveillance that goes beyond this particular case, and how this story up-ends perceptions about whistleblowing, the objectives of certain leakers, and how government agencies deal with cases like these.
Dan Kovalik, author and human rights and labor lawyer, joins us to talk about the annoying tensions between the U.S., Russia, Ukraine, the EU and NATO, and how we sometimes need to look beyond the bluster portrayed in the media, which has been inflating the risks over a war in the region. We talk about how despite the media bombast which has portrayed Biden and NATO standing fast in their demands in the region, there has been a recognition of grievances by Russia and the rebel regions despite Ukraine requesting more Western involvement. We also talk about the school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, and the legal fallout so far, and the labor struggle at Kellogg’s, where workers are continuing their strike after failed negotiations with management.
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the ongoing negotiations over the nuclear deal with Iran taking place in Vienna, the ups and downs that have seen them almost fall apart, but that now seem to be taking a more positive note. We also talk about the visit of Israeli PM Naftali Bennett to the United Arab Emirates, as the two countries seek to deepen ties following the Abraham Accords and will likely discuss Iran’s nuclear program, as well as the Israeli government labeling six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist groups and how this is yet another effort to destroy Palestinian civil society.
Julian Assange at risk of extradition as judge sides with U.S. How the U.S. prosecutes whistleblowers under the pretext of national security.
Nebiyu Asfaw, co-founder of the Ethiopian American Development Council, joins us to talk about the ongoing situation in the conflict in Ethiopia, as the Ethiopian National Defense forces have been able to make gains against the Tigray People's Liberation Front and have now recaptured Kombolcha and Dessie, along with a host of other towns across the Amhara state, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Lalibela. We talk about the work that the Ethiopian diaspora in the U.S. has done to reveal the truth about the conflict despite widespread media disinformation that has sided mostly with the TPLF narrative, the importance of independent voices to understand the situation on the ground, and what needs to be done to ensure that peace is achieved in this conflict.
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, talks to us about inflammatory policy statements by the new German government about current tensions related to NATO, nuclear weapons, Russia, Ukraine, and China, with the incoming Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stating that there would be a high price to pay for any invasion of Ukraine, that Germany was considering boycotting the Beijing Olympics, and contemplating a nuclear armed Germany in the future. We also talk about the certification of Nord Stream 2 under the new German government, and whether this project will languish in this new government, as well as Biden’s phone call with President Putin and whether there is any real possibility of an invasion of Ukraine and a regional conflict.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to discuss the case of Julian Assange, which now sees him closer to being extradited to the U.S. over hacking allegations and violations of the Espionage Act after a U.K. judge sided with the U.S. in an appeal over concerns of his mental health and potential imprisonment in the U.S., and how this is a reality check of the U.S. government’s commitment to free speech and a free press as the Biden administration holds a democracy summit at the White House.
Leela Anand, organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, joins us to talk about the current situation in Myanmar, after a military court issues the first of many sentences condemning Aung San Suu Kyi to four years in detention, which was immediately reduced to two years. We also talk about other measures that the military have taken against other opposition figures, what this means for the future of democracy in Myanmar, and about the lawsuit filed against Facebook by Rohingya refugees over the promotion of hate speech.
John Ross, author and economist, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, talks to us about how the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization found that global food commodity prices have risen 27.3% on the year, whether supply chain issues are the main driver of these price hikes, and whether price controls could be a solution or exacerbate the problem.
Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, and Chuck Modiano, justice journalist and sports writer at Deadspin, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about increases in car crash deaths in 2020 and 2021, how some experts say that behavior on the road is likely a reflection of widespread feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression in the broader society, and how these may also be the drivers for increasing homicide rates. We also talk about the state of protests in the United States and how it feels like the country finds itself in a bit of a lull, and the case of Antwan Gilmore.
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources, ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, talks to us about President Biden’s plan to make the government carbon neutral by 2050, the merits of the measures outlined in the proposal, whether they’ll actually result in a carbon neutral government by 2050, and how even if this is feasible. The 2050 goal post could prove to be too late to mitigate the destructive effects of climate change.
Laith Marouf, international affairs analyst and media law consultant, joins us to discuss the White House’s new U.S. Government Strategy on Countering Corruption, which has been billed as the first of its kind and a commitment to supporting good governance around the world. We talk about how these claims fall flat in the face of the reality of institutionalized corruption with the U.S. government itself, with the public service to private industry pipeline, which sees politicians enter lobbying firms once they quit Congress, the outsized influence of wealthy donors in elections after the Citizens United decision, gerrymandering, voter suppression, the way the U.S. supports and influences other governments that engage in corrupt practices, and how soft power institutions like the NED and USAID end up cementing U.S. corporate interests abroad with no regard to democratic practices. We also talk about the meeting between Biden and Putin, the growing tensions in Ukraine and threats of further sanctions on Russia.
Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, his latest book is "The Stringer", and co-host of the DMZ America podcast, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the “democratization” of drone use in conflict zones around the world, that has seen fighters and militants take advantage of the technology which is increasingly easier to acquire. We also talk about a United Kingdom senior desk officer at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office who is now being called a whistleblower after speaking out on the UK Foreign Office’s handling of the Afghan evacuation, and reports of US officials using vaccine donations for political favors abroad after accusing other countries of engaging in similar practices.
Justin Williams, co-host of Redspin Sports, talks to us about the Biden administration formally announcing that the US will enact a diplomatic boycott of the games as a protest against the alleged human rights violations of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang by the Chinese government, whether we will see a full boycott of the games, and what this means for increasing tensions between China and the U.S.
Mike Wong, vice president of the San Francisco chapter of Veterans for Peace, joins us to talk about reports that China is making plans to build a naval base in Equatorial Guinea and how the U.S. is repeating Cold War narratives about threats to the U.S. because a rival has a foothold in the Atlantic. We talk about the nebulous nature of these claims, which are sourced from anonymous intelligence officials, and contradicting reports that there is no visible construction in the area. We also talk about how we need to be ready to live in a multipolar world and learn to cooperate with emerging powers.
Ariel Gold, co-executive director at Code Pink, talks to us about ongoing violence in Palestine, where settlers killed a 16-year-old after an attack on border police, and how the continuing occupation and displacement of Palestinians fuels this violence. We also talk about the spat between Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and the Democratic Socialists of America, who are withholding their 2022 endorsement of Bowman after posing with Israeli PM Naftali Bennett and supporting the funding of the Iron Dome program.
Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book “Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” talks to us about a report revealing that the U.S. Navy has been polluting Hawaii’s water resources for decades due to leaking underground fuel tanks, how the Navy has not properly addressed this issue, how the problem of military installations and pollution is not only confined to this case, and how the military in general is one of the biggest polluters in the world.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron," talks to us about Joe Biden hosting a Democracy Summit at the White House and the particulars of who does and who does not get invited, Jen Psaki talking about the new way in which Americans can get their COVID-19 test refunded by their insurance company and navigating the labyrinth of private healthcare, and Devin Nunes resigning from Congress after 19 years to be a part of Trump’s new media company.
Dr. Sheila Vakharia, Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement for the Drug Policy Alliance, joins us to discuss the news of New York City opening two safe injection sites, one in East Harlem and the other in Washington Heights, which are the first of their kind in the nation and look to deliver on saving lives, saving money, and increasing public health and safety writ large. We also talk about the pushback against these sites, which some argue may encourage drug use, and how this represents a misunderstanding of harm reduction strategies that strive to look at and treat addiction from a public health perspective and not a criminal one.
Juan José Gutiérrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, talks to us about how the Biden administration is expanding the use of for-profit detention facilities for immigrants, and how this represents yet another broken campaign promise that has left migrants in the lurch and keeps entrenching a two-tiered justice system in the country. We also talk about the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which the Biden administration promised to rescind, but now is back in place after several state lawsuits, and how it has now been expanded to not only include Latino immigrants, but immigrants from Haiti, as well.
Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience, former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the tools the U.S. government is using to track down people involved in the January 6 Capitol insurrection, and how it’s setting off alarm bells for some people who warn that the use of this kind of bulk data collection and facial recognition software could go beyond identifying these rioters and further expand the surveillance state. We also talk about Twitter announcing a rule change to prevent people’s private images from being shared, unless those images are of public figures, and how debt collectors are now contacting people through social media.
Maurice Cook, executive director and lead organizer at Serve Your City, joins us to talk about the homelessness crisis in Washington, DC, and the failure of city officials to address it, which this week saw DC police and DC government officials using heavy machinery to clear a local park of tents that people had been living in. We talk about how the collusion between city officials and real estate developers that have purposely ignored the housing crisis in the city, and how half-hearted attempts at providing affordable housing have made the city inaccessible to working class people.
Chris Smalls, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, tells us about the ongoing labor struggles at Amazon, which saw a small victory this week when the Attorney General of New York filed a motion for an injunction against Amazon to reinstate workers and address health and safety concerns at their fulfillment centers. We also talk about a report by the Strategic Organizing Center that found that despite announcing in October 2020 that it had found nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases nationally among its employees, Amazon only reported only 27 cases to OSHA.
Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, joins us to discuss the fight for reproductive rights in the U.S., with the Supreme Court hearing arguments over Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, and how it seems to be that the restriction itself will very likely be allowed to stand. We talk about the fallout should this precedent be set, how it will negatively affect women’s rights, and how it threatens to undermine the legitimacy of the court.
Jeff Pearce, writer and historian, and Simon Tesfamariam, organizer, writer, and analyst at the New Africa Institute, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the range of people who are spoiling peace efforts, from Twitter to the US government, to think tanks, government officials, and retired ambassadors, by taking a pro-TPLF stance, and the way forward negotiate a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, joins the Misfits to talk about the ongoing OSCE meetings taking place in Stockholm amid growing tensions in Ukraine and the Baltic. We talk about how the meeting has gotten to an ominous start with threats bandied about by the United States and Russia, particularly on Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Lavrov warning that “the nightmarish scenario of military confrontation is returning” as NATO creeps closer to Russia’s borders, and whether there is a behind the scenes effort to de-escalate the situations and the prospects for a peaceful resolution.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about a report alleging that over the past 14 years, the Central Intelligence Agency has secretly amassed credible evidence that at least 10 of its employees and contractors committed sexual crimes involving children, how the agency has been sexualized and scandals like these are commonplace, and the difficulty of prosecuting these crimes due to the veil of secrecy enveloping the organization.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, joins us to talk about the COVID-19 Omicron variant, which continues to spread around the world and has now been detected in the U.S., how boosters and testing could help in mitigating this new wave of the pandemic, and how resources should be distributed equitably in order to stop further spread of the disease.
Monica Cruz, host and reporter with BreakThrough News, talks to us about housing and the cost of living and how it has steadily increased throughout the pandemic, with major cities globally becoming increasingly inaccessible to working people, the proposed new union election at Amazon in Alabama, ongoing organizing efforts in Staten Island, and a win for striking Kellogg’s workers.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, talks to us about reports that China is becoming the world’s largest data broker, what this means for privacy, how this impacts the growing tensions with the U.S., and Twitter removing “state linked information operations.”
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins us to talk about the ongoing negotiations in Vienna revolving around reviving the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal with diplomats from Iran and the JCPOA countries of China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom. We talk about the U.S. presence in the meeting, which is negotiating “indirectly,” what influence it could have with other actors in the negotiations, and how its refusal to return to the terms of the deal it signed and then reneged on is the main obstacle to overcoming this impasse.
Angela Arias Zapata, educator, researcher, and PhD candidate in media, culture, and communication at New York University, joins us to talk about the news that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is being removed from the U.S. terror list after having signed a peace agreement years ago and becoming a political party. We talk about the difficulties in reintegrating its members into civic society after a right wing government rose to power, which has put roadblocks to the implementation of the peace deal, and how this move by the U.S. could signal better fortunes for their political party.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," joins the Misfits to talk about the Pentagon once again going to investigate an airstrike in Syria in 2019 that killed dozens of women and children, whether anything will come out of it, reports of decreasing drone strikes in the region and whether this is a positive trend that will continue, as well as the Supreme Court hearing the Mississippi abortion case that could set a precedent for reproductive rights in the U.S.
Femi Ayanbadejo, certified nutritionist, human performance expert, NASA technology transfer partner, and founder and CEO of HealthReel, talks to us about MLB using both juiced and de-juiced balls in the 2021 season, and a likely lockout after the collective bargaining agreement between the Major League Players Association and MLB expires today.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins the Misfits to talk about rising tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO amid accusations of border military buildups that some say may run the risk of sparking a hot war. We talk about the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Latvia, where there were calls of expanding their military presence in the country under the justification of defending against possible Russian aggression while NATO forces encircle Russia’s borders from north to south. We also talk about proposals regarding the expulsion of members, which could affect Turkey, whether there is a chance of this happening, and NATO revising its “strategic concept,” which may signal a pivot to countering China.
Jamarl Thomas, co-host of Faultlines on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the news that Jack Dorsey is stepping down as CEO of Twitter and what this means for the social media giant. We talk about whether this is a repeat of his stepping down a few years ago only to come back, or if we are seeing a final retirement, how most decision making in the company has been delegated to others for some years now, and whether there will be any more regulations on the platform after his departure.
Michael Aversa, co-founder of Hunters Helping the Hungry, talks to us about how responsible hunting practices can help with the problem of food security in the country. We discuss “Hunters Feeding the Hungry,” which encompasses not only hunters, but encompasses a network of hunters, butchers, food banks, and how they navigate federal and state regulations to provide food alternatives.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins us to talk about a joint statement by the ambassadors of Russia and China to the U.S., questioning the commitment of the country to democracy, both domestically and internationally, the importance of international institutions and how the U.S. skates around them. We also talk about the ongoing negotiations underway in Vienna, and whether western European countries will make a serious commitment to revive the nuclear deal.
Dr. Lisa Gralinski, epidemiologist at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, joins us to talk about the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 first detected in South Africa, which is quickly spreading around the world. We talk about Biden’s press conference regarding Omicron, how vaccine mandates and vaccine drives are important, but not the only solution to this evolving pandemic, which should involve a multilayered approach involving, testing, and new treatments. We also talk about how the travel ban on South Africa may not be a solution since other countries where the variant is present have not been subjected to travel restrictions, and how restrictions on non-essential travel in general may be more effective as the holiday travel season approaches.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik News correspondent, talks to us about the presidential election results in Honduras as they roll in. The results are seeing the ruling party lose its grip in power after 12 years marred by widespread violence, increasing inequality, and corruption. The left opposition candidate, Xiomara Castro, holds a seemingly insurmountable lead in the polls. We also talk about what sort of political program the new administration may propose, how this may affect regional political alignments, and the reaction by the U.S. and international bodies like the Organization of American States.
Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a professor of public policy at Cornell University in New York, Senior Counsel at Westwood Capital, and a fellow of The Century Foundation, joins us to discuss Biden’s nomination of Jerome Powell to a second term as Federal Reserve chair. We discuss Biden’s statements on the economy, the steps taken to reduce oil prices by tapping the strategic reserves and tackling supply-chain issues, and whether this proposal will be effective. We also talk about the debate about raising the debt ceiling, and the merits of discussing debt in apocalyptic terms that enable a bipartisan failure to act.
Indigenous voices speak on environmental protection and reclaiming political power. What lies ahead in the fight for native rights.
John Kane, Mohawk activist and educator, producer and Host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast, and co-host of Resistance Radio on WBAI Pacifica Radio NY joins the Misfits to talk about the indigenous response to COP26 and the final Glasgow Agreement, which the Indigenous Environmental Network has called “disastrous”, as it locks the world into another decade of false solutions, colonialism, and violence against the earth. We talk about the Biden administration allowing a huge oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, along with other leases in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana and other Western states early next year, and how these conferences among elites amount to mere greenwashing as the clock ticks towards climate catastrophe. We also talk about the present and future of protest, particularly indigenous directed protests, the 52nd anniversary of the occupation of Alcatraz Island by native students, and how actions like the Line 3 protests continue this tradition and pave the way for future activism.
Ruth Buffalo, member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, and Mary Kunesh, member of the Minnesota State Senate talk to us about how the idea of having sovereign or semi-sovereign tribal nations within the United States seems like an unusual proposition to the general population in the country, how the US government could be a better partner to tribal governments, and what it means to have more indigenous representatives on both sides of these discussions. We also talk about the debate around land use, and how decisions about land use are made, the attention being paid to indigenous-led environmental protection, and to the moral and legal authority native nations have in calling for the end to some major, high profile extraction projects that affect tribal land.
Josh Gomez, producer for By Any Means Necessary, John Kirakou, co-host of the Backstory Cordell Woodland, producer for Faultlines, and Dr. Wilmer Leon, co-host of the Critical Hour, join Bob Schlehuber to tell us what they are thankful for and not thankful for in the world of news, politics and culture.
Richard Becker, author of "Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire" joins us to discuss the ongoing campaign against the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which saw a local newspaper in Arkansas threatened with a withdrawal of advertising from a local company due to a state law that asks businesses to pledge not to support any boycotts of Israel. We talk about the pervasiveness of such laws, with 30 states having laws similar to the one Arkansas passed in 2017, and whether we are starting to see some resistance to knee-jerk support for Israel.
Katherine Rahill, Senior Scientist for the Office of the Chief Scientist of NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, joins us to talk about the news of NASA’s DART mission attempting to manually alter the course of an asteroid by smashing a spacecraft into it at high speeds to test a defense mechanism against wayward asteroids that may threaten Earth. We also discuss the prospects of the mission’s success and whether we will see a planetary defense system in the future.
Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary, The Grayzone, and The Real News, talks to us about the dangerous implications of a new Nationality and Borders bill currently moving through the British House of Commons, which would allow the government to remove a person’s citizenship without having to give them notice so long as it is deemed in the public interest or the interests of national security. We discuss the impact this bill could have not only on naturalized immigrants, but citizens born in the UK as well.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation’s Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about a jury awarding $26 million in the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally civil case, the latest developments in Ethiopia, and two examples of how American society and our judicial system are not designed to rehabilitate people.
Dr. Gene Olinger, Professor at Boston University, and principal science advisor for MRI Global Inc., joins us to talk about the ongoing debate over boosters and lockdowns. We discuss the efficacy of booster shots, whether we will have to take multiple shots over years as populations reach immunity, and how vaccine hesitancy could hinder these efforts. We also talk about a wave of lockdowns in Europe as COVID cases surge, the economic consequences of lockdowns, and whether they become redundant in highly vaccinated populations.
Jenna Kunze, journalist at Native News Online talks to us about the Makah community of coastal Washington and their efforts to exercise their right to whale hunting. We talk about how this struggle for autonomy and tradition becomes entangled in a debate over conservation and commercial fisheries, and how long standing treaties allowing these practices sometimes get caught up in bureaucratic fights with federal and state regulatory bodies.
Dr. Garth Myers, Professor of Urban International Studies and Director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies at Trinity College, joins us to discuss the implications from a report concluding that by the end of this century, thirteen of the world’s 20 biggest urban areas will be in Africa. We talk about how these reports sometimes should be treated with caution, and how countries could manage this growth, create new global partnerships, and provide the necessary infrastructure for their populations.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda talks to us about media and media manipulation, how major outlets continue to maintain their imperial and neocolonialist outlook towards the world that do not reflect reality, and how media literacy is crucial. We also talk about how the New York State Assembly found “overwhelming evidence” that former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo engaged in sexual harassment while in office and mishandled the pandemic.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot tells us about the Pocahontas Reframed Storytellers Film Festival with both a live and virtual film festival highlighting Indigenous voices, stories, filmmakers, producers, and writers, and the importance of highlighting native voices in the arts.
Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and the CEO and Founder of KCG Consulting Services, joins us to talk about the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, where he was found not guilty on all counts, whether this verdict should come as a surprise, whether the victory of using self-defense as a strategy could empower more vigilantism in the country, and whether too much importance is being attached to this verdict. We also talk about Rittenhouse saying he supports Black Lives Matters, and the case of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, where the accused are also making a self-defense claim.
Paul Dobson, journalist and editor at Venezuela Analysis, joins us to talk about the regional elections in Venezuela that took place on Sunday, where Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela and its allies have won big in regional elections, where the opposition participated for the first time in four years. We talk about Western media coverage of the elections, where monitors were present, and how this coverage continues to question the legitimacy of elections there.
Niemat Ahmadi, President of the Darfur Women Action Group, tells us about the unfolding situation in Sudan, where an agreement was reached between the military and civilian leaders that led to the reinstatement of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. We discuss the deal made by Hamdok and how this has left many dissatisfied since the military still holds outsized influence in the country, whether we will see continuing protests, and how a run for natural resources may shape the policies of the new government and its relations with its regional neighbors.
Chief Richard Sneed, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, joins us to talk about the Tribal Nations Summit that took place at the White House last week to coincide with National Native American Heritage Month, the tribes’ relations with the federal government, and whether the Biden administration’s promises for funding investment in tribal infrastructure will be followed through.
Baba Zak A. Kondo, professor of history at Baltimore City Community College and author of "Conspiracies: Unraveling the Assassination of Malcolm X,” tells us about developments in the case of the assassination of Malcolm X, where two of the men found guilty of the killing got their convictions thrown out on Thursday, and the tragedy of having the lives of two innocent men destroyed due to these wrongful convictions. We talk about how this is representative of the story of the system of state violence in America, the role of the FBI and FBI informants in this case, whether the U.S. government was involved, and the importance of finding out the truth about Malcolm X’s death.
Lena Taylor, state senator from Wisconsin, joins us to discuss the fight for voting rights in the U.S., the protests in front of the White House, where dozens were arrested, and the importance of engaging in direct action to fight for fundamental rights and representation in our democracy. We also talk about the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, whether justice will be served, one of the central themes in this case that hinges on who has the right to space and who gets to claim self defense, and how these concepts and rights get allotted unequally.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Wall Street bankers and traders being in line for the biggest bonus increases since 2009, in some cases 30% to 35% increases, and how this exacerbates inequality, with most working class people seeing wages stagnate and navigating increasing precarity. We talk about the “Great Resignation” and the debate around its causes and its scale, whether this is a sign of workers gaining a certain degree of agency or if there are other elements at play, the debate around the origins and causes of the current wave of inflation, and how the conventional wisdom analysis of this phenomenon is ideologically loaded.
Alan Macleod, senior staff writer for MintPress News, author, journalist and media analyst, and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joins us to talk about philanthropy and what it means for billionaires to be funding media endeavors. We talk about compiled data indicating that Bill Gates has donated over 300 million dollars to various media organizations in the U.S. and around the world, what sort of specific activities this money is funding, and how this could shape the way news is covered by recipient organizations. We also talk about how donations always come with strings attached, and what this means for unbiased reporting.
Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik News, joins us to talk about news that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uncovered 15 vials in a storage facility owned by pharmaceutical giant Merck in eastern Pennsylvania labeled “smallpox” and “vaccinia”, and the mystery of how these potentially deadly viruses ended up there in the first place.
Dr. Bill Honigman, retired emergency physician and California State Coordinator and Healthcare Issue Team Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), talks to us about reports that overdose deaths in the US hit record numbers during the pandemic, with more than 100,000 deaths. We talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant issues like economic precarity, anxiety, and depression are drivers for this increase in mortality, how the lack of infrastructure in poorer states may have exacerbated the problem, and what the government could do to alleviate this crisis. We also talk about the increase in Medicare B premiums, which may erase the increase in benefits that people saw last year, and how this could be tied to the introduction of a new and very expensive drug to treat Alzheimer’s, whose efficacy has been questioned by medical professionals.
Brennan Hall, NFT and crypto enthusiast, talks to us about the craze over “Non-Fungible Tokens” or NFTs, what they actually are and their connection to cryptocurrency trading, and the confusion around these markets.
Laith Marouf, international affairs analyst and media law consultant, joins us to discuss a report published in the New York Times arguing that U.S. global influence has been detrimental to democracy. We talk about the original assumption of the U.S. as a force of good that is widely held by media and public figures in this country and how the rest of the world actually sees through this smokescreen. We also discuss an article from The Atlantic reinforcing the characterization of other regional powers like China and Russia as the “bad guys” and how this line of thinking limits global cooperation to solve pressing issues like climate change.
Netfa Freeman, organizer for Pan-African Community Action (PACA) and member of the Coordinating Committee of the Black Alliance for Peace, talks to us about Secretary Blinken’s visit to Africa, where he is scheduled to visit Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, and how the U.S. is responding to the crisis in the Horn of Africa. We talk about the seemingly changing posture towards the conflict in Ethiopia, what commitments to fighting terrorism in Nigeria will mean, and whether this will entail expanding the role of AFRICOM in the continent.
Tina Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, joins us to talk about anti-vaxxers attacking journalists in California, the Committee to Protect Journalists expressing concern about the harmful precedent set by recent FBI raids on the homes of Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe and his associates after the alleged theft of a diary belonging to Joe Biden’s daughter, and Amazon settling with the state of California for half a million dollars over accusations that it failed to tell its workers about covid cases at its warehouses and failed to share legally required information.
Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, talks to us about English cricket approaching an "emergency" over its failure to address racism after officials and former players speak out, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson’s recovery from injury, and the amateur boxing match between Deron Williams and former NFL running back Frank Gore.
Joel Segal, National Campaign Director for Bring America Home Now at the National Coalition for the Homeless, joins us to talk about Joe Biden signing a $1 trillion dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill into law and how little substance was on display in the media debate over the bill, instead focusing on the red vs. blue fight. We also talk about homelessness rising in the U.S., with a 2.2% increase during the pandemic, the rash of reporting on Democrats and how they are losing racial minority voters in this country, and how a leftward turn beyond the overblown culture wars may benefit the country.
K.J. Noh, a global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, tells us about the virtual meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping that took place November 15, and what the conversation managing the US and China’s competition responsibly may actually mean, and how this could be achieved considering both countries are still pursuing the idea of unlimited growth. We also talk about Washington and Beijing’s joint climate pledge from last week at the COP26 conference, and whether we will see any real cooperation between the two nations.
Chris Empas, community mentor and violence interrupter, and Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist-in-training, join us to talk about the Blackburn Building takeover reaching its end, with students’ demands being met by the Howard University administration, and how direct action can yield real results. We also talk about the homicide spike in Washington, DC, whose rate stands at 198 deaths so far this year, how the pandemic and economic anxieties may have contributed to this, and the way forward to tackle these structural issues in an encompassing manner.
Theodros Teshome, film producer and actor, talks to us about the migrant experience of Ethiopians and Eritreans and their journey to and in the United States through his film “Triangle 1” and “Triangle 2”, how these amplify our shared humanity, and the broader impact of the his art right now in Ethiopia, which is facing a national crisis during its tensions with the TPLF.
Dr. Philip Brenner, Professor Emeritus at the American University School of International Service, joins us to talk about the anti-government protests organized for today in Cuba and the role of the U.S. in these protests. We talk about the composition of these protests that seemingly have a different focus than the ones in July this year, where people had legitimate grievances over the economic situation of the country and food scarcity, how the protests planned for today have a more political character, and the role of the National Endowment for Democracy in weaponizing grievances towards regime change without any concern for actual democracy.
Josh Gomez, producer for By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss the announcement that Beto O’Rourke will run for governor of Texas in the next election, what ignited this campaign, how would he fare against opponents, and how this will likely be another failed attempt by centrist Democrats to make inroads in the Lone Star State.
Jeff Pearce, journalist, historian, and author of "Prevail: The Inspiring Story of Ethiopia's Victory over Mussolini's Invasion: 1935-1941," joins us to discuss the checkered record of U.N. involvement in Ethiopia, where it seems it has actually taken sides by promoting a clear pro-TPLF narrative, making allegations against the government and abandoning its purported role as an honest broker in this conflict. We also talk about Secretary Blinken’s visit to African countries, where the Ethiopia conflict will be discussed and whether we will see a change in U.S. policy in the region.
Eugene Puryear, journalist, author, activist, politician, host at Breakthrough News, and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America,” talks to us about a report that the U.S. killed scores of civilians in an airstrike in Syria during its campaign against Daesh, and whether will see an actual war crimes investigation into this. We also talk about the role of U.S. media in promoting a one-sided view of the Ethiopia conflict where opposing views are silenced, and the too-little-too-late retractions after promoting falsehoods from the Steele dossier.
COP26 wraps up amid controversy over commitments and funding. Are we running out of time to reach a consensus?
Rishika Pardikar, freelance journalist writing from Bangalore, India covering wildlife, climate change & free speech, joins us to discuss the COP26 conference, which is wrapping up today, with reports of a walkout by a number of civil society delegates, and whether any significant proposals and commitments were reached in the conference. We talk about the intense debates over wording in joint texts involving phasing out coal versus phasing out “unabated coal power,” and what other disagreements ensued. We also discuss whether any progress was made toward a loss and damage fund, which would benefit developing countries, the debate about the financing mechanisms for this initiative and how it’s being set up, the role of the U.S. at the conference, and the allegations of “greenwashing.”
Coleen Rowley, a retired FBI agent, joins us to talk about a case that the Supreme Court heard on Monday to consider whether the FBI could be sued for discrimination after it engaged in a mass surveillance campaign against Muslims in the U.S., where it planted informants in mosques and collected troves of personal information from congregants. We talk about how the government and the courts have continuously invoked the state secrets defense in cases such as these, how this has been abused, and whether this is used as a cover to shield them from charges of discrimination, excessive surveillance, and repression.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, co-host of the DMZ America podcast, and author, his latest book is "The Stringer," joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Amy Klobuchar being forced to leave the stage at a fundraiser for Connie Bernardy on November 11 after being confronted by protesters calling for Line 3 in Minnesota to be stopped, the hand wringing over the appropriate “etiquette” for protestors, the passage of the slimmed-down bipartisan infrastructure bill, and how workers have to make do with crumbs within a bill awash with corporate handouts and as military budgets keep soaring, and Anthony Blinken’s upcoming trip to Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, where Ethiopia will be high up on the list of topics.
John Ross, author and economist, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, joins us to talk about plans coming out of COP26 for funding its climate change goals, where a promotion for private investment has taken the driver’s seat and the conversation around degrowth has been sidelined. We discuss the pledge of $100 billion dollars to finance climate initiatives in developing countries, how institutions like the World Bank will manage them, and the problematic history of these. We also talk about the geopolitics of climate change, and the risk that involving soft-power arms of wealthier nations could perpetuate inequality and have minimal impact on climate change mitigation.
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, tells us about the ongoing migrant crisis on the Belarus/Poland border, where thousands of immigrants, mainly from Iraq and Afghanistan, find themselves in limbo and unable to enter the EU. We also talk about how this wave of migration began, the infrastructure of this economy in origin countries, the accusations leveled at Belarus for allegedly weaponizing migrants, the militarization of the border, and the risks for an escalation of tensions between Belarus and the EU.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, professor of economics at the University of Missouri - Kansas City and former president of the National Economic Association, joins us to talk about reports that the economy is on its way to recovery and how the boon of this recovery has been unequally spread around, benefiting large corporations and the wealthy, while sidestepping middle and working class communities, and how inflation is negating any gains in income that people have seen as we get out of the pandemic. We also talk about whether we will see more labor organizing in the future after a series of recent strikes have demonstrated that workers are willing to leverage their power.
Cordell Woodland, producer for Fault Lines at Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the controversy surrounding Aaron Rodgers and his anti-vaccine position, how it could affect the team’s performance, and the aftermath of the NBA guiding referees to stop calling fouls on non-basketball related moves.
Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, shares a report from his recent visit to the region, including interview with Ethiopian citizens from the capital and the Amhara region, which questions the media narratives promoted in the West about the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, how the unfolding humanitarian crisis is being fueled by TPLF raids, and how some of the prominent journalists from legacy media promoting distorted narratives are not even in-country. We also talk about possible outcomes to the conflict, whether there may be a partition in the future, how lobbying by special interests in the U.S. may be exacerbating the situation, and how the way forward is to reach a peaceful resolution that promotes unity among the Ethiopian people that transcends ethinc affiliation.
Stuart Anderson, founder and executive director of Family and Friends of Incarcerated People, joins us to talk about reports of the dire conditions at the DC Jail, which is in the process of transferring more than 400 prisoners from DC’s Central Detention Facility, after a surprise inspection by US Marshalls in October found unlivable conditions and the systematic mistreatment of people detained there. We talk about who is ultimately at fault for this disaster, what is being done to take care of this situation, how this is a long-standing problem in the city that involved corruption and intimidation by jail staff, and the irony that the incarceration of a January 6th defendant sparked the initial investigation into the jail.
Kristine Hendrix, member of the board for Second Chances and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, joins us in a discussion about comments made by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) in an interview with Axios where he addressed the issue of masculinity and his framing of white straight cisgender men under constant attack by left-leaning discourse, the merits of his arguments, how certain ideas within liberal thought can be perceived as ham-fisted, and how the culture war pivot can obscure material factors like economic insecurity that can drive these tensions.
Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the situation in Ethiopia, where Western media has been presenting a completely different picture of the conflict that generally favors the TPLF narrative and contrasts with on-the-ground reports. He tells us about the experiences of having conversations about the future of the country with Ethiopian citizens, how this conflict could decide the future of the horn of Africa, and how a peaceful solution to the conflict should be the main goal of potential future negotiations.
Wyatt Reed, Radio Sputnik correspondent, tells us about the elections that took place in Nicaragua on Sunday, where the incumbent Daniel Ortega emerged victorious, and how despite proof of transparency in the elections, mainstream Western media outlets keep describing the vote as a sham. We also talk about the White House statement on the election, and whether this signals that the U.S. will take an even harsher line against Nicaragua and expand its sanctions.
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, talks to us about growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and an incident last week where Iran alleged that the U.S. tried to seize an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which elicited a rebuke from the U.S. denying such actions, and reports that the tanker in this incident may have transporting oil to Venezuela. We also talk about reports of a drone attack on the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi, and what this means for the current power struggle in Iraq.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Austin Pelli to discuss the messy negotiations over the infrastructure bill, where the slimmed down bipartisan version passed on Friday, and whether this means that the more ambitious Build Back Better Plan could be permanently shelved. We also talk about COP26 and how people are growing more impatient and skeptical that promises made there will be followed through, and what it would take to enact meaningful climate legislation.
Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, talks to us from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, as the conflict continues to escalate, with reports that nine groups have formed an anti-government alliance and the violence draws nearer to the capital. We talk about how people are dealing with the threat of war in the capital, how the situation has worsened in surrounding areas, where thousands of internally displaced persons have moved to refugee camps, and how Ethiopians are organizing to help them.
Dana Sussman, deputy executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, talks to us about a report about how women are being prosecuted for adverse pregnancy outcomes, with the number of prosecutions growing into the thousands since 2005. We talk about how these draconian measures cause undue harm for situations that are beyond the control of pregnant women, and what is being done to defend them from these measures.
Ron Clewer, Illinois Market President for Gorman & Company and affordable housing advocate, joins us to talk about the state of play in cities around the country with regard to housing for rent and for purchase, whether there is a supply crunch for both, how prices have been inflated and the possible causes for this bubble. We also talk about whether we should separate rentals and purchases when we talk about the housing crisis, how the concept of affordability at times does not reflect the actual capacity of buyers and renters in the market, and what could be done to ensure people have access to affordable housing.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for IL-16, talks to us about the trial of Ahmaud Arbery and how it’s proving to be exceptionally difficult to find jury members to hear the case, the controversy over the rumors that the Biden Administration would award $450,000 to undocumented immigrants who were separated from their families under Trump immigration policies, and Adam Kinzinger contemplating a run in the Senate, Illinois governorship, or even a possible bid at the presidency in 2024.
Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, and freelance photojournalist Jemal Countess update us on the situation in Ethiopia, where the government has declared a state of emergency as the TPLF captures towns near the capital Addis Ababa. We talk about their experiences speaking to people on the ground at the capital and neighboring regions and how the narrative presented by Western media does not reflect the reality in the country.
Wyatt Reed, correspondent for Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the upcoming presidential election in Nicaragua, how Facebook and then Twitter suspended some 1,300 accounts connected to Sandinista figures and Sandinista sympathizers, the RENACER Act that will place more sanctions on Nicaragua, and what polls can tell us about how the election will go on November 7.
Max Wilbert, organizer, writer, and wilderness guide, and author of the book "Bright Green Lies: How the Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It," joins us to give us an update on resistance actions at Thacker Pass, where environmental and indigenous organizers are protesting a lithium mining project.
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, talks to us about news that one of the main sources for the infamous Steele dossier, Igor Danchenko, has been arrested and indicted for lying to the FBI as part of the investigation into Trump and Russia, and how the Russia-gate conspiracy theory keeps unraveling.
Monica Cruz, host and reporter with BreakThrough News, talks to us about workers at John Deere voting down the latest offer from management, the fight in New York by taxi drivers over exploitation and overpriced cab medallions, and Bill DeBlasio running for governor.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the Biden administration placing sanctions on the Israeli-owned NSO Group, Facebook taking down their facial recognition software, whether the revelations from the Facebook papers played a part in this, and the Supreme Court declining to speak on whether special surveillance courts must disclose significant opinions that came after 9/11.
Michael Goodwin, journalist and columnist at The New York Post, joins us to talk about the outcome of the gubernatorial elections in Virginia, where Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin has defeated former Governor Terry McAuliffe in a race that was colored by the culture wars and schools. We talk about the New Jersey election, where Democrat Philip Murphy holds a slim lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli. We also talk about news that Bill DeBlasio will run for governor of New York, and his chances of winning despite his unpopularity with both parties.
Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, tells us about the evolving situation in Ethiopia, where we have seen gains made by TPLF rebels that may now threaten the capital Addis Ababa. We talk about how Western media coverage has been slanted in favor of the TPLF by framing the Ethiopian government as the initial aggressor, the ethinc tensions in the country, which are being made more salient in the current conflict and were promoted by the TPLF during its rule of the country, and what developments we could see in the coming weeks.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, talks to us about reports that teenagers, girls especially, are developing tics associated with tourette's syndrome after repeated usage of the TikTok app. We talk about how social media can be a catalyst of psychogenic illnesses with real neurological consequences, and what parents can do to avoid these outcomes.
Dr. Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a professor of public policy at Cornell University in New York, talks to us about the Federal Reserve ending its asset buying program, the connection between wages, inflation and monetary supply, the Biden administration calling for stablecoins to be issued by insured banks that are overseen by federal banking regulators, and proposals coming out of COP26.
Femi Ayanbadejo, former NFL player, certified nutritionist, human performance expert and founder and CEO of HealthReel, joins to discuss the victory of the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, the NBA implementing new rules around fouls, and lopsided wins and sportsmanship.
Dr. Wes Bellamy, chair of the political science department at Virginia State University and former Vice-Mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia, joins us to talk about the heated gubernatorial race in Virginia as voters go to the polls today, and where the culture wars have colored the contest between former Democratic governor Terry McAuliffe and Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin. We talk about how the controversy over Critical Race Theory and education has become one of the main talking points in the campaign, which reflects greater political and cultural anxieties in the country, and how Biden’s stalled infrastructure plan is having an effect in state-wide elections.
Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and the CEO and founder of KCG Consulting Services, joins us to talk about the debate over the Texas abortion law, SB 8, and how this controversy is raising questions about the power of states to challenge federal authority. We also talk about what it would mean to allow states to decide what constitutional rights are actually protected within them and which aren’t, how the attorneys from Texas defended the law, and whether defenders of reproductive rights should be worried.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation’s Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins us to talk about a ballot initiative in Minneapolis where city residents will vote on replacing the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety, the Poor People’s Campaign pushback on the investment framework Democrats are still hammering out, and Donald Trump’s comments on a radio show about Israel’s influence in U.S. politics.
Zachary Siegel, freelance journalist and a journalism fellow at Northeastern University's Health in Justice Action Lab, joins us to discuss the new Hulu mini-series “Dopesick” and how the show glosses over the true story of the epidemic, while reinforcing racialized stereotypes about drug addiction, law enforcement, and the war on drugs.
Joshua Harris, Vice President of the Baltimore branch of the NAACP and incoming VP of the Maryland NAACP, joins us to talk about news that the FDA has authorized emergency use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11, what this will mean for schools, what sort of pushback we will see from parents if vaccine mandates are instituted as a requirement for school attendance, and how this connects to a growing resistance against mandates, where we have seen walkouts, “sick-outs” and direct opposition to vaccine mandates, with cases like New York, where 2,000 firefighters have walked out on their jobs due to vaccine requirements. We also talk about whether we will see a migration of workers to states where vaccine requirements are less stringent, and we look at possible alternatives to sort out this fight.
China Dickerson, political strategist and National Political Director for Forward Majority, joins us to talk about the Supreme Court looking into Texas SB 8, the abortion law that puts the power to restrict abortions in the hands of private citizens and not state officials, what is at stake for Texas women if this law is allowed to stand, and legal stakes for the federal government, where 100 current and federal prosecutors and judges filed a brief calling Texas law SB 8 the most blatant attempt to subvert federal authority since the Jim Crow era. We also talk about what sort of resistance we have seen in Texas, whether a compromise will be reached, and whether we will see a further erosion of abortion rights at the national level.
Jon Jeter is an author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience. He is also a former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, and joins hosts Michelle Witte and Austin Pelli to talk about highlights from the G20 meetings, where climate change has taken center stage, and how the responsibilities borne by wealthier countries have been laid bare, considering the harm climate change is causing in developing countries, and Elon Musks’ $6 billion “offer” to solve world hunger.
Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary, The Grayzone, and The Real News, joins us to talk about the court proceedings in the appeal filed by the U.S. in the extradition case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. We talk about whether the Yahoo News report describing conversations within the U.S. government about, among other ideas, assassinating Assange, has colored the public perception of the case, and whether it will affect the outcome of the case itself.
Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik News, joins us to talk about Mark Zuckerberg’s new plan to change the way we live our lives by unveiling his concept of the metaverse, which envisions conducting our daily interactions through avatars in virtual reality. We talk about how this move means that Facebook is treading even more into public utility territory, whether this transformation will make our government reconsider the way Facebook as a communication device is treated, and whether the company’s ambitions are actually achievable.
Reilly Colin Dixon, reporter for Yellow Springs News, joins us to talk about plans by famous and controversial comedian Dave Chappelle’s plans to develop his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio by building a comedy club, restaurant, production studio and offices, and a business/housing mixed development project, the intersection between comedy and politics, whether celebrities are the best spokespeople for political causes, and the long history of activism and and counterculture of the town.
Laith Marouf, international affairs analyst and media law consultant, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about President Biden’s visit to Europe, where G-20 leaders are expected to endorse a 15 percent global minimum corporate tax rate, hold discussions on Iran, and seek to iron out supply chain issues. We also talk about Israel’s announcement targeting six Palestinian groups, allowing authorities to freeze their funds and potentially arrest their leaders, as well as the ongoing crisis in Lebanon that has suffered shortages of essential goods and has seen multiple deadly protests, and how corruption at the top has been one of the main drivers of this crisis.
Howie Hawkins, 2020 Green Party presidential candidate, trade unionist, and activist, joins us to talk about Biden’s incredible shrinking infrastructure bill, which is now being referred to as a “framework” after popular proposals like paid family leave, lowering prescription drug prices, an expansion for Medicare, and others, have been dropped after infighting within the Democratic Party. We talk about how the Democrats seem to be unable to govern and enact policies for the people even after controlling the White House and Congress, and the potential political fallout due to this inertia.
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins us to talk about Iran’s top negotiator announcing that Iran would rejoin international talks on its nuclear program, whether the U.S. will join Iran and Europe at the negotiating table, considering its long-standing belligerent tone and long standing position of trying to isolate Iran through international forums and sanctions. We also talk about how the U.S. global sanctions regime could become so large that it would actually force its enemies to interact more and more, and how Iran is reaching out to potential allies to stave off its crippling effects.
Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist-in-training, and Jacqui Luqman, co-host of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, join us to talk about the protests by students at Howard University in DC to highlight the housing conditions on campus, how the administration has failed to provide the necessary resources for students, and how these protests are bringing to light the class issues within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins us to talk about the U.S. appeal in London over the extradition of Julian Assange, arguing that he will be treated fairly in the U.S., and how the treatment of whistleblowers by the U.S. undermines their case for extradition. We also talk about the protests in support of Assange, and whether recent revelations of U.S potential actions against Assange will have any effect on judges’ decisions.
Danny Haiphong, activist, writer and political analyst, joins us to discuss the potential political implications after the US State Department issued a statement encouraging all UN member states to support Taiwan’s participation throughout the UN system and in the international community, and how this can be interpreted as a direct challenge to China’s policy vis-a-vis Taiwan. We also talk about whether this statement is consistent with past US policy toward Taiwan or if it represents a change, and how China could respond to this.
Dan Kovalik, author and human rights & labor lawyer, joins us to talk about the announcement that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is going to be joining striking Kellogg’s workers and the president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union on the picket line in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and whether this represents a mere symbolic act or if the Biden administration will actually take a more pro-labor stance and enact worker-friendly policies.
Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book “Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” joins us to talk about the case of Dixmoor, Illinois, where thousands of residents are still experiencing a water crisis over the weekend, how crises like these could become more commonplace due to lack of infrastructure and the effects of climate change.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron," talks to us about the ongoing fallout from the Facebook Papers and whether Facebook had a legal obligation to warn users about the risks revealed by internal research findings, whether net neutrality will be back on the table after a new FCC appointment, Senate Democrats unveiling a plan to tax the gains of billionaires, and Obama’s quest to be an influencer.
Justin Williams, co-host of Redspin Sports, joins us to talk about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell doubling down on the league's decision not to make public the results of its investigation into the workplace culture at the Washington Football Team, Chicago Blackhawks president of hockey operations Stan Bowman resigning after the findings into sexual assault allegations, and the MLB World Series.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, talks to us about vaccine giants Moderna and Pfizer refusing to grant licenses for their mRNA technology to developing countries, arguing that they lack the infrastructure and technological know-how to produce vaccines. We talk about how this is just another move to monopolize vaccine production and protect profits, even after these companies are regular recipients of public funds, and how many countries do in fact have the capacity to produce vaccines. We also talk about the controversy surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci’s statements last year related to the origins of the virus, new theories about lab leaks, and whether these can actually hold water.
Journalist Hermela Aregawi joins us to talk about the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the Tigray region, where the Tigray People's Liberation Front are taking an increasingly aggressive stance, and how Western media have failed in presenting a balanced view of the conflict, sometimes to point of sounding like TLPF spokespeople. We discuss how famine has been weaponized and loosely used by Western media in order to demonize the Ethiopian government, and how allegations that the government has blocked aid have been fueled by international aid organizations and the UN without properly verifying the evidence in these allegations. We also talk about how there has been a lack of reporting on the migrant crisis and flow into Sudan, and the completion of the Grand Renaissance Dam, which has region-wide implications.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins us to talk about the Biden administration again delaying the release of government records on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the reasons for the delay, and what new revelations, if any, could come to light once these records are released. We also talk about the U.S. obsession with placing sanctions on countries it does not like, even after it’s been revealed that, beyond inflicting misery on populations, sanctions are not an effective geo-political tool, and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey predicting hyperinflation coming in the US and the world.
Niemat Ahmadi, President of the Darfur Women Action Group, joins us to talk about the evolving situation in Sudan where the military have apparently ousted the caretaker government in what is more and more looking like a coup d’etat. We talk about how former ruler Omar Al-Bashir still casts a long shadow in the country, with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan consolidating his power by placing Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, his wife and other ministers under arrest, arguing that civilian political infighting represented “a threat” to the country, the timing of these arrests, and whether a potential investigation into crimes committed by the military in the past years may have played a role in this power grab.
Alex Rubinstein, investigative reporter and co-host of the podcast Pro-Democracy Pod, joins us to talk about how dozens of media outlets are collaborating on what is now being called The Facebook Papers project, how Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has been cultivated and legally represented by an organization led by former intelligence insiders with close ties to the US national security state, how this colors her statements to Congress and the reaction by those in power, and whether there is a long term project to increase surveillance in social media platforms in the guise of security concerns.
Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the trial around "Unite the Right" rally, where dozens were injured and one person died in the chaos, to decide whether organizers planned for a violent showdown from the start. We also talk about the issue of money in politics, with a New York mayoral debate where several candidates who are on the ballot weren’t allowed to be part of the debate because they hadn’t raised and spent the required nearly $200,000 at the time, as well as Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen still out promoting their podcast and their book, and the limits and pitfalls of celebrity politicians.
William Camacaro, senior analyst at the Council of Hemispheric Affairs, artist, radio host, and activist, joins us to talk about U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s tour of Latin American countries, stopping in Ecuador and Colombia to promote the U.S. brand and to “promote democracy” in the region. We talk about the actual chequered history of U.S. intervention in the hemisphere that has, more often than not, led to undemocratic regimes, how these interventions have shaped and often times scarred the countries affected, with consequences that can be felt after generations, and how the immigration crisis could be directly linked to U.S. support for conservative and right wing groups in the hemisphere. We also talk about how this visit, particularly in Colombia, is related to the continuing economic stranglehold on Venezuela and support for the opposition there.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, tells us about drone whistleblower Daniel Hale being sent to the notorious Communications Management Unit at the maximum-security U.S. Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois to serve a 45-month sentence, rather than the low-security prison at Butner, North Carolina and how this could be used to set an example and have a chilling effect on other potential whistleblowers. We also talk about the Biden administration’s top spies and scientists releasing the first-ever National Intelligence Estimate on the global security threats posed by climate change, and how diminished energy supplies, food, and water security could shape international relations in the future.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to discuss the controversy at the Federal Reserve, where it has been revealed that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sold between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock from his personal account during the pandemic in 2020, which raises questions about ethics and insider trading, Biden saying that he doesn’t think there are enough Democratic votes to raise tax rates in a deal on his economic agenda.
Juan José Gutiérrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, joins us to talk about how immigration reform may be put in the back burner again as the infrastructure bill keeps getting pared down, and the Senate parliamentarian is recommending not including it in the reconciliation bill. We talk about how the promises by the Biden administration have been broken, with increasing numbers of arrests at the border and stalled policies, and how Latinos in the U.S. are gearing up to mobilize and make it known that they will not be a sure vote for the Democrats in the next election.
John Kane, Mohawk activist and educator, producer and host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast and co-host of Resistance Radio on WBAI Pacifica Radio NY, joins us to talk about the indigenous-led protests that took place last week at the Capitol and the Department of the Interior against fossil fuel industries after long-standing actions against Line 3. We talk about how detrimental policies are continuing despite the Department being led now by Secretary Deb Haaland, and the limits of politics of representation.
Tina Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the city of San Diego not disclosing the identity of a suspect who allegedly threw an incendiary device at anti-Trump demonstrators at a Pacific Beach “Patriot March” on January 9, the deal between IATSE and the movie studios and the ensuing division among members, and the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11 and the anti-vaxxer backlash.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, talks to us about whether Mark Zuckerberg should be held personally liable for giving third party apps access to user data, how Facebook’s own oversight board is being sidelined, and how no corporation should be in charge of policing itself. We also talk about how the company is being rebranded, including changing its name, to focus on what Zuckerberg has called “the metaverse.”
Arnold August is an author, lecturer, journalist, and political and trade union activist based in Montreal; his latest book is “Cuba-U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond.” He joins us to talk about news about a report from the Brazilian Congress that is recommending that President Jair Bolsonaro be charged with homicide and crimes against humanity over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen Brazil suffer the most deaths after the U.S. We also talk about how these charges may be pursued, the public reaction to these charges, and whether this could set a new trend to hold governments accountable for negligence.
Dr. Guy McPherson, scientist and professor emeritus of natural resources, ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, joins us to discuss plans by corporations to restore tree canopies, and purchasing forest lands in order to offset their carbon emissions. We talk about how these initiatives, which allow polluters to rebrand themselves as carbon neutral, are not an effective way to combat climate change and global warming, how they end up being glorified public relations campaigns and are just a retread of carbon trading policies.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," talks to us about the the interview the former US Secretary of Defense and former head of the CIA, Robert “Bob” Gates, had with Anderson Cooper on “60 Minutes” on Sunday, discussing the disaster of Afghanistan and potential war with China, and the new documentary on Hulu that brings back the infamous Steele dossier to the forefront and continues to reinforce the Russia-gate conspiracy theory.
Josh Gomez, producer for By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the National and American League Championship series and the late game comebacks by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, Major League Baseball planning to provide housing for affiliated minor-league players starting in the 2022 season, how this is not enough to offset their meager salaries, and the start of the new NBA season.
Lee Stranahan, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the breaking news of an FBI raid at the Washington, DC home of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who has had ties to former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, whether this raid is in connection to this and continuing efforts targeting Russian oligarchs, and how Russiagate is still alive and well in the U.S.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, talks to us about Russia suspending its observer mission to NATO after 8 of its diplomats were expelled after allegations of spying, what sort of diplomatic engagement did Russia have in NATO prior to this incident, what impact this decision could have in relations between Russia and NATO countries, and what this means for other countries like the Ukraine and China. We also talk about the extradition of Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab to the United States and the continued siege of the U.S. against Venezuela.
Amanda Hall, campaign director for Dream Corps JUSTICE, joins us to talk about a recent academic study from the University of Chicago that conducted a wide ranging meta-analysis which concluded, among other revelations, that continued incarceration does not serve as an effective crime deterrent, and that in fact, could actually increase recidivism. We also talk about other alternatives to incarceration, like restorative justice, that could better serve society by not focusing on punishment or isolation from society and encouraging rehabilitation.
Ra Shad Frazier-Gaines, founder and chair of the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of America and founder and chair of Black Progressives, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the continued failure of the Democratic Party to pass Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, the continued backlash to America’s two-party system, and the dirty money influencing the Virginia gubernatorial election.
Keith Mackey, founder of Mackey International, an aviation consulting firm specializing in aviation safety, risk management, accident investigation, air carrier certification and safety/compliance audits, tells us about chaos in the airline industry during the COVID-19 pandemic after Southwest Airlines cancelled over 2,000 flights over the weekend, with disruptions carrying over into the week. We talk about the airline’s explanation for these disruptions, citing weather and staffing issues, how Southwest’s vaccine mandates may have provoked a slow-down by its pilots, what the union is saying, and whether we will see similar disruptions in other airlines in the future.
Dr. Wilmer Leon, political scientist and host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss the trial in absentia of Blaise Compaoré, who stands accused of being involved in the assassination of Burkina Faso leader Thomas Sankara in the 80’s. We talk about the figure of Sankara and his legacy, how his left-leaning and pan-African politics may have led to his assassination, and the role that that France, the United States, and international financial institutions may have played in his killing.
Monica Cruz, host and reporter with BreakThrough News, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the shocking numbers from the US economy, with the Labor Department revealing that workers left their jobs at a record pace in August, totalling 4.3 million, and about 2.9 percent of the workforce within the bar and restaurant industry, as well as retail staff, quitting in droves. We talk about how the pandemic has revealed the precarious conditions of workers, how this could be seen as a protest, and how this could energize workers towards organizing.
Chuck Modiano, justice journalist and sports writer at Deadspin, joins us to talk about the firing of Las Vegas Raiders head coach John Gruden over racist, misogynistic, and homophobic emails, the Tyson Fury vs. Donte Wilder fight, and San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich using his pulpit as an NBA coach to speak out on social justice issues.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation's Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins us to talk about a couple of stories reflective on the state of policing in the country, with the case of Clifford Owensby, a paraplegic man who was pulled out of his car during a search under suspicion of drug possession in Ohio, and four Maryland police officers not being charged after a fatal shooting where the evidence does not exactly fit the officers’ narratives.
David Rosen is writer on media, tech, politics and sex whose books include “Sex, Sin & Subversion: The Transformation of 1950s New York’s Forbidden into America’s New Normal” and “Sex Scandal America: Politics & the Ritual of Public Shaming.” His most recent book is "Prohibition New York City: Speakeasy Queen Texas Guinan, Blind Pigs, Drag Balls and More.” He tells us about the growing digital divide in the U.S., why our internet is both so bad and so expensive, how we have fallen so far behind some other countries, how telecom giants are becoming a new cartel, and how community broadband networks could not just fill in gaps big internet providers won’t cover, but also offer an alternative to those companies.
James Early, former Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the looting of cultural artifacts at a global scale after new revelations from the Pandora Papers, how not only collectors, but also recognized elite institutions engage in theft of priceless cultural items, and efforts underway to try to get stolen artifacts returned to their rightful homes.
Sean Wilson, National Organizing Director for Dream Corps JUSTICE, talks to us about how hard it can be to access any books in prisons sometimes, what it’s like trying to send books to people in prison, and how administrators engage in arbitrary censorship.
Kathy Kelly, American peace activist and author, joins us to talk about the news that the U.N. Human Rights Council is ending its investigation into war crimes in the conflict in Yemen, in a controversial vote that hints at a rebuke to Western nations. We talk about the significance of this investigation, what it means to be abruptly ended, whether there was any horse-trading in the vote, and what Saudi Arabia gains from this.
K.J. Noh, a global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, joins us to discuss how the CIA is pivoting to the Asia Pacific theater with the opening of a new mission center that would focus on China, what this means for escalating tensions with the U.S. on the heels of weapons sales to Australia, whether this means that terrorism is no longer the main designated threat for the U.S., and the impact this will have on trade and climate negotiations.
Bill Mew, leading digital ethics campaigner and CEO of cyber incident firm The Crisis Team, talks to us about new efforts by the US government to protect pipelines and rail transit systems from cyber attacks, which includes issuing and promising new industry regulations intended to strengthen cyber defense in those industries. We talk about whether these proposed regulations will be enough to stave off a cyberattack on energy infrastructure, and the pushback from the industries themselves. We also talk about the TSA imposing new regulations on high risk railroad and rail transit systems, and what these regulations might be.
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the Facebook leaks and whistleblower testimony, which revealed a bit of Facebook’s role in US foreign policy, and why a private business would align itself with the US government, as well as CIA interests and talking points. We also talk about the public political fight that unfolded over the Iron Dome funding and whether this represents a significant step forward for the Palestinian rights movement.
Dr. David Schultz, distinguished university professor of political science and legal studies at Hamline University and the author of “Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter,” joins us to talk about electoral law and proposals that are being floated around as solutions to a dysfunctional system, including fixing existing ambiguities about what it means for a state to “fail to make a choice” on Election Day, too-lenient rules about how objections to votes can be filed, and the role of the vice president in certifying the vote. We also talk about what’s the resistance to reforms, and what it would take to restore confidence in U.S. democracy.
Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, tells us about the energy crisis that has gripped Europe after months of rising gas prices, and sudden surge that is threatening to create political havoc both in the countries affected and the EU as a whole. We also talk about disagreements over how the bloc should respond, what EU leaders have presented so far, the response to those proposals, and how not all members want to see far-reaching measures enacted for a crisis they might not be feeling as acutely as their neighbors.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, joins us to talk about the homelessness problem in both Washington D.C. and the country and how it embodies the reality of our unequal system, the fallout of the scandal at Facebook after the whistleblower revelations, and the intersection between social media, the national security state, and foreign policy. We also talk about the ever shrinking infrastructure bill and what we could end up with after all the horse trading is done.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the case of Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, a Palestinian man who is currently held at the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after he was captured in Pakistan in 2002, the torture he suffered, and how the CIA admitted after the fact that it had made a mistake.
John Ross, author, economist, and senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, joins us to talk about the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, after U.S. Trade Representative Catherine Tai gave a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which revealed that the Biden administration, despite hinting at extending an olive branch to China, is continuing the confrontational stance and policies of the Trump administration. We also talk about the criticism leveled at China’s economic model, and the effect that tariffs have had on Chinese and American consumers.
Jonathan Kuttab, co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International, tells us about a report revealing that there has been a surge in Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the past two years, with more cases of anti-Palestinian violence in the first half of 2021 than in all of 2019, and the fight to reinstate the PayPal service to Palestininans in the West Bank and Gaza.
Dr. Bill Honigman, retired emergency physician and California state coordinator and healthcare issue team coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about how plans to cover millions of uninsured people and offer dental and vision benefits to people on Medicare in the infrastructure bill are being held hostage by congressional opposition from both Democrats and Republicans to lowering drug prices, reports that hospitals are suffering financially during the pandemic, and how a focus on efficiencies are often mistaken for proper health provision.
Femi Ayanbadejo, certified nutritionist, human performance expert, NASA technology transfer partner, and founder and CEO of HealthReel, a digital self-health assessment and education platform, joins us to talk about NFL coach Urban Meyer landing in hot water after being filmed at a sports bar fondling a patron, and the ongoing controversy in the NBA where some players are refusing the vaccine and incurring serious monetary losses.
Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent, joins us to talk about the ongoing fallout from the revelations in the Pandora Papers. We discuss the details of how these individuals and corporations constitute a global kleptocratic regime, and the people, organizations, and states that help them by operating and sustaining the offshoring industry. We also talk about the effects that these practices have on populations abroad, by siphoning money from the state through tax evasion and increasing precarity and inequality.
David Rosen, widely published author whose most recent book is "Prohibition New York City: Speakeasy Queen Texas Guinan, Blind Pigs, Drag Balls and More", and an author of book reviews and popular pieces on media-tech, telecom, politics, sex and American life, joins us to talk ongoing Epstein saga: the status of a fund set up for his victims, how the fund set up to compensate Epstein’s alleged victims has perhaps been falling short, the looming legal woes of Prince Andrew after he reportedly spent time at the Bahamas mansion of fashion designer Peter Nygard, who has now been accused of a number of sex crimes, and the state of Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial.
Jacqui Luqman and Sean Blackmon, hosts of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the undue power vested in the tech giant Facebook, and how the various allegations against it come as no surprise considering the lax regulation on technology companies, whose only goal is to increase their profits. We also talk about the extremely popular show “Squid Game,” the impact of its social critique and what U.S. film and television programs can learn from it.
Red Grant, comedian and 2022 mayoral candidate for Washington, DC, talks to us about the experience of transitioning from the arts, culture and community into politics, and the importance of bringing unique perspectives into political dialogue and practice.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins us to talk about the revelations from the Pandora Papers, totalling between 12 million records from offshore companies, giving a glimpse into the ways the wealthy and powerful move, manage and hide their money. We talk about how this group includes over 330 politicians, 130 Forbes billionaires, members of royal families, and religious leaders, among others, and the implications for figures and governments who claim to be against corruption, but now find themselves enmeshed in this scandal. We also talk about whether these revelations will have a meaningful impact, considering the precedent of the Panama Papers, and whether the Biden administration’s proposed changes to tax regulation will actually curtail offshore tax havens used by companies.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio correspondent, joins us to discuss the revelations from a new report highlighting the lengths Virginia-based Dominion Energy went to make sure their dirty name appeared clean in the press, including how Dominion spent nearly $19 million in lobbying, advertising, market research, political payouts, and membership fees over the last four years, including direct payments to newspaper columnists and academic professors. We also talk about the similarities of this case to others at the national level, and how this is representative of a larger issue of institutionalized corruption.
Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author whose latest book is “The Stringer,” joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to discuss the fallout of the “60 Minutes” interview with Frances Haugen, a Facebook whistleblower who has revealed that Facebook has been putting profits over the well being of its users for a long time, how its algorithms promote misinformation, and even violence, and how higher-ups in the company turned a blind eye to these issues. We also talk about the bombing in Afghanistan that left many civilians dead in Kabul on Sunday, and the Western media coverage of the incident.
Adriana Garriga López, associate professor of anthropology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, associate faculty of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, anthropologist and multidisciplinary artist, and Esteban Gómez, historian and co-host of the “Plan de Contingencia” podcast, join us to talk about the ongoing energy crisis which has seen hundreds of thousands of citizens affected by rolling power outages throughout weeks, and what role the new private energy company Luma has played in this crisis. We talk about how this is yet another example of disaster capitalism and how public-private partnerships have wreaked havoc for workers and the provision of essential services in the name of profit.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, and Heather Keeler, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, join us to talk about the news that the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline is going operational today, despite months-long protests. We also talk about some of the social impacts of projects like these beyond the environmental harm, the documented effects of bringing this kind of work, done this kind of way, into indigenous communities, how resistance will continue against this project, what future actions could look like, and the often overlooked tragedy of missing native women.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for IL-16, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the intraparty fight among Democrats over the proposed infrastructure bill, which now seems certain to be considerably slimmed down, how this manufactured crisis goes beyond characters like Sinema and Manchin, and how disunity conveniently happens whenever there actual meaningful policy at stake. We also talk about how funding for infrastructure is usually disbursed, whether it actually goes to fund the public good and not deepening the pockets of private contractors, the Biden administration announcing new rules that require authorities to only pursue migrants who recently crossed into the country without permission or are deemed to pose a threat to public safety, the future of DACA, and the long racist history of U.S. immigration policies.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins us to talk about the meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, as they discuss improving relations between the two countries as rifts between Turkey, NATO and the U.S. continue to widen. We talk about the role the two countries could play in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal, what this could mean for Russia and Turkey in the conflict in Syria.
Angela Arias Zapata, educator, researcher, and PhD candidate in media, culture & communication at New York University, talks to us about the political situation in Colombia, where the now 5-year-old peace agreement between the government and the FARC is in peril after missteps by the government in its implementation, ongoing violence against labor and community leaders, and the chances of opposition parties in the next election.
Dr. Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law and professor of public policy at Cornell University in New York, senior counsel at Westwood Capital, and fellow of The Century Foundation, talks to us about the dueling infrastructure bills in Congress, why the Democrats can’t seem to unify the party to support the more ambitious one, who and what is behind this opposition to increased public spending beyond red and blue lines, and how parties sometimes support policies in order to just secure power without regard to actual policies that may help or harm citizens of the country.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, and security & privacy consultant, talks to us about Facebook investigation into the “toxic” nature of Instagram on teenagers, Google redesigning its search engine and how this may end up pushing more traffic to Google properties like YouTube, Bill Gates’s claiming naiveté after the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust released a report concluding that Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google hold monopoly power, and the YouTube scandal involving RT-Germany that could see the app banned in Russia.
Nick Davies, independent journalist, a researcher with CODEPINK, and the author of “Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq,” joins us to talk about the congressional hearing where national security figures, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, gave testimony on the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the disagreements over the number of troops to keep in the country, the fog of war, and how the endless War on Terror will go on.
Kim Keenan, adjunct professor at George Washington University and former General Counsel of the NAACP, joins us to talk about the verdict in the R. Kelly case, where he was found guilty of racketeering, including acts of bribery and sexual exploitation of a child, along with separate charges of sex trafficking. We talk about why is this ruling so important, how RICO and racketeering charges were used in a unique way in this case, and whether this would set a precedent in prosecuting other sexual abuse cases.
Ivan Klepov, head of online at RT-Germany, joins us to discuss the decision of YouTube to delete the accounts of RT channels in Germany over covid misinformation accusations, whether these charges are valid, how Russia could retaliate against the tech giant, and what this means for free expression and freedom of the press.
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, joins hosts Bob Schlehuber and Austin Pelli to talk about the real threat of a government shutdown over the Biden infrastructure bills, where the party is having difficulties even garnering support among its members, how a shutdown will guarantee a loss of both houses of Congress and possibly could lead to an impeachment, and the prospects of dropping sanctions against Iran.
Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, talks to us about news that more than 90 percent of N.B.A. players have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and whether the remaining players who are refusing vaccines will play again, and four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles stating that she should have retired before the Tokyo Olympics.
Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss the political fallout in Germany after the SPD secured victory in the federal election and upcoming task of building a coalition, as well as plans by Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel to allegedly kidnap or kill Julian Assange while he was living at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Chris Smalls, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, joins us in a discussion of Amazon’s continuing worker suppression and the efforts to fight back, with the National Labor Relations Board set hold a hearing on September 28 to review charges that Amazon illegally retaliated against two of its most outspoken internal critics, and the chilling effects of Amazon’s practices on labor organizing.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, tells us about the New York governor declaring a ‘disaster emergency’ amid a staffing shortage crisis prompted by vaccine resisters, what could be done to overcome these challenges, Pfizer beginning a late-stage trial of its potential COVID-19 pill as a preventive treatment, and how this could work in conjunction with vaccines.
Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, and Nick Cruse, Cofounder of Fred Hampton Leftists and citizen journalist focusing on state violence, the class war, and foreign policy, join us to talk about a New York Times story citing a spike in murders throughout 2020 to make the argument that what the country needs is more police, and the redesign of Monument Avenue in Richmond after the Robert E. Lee statue was taken down.
Dr. Robert Epstein, author, editor, longtime psychology researcher and professor, former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today, and current Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, joins us to talk about YouTube announcing new restrictions on what is considered “advancing false claims” related to the German elections and how these tech giants could pose a threat to press freedom, and Facebook pausing development of an Instagram Kids service that would be tailored for children 13 years old or younger.
Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the results of the federal elections in Germany, where the Social Democrats won a narrow victory, paving the way for a center-left coalition. We talk about what this coalition building effort may look like, who will become kingmaker, and how the right-wing Alternative for Germany Party lost seats, but still came ahead of the leftist party Die Linke. We also talk about how the Greens have lost influence, and what lies ahead for the party.
John Kiriakou, co host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about how CIA officials during the Trump administration had contemplated either abducting or even assassinating Julian Assange, with Mike Pompeo publicly describing Wikileaks in 2017 as a “non-state hostile intelligence service.” We talk about some of the proposals that, at times, took an outlandish quality, and whether they would have been able to pull any of these off.
Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and the CEO and Founder of KCG Consulting Services, joins us to talk about the Minnesota Supreme Court throwing out the third-degree murder conviction of a former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot a woman who had called 911 to report a possible rape behind her home, whether this ruling could give former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin grounds to appeal his own third-degree murder conviction, and the legal tools to hold police accountable
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to talk about the ongoing fight over President Biden’s $3.5 trillion infrastructure deal, how it has become a do-or-die fight that now includes the threat of a government closure if the debt ceiling is not expanded by September 30th. We also talk about how Biden, despite presenting himself as the great uniter of both the Democrats and Republicans, is now struggling to unite his own party, and how some profitable corporations may still pay no taxes under a Democratic proposal.
Maru Mora Vilalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and immigrant activist, joins us to talk about the ongoing Haitian refugee crisis in the southern border, where thousands of asylum seekers have been deported to their home country without a hearing, how the Biden administration’s immigration policies have not differed substantially from the Trump administration, what impact could the resignation of the special envoy to Haiti over the the treatment of migrants could have on policy, and reports that some migrants could be transferred to the Guantanamo Bay prison.
Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the upcoming German federal election, with the CDU lagging in the polls, how Germans may not only say goodbye to Merkel, but maybe to the CDU in power all together. We also talk about the other parties making headway in the polls, and the possibility of the Social Democrats forming a leftist coalition with the Greens and the far-left Die Linke.
Dr. Avi Loeb, the Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, former chair of the Department of Astronomy, founding director of the Black Hole Initiative, director of the Institute for Theory and Computation, and bestselling author, joins us to talk about the ways in which the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua has spurred a more serious search for extraterrestrial life or artifacts, the debate that it has engendered among the scientific community, and the importance of keeping an open mind to new discoveries and sometimes bucking orthodoxy in the search of knowledge.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron," talks to us about a veteran disrupting a speaking event by former president George W. Bush over his legacy in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the newest Facebook scandal, which saw its Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer resign after documents leaked by a whistleblower revealed grave content moderation failures at the company and suggested it routinely buried internal research if the findings proved negative.
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins us to talk about the obstacles for the U.S. and Iran entering into negotiations to revive the nuclear deal, President Biden hinting at the possibility of restarting talks, how the U.S. is putting the onus of responsibility on Iran despite the fact that Iran followed the letter of the deal even after the U.S. balked, how Iran’s new president could negotiate with the U.S., and what impact the withdrawal from Afghanistan could have in the relations between the two countries.
Garland Nixon, co-host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik and host of News Views with Garland Nixon on WPFW, talks to us about civil asset forfeiture and how this enables law enforcement to basically steal property from citizens in this country to the tune of $68.8 billion since the year 2000. We also talk about how, in many cases, these seizures are not related to any criminal activity, and how they have also become a roundabout way to fund law enforcement departments, which in turn encourages the continuation of these practices.
Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist in training, and Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, talks to us about the nonstop coverage of the tragic death of Gabby Petito, why it has garnered national attention, and how black and brown victims in similar cases do not receive the same coverage. We also talk about the importance of protecting public spaces in cities, and how gentrification can imperil spaces for civic connection between its citizens.
Dr. Gene Olinger, professor at Boston University, principal science advisor for MRI Global Inc., and a recipient of the NIH Director Award, talks to us about the deliberations between agencies and the public regarding vaccines and booster shots, how the messaging and policies have not been entirely clear, the decision to authorize shots for people 65 and over, and predictions that the pandemic could be over by next year.
Kim Keenan, adjunct professor at George Washington University and former General Counsel of the NAACP, joins us to discuss developments in the ongoing fraud case against Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. We talk about the details of the charges and how the company’s claims to revolutionize blood testing drew investors that included many important political figures and ended up being a empty shell, the defense that Holmes is putting up claiming abuse, whether this will be effective in court, and how this case connects to Silicon Valley techno-utopian culture.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, talks to us about the future of healthcare provision, how telehealth has changed the way Americans access medical treatment over the course of the pandemic, and whether these changes should - and will - be made permanent. We also talk about the limitations of virtual health consultations and treatment, how unequal access to technology can affect the quality of healthcare that people receive.
David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," talks to us about Joe Biden’s and Xi Jinping’s speeches at the United Nations General Assembly, how they differed from each other in tone and substance, and whether we will see an attempt at cooperation or continuing escalations between the two countries, in light of recent U.S. weapons sales in the Asia region. We also talk about new developments in the allegations about the so-called Havana syndrome, with new claims coming out from intelligence officials traveling abroad, the unanimous passage of the Havana Act in Congress, and how the allegations of directed energy attacks have been accepted as fact despite the mysterious nature of these cases.
Justin Williams, co-host of Redspin Sports, talks to us about NFL rule change proposals for 2021, taunting during games being penalized, new contract proposals by U.S. Soccer and the fight for pay equity, and the fight of Philadelphia 76ers All-Star forward Ben Simmons against management regarding his contract.
Dan Kovalik, author and human rights and labor lawyer, talks to us about the intersection of labor and climate change, and how extreme weather is affecting the U.S. where workers are forced to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. We also talk about how empowering federal oversight agencies and worker unionization could alleviate working conditions and work in tandem with other policies to mitigate the effects of climate change.
China Dickerson, political strategist and National Political Director for Forward Majority, talks to us about news that U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a major abortion case that could ultimately cut off abortion access in dozens of states, what this means for reproductive rights, the intersection between culture, religion and white supremacy in these decisions, and how these restrictions will particularly harm black and brown communities.
Dr. Sheila Vakharia, deputy director of research and academic engagement for the Drug Policy Alliance, joins us to talk about how the Biden administration is trying to reach a middle ground on how to confront the opioid epidemic and drawing fire in the process from across the ideological spectrum, and how harm reduction approaches to the epidemic will yield better results than another drug war.
Kristine Hendrix, member of the board for Second Chances, which deals with incarcerated individuals and those recently released, contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, and treasurer for Carla Coffee Wright for U.S. Senate, talks to us about cities implementing universal basic income programs and whether they are enough to keep people out of poverty, vaccine mandates, and the impact of COVID-19 on child care workers and the children they look over.
Pam McKinnon, theater director, artistic director for the American Conservatory Theater, and executive board member of Stage Directors and Choreographers, talks to us about the play “Toni Stone”, about first woman to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, the first woman to play professionally in a men’s league, and the importance of telling these often neglected stories.
Denis Rogatyuk, writer, journalist and political analyst, joins us to talk about the results of the Russian Parliamentary Election that took place over the weekend, where United Russia had garnered nearly 50% of the vote, followed closely by the Communist Party with 19%, what we can make of the higher voter turnout this time around, what the composition and platform of the Communist Party is in the country and whether this showing can solely be attributed to nostalgia. We also talk about the media coverage of this election in the West, where its legitimacy has been questioned, and whether these critiques are justified.
Abe Paulos, deputy director of communications and policy at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, tells us about the Haitian refugee crisis in the U.S. where thousands have camped in precarious conditions in the town of Del Rio, Texas, and how the Biden administration, despite previous public statements about being more welcoming towards immigrants, is engaging in similar practices as its preceding administration, and deporting 12,000 Haitian refugees back to their home country. We also talk about whether we will see any changes in these policies and what it could take to pressure the government to implement humane immigration policies.
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the MAGA-inspired rally in Washington, DC for justice for the “political prisoners” from the capital attack on January 6th, and the low turnout, where participants were actually outnumbered by the media and police presence. We also talk about updates in the case of Kyle Rittenhosue ahead of the November trial for his killing of 2 people and injuring one during the Kenosha, Wisconsin uprisings in August of 2020.
In our Miss The Press segment, we talk about the Sunday shows’ takes on Afghanistan and the border, the 20th anniversary of Darryl Worley's jingoistic hymn "Have You Forgotten", and Fox News Sunday’s take on economic issues including the debt ceiling and infrastructure spending, and how real discussions get lost amid party squabbles.
Ju-hyun Park, member of Nodutdol, a Korean diaspora organization working toward peace, decolonization and self-determination, joins us to talk about increasing tensions in the Korean Peninsula after North and South Korea conducted ballistic missile tests during the week, what kind of specific weaponry was tested, and the impact these actions could have in the conflict. We also talk about the state of the relations between North and South, the impact, if any, of overtures towards peace-including efforts by former President Trump and Moon Jae-in-have had in the conflict, whether these are overshadowed by realpolitik superpower ambitions, and where these incidents within the context of rising tensions between the U.S. and China.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, talks to us about news that a federal grand jury working with John Durham, the special counsel tapped by the Trump administration to audit the Russia investigation, handed an indictment against a cybersecurity attorney for knowingly making a false statement to the FBI. We discuss the implications these revelations have in the Russiagate conspiracy, and the importance of this indictment, which involves Crowdstrike, the main source of the Trump-Wikileaks-Russia connections. We also talk about that despite the fact this is a modest indictment, it reveals a great deal of the political nature of Russiagate.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins us to talk about President Biden’s speech on the economy, whether the seemingly populist rhetoric of accusing big corporations will be followed by actual laws and policies. We talk about the 3.5 trillion infrastructure bill, whether it will survive the gauntlet in Congress, and what sort of bill we may end up with. We also talk about the revelations of the enormous amount of waste in the trillions of dollars during the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan.
The Misfits also talk about the TV show “The Activist” redesigning its entire format after public backlash, the New York Times disingenuous coverage of the Lebanon economic crisis, and the upcoming MAGA rally in Washington, DC.
Kim Ives, editor of the English section of Haiti Liberté, talks to us about the political situation in Haiti, where Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has fired the country’s chief public prosecutor and the justice minister in the middle of an investigation of the self-appointed Haitian leader, and the civil society response to these dismissals, the mass uprisings against Henry, and what it will take to put a leader representing the people in office.
Samer Makhlouf, Palestinian activist, joins us to talk about the life of Palestinian youth in the West Bank under Israeli occupation, the report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East regarding extrajudicial killings in the territory, how Palestinians continue to strive to lead their lives with dignity, how to organize within Palestine, and the need to organize people outside the country.
Dr. Erika Neswold, co-founder of the JustSpace Alliance, which brings interdisciplinary expertise to advocate for a more inclusive and ethical future in space, talks to us about space ethics in an era of ever increasing private investment in space travel and exploration, how the privatized model reinforces existing inequalities on the planet, and what we can do to work towards a more equitable society both on Earth and in space.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book “Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents,” talks to us about the US giving Australia nuclear technologies and France’s reaction, and how this could be seen as a provocation for China. We also talk about how police are spying on you through your social media accounts from LA to DC, and its implications.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, joins us to talk about Facebook’s toxic impact on teenage girls and other communities, and the UN calling for a moratorium on the use of artificial intelligence technology that poses a serious risk to human rights.
K.J. Noh, a global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, joins us to discuss news that, according to an excerpt from a new book by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff was so worried about the possibility of armed conflict with China triggered by the controversy over the presidential election and January 6, that he twice called his Chinese counterpart to assure him the US wasn’t planning a war. We talk about the lack of timeliness of these revelations, whether we should accept this story at face value, and the role that “insider journalism” plays in U.S. politics.
Dallas Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network media team lead, Dakota cultural/language teacher, non-violent direct action trainer, co-founder of the Indigenous comedy group The 1491s, poet, journalist, traditional artist, powwow emcee, and comedian, talks to us about a new report on indigenous resistance against carbon, highlighting successes in the struggle to protect their lands and the environment. We also talk about the legal basis for indigenous resistance, and the risk of collective punishment native communities face when they choose to stand and fight.
Jacqui Luqman, co-host of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about a lawsuit fighting back against police propaganda in social media, a new poll about new perceived threats against the U.S., and how the country seemingly cannot exist without a designated enemy. We also discuss Secretary of State Blinken’s hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the retaliation drone strike in Kabul that left many civilians dead, and how this is just one example of many strikes that have killed civilians throughout the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan.
Michael Sampson, member of the national leadership of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and co-host of Redspin Sports, joins us to talk about US gymnasts testifying in the Senate over the handling of the investigation into the sexual abuse of Larry Nassar.
Dallas Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network media team lead, Dakota culture and language teacher, and journalist, discusses the Indigenous Environmental Network's new report on indigenous resistance against carbon. He emphasizes the importance of celebrating success and recognizing the impact of delaying long term projects. The group also gets into the legal basis for indigenous resistance and the risk of collective punishment native communities face when they choose to stand and fight.
Dr. Bill Honigman, retired emergency physician and California state coordinator and healthcare issue team coordinator for the Progressive Democrats of America, joins us to talk about recall election that could replace Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, what it is like on the ground there today for the final push in the recall, the leading opponents of Newsom, the presence of Biden there and whether it could help or hurt Newsom, and the recall process itself. We also talk about Covid and the GOP saying that Biden’s mandates are only hardening people’s position on not getting vaccinated, school reopenings in California amid the pandemic, and the effects that the wildfires have had on public health.
Elizabeth Rowley, leader of the Communist Party of Canada, writer, and political activist, talks to us about the political climate in Canada leading into next week’s parliamentary election, media coverage of other political parties and how they are generally shunned by the establishment. We also talk about how the Communist Party of Canada is running 26 candidates in major cities across Canada on a platform of peace, climate justice, and a people’s recovery, what this means for the political sphere in the country, the public response to the end of the Afghan war, and the intersection of politics and environmental action.
Mónica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, joins host Bob Schlehuber to talk about the political debate over AOC’s dress at the Met Gala, and whether it bears the significance to which it is being attributed. We also talk about bike delivery drivers in New York City and how they are constantly exploited by an unregulated labor market, the lack of protections put in place by the gig economy, how workers cope with these conditions, why the media should pay more attention to these issues, and ways of organizing to achieve labor justice.
In our Politics of Art segment, we talk about the new show “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” which deals with the Lewinsky/Clinton scandal, and whether it merits the use of your time.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author. His latest book is “The Stringer.” Ted joins us to talk about the 20th anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 attacks, the media narratives around this event, and how political figures that led us to the disastrous wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been rehabilitated. We also talk about how the victims of this attack were weaponized by those in power to stoke the fires of xenophobia and racism, the increasing divide in the political sphere over covid, mandates and vaccinations, and what it would take to learn the right lessons of 9/11 and the pandemic.
Elisabeth Myers, lawyer and adjunct associate professor of law at American University Washington College of Law, democracy lead at Democrats Abroad Morocco and former editor-in-chief of Inside Arabia, talks to us about news that the U.S. will be removing missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia, how the offensive capacity of the kingdom will not be readily affected, and how it is still heavily reliant on U.S. weaponry in its war in Yemen. We also talk about whether this is an indicator of the U.S. pivoting its focus to other regions in the globe and whether this will affect Mohammed bin Salman’s political power at home in any way.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of “The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Scheluber to talk about a plan to raise $2.9 trillion in new taxes by increasing the rate on Americans earning more than $435,000, raising the corporate tax rate for large businesses, and whether this is enough to alleviate rising inequality. We also talk about the House Paid Leave Proposal and how it is unnecessarily inefficient by incorporating private insurance into this plan, as well as predictions for the US third quarter, with inflation rising, consumer spending slowing, supply chains remaining a mess and what this could mean for workers.
Dr. Gene Olinger, professor at Boston University, the principal science advisor for MRI Global Inc. and a recipient of the NIH Director Award, joins us to talk about President Biden’s national address yesterday laying out his 6-prong approach to curbing the continued COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and whether these proposals correspond to best health practices or if they are more political in nature. We also talk about how much has our infrastructure and collective consciousness changed to adapt to living with the virus, and what lessons we have learned from the pandemic.
Kim Iversen, independent journalist and host of the Kim Iversen Show on YouTube, talks to us about the revelations related to the Julian Assange case after the audio of an interview with the main witness in the indictment against Assange, Siggi Thordarson, was released this week. We talk about the discrepancies between the statements in the interview and legal documents, how the hacking accusations could be fabricated and what this could mean for the case and press freedom.
Anna Castonguay, licensed and board certified behavior analyst and clinical director at Autism Learning Partners, joins us to talk about how changes in our education system during the pandemic have affected special needs students, whether remote learning is a suitable solution, and how services like speech therapy, physical therapy, school counseling, and others have been replicated or jettisoned under lockdown. We also talk about how these students are adapting to the return of in-person schooling and whether schools in general are providing the necessary services for them.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins us to talk about how Russia-gate is becoming China-gate on the heels of Joe Biden and Xi Jinping’s phone call this week, how US Capitol Police and Joe Biden are responding to MAGA folks returning to DC on September 18th for another rally, and The Washington Post's attacks on Politico for allegedly causing lasting damage to the profession of political journalism.
Carl Zha, host of Silk and Steel podcast focusing on China and the surrounding regions’ history, culture and politics, joins us to talk about how China’s society is changing as new policies are being implemented at the national level, including crackdown on gamers and big tech companies, a coming economic shift, and statements from the government about closing the wealth gap. We talk about the potential impacts of these new policies, what the drivers are for these changes, and the forces that may oppose these changes. We also talk about how these policy shifts could affect relations internationally and with the U.S. as a new global contest heats up.
Ellen Douglas, associate professor of hydrology at the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts, Boston talks to us about the ways climate change might affect cities in particular, and what city-dwellers and designers should be preparing for a changing landscape and weather phenomena, in light of a series of disasters, from droughts and wildfires in the west to flooding and storms in the east. We talk about what cities need to do to make sure they can meet the energy and water needs of the people who live in affected areas, and the challenges to enacting mitigating strategies.
Chris Thomas, community mentor, violence interrupter and top soldier, and Maurice Cook, executive director and lead organizer at Serve Your City, talk to us about rowing count of mass shootings in the United States and how cities are failing its citizens, a new report on hunger during the pandemic released by the US Department of Agriculture and how economic inequality is one of the main drivers of food insecurity.
Karissa Brennan, fully licensed mental health counselor, founder of Cloud Counseling, and former therapist for Talkspace, talks to us about how therapy and mental health have become part of the precarious gig economy, and how the “uber-ization” of mental health through apps like Talkspace does a disservice to mental health workers and patients alike, particularly in a moment where adequate mental health services are crucial.
Aline Piva, researcher and journalist based in Sao Paulo, joins us to talk about the ongoing protests in Brazil, where President Bolsonaro called for his supporters to take to the streets, which in turn sparked counter protests across the country. We talk about the broader connections of the Bolsonaro government to other conservative movements, including some in the U.S., whether these pro-Bolsonaro protests are being used to divert attention from various corruption probes and his sagging popularity among Brazilians, and the possible matchup against Lula in the next elections.
Sinclair Skinner, co-founder of BitMari, a Pan-African blockchain remittance platform, human rights activist, political adviser, and serial entrepreneur, talks to us about El Salvador making bitcoin legal tender in the country this week, how this transition is going, whether the country has the technological infrastructure in place to implement these changes, and whether the move to cryptocurrency will benefit all El Salvadoreans, and not just currency speculators.
Jacob Morrison, co-host of The Valley Labor Report radio show and podcast, talks to us about the ongoing Warrior Met Coal miners strike, efforts to generate solidarity among the population, actions taken by the strikers beyond the South, and whether the media is giving them a fair shake in the coverage. We also talk about how studies demonstrate that union membership is essential to the fight for economic equality, social and racial justice, and what could be done to strengthen workers in the U.S.
John Kiriakou, co-host of the Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about new poll highlighting US sentiments towards government surveillance and what Americans thought about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the CIA’s social media presence and what this means for whitewashing their history, and the probe into rogue security unit at the Commerce Department that was collecting information on hundreds of its employees and average citizens.
Austin Pelli, producer at Radio Sputnik, talks to us about Derek Jeter’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and former NFL running back Clinton Portis pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins us to talk about news of the BBC admitting that a radio documentary it aired on Syria last November “failed to meet editorial standards for accuracy by reporting false claims” and that the BBC program was wrong to insinuate that a whistleblower who had doubts about the accepted narrative about a gas attack in Douma, Syria, was motivated by the prospect of a reward when there was none. We also talk about the state of whistleblowers at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and whether the media will take another look at the Douma attack after these recent revelations.
Netfa Freeman, organizer at Pan-African Community Action (PACA), member of the Coordinating Committee of the Black Alliance for Peace, and co-producer and host for the radio show and podcast Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM, talks to us about the military coup that overthrew Guinean President Alpha Condé, who had been in office since 2010, but saw very bloody protests and mass civil unrest during his tenure, and how these could have led to his ousting. We also talk about Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, now in power in the country, and the intersection of extractive industries and globalization, and the connections of the political instability in the country with power struggles in other countries of the region.
Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience and a former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the expiration of unemployment benefits for at least 7 million Americans, and the impact this will have on the well being of our citizens, how a new “news website,” The Well News, is actually funded by and editorially directed by two centrist political advocates, consultants and PR professionals, our increasing homeless crisis, and the case for bolstering Supplemental Security Income.
Syed Minhaj Hassan, communications & media specialist at Islamic Relief USA, talks to us about relief efforts to help Afghan refugees settle in the U.S. and other countries after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. We talk about the work that Islamic Relief is doing, the challenges faced dealing in particular with Afghan refugees and how to assist them finding housing, how they are also working towards promoting food security in the country, and what sort of long term support is needed for refugees.
Jason Dzubow, writer for The Asylumist and immigration attorney specializing in political asylum and appeals, talks to us about asylum seekers and the processes through which they’re either accepted or turned away, in light of the 24,000 Afghan refugees who have already arrived in the US. We also talk about the threats that Afghans who worked for the U.S. face in Afghanistan now, the Special Immigrant Visa program and whether it’s adequately implemented and funded, and contradictions the administration is presenting when it comes to immigration and asylum seeking.
Jim Goodman, board president of the National Family Farm Coalition, talks to us about the intersection of farming, climate change and corporate consolidation in how we produce food in the U.S. We talk about the mega drought in the west, which has resulted in the first ever water shortage declaration at Lake Mead, whether previous rates of meat production are sustainable, and how carbon credits are not the right solution for agriculture and climate change, harming small and medium-sized farmers and helping big agribusiness, which contributes the largest share of pollution.
Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, and Dr. Allison Agwu, associate professor of pediatric and adult infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, talk to us about the district attorney who interfered in the investigation into the vigilante killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the charges being brought against the police and medics in Colorado who killed Elijah McClain, and the hard work across the board involved in making police accountable.
Saber Nasseri, an 11-year Afghan interpreter for the US Marine Corps and CEO of Afghanistan-America Relations Office, talks to us about the plight of the Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. forces and government who were left behind in the country after American troops officially withdrew this week. We discuss the difficulties they have faced trying to get themselves and their relatives out of Afghanistan. We also talk about the risks for former U.S. allies in the country and their families, how the Taliban may retaliate against them, and what the future holds for them.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins the Misfits to talk about the meeting between President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, what this means beyond a photo op, whether the meeting will result in increased military assistance to the Ukraine, what this means for relations with Russia and the region, and how corruption is bogging down the country.
Jill Clark-Gollub, assistant editor at the Council of Hemispheric Affairs, talks to us about the political situation in Nicaragua, where elections are scheduled for November 7, the media coverage over the arrests of opposition leaders, how the political opposition has received substantial support from U.S. soft power agencies like the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, and the negative effects that sanctions will have on the Nicaraguan people.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, talks to us about the bankruptcy settlement on Wednesday that grants the Sacklers "global peace" from any liability for the opioid epidemic, the asset forfeiture case of Stephen Lara, and the Supreme Court declining to block a restrictive Texas law banning abortions at six weeks into pregnancy, and allowing anyone in the country to sue abortion providers or others who help women get the procedure after that time frame.
Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, talks to us about COVID-19 and America’s youth, the risks entailed as schools reopen, rising rates of obesity in children during the pandemic, and the increasing number of young people living with diabetes.
Ashton Woods, community activist with Black Lives Matter Houston, tells us about the current situation in New Orleans after Hurricane Ida pummeled Louisiana and parts of the American South over the weekend. 990,000 customers in Louisiana and 37,000 in Mississippi are still without power. We talk about how people are dealing with the situation in the city, whether the government was better prepared this time around after the experience of Hurricane Katrina, whether the infrastructure was properly repaired after that disaster, the intersection between climate change and natural disasters, and about how people can help communities in the areas affected by the hurricane.
Mary Ziegler, author of “Abortion in America: A Legal History, Roe v. Wade to the Present” and professor at Florida State University College of Law, joins us in a conversation about a Texas law taking effect today that would ban abortions across the state after state after six weeks gestation, which effectively constitutes a general prohibition on abortion, the particularities of how this law could be enforced, whether this would set a precedent that could be replicated in other states, and whether it will be rolled back in the future after it is challenged.
Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the the ongoing wave of police brutality, with the police killings of Mike Rosado in Bronx, the Metropolitan Police Department’s killing of Antwan Gilmore, and whether elected officials have responded to the call for real police reform. We also talk about how Target fostered partnerships with law enforcement, becoming one of the most influential corporate donors to law enforcement agencies and police foundations, and the intersection between corporations and state violence.
Justin Williams, co-host of Redspin Sports, talks to us about the case of Trevor Bauer, and whether he will face any legal repercussions beyond his suspension after abuse accusations surfaced in the past few months. We also talk about USA Gymnastics’ $425 million settlement with Larry Nassar’s victims, and Nike giving staff time off for mental health breaks.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, and K.J. Noh, global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, join us in conversation about the meaning of the U.S. exit from Afghanistan after 20 years of war, and the general response by pundits and politicians in the U.S. We talk about the panic about the country becoming a drug production hub despite the fact that the U.S. occupation accelerated drug production in the country, a piece on how the “U.S. cannot be trusted anymore” after its withdrawal without taking into account the long and dismal record of U.S. military intervention globally and the consequences and legacy it invariably leaves behind, how the withdrawal means an increasing anti-China policy, and about calls to impeach President Biden over the withdrawal.
Joshua Harris, incoming Vice President of the Maryland NAACP, talks to us about students returning to in-person schooling in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic raging on with the Delta variant, whether safety measures will be enough to protect students, whether local governments have done a good job connecting with their communities regarding the reopening of schools, how the pandemic has shaped our approach to education, and what changes we could see in the future.
Tina-Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the rise of Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R- NC) and how mainstream media can propagate hate across the U.S., opponents of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California gathering enough signatures to trigger a recall election for him on September 14, and the half-hearted attempt to provide help to tenants after the eviction moratorium was struck down last week.
Jacqui Luqman, co-host of By Any Means Necessary of Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the remake of the cult horror classic “Candyman,” its social critique, what it means for black filmmakers and artists, and whether it holds up to the original.
Kathy Kelly, peace activist and author, joins us to talk about the continued fallout from the US withdrawal from Afghanistan after its 20-year presence in the country and the violence that has ensued this week, including a suicide bombing that left 200 Afghans and 13 service-members dead that was followed by U.S. strikes against suspected militants in Nangarhar province and another strike within Kabul that left many civilians, including children, dead. We also talk about the uncertain number of civilians that were killed by U.S. gunfire in the ensuing chaos after the bombing last week, and the dubious wisdom of retaliatory strikes that further cement resentment against the U.S.
Trupti Patel, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Ward 2A03 in Washington, DC, talks to us about the situation in Louisiana while Hurricane Ida batters the region. We talk about how the people are faring during the hurricane, whether preparations taken have been adequate, how the covid pandemic could affect relief efforts, and whether the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina will be applied.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio correspondent, talks to us about the situation in Bolivia, as legal proceedings against the former coup government roll on, with Former President Jeanine Anez being charged with terrorism, sedition, conspiracy and genocide. We talk about how the prosecution is justifying those charges, how Anez’s team is responding, and what role multilateral regional organizations could play in this case.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for IL-16, talks to us about decisions last week by the Supreme Court that kept in place the “Remain in Mexico” policy for those traveling to the US to seek asylum, and that the eviction moratorium extension by the CDC was unconstitutional. We also talk about the 58th anniversary of the March on Washington for voting rights, gathering of mothers who lost children to state violence, and whether these public demonstrations are enough to move the political needle towards justice.
Laith Marouf, international affairs analyst and media law consultant, talks to us about the aftermath of the deadly bombing attack at the Kabul airport that left 170 civilians dead and 13 U.S. service members by the latest count, and hundreds injured. We also talk about Biden’s remarks after the attack and whether we will see continued military intervention in the country after the troops withdraw, the origin and rise of Daesh (ISIS) Khorasan, their connections to the powers vying for control in the region, the potential of future conflict between them and the Taliban, and the prospects for peace in Afghanistan.
Bill Mew, leading digital ethics campaigner and CEO of cyber incident firm The Crisis Team, joins us in a conversation about cybersecurity and what the future holds for efforts to protect ourselves from hacking and cyberattacks. We talk about the Bidens administration's new cybersecurity proposals under a fact sheet released this week, the intersection of the State and Big Tech in cybersecurity efforts, and whether establishing a cozy relationship with for-profit tech giants is the best approach to take in providing cybersecurity to our citizens considering the spotty record of these companies regarding data privacy. We also talk about the US agreeing to begin cybersecurity consultations with Russia, what could come out of them, and the interconnectivity of security in the U.S with the rest of the world.
Mónica Cruz, producer, host and labor reporter for BreakThrough News, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber in a conversation about the news of the Supreme Court striking down the CDC eviction moratorium and how this will affect millions of people in the country who will now face the threat of homelessness in the middle of the Delta variant surge. We also talk about the Poor People’s Campaign and the rally held outside of Senator Joe Manchin’s (D) office in West Virginia, public protests in Colombia, the links between labor organizing, political and social organizing, and resistance, and why we don’t see them depicted much in reporting on Colombia.
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, joins us to talk about the increasing violence in Afghanistan, particularly around the Kabul airport, where 2 there were two bombings this morning as evacuation efforts proceed, and that has left scores dead, including 2 service-members. We also talk about how this will affect President Biden’s August 31st deadline for the full withdrawal of U.S. personnel, the political fallout for the administration, and whether we will see increasing violence in the upcoming weeks and months.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, and Dan Kovalik, author and human rights and labor lawyer whose most recent book is “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests," discuss reports that the U.S. is considering an exit from the Syrian conflict, where hundreds of troops are still stationed. We also talk about how countries in the region have begun overtures to reestablish relations with the Assad government, where Turkey and Saudi Arabia stand in these negotiations, and how the fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal may lead to a semi-permanence of U.S. troops in Syria.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron," join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about schools in the U.S. returning to in-person teaching while the Delta variant ravages the country, whether safety measures will lessen the effects of the pandemic, how this has become a political football, and the wisdom behind the decision. We also talk about Facebook considering the creation of an election committee and whether delegating this authority to a social media giant whose revenues rely on advertising is the right course to take.
Maru Mora Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and immigrant activist, talks to us about the Supreme Court effectively reinstating the Trump administration’s controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy for immigrants, what this means for asylum seekers, and whether the Biden administration will fight this decision.
Koohan Paik-Mander, journalist, media educator, and board member of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, joins us in a conversation about the takeaways from Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Asia this week, how this tour is meant to recruit countries into an anti-China bloc, and whether these entreaties and overtures will be effective. We also talk about the long history of U.S. intervention in the region, and how calls to follow a rules-based order ring hollow considering the U.S. legacy there.
John Ross, author and economist, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, talks to us about another labor shortage being associated with covid and Brexit in the UK, and how some companies are calling on the government to authorize the use of prison labor to allegedly alleviate this crisis. We also talk about the rationale within these proposals, how low wages and precarity have exacerbated these labor shortages.
Bria Backwoods, content creator and social media maven, talks to us about how content creators and sex workers navigate the minefield of censorship and securing a decent living after OnlyFans decided to eliminate sexually explicit content, only to rescind this decision after receiving significant pushback.
Nick Cruse, cofounder of Fred Hampton Leftists and citizen journalist focusing on state violence, the class war, and foreign policy, and Kevin Cramer, organizer with The Palm Collective, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the passing of a major voting rights bill in the US House of Representatives that will seemingly be blocked in the anti-democratic Senate, the fight against voting restrictions, and the effectiveness of protests as tens of thousands of people descend this weekend on the nation’s capital for the March on Washington anniversary.
Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, talks to us about the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games getting underway despite the pandemic, former NBA player J.R. Smith returning to school at North Carolina A&T, and New York Knicks center Nerlens Noel filing a lawsuit against former agent Rich Paul.
Juan José Gutiérrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, joins us to talk about labor immigration, why labor immigration channels remain blocked, and how immigrants are being pulled into the current story about a labor shortage in the U.S. We talk about how people who could enter the US via existing labor migration processes are being funneled into the pool of asylum seekers, in addition to other roadblocks to immigration put in place by the Trump administration, some of which the Biden administration has continued to implement.
Kim Keenan, adjunct professor at George Washington University and former general counsel of the NAACP, tells us about the start of Google’s trial before the National Labor Relations Board after the company was accused of violating labor laws by spying on employees, firing employees for attempting to unionize, and blocking employees from sharing information and work grievances with each other. We also talk about how these revelations dispel the general perception that some of these tech companies are great places to work at.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, talks to us about the Biden administration’s nomination of Charles “Chuck” Sams III, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, to head the National Park Service (NPS) and what it means to have a native face at that level in government. We also talk about the historical relationship between native people, native nations, and the NPS, and whether this nomination will help mend relations with the government.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation's Capital" on Pacifica Radio and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, talks to us about the imperialism media spin on the war in Afghanistan, a new report highlighting the frequency at which Donald Trump’s White House brought federal charges against Black Lives Matter protesters, and the fallout from Sunday’s brawl between Antifa and the Proud Boys in Portland, Oregon.
Ariel Gold, Co-Executive Director at Code Pink, talks to us about the weekend protests and Israeli retaliation at the Gaza separation wall that left scores injured. We talk about how the decades-long blockade of the Gaza Strip has rendered the area “unlivable” and wholly dependent on foreign aid, and the continuing repression of Israeli forces. We also talk about whether this new wave of protests will have any effect on the current situation, and whether Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will take a different approach from his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, talks to us about China’s new privacy laws which have been hailed as one of the world’s most robust and include rules similar to European laws, how it stipulates that companies cannot use personal data to target individuals for marketing. We also talk about how these laws compare to laws in the books in the U.S., where data collection for marketing is rampant, the differences between private company and state collection of data, and how U.S. tech companies are consistently hostile to data privacy regulations.
Carlos Delgado, member of the Negotiating Committee for the Miami Caravan To Demand The End of The Blockade, talks to us about the movement to end the blockade of the U.S. on Cuba, the challenges of organizing for normalizing relations between the two nations, where there is a political cost in the U.S. to bucking the trend of being overly aggressive against Cuba, and how the Cuban emigré community has changed through generations. We also talk about the Biden administration policies vis-a-vis Cuba, and whether we will see any changes in the future.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," talks to us about the legacy of progressive journalist Glen Ford, the media coverage of our ongoing withdrawal from Afghanistan, the FDA approval for the Pfizer vaccine, and the FBI finding little evidence the riot at the capitol on January 6 was coordinated.
Baldemar Velasquez, president of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) of the AFL-CIO, joins Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss just how much of US agriculture depends on the hard labor of farm workers, the impact of climate change on their working conditions, and how these workers are organizing to protect themselves.
Emily Satterwhite, a volunteer activist at Appalachians Against Pipelines, brings an update on efforts to block the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and discusses the way pipeline companies exaggerate their progress to discourage opposition and the way the US government helps these companies obscure their true environmental impact.
Modern Monetary Theory evangelist Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action, spoke about new research showing the results of states’ ending their federal unemployment benefits programs ahead of time, and the way those decisions and their ripple effects hurt workers and communities. He discusses the political hurdles to economic change, what a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund might mean, and what to expect if Amazon moves into the physical retail space.
The Misfits also take on Thomas Friedman, Frank Bruni and some other opinion writers, review the latest weather disasters and talk about the demise of OnlyFans.
Emily Satterwhite, a volunteer activist at Appalachians Against Pipelines, brings an update on efforts to block the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and discusses the way pipeline companies exaggerate their progress to discourage opposition and the way the US government helps these companies obscure their true environmental impact.
Author, economist and radio show host Jack Rasmus joins Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss how personal finance reporting represents and distorts the economic reality for most Americans. He also breaks down the winners and losers of the first year of the covid recession.
Guy McPherson, scientist and professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, discusses the water shortage in Lake Mead, the way climate change will divide the US West and East, and the way agriculture in the US will have to change before it’s too late.
Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor discusses the frustrating process of waiting for federal funding for urgent needs in states; the infighting that, along with partisan politics, holds such funding up; and the terrible persistence of the filibuster, among other anti-democratic patterns and institutions. She spoke of the opportunities presented by urban agriculture, and the slow movement of police reform efforts.
Hip-hop artist and educator Bomani Armah talked about Watermelon Day, the symbolism of the fruit and its color and about food and sweetness as a vehicle for gathering and organizing.
Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host and author of "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump," discusses how personal finance reporting represents and distorts the economic reality for most Americans. He also breaks down the winners and losers of the first year of the covid recession, and the cost of our imperial rot.
RT correspondent in Berlin Peter Oliver joins Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the reaction in Europe to the way the US withdrawal from Afghanistan is playing out, and the way European nations are preparing - or not - for a potential wave of refugees and asylum applications.
TJ Coles, a postdoctoral researcher at Plymouth University’s Cognition Institute and an author, joins to discuss his piece, “In Somalia, the US Is Bombing the Very Terrorists It Created,” to talk about the American economic and geostrategic interests being protected under the guise of fighting terrorism in Somalia and elsewhere.
David Swanson, director at World Beyond War, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," breaks down his new piece “Lies, Damn Lies, and What We’ve Been Told About Afghanistan,” and the official place the Afghan War will take in America’s narrative about itself.
Nate Wallace, the founder and co-host of Redspin Sports, dropped by to chew on climate change and sports, big time NCAA TV deals, and the legacy of longtime Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden.
The Misfits also get into Twitter’s latest censorship feature, the compounding crises in Haiti, Human Rights Campaign’s latest pinkwashing, covid vaccine boosters, Joe Biden’s approval ratings, the beginning of R Kelly’s trial on sex abuse charges, and more.
Nick Mottern, reporter, researcher, writer, political organizer, and coordinator of the websites Bankillerdrones.org and KnowDrones.com, joins Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about what maintaining “over the horizon” capabilities of reaching Afghanistan will mean with regard to our wider foreign policy, and what the conflict in Afghanistan meant and means for the evolution of drone warfare.
Ra Shad Frazier Gaines, founder of the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of America and founder of Black Progressives, and Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist, discuss the way US political parties are aligning themselves on and using the Afghanistan withdrawal for their own ends. They get into some of President Joe Biden’s new domestic programs, and talk about how violence abroad gets attention that violence at home rarely merits.
The Misfits also talk about President Joe Biden’s offensive speech on Monday, the coming covid booster program, the future of Chris and Andrew Cuomo and CNN, and the several ways our mainstream entertainment, at least, has been bringing us genuine joy and enlightenment lately.
Kim Ives, editor of the English section of weekly Haitian newsletter Haiti Liberte, joins Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the situation on the ground in Haiti and the complexities of distributing aid in a country in which even the provision of disaster relief has itself brought disaster.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda offers his analysis of exactly what happened in Afghanistan over the weekend and where blame should be apportioned. He also provides some predictions for what the early days of the Taliban will bring and how quickly the new government will gain international recognition.
Reverend Dr. Loretta J. Houston, minister at St. John Baptist Church, Brookland Manor resident for 20 years and resident association board member, discussed the on-the-ground impact of eviction moratoria being struck down in courts, and the history of “development” and gentrification that makes the lives of renters so precarious.
Journalist Kei Pritsker of Breakthrough News drew attention to what today’s anti-war movement needs to do to grow, the way media outlets are trying to blame their audiences for the results of their own dishonest war coverage, and the way foreign wars don’t only generate foreign casualties.
The Misfits also take down the many, many, ignorant Afghanistan takes on the cable news shows and explore who exactly is allowed to explain the limitations of cloth masks and who isn’t.
Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book “Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” joins Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the US Senate’s love of fracking and what the White House could be doing to aid our economic recovery instead of calling for more oil to be pumped out of the ground.
Bill Honigman, retired Emergency Physician and California State Coordinator and Healthcare Issue Team Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America, talks about President Joe Biden’s proposed health care reforms, what’s missing from them, and whether we might see real change in the near future.
Radio Sputnik’s own Garland Nixon, cohost of the Critical Hour, discusses the ban Facebook dropped on him after trying to share a story about Hunter Biden and why Facebook can’t hide behind the “private company” excuse for this kind of censorship.
Member of Freedom Fighters DC Afeni helps break down the connections between the US war machine, the oppression of racial minorities and the exploitation of anyone not in the upper economic echelon in this country. She also discusses shifting attitudes in the US about socialism, and how to spread this shift from the public to politics.
The Misfits also send Miley Cyrus, Jamie Spears, Chet Haze and a bunch of other American celebrities far, far away for the weekend.
Dr Linwood Tauheed, professor of economics at the University of Missouri - Kansas City and former president of the National Economic Association, joins the show to talk about record stock market highs, how jobs in America are valued and measured differently, ageism's impact on hiring, and the ways major US corporations avoid taxes.
Later, Yohana Beyene, member of Black Alliance for Peace member organization Horn of Africa Pan-Africans for Liberation and Solidarity, joins Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about the growing war in Ethiopia, the sides Western powers are taking in the region, and the complicated task of defending Ethiopian federalism.
Tina-Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, reports from California, where anti-maskers are targeting school board members implementing mask mandates. The group also talks about Rand Paul's ban from YouTube, insider trading in Congress, Hunter Biden's revelations that Russian drug dealers stole his laptop, why billionaires should not own newspapers.
Journalist Chuck Modiano joins the Misfits for Trends With Benefits to reflect on two anniversaries. Today, August 12th, marks the fourth anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which saw James Field plow his car into a crowd of anti-racist protestors, injuring 35 people and killing Heather Heyer.
And just days ago, August 9th, was the seventh anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown Jr., an 18-year-old black man who was fatally shot by 28-year-old white Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte are joined by Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, to talk about Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah - and the way each is represented in major media. They discuss the deepening crisis in Lebanon and how to apportion blame there, and the consequences of consistent misreporting about the region.
Shane Stranahan of Radio Sputnik’s own Fault Lines with Thomas and Stranahan joins to talk about Apple’s plans to scan its cloud for child pornography, what that means for the security of any of our online lives, and what privacy advocates should really be concerned about.
Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell professor of law and professor of public policy at Cornell University in New York, senior counsel at Westwood Capital and a fellow of The Century Foundation, breaks down some new reporting on the tens of millions of American workers who don’t earn enough to cover basic expenses in their own neighborhoods and exactly how as a society we’ve come to accept that reality. He also gets into the future of artificial intelligence and why on Earth anyone should listen to Henry Kissinger on it.
Writer David Shams talks about Lionel Messi’s messy move, sexual harassment in baseball, and the new ways the Cubs organization has found to disappoint its most dedicated fan, Bob Schlehuber.
The Misfits also address the latest ruling in the US’ appeal process of the Julian Assange extradition case, the whereabouts of Chris Cuomo and any journalistic ethics at CNN, and grandstanding in the US Senate.
John Kiriakou, co-host of the Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the fires ravaging Greece that continue unabated despite efforts by the government to keep them under control that have destroyed 200,000 acres of forest land, particularly on the island of Evia and in the southern Peloponnese Peninsula. We also talk about the chaotic response by the government to the fires that have many people blaming Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the political fallout of the handling of this crisis, and what it will take to rebuild these areas and assist the population that has lost so much due to this disaster.
Trupti Patel, advisory neighborhood commissioner for Ward 2A03 in Washington, DC, talks to us about news that workers in the supermarket and restaurant industries have seen their wages rise to a little over $15 dollars an hour, how this was an increase that should have happened long ago, and how even this wage increase consigns millions of workers to a life of precarity. We also talk about whether the hesitancy of workers to return to the workforce may have contributed to this increase, and how workers and consumers working together may show the way forward to improve wages and working conditions.
Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, talks to us about Andrew Cuomo’s resignation and how it came as a surprise after he vowed to fight the accusations. We also talk about efforts by Joe Biden and the Democratic Party to shepherd two infrastructure bills through Congress in the hopes of finalizing a $3.5 trillion plan through reconciliation, and Twitter partnering with Reuters and the AP to “identify and elevate credible information on Twitter,” how this gatekeeping effort could stymie free speech, and how media companies in the past have actually promoted misinformation fed by security agencies.
John Kane, Mohawk activist, educator, producer and host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast, joins us in a conversation about the new FX show “Reservation Dogs,” what this means for native voices in the entertainment industry, and whether this will lead to a better understanding of Native American culture.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, talks to us about the ongoing spike in cases involving the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, which has resulted in renewed mask mandates and closures across the country and has put the brakes on the country’s return to normalcy. We talk about how the new variant is much more transmissible and how it is now affecting more children than before, which may slow down the reopening of schools, how vaccinations need to be ramped up if we are to hold the virus at bay and prevent more mutations and the subsequent spikes associated with them, and the intersection between climate change and public health crises.
K.J. Noh, global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, talks to us about Vice President Kamala Harris’ upcoming tour of Asia, where there will be a specific focus on Vietnam and Singapore as the U.S. tries to move these two countries into the U.S. sphere of influence and as a counter to China, and how these efforts could fall short considering growing trade ties between them, and also the history of the destruction that the U.S. visited upon Vietnam during its long war there.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author, independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation's Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, talks to us about the end of President Biden’s “honeymoon” as approval ratings dip around 50% and whether the accomplishments touted by the administration can pass a close inspection. We also talk about Barack Obama’s celebrity-laden 60th birthday party, and the Sackler family back in court in their bankruptcy settlement for pushing doctors to overprescribe opioids, and how the government is failing in dealing with the opioid crisis by treating a public health issue as yet another drug war.
Garland Nixon, co-host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik and host of News Views with Garland Nixon on WPFW, talks to us about the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban keeps gaining ground as the U.S. withdraws from the country, and reports of increasing violence against the civilian population after failed peace talks between the Taliban and the government. We also talk about Iran officially inaugurating its new president, Ebrahim Raisi, and whether we will see a change in Iran/U.S. relations.
Christine Hong, chair of critical race & ethnic studies at UC Santa Cruz and board member of the Korea Policy Institute, and Monica Kim, William Appleman Williams Chair in US, international & diplomatic history at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, talk to us about the American Studies Association announcing its support for a resolution calling for an end to the Korean War, the importance and role academic institutions play in demanding peace on the peninsula, and the challenge of reaching Americans on this issue.
Ron Hampton, DC representative for Blacks in Law Enforcement of America and former executive director of the National Black Police Association and a retired twenty-three veteran of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, talks to us about a new study by the American Psychological Association revealing that police officers speak to Black drivers in a more disrespectful tone during traffic stops than the way they speak to white drivers, federal efforts to monitor police departments, and whether these initiatives have yielded positive results.
Nick Cruse, co-founder of Fred Hampton Leftists and citizen journalist focusing on state violence, the class war & foreign policy, and Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, talk to us about The Washington Post’s retelling of how the eviction moratorium was extended, how leftists got fooled once again by the Democratic Party as Nina Turner takes the loss in Ohio’s congressional primary, Mexico suing US gun manufacturers over trafficked guns in their country, and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser doubling down after being caught not following the renewed mask mandate.
Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, talks to us about New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio planning to institute a covid vaccination mandate for certain indoor activities, the New York Attorney General report into sexual harassment accusations levied against Governor Andrew Cuomo, and whether his political career will survive after President Biden asked for his resignation. We also talk about Shontel Brown defeating Nina Turner in the special primary election for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District after a deluge of money from centrist and conservative democrats flooded the race with negative ads against Turner.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, talks to us about the case of Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, who was ousted from his position after data collected by the hookup app Grindr was released to the public, how data collection is built into many apps, which is in turn sold to data brokers, and how privacy protections have proven to be easy to sidestep because of the huge market for personal data. We also talk about Jeff Bezos’ efforts to secure a Moon lander contract for his Blue Origin company ending in failure, and the relationship between mega corporations and government agencies.
Margaret Flowers, medical doctor, co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of HOPE - Health Over Profit, an organization working to achieve a national improved Medicare for All healthcare system, talks to us about the extension of the eviction moratorium until October after much hand-wringing by Democrats, and whether it will be a solution to the impending housing crisis and not just a temporary band-aid.
Justin Williams, co-host of Redspin Sports, and Karleigh Webb, journalist, videographer and anti-imperialist, labor & trans rights organizer with the PSL in Connecticut, talk to us about a revealing report that the NCAA’s financial dependence on its Division I men’s basketball tournament has long fueled gender inequity in college sports, a Canadian midfielder becoming the first out transgender, non-binary athlete to win an Olympic medal, and Novak Djokovic’s olympic meltdown.
Mindia Gavasheli, Sputnik Washington Bureau Chief, gives us an on the ground report from the Pentagon, where police and medics in Arlington County were responding to reports of an active shooter outside the Pentagon transit center that locked down the Pentagon after an incident at the Pentagon Transit Center that left at least one person wounded.
Chris Smalls, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, talks to us about the ongoing protests at the Capitol over the end of the eviction moratorium, how some centrist Democrats are jumping on the bandwagon, and whether this will result in actual legislation that will help renters and homeowners keep a roof over their heads. We also talk about the NLRB recommending that the Board throw out the union election at Amazon’s warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, and whether renewed organizing efforts will prove successful should there be another vote there.
Terrence Collingsworth, Executive Director of International Rights Advocates, and labor & human rights attorney specializing in trade & international labor rights issues, talks to us about a case involving Nestle, Cargill, Hershey and a number of other chocolate companies that were involved in child slavery in their cocoa harvesting operations, and how these companies have repeatedly lied about the horrible working conditions of farmers. We also talk about an upcoming film titled “Chocolate Wars,” which documents the abuses by these multinationals and the struggle to achieve justice for workers.
Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, talks to us about U.S. politicians skirting COVID prevention measures, inflation in the United States increasing by nearly 4% during the month of June, and what this means for working people ability to purchase essential goods, and how cutting the benefits given to Americans who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic has not led to a big pickup in hiring.
Keith Silver, former special assistant to Dick Gregory, talks to us about a new feature-length documentary that examines activist, pop-culture icon and thought leader Dick Gregory, whose work as a self-described “agitator” shaped a generation demanding justice.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, documentary filmmaker, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, talks to us about former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan and writer Craig Murray losing his bid to appeal his contempt of court case and being sentenced to serve an eight month prison over his blogging about the sexual assault trial of former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond last year, how the allegations by the government that accusers could be identified by his blogging seem inconsistent with the handling of other cases, and the response by press freedom advocacy groups condemning the government’s handling of the case.
Ali Al-Ahmed, Saudi scholar, writer, and expert on Saudi political affairs talks to us about where the new U.S./Iran deal stands now that negotiations seem to have been stalled in the past few weeks, how the election of the new president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, could impact future negotiations, and whether the U.S. has been really committed to restarting talks with Iran or if they will continue with the sanctions imposed on the country. We also talk about talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and whether there has been any progress in mending the relationship, the ongoing war in Yemen, the U.S. claims that it has ended supporting the Saudi campaign there, and whether we will see an end to this conflict any time soon.
Kristine Hendrix, board member for Second Chances, which deals with incarcerated individuals and those recently released, contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, and treasurer for Carla Coffee Wright for U.S. Senate, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the nationwide eviction moratorium, which ended on July 31st, and the protests over the weekend calling for an extension of the moratorium, as millions of Americans face the grim prospect of homelessness in the very near future. We also talk about the debate in the U.S. left regarding the protest staged by Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) demanding an extension, and the inaction by other members of Congress on the issue of evictions.
Vijay Prashad, historian, journalist and executive-director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, talks to us about Secretary Blinken’s recent visit to India, how despite the Biden administration’s focus on human rights and democracy abroad, India has not received any criticisms over Prime Minister Modi’s dubious track record on this matter, and the $25 million investment in vaccines in India with no mention of a waiver of patents to facilitate production. We also talk about the NSO group’s involvement in the Modi government and how Indian officials have remained silent on this matter, and the role that India and Pakistan will play in Afghanistan in the future.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, professor of economics at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and former President of the National Economic Association, talks to us about reports on the second quarter growth of the US economy indicating an annual growth rate of 6.5 percent, and bringing the US economy beyond its pre-pandemic size, how this reportedly positive news does not mean that working people are faring well, and how a single-minded focus on growth is not an effective way to look at the economy. We also talk about housing prices continuing to rise, the looming eviction crisis for renters, how pandemic assistance lifted millions out of poverty and what will happen when these programs lapse, and whether a guaranteed income or UBI program could provide a long term solution to poverty and inequality.
Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist in training, and Robin Harris, activist, Green Party co-chair of Florida and candidate for State Representative for District 46, talk to us about the race for Ohio's 11th Congressional District where Nina Turner continues to hold a small lead in the polls, despite the Democratic Party machine opening its coffers and bringing out the stars of its center-right wing to support Shontel Brown. We also talk about Texas Democrats leaving the state to prevent Republicans from passing new voting restrictions and how there needs to be a stronger, more unified effort to fight voter suppression, and about the work that the Green Party is doing in Florida.
Juan José Gutiérrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, talks to us about the 21-point immigration plan the Biden administration introduced this week, which included expedited removals for immigrants, where individuals and families can be expelled from this country without a hearing before an immigration judge, and how the administration is embracing draconian policies that were criticized during the Trump administration. We also talk about Texas Governor Greg Abbott activating the National Guard to police border areas and how this will lead wrongful detentions and racial profiling.
Shawn Cantrell, Vice President of Field Conservation Programs at Defenders of Wildlife, talks to us about the state of wolf conservation in the U.S., and how wolf populations have fared after the Trump administration stripped federal protections from wolves at the end of his term, which has sparked hunts in various states of the nation with very little oversight and regulation, and how this has dealt a huge blow to species recovery. We also talk about other reintroduction programs that have been successful in other states like Colorado and California, how to coexist with wolves, and the importance that wolf populations have on the environment, from regulating deer and elk populations, to plant recovery and clean water.
Jacquie Luqman, co-host of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, joins us in a conversation about news that Washington, DC will once again require masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, police conducting “walkthroughs” in DC neighborhoods, and how policing is wrongly deployed to address community issues that have more to do with poverty and public health than with crime. We also talk about how the district remains a colony of the U.S., with the attendant issues of inequality, segregation, and lack of representation.
Reana Kovalcik, founder of the Share a Seed Project, tells us about trends in mutual aid and self and community sufficiency through the Share a Seed Project, and how sharing food, knowledge, and promoting a slow food movement can help promote and sustain healthier and stronger communities.
Big Pharma fights 15% global tax rate. How corporations fail to pay their fair share after receiving billions in public funds.
Richard Becker, author of "Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire,” and Ariel Gold, Co-Executive Director at Code Pink, talk to us about a report by Human Rights Watch revealing that Israel violated international law during the May campaign in Gaza in what amounts to war crimes, and how Israel limits media access to Gaza. We also talk about the BDS movement, and the uproar by the Israeli government after Ben and Jerry’s decided to stop selling its products in settlements in the occupied territories.
Betsy Yoon, member of Nodutdol, a Korean diaspora organization working toward peace, decolonization and self-determination, talks to us about the an ongoing debate in South Korea over the dominant narrative of the 1980 uprising in Gwangju that ended in a slaughter of civilians by their own country’s military forces, and how the forces of reaction in the country have been re-hashing narratives that protesters were North Korean infiltrators deserving of the violence visited upon them. We also talk about how the role of the U.S. in this massacre has been underreported by mainstream historians and news media.
Eugene Puryear, journalist, author, activist, politician, host at Breakthrough News, and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America,” talks to us about the DOJ selling off Martin Shkreli’s $2 million copy of an album by the Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pharma’s “quiet” effort to fight the 15% minimum global tax rate, and how they have been portraying themselves as the saviors of the world during the pandemic. We also talk about the looming eviction crisis and whether government assistance will be enough to stave off disaster.
Femi Ayanbadejo, founder of HealthReel, Inc., creator of the AI-powered HealthReel health assessment app, and former American football running back, fullback and special teams player, talks to us about American gymnast Simone Biles withdrawing from the all-around team competition at the Olympics and the incredible pressure put on athletes in these competitions, the increasing visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and nonbinary athletes in Tokyo, and how athletes are dealing with extreme heat in the Olympics.
Dr Petra Gelbart, a Romani educator, scholar, musician, and co-founder of the Initiative for Romani Music at New York University, discusses RomArchive, the digital archive of Roma and Sinti art and culture, which she helped curate.
Daniel Hale sentenced to 45 months under Espionage Act. How the U.S. continues its war against whistleblowers.
Tighe Barry, activist for Code Pink, talks to us about the case of whistleblower Daniel Hale, who was sentenced to 45 months for violating the Espionage Act after leaking documents to the press related to the U.S.’s drone assassination program. We talk about the letter Hale sent to the judge citing examples of the atrocities he witnessed and assisted in, and how in these days, charges using the Espionage Act are levied almost exclusively against journalists and whistleblowers.
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, talks to us about the explosion at a chemical plant in Leverkusen, Germany, that left one person dead, four missing, 31 injured and sparked fears of what kind of pollutants might be in the smoke it generated. We also talk about how the government is responding to this incident, after having to deal with the recent catastrophic floods and COVID-19 spikes in the country.
Dan Kovalik, author and human rights & labor lawyer, talks to us about the case of Steven Donziger, who was found guilty on six charges of criminal contempt after having won a fight in Ecuador against oil giant Chevron, which then engaged in a campaign of persecution against him.
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, talks to us about the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol kicking off its first hearing, and whether we will discover anything new or whether it will be just political theater. We also talk about US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi formally agreeing to end the US combat mission in Iraq by the end of 2021, and renewed airstrikes on several targets in the Gaza strip.
Dr. Petra Gelbart, Romani educator, scholar, musician, co-founder of the Initiative for Romani Music at New York University, and board-certified music therapist, talks to us about RomArchive, which launched in 2019 with the goal of digitizing Romani art in a variety of fields, passing on knowledge and countering stereotypes, and the hard work involved in making Roma culture more visible and recognizing its value.
Prime Minister of Iraq visits White House, rejects foreign troops in the country. How the U.S. remains entangled in its military misadventures.
Sean Blackmon, co-host of By Any Means Necessary, joins us to talk about the ongoing battle of narratives over the situation in Cuba after protests in the country in the past two weeks, with rallies and public displays in the U.S. for lifting the embargo and counter-protests calling for military intervention in Cuba, and how lifting the embargo and normalizing relations with the country will ultimately provide a reprieve to the stranglehold that the Cuban people have been subjected to for the past 60 years by the U.S.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, talks to us about a victory for protesters in Minnesota trying to stop the expansion of Enbridge’s Line 3 after a Minnesota judge granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office from barricading, obstructing, or otherwise interfering with access to the property of one of the water protector camps set up as part of the protest, whether this will lead to a change in tactics on either side as this conflict continues, and the respective roles that the governments of Minnesota, Canada and the United States play in this.
Peter Schwartzman, mayor of Galesburg, Illinois, talks to us about how to enact political change at the local level, how it is possible to divest oneself from the red and blue party machines and win running on a third party, and what constraints the duopoly places on politicians and activists working for political alternatives at the state and national levels.
Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, talks to us about the White House visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, his statements regarding the presence of the U.S. military in the country, and how the U.S. seems to have a hard time disentangling itself from its military misadventures. We also talk about the increasing number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, and the DOJ announcing over the weekend that it wasn’t going to look into the deaths in New York nursing homes during covid.
Biden administration places additional sanctions on Cuba. Will we ever see a normalization in relations between the two countries?
Angela Arias-Zapata, a PhD Candidate in Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University whose work focuses on Colombia and how colonial notions of nature and racial difference shape its narrative infrastructure and social movements, talks to us about renewed protests and a general strike that began July 20 across Colombia as the government presented a revised tax reform bill, whether this version of the bill addresses the issues in the original one, and how the government has responded to the claims by the people on the street. We also talk about a wave of arrests over an attack on president Duque’s helicopter and how the FARC and Venezuela prove to be convenient scapegoats, and how Colombian ex-military personnel end up doing mercenary work around the world.
David Schwartzman, Professor emeritus at Howard University, activist, former candidate for the DC Statehood Green Party, member of Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America, and co-author of the book “The Earth Is Not for Sale,” joins us to to talk about what we can learn from Cuba in regards to energy consumption, ecosocialism, and the concept of economic de-growth, which is gaining importance as we face the devastating consequences that economies hell-bent on growth have had on the environment globally. We also talk about how the U.S. has tacked on even more sanctions on Cuba, how the playbook in the U.S. relationship with the country has not changed from a policy of confrontation over decades, and the importance of working toward a normalization in relations with Cuba.
Sharon Anderson, Attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and the CEO and Founder of KCG Consulting Services talks to us about Illinois becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban police from lying or using deceptive tactics while interrogating minors, why this should be expanded to the remaining 49 states, and the legacy of lives destroyed by convictions reached through false confessions. We also talk about the mounting legal troubles faced by Trump associates, and the fight in congress over the Jan. 6 Commission.
Medical Debt soars to the tune of 140 billion. What can be done to provide truly affordable healthcare.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst talks to us about a deal reached between the U.S. and Germany over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and the impact of this agreement in the relations with Russia and the Ukraine, with the U.S. still holding the sanctions card. We also talk about revelations about the reach of the Pegasus spyware sold by the Israeli security firm NSO Group, which included many heads of state, whether there will be any fallout from this, and whether privacy protections or software can actually provide any assurances anymore.
Bill Honigman, retired emergency physician and CA State Coordinator and Healthcare Issue Team Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America talks to us about how medical debt has skyrocketed for Americans in recent years, with collection agencies holding $140 billion in unpaid medical bills last year, and how this has a domino effect in preventing people from seeking adequate health care and digging themselves out of poverty. We also talk about a proposal within Biden’s executive order promoting competition that would promote negotiating drug prices, and whether this is enough to lower medical costs.
Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, and Salim Adofo, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for District 8C07 in Washington D.C. talk to us about the response from elected officials to recent spikes in violence, how requests by community leaders are not heard, and how the response usually turns out to be more policing instead of providing a safety net and infrastructure that will actually help communities.
Carol Walker, photographer, advocate for keeping America’s wild horses wild and free on public lands, author of "Galloping to Freedom: Saving the Adobe Town Appaloosas," and founder of Wildhoofbeats.com talks to us how wild horses are being slaughtered under the guise of an “adoption program”, and under the pretense of land conservation. We also talk about undue influence from the cattle ranching lobby in the Bureau of Land Management, and what can be done to protect the wild horse population.
Luis Castillo officially declared winner of Peru election. What this means for progressive politics in the region.
Andrew Miller, Advocacy Director for Amazon Watch, talks to us about news that more than 10,000 species of plants and animals are at high risk of extinction due to the destruction of the Amazon, and how some parts of the Amazon are emitting more carbon than they absorb. We talk about efforts like cap and trade, and whether these are enough to effectively curb environmental degradation, the political and economic connections that drive climate change, and how organizing can help protect the Amazon.
Luis Gárate, journalist and Director of Comunicambio, an independent news media organization based in Perú talks to us about news out of Peru, where Luis Castillo was officially declared the victor of the presidential election, what this means for progressive politics in Perú and the region, and the pushback from reactionary forces in the country.
John Kane, Mohawk activist, educator, and producer and Host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast, talks to us about a fight between a group of Osage shareholders and the federal government over mismanagement of their oil and gas royalties, the complicated financial relationships the federal government has with native governments or individual members of native nations, and the kinds of abuses those relationships engender.
Chris Thomas, community mentor and violence interrupter, and Beth Wagner, community organizer at the Brookland Manor/Brentwood Village Residents Association talks to us about reports that life expectancy has dropped in the U.S. during the pandemic, particularly affecting black and brown communities, the D.C. Council voting to support a tax increase for individuals earning $250,000 or more a year, and whether taxation is the panacea to cure inequality in the country.
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports talks to us about the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA championships, Space Jam 2, Jackson State coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders walking out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day event after being called 'Deion', and Starlin Castro not coming back to the Washington Nationals after charges of domestic violence.
Texas federal judge rules that DACA is illegal, blocking new applications. Will the Biden administration put up a strong fight to protect Dreamers?
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, talks to us about the situation in Germany and Western Europe, where they continue to face the fallout from last week’s torrential rains and flooding that has resulted in 180 deaths and 700 missing so far. We talk about how rescue and recovery efforts are progressing, whether there will be more survivors among the missing, the response by the government to this disaster, whether there will be any political fallout from the German government’s handling of the situation, and about recognizing the impact of climate change as one of the main drivers of extreme weather events.
Maru Mora Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and immigrant activist, talks to us about a federal judge in Texas on Friday declaring that the DACA program was against the law and barring the Biden administration from accepting new applications for it, which may affect around 600,000 beneficiaries of the program. We talk about how this challenge to DACA differs from previous ones, the reaction from the Biden administration on this court decision, whether it will put up a fight to protect DACA, and whether the democratic party will change course in a significant way from Trump era immigration policies.
Mónica Cruz, producer, host, and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, and Tina-Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for status coup, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Amazon announcing its support for lawmakers’ efforts to decriminalize marijuana and portraying themselves as the good guys despite their terrible record on working conditions. We talk about the strike at Warrior Met Coal in Alabama, why the workers are striking, and vehicle ramming attacks on the picket line. We also talk about news coming out of Los Angeles, where right wing groups engaged in various transphobic attacks over an alleged incident at a spa in KoreaTown, and the response by police that may have escalated the situation and failed to protect trans people.
Shootings continue unabated in the United States. What can be done to address the root causes of violence.
Maurice Cook, Executive Director and lead organizer at Serve Your City, and Bryan Weaver, founder and executive director of Hoops Sagrado talk to us about the never-ending epidemic of gun violence plaguing the country, with 56 people being shot in Chicago over the weekend, and a baseball game in Washington DC getting cancelled after a shootout just outside the stadium. We talk about how shootings are discussed in the media and the importance given to them depending on which part of the city they happen and who the victims are, and discuss Illinois becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban police from lying or using deceptive tactics while interrogating minors.
Chris Garaffa, Web developer, technologist, and security and privacy consultant, talks to us about revelations that the NSO Group’s Pegasus software is the “weapon of choice for repressive governments seeking to silence journalists, attack activists and crush dissent,” according to an analysis conducted by journalists and Amnesty International. We also talk about how Apple phones-which are generally considered to offer more privacy protections-are not immune from this kind of spyware, the response from NSO claiming innocence from these allegations, and the US government accusing China of the Microsoft hack earlier this year, with the EU and NATO joining in the bandwagon.
Margaret Kimberley, Editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents", joins hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about Tony Blinken’s instruction to US diplomats to acknowledge America’s own struggles with human rights and the mainstream media’s inability to acknowledge the same, the the Biden administration transferring its first detainee out of the Guantánamo Bay prison, and reports that the US Commerce Department has for the last decade used a little known security force to investigate and surveill employees which racially profiled persons of Middle Eastern and Chinese descent.
COVID cases surge across the US and Africa; Joe Biden's Cuba propaganda; America's public housing crumbles.
Michael Kane, executive director of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants, and Ruth Ann Norton, president and CEO of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, join the show to talk about efforts to ensure the health and safety of public housing residents across the United States. The pair discuss current unsafe conditions, what to expect from HUD under the Biden administration, and the need to build more public housing across the country.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of Public Health at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, joins to talk about the rapid spread of the COVID 19 Delta variant, LA County reissuing a mask mandate, and the future of COVID vaccines at home and abroad.
Dr Shayla Nunnaly, professor of political science and chair of the Africana Studies Program at the University of Tennessee and former president National Conference of Black Political Scientists shares her thoughts on Dr. Cornel West's resignation from Harvard, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Coates joining Howard University, and the challenges facing activist professors in today's academic environment.
Journalist and writer Daniel Lazare joins the show in the second hour to talk about what to expect from the US with regard to Cuba and Haiti. The group also talks about the White House's guidelines on COVID misinformation and what a better public health approach could look like.
Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte close out the week with the weekly "Working for the Weekend" segment where they trash the worst of the week. Chrissy Teigen, Bill O'Reilly, and the world's most expensive french fries are sent away for good.
Democrats agree to price tag on Infrastructure Bill. Will there be enough unity within the party to garner enough votes to pass it?
Joel Segal, co-author of the original Medicare for All bill, executive director of the Justice Action Mobilization Network and national director of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Group, talks to us about Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reaching a deal on an infrastructure package, whether the bill goes far enough in dealing with climate change. We also talk about the European Commission announcing ambitious plans to cut carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030.
Nic Wolpe, Chief Executive of the Liliesleaf Trust and Museum, talks to us about the ongoing unrest in South Africa after the arrest of Jacob Zuma, how much of this unrest is related to Zuma’s jailing and whether there are larger grievances around the continued economic inequality in the country, and the government’s response to the protests. We also talk about how the country is dealing with a third wave of coronavirus infections, and how vaccination efforts are going in the country.
Chris Smalls, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, talks to us about the importance of developing a labor movement that is independent of the party duopoly in the United States, the decision to start an independent union in the fight against Amazon, and how organizing is progressing there.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about an alleged bombshell by The Guardian’s Luke Harding, whether the allegations within it would hold under scrutiny, and the continuing obsession with Russiagate in media circles. We also talk about revelations in the Larry Nassar case demonstrating how the FBI mishandled the case by failing to respond to allegations in a responsible way.
Dan Kovalik is an author and human rights & labor lawyer. His most recent book is “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests.” He talks to us about a case where the ACLU is challenging the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office’s policy of making plea offers "substantially harsher" if people assert their rights to a preliminary hearing or a trial, and what this could mean for citizens’ rights.
West Virginia dangles money to attract rich residents. How the trickle-down approach to economic development has been long proven not to work.
Alan Macleod, senior staff writer for MintPress News, author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, talks to us about the way the crisis and protests in Cuba have been covered by mainstream news outlets, protesters in Miami getting an assist from police, and Miami mayor Francis Suarez suggesting the U.S. conduct airstrikes in Cuba in lieu of lifting the decades-long embargo. We also talk about the role of local media coming out of South Florida dictating the narrative on how to have a conversation around Cuba at the national level.
Eleanor Goldfield is a creative activist and journalist focusing on radical and censored issues via photo, video and written journalism, as well as artistic mediums including music, poetry and visual art. She is the co-host of the podcast Common Censored along with Lee Camp. She joins us in a conversation about a plan by West Virginia to lure high income earners into the state to allegedly restart the economy, how this program relies on a purely trickle down model that has been proven to not work, how it will not create sustainable jobs in the state, and how it reinforces stereotypes about West Virginia as a backwards place.
James Early, former Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, talks to us about the protests in Cuba and Biden’s comments on supporting the Cuban people while maintaining its strangling embargo. We also talk about whether the Cuban government will weather this protests, and developments in Haiti after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Femi Ayanbadejo, founder of HealthReel, Inc., creator of the AI-powered HealthReel body composition and health assessment app, and former American football running back, fullback, and special teams player, talks to us about ESPN reporters putting their feet in their mouths, highlights from the MLB All Star game, yet another change to MLB rules contemplated for 2022, and the Olympics being held with no fans in attendance.
Israel’s Citizenship Law is not renewed in Knesset but apartheid measures remain. What the U.S.’s unconditional support for Israel means for human rights.
Kathy Kelly, American peace activist and author, talks to us about the ongoing war in Yemen, where, according to reports, British forces are on the ground in eastern Yemen, providing logistical support and training Saudi troops and Saudi-backed militias. We look at what this means for the outcome of the war and claims by Western countries, including the U.S., that they want to end support for the Saudi campaign. We also talk about the battle for the city of Marib, how the outcome of this battle will impact peace talks, and whether the U.S. could negotiate with a Houthi government.
Ariel Gold, Co-Executive Director at Code Pink, tells us about news coming out of Israel that the so-called citizenship law was not renewed by the Knesset, how there are plenty of apartheid laws that remain in the books in Israel. We also talk about how Israel will withhold $180 million dollars in tax revenue collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, to offset stipends paid to militants and their families, and the case of Khalida Jarrar, a Palestinian legislator serving a prison term for advocating for Palestinian rights.
Peter Oliver, RT correspondent in Berlin, talks to us about the German Communist Party and the Anarchist Pogo Party not being allowed to stand for the parliamentary elections coming up in September due to bureaucratic technicalities, how Ukraine will remain transit country for Russian gas exports, and whether Angela Merkel’s upcoming visit to the White House will resolve the dispute between Germany and the U.S. over Nord Stream 2.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic, joins us in a conversation about Texas Democratic lawmakers leaving the state to deny Republicans a quorum to convene a special legislative session on a sweeping elections reform bill, Biden’s gathering of Democratic mayors to discuss increasing gun violence, and other news out of Texas including statewide unemployment benefits running out, the end of eviction protections, and Austin's reinstatement of the public camping ban.
The role the United States is playing in Cuba and Haiti is explored; Richard Branson's "accomplishment" is broken down.
Kim Ives, editor of the English Section of Haiti Liberte, joins the show to talk about who is likely behind the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse after a mysterious Florida doctor was blamed for the attack. He addresses Moïse's feud with the country's bourgeoisie, the international interests from Colombia and Venezuela in Haitian unrest, and who will step up to fill the leadership vacuum.
Arnold August, a speaker, journalist, and the author of three books on Cuba, including “Cuba-U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond,” joins the show to talk about the protests in Cuba against the government, and the direct response to the protests by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. August and Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte discuss Joe Biden's policies towards the island, the lasting impact of the US embargo on Cuba, and the role social media and the internet is playing in the day to day politics of the Cuban people.
Later in the show Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron" joins to talk about the ridiculous praise billionaire Richard Branson has earned for reaching outer space, the removal of Confederate statues in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the US Capital losing the security fencing that had surrounded the building since the January 6th attack. The group also touch on Donald Trump's lawsuit against big tech companies and the future of Section 230 regarding internet speech.
The show concludes with its weekly "Miss The Press" segment, with the worst clips from America's Sunday morning talk shows. This week's clips discuss the US troop removal from Afghanistan, the face-off between "woke" and "non-woke" Democrats, and the future of the Republican Party.
Author and speaker Arnold August puts the current protests in Cuba in context, including the role of the pandemic, the US trade embargo and the American millions supporting "democracy" on the island.
President Biden speaks on withdrawal from Afghanistan as Taliban gains ground. What was the U.S. doing there for 20 years?
Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book “Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” talks to us about the heat dome that smothered the Pacific Northwest earlier last month, ending the hottest June on record, how this heat wave was not confined to the region and affected other regions of the world, causing hundreds of deaths and severely taxing the landscape and infrastructure of the places affected. We also talk about how climate change will affect disease spread by creating suitable environments for vectors, and what could be done to ameliorate this crisis that will harm generations to come.
Rania Khalek is a producer and host for Breakthrough News. Her work has also appeared at Truthout, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, Al Jazeera America, The Nation, Salon, AlterNet, Vice and more. She talks to us about the current social and economic crisis affecting Lebanon that could provoke a total collapse of the country, how political elites aligned with U.S. interests are insulating themselves from this crisis, and how the media narrative about Lebanon always links the situation to the relationship with the US, Iran and Israel.
Terry Collingsworth, Executive Director of International Rights Advocates, and labor & human rights attorney specializing in trade and international labor rights issues, talks to us about a case the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed this week involving fishermen, farmers and others in Gujarat, India, who say a coal-fired power plant funded by the World Bank ruined their environment and their livelihoods, and how the court ruled that the World Bank is immune from lawsuits despite not enforcing its own environmental policies as written in the loan agreement.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author of the book “The Stringer,” talks to us about Joe Biden addressing the nation on the Afghanistan withdrawal, about what the U.S. was actually doing in Afghanistan for so long, and what the legacy of the invasion will be. We also talk about the evolving investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in Haiti, and the case of the strange housing crisis in Ketchum, Idaho.
Authorities clamp down on patients and medical providers. How the ‘War on Drugs’ approach to the opioid crisis will cause needless harm.
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, and Ali Al-Ahmed, Saudi scholar, writer, and expert on Saudi political affairs, join us to talk about the recent visit to the White House by Saudi Arabia’s deputy defense minister - and brother of the crown prince - Khalid bin Salman, how this may affect the reentry of the U.S. into the nuclear deal negotiations with Iran, and what this means for U.S. support for the Saudis in the war in Yemen. We also talk about the ongoing talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and whether there will be a mend in the relations between the two countries.
Yohana Beyene, member of the Black Alliance for Peace member organization Horn of Africa Pan-Africans for Liberation and Solidarity, joins us to talk about the ongoing crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, what is being done to provide aid in the growing humanitarian crisis there, and the obstacles faced. We also talk about whether there will be a de-escalation in violence after the unilateral ceasefire by the Ethiopian government.
Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, talks to us about the opioid crisis, the way victims of the crisis and medical providers are being policed, how perpetrators in Big Pharma are generally being allowed to go unpunished, and how these policies lead to unnecessary deaths.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of “The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” talks to us about how healthy the economy actually is, what we can expect some of the political fallout to be if things peter out, rising prices for all commodities, and we take a look at our history to figure out how we got to this state in the first place.
Freddy Martínez, Director of Lucy Parsons Lab, talks to us about the expansion of surveillance and data collection, particularly by financial companies and how they target children by marketing debit card apps. We also talk about how 20 federal agencies have worked with facial recognition technology, but 13 of those 20 couldn’t say exactly what systems they had used.
Haiti President assassinated in his home. How this will escalate violence in the country even further.
John Ross, author and economist, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, talks to us about the the events around 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, how U.S. media criticized president Xi Jinping’s statements that China would defend itself from aggression, and what this centennial marker means for the future development of China and its relations with other global powers.
Kim Ives, editor of the English section of Haiti Liberté, talks to us about the overnight assassination of the president of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, after facing long unrest and popular protests in the country. We also talk about what is known about the details of the assassination, whether this comes as a surprise or whether this spectacular act of violence was months or even years in the making after numerous accusations of corruption and repression, and whether we will see a descent into even more violence.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, updates us on the ongoing protests against the Enbridge Line 3 expansion in Minnesota, the tactics protesters are using and the results they’re getting. We also talk about the land back protests that marked the Fourth of July taking place in South Dakota, the significance of these demonstrations for the sovereignty-based fights against extractive industries.
Nick Cruse, cofounder of Fred Hampton Leftists and citizen journalist focusing on covering state violence, the class war, and foreign policy, and Kevin Cramer, organizer with The Palm Collective, talk to us about Byron Brown, the Democratic Mayor of Buffalo, NY, crying foul after losing to a Democratic Socialist, how the Pentagon helped Jeff Bezos reach a record wealth, and how crime stats are manipulated for political gains by both Democrats and Republicans.
Justin Williams, co-host of Redspin Sports, talks to us about the feud at ESPN where last year, reporter Rachel Nichols, who is white, made disparaging comments about a black colleague, Maria Taylor, as well as US sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson not being on the Olympic roster released Tuesday by USA Track and Field after testing positive for THC.
Dan Kovalik is an author and human rights & labor lawyer. His most recent book is “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests.” He talks to us about the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, the media coverage describing it as an abandonment of the country that will turn into chaos and fall prey to other regional powers like China, how the decades-long war did not provide the level of stability, prosperity, and modernization that the U.S. often claimed as one of its goals, and how the spillover effects of the war in the region go unmentioned in government circles.
Sheila Vakharia, Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement for the Drug Policy Alliance, and Regina Pixley, CEO and founder of Regina's Place, an organization that supports families impacted by violence, join us in a conversation the ongoing opioid crisis, which is responsible for about three-fourths of overdose deaths, according to Wednesday’s data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where Washington was among the deadliest regions, seeing a 50% surge in deaths. We also talk about the devastating impact that this has had on communities, and the Biden administration’s $10 billion plan to combat the opioid epidemic and whether it will be successful.
Sam Menefee-Libey, researcher & doctoral student in anthropology at American University, talks to us about the situation in Afghanistan, where despite a withdrawal of troops from the country, the US will continue to exert influence via soft power, contractors, and drones, and how the U.S. as nation will not reflect properly and engage in dialogue about what exactly the U.S. did in Afghanistan. We also talk about white supremacist group Patriot Front being run out of Philadelphia, and fire on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico due to a gas leak from an underwater pipeline.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, joins us to talk about a joint cybersecurity advisory from the NSA and the FBI, claiming that the GRU has been conducting cyberattacks on government and private sector targets worldwide, how the these allegations are usually devoid of any evidence for the claims, and what exactly are the attacks being described in these advisories. We also talk about the “hack back” bill introduced in the Senate that would allow private companies to respond in kind in the event of an attack, the impact of loosening these restrictions, and the Florida social media law being blocked by a federal judge, who said it violates First Amendment rights and contradicts federal law.
Elisabeth Myers, lawyer and adjunct associate professor of law at American University Washington College of Law, Democracy Lead at Democrats Abroad Morocco and former editor-in-chief of Inside Arabia, talks to us about the truth in the allusions to the Biden administration’s successful work behind the scenes to curb Mohammed Bin Salman’s bad behavior, how the war in Yemen continues despite U.S. claims that it’s withdrawing military support to Saudi Arabia, and revelations that part of the team that assassinated Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 had received paramilitary training in the U.S.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for IL-16, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the Supreme Court ruling that the government can indefinitely detain certain immigrants who say they will face persecution or torture if they are deported to their native countries, what this means for immigrants rights, and the impact of spending months if not years in jail while officers determine if you have a reasonable asylum claim. We also talk about the Supreme Court upholding Arizona laws placing restrictions on how ballots are cast and collected, the impact this ruling could have, and how this is part of a broader wave of voter suppression measures nationwide, and how the Democratic party is using a PAC to protect centrist incumbents against progressive challengers.
Dr. Bill Honigman, retired Emergency Physician and California State Coordinator and Healthcare Issue Team Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America, joins us to talk about how the the Biden administration appears set to change a rule that gives the government power to seize the patents for taxpayer-funded drugs and other inventions that allow them to regulate drug prices, how Big Pharma exerts undue influence in policy making by lobbying, funding business-friendly candidates, and smearing candidates that want to push back against the private healthcare system.
Stephen Menendian, Director of Research at the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley and lead author of the "Roots of Structural Racism Project" that investigates racial residential segregation across the US, talks to us about findings from the study that showed that found that out of every metropolitan region in the United States with more than 200,000 residents, 81 percent were more segregated as of 2019 than they were in 1990, and how this sustains a vastly unequal system that restricts opportunities and hinders outcomes particularly for black and brown communities, and how the best life outcomes are found in highly segregated white neighborhoods through “opportunity hoarding” and how the goal should be for higher integration in order to achieve a better society for all.
Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience, former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, talks to us the exercise in hagiography underway after the death of Donald Rumsfeld, the Biden administration promoting green capitalism in the face of the climate change crisis, and the uptick in murders in Washington, DC, as well as the Mayor’s response.
Nick Mottern, reporter, researcher, writer, political organizer, and coordinator of Bankillerdrones.org and KnowDrones.com, talks to us about how drone warfare is not the sole purview of the U.S. with Turkey and Iran becoming major players, and what this proliferation means for war fighting, and the letter asking Joe Biden to end “unlawful” drone strikes that are conducted outside official fields of battle.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, and Sean Blackmon, co-host of By Any Means Necessary, join us to talk about a new poll conducted in San Francisco, where crime and homelessness were ranked among the highest levels of concerns, and how the framing of this survey purposely demonize the working poor and the homeless. We also talk about another poll out from Axios and Momentive which looked at attitudes of Americans towards capitalism and socialism, and found that just half of younger Americans now hold a positive view of capitalism, and how these shifting attitudes could point a way towards a different economic system.
Tiana Caldwell, Leader and Board President of KC Tenants, and José Torres, Sputnik Radio producer, join us to talk about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against lifting a nationwide moratorium on evictions put in place by the Centers for Disease Control, and how this is just kicking the can down the road without a real plan for rent cancellation. We also talk about the programs established to provide rent relief for tenants and the difficulties navigating various systems within these, how the onus is put on the tenants to receive help, and how this problem will not be solved without having a conversation around the idea of housing as a human right and not as a commodity.
Mohamed Elmaazi, freelance journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary and The Electronic Intifada, talks to us about a series of actions by the group Palestine Action against numerous UK-based companies connected to Israel, the evolution of the American left after the last bombing campaign by Israel against Palestine, the continued removal of Palestinians from Jerusalem neighborhoods, and the news of the fabrications of a key witness in the Assange case.
Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo podcast, talks to us about Carmelo Anthony winning the NBA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award, the controversy over the Gwen Berry reprimand over political protests, and the OSU sexual assault case.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio producer and correspondent, joins us to talk about the Bicentennial Congress of the Peoples of the World which took place in Caracas, Venezuela last week, its role in building bridges or establishing shared goals among sometimes adversarial left groups, and whether the global left coming out of this with some more resolve to present a united front on some issues. We also talk about the lessons left groups in the United States can learn from their counterparts elsewhere now that socialism is viewed in a more positive light in the country.
Koohan Paik-Mander, journalist, media educator, board member of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, and former campaign director of the Asia-Pacific program at the International Forum on Globalization, joins us in a conversation about the new Cold War with China, about the Pacific, the military overhaul underway in the US and to ask if maybe the chain of events linking these phenomena together is in reality of a different order than the way it is generally discussed in the mainstream media, in the sense that China may just be the new placeholder for the new “threat” to U.S. hegemony in the Pacific. We also talk about how new strategies and technologies means more nukes and fewer troops, more drones and algorithms, and a planetary 5G enabled communications network under the Joint All-Domain Command & Control, a globally networked, cloud-based command center, overseen by the recently anointed U.S. Space Force.
Robert Fantina is an activist and journalist working for peace and social justice. His latest book is “Propaganda, Lies and False Flags: How the U.S. Justifies its Wars.” He joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the meeting of Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and their letter outlining a broad mandate which would now establish Africa as a theater of operations after the whittling down of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. We also talk about the G-20 meeting of foreign ministers in Italy, and the signals being sent by the Biden administration.
Ben Norton, investigative journalist and assistant editor of the independent news website The Grayzone, talks to us about news coming out of Iceland that one of the key witnesses in the case against Julian Assange, Sigurdur Ingi Thordarson, fabricated some of the accusations in the US indictment against the WikiLeaks publisher that involved hacking, which was one of the main foundations of the case against him.
Nick Davies, independent journalist, a researcher with CODEPINK, and the author of “Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq,” joins us to talk about news that the U.S. conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in order to destroy installations that were being used by Iran-backed militias, what this could mean for Iran-US relations and the willingness of Iran to go back to the table to negotiate the nuclear deal.
David Schultz, professor of political science at Hamline University and the author of “Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter,” talks to us about Florida governor Ron DeSantis signing a law requiring public universities in the state to assess “intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” on campus, and how this is part of a Fox News-fueled hysteria over “critical race theory” and an alleged leftist bias in higher education institutions.
Kristine Hendrix, member of the board for Second Chances, dealing with incarcerated individuals and those recently released, contributor to both the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, and treasurer for Carla Coffee Wright for U.S. Senate, joins us to talk about the Washington Post’s re-imagining the fight to defund the police and what side of history the Democrats were on, the disappearance of a prominent Louisville activist, and the efforts by the Biden administration on preventing home evictions across the United States.
Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor for Sputnik News, joins us to talk about how conservative operatives have successfully infiltrated progressive, even moderate Republican campaigns and events in ordert to sabotage them, and how the March for Medicare for All almost featured a keynote address by a neo-Nazi who was concealing his identity.
Richard Sneed, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, talks to us about news that Department of the Interior announced an investigation into the US residential school system, in which Native American children were taken from their families and communities to be indoctrinated into “American values” by rooting out their “Indianness,” how this system was a key element to getting Native communities to cede land to the government, how the announcement of this probe fits with events happening in Canada, where hundreds of additional unmarked graves were found in Saskatchewan schools, and whether the efforts by Secretary Haaland will result in true accountability for those responsible for these crimes.
Carl Zha, host of Silk and Steel podcast focusing on China and its surrounding regions’ history, culture and politics, talks to us about the U.S. government announcing actions it is taking against what it calls labor and human rights abuses in Xinjiang, saying that US customs will seize all silica-based products from Hoshine Silicon Industries, and how the statement that the United States will not tolerate forced labor in its supply chains falls flat on its face after the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Nestlé and Cargill over child slavery in cocoa plantations in West Africa, and how Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft are being sued over forced labor in cobalt mines in the DRC. We also talk about an exposé from The New York Times about alleged Chinese propaganda coming out of the Xinjiang region.
Margaret Flowers, medical doctor, and co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of HOPE - Health Over Profit, an organization working to achieve a national improved Medicare for All healthcare system, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the Biden administration’s ever shrinking infrastructure bill that went from $10 trillion to a little over $1 trillion, and how Biden is touting this as a bipartisan success. We also talk about how insurance companies are sucking patients dry for emergency room visits, and the U.S. ranks last in trust in media, according to a recent study.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio producer and correspondent, tells us about the the Bicentennial People’s Congress taking place in Venezuela, in which international representatives from political and social movements gather to discuss strategies for advancing progressive policies, and the importance of promoting movement to movement and person-to-person ties to build solidarity and fomenting dialogue.
Netfa Freeman, organizer for Pan-African Community Action, member of the Coordinating Committee of the Black Alliance for Peace, and co-producer & host for the radio show and podcast Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM, and Yohana Beyene, member of Horn of Africa Pan-Africans for Liberation and Solidarity, join us to talk about the ongoing violence in the Tigray region, where Ethiopia’s military on Thursday confirmed it was responsible for a deadly airstrike on a busy marketplace that locals say killed dozens of civilians, how the government’s designation of Tigray’s former ruling party as a terrorist group will escalate the conflict, the role of the international community in the conflict, and possible paths forward to achieve peace and justice in the region.
Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist in training, and Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, join us to talk about the the debate in Congress on whether or not Washington, D.C. should become America’s 51st state, tent encampments and homelessness in DC, the collapse of a pedestrian bridge in the Northeast neighborhood of the city, the Biden administrations five-point plan to curb rising violence in the country, and whether its recommendations would address the structural roots of the problem.
Dana Sussman, Deputy Executive Director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, an organization that works to secure the human & civil rights, health and welfare of all people, focusing particularly on pregnant and parenting women, joins us to talk about a case from Alabama where a pregnant woman was charged with felony prescription fraud despite her following the law, and how this is representative of authorities targeting low income women.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, talks to us about Iran’s Press TV news site, along with 3 dozen other sites from Iran, being taken down by the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that these were spreading disinformation and the validity of this, the accusations about election interference, and whether the DOJ will stop at Iran, or use that as an excuse to shut down media from a number of official enemies.
Emily Satterwhite, volunteer activist at Appalachians Against Pipelines, tells us about the fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Virginia, how it’s already $2.5 billion over budget, and how it’s incurring extra costs of $20 million per month. We also talk about a case being heard by the Supreme Court related to the PennEast Pipeline that will decide if the government can use eminent domain to give public lands to pipeline developers.
Nick Cruse, cofounder of Fred Hampton Leftists and citizen journalist focusing on covering state violence, the class war, and foreign policy, talks to us about how the leftist politics and movements are defined in the country, and whether the term is really applicable to politicians who are centrist. We also talk about the voting rights bill that was stalled in the Senate by intra-fighting by the Democrats, and whether they have the best interests at heart for disenfranchised voters in the country.
Mónica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, joins us to talk about the workers for the Warrior Met coal mining company in Alabama going on strike now for months, news that the Teamsters are set to vote on a resolution to make helping Amazon workers achieve unionization, and how retail workers are quitting en masse due to miserable pay and bad working conditions.
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, talks to us about the Supreme Court ruling unanimously against the NCAA’s limits on education-related perks for college athletes and the sticky baseball situation in Major League Baseball.
K.J. Noh, a global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, joins us to talk about how China is viewing and responding to the G7 and NATO summits last week, where the U.S. was promoting the idea of China as a major global threat, and how they were not able to reach a consensus on this idea. We also talk about whether the U.S. is trying to stabilize its relationship with Russia in order to focus on China as the biggest threat, a general outlook of China’s relations with Russia and whether there will be any diplomatic or economic red lines for China as tensions grow with the U.S.
Ron Hampton, DC Representative for Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, former Executive Director of the National Black Police Association and a retired veteran of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, and Dr. Alex Vitale, professor of sociology at Brooklyn College, coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project, and author of the book “The End of Policing,” talk to us about a massive trove of DC Metropolitan police emails and data being released following a hack of their systems, and the revelation of an extensive data gathering and surveillance program that was a cornerstone of aggressive policing targeting working communities where people could be classified as gang members at the whim of the police. We also talk about police accountability oversight and the efforts to disband and defund the police since the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, and whether there are any changes coming in the future.
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, talks to us about another chapter in the fight within the progressive and centrist wings of the democratic party over Ilhan Omar’s criticism of Israel as an apartheid regime, the news that a judge tossed out most of the claims filed by the ACLU, Black Lives Matter and others that accused the Trump administration of authorizing an unprovoked attack on demonstrators in Lafayette Square last year, and Hunter Biden’s burgeoning art career.
John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the news that Roger Stone is reportedly under federal investigation on his role in planning the January 6 insurrection, how investigators are looking into what role Stone may have played in radicalizing Trump supporters who joined the assault on the U.S. Capitol, and whether the video evidence presented thus far in the media is sufficient to mount a case against him.
Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, tells us about the results of the elections in Iran where Ebrahim Raisi emerged victorious over the weekend, how the media is reporting about a hardliner victory and whether this analysis is accurate, how the low voter turnout may have affected the results, the president’s priorities for the country, the reaction by neighboring countries, and whether there will be any change in the relationship between Iran, Israel and the U.S. under Raisi’s presidency.
Terrence Collingsworth, executive director of International Rights Advocates and labor & human rights attorney specializing in trade and international labor rights issues, talks to us about a case against Apple, Tesla, Microsoft, and Dell that argues that the tech giants knowingly profit from the use of child labor in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where children have been maimed and even killed extracting the minerals in mines owned multinationals, whether the Alien Tort Statute will be used, as in the Nestlé/Cargill case, to try to connect abuses along the supply chain to top decision makers, and the role local and Western governments could play in exerting oversight of the way resource extraction is conducted.
Tina-Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, joins us in a conversation about news reports coming out of Chicago about a rising crime wave in the city, and how this reporting is reproducing the “super predator” narrative and ignoring the structural components of violence and precarity. We also talk about the anti-homeless efforts by local governments around the country and how these have become even more militarized.
Dan Kovalik is an author and human rights and labor lawyer. His most recent book is “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests.” He joins us to talk about the Supreme Court siding with corporations Nestle and Cargill against six men who said they were trafficked as children to work as slaves in cocoa plantations in West Africa, how the court dismissed the case because they needed evidence stronger than “general decision making” in the US to link the foreign crime to US operations, and how globalized supply chains perpetuate a cycle of hyper exploitation.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation’s Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins us to talk about how mainstream media is reporting on an alleged surge in petty crimes like shoplifting and how they portray it as a major threat to the country, how this coverage is racialized and class-biased and how other crimes, like financial crimes by the wealthy, are not given the same focus.
Jill Clark-Gollub, assistant editor at the Council of Hemispheric Affairs, talks to us about reports in the media about the arrests of opposition figures in Nicaragua by the government of Daniel Ortega, how this opposition is financed by U.S. soft power agencies like USAID, NED, and the NDI, and how these agencies are connected to the national security state, whose goals are not the advancement of democracy, but the advancement of U.S. interests globally.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about how homeownership is becoming more difficult for people in the U.S., and how renting is being promoted after hedge funds have been purchasing a huge number of single family homes. We also talk about how the Juneteenth holiday has become a hot issue because of the alleged cost to taxpayers due to loss of productivity.
Jamarl Thomas, cohost of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik and host of The Progressive Soapbox on YouTube, and Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, join us to talk about the takeaways from the Biden-Putin summit in Geneva, how the press conferences compared to each other in terms of tone and issues discussed, and how the US media is ignoring how important it is to open some of these strategic dialogue channels, and instead was somewhat combative in their questions for President Biden because he was not perceived to be belligerent enough towards Russia.
Rami Aman, Palestinian peacebuilding activist based in Gaza, talks to us about how people in Gaza are coping after the long bombing campaign by Israel this May, how the people are dealing with a decayed infrastructure af the attacks, whether there will be sustained rebuilding efforts, and the psychological stress that Gazans have to deal with every day with drones flying overhead on a daily basis and fear of more bombings. We also talk about peacebuilding and the work necessary to dispel media misperceptions that dehumanize Palestinians living in Gaza.
Maurice Cook, executive director and lead organizer at Serve Your City joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Joe Biden planning to sign a bill establishing Juneteenth- the date marking the end of slavery in the United States- as a federal holiday, and whether this is a meaningful act of recognition or just pure theatrics. We also talk about how New York City is planning to move about 8,000 homeless people out of hotel rooms and back to barracks like dorm shelters, putting profit over people and not providing adequate, dignified housing for the homeless.
Jim Goodman, Board President of the National Family Farm Coalition, talks to us about the EU Parliament voting for a resolution to end caged animal farming in the next six years after 1.4 million people across Europe signed a petition to "End the Cage Age," the environmental and economic impacts, the ethical components of this decision, and whether this model could be adapted by other countries and the U.S.
Jamarl Thomas, cohost of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik and host of The Progressive Soapbox on YouTube, joins us to talk about the summit between President Biden and President Putin in Geneva, the significance of these meetings at a moment when relations between Russia and the U.S. are at historic lows, the difference between how the meetings are being covered in U.S and Russian media, how the Ukraine, cybersecurity, and nuclear weapons issues are being discussed, and whether we will see any change in the relationship as a product of these meetings.
John Kiriakou, co-host of Radio Sputnik’s The Backstory here daily from 4-6 pm EST, talks to us about the potential implications of the recently released “National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism” and how it will impact online surveillance, online censorship, and an expansion of powers for law enforcement cooperating with tech companies. We also talk about how the document is discussed mainly as a plan to fight right-wing extremists, even though it also identifies “threats” from the left, including anti-capitalist movements and even anti-abortion groups, and what this means for progressive and left-leaning political activism in the country.
Eugene Puryear, journalist, author, activist, politician, host at Breakthrough News, and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America,” talks to us about Milkshake-gate, where a Shake Shack manager in New York is suing the NYPD for defamation after he was unjustly detained for hours and harassed because of false accusations that he had put bleach in an online order for 3 NYPD officers. We also talk about Congress handing out medals to law enforcement over the January 6 riots, and the fight over critical race theory in the election of the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Chris “Nookie” Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the NBA playoffs now that they are down to the final 8 teams and who could emerge victorious, the finger-pointing and speculation in MLB over sticky substances in baseballs, and the Ronaldo-Coca Cola scandal at the Euro 2020 championship.
Jamarl Thomas, cohost of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik and host of The Progressive Soapbox on YouTube, joins us to talk about the summit between the European Union and the U.S., whether Biden saying “America is Back” is different from Trump’s nationalist statements about U.S. hegemony. We also talk about U.S. media coverage of Biden’s upcoming meeting with President Putin, which has likened it to a sporting event, and the prospects of repairing relations between the U.S. and Russia.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to talk about Biden’s statements about the state of the GOP being weakened and fractured, Merrick Garland’s statements about fighting white supremacist extremists without acknowldedging the systemic racism that is part and parcel of the country. We also talk about how critical race theory has been under attack by conservative sectors, and how this has turned into a culture war that fails to consider actual policy debates that would tackle the structural issues that sustain white supremacy.
Guy McPherson, scientist and professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, tells us about the historic heatwave and wildfires that continue to impact Western states in the US, which have burned hundreds of thousands of acres and caused mass evacuations, how an ongoing drought is creating the conditions for more wildfires, the impacts on the ecosystem, and whether we will see similar events in the future due to climate change.
Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a professor of public policy at Cornell University in New York, Senior Counsel at Westwood Capital, and a Fellow of The Century Foundation, joins us to talk about the NATO summit and how it was viewed as a success for Biden by focusing on China and enlisting members on a new cold war, how this anti-Chinese sentiment has had a domestic impact, the Trump DOJ’s persecution of leakers, and whether the Trump cabinet’s inability to function at a reasonable level could have led to these leaks.
Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief at The Duran, and writer on international affairs with a special interest in Russia and law, and Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor Emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, join us in a conversation about the main takeaways from the G7 summit over the weekend, the proposal of a global minimum global tax rate of 15%, what impact this could have on multinational corporations, and whether we should be hopeful or skeptical about this considering how low the bar has been set for these corporations. We also talk about how many of the conversations were framed within the context of a confrontation with China, by proposing a plan to counter the Belt and Road initiative, and focusing on the issues in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Teodrose Fikremariam, cofounder of Ghion Journal, tells us about the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region in Ethiopia, including the involvement of Eritrean troops in the conflict and why they are there, claims that there is a risk of a man-made famine in Tigray and how there have been episodes of collective punishment. We also talk about how this conflict has brought a new tribalism into the forefront, how the portrayal of the Tigray authorities as victims in Western media is not completely accurate, taking into consideration that they began hostilities, and how international multilateral and regional organizations do not have the capacity or understanding of the situation to work as honest brokers in the conflict.
John Feffer, Director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, joins us to talk about the NATO summit taking place in Brussels this week, how the organization is yet again trying to redefine its mission and find its purpose, and whether they will be able maintain their membership as the justification for its existence seems to change every year. We also talk about the continued withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the establishment of permanent airbases in the region.
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, joins us to talk about a recent report published by the the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) revealing that nuclear weapons spending increased by $1.4 billion more than in 2019, with nine countries spending 72.6 billion dollars on nukes, who the biggest offenders were, and how much money is spent on think tanks and lobbying by the nuclear weapons business. We also talk about the parallels between the nuclear weapons lobby and the nuclear energy lobby, and how the Biden administration is going ahead with an expansion of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
Christy Respress, executive director of Pathways to Housing DC, talks to us about the state of the chronic homelessness crisis in Washington, DC, and how the city has the resources and technical capacity to ensure that nobody goes a day without housing, but how there is a lack of political will to tackle this issue. We also talk about how Mayor Bowser has been promoting affordable housing in the District and how this housing turns out to be out of reach for most of the people, due to the inflated real estate market in the city and the cozy relationship between developers and the city government.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about how Eric Nelson, the defense attorney for Derek Chauvin, is seeking not only a new trial but also a hearing to “impeach the verdict" by investigating potential juror bias, the East Coast “Block the Boat” effort this past week after a similar action in Oakland, CA, recently, and these actions are important for the BDS movement in support of Palestinian rights. We also talk about reports of Iranian warships in the Atlantic, and the manic response by the national security establishment because of the suspicion that they may be bringing weapons to Venezuela.
The Misfits also talk about the wildfires raging in Arizona, the Trump DOJ looking for leakers in Congress, and the Bezos-owned Washington Post warning folks against raising taxes on Amazon.
Rishika Pardikar, freelance journalist writing from Bangalore, India, covering wildlife, climate change, and free speech, joins us to talk about how internet censorship has gone global with controversial stories that seem to be disappearing from social media, particularly Instagram in places like India, with stories that contradicted the government narrative regarding the COVID-19 pandemic; in Colombia, with the documenting of the government repression of protests over the proposed tax hikes; and in Palestine, with protests in Sheik Jarrah and the subsequent bombing campaign in Gaza. We also talk about the role of social media companies in this censorship, and whether they can be trusted to be honest brokers between governments and its citizens.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of “The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” joins us to talk about a recent report published by Propublica and based on IRS documents that showed the ways that the super wealthy avoid paying their share in taxes, and how they pay much less than average working citizens. We also talk about how this is not a novel practice, how financial innovation helps create these disparities in income and taxation, and how we have investment firms purchasing single family homes across the country and driving up prices.
Ajamu Baraka, political activist, writer and former Green Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2016 election, joins us to talk about the Biden administration's foreign policy so far, how it could be considered more dangerous than even Trump’s, what to expect from Biden Europe visit at the G7 meetings, particularly his meeting with President Putin, and whether this meeting will bear any fruit in improving relations with Russia or whether we will see a retrenchment of the “America is Back” rhetoric.
In our Trends with Benefits segment, the Misfits talk about new cryptocurrency fad that could also be just a plain grift, otters making a comeback in the Anacostia river in Washington, DC, the sticky situation regarding foreign substances in baseballs, and the newest gimmick from Facebook.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, talks to us about the ongoing protests against the rebuilding of the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline in Minnesota, how this rebuilding effort entails a rerouting of the pipeline, and how it was involved 307 incidents involving hazardous liquids between 2002 to 2018. We also talk about whether these protests will take a similar course to the Dakota Access protests, and whether there will be an intervention by the Biden administration.
Stuart Anderson, founder and executive director of Family and Friends of Incarcerated People, joins us to talk about how in some federal prisons, any routine mail sent to prisoners will be processed and reviewed by a third-party vendor that will then charge inmates for scanned copies of the original letters, and how this is just another way that private prisons steal from and extort inmates.
Bill Mew, leading digital ethics campaigner and CEO of cyber-incident firm The Crisis Team, talks to us about cybersecurity within the context of the recent ransomware attacks on the Colonial Pipeline, JBS, and others, how these attacks continue to happen despite security measures, and whether there is a true fool-proof way to be protected from hacks. We also talk about cyber insurance and how it could be a way to lessen the financial damage from cyberattacks.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic, joins us to talk about the racialized economic draft, after it was discovered that students in predominantly Black and brown districts have been automatically enrolled in JROTC programs, and how 10 US states have diverted millions of dollars from federal block grants meant to provide aid to their neediest families to fund anti-abortion clinics instead.
Femi Ayanbadejo, founder of HealthReel, Inc. and former American football running back, fullback, and special teams player, joins us to talk about news of the NFL announcing that it would discontinue the use of race-based benchmarks to determine whether someone is cognitively impaired and therefore eligible for dementia-based payouts, and whether these changes will have an impact on other discriminatory practices in sports.
Austin González, member of the National Political Committee of the Democratic Socialists of America and head of the DSA electoral observer delegation in Perú, talks to us about the results of the presidential election in Perú where the left-leaning candidate Pedro Castillo has taken a slight 0.6 percent lead over conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori. We also talk about the impact that a Castillo victory will have in the region, and what lessons could be learned from this for progressive politics in the U.S.
Maru Mora Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and immigrant activist, joins us to talk about the numerous roadblocks that immigrants face on their way, and in the U.S., including remarks by Vice President Kamala Harris intended to deter would-be immigrants and how representative of a policy has spanned across administrations. We also talk about the huge backlog of cases in immigration courts that leave immigrants in a legal limbo, and how the Supreme Court recently dealt a blow to the rights of TPS holders.
Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book “Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” joins us to talk about a public electric power resolution recently introduced by Representatives Cori Bush (D-MO) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and what a socialized system could mean for citizens of this country. We also talk about how Congress has continued to privatize resources that are basic human rights and what it would take to change this.
Daniel Lazare, journalist and author, talks to us about the latest Senate report on the January 6th Capital attack, and how our collective memory is already confused on what took place that day. We will also talk about the continuity between the Department of Justice under Trump and Biden, and how it will not seek compulsory legal process in leak investigations to obtain source information from the press.
Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and CEO and founder of KCG Consulting Services, talks to us about her new book “Emotional Civility: The New Standard for Global Success.”
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio producer and correspondent, joins us from Mexico to talk about the results in the largest election ever held in Mexico, where Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party emerged victorious in the midterm elections despite losing a supermajority in the lower house of Mexico’s Congress of the Union. We also talk about how the media in the U.S. characterized the results as a setback to Morena despite the fact that the party and its allies made huge inroads by winning many governorships, and could become stronger by forging alliances with both the Green and Workers’ parties.
Levi Rickert, editor and publisher of Tribal Business News, and founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online, talks to us about the ongoing fight to protect the environment and defend indigenous land at Oak Flat, Arizona, how the US Department of Agriculture is pressuring the US 9th Circuit Court expressly to reject the Apache’s argument that the land sale would infringe on their right to practice their religion, how it would violate a 19th century treaty the government signed with Apache leadership that grants them rights to the land, and the response from the courts declaring that those treaties are not valid or have been extinguished.
Scott Thompson, labor market research economist and rural sociologist in Des Moines, Iowa, joins us to talk about Sen. Joe Manchin’s decision to not vote for the For the People Act, the Democrats’ voting rights bill, nor lending any help to kill the filibuster, how the claim that the Biden administration was going to be successful at bipartisanship is falling flat, and is having issues problems convincing even members of its own party. We also talk about how the concept of bipartisanship is discussed in the media, and how bipartisanship is successful only when it involves legislation that is either middle-of-the-road or benefiting the wealthy.
In our Miss The Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about the media response to recent cyberattacks on U.S. companies and how they are ratcheting up Russophobia to unprecedented levels, as well as Trump’s comments on the current administration during a rally in North Carolina this weekend.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio producer and correspondent, joins us from Mexico to talk about the upcoming midterm elections this Sunday that has the chance of shifting the political landscape in the country for the foreseeable future. We also talk about what it means that polls show Morena with over 40% of voter preference for the lower house, whether this will signal the “4th transformation” that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has talked about, and how this election cycle has been fraught with violence, with 35 candidates having been killed by organized crime gangs so far.
Dr. Bill Honigman, retired emergency physician and California state coordinator and healthcare-issue team coordinator for the Progressive Democrats of America, talks to us about the ongoing fight over prescription drug prices, how the average cost in the United States is around 2.5 times more than in other Western countries, and how surveys show that most people are for allowing federal government negotiations with drug companies to get lower prices. We also talk about how states have taken initiatives to import cheaper drugs from Canada and how this has met setbacks due to a federal veto dating back to 2001, as well as an intense PR campaign by Big Pharma.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On with Ron," joins us to talk about Mike Pence’s comments in a speech where he acknowledged for the first time his break with Donald Trump over the January 6 insurrection, but still did not blame Trump for inciting the violence, the narrative about how America is not a racist country without reckoning with its history and current state, and how Democrats reproduce this narrative. We also talk about how CEOs rigged the system during the pandemic, seeing their compensation go up by 29 percent from 2019 and median worker wages going down 2 percent, and how this exploitative relationship will only worsen without proper regulation.
Dr. Hicham Saffiedine, professor of the history of the modern Middle East at King's College London, talks to us about the political and economic situation in Lebanon, where the country is facing one of the worst financial and economic crises of the last 150 years, how this crisis is connected to recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, the tragic explosion last year, and long-standing political instability in the country at the institutional level. We also talk about how the people have been affected by a volatile exchange rate that is exacerbated by governmental mismanagement and black market rates.
Maurice Carney, executive director of Friends of The Congo, talks to us about recent crises affecting the country, including an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces group that left 55 dead in the eastern region of the country. We also talk about how the country is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, where the coronavirus has now claimed the lives of 32 lawmakers in the country, whether this has led to a crisis of leadership that has been a factor in political instability, and how the lack of healthcare infrastructure has been one of the greatest obstacles to fighting COVID-19.
Tina-Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for status coup joins us to talk about the ‘Block the Boat’ effort underway in California to prevent an Israeli boat from docking and unloading, how organized labor has been involved in this and how the mainstream media has misreported this action. We also talk about the new OSHA report on work-related injuries that found that Amazon has a higher rate of work-related injuries in their warehouses than other companies in the same industry, and how organizing efforts are moving forward for Amazon employees.
Keith Mackey, founder of Mackey International, an aviation consulting firm specializing in aviation safety, talks to us about the dilemma facing Boeing's core airliner business under competition from Airbus and perhaps China to corner the market for single aisle aircraft, and what the future may hold for these companies as engine development fuel alternatives develop.
Maria Luisa Mendonça, Director of the Network for Social Justice and Human Rights in Brazil, talks to us about recent massive protests in multiple cities in Brazil against president Jair Bolsonaro over the economy, state violence, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they included a broad coalition of indigenous groups, unions, and regular citizens. We also talk about the violent police response by the government to the protests and the state of the pandemic in the country.
Nick Mottern, reporter, researcher, writer, political organizer, and coordinator of Bankillerdrones.org and KnowDrones.com, joins us to talk about recent reports that autonomous armed drones have been by used the Government of National Accord in Libya, how this technology allows drones acquire targets with no human input, how this is changing the way wars are being fought, and the ethical implications of this kind of warfare.
Lorraine Whitman, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, talks to us about the tragedy of the Canadian residential school system, with the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried near a residential school in British Columbia, how this system was an integral part of the colonization and dehumanization of the peoples of the First Nations of Canada. We also talk about what has been done to redress this injustice and efforts by indigenous communities to gain more autonomy and control their future.
Jon Jeter, author, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a former Washington Post bureau chief, and award-winning foreign correspondent, talks to us about Joe Biden’s speech at the commemoration of the Tulsa massacre, the administration's efforts to close the economic race gap, and whether its proposals will be successful. We also talk about Barack Obama’s comments in an interview with Ezra Klein, and how his legacy will be regarded in the long term.
Karleigh Webb, journalist, videographer and anti-imperialist, labor and trans-rights organizer with the PSL in Connecticut, talks to us about Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open and slamming the media, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ latest attack on trans athletes.
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, talks to us about right wing Israeli politician Naftali Bennett announcing that he will join a government of national unity, which would unseat long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and how this coalition, despite including left-wing and centrist parties, will remain staunchly right-wing in its posture towards Palestinians. We also talk about how the Jewish left in the United States and how there is a broader spectrum of opinion that questions the “special relationship” between the U.S. and Israel, and what it would take to take this message to policy makers.
Steven Donziger, lawyer, writer, former journalist and environmental advocate, talks to us about his legal case where oil industry connected judges have kept him under house arrest under bogus charges for years after winning a case against Chevron in the billions of dollars, and how the trial has demonstrated the collusion and corruption between money, industry and the government. We also talk about the recent shareholder rebellion at Chevron and Exxon pushing the oil giants towards renewables, a Dutch court ordering Shell to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030, and what impact both of these could have in the energy industry and the future of the planet.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," joins us in a conversation revisiting and reexamining the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, in which mobs of white residents in Oklahoma attacked Black residents and burned businesses of the Greenwood District in the city, how this event was purposely ignored by the people in power for so long, the way it has been recognized and talked about in mainstream circles recently, and why a deeper analysis of the events and its root causes is needed.
In Our Miss the Press segment, the Misfits talk about the renewed push to find out more about the origins of COVID-19 and how it has ended in another round of China-baiting, and how countries should instead invest in a more robust healthcare infrastructure.
Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik Washington, talks to us about how since 2008, troops trained by AFRICOM have been directly responsible for at least seven successful coups d’etat in Africa, with the most recent one taking place in Mali, how it original mission, which was ostensibly to fight terrorism, has now become just another way to project power through proxies, and how this practice could allow the U.S. to shift more resources towards its escalating tensions with China.
Luis Garate, journalist and director of Comunicambio, an independent news media organization based in Perú, talks to us about the political climate in Perú ahead of the presidential election in June, how the country has become extremely polarized, and how conservative media in the country has been invoking the ghosts of Shining Path to discredit the leftist candidate Pedro Castillo, who currently leads in polls against convservative candidate Keiko Fujimori. We also talk about the recent victories of the left in Chile, which has resulted in a constitutional reform that could pave the way for significant social change in the country.
Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, talks to us about how suicide, alcohol-related diseases, and accidental drug overdoses were the main factors driving a year-to-year drop in average life expectancy between 2015 and 2017 in the United States, and how deaths in all of those categories have soared over the past decade. We also talk about how these “diseases of despair” are connected to economic systems in which precarity and insecurity drive people to self-medicate out of desperation due to a lack of support and resources, and what we could do to solve this crisis.
Linwood Tauheed, professor of economics at University of Missouri - Kansas City, and former president of the National Economic Association, talks to us about the Biden administration’s infrastructure spending plan, which could be significantly trimmed down from the original two trillion dollar proposal, what could be excluded from the plan, the plans to increase the corporate tax rate to 28%, and its chances in light of strong resistance in Congress.
Josh Gomez, research fellow with the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, talks to us about a recent victory for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against the Israeli military occupation of Palestine in a court case in Georgia, where journalist Abby Martin was scheduled to speak in 2019 and as one of the conditions of the speaking arrangement, she was required to sign a pledge that she was not involved in BDS, how the court ruled that this was a violation of the First Amendment, and what this means for free speech advocates and the BDS movement going forward.
Helena Olea, associate director of programs with Alianza Americas, talks to us about the political situation in Mexico ahead of upcoming midterm elections, how Andres Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO) political plans have fared during his tenure, how he has redirected focus towards anti-corruption and poverty reduction, and what Mexico’s relationship with the United States could be under the Biden administration. We also talk about recent articles in the US media that seem to suggest that AMLO has been displaying an authoritarian bent, with very little coverage of the election itself.
Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, joins us to talk about a recent op-ed in the New York Times about how the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a collective trauma in U.S. society, and how it eventually goes off the rails by making analyses that do not necessarily apply to working people in the U.S. and missing the mark with its prescriptions. We also talk about recent protests in Washington, DC, over the need of basic resources for working communities and the proliferation of liquor vendors there.
Nav Bhatia, superfan for the Toronto Raptors basketball team and founder of the Superfan Foundation, uniting people through the love of the sport, talks to us about his experience of being the only fan to ever be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, and how his foundation has found a way to use sports to build bridges across communities.
Hyun Lee, national organizer for Women Cross DMZ, talks to us about the recent summit with US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, how talks with the U.S. could impact South Korea’s relationship with China, now that the U.S. is has increasingly tense relations with China, and how South Korea should trace its own path in the world separate from superpower tensions. We also talk about the Biden administration’s approach to North Korea and how its focus on full denuclearization could be a non-starter in any future negotiations.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant joins us to talk about Florida passing a law preventing social media companies from banning politicians, candidates, and news content, and how this could actually be good for free speech. We also talk about a provision of a bill in Canada that would make streaming media sites promote Canadian content within Canada, and Washington, DC’s attorney general Karl Racine suing Amazon for abusing its monopoly by not letting independent sellers offer lower prices outside the Amazon platform.
Alan Macleod, author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, talks to us about how the US government quietly removing a group called ETIM from its list of terrorist organizations after fighting them in Afghanistan for years and how this is purely political move now that the group has reinvented itself as a Uyghur separatist group that is fighting China. We also talk about Bill Gates and his foundation’s funding so many mainstream news organizations and what this means for the media landscape, and Blinken’s statements regarding support for Mahmoud Abbas despite the fact that he has lost his legitimacy in the eyes of the Palestinians.
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, talks to us about how sports can be used as a tool by neo-liberalism to distract from how it ravages poor communities, and the Asahi Shimbun newspaper is calling on the government to cancel the Summer Olympics in Tokyo over COVID concerns.
Bill Fletcher Jr., longtime trade unionist, writer and a past president of TransAfrica Forum, talks to us about the parallels between the apartheid state in South Africa and the conditions that Palestinians live in both in Israel and the occupied territories, how support for apartheid in the U.S. was disguised as a fight against communism in the region, and how attitudes began to change and how people mobilized against apartheid. We also talk about what the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement can learn from the struggles against the fight against apartheid in South Africa and and how these can be applied to fight for justice for the Palestinians.
Jason Dzubow, immigration attorney specializing in political asylum and appeals, and writer for The Asylumist, talks us about the complicated process of seeking asylum in the United States, whether the Biden administration will roll back the Trump administration’s clampdown on asylum seekers and what changes to policies would be possible in the future. We also talk about whether there is an urgency to tackle this issue among political circles, and the best strategies to lobby for the rights of asylum seekers.
Christina Tobin, founder of Free and Equal, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber in a conversation about elections, electoral fairness and new alternatives beyond the two-party system and how blockchain technology can help ensure a more democratic process that could bypass elite gatekeeping. We also talk about the rise in the number of new political options in the country with the Democratic Socialists of America and the Party of Socialism and Liberation recently increasing their numbers, and whether mainstream media has fairly treated the emergence of these new political alternatives.
The Misfits also talk about the Department of Justice releasing part of the memo that cleared Trump of Russiagate accusations, and Florida becoming the first state to regulate how companies like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter moderate speech online.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins us to talk about the Ryanair flight that was forced to land in Belarus by fighter jets after a bomb threat was called in and that ended up in the detainment of a Belorussian dissident who was a passenger on that plane, and how this incident compares to previous incidents of airplane diversions, most notably when Evo Morales’ plane was forced to land in Austria under suspicion that it was carrying Edward Snowden. We also talk about what political consequences this incident and the international response will have on Lukashenko’s government.
K.J. Noh, global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, joins us in a conversation about recently released documents by Daniel Ellsberg revealing how close the U.S. came to a war with China over Taiwan, which could have risked a U.S. nuclear first strike, and what the release of these documents mean for China and U.S. relations during this period of growing tensions between the two superpowers. We also talk about how the case of Ellsberg compares to current whistleblowers like Assange and Snowden and whether they will be judged differently in the future.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, talks to us about the response by mainstream media and politicians to Israel being labeled an apartheid state, with a French politician openly using the term and U.S. politicians avoiding it. We also talk about the battle of the full page ads in the New York Times after some celebrities openly advocated for Palestinian rights, which sparked rebukes by pro-Israel groups and further counter-rebukes. We also talk about what has allowed Joe Biden to remain in a honeymoon period as President, and the financial impact on US media due to COVID.
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about the January 6 commission that some members of Congress want to establish and others don’t, and Blinken’s comments on how the US is going to help rebuild Gaza without “restocking Hamas.”
Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News and author of "How I Lost By Hillary Clinton,” joins us to talk about the latest chapter in The Intercept versus Glenn Greenwald saga, which ended up in the pages of the Washington Post, how the Post story took the side of The Intercept in this fight and engaged in personal attacks that could have the effect of tarnishing his reputation a casting doubt on journalistic work, and how mainstream reporters deploy these attacks to silence media criticism.
Arely Díaz, community organizer at the Fang Collective, tells us about a recent small but significant victory in the battle against ICE, where all contracts were rescinded in Bristol County, Massachusetts, how ICE had been indiscriminately rounding up immigrants in the area without following their own guidelines, how how activists and organizers successful pressured their community cancel these ICE contracts, how coalitions were built to take on ICE, and what will be needed to defend the rights of immigrants in the country.
Nick Pope, journalist and former investigator of UFOs for the UK Ministry of Defence, joins us in a conversation about recent official release by the Pentagon of footage released of pilots encountering unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and an upcoming report to Congress, and what, if any, additional revelations will be discovered once this report is released. We also talk about whether there will be rehabilitation for people who have been trying to bring these discussions out into the open for years and have been constantly ignored and derided.
David Swanson, director at World BEYOND War, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," talks to us about the the ceasefire agreement bringing to an end 11 days of fighting in Gaza and Israel, who could be considered a winner, who could be the loser, and whether this is even apt way to describe and understand the situation there. We also talk about Venezuela submitting the book “The Art of Sanctions” by U.S. official Richard Nephew to the International Criminal Court as evidence that the US has confessed to committing war crimes.
Nick Davies, independent journalist, a researcher with CODEPINK, and the author of Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq, talks to us about how 23 out of 30 obama officials who signed a mea culpa letter over U.S. policy in Yemen are now in the Biden administration and are singing a different tune regarding the latest Israeli assault on Gaza, and whether we will see a different approach from the U.S. after rifts within the democratic party over weapons sales to Israel and continuing pressure to demand a ceasefire in the conflict.
Quique Avilés, poet, actor, and community activist, joins us in a conversation about the Mount Pleasant uprising in Washington DC that took place 30 years ago, what the neighborhood has meant to the Latinx community as a hub where individuals and families connected, how continued harassing by the police was one of the main drivers of the uprising, whether the remedies proposed by the city government after the uprising solved any of the underlying issues, and about how hard it has become for working class black and brown communities to remain in their neighborhoods due to gentrification.
Dan Lazare, journalist and author talks to us about what happens when journalists rely on private intelligence agencies for information, how the Biden administration’s foreign policy is developing, with US Secretary of State Tony Blinken meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the first time since Biden took office and turning all its diplomatic firepower on China, and whether this could lead to better relations with Russia. We also talk about efforts by Congress to keep investigating the January 6 riots, and efforts to permanently increase security measures around the Capitol.
Shaun Sharkey and Chef Margaux Riccio, founders of Bubbies Plant Burgers, Plant Food Lab and Pow Pow join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber on our Trends with Benefits segment to talk about how plant based diets are on the rise, with many restaurants ditching meat all together, and whether this is the direction that restaurants will be taking in the future.
Nour Alshaer, student and activist from Gaza, talks to us about the ongoing Israeli assault in Gaza, how it is even more unrelenting than the 2014 campaign, how supplies, including food, are running out in the city, and how there is nowhere safe from the continued bombing. We also talk about how misleading narratives in western media have hurt the Palestinian cause, how the recent shift in public opinion towards Palestinians could help paint a clearer picture of the conflict, and how we need to stay active in the struggle for justice.
John Kiriakou, co-host of Radio Sputnik’s The Backstory, tells us about recent reports that the U.S. has a completely unregulated, 60-thousand person strong secret army of special operations forces, military intelligence officers and working undercover in private organizations around the world to to advance American interests, how these operations are funded and hidden through a maze of shell companies, how these are potentially illegal because there is no congressional oversight.
Dr. Chaand Ohri, an academic physician working in DC, talks to us about the ongoing COVID crisis in India, where more coronavirus deaths were reported in a single day than any other country at any time during the pandemic, how the number of deaths and infections are undercounted, and how this is just laying bare a barely functional healthcare infrastructure that predated this crisis, with huge disparities in access and outcomes in Indian society. We also talk about the lingering effects that the COVID-19 crisis will have on people’s physical and mental health even after the crisis is overcome, and its toll on healthcare workers.
Chris Jenkins, journalist, filmmaker and political strategist, and Chris “Nookie” Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, join our Foul Play segment to talk about the NBA playoffs and the MVP race, the Twitter feud between former Washington Wizard great Kwame Brown and Stephen A. Smith, Matt Barnes, and Stephen Jackson, and predictions for the NBA finals.
Basman Derawi, physiotherapist at the ministry of health in Gaza, and writer and poet for the We Are Not Numbers project, tells us about how the healthcare system in Gaza is faring during the unrelenting assault by Israeli armed forces, how the attacks on infrastructure have seriously affected the capacity of hospitals to provide proper care and compromised supply chains necessary to get essential supplies.
Miko Peled, human rights activist and author, talks to us about how the situation is unfolding in the West Bank after the assault on Gaza ignited protests there, which may include a general strike by Palestinians. We also talk about the recent shift in public opinion which has become more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause while the official line still remains pro-Israel, and whether there will be any pressure on policy makers by the public.
Jenny Brown, author of “Birth Strike: The Hidden Fight Over Women's Work” and “Without Apology: The Abortion Struggle Now,” and an organizer with National Women’s Liberation, talks to us about the Supreme Court considering a case from Mississipi that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, how abortion rights are are constantly being chipped away at, and what it would take to strengthen protections for women’s reproductive rights.
Brandon Sutton, host of the Discourse Podcast, joins us in a conversation about right-wing journalists and how they cover Black Lives Matter protests, the controversy over live-streams of protests after Glenn Greenwald responded to an article by The Intercept, and how protesters should also have the right to protect themselves from misrepresentation by certain media. We also talk about the Washington Post reporting that the far right is becoming more diverse and the merits of this analysis.
Alfredo Castro, community organizer based in Washington, DC, fighting for a path to citizenship for all 11 million immigrants, and member of the musical group Son La Lucha, talks to us about how music and political struggle go together through the sound of the Son Jarocho, its long history of community building, and how engaging in political action is just more fun with music.
Palestinian activist Samer Makhlouf joins us to talk about the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine, how Palestinian resistance has been mainly non-violent throughout history and how this resistance, and manifestations of support globally are constantly misrepresented by mainstream media as anti-semitic, as in the example of BDS, and how the instances of spectacular violence are used to demonize Palestinians while ignoring constant Israeli violent aggression.
Ariel Gold, co-executive director at Code Pink, joins us to talk about how the conversation about the violence in Israel and Palestine is developing in the United States, how the Biden administration unsurprisingly gave its full support to the Israeli assault on Gaza while giving half-hearted statements of concern over Palestinian civilian casualties, how the conflict is sometimes described by media and government as if it had a life of its own where the actors have no agency, and the controversy over “The Squad” using the word “apartheid” in describing the situation in Israel/Palestine.
Jim Goodman, board president of the National Family Farm Coalition, talks to us about a recent report that linked agricultural production in the United States to nearly 18,000 air quality–related deaths per year, how current practices in agribusiness contribute to this by releasing dangerous byproducts like ammonia and other particulates, and how the meat industry is one of the main contributors to this pollution.
Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, and Ari Theresa, land use/zoning attorney with a focus on civil rights, talk to us about media coverage of the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine, which maintained its pro-Israel stance even after Israel destroyed a building that housed various news agencies, including Al-Jazeera and the Associated Press, and how the click-bait infotainment model makes it really hard for people to get involved with causes.
In our Miss The Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Chuck Tood grilling Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and how they are both wrong and they are both right in some ways, Netanyahu’s interview, and Fauci’s interview on vaccine sharing and distribution.
Maha Hussaini, a freelance journalist and contributor to Middle East Eye, talks to us from Gaza about the Israeli bombardment over the past several days and the collective trauma endured by Palestinians from the violent assaults. Lara Abu Ghannam, attorney, civil and human rights activist, and central Florida Regional coordinator of CAIR-FL continues the conversation about US attitudes towards Israel and Palestine and the need to demand direct policy change from American politicians.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik Radio producer and correspondent, joins us in the studio after traveling to Colombia. Wyatt gives us a first hand account of the ongoing protests against President Ivan Duque, the diversity of grievances held by Colombians, and why Americans should care about the affairs of the country.
Mónica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, joins us to talk about The Wall Street Journal asking “Is the American Work Ethic Dead?”, the false narratives around why people are not returning to work, workers at a Dollar General in Maine walking off the job, and Starbucks, McDonalds and Chipotle responding to strikes and strike threats by raising wages.
Steve Grumbine, Founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress In Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about the inflation myth, economic inequality between generations, and why economic reporting is so bad. The group also check-in on the mystery attacks against American diplomats causing headaches and why Elon Musk and Tesla are abandoning Bitcoin.
In the shows weekly "Working for the Weekend" segment Bob explains why Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, owes him $80 dollars, why Mayor Bill de Blasio needs to eat with his mouth shut, and why Project Veritas, Ted Cruz, and Stephen Colbert need to go away for the weekend.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, documentary filmmaker, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, talks to us about the case of Reality Winner, who was convicted under the Espionage Act for leaking documents related to Russiagate and how she is portrayed as the “good” whistleblower in the mainstream media as opposed to others like Snowden and Daniel Hale, and what role does the social status of a whistleblower plays in how they are treated by the justice system and the press.
Max Wilbert, organizer, writer, wilderness guide, and author of the book "Bright Green Lies: How the Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It", and Daranda Hinkey, Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone tribal member, tell us about the fight against the proposed Lithium Americas mine in Nevada, how it was fast-tracked during the Trump administration with little consultation with local communities, and how this proposal was green-washed without taking into account the toxic byproducts of lithium mining, and how indigenous communities are fighting back and building solidarity.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron", joins us to talk about the Republican leadership meeting with Joe Biden at the White House, the future of the GOP, the future of social, political, and economic driven movements in the US, the panic over the Colonial Pipeline that has had people hoarding gasoline in plastic bags, and the tiff between Marjorie Taylor Green and Alexandria Ocasio Cortés. We also talk about the proposal of a group alleged “moderate” and “rational” to create a new Republican party.
Femi Ayanbadejo, founder of HealthReel, Inc., creator of the AI-powered HealthReel body composition and health assessment app, and former American football running back, fullback and special teams player, joins our Trends with Benefits segment to talk about of athletes excelling at sports long after the conventional retirement age, how this has come about through a change in the culture of training, coaching, and mental health, and how sports culture needs to move away from the extreme intensity at a young age towards a longer term view.
Marvin Weinbaum, Director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies at the Middle East Institute, talks to us about the renewed wave of violence in Afghanistan after the U.S. set a September 2021 withdrawal date, with multiple bombings in recent weeks that have left dozens killed and hundreds injured, whether it was a wise decision to postpone the withdrawal, and whether this is one of the drivers of this bout of violent attacks. We also talk about the role other countries and regional and international organizations could play in the future of the country once the U.S. departs.
Mohamed El-Maazi, freelance journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary and The Electronic Intifada, joins us to talk about authorities using the charge of terrorism to quell activism and dissent in one case where the group Palestine Action spray-painted the walls of the offices of a Israeli weapons manufacturer. We also talk about the current state of UK domestic terrorism laws, the controversy over a new policing bill, and the case of Craig Murray, who was sentenced to eight months in prison this week for contempt of court over his blogging about the trial of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.
Eleanor Goldfield, creative activist and journalist, co-host of the podcast Common Censored along with Lee Camp, talks to us about her most recent film “Hard Road of Hope,” the idea of hope, about how we, as activists and as witnesses, must keep the spirit of hope to continue our long and difficult fight against rapacious capitalism, displacement, and oppression, and her new music and spoken word projects that interrogate the idea of the U.S. as a nation of immigrants that omits its record of genocide and settler colonialism.
David Shams, author and founder of Bourbon and Chai, joins our Foul Play segment to talk about the winning horse of this year’s Kentucky Derby failing the post-race drug test, Albert Pujols being released from the Angels and whether this means the end of his career, and the Oakland Athletics’ stadium woes.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, talks to us about updates in vaccination efforts and in the fight against COVID-19, how inequities remain in vaccination rates between communities, regions, and nations, how the mutations undergone by the virus may render current vaccines not as effective, how countries could deal this, and what lessons should be learned from the pandemic as the U.S. slowly reopens in order to deal with a crisis of this magnitude in the future.
Nick Mottern, reporter, researcher, writer, political organizer, and coordinator of KnowDrones.com and Bankillerdrones.org, a website devoted to education and organizing to stop drone warfare and surveillance, talks to us about reports that the Pentagon has been conducting tests that would allow AI to make critical decisions in drone operations including using deadly force, the philosophical and ethical underpinnings of the opposition to this, and how this could lead to countries with those capabilities conducting more violent actions since there will be no humans involved on one side of the equation.
Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist, and Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principal at TML Communications, join us in a conversation about whether or not Democrats and Republicans are growing their bases in the off-year election, whether or not we can take race out of our political discussions, with both parties trying to appeal to more white voters and others who believe that we live in a post-racial society, and how this flies in the face of reality. We also talk about the prospect of criminal justice reform in a period of rising violence in the country, and whether the question of policing will divide black communities and progressives.
In our Politics of Art segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Van Morrison’s new album and its peculiar lyrics, the controversy over allegations of corruption and lack of representation in the Golden Globes committee, and Donald Glover and Billie Crystal joining the “cancel culture” crowd.
Wyatt Reed, producer and correspondent at Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the ongoing protests in Colombia, where more than two dozen people have been killed and 800 injured, according to government figures, and the U.S. has yet to issue any kind of statement, how the situation is looking on the ground, how the protests are evolving, and whether there is a sense that these will be sustained for the long term. We also talk about whether there are new demands from protesters and whether they see this as a domestic, regional or international issue.
Gay Gordon Byrne, Executive Director of The Repair Association, and Nathan Proctor, Director of the Campaign for the Right to Repair at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, join us in a conversation about the burgeoning “right to repair” movement in the U.S., where it stands now after a surprisingly positive report by the Federal Trade Commission, the pushback from industries that place onerous trademark,intellectual property, and supplier restrictions on people who want to repair their technological goods, and how the right of repair movement can lead in the fight against environmental waste, economic monopolies and, despite opponents’ claims, truly lead the way in innovation.
Jonathan Kuttab, co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International, talks to us about ongoing violent attacks by Israeli forces at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem over the final days of Ramadan, how the situation is unfolding, how the eviction of Palestinian residents from Jerusalem under dubious court decisions have also sparked these protests and is laying bare the reality that Palestinians are living under an apartheid state. We also talk about whether we will see a change in the coverage of mainstream media, and whether the U.S. will change tack in the conflict or continue to shield Israel from criticism.
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about how every single Sunday show talked about Donald Trump’s “Big Election” lie, and the absurd notion that it was Trump and Trump alone who corrupted the Republican Party.
Donna Davis, political consultant, political organizer and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Tampa, joins us to talk about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing new legislation restricting voting in the state by adds hurdles to voting by mail, restricting the use of drop boxes and prohibiting any actions that could influence those standing in line to vote, how these are essentially Jim Crow-like laws, and how similar laws are spreading to other states in the country. We also talk about the general political picture in Florida, and whether there could be any successful democratic challengers to DeSantis and the conservative bloc in the next election.
Tina Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, talks to us about police gangs working out of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, how their existence has been known for decades by local, state, and federal government agencies, and how they continue to operate with impunity, with deputy gangs responsible for at least 19 deaths. We also talk about how these groups routinely harass the families of victims killed by police in public gatherings, whether the department can be reformed, and the public reaction to these revelations.
James Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, tells us about the G-7 meetings and their statements regarding Ukraine, how they will “stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression,” and how this confrontational tone will inflame tensions in the region without taking into account the consequences any increasing violence will have on the population. We also talk about the statements against China over alleged human rights concerns and violations of norms, despite the fact that these are the norms that keep rich G-7 countries atop the economic order and hinder the rise of others.
In our Working for the Weekend segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about the news that less than two thirds of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police force has received a covid vaccine, and a California bar owner being arrested for selling fake vaccination cards.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, talks to us about reports that Facebook and Instagram are threatening to charge Apple users for their services if they don’t let the companies track their movements through apps and what these privacy changes mean for users. We also talk about Signal purchasing ads on Facebook showing the extremely detailed information that is harvested from individuals by the social media giant, and their justification for not running those ads.
Trupti Patel, Lead DMV Organizer for One Fair Wage, joins us in a conversation about recent media reports on alleged labor shortages, with certain industries arguing that unemployment benefits are preventing employees from returning to work, and how it’s not a right to own a business if you rely on paying poverty wages to workers. We also talk about how employers cheat workers out of their wages, with $287 million in stolen wages in 2019 alone, and how the pandemic has also exacerbated this problem.
Margaret Flowers, a doctor, co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of HOPE - Health Over Profit, an organization working to achieve a national improved “Medicare for All” healthcare system, joins us to talk about the announcement by the Biden administration supporting waiving IP protections for COVID-19 vaccine,and the insanity of tying global health to profits. We also talk about the CDC eviction moratorium being struck down by a federal judge, what this means for tenants, and the tragic case of whistleblower Daniel Hale, who is now in solitary confinement.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation's Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins our Trends with Benefits segment to talk about a report from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press revealing the extent of police violence against journalists in the U.S., and a new poll commissioned by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation which found that the US is seen around the world as more of a threat to democracy than Russia and China.
Carl Zha, host of the Silk and Steel podcast focusing on China and surrounding regions, joins us to talk about the ongoing negotiations between the European Union and China regarding an investment deal that has run into obstacles in the ratification of the agreement, what role are sanctions and counter-sanctions playing in this, Secretary Blinken’s meeting with G7 leaders to talk about China, and the prospects of this deal going through. We also talk about Australia revoking a port management contract with China over security concerns, and how China has been dragged into the debate about capital gains taxes in the U.S.
Chris Thomas, community mentor, front line soldier and violence interrupter, and Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist-in-training, talk to us about continued news of spikes in violent crimes in US cities across the country, and how intentional under investment in communities that impact people’s education, health, and job outcomes, unstable housing, and mass incarceration are drivers of violence, and what can be done to alleviate this at the community, local, and federal levels.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for IL-16, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehber to talk about Joe Biden resurrecting a plan to increase refugee admissions this year to 62,500 after criticism for initially keeping the refugee cap at a historically low level, and how this number may not even be met by the administration, even as the country is experiencing declining birth rates. We also talk about how the Biden administration has been praised by the media mainly due to optics and not actual policies, and how we can improve our immigration policies to correspond to our capacity as a nation and the needs of immigrants.
Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, and Bryan Weaver, founder and executive director of Hoops Sagrado, join our Foul Play segment to talk about the the controversial upcoming play in tournament for the final spots in the NBA playoffs, and LeBron James speaking out about the police killing of Ma'Khia Bryant.
James Jordan, National Coordinator for the Alliance for Global Justice, talks to us about the ongoing protests in Colombia over a proposed tax hike which has resulted in at least 19 deaths, what were the details in this proposal that ignited such a strong response, and why the response by the police has been so violent. We also talk about how the Colombian economy has shrunk during the pandemic, with some reports indicating a 7% decrease, and what this means for the government of Ivan Duque, who has also faced criticism over his reluctance to uphold its end in the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC.
Samer Makhlouf, Palestinian activist, tells us about increasing violent attacks by Israeli settlers in Palestine, with more than 210 incidents of violence recorded in the first three months of 2021, including the death of one Palestinian, and how these attacks are aided and abetted by the state of Israel. We also talk about the Palestinian Authority delaying elections amid a dispute over voting in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem and divisions in his Fatah party and whether we could see a change in leadership in Palestine, Netanyahu’s obstacles to form a government, and whether we will see a change in policy vis a vis Palestine from the Biden Administration.
Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and the former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent, talks to us about the narrative that the Biden administration will be incredibly progressive mainly through taxation of high income earners and whether this will successfully address the issues of inequality and a winner-take-all society. We also talk about how the extreme focus on demographics when predicting electoral outcomes in the country is not necessarily an accurate tool when it is combined with long held assumptions about how certain groups vote are not necessarily reflective of reality.
Raymond Caldwell, producing artistic director at Theater Alliance, joins us in a conversation about the new digital play “City in Transition: The Quadrant Series”, which explores Washington DC by unearthing each quadrant's history, exploring their current situations, and projecting their futures.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins us to talk about big retractions over the weekend from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC regarding allegations that authorities had warned Giuliani about a Russian disinformation campaign that turned out to come from anonymous sources and of dubious veracity, the possible removal of sanctions in Iran and the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, where the talks stand now, and what is on the table in terms of sanctions relief. We also talk about accusations leveled at Iran that it meddled in Scottish parliamentary elections and how these allegations were used as a weapon to attack the SNP.
Marion Gray Hopkins, President of the Coalition of Concerned Mothers, and Melody Cooper, mother of Kwamena Ocran, to talk about the tragic death of Kwamena, who was shot in the back and killed by police in January as he was fleeing police over suspicions of gun possession, and how despite promises from various administrations regarding police violence, these tragedies continue to happen, and the work that the Coalition of Concerned Mothers is doing to provide support to families and communities.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic, joins us in a conversation about the state of politics in Texas, including Austin voting to recriminalize behavior that would mostly affect homeless people and protesters, and Lubbock passing an ordinance intended to ban all abortions within city limits. We also discuss DSA candidates advancing in runoff elections in parts of the state, what to make of these results, and whether this points in a particular direction the state is heading to. We also talk about the recent recruitment ads from the CIA where it tries to portray itself as “woke” and “intersectional.”
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Chuck Todd carrying the water for his corporate overlords by trying to scare his audience into not giving money to poor people by using the boogeyman of deficits and inflation. We also talk about National Secretary Adviser Jake Sullivan’s comments on Biden’s approach to North Korea.
Juan José Gutiérrez, immigration lawyer, executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, talks to us about how the Biden administration is punting on immigration reform, how it did not feature prominently during his speech, whether it is still a priority for this administration, and whether the initial positive steps taken will survive in Congress. We also talk about a Supreme Court case that resulted in a small victory for an undocumentent immigrant and whether this could have a larger effect for other immigrants in the country.
Erin Kirk Cuomo, co-founder of Not In My Marine Corps, joins us in a conversation about annual defense policy in the Senate that will likely be vehicle to enact an overhaul of how sexual assault is handled within the military, whether its proposals will have a real impact on the issue, whether there is a cultural component in the military that enables theses assaults, and whether the pandemic is a factor in the rise of sexual assaults in the military.
Janos Marton, National Director of Dream Corps Justice, tells us about the inhumane conditions and overcrowding of inmates at the St. Louis jail in pre-trial detention with some detainees spending years in jail without a court hearing, the structural and political foundations for indeterminate detention, how the voices of detainees are not heard in the mainstream media, and what other alternatives could be available to mass incarceration for individuals awaiting trial.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about how basic goods are becoming more expensive as we get out of the pandemic, and how corporations justify these price increases without taking into account the financial toll on working families. We also talk about how federal aid to renters is being held back due to bureaucratic roadblocks, how Amazon is raising some wages for workers and still fear the threat of unionization, and revelations that the USAID humanitarian relief provided to Venezuela in 2019 was intended to bolster the opposition led by Juan Guaidó.
Dan Kovalik, human rights & labor lawyer and author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Putin,” among others, talks to us about federal agents searching the Manhattan apartment and office of Rudy Giuliani, whether the allegations of lobbying Ukrainian officials tell the whole story behind this, and what could come out of this investigation. We also talk about J20 protesters, who will expect payouts from the government after their detainment, and how new security bills being floated in Congress can further stifle free speech and activism.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, joins us in a conversation about how the Department of Defense buying up a lot of IP space on the internet, and whether this could be used as a testing ground for cyberweaponry and surveillance. We also talk about Apple’s new rules that allegedly protect privacy, but instead works within a proprietary system that will actually enhance advertisers’ capability to harvest data from users, and how an application used by law enforcement to crack phones is vulnerable to hacking itself, raising concerns over the reliability of the data collected.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," joins us to talk about the takeaways from Biden’s speech to Congress, how it was a spectacle with little substance, how its rhetoric obfuscated issues like healthcare and minimum wage reform, where no solution has been reached, and how the relationship with China was portrayed in the speech, raising concerns about a simmering conflict between the two nations.
Sandra Jackson, President and CEO of House of Ruth, talks to us about the continued rise of domestic abuse in the United States, with 50 women being shot a month, how the pandemic has exacerbated domestic abuse due to victims being in quarantine and isolation, at times with their abuser, and suffering economic difficulties. We also talk about the work that House of Ruth is doing to alleviate this, and what we can do to end the cycle of violence.
Darren Thompsom, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, talks to us about the worst pipeline spill in 20 years in North Carolina, where the Colonial pipeline has leaked 1.2 million gallons of gasoline into the surrounding areas, the impact it has had across many states in the country, how the company repeatedly neglected safety measures and how these companies get away with this due to lack of federal regulation and enforcement of penalties. We also talk about a move announced by the Department of the Interior changing how tribes can request that land be placed in trust, how this could protect tribal homelands and the impact this could have in native communities.
Kim Keenan, adjunct Professor at George Washington University and former General Counsel of the NAAC, talks to us about a case being heard in the Supreme Court involving free speech, where a student was punished for posting comments on social media about her school, how the limitations of speech are interpreted, whether the school overreached in the reprimand, and how the outcome of this case could affect other free speech cases. We also talk about the court striking down a state law identifying charitable nonprofit donations, the controversy behind this, and why this is being challenged.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, professor of economics at University of Missouri - Kansas City, and former President of the National Economic Association, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber in a conversation about how media does not always succeed in finding the right balance when telling stories about individuals and communities, and how there could be a generational divide in the way we tell stories. We also talk about the Biden administration’s recovery plan, how it is being implemented, what its limitations are, and its prospects for its success.
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports joins our Foul Play segment to talk about the UFC organizing a fight in front of a packed indoor crowd in Florida, the Olympics saying no protesting will be allowed, and the continued fallout from the attempts to create a European Super League.
Ahsan Butt, associate professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, and Dr. Sahil Singh, co-director at Vmedica Clinics and Diagnostics, talk to us about the COVID crisis in India, the situation on the ground, what the country needs the most at this moment, and how the health system has been pushed to the brink of collapse. We also talk about how the country went from an exporter of vaccines to the current crisis, how the government failed to protect the population by promoting political and religious gatherings that accelerated the spread of the virus, and whether we could see a light at the end of the tunnel of this crisis.
John Kiriakou, co host of Radio Sputnik’s The Backstory, joins us in a conversation about how government agencies are conducting warrantless surveillance and searches in the guise of fighting terrorism, how the groundwork was laid in the passage of the Patriot Act that allows FISA courts and the NSA to conduct these searches disregarding the 4th Amendment and behaving with no constraints and no congressional oversight, and how this unchecked power can be used to persecute whistleblowers, environmental, progressive, and animal rights activists.
Ra Shad Frazier Gaines, founder and chair of the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of America and founder and chair of Black Progressives, talks to us about the outcome of the Chauvin trial, how police killings continue to happen, and where we stand in the movement to reform or even abolish the police. We also talk about new ways for the progressive movement to have a conversation about race and the results of the decennial census showing a decline in the population in the country, and what this means for politics moving forward.
Ong Siraphisut, a multidisciplinary artist, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber in our Politics of Art segment to talk about the lingering impact of the pandemic on the arts landscape, as well as isolation and the artististic process. We also talk about his Turmeric and Charcoal project, the choice of materials, the process, and the subjects of his portraits.
Jacqueline and Abdus Luqman, hosts of Luqman Nation, talk to us about rallies held at least across the East Coast this weekend in support of long time American political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, who turned 67 this week, the importance of his story in exposing the brutality of the American system, and the impact his reporting has had in the movement to for black rights and reforming justice in the country. We also talk about how free speech and public protests by black and brown people could be stifled by the government deploying more security measures, like semi-permanent barriers around DC buildings, and by corporations through social media gatekeeping, under the guise of preventing a January 6-like riot.
Daniel Lazare, journalist and author of “The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Decline of American Democracy,” tells us about a recent spate of political infighting in Iran, where accusations are being flung back and forth about Qassem Soleimani, foreign minister Javad Zarif, the revolutionary guards, Russia, and the JCPOA, and how this could play into the hands of the U.S. in future negotiations of the nuclear deal. We also talk about how intellectual property laws are hindering vaccine distribution programs globally, how big pharma has undue influence in the government, and how these allegations about national security undermine the fight against the pandemic in the name of profits.
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Chuck Todd’s grammar issues talking about the Derek Chauvin trial, his analysis of presidential approval ratings, Kamala Harris’ new book, and Chris Christie calling Biden a far-left president.
The Misfits also talk about former president George W. Bush’s ongoing rehabilitation and his appearance in the Jimmy Kimmel show, where no mention was made of the terrible legacy of the Iraq War, President Biden’s still unclear details about the infrastructure plan and clean technology that may or may not affect meat consumption, and the explosion of covid cases and deaths that have wracked India in recent days.
Miko Peled, human rights activist and author of the books "The General’s Son: The Journey of an Israeli in Palestine" and "Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five," talks to us about how more than 100 Palestinians were injured after hundreds of far right Jewish activists tore through the Jerusalem in recent days, how the government and police tacitly and openly support these attacks, the role of social media in this, why Jerusalem has become a focal point in these attacks and how U.S. policy towards the Israeli government allow these to happen. We also talk about Netanyahu’s fading chances of forming a government, how hopes of Arab empowerment in the Israeli government have disappeared, and what direction a new government could take.
Bryan Bowman, fellow for Middle East Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation joins us in a conversation about the state of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, how the special envoy from the U.S. seems to be clueless about what is going on there, how this exacerbates the crisis in the country, where civilians are suffering the worst famine in the world, how the U.S. role supporting Saudi Arabia’s war is even more obfuscated, despite promises of withdrawing it, and how the Houthis and regional actors could finally come to negotiating table in good faith to end this humanitarian disaster.
Jamal 'DJ One Luv' Muhammed, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, joins us in a reflection on the Derek Chauvin verdict, what has been achieved, and what we need to keep fighting for. We also talk about the Supreme Court ruling that judges can continue to sentence juvenile offenders to life in prison without parole and how this disproportionately affects communities of color.
In our Working for the Weekend segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Stephen Colbert’s apparent need to revive Trump in a nicknaming segment, Demi Lovato’s new documentary, and outspoken coronavirus denier and conspiracy theorist Ted Nugent’s brush with a virus that was definitely not COVID.
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, and Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book “Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” join us in a conversation about the the threat of water shortages and droughts facing the western United States, what kind of impact could these have, and how big agribusiness, bad water management, and climate change denial exacerbate these crises in the region. We also talk about how these climate events also threaten the nuclear infrastructure of the country, how nuclear energy is not the most safe and efficient form of energy generation, and how we need to move forward with alternative solutions.
Dr. Bill Honigman, retired emergency physician and California State Coordinator and Healthcare Issue Team Coordinator for the Progressive Democrats of America, talks to us about how individual states are undertaking new initiatives to try to make their health care systems more affordable and humane in light of general inaction from the federal government, how the ACA as originally devised leaves so many people behind, how the lack of a single payer system in the U.S. may have contributed to excess deaths in the hundreds of thousands during the COVID pandemic, and why we need to keep fighting for universal healthcare, which will lower costs and improve the quality of life for people in this country.
Eugene Puryear, journalist, activist, and host at Breakthrough News, and the author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America,” joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber reflecting about the outcome of the Derek Chauvin trial, how it has galvanized collective action in the country towards justice and how need to abandon atomization and individualism to heal and improve our society. We also talk about the so-called new U.S. policy “playbook” in Latin America, and the controversy over the OPCW report on chemical weapons use in Syria.
Emily Satterwhite, volunteer at Appalachians Against Pipelines, joins our “Trends with Benefits” segment to talk about the protests against the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and how other collective actions, like Standing Rock, inform these and can help build solidarity and strengthen environmental movements.
Dave Ragland, senior Bayard Rustin Fellow at the Fellowship of Reconciliation and co-founder of the Truth Telling Project, and Donna Davis, political consultant, political organizer and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Tampa, join us in a conversation about the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all three counts. We discuss what this verdict means beyond this one case, and whether this will have a lasting impact in how policing works in this country. We also talk about the concept of the government’s accountability to communities, how political parties take credit for people’s movements, and how we can define and broaden ideas of justice.
Max Rameau, Pan-African organizer, theorist and author, joins us to talk about the U.S. plans to bolster its footprint in the African continent that is being talked about as a “return to Africa,” and what this could mean in terms of economic and military intervention there, how this fits within simmering tensions between the U.S. and China, and how countries being caught in at tug-of-war between superpowers negatively affects their ability to act independently towards their best interests.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation’s Capital" on Pacifica Radio, and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins us to talk more about the significance of the Chauvin verdict, how this can be considered a victory, not for the judicial system and not for the Democratic party, but for the regular people, activists, and those who took to the streets to directly challenge power. We also talk about how DC subjected inmates in jail to what could be described as mass solitary confinement during covid lockdowns.
David Shams, author and founder of Bourbon and Chai, joins our Foul Play segment to talk about attempts to create a European football super league by the richest teams in the continent, how it fell apart after a few days after general uproar from coaches, players and fans, and whether there will be any lasting backlash after this.
Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, and Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and the CEO and Founder of KCG Consulting Services join us to talk about the Derek Chauvin trial, the ongoing jury deliberations, how they could decide which if any of the charges he is guilty of, the media coverage of the trial, and the misguided sense of hope that a guilty verdict by itself would heal wounds in our society. We also talk about the statements by Representative Maxine Waters (D- CA), where she called for more confrontation and how these received condemnation from a wide range of talking heads.
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, tells us about the long-running distortions by the media on the war in Afghanistan, which have actually been amped up now that the U.S. may be preparing for a withdrawal from the country. We also talk about the conflict of interest in the pipeline of “experts” who come from the defense establishment and end up promoting misleading narratives in news outlets.
James Early, former Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, joins us talk about Raul Castro stepping down as first secretary of the Communist Party of that country and the election of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to the position, whether we will see changes in the country with this change of the guard, how these events have been covered in U.S. media, and how this negative coverage also affects other countries like Venezuela and China.
Sean Blackmon, co-host of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, joins our Politics of Art segment to talk about the new documentary series by Raoul Peck, “Exterminate All the Brutes,” how it directly challenges the mythologies of the foundation of the U.S., how the role of white supremacy is integral to its history, and how media and pop culture perpetuate these myths.
Kristine Hendrix, President of the University City School Board, Junior Bayard Rustin Fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, and Kevin Cramer, co-founder of the Palm Collective, director of community engagement and lead organizer, and “Why IG Live” series host, talk to us about the new wave of protests taking place around the country after yet another spate of police killings, including the deaths of Daunte Wright in Minnesota and Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old boy, in Chicago, the increasing militancy in these protests, the importance of exposing white supremacy, how they relate to previous peoples’ movements and what we can be hopeful for in the future.
Mónica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, and Chris Smalls, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, tell us about the unionization vote that took place at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama last week, where workers voted to not join the union, what the results can tell us about the workers movement in the country, the dirty tricks used by Amazon in this fight, how this is but one battle in a long fight for workers rights what the future holds for other unionization fights in different parts of the country.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and co-author of “The Stringer,” joins us to talk about the withdrawal of U.S. troops, whether it will be a full or partial withdrawal, how the narrative over the invasion of Afghanistan reinforces the flawed justification for military intervention, and how these interventions could promote the creation of extremist groups. We also talk about the suspicious killing of an anti-fascist activist in Washington state, and Ted’s upcoming book, “The Stringer.”
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk to us about the Biden administration’s broken promises and apparent incompetence on refugee admissions, and how long they will be able to blame the Trump administration for the crisis. We also talk about proposed police reform legislation, and George W. Bush’s new book and his ongoing path to rehabilitation.
Gregg Mosson, state and federal court litigator in private practice in Maryland, at Mosson Law, LLC, and author of the forthcoming “Employee Rights in Maryland: A Concise Guide to Knowing and Protecting Your Rights,” talks to us about Democrats in the House introducing a bill that would expand the Supreme Court by four seats, what else this commission is looking into, what sort of meaningful reform could be achieved, whether term limits or an court expansion would be the best option, and the chances of this reform actually happening. We also talk about what recent decisions by the Court can tell us about the direction it is currently taking.
Richard Sneed, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, talks to us about tribe’s relationship with the US government, which has included long battles for the self-determination and autonomy of the tribe, how income from casinos has helped provide social services and a lifeline for economically disadvantaged native communities, how the nation has thrived despite economic and bureaucratic obstacles, how they have promoted solidarity with other groups, and what the future holds for the tribe. We also talk about the blood quantum being struck from the Cherokee constitution, and how storytelling and familial community bonds create a stronger sense of responsibility and belonging.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show, joins us to talk about how harmless tweets critical of politicians have apparently merited law enforcement visits, Facebook censoring news articles from the New York Post, how Texans are faring with the oversized bills from electric utility companies after the recent storm there, how the grid almost shut down again after ERCOT failed to properly forecast a weather event, and how a deregulated energy market has not served the state well.
In our Working for the Weekend segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Prince Harry and Prince William being separated at Philip's funeral, as well as Mike Pence’s new pacemaker.
The Misfits also talk about the most recent police shooting in Chicago, rising COVID cases worldwide, and vaccine distribution.
Juan José Gutiérrez, an immigration attorney and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, and Maru Mora Villalpando, community organizer, immigrant activist, and founder of La Resistencia, joins us to talk about how President Biden is flip-flopping on his campaign promises to enact a more humane immigration policy, how there will be significantly fewer refugees admitted in 2021 than even in 2020 under the Trump administration, the justifications for this sudden change of direction, the impact on refugees because of this inaction, and how the Biden administration is moving forward to complete Trump’s border wall.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, tells us about the newest round of sanctions imposed on Russia over accusations of election-meddling, how valid are any of these allegations, what impact will these sanctions have, and how this will affect future relations between the U.S. and Russia. We also talk about the cyber attack on the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran and how this will affect negotiations between Iran and western nations over their nuclear program.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us in a conversation about the newest spate of police shootings and police terror happening in the country, with the allegedly accidental shooting of Daunte Wright in Minneapolis as the Derek Chauvin is taking place in the city, as well as the incident in Virginia involving a service member assaulted by police, how police and civilians are held to different standards and are portrayed in the media, how white supremacy pervades all these incidents, and how we need to continually challenge it if we are to see any real change.
Michael Sampson of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, and co-host of Redspin Sports, joins Ray Baker along with hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber on our Trends with Benefits segment to talk about new legislation being proposed around the country that will crack down on political protests by imposing new penalties on peaceful activities and that will empower police to engage in even more violence.
In this segment Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte are joined by Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a Professor of Public Policy at Cornell University in New York and the Senior Counsel at Westwood Capital and a Fellow of The Century Foundation. The group talks about the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings and what Joe Biden needs to do in order to Build Back Better in a sustainable pro-human and pro-planetarium way.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, talks to us about vaccine passports, the Biden administration’s hesitation for issuing them at the federal level and allowing some states to use them, and what potential problems could arise with these passports. We also talk about the new B.117 strain of the COVID virus, which is becoming dominant in the U.S., whether current vaccines will be effective against it, and whether a different vaccine distribution program would be a better option to combat this pandemic and future ones.
Representative Ruth Buffalo, member of the North Dakota House of Representatives and first Native American Democratic woman elected to the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, tells us about what’s happening in state houses around the country, where Republicans have won big, and how we are seeing unsettling legislation being proposed and passed, like anti-trans bills and voting restrictions, and the options available to push back against these.
Robert Hockett, both the Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a professor of public policy at Cornell University in New York, senior counsel at Westwood Capital, and a fellow of The Century Foundation, joins us in a conversation about the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings, how investment is too focused on individual investors and how collective action would be a better option by focusing on investments that benefit the general population, such as infrastructure, through national development strategies formulated by new councils and institutions.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist and editor of TechForThePeople.org, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber on our Trends with Benefits segment to talk about what it means to have dating apps scouring public records for our criminal histories, and why that might not be a solution to the problem of sexual violence. They also get into how machine learning could help detect and understand unconscious bias, and the limits of personal bias investigations when it comes to structural discrimination.
The Misfits also talk about Biden’s new gun plan and Mike Pence’s new book deal.
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, talks to us about the case of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who recently gave an interview with PBS and how leaders of terrorist groups are recruited and then rehabilitated by the U.S. foreign policy and defense interests to advance geopolitical goals, how this is not a new practice, how this way of thinking does not take into account the consequences of these actions for the countries involved and how media and ‘experts’ never challenge these plans and go along with the establishment.
Adriana Garriga López, associate professor of anthropology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and associate faculty of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, and Elda Guadalupe Carrasquillo, member of the organization “Colectivo somos más que 100 por 35,” join us in a conversation about the slow-going cleanup by the DoD of toxic materials in the islands of Vieques and Culebra off Puerto Rico, and how this is representative of long standing neglect by the local and federal government, and how communities can fight for change to improve their lives.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron," joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Vice President Kamala Harris, dropping “truth bombs” about U.S. foreign policy and unwittingly revealing more about the mindset of fighting over resources, Biden’s infrastructure plan which may or may not end up completing Trump’s wall, and how the Democratic party is capable of playing hardball, but only with the left wing of the party.
Antone Barnes, founder and CEO of Brand Architects, joins our Foul Play segment to talk about the conclusion of the NCAA basketball championships, the Supreme Court hearing of the case challenging the NCAA amateur model, MLB’s attempts at wokeness by moving the All-Star game from Atlanta after a restrictive voting law was passed there recently, and NFL vs. NBA contracts.
The Misfits also talk about the anti-trans bill in Arkansas coming back to life after it was vetoed by the governor, and a fourth wave of COVID infections.
Ron Hampton, DC Representative for Blacks in Law Enforcement of America and former Executive Director of the National Black Police Association, and Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney, business consultant, and former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, join us to talk about the testimony of the Minneapolis Police Chief in the Derek Chauvin trial that directly points to his escalating the situation and arguments of the defense trying to poke holes in the Chief’s testimony, and how policing in general currently does not promote peaceful conflict resolution approaches. We also talk about how the Chauvin trial has sparked a series of proposed reforms in police departments nationally and how successful these could be.
Bryan MacDonald, journalist specializing in Eastern Europe and Russia talks to us about growing tensions between Russia, Ukraine and the United States, with reports of Russian troops massing near eastern Ukraine amid a flurry of ceasefire violations, Ukraine approving a security policy to retake Crimea, and how the conflict is covered by western media, where Russia is always characterized as the aggressor. We also talk about U.S. assurances of support for Ukraine, what kind of actual support would the U.S. provide, and how this could play out if the crisis in the region worsens.
Jon Jeter, author, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience, joins us to talk about Janet Yellen’s comments on instituting a global minimum corporate tax, how true are the claims that this would stop a “race to the bottom.” We also talk about taxing the large number of corporations that have not paid any corporate tax for years, and whether this potential tax money would be used for public investment in the new infrastructure plan.
Psalmayene ‘Psalm’ 24, award-winning playwright, director and actor to talk about his brand new piece “The Freewheelin' Insurgents,” the experience of creating digital works for theater companies, and the state of American theater after Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) theatremakers published the letter “We See You, White American Theater.”
Jules Gill-Peterson, Associate Professor of English and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and author of the book ““Histories of the Transgender Child,” joins us in a conversation about latest battles to protect trans youth and trans rights that have come under assault in the states of Arkansas and South Dakota, with several other GOP led initiatives targeting trans communities. We also talk about how these are narrowly identified and represented along class and racial lines in the mainstream media and within dominant liberal narratives, the need to broaden definitions to be more inclusive and representative, and how right-wing groups use these attacks as a cudgel that threaten to erase trans people from history.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of 'The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” joins us to talk about President Biden’s new infrastructure bill, how it aims to save American capitalism and reinvigorate public investment, the prospects of it being approved in Congress, how achievable its goals will be, and how investment in research and development could be enlisted in a potential economic war with China. We also talk about the fight over how this plan will be funded that has involved conversations about raising the corporate tax rate, borrowing money, and instituting regressive policies like a gasoline tax.
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Chuck Todd’s admiration for Biden’s pragmatism and the flawed logic of this praise, and Chris Christie’s fit over Biden’s criticism of the Georgia voting rights bill which led MLB to move its all-star game from Atlanta.
The Misfits also talk about the fight for the $15 minimum wage, and how even huge corporations are recognizing that it would not hurt business or raise the costs of consumer goods, the Hunter Biden interview on CBS, Amazon’s PR disaster fighting off unionization efforts, Facebook data leaks, and an impending flood of toxic wastewater in Florida.
Steven Donziger, lawyer, writer, former journalist and environmental advocate, tells us about a case involving environmental devastation in the Amazon where plaintiffs won a huge case against oil giant Chevron, how it then engaged in a legal vendetta against the activists and lawyers representing Ecuadorian communities, and how judges in the U.S. colluded with Chevron to persecute and fabricate bogus charges against Mr. Donziger, including hiring private law firms connected to the oil industry. We also talk about how this represents a violation of human rights, how big corporate interests can pervert justice in the U.S., and what this means for the communities seeking justice for the environmental destruction of their lands.
Tina-Desiree Berg, host of the District 34 podcast and reporter for Status Coup, talks to us about the recent violent demolition of homeless encampments at Echo Park in California, the background and history of the area, the justification for clearing out this community, the methods and tactics used to clear the area, where the people will go after, what’s going to happen to those arrested, and what this can tell us about perceptions of homelessness, policing, and the criminalization of poverty.
Dr. Shayla Nunnally, professor of political science and chair of the Africana Studies Program at the University of Tennessee and former president of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, joins us in a conversation about the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis court and the gut-wrenching testimonies testimonies by bystanders, first responders and Chauvin’s former supervisor. We also talk about a proposed expansion of voting rights in and intra-party infighting and how young voters could show the way forward to enact change in the country.
In our Working for the Weekend segment, hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte talk about media coverage of Biden’s dogs going number 2 in the White House, the ongoing controversy involving Nike and “satanic” shoes, John Boehner’s new book, celebrities shilling for the Well Building Institute, and SpaceX raining debris over a wildlife refuge after their rockets exploded mid-air.
John Kiriakou, former CIA analyst and co-host of the Backstory here on Radio Sputnik daily from 4-6 pm EST, joins us to talk about the case of Daniel Hale, the former intelligence analyst who pled guilty to violating the Espionage Act and who now faces up to 10 years in prison for leaking information about the U.S. drone program. We discuss the background of his case, and how certain media outlets put whistleblowers in danger of prosecution by the national security state through negligence and lack of journalistic rigor. We also talk about the current state of the drone program and whether it will be scaled down under Biden or ramped up again.
Ahsan Butt, associate professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, tells us about the United Arab Emirates playing an important role in the February 25 ceasefire between India and Pakistan, how well the ceasefire is holding and what we could see in future negotiations and what concessions could be made. We also talk about a surge in COVID infections and deaths in India, including a double mutant strain, and how both countries are handling the pandemic and vaccination plans.
Dan Lazare, journalist and author of “The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Decline of American Democracy,” talks to us about updates on the January 6th Capitol riots and the the increasing number of arrests and charges, reports that FBI agents recruited a Proud Boys leader as an informant,, and how rich hospitals got richer during the pandemic. We also talk about Biden’s new infrastructure plan and whether it will be enough to fix our decades-long neglect in public investment.
Tiana Caldwell, leader and board president for KC Tenants, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber on our weekly “Trends with Benefits” segment to talk about recent victories for tenants in Kansas City, including a “tenants bill of rights” and funding for the office of the tenant advocate, and what the future holds for tenant organizing in the country.
The Misfits also talk about the new lockdown in France, and new stumbling blocks in U.S. vaccine distribution.
Rania Khalek, producer and host for Breakthrough News, and contributor to Truthout, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, Al Jazeera America, The Nation, Salon, and others, joins us to talk about Anthony Blinken’s statements at the UN Security Council regarding human rights, with a particular emphasis on the situation in Syria, how this alleged concern obfuscates the situation on the ground, and how it is more reflective of realpolitik concerns over influence in the region while ignoring domestic basic human rights issues.
Chris Jenkins, journalist, filmmaker, political strategist, and creator of the documentary “Trapped: Cash Bail in America,” joins us in a conversation about the state of cash bail in the country, the California Supreme Court saying courts cannot require cash bail payments as a condition of release before trial, how this a step forward but is only part of a huge repressive apparatus that includes financial indebtedness and significant disparities in sentencing, surveillance and policing between black and white communities.
John Feffer, director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, talks to us about his recent article on multilateralism in the Biden administration, how this claim to be reaching out to international institutions represents a continuity and not a break in U.S. foreign policy, constituting an a la carte multilateralism: engaging when it’s convenient and acting unilaterally when it is not. We also talk about potential directions U.S. policy may take in the future regarding its global military footprint, China, Russia, Latin America, and regional alliances.
Bryan Weaver, founder and founder and executive director of Hoops Sagrado, joins our Foul Play segment to talk about the NCAA entering into its final four, including men’s and women’s basketball, the efforts by organizers to minimize virus spread in the tournament, the extension of the NFL season, and the digitalization of NBA trading cards.
The Misfits also talk about Florida representative Matt Gaetz being investigated by the Justice Department for sexual misconduct, roadblocks in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and details coming out about the American Jobs Plan.
Scott Thompson, labor market research economist and rural sociologist in Des Moines, Iowa, joins us to talk about the new “Build Back Better” infrastructure bill proposed by the Biden administration totalling between 3 to 4 trillion dollars, what infrastructure spending means to local communities, and how vital it is. We also talk about how this bill will be negotiated in Congress, and its chances of being passed in light of the constant bickering in two-party politics over taxation, budgets, and deficits.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us in a conversation about the impact of COVID related lockdowns, particularly on child poverty and child welfare, how part of the proposed legislation in the American Rescue Plan could reduce poverty rates, what other initiatives could also help address long-standing structural problems that are drivers of poverty, and the rise of COVID cases in the country.
Kim Ives, editor of the English section of Haiti Liberte, tells us about the ongoing protests against Haiti president Jovenel Moïse, the history of U.S. involvement in Haiti and other Caribbean countries, and how the current crisis fits within the geopolitical goals of the U.S. in the region, particularly its destabilization efforts in Cuba and Venezuela. We also talk about media coverage regarding the strides that Cuba has taken in developing its own COVID vaccine that could make it a global force in vaccine distribution, and how this coverage reinforces negative perceptions of the country.
Jeannine Mjoseth, journalist, science writer, photographer, independent art curator, retired professional wrestler, and author of the novel “The Chronicles of Mad Maxine,” join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber in our Politics of Art section to talk about her life in and out of the ring; how this experience helped develop her artistic expression; the working conditions in the wrestling business, including challenging misogyny and exploitation; and her work in the Vital Visionaries arts based program for the National Institute of Aging.
The Misfits also talk about the union vote at Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama, as well as updates on the Derek Chauvin trial.
New voter suppression laws are passed in Georgia and the Derek Chauvin trial gets underway. How can we organize to put an end to white supremacy?
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer, president of ReThinking Foreign Policy and co-author the new book “Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics,” tells us about about the various parties jockeying for power in Israel after last week’s elections, how these coalitions are being negotiated, what role can the Joint List can play in these, and how the right wing parties are permanently entrenching themselves in Israel’s politics. We also talk about China and Iran signing a security and economic cooperation agreement, and how this could allow Iran some breathing room amid international sanctions.
John Ross, author, economist, and senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, talks to us about President Biden suggesting that “democratic countries” should put together a global infrastructure investment plan to rival China’s Belt and Road initiative, what these projects actually entail, how they compare with western efforts, and how this fits into ever growing tensions with China.
Ra Shad Frazier Gaines, founder and chair of both the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of America and Black Progressives, and Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney, business consultant, former law school professor/lecturer at Howard Law, and CEO and founder of KCG Consulting Services, both join us in a conversation about the new voter suppression laws in Georgia, how this constitutes a human rights violation, the role of black churches and HBCUs in building movements, and the difficulties in building coalitions with white progressives. We also talk about the Derek Chauvin trial and the uphill battle of achieving justice considering the long history of white supremacy in the U.S.
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about the gun control debate popping up again on Sunday shows, the predictable debate between Democrats and Republicans, and Dana Bash’s interview with Antony Blinken on how and when the US intends to punish its enemies.
The Misfits also talk about a recent mass shooting in Baltimore, COVID vaccines and intellectual property, and Pete Buttigieg’s mileage tax.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot and a contributor to the Associated Press, talks to us about the Biden administration efforts to connect with native communities around the country, including Congresswoman Deb Haaland becoming Secretary of the Interior and funding through the American Rescue Plan, and how these signals and actions could have a significant impact. We also talk about the fragility of these victories, as well as what it would take to sustain and build upon them within the context of white supremacy in this country.
Christian Parenti, associate professor of economics at John Jay College, City University of New York, journalist, and author of "Radical Hamilton: Economic Lessons from a Misunderstood Founder,"joins us to talk about the geopolitics of climate change and climate action, and the relationship between US imperialism, climate change, and the rise of gangs and strongmen across Latin America. We also talk about the connection between resource exploitation and disease outbreaks, and how institutional and structural change can happen despite a presidential administration’s ideological leanings through grassroots pressure.
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, member of the Advisory Council for the Movement for a People's Party, joins us in a conversation about takeaways from President Biden’s first press conference, how a different movement in power would have responded to the reporters’ questions, and what questions should have been given greater priority in the press conference. We also talk about new voting restrictions passed by the Georgia legislature, the process of building a people’s movement for a people’s party, and how to balance coalition building with maintaining principles.
The Misfits also talk about rising COVID cases in the U.S. and vaccine distribution inequality in Washington, DC, as well as the University of Southern California’s $852 million settlement to resolve lawsuits over sexual assault at their student health center.
Nick Davies, independent journalist and a researcher with Code Pink, and the author of “Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction,” joins us to talk about Samantha Power’s exchanges and statements in her confirmation hearings for her nomination to head USAID, her legacy of intervention, particularly in Libya, where the “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine was invoked, and how these can be manipulated to justify military interventions that may exacerbate crises. We also talk about the significance and impact of soft power agencies like USAID, which are often used to advance geopolitical aims instead of providing humanitarian aid or economic development.
Dr. Wilmer Leon, political scientist, host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik and author of “Politics: Another Perspective: Commentary and Analysis on Race, War, Ethics and the American Political Landscape in the Age of Obama,” tells us about media narratives that relate medical skepticism in the African American community to the Tuskegee experiments, how these narratives do not accurately reflect attitudes by the community, and how these alleged attitudes are used to perpetuate medical racism and inequalities, particularly in regards to COVID vaccine distribution. We also talk about how mainstream media tries to shape and restrict the political horizons of what is possible and how this can have a pervasive effect for mobilizing for change in the country.
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about recent study published by Freedom House that shows the US falling in a global democracy ranking, unequal treatment of minority groups, influence of money in politics, increased polarization and how we continually re-define “democracy.” We also talk about President Biden’s first press conference, and what we could expect from it in preparation to live-stream the conference.
The Misfits also talk about Amazon’s union-busting efforts through social media in the middle of the organizing drive in Alabama, and Jay Leno apologizing for anti-asian jokes made throughout his career.
Miko Peled, human rights activist and author of the books "The General’s Son: The Journey of an Israeli in Palestine" and "Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five", joins us to talk about the election results in Israel, Netanyahu using a two-pronged strategy to gain Arab support and divide the popular Joint List, and his influence on the U.S./Israel relationship and on U.S. domestic politics. We also talk about how Israel is able to shape the narrative within their country about the occupation and in international media covering other issues, like COVID distribution in the country.
Kim Keenan, adjunct professor at George Washington University and former General Counsel of the NAACP, tells us about the Supreme Court considering reinstating the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was convicted of helping carry out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, what this means for President Biden’s public stance on the death penalty, whether we will see a change in the Biden administration or a continuity from the Trump era in cases like these, and whether the proposed moratorium in death sentences will lead to an end to the practice.
Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, talks to us about the mass killing that left 10 dead in Boulder, Colorado, and how this fits within the epidemic of gun violence of the country. We also talk about the fight for DC to become the 51st state, the recommended police reforms in the District from the results of an independent commission study, how effective these could be, and the news about police gangs in LA and Pittsburgh.
Michael Sampson, co-host of RedSpin Sports, joins in our Foul Play segment, talk to us about Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson facing 16 lawsuits alleging sexual assault, the disparities at the NCAA mens and women’s basketball tournament, and Airbnb being asked to drop its sponsorship connections to Beijing’s Winter Olympics over human rights violations.
The Misfits also talk about the New York Times’ great concern over the threat to “center” politics and Tom Friedman’s take on China.
John Kiriakou, American author, journalist and retired intelligence officer, joins us to talk about a recently published article that could add more detail to what is already known about the US relationship with Al Qaeda, and how it has morphed into other insurgent groups in the region and continues to receive support from the U.S. We also talk about how this fits with the broader U.S. strategy in the Middle East, whether continuing support for these groups serves any end goals for the U.S. and how this is a misguided strategy.
Netfa Freeman is the events coordinator and policy analyst at the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), organizer in Pan-African Community Action (PACA), member of the Coordinating Committee of the Black Alliance for Peace, and co-producer/host of the radio show and podcast Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM. He tells us about the continuing resource extraction and capital flight from African countries, and how it is embedded within a long history of racism, exploitation and colonialism. We also talk about the growing western military footprint and how this perpetuates exploitation in the continent.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author joins us in a conversation about the election in Israel. As Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to extend his record as the country’s longest serving prime minister, we discuss the recent Gallup poll regarding the people’s attitudes on the economic outlook on the country and how polls are not always the best tool to measure the pulse of the nation, as well as the messy lawsuit between Project Veritas and The New York Times.
In our Politics of art segment , David Shams, author and founder of Bourbon and Chai, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the merits of upcoming TV shows “United States of Al,” about the friendship between a Marine combat veteran and his Afghan interpreter, and “Ted Lasso,” about an American football coach transplanted to England to manage a struggling soccer team.
The Misfits also talk about the terrible shooting in Colorado and vaccine distribution issues in Washington, DC.
Anoa Changa, a movement journalist and retired attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, tells us about the #StopAsianHate Rally to build Black-Asian solidarity after the recent shooting in Atlanta that left 8 dead, 6 of them Asian women, and the broader role white supremacy and sexism played in this heinous act. We also talk about how these solidarity efforts have evolved through the Obama, Trump and now the Biden administrations, and what it would take to strengthen this movement.
Dan Kovalik is an author and human rights & labor lawyer. His most recent book is “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests,” talks to us about a case being heard in the Supreme Court about organizers’ access to worksites in California that may have a significant impact on labor organizing in the country beyond just farm laborers. We also talk about what this could mean for the National Labor Relations Board and the Biden administration, which has touted itself as one of the most labor-friendly.
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the recent developments in the Nordstream 2 saga, how the threats of sanctions by U.S. could affect this project, the fight in Germany over its environmental impact, and how it could shape domestic politics there. We also talk about the new lockdowns in Europe due to COVID spikes, the struggles with their vaccine rollouts, and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statements in Brussels regarding NATO in the context of US/EU relations and current tensions with China.
In our Miss The Press segment , the Misfits talk about Chuck Tood convening a panel to discuss hate crimes against Asian Americans without a single Asian person present, the framing of the discussion of immigration being based off of right-wing talking points, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s comments on ending the conflict in Afghanistan.
The Misfits also talk about new Miami curfews after spring break chaos, COVID cases rising in 21 states, and the recent floods ravaging Australia.
Gareth Porter, independent investigative journalist covering national security policy since 2005 and recipient of the Gellhorn Prize for Journalism in 2012, joins us to talk about his recent article published on The Grayzone about how Pentagon brass has tried to sabotage peace deals with the Taliban and troop drawdowns in Afghanistan throughout the Trump years, how it continues to do so in the Biden administration, and whether we will see peace deal and a withdrawal of troops from the country in the near future.
Dr. Katherine Blizinsky, Policy Director at the All of Us Research Program at NIH and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Rush University and Dr. Joseph Richardson, Professor of African-American Studies and Medical Anthropology at the University of Maryland College Park and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, tell us about epigenetics, how the theory was developed and how it has evolved, how it relates to the age-old debate of nature versus nurture, and how life experiences and trauma can have a longer term effect on our brain and in our evolution as human beings.
Steven Grumbine is the founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action, as well as the host of the Macro n Cheese podcast. He's also a leading activist and evangelist for Modern Monetary Theory. He joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the recent craze in non-fungible tokens, whether this is just another fad, how society ascribes value to things, and the gamification of life. We also talk about Rachel Maddow winning a Grammy for an audiobook pushing Russiagate, how there is very little real political discussion in the media and how it has evolved into pure infotainment.
In our Working for the Weekend Section, the Misfits talk about NBC calling Biden the “father of immigrants,” Alexi McCammond’s firing over tweets deemed racist against Asians, and seven civil lawsuits have been filed against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson alleging inappropriate conduct during massages.
The Misfits talk about the tense meeting between the Biden administration and Chinese officials, and the newest spat between Biden and Putin.
Keith Mackey, founder of Mackey International, an aviation consulting firm specializing in aviation safety and risk management, talks to us about the multiple rounds of bailout grants funneled to airlines totalling 50 billion dollars, how they are interconnected to other parts of the economy, whether the rank-and-file workers in the airline industry are benefitting from these bailouts, and whether we will see any changes in the industry post-pandemic.
Andrew Bishop, member of the Graduate Workers of Columbia/UAW union, joins us to talk about the strike that began on Monday, March 15 by graduate workers, their demands for better pay, conditions and benefits, the current situation of workers at the university, how the fight has evolved throughout the years, what actions are taking place right now, and how to build worker solidarity.
Kristine Hendrix, president of the University City School Board, Junior Bayard Rustin Fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, join hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the shootings in Atlanta, how there is no single explanation for it and how it encompasses prejudice against Asians, misogyny, white supremacy, and the fetishization of minorities. We also talk about the shockingly high number of mass shootings in the country, and how the epidemic of gun violence often gets overlooked.
Trudy Goldberg, chair of National Jobs For All Coalition and Professor Emerita of Social Policy at Adelphi University, joins our Trends with Benefits segment to talk about the impact of the pandemic and the recent increase in unemployment claims, how unemployment is counted, who’s being left out, and about the need for direct government job creation through a “jobs guarantee.”
The Misfits also talk about Russia recalling its ambassador to the U.S. after scathing remarks and accusations by the Biden administration, and Biden’s pick to head the FDA and her close ties to big pharma.
Monica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, and Chris Smalls, activist, organizer and former-Amazon warehouse worker, talk to us about about the hearing Wednesday on the income and wealth inequality crisis in America, the organizing drive at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, how Amazon uses various intimidating tactics against workers who want to unionize and how it can dominate the economy and the jobs market. We also talk about whether the Biden’s administration’s statements in support for workers will actually bear fruit or will it be just lip service, and how we can identify other mechanisms or policies that will actually help workers.
Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book “Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” tells us about recent legislation directing publicly traded companies disclose climate change-related risks to investors, how this fits with greenwashing initiatives by polluting industries, and whether these proposals can actually create transparency and alleviate climate change within an economy focused on endless growth. We also talk about a recent study revealing that the Amazon rainforest could become a net contributor to greenhouse gases through deforestation.
Eleanor Goldfield, creative activist, journalist and co-host of the podcast Common Censored (along with Lee Camp), joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber in a conversation about the cooptation of arts and culture spaces by state and corporate interests, as well as security agencies to either pacify communities vying for societal change or agitate populations to advance elite geopolitical goals.
Karleigh Webb, journalist, videographer and anti-imperialist, labor & trans-rights organizer with the PSL in Connecticut, talks to us about Mississippi signing the first statewide anti-trans law of 2021, which bars transgender athletes in public schools and colleges to compete in women's sports, and the problematic history or Barstool Sports.
The Misfits also talk about the tragic shooting spree in Atlanta that left 8 dead and the developing discoveries over its motives, the declassified intelligence report on foreign influence in U.S. elections, and the basis and underlying motives for its allegations.
David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," talks to us about the F-35 program as a prime example of government waste, how it’s tied to institutional corruption where politicians are unduly influenced by defense contractors, and how these programs are often marketed as jobs programs for constituencies. We also talk about the increase in arms exports in the Middle East in 2020, particularly to Saudi Arabia, with the U.S. still leading the pack as the largest arms exporter in the world.
Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition, joins us to talk about how farmers have been caught in the tensions between the U.S. and China, how the agriculture industry in the country is tightly linked to demand in China, and how this can promote unsustainable monoculture practices. We also talk about provisions in the American Rescue Plan, how they could affect farmers in the U.S., and whether this will have a lasting impact.
Dr. James Kilgore, activist, writer and educator at University of Illinois, Urbana, joins us in a conversation about how the COVID pandemic has impacted incarceration in the country, how electronic monitoring has affected the lives of parolees and whether these surveillance tools actually serve the cause of rehabilitation. We also talk about the Biden administration and its relationship to the carceral state, and the debate around prison reform versus prison abolition.
Pastor Samuel Sarpiya , community activist, peacebuilder, and pastor for the Rockford Community Church in Rockford, Illinois, joins our Politics of Art section to talk about the art of peacebuilding and how to communicate to build bridges with others, and how we can approach difficult and traumatic periods in our lives, such as the COVID pandemic, to try to imagine and create new communities of peace and justice.
The Misfits also talk about more vaccine diplomacy involving Brazil, Cuomo’s downfall being blamed on the left, and the Sackler family scandal related to the opioid crisis.
K.J. Noh, global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, joins us to talk about the media coverage of alleged overtures by the Biden administration reaching out to restart peace talks with North Korea ahead of a big trip to Asia by high ranking cabinet members, whether we are seeing a departure from Trump in the relationship between North Korea and the U.S. or a continuity of the conflict, and if we will see any results from any future negotiations in the region.
Ron Hampton, former Executive Director of the National Black Police Association and a retired twenty-three-year veteran of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, joins us to have a conversation about updates on the jury selection in the Derek Chauvin trial, the recent backlash against police unions, how not all unions are created equal, how new police oversight and reform laws passed in various states in the country could curb the influence of these unions, and the possibility of creating alternative institutions to push for reform.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about how NATO is being repurposed as an instrument to counter the technological and economic rise of China, Bolivia ex-president Jeanine Añez being arrested for her involvement in the coup that ousted Evo Morales, the political and economic fallout of the recent devastating winter storms in Texas and what the future holds for organizing in the state, and the protests in the UK over the murder of Sara Everard and the violent repression of these by police.
In our Miss the Press segment, Bob and Michelle talk about the Sunday shows’ coverage of the American Rescue Plan and overstating the impact of the $1,400 when more is direly needed, Janet Yellen’s comments on the economy, inflation, unemployment, and how the economy is naturalized in these conversations.
The Misfits also talk about the emergence of new COVID variants, social media disinformation about vaccines, and what this could mean for vaccination efforts underway.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney, community leader, and former Democratic congressional candidate for IL-16, and Jason Dzubow, immigration attorney specializing in political asylum and appeals, and writer for The Asylumist, talk to us about the surge in the number of immigrant minors at the US-Mexico border, why the numbers are going up, and how the system is being overwhelmed. We also talk about what the Biden administration could do to deal with this issue, and whether a massive overhaul of immigration policies or piecemeal legislation would be the better path to enact change and have a bigger impact on this situation.
John Ross, author, economist, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, joins us to talk about our focus on economic competition with China and if could actually have any benefits for American workers, about the argument that China’s civil and military tech development is more joined together than in the U.S., whether there will be a new industrial investment program to compete with China, what it would look like and its chance of success. We also talk about the recent meeting of the leaders of the Quad - Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, and what this could mean for the future relations of these countries vis-a-vis China.
Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about D.C. considering reshaping the Gun Recovery Unit and how they could emphasize a public health approach over arrests, the city’s inability to serve at-risk students, particularly underserved black and brown communities, including reducing its daily meal delivery for students during the pandemic. We also talk about the huge potential of the voting rights bill that passed the House last week and whether it has any chance to survive in the Senate.
The Misfits also talk about the Biden administration’s nationalist turn in vaccine distribution, Cuomo railing against “cancel culture,” and Pete Buttigieg being hailed as a paragon of racial equity.
David Schultz, professor of political science at Hamline University and the author of “Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter,” talks to us about a judge reinstating additional charges in the trial of Derek Chauvin, what this means in terms of possible outcomes, how the jury selection process is going and whether extensive questionnaires and achieving a racial balance will result in a more just verdict. We also talk about possible arguments for the defense on technicalities related to the cause of death, and how this case will impact efforts to stop killings by police.
Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including the Canary, the interregnum.net, and Sputnik International, tells us about the case of Shamima Begum, who was stripped of her citizenship after leaving the UK as a teenager to join ISIS, how the case has been bogged down in technicalities about law-versus-policy and about what is allowed to be done to British citizens inside the UK versus outside, and her chances of winning this case and regaining her citizenship.
Dr. Vijay Prashad, historian, journalist and executive-director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, updates us on the months-long protest by farmers in India that has now turned into semi-permanent encampments around New Delhi, the violent repression of these protests, the lack of significant coverage by the mainstream media, their chances of winning this fight, the possibility of India becoming a major player in the world along China and the pushback by the US.
Chris Garaffa, Web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant, and Shane Stranahan, co-host of Faultlines on Radio Sputnik, join us to talk about the lawsuit against Clearview AI, what this means for civil liberties and privacy, how this insidious practice of data collection permeates all aspects of our lives, and whether this lawsuit will have any impact in the fight against big data.
The Misfits also talk about the Incredible Shrinking Relief Package and its mischaracterization in mainstream media, and the DC Police gun recovery program and how it could be better implemented along with different initiatives other than aggressive policing.
Leela Anand, organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, talks to us about the growing protests in Myanmar and how the government has responded with extreme repression, the reasons and objectives for these protests and their prospects for achieving their goals, the ongoing multiple conflicts happening in the country, the impacts they could have on political decision-making there, and what role could regional powers have in mediating this crisis.
Maria Luisa Mendonça, Director of the Network for Social Justice and Human Rights in Brazil, and Arnold August, journalist and speaker, and author of the book “Cuba-U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond,” join us in a conversation about Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva possible return to politics after being cleared of corruption charges, what does this mean for politics and the people in Brazil in the future, what a potential Bolsonaro/Lula political race could look like, and the constraints faced by Latin American leaders under an aggressive U.S. foreign policy.
Angela Arias-Zapata, PhD Candidate in Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University, tells us about French corporation Groupe Casino being sued in French court by indigenous people from Colombia and Brazil, how the plaintiffs are linking the cattle industry to deforestation and land theft in the Amazon, the undue influence of big agribusiness in the country and how it’s one of the main drivers of violent conflict that entrenches the power of local elites through the dispossession and disempowerment of communities.
Kei Pritsker, journalist at Breakthrough News, talks about The Washington Post telling us that “Comedians are Struggling to Parody Biden,” and how that flies in the face of reality, and joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to sample some of the best clips from the Cuomo archives in our Cuomo Fomo game.
The Misfits also talk about the state of vaccine stocks in the U.S., the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin, and the National Guard staying in the Capitol for the long run.
A wave of evictions looms on the horizon. Can we organize and fight for housing as a right?
Minnie Elliott, president of the Brookland Manor/Brentwood Village Residents Association, and Paul Jones, organizer, activist, and president, Columbia Heights Village Tenant Association talk to us about the current fight at Brookland Manor stemming from a bill approved by the DC Council subsidizing the replacement of hundreds of Section 8 HUD units with mixed income housing, how this will affect residents, the role of the DC government in gentrification and the displacement of working people, and how people can fight back in this rapidly changing city.
Stephanie Bastek, volunteer tenant organizer with Stomp Out Slumlords, a Metro-DC Democratic Socialists of America campaign, joins Paul and the Misfits in a conversation about the looming eviction crisis in the country, the successes of organizing efforts, and building a true grassroots movement that challenges power directly and can lead to systemic change to alleviate a housing crisis that predates the COVID pandemic.
Lee Camp, comedian, activist, journalist, host of the show “Redacted Tonight” on RT America, and author of the recent book “Bullet Points & Punch Lines,” talks to us about how big pharma is turning the opioid crisis into a profit-making venture through extremely generous tax breaks, the Democratic establishment of Nevada quitting en masse after DSA candidates won leadership positions in the state, the craven positions of the party in the minimum wage fight, and about journalists facing jail time for the crime of covering protests.
Julie Schoen, Deputy Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, joins our Politics of Art section to talk about elder abuse and the new Netflix Movie “I Care A Lot”, and whether it succeeds in portraying the current problems involved in guardianship. We also talk about whether current legal structures provide enough protection for the elderly against neglect and financial and emotional abuse, and how, as a society, we can work to better protect our elders and allow them a dignified life.
The Misfits also talk about Biden’s misbehaved dogs, Lula being cleared of a number of charges and the possibility of his return to politics, and the ongoing crisis in Libya.
Kathy Kelly, American peace activist, pacifist and author, tells us about the flare-up in violence between Saudi Arabia and Yemen taking place over the weekend. We also talk about whether the characterization of this as a tit-for-tat is a correct assessment, the U.S. and other western powers flooding the region with weapons, and what Saudi actions are going to be supported by the Biden administration and which ones won’t, within the context of the evolving relationship between the Kingdom and the U.S.
Danny Shaw, professor of Latin American & Caribbean Studies and Race, Ethnicity, Class & Gender at the City University of New York, joins us to talk about the latest news from the political crisis fueled by Jovenel Mosies’ refusal to leave office, the ensuing unrest in the country, state of public protests, the long history of the U.S. intervention in the country, the role of non-profit organizations in this, and whether or not a resolution is on the horizon.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us in a conversation about the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin in Minnesota, the prospects of achieving justice in this case and the misplaced role police play in situations that should be addressed at a structural level. We also talk about the proposed George Floyd Bill in Congress and whether it will address the problems of poverty, violence, and racism in the U.S., and Kyrsten Sinema’s vote against the $15 minimum wage.
In our Miss the Press section, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Chuck Todd’s story-telling skills chronicling the great 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, the insidious framing of bipartisanship during the relief bill negotiations, and the curious exchange between Jake Tapper and Michigan governor Gretchen Witmer over the mayor of Detroit rejecting 6,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The Misfits also talk about mask burning parties in Idaho, SWAT units breaking up a wild college party in Boulder, Colorado, and Biden’s plans for covert cyberattacks on Russia over the Solar Wind hack.
Esther Iverem, multidisciplinary author and independent journalist, host of "On The Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation’s Capital" on Pacifica Radio and founding member of DC Poets Against the War, joins us in a conversation about the battle over education in the U.S., the continuing pressure by the government to make teachers and students return to the classroom in the middle of the pandemic, the problems of keeping track of vaccinations, and the takeover of charter schools in the education system as an example of disaster capitalism.
Ahsan Butt, Associate Professor of International Relations at George Mason University, talks to us about the geopolitical relationship between the U.S. and China, the border disputes between China and India, how the Kashmir issue fits into this, and how the Biden administration may re-calibrate its policies in the region.
Ajamu Baraka, writer, national organizer for Black Alliance for Peace, and former Green Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2016 election, and Robert Fantina, activist and journalist, and author of “Propaganda, Lies and False Flags: How the U.S. Justifies its Wars” join us to critically engage on the topics of war and peace, what it means to work towards peace, the moral arguments for and against violence, and the human rights justifications for going to war. We also ponder the question: Have Americans become more comfortable with the idea of conflict as policy than people in much of the rest of the world?
In our Working for the Weekend section, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about a bill moving through Kentucky's Senate that would make it a crime to insult or taunt a police officer during a riot, the $15 minimum wage defeated in the Senate, and the Washington Football Team discontinuing its cheerleader program.
The Misfits also talk about friend of the show Kelly Loeffler selling the Atlanta Dream WNBA team to Renee Montgomery, Joy Reid’s Russia-baiting over opposition to spending bills, and The Wall Street Journal heaping praise on Biden for bombing Syria.
Samer Makhlouf, Palestinian activist, and Richard Becker, author of "Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire", talk to us about the ICC initiating a probe into war crimes committed in Gaza in the 2014 war; the pushback from the U.S. government to this probe; the difficulties the ICC investigators will face; whether the ICC is the best or most effective vehicle to pursue justice in Palestine, but also the potential for positive outcomes from the investigation by formally revealing the inhumane treatment Palestinians have faced and continue to face on a daily basis.
Stuart Anderson, Executive Director of Family and Friends of Incarcerated People, and Chris Thomas, soldier, community mentor, and violence interrupter, talk to us about the shocking number of youth incarcerated in the United States and the huge number of people serving life sentences, with 1 in 7 U.S. prisoners serving life in prison, and the overrepresentation of people of color in that population. We also talk about the role of the government in this and how communities can organize to improve this situation.
Glo Harn Choi, community organizer at the Hana Center in Chicago, and Abe Paulos, Deputy Director of Communications and Policy at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, join us in a conversation about efforts to obtain citizenship for 11 million undoucumented people living in the US, Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s comments regarding immigration, incorporating effective storytelling into organizing around immigration, building a broad based movement, and the long history of the free movement of peoples.
Jamarl Thomas, co-host of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik and host of The Progressive Soapbox on YouTube, join hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte in our Trends with Benefits to talk UFOs and unexplained phenomena, the nearly 3,000 pages of CIA documents on its findings on UFOs that were made public in an online searchable format, and the dangers of partial truth and partial disclosure.
The Misfits also talk about Biden’s Incredible Shrinking Relief Package, Neera Tanden’s replacement, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ star-turn.
Morgan Artyukhina, writer and news editor at Sputnik News, tells us about FBI director Christopher Wray’s testimony at the Senate yesterday regarding the Capitol attacks on January 6th, the FBI’s efforts to gain backdoor access to encrypted messaging apps and working with social media platforms to better police their platforms, and the rise of amateur citizen sleuths.
Marvin Weinbaum, Director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies at the Middle East Institute, joins us to talk about the recent killings of journalists in Afghanistan and the peril they face on a daily basis there. We also talk about the on-and-off peace talks between the Taliban and the U.S, and if Biden will stick to the May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of troops from the country.
Daniel Haiphong, activist, writer and political analyst, and co-author of “American Exceptionalism and American Innocence: A People's History of Fake News From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror,” talks to us about anti-China rhetoric in the government and mainstream media, whether Biden is modifying the country’s stance towards China or ramping up tensions towards a cold war between the two nations, and the role of progressive media in supporting or challenging US imperialism.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, Professor of Economics at University of Missouri - Kansas City and former President of the National Economic Association, talks to us about the commodification of catastrophe and the role of money in addressing injustice, the exorbitant salaries of the Google CEO and disparities in pay, and the gig economy and predatory tech companies.
Patrick Battuello, author, journalist and founder of Horseracing Wrongs, joins us to talk about the horrible conditions in horseracing brought to light by the recent horse deaths out of California, how the constant death toll is much higher, how torture and cruelty is built into the sport, and the impossibility of reform in the industry.
The Misfits also talk about the withdrawal of Neera Tanden’s nomination to lead the OMB, Texas opening for business and going mask-less, and National Guardsmen fed inedible meals while guarding the U.S. Capitol.
Adriana Garriga López, associate professor of anthropology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and associate faculty of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, and Mónica Jímenez, assistant professor of African and African-Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas, Austin join us to talk to about a case being heard at the Supreme Court directly related to access to federal benefits for Puerto Ricans and how this could constitute a 2nd class citizenship, how this fits within the long colonial relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and if we will see any changes during the Biden administration.
Ron Hampton, former Executive Director of the National Black Police Association and a retired twenty-three year veteran of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, talks to us about Rep. Ayanna Pressley reintroducing a bill to end qualified immunity, and what this could mean for victims of rights-abuses and their recourse for redress in court. We also talk about efforts by the DC Police reform commission within the past months, their recommendations, and what impact they could have.
Dan Lazare, journalist and author of “The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Decline of American Democracy,” joins us in a conversation about new revelations and intelligence lapses in the Capitol riot, new sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Russia over the alleged poisoning of Alexei Navalny, and the ongoing political upheaval in Armenia in the aftermath of their defeat in the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
In our Politics and Culture section, hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte talk about the new podcast project by Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama, “Renegades,” their problematic analysis on bigotry and other systemic issues, and the merits of describing themselves as “rebellious outsiders.”
The Misfits also talk about yet another sexual harassment accusation levied against NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, COVID updates, and victories the fight against a proposed copper mine at Oak Flat, Arizona.
Lee Stranahan, cohost of The Backstory with John Kiriakou on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the highlights from the CPAC 2021 convention held in Orlando, FL over the weekend, Trump hinting at another presidential run in 2024, how representative CPAC is of the Republican base, and the allegations that the stage design closely resembled a Norse rune connected to Nazi iconography.
David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host, and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism: What's Wrong with How We Think about the United States " joins us to talk about the dominating narrative that criticizing the current president is equated to disloyalty to the country, allegations that China caused a blackout in India using a malware attack and the problems in ascertaining attribution in these cases, and myth-making revisionism in the history of U.S. relations to oppressive regimes.
James Early, former Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, joins us in a conversation about the legacy of artist, activist, and civil rights leader Harry Belafonte on his 94th birthday, COVID vaccine diplomacy and how it is reflective of the global capitalist system by perpetuating inequities vis-a-vis poor communities in the U.S. and the Global South, vaccine development and distribution by Cuba and other countries, and how both U.S. parties are practically fighting against the $15 minimum wage.
In our Miss the Press segment, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about missing Chuck Todd, Jen Psaki tap-dancing around contradictions regarding Biden’s statements on the Khashoggi investigation, The Washington Post’s act of misdirection in U.S. relations with despots, and Rahm Emmanuel’s take on the minimum wage fight.
The Misfits also talk about the DC Housing Authority executive director Tyrone Garrett allowing lead poisoning to go on unabated in nearly 100 public housing units in the District, new sexual harassment allegations dogging NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy convicted to three years in prison for corruption and influence peddling.
Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot, and South Dakota state senator Troy Heinert talk to us about a resolution that was unanimously passed in the South Dakota senate rescinding the medals of honor awarded to US soldiers who took part in the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee. We also talk about the significance of Deb Haaland’s nomination to be Secretary of the Interior, the challenges faced in her confirmation, and what we could expect during her tenure in the post.
Teodrose Fikremariam, CoFounder of Ghion Journal, tells us about the situation in Ethiopia, where Amnesty International has called for a U.N.-led investigation into possible crimes against humanity perpetrated by Eritrean forces in Tigray late last year, the regional impact of the conflict, how it has affected daily life in the country, and the reaction from the Ethiopian diaspora in the U.S.
Ariel Gold, co-executive director of Code Pink, joins us in a conversation about renewed airstrikes in Syria and their legality, the claims that US troops were in Syria to counter Iranian influence and how this impacts the re-negotiation of the Iran nuclear deal. We also talk about the Trump-era sanctions levied on ICC judges and Netanyahu’s insistence that Biden keep these in place.
Margaret Flowers, medical doctor, co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of HOPE - Health Over Profit, talks to us about the difficulties a lot of medical students are having in entering into residency programs, healthcare worker burnout, the ultimate cost paid by them during the pandemic with 2,900 U.S. health care worker deaths, and the current nightmare that is healthcare provision and access in the country.
Lee Stranahan, cohost of The Backstory with John Kiriakou, talks to us about highlights from the CPAC meetings, including squabbles over masks and social distancing, and Trump addressing the convention.
The Misfits also talk about new roadblocks to passing a $15 minimum wage bill, Neera Tanden’s sinking nomination, and Gov. Cuomo’s continuing free-fall from grace.
John Kiriakou, American author, journalist and retired intelligence officer, talks to us about the new revelations that the private jets used to transport the team that allegedly assassinated journalist Jamal Khashoggi are closely tied Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the history of state-sanctioned murders conducted abroad by western intelligence agencies.
Paul Dobson, journalist and editor at VenezuelaAnalysis.com, tells us about the European Union slapping new sanctions on Venezuelan officials, how Venezuela can respond to these moves by the EU, the current state of the opposition in the country, and if there will be any changes in the U.S.-Venezuela relations under President Biden. We also talk about the country’s response to the COVID crisis and the state of the vaccination program there.
Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, joins us in a conversation about the ongoing row in France about the concept of “Islamo-leftism”, how it has become part of a culture war in France within political circles, mainstream media, and higher education, and how it intersects and is informed by France’s lasting imperial legacy. We also talk about the ways this debate shapes electoral politics in the country and reinforces polarization.
Steve Grumbine, Founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the “Macro n Cheese” podcast, join hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about the $1.5 trillion boondoggle that is the F-35 strike fighter program, how it exemplifies skewed priorities and neatly fits with neoliberal supply-side economics. We also talk about the fight for the $15 minimum wage, how a federal job guarantee could be a better alternative, how this contrasts with the idea of a universal basic income, and healthcare provisions in the COVID relief bill.
In our Trends with Benefits section, we talk about Hillary Clinton’s upcoming mystery thriller “State of Terror” and the literary ventures of other noteworthy politicians writing fan-fiction about themselves.
The Misfits also talk about mounting COVID deaths in states across the country, and overzealous wolf-hunters in Wisconsin.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, Professor of Public Health at College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA and Dr. Bill Honigman, retired Emergency Physician and California State Coordinator and Healthcare Issue Team Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America, talk to us about the very unequal COVID vaccine distribution program that practically constitutes medical apartheid, how these efforts should be taken cooperatively between nations, and how the for-profit model in testing and vaccination is not the way forward.
Juan José Gutierrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, and Maru Mora-Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and immigrant activist, join us to have a conversation about President Biden’s executive orders dealing with immigration, new legislation submitted to Congress last week, the re-opening of Trump-era detention facilities in the country, ongoing deportations, and how sometimes “pragmatic” approaches proposed by the government are not the right solution.
Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News and Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist-in-training, join hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about the one year anniversary of the brutal killing of Ahmaud Arbury. We will also talk about the number of Confederate statues removed in 2020 and the shocking number of symbols that still exist, the permanent expansion of the U.S. Capitol's security perimeter, policing and the security state.
Chris Bradshaw, Executive Director at Dreaming Out Loud, and Chris “Nookie” Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo Podcast, join our weekly Foul Play segment to talk about Tiger Woods and his recovery from his car accident, what this bodes for his career, player selection in the NBA All Star game, and MVP considerations.
The Misfits also talk about Twitter’s censorship of a news article from thegrayzone.com detailing collusion between news organizations and western intelligence agencies, the Navalny case, and how Amnesty International is withdrawing its “prisoner of conscience” designation for him over previous xenophobic statements.
Jacqueline Luqman, co-host of the radio show By Any Means Necessary here on Radio Sputnik, and Abdus Luqman, of Luqman Nation, talk to us of the involvement of law enforcement in the assassination of Malcom X and Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton, the possibility of a public reckoning and change in policing and treatment of black leaders. We also discuss how the ongoing investigation into the death of Elija McClain in Colorado at the hands of police found that there was no basis to stop, frisk, or restrain McClain.
John Boyd Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, and Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition, join us to have a conversation about the decline in the numbers of black farmers in the U.S.; the disparities of COVID relief aid between white and black farmers and how it intersects with the long history of systemic racism and inequality in the country; and their response to the proposed Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act announced Democratic senators earlier this week.
Paul Jones, president of the Columbia Heights Village Tenant association, and Maurice Cook, executive director and lead organizer at Serve Your City, talk to us about efforts to scale mutual aid efforts across the country, how federal and local governments continue to drag their feet in response to the pandemic and other social needs, and how we need to be proactive and go all-in in building strong solidarity movement.
Esther Iverem , a multi-disciplinary artist, author and independent journalist, and Dew the Artist, a DC/Maryland native with Haitian roots and art educator join hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte in our Politics and Art section to talk about how political unrest in the past and present have shaped the art they make, Haiti, and the impact they can have enacting change in society.
The Misfits also talk about Keith Olbermann’s self-hate over his Russian heritage, the U.S. crossing the grim threshold of 500,000 covid deaths, and Biden playing catchup with vaccine distribution and economic relief.
Greg Palast, investigative journalist, and author of four New York Times bestsellers, including ‘Armed Madhouse,” “Billionaires & Ballot Bandits,” and ‘The Best Democracy Money Can Buy,” joins us to talk about the outsized charges billed to some Texas residents during the recent winter storm emergency because of privatized and deregulated essential services, how this problem is not unique to Texas and involves the current state of energy infrastructure in the country, and and how consumer choice mania is not necessarily is good for the people.
Medea Benjamin, anti-war activist and co-founder of Code Pink and Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq”, talk to us about the revelations that Erik Prince, former head of the security contractor Blackwater Worldwide, and prominent Trump supporter, violated a United Nations arms embargo on Libya by selling weapons to warlord Khalifa Haftar, the recalibration of the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and the re-negotiation of the Iran nuclear deal.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist, columnist, and graphic novelist, join hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss Ron De Santis’ HB1 “anti-mob” bill in Florida, which will penalize peaceful protests under the guise of providing security; the role key members of the Oath Keepers played on January 6th’s attack on the US Capitol; the continuing rise of paramilitary groups in the U.S.; the prospects of a Trump third party; and the grim outlook for low income work post-pandemic that will exacerbate the precariousness of working people who were already struggling even before the health crisis hit.
The Misfits and Ted also go through the roundup of the Sunday political news shows in their weekly “Miss the Press” segment, Rahm Emmanuel’s pot-meets-kettle moment talking about Cruz and Cuomo, bad takes on Texas, and outrage over SNL jokes over the discriminatory vaccination program in Israel.
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, talks to us about about President Biden’s latest foreign policy statements regarding the Middle East; the U.S. recalibrating its relationship with Saudi Arabia; efforts to renegotiate the Iranian Nuclear deal; changes, if any, in the U.S. position regarding the Palestinians; the role of Turkey in the region; and a major weapons sale to Egypt.
Chris Garaffa, web developer, technologist, security and privacy consultant tells us about a proposed Australian law that has ignited a major battle with Facebook, the Maryland proposal of taxing online ad revenue, and the role and power of social media in the marketing and dissemination of news.
Fred Magdoff, professor emeritus of plant and soil science at the University of Vermont and co-author of “What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know About Capitalism,” joins us to talk about the garment industry, calls for the U.S. to establish a “Fashion Czar” to counteract the environmental damage generated by it, and the possibilities to enact real change beyond mere marketing strategies.
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, national coordinator with the Movement for a People's Party, and Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principal at TML Communications join hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss President Biden giving up the fight for a $15 federal minimum wage, ongoing negotiations over the child tax credit and the COVID relief bill, putting bipartisanship over the needs of the people, and the possibilities of creating alternatives beyond the two-party system.
The Misfits also talk about highlights and lowlights from President Biden’s speech to the G7 this morning, including resets with Russia and China, updates on the NBA All Star Game, a small victory by Uber drivers in the UK, and suspensions of Capitol Police officers over the January 6 riots.
Dick Nichols, European correspondent for Green Left Weekly, and Ignasi Bernat Molina, postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Forensics, and Politics of the University of Winchester, tells us about the arrest of Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel over tweets and lyrics criticizing the Spanish monarchy, police repression, as well as the public protests resulting from the arrest, the relationship of this case to the Catalan independence movement, free speech, and the blowback from conservative and far right sectors in the country.
Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism, and Kari Fulton, environmental justice advocate and educator, talk to us about horrific winter storm that has blanketed the country with snow and particularly impacted the people of Texas, the government’s response, how can the power grid infrastructure and disaster response can be improved, and how people can organize to promote these changes.
John Kiriakou, author, journalist, whistleblower and retired intelligence officer, talk to us about the relationship between far right groups and the state security apparatus in the United States, entrapment of citizens by law enforcement, how the concept of extremism is constantly redefined and how it can negatively affect progressive activists, and about yet another promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.
Monica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News joins hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about the trend of unions in media and digital tech sectors, who is driving these efforts and how this recent proliferation of organizing in emerging sectors of the economy can be sustained in the future.
The Misfits also talk about updates in the defund the police movement amid troubling statistics in Washington D.C. and the response from the government there, and good news and bad news in COVID numbers.
Ashton Woods, political activist with Black Lives Matter Houston, talks about the cold snap slamming Texas, how it’s affecting its citizens and how they are coping with below-freezing temperatures under conditions of COVID lockdown, a lack of preparedness by authorities, and an overburdened power grid infrastructure.
Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including the Canary, the interregnum.net, and Sputnik International, tells us about legal efforts to seek justice for some of the many civilians who have died in U.S. led war in Afghanistan, as well as Julian Assange’s ongoing legal fight against his extradition to the United States.
Kim Ives, editor of the English section of Haiti Liberté, talks about political unrest in Haiti, President Jovenel Moïse’s claims of an attempted coup, his relationship with the U.S. government, charges of corruption, and repression of protesters.
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse podcast, joins hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about the Joe Biden CNN Town Hall, his half-hearted attempt at student debt forgiveness, the stalled proposal to increase the Federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, and the lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General against Amazon.
Chris Jenkins, journalist, filmmaker and political strategist and Michael Sampson, co-host of Redspin Sports, talk about COVID concerns over the NBA All-Star Game, trades, and how team owners have disproportionate power over players.
The Misfits also talk about police guarding supermarket dumpsters in Oregon, and hit and run diplomats.
Darren Thompson, national correspondent for Native News, and Dan Kovalik, author and human rights and labor lawyer, tell us about efforts to save Oak Flat, sacred Apache land in Arizona, from mining giant Rio Tinto, and about the legal victory of Nigerian farmers against Royal Dutch Shell.
Erin Kirk-Cuomo, co-founder of Not in My Marine Corps, talks to us about violence within the US military, the common root of sexual violence and extremism there, and about what if anything is being done to address the causes and manifestations of violence among the ranks.
Frank Chapman, executive director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, joins us to discuss Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to convene a 9/11 style commission to look into the Capitol attack on January 6th, and efforts to root extremists out of Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Force.
Frank Chapman and Sean Blackmon, co-host of By Any Means Necessary, join hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michellle Witte in a discussion about the new film “Judas and the Black Messiah, and how it succeeds and stumbles in telling the story of revolutionary icon Fred Hampton and his assassination by the state.
The Misfits also talk about the resignation of White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo over abusive comments, and new divorce rules in China.
Dr Sharon Anderson, attorney, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and CEO and founder of KCG Consulting Service, tells Misfits hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte what she’d say if she was tasked with defending Donald Trumps, what Democrats have succeeded and failed at in their impeachment case, and why the outcome is preordained.
Director of Veterans for Peace Garett Reppenhagen discusses the roots of extremism in the military, the flawed arguments being made about patriotism and nationalism, his hopes for the upcoming planned military stand down, and how best to work toward peace.
Journalist Dan Cohen with Behind the Headlines discussed his work on Colombia, the horrifying series of massacres still occuring there, the role the US plays behind the scenes in violence in South America and elsewhere and what it’s like to work in dangerous and heartbreaking places.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron,” dropped by to tell a few people to take a long, long walk away from the public eye this weekend, including EJ Dionne, Disney, Jaime Spears and YouTube.
The Misfits also talk about the Supreme Court finally staying an execution, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s excuse for hiding nursing home death data and the arrival of new Covid-19 strains in DC.
Director of Veterans for Peace Garett Reppenhagen discusses the roots of extremism in the military, the flawed arguments being made about patriotism and nationalism, his hopes for the upcoming military stand down, and how best to work toward peace.
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, discusses efforts to simply get the US government to follow its own laws and prevent dangerous nuclear waste from being stored in inadequate facilities. He gets into the history of nuclear waste storage, what it means to transport this stuff across the country, and the way cronyism among industry, government and regulators makes us all less safe.
Peter Oliver, RT International's Europe correspondent, breaks down how the German government has attempted to sweeten the Nord Stream 2 deal with the US, resorting to what some people describe as bribery. He also makes some predictions about the future of the pipeline, and about future US-Germany relations.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, joins Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to discuss the way homeless people are pushed out of public areas but not offered other refuge, the use of “technical” parole violations to feed the carceral system and the secret pollution of some major public transportation systems. He also gets into the US relationship with China and the China-UK media spat.
Attorney and advisor to Students for Sensible Drug Policy Mike Liszewski talks about the haphazard evolution of marijuana law and policy, and how inconsistencies leave businesses vulnerable. He also discusses efforts to ensure people once punished for selling cannabis can get into the now-booming industry, and efforts to make the pace of expungement and sentencing reform match the pace of cannabis industry growth.
The Misfits also talk unemployment numbers, Larry Flynt, and the American hero who took on AT&T.
Maru Mora-Villalpando, community organizer and founder of La Resistencia and Jason Dzubow, an immigration attorney, partner at Dzubow & Pilcher and blogger at www.asylumist.com, join Misfits hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the humanitarian crisis at the US’ southern border and what it would take to reform our asylum and immigration system. They also discuss the practice of deporting newborn US citizens with their migrant mothers without birth certificates, the significance of birthright citizenship and what it means to pay lip service to the Founders while undercutting some of the foundational concepts of the country they established.
KJ Noh, writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics, discusses the attacks on Asian Americans in the Bay Area over the last few weeks, and the violence around the country against Asians that’s been going unreported. He connects the continued demonization of China to the attacks on individuals within the United States, and points to a broader responsibility than simply collaring individual perpetrators.
Jim Kavenaugh, editor of The Polemicist, discusses the first day of Donald Trump’s second impeachment, and gets in a rare moment of praise for Democrats, who did what they had to do to make their case, unlike the former president’s clownish legal team. They also talk about the lingering impact of January 6 and the uses it’s already being put to, and discuss Neera Tanden, Joe Biden’s pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget, and what it means to call her “progressive.”
Author and coach David Shams drops by to discuss anthems at games, the way we ask athletes to represent our values, what really deserves celebration in sports, and baseball’s new plans for its balls.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda discusses the Biden administration’s first tough-on-Russia moves with Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte. They also get into the ongoing EU-Russia spat, Biden’s troubling Iran stance, John Kerry’s private candour on Syria and the return of ISIS to that country.
Author and economist John Ross, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, discusses the economic dishonesty at the heart of the minimum wage debate in the US, the real reason covid remains so uncontrolled in the US and the future of employment in a very changed post-pandemic landscape.
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the Love Lounge radio show and The Old School Lunch Bag Mix, talked about his return to the gym; statehood for Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico; the state of American democracy; and the efforts underway and obstacles ahead of reformist district attorneys around the country.
The Misfits also talked about the saga of Britney Spears, the new documentary about her, the media feeding frenzy that upended her life and the people now, via social media, trying to liberate the pop star from what they see as a gilded prison.
Wyatt Reed, a Sputnik News analyst, joins us from Ecuador as he covers the country’s general election. Andrés Arauz has won the first round of voting in order to be the next president of Ecuador, but was unable to secure 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff election in April. The economist Arauz, out did conservative rival Guillermo Lasso and an Indigenous environmental activist, Yaku Pérez, according to the preliminary figures released by Ecuador’s electoral council after polls closed. With Lasso and Pérez in a virtual tie, it will be a few days before it’s officially known who will run against Arauz in April.
Jonathan Kuttab, a human rights activist and lawyer, joins us to discuss the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) announcement that it has jurisdiction over Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The call arose after an ICC prosecutor in 2019 decided the criteria had been met to open an investigation into war crimes in those territories, and although this prosecutor said it wasn’t necessary to undergo a ruling on the ICC’s jurisdiction to open such a probe, they went ahead and spent a year doing it anyway. How important was this ruling and was this further delay worth it?
Arianna Afeni, a member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist-in-training, and Kevin Cramer, organizer with The Palm Collective, join us to discuss the state of the movement and when people may return in mass to the streets. While the large masses of people may have left the streets for now, organizers and activists who have been at the center of the movement for Black lives and for police accountability have never left the streets.
Chris Garaffa, a web developer and technologist, joins us to discuss the tech bro battle between Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla deciding to accept bitcoin, Amazon workers in Alabama inching closer to unionizing, and efforts by drone companies to take advantage of COVID-19 by offering equipment for free in order to police for “health measures.”
Sputnik News Analyst Wyatt Reed, joins us from Ecuador ahead of Sunday’s Presidential and National Assembly to discuss what’s going on and which candidate the people really want.
Award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall, joins us to discuss Joe Biden’s foreign policy comments yesterday at the State Department and what it means for those of us living inside the empire.
Fred Rabner, Pittsburgh-based civil rights and trial attorney and Alex S. Vitale, Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College, join us to to bring attention to Columbus, Ohio where an Ohio grand jury on Wednesday indicted a former Columbus police officer in the fatal shooting of a Black man who was at the garage of a home where he was a guest.
Eugene Puryear, host at Breakthrough News and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America, joins us to discuss the latest job numbers, Democrats seeming desire for a workers revolt in the country.
Eljayem, Jr. Partner at Newton Media and founder of Speakezie Go Hard and Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist and former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party, joins us to discuss who needs to take several seats for the weekend, from entertainers to politicians.
Sam Menefee-Libey, researcher and doctoral student in anthropology at American University, joins us to dive into some new research on the people we know were at the Capitol on January 6.
Ajamu Baraka, former US vice presidential candidate for the Green Party and the National Organizer of Black Alliance for Peace, joins us to take a look at US foreign policy under US President Joe Biden towards Afghanistan and Haiti.
Jon Jeter, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, joins us to discuss the cozy relationship between Joe Biden and mainstream media; and we will also talk about the importance of teacher unions in the larger struggle for worker rights in the US.
Sinclair Skinner, an American engineer and founder of ILoveBlackPeople.com, and a blockchain technology evangelist, joins us for our “Trends With Benefits” segment, telling you whether things are pushing us toward a bright new future or dragging us all straight to hell. Today we look at the trends in cryptocurrency.
Oscar Chacón, co-founder and executive director of Alianza Americas, and Mark Shmueli, attorney specializing in immigration law, join us to discuss the big headlines around Biden’s immigration executive orders. Adding his signature to three immigration orders on Tuesday, Biden has now signed 28 executive orders since taking office, far surpassing the 12 orders Trump signed in his first month in office. The record for the most signed executive orders in their first month in office is still held by former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who signed 30.
Chris Smalls, a former Amazon employee and now founder of The Congress of Essential Workers organization, and Dr. Linwood Tauheed, an associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, join us to discuss Amazon’s big day in the headlines, from stealing tips, trying to quash organizing, and enacting a shuffle on top.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast “Macro n Cheese,” joins us to discuss the Washington Post editorial page pressing Democrats to lower the eligibility ceiling for these “survival checks,” saying a majority of households earning more than $50,000 a year haven’t experienced loss of income. We'll also cover Democrats trying to repeal the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions, otherwise known as SALT limits.
Nookie Bishop Jr., host of the “Digital Gumbo Podcast," joins us to discuss our weekly sports segment “Foul Play,” where we bring you the best and mostly the worst from the world of sports. The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the Super Bowl; Rockford, Illinois native Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors dropped 54 points last night against the Orlando Magic, and set a single-game scoring record for the Raptors; and health concerns are central here as the pandemic continues to effect the world of sports.
Kofi Ademola, an activist and organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement, and Ms. Regina Pixley, lifelong resident of the great Ward 8 and CEO of Regina's Place, an organization that provides support to families whose lives have been impacted by gun violence, join us to discuss the potential teacher strikes in Chicago and Washington, DC. As mayors in each city look to ramp up in-school learning, we continue to see the tragic number of shootings across the US carry over from 2020 into 2021 and we, par the course, continue to see government in-action in addressing the economic crisis so many in the US are living in.
Netfa Freeman, an organizer with Pan-African Community Action and a coordinating committee member of the Black Alliance for Peace who is working on the campaign, US Out of Africa!: Shut Down AFRICOM, joins us to discuss the crisis in the Central African Republic in which more than 200,000 people have been displaced, with half actually fleeing to neighboring countries.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of “Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents,” joins us to discuss how Trump’s impeachment trial is shaping up and we'll get into some new insights into what happened at the Capitol last month. We will also talk about how US President Joe Biden’s honeymoon is going with the American people.
Dan Cohen, journalist with Behind The Headlines, joins us for our “Politics of Art” segment. This week we will discuss the media and how the Biden administration is artfully working to make everything seem like it is A-OK here in the good ol’ US of A.
Nick Davies, a peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq, joins us to talk about Joe Biden’s foreign policy perspectives and the impact of US policy on children around the world.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, Professor of Public Health at College of William and Mary in Williamsburg VA, joins us to look at New York, its covid pandemic, its vaccine program and its governor.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy, joins us to discuss the power of American exceptionalism to develop some really bad policies, the latest protests from Russia; and the military taking over in Myanmar.
Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever - Award-winning author, international speaker, political commentator, and race and gender empowerment expert, joins us to discuss Joe Biden revoking the so-called "Mexico City Policy” or the Global Gag order. The policy prohibits American tax dollars from going to international organizations that provide or support abortion services.
Dr. Hicham Safieddine, professor of the history of the modern Middle East at King's College London, joins us to discuss how this administration is preparing to handle some key relationships in the Middle East, including with Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, President of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss the continuing GameStop drama. We’ve also got more to get to, some housing news, some efforts to direct policing funds elsewhere, and some Citizens United chat.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of get your news on with Ron, join us for our weekly Working for the Weekend segment where we talk about those who did way too much this week and send them away for the weekend.
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology at the University of Arizona, joins us to discuss climate change under Biden. John Kerry is now the new climate czar.There are several other people allegedly in positions to dramatically reimagine how the United States engages with climate, and it seems at least on the surface to want to consider maybe doing something about natural disasters. But is there anything below the surface?
Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of 'The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump, joins us to discuss all the craze about GameStop. Individual investors decided to stick it to Wall Street when they learned some big players were going to try to short GameStop. Their GameStop buying spree sent the price of the stock surging, and looks like it’s going to leave at least one big hedge fund on the hook for billions of dollars after its short bet went wrong. We'll look at the nuts and bolts of what’s happening and then talk about how these retail investors are being characterized.
James Early, Former Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, joins us to discuss Joe Biden’s calls for unity; his terrorism warning issued through the Department of Homeland Security and what to make of America’s foreign policy terror under the new President.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss the opioid and overdose crisis in the US that just keeps getting worse. At the end of last year, the CDC revealed that the period from May 2019 to May 2020 saw more overdose deaths in the country than had ever been recorded - more than 81,000 overdose deaths in a 12-month period. Overdoses on synthetic opioids like fentanyl increased by more than 38 percent, with 10 western states reporting a more than 98 percent increase in synthetic opioid-involved deaths.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins us to discuss the Gamestop stock market story that has unfolded over the last couple of weeks. Well take a look at what Redditors have done on Wall Street.
Tim Wise, senior advisor at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the author of "Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food," joins us to discuss Bill Gates becoming the biggest owner of farmland in America.
Betsy Yoon, a member of Nodutdol, a Korean diaspora organization that advocates peace, decolonization and self-determination, joins us to discuss US engagement with North Korea over the last four years. There were definitely huge steps taken, both between the US and North Korea and the North and the South, though there was also a lot of disappointment. But does that mean we should write it all off as a failure?
Chris Thomas, top soldier, community mentor, and a violence interrupter and Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principle at TML Communications, joins us to discuss Joe Biden’s latest executive orders regarding private prisons; and Austin, Texas redirecting money from police to housing.
Morgan Artyukhina, Sputnik News journalist, joins us to discuss Joe Biden revoking Donald Trump’s ban on new transgender recruits enlisting in the military. But at the same time, in several state houses around the country, debates are underway over bills that would ban trans youth from sports, restrict access to some kinds of health care and prohibit changes to gender identity on documents, to name a few.
Mark Sleboda, international relations and security analyst, joins us to discuss Biden's tough on Russia stance. Also, Yesterday Joe Biden spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. We'll discuss each country issuing a readout, take-aways from the call; and the White House readout of Biden-Merkel call mentions China and Russia which are both omitted from the German readout.
Deja Perez, radio host on 93.9 WKYS and 102.3 Majic DC and creator of WKYS’ newsy and juicy "What's Poppin!" and L.J.M, Partner at Newton Media and founder of Speakezie Go Hard, join our politics of art segment. This week it’s a little more about the politics of artifice, and of beauty, and of what we celebrate in terms of beauty.
Tina Banks, joins us to discuss the death of her sister, who was a COVID-19 tester for Amazon. While Jeff Bezos continues to make endless amounts of money we are getting more information on what costs he is willing to pay to amass a fortune. At the end of last week we got the tragic news that an Amazon employee, and more importantly a mother, sister, and a beloved community member, Poushawn died.
Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, joins us to look across the pond and at how the US, UK relationship might be evolving, post-Brexit, post-Trump.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist and documentary filmmaker who writes at Shadowproof.com and co-hosts the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins us to discuss bipartisanship on foreign policy. Lindsay Graham and incoming Secretary of State Tony Blinken are on the same page for how the US should handle its friends and foes. We will also share the story of the currently jailed Joshua Schulte, a former CIA software engineer accused of leaking the Vault7 files.
KJ Noh, writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics, joins us to discuss US China relations. China says it will sanction .28 U.S. officials, including members of the Trump administration, for allegedly violating China's sovereignty. The decision was announced in a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. These 28 people and their family members will not be allowed to enter China mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. The sanctions also forbids them from doing business with China. What will happen next?
Matthew Telles, labor organizer, joins us to discuss Instacart nearly two-thousand jobs, including the grocery delivery platform's only unionized workers.
Tina Landis, environmental and social justice advocate and author of "Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism,” joins us to discuss climate actions that should be pushed under the Biden administration.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy, joins us to give an update on the articles of impeachment waged against Trump and threats of an impeachment against Biden. We’ll also dive into US Russia relations under Biden; and Gen. Lloyd Austin being tapped for the Secretary of Defense.
Melik Abdul, Republican communications consultant, joins us for our weekly “Working For The Weekend” segment, where we decide who needs to take a break and have a seat!?!
David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University and author of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter, joins us to discuss a recent Washington Post article called “The Definitive List of the 20 Presidential Norms Trump Broke.” We'll also get into post-Trump analysis.
Monica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, joins us to discuss essential workers and the barriers they’re still encountering to fair wages and work conditions, despite all the clapping and all the praise we’ve heaped on them this year.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to talk about what was and was not said yesterday during the inaugural festivities, the insanity of US foreign policy and double standards regarding this thing called Democracy.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us for our Trends With Benefits segment where we take a look at the latest trends and tell you whether or not they are your friend or your future enemy. This week we take a look at COVID trends and let you know which they are heading!
David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism,” joins us to discuss American exceptionalism and militarism. How should we be looking at today's inauguration and what can we say about the soul of America?
Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of 'The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump," joins us to discuss America's economic path forward and what we hopefully left behind in 2020.
Maru Mora-Villalpando, an immigrant to the US, community organizer and founder of La Resistencia; and Sara Dady, Immigration Attorney at Dady Law Group, joins us to discuss some of these other 15 executive orders and two other directives Biden signs today, in particular his efforts on immigration.
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports; and Michael Sampson, who is part of the national leadership of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and co-host of Redspin Sports, joins us for our Foul Play segment. With Joe Biden at the White House will it allow apolitical sports players feel better about coming to the White House after winning championships again? Will sports protests will slow under Biden’s administration simply because he wasn’t Trump or have sports and their relationship with protests turned a corner?
Ann Marie Kernen, Program Coordinator at the Center for Protest Law and & Litigation, joins us to take a look at an investigation into who actually was involved in the riot on Capitol Hill January 6th. We will also discuss efforts to learn how coordinated those events were and who might have taken part.
Ariel Gold, national co-director of CODEPINK and Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, join us to discuss this administration designating the Houthis in Yemen as a terrorist group and what that designation will mean for the people of Yemen. The Doctors Without Borders program manager for Yemen, for example, noted yesterday the impact new sanctions could have on humanitarian aid, saying aid is not only doctors attending patients, but “the plane that gets the doctor to the country; the bank transfers that mean her local colleagues can be paid; and the ship that brings the medicines and other medical equipment.” We will discuss the way this terror designation will affect their lives, in its potential impact on aid and in other areas.
Ruth Anna Buffalo, the first Native American Democratic woman elected to North Dakota’s state legislature and Lena Taylor, who is serving her fifth term in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 4th Senate District, join us to discuss state legislative agendas and particularly about protest laws at the state levels. We'll also discuss reports that Joe Biden is planning to revoke the Keystone XL pipeline permit on his first day in office.
William Dawson, writer, author and culture critic, to join the new movie “One Night in Miami” which is now streaming on Amazon.We'll cover the politics behind fictionalizing historical figures, and what this movie means one day after Dr. Martin Luther King’s holiday.
Award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall, joins us to discuss Joe Biden calling for quick action on a COVID relief bill as he enters office next week. Biden yesterday laid out his nearly two-trillion-dollar relief plan. It includes 14-hundred-dollar payments to Americans to supplement the 600-dollar payments already doled out. It also extends unemployment benefits for the millions who have lost their jobs during the crisis. Biden said his plan will build a bridge to the other side of the pandemic to make sure the nation comes out stronger and more secure.
Dr. Margaret Flowers, Co-Founder of Popular Resistance and Director of the Health Over Profit for Everyone, joins us to discuss the truth behind COVID-19 death numbers. The recorded death count from the Covid-19 pandemic as of Thursday around the world is nearing 2 million. But now a new Wall Street Journal study is alleging that the true extent is far worse.According to the study more than 2.8 million people have lost their lives due to the pandemic, based on analysis of data from 59 countries and jurisdictions. Public-health experts believe that many, if not most, of the additional deaths were directly linked to the disease, particularly early in the pandemic when testing was sparse. Some of those excess deaths came from indirect fallout, from health-care disruptions, people avoiding the hospital and other issues.
Amanda Huron, associate professor of interdisciplinary social sciences, at the University of the District of Columbia and author of “Carving out the Commons: Tenant Organizing and Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C.,” joins us to discuss Joe Biden’s proposed COVID stimulus package. We’ve talked about what it means for millions of Americans out of work, what it means for COVID vaccines and now we look at what it means for renters and potential evictions.
Chuck Modiano, justice journalist and sports writer at Deadspin and Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, joins us to discuss the latest moves to shutdown D.C. ahead of next week’s Presidential inauguration and what security measures are here to stay. We will also be talking about why right-wingers are so afraid to admit they were the ones who stormed the Capital last week and news out of the big apple New York Attorney General Letitia James files a lawsuit against the New York Police Department and New York City alleging that authorities used excessive force during the summer’s racial justice protests.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of “Get Your News On With Ron,” joins us for our Weekend segment where we highlight those who did way too much this week and need to take the weekend off.
Lela McGee-Harvey, a native of Flint, a tenured entrepreneur, the co-founder of Operation Unification Inc. and the author of “Underneath the Poisoning, Flint, and Genesee County (Our Untold Stories),” joins us to discuss the new charges related to the water crisis. Michigan's former health director Nick Lyon "was charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of nine people who got Legionnaires' disease during the Flint water crisis," CNBC reported. "Lyon pleaded not guilty during an appearance in a Genesee County court. Moments later, his old boss, former Gov. Rick Snyder, also pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of willful neglect of duty in Flint."
Dan Cohen, journalist with Behind The Headlines, joins us to discuss a report on Jewish supremacy in Israel. B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, which is arguably the most respected Israeli human rights group working in that area, came out and described the Israeli government's policies as "apartheid" this week. The center's report was titled, “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid.” Is it significant to have this group put it into these specific words?
Kofi Ademola, an activist and organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement, joins us to discuss racism in law enforcement, news about cash bail in the US, and some questions about the Trump administration in Africa and how much of a change the Biden administration will represent.
Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa and civil and social innovation expert Kendrick Jackson join us to discuss how both Apple and Google have just launched big-ticket efforts to support racial equity and support some immigrants to the US. Apple has a big investment in Historically Black Colleges and a coding center for younger students, and Google is giving $250,000 to cover Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program applications for more than 500 immigrants.
Dr. Bill Honigman, California state coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America and co-coordinator of its Healthcare Human Rights Issue Organizing Team, joins us to discuss the more infectious UK coronavirus strain that has been confirmed in some 50 territories, including several US states; the South African strain has been found in 20 countries; and now we have perhaps another variant in Japan and Brazil. How worried should we be about these different strains?
Community activists Ari Perez and Bea Middleton, who are based in of Rockford, Illinois, join us to discuss the growing number of organizers and activists in smaller towns and cities across the United States who have taken to the streets to demand accountability for police brutality. In Rockford, activists had set up a 24-hour occupation of the City Hall following the non-lethal shooting of unarmed Black man Tyris Jones by the Rockford Police Department on October 2, 2020.
Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq,” joins us to discuss what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said about Iran on Tuesday, conjuring up a purported nexus of Iran and al-Qaeda. He said he was publicly confirming what was reported a couple of months ago: that the man described as al-Qaeda’s No. 2, Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was killed in Tehran in August 2019. Pompeo said the US had imposed sanctions on two Iran-based al-Qaeda leaders, as well as leaders of the al-Qaeda Kurdish Battalions. What should we make of this supposed connection between Iran and al-Qaeda, and the timing of these announcements?
Antone Barnes, founder and CEO of Brand Architects; and Chris Jenkins, award-winning journalist, political strategist and producer of the award-winning documentary "Trapped: Cash Bail in America,” join us for our Foul Play segment, where we look at the best and mostly the worst of sports.
Tensions increase at Oak Flat as the Trump administration accelerates a move to violate sacred ground, but what is so significant about these 2,500 acres of land?
Levi Rickert, editor of Native News Online, joins us to discuss the Trump administration's efforts to transfer sacred Apache ground at Oak Flat - near Phoenix, Arizona - to global mining firm Rio Tinto. This project was suddenly accelerated in the fall, when the US Forest Service announced that it was pushing up the deadline for a crucial step in the handover process, the release of a final environmental impact statement regarding Rio Tinto’s proposed project. The date for that report to be issued is now January 15.
Arnold August, journalist, speaker and author of, among other books, “Cuba-US Relations: Obama and Beyond,” joins us to discuss the Trump administration designating Cuba as a state sponsor of terror. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement, says the US is once against holding Cuba’s government accountable and telling the Castro regime that it must "end its support for international terrorism and subversion of US justice." What is the justification the US cites for its decision?
Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and co-founder of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, joins us to discuss US President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of William Burns to head the CIA. If confirmed by the Senate, Burns would be the first career diplomat to lead the spy agency. What can we make of his nomination?
Journalist Mohammed Elmaazi, editor of The Interregnum, joins us to discuss international perspectives on last week's attack on the Capitol and what it means for large tech companies and the government to be working to collectively silence free speech.
Hip hop artist and educator Bomani Armah joins us to discuss the Grammys, specifically the news from earlier this month that three of the five acts nominated for the 2021 best children's album award are declining their nominations, upset that all of the nominees for the award are white.
The House of Representatives will introduce letters of impeachment against US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, but what are Democrats hoping to gain in just nine days?
Kim Keenan, executive vice president of Odyssey Media, co-chair of the Internet Innovation Alliance and senior adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School, joins us to discuss the fallout from last week’s attack on the US Capitol as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) pushes US Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment.
Dr. Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and chief editor of LeftWord Books, joins us to discuss how the US is being seen from outside in the aftermath of last week's riots, the role of anti-communist propaganda and the fight over the idea of “populism.” We'll also look at protests in India by farmers and what's going on there.
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the Love Lounge radio show, joins us to discuss the role police officers played in last week's attack on the Capitol and how corporations are looking to stand on the right side of history after doing their best to destroy it.
Like him or not, Trump's social media tirades have taught us a lot and begged us to ask how far censorship should go?
Jim Kavanaugh, who publishes at thepolemicist.net and Counterpunch, joins us to discuss the social media response to the protest Wednesday, Trump’s statements and the mob that ended up breaking into the US Capitol. Their response has both political implications and potentially far-reaching consequences. Both Facebook and Twitter suspended President Donald Trump from posting to their platforms Wednesday, after the Capitol was breached. Twitter was first to shut Trump down for 12 hours, Facebook and Instagram followed later, but now Facebook is saying Trump’s accounts will be locked at least until Inauguration Day and perhaps longer. YouTube took down a video of Trump’s on Wednesday praising the mob and continuing to say the election was rigged - he’s been shut out from social media.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, President of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss Joe Biden’s picks for Labor Secretary and Commerce Secretary. What should we think about his choices?
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda to talk about the latest fallout from Donald Trump’s inspired attack on the Congress. We'll also discuss policing, terrorism and impeaching Trump.
With Biden putting into position several Obama folks does that mean we will see more tepid efforts to hold to account police in this country to account?
Donald Temple, civil rights attorney and activist, join us to discuss Joe Biden nominating Merrick Garland to be the next US Attorney General. It was also announced Biden will also nominate Lisa Monaco as deputy attorney general who served as Obama’s homeland security adviser.
Dr. Shayla C. Nunally, professor of political science and Chair of Africana studies at the University of Tennessee; author of "Trust in Black America: Race, Discrimination, and Politics,” and former President of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, joins us to discuss violent protests at the capitol yesterday, how we got there and how we should begin to understand these events in a historical context?
Dr. Jack Rasmus, author and professor in the Economics and Politics Departments at St. Mary's College of California, and Ty Hobson-Powell, founder and director of policy for Concerned Citizens of DC and lead organizer with the 51 for 51 DC statehood campaign, joins us to discuss why Biden will struggle to save the day, what happens after January 20th, and whether or not we should expect large protests on inauguration day.
Melik Abdul, Republican communications consultant, joins us discuss what appears to be happening on the American right and in the Republican Party and where this particular offshoot on the Capitol steps goes.
What is the intersection between gun ownership and access to guns and Stand Your Ground laws?
John Burris, civil rights attorney, joins us to discuss Governor Mike DeWine Signed 'Stand Your Ground' Bill Into Law on Monday. The so-called 'stand your ground' law removes the requirement for Ohioans to first retreat before using a firearm to hurt or kill another individual in self-defense. We'll also discuss the status of no-knock warrants in the Breonna Taylor case; Kenosha, Wisconsin where prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges against police officers in the August shooting of Jacob Blake.
Former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou, joins us to discuss a judge's decision to deny bail for Julian Assange. This is the sad counterpoint to the excitement we felt Monday morning, when the US’ request to extradite Julian Assange was blocked by a UK judge. Today, the same judge also decided not to grant him bail.
Richard Becker, author of "Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire," joins us to discuss Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu ending 2020 with a call for the US to stop pretending and acknowledge what everyone knows: that Israel has a nuclear weapons arsenal. And one reason for his argument is that this denial violates the US’ own laws: we’re not supposed to be giving economic and military assistance to nuclear proliferators. We’ve gone to war or imposed brutal sanctions on countries, sometimes over just rumors of such weapons. Why does this exception continue to be made for Israel?
Lena Taylor, who is serving her fifth term in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 4th Senate District, joins us to discuss the Senate race in Georgia; civil unrest in America and the disappointing decision in the Jacob Blake case as the national guard is deployed to keep the peace.
With all the headlines made in 2020 did Americans forget to pay attention to Iran as the Trump administration incited violence?
Mark Sleboda, international relations and security analyst, joins us to take a closer look at all this big talk and big news about Iran. Over the holiday, we saw a pretty major intensification of rhetoric regarding Iran, accompanied by some military moves. However, domestic drama and the Assange case had overshadowed this escalation. What can we make of the tensions around the turn of the year and the reporting we saw of it - and where it’s all gone now?
Darren Thompson, writer for Native News Online, joins us to discuss the ongoing efforts to stop the construction of a new pipeline across Minnesota and indeginous lands. The new pipeline known as Line 3 is a proposed pipeline expansion to bring nearly a million barrels of tar sands per day from Alberta, Canada to Superior, Wisconsin. It was proposed in 2014 by Enbridge, a Canadian pipeline company responsible for the largest inland oil spill in the US. Enbridge seeks to build a new pipeline corridor through untouched wetlands and the treaty territory of Anishinaabe peoples, through the Mississippi River headwaters to the shore of Lake Superior.
Jon Jeter, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, joins us to discuss the Google union, paygo, and the US banning shell anonymous companies.
How high should our expectations be? The Trump administration promised 20 million vaccinations by the end of 2020, but well below half that many doses have been administered.
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor, epidemiologist and veterinarian, joins us to discuss the coronavirus vaccine. The US has shipped about 17 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine so far, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that just over 4 million doses had been administered in the United States as of Saturday, far short of the government's goal to reach 20 million people before the new year. We'll get into how the rollout is going and what to expect.
Journalist Mohammed Elmaazi, editor of The Interregnum; and journalist and documentary filmmaker Kevin Gosztola, who writes at Shadowproof.com and co-hosts the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, join us to discuss the decision by a UK judge to reject the US’ request to extradite WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange.
Mondale Robinson, founder of the Black Male Voter Project, joins us to talk about what to expect from Tuesday's Senate runoff elections in Georgia, as well as to discuss Nancy Pelosi being re-elected as speaker of the House.
Eugene Puryear, host at Breakthrough News and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America, joins us to discuss top stories & bold predictions for 2021! We'll start with the 9 trillion dollar bailout for Wall Street!
Dr. Wilmer Leon, co-host of The Critical Hour, joins us to discuss his top 2020 stories and 2021 predictions. From COVID to the death of George Floyd and the death of Justice Ruth Ginsburg and so much more we'll break down what mattered and what should have mattered.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik News analyst, joins us to discuss protests and the press. Wyatt was on the front lines of many protests all over the country. It became clear law enforcement had little regard for how the media did their job. We'll discuss that relationship and how we should move forward.
Garland Nixon, co-host of The Critical Hour, joins us to discuss his top stories and predictions. From the assasination of Sulaimani to our relationship with Iran; also how the US handled the shutdown and making Americans economically whole! We'll also get into Black Lives Matter and the death of George Floyd.
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, joins us to discuss his top stories in the world of sports and some predictions going forward. Jacksonville Jaguars NFL pick; the impact of COVID on sports; and the impact of activism in sports.
Web developer and technologist Chris Garaffa, joins us to discuss Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, after blocking a bill to raise direct payments to Americans from $600 to $2000, introduced a different bill to do just that - as well as to repeal section 230 of the Communications Act, to create a bipartisan commission to investigate election fraud and to make some new rules about disclosing foreign nationals who handle election materials.
Dan Kovalik, lawyer, professor and author of "No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian Intervention’ to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests and Keith Mackey, President of Mackey International, an aviation consulting firm specializing in aviation safety, risk management, accident investigation, air carrier certification, and safety/compliance audits, joins us to discuss what it means for Boeing 737s to return to the skies and how much weight we should put in these coming reforms at the Federal Aviation Administration.
George Naylor with the National Family Farm Coalition, joins us to discuss what the covid 19 pandemic has shown us about our food systems, and a look at some ways people are trying to grow from those lessons.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, President of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss why Mitch McConnnell could care less about you and your stimulus checks, and whether or not Joe Biden will be able to prevent more Black Lives Matter protests in 2021.
Lawrence Sidbury, Jr., former American football defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, joins our weekly sports segment “Foul Play” where we take a look at the best and mostly the worst of sports around the globe.
Here to talk to us about what this means is KJ Noh, writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics, joins us to discuss the Center for Economics and Business Research report saying China’s economy would outstrip the US’s by 2028, five years earlier than it had previously predicted. A lot of headlines have made much of the role covid plays in this change, noting that the US 5% contraction this year helped narrow the gap, but the deputy chair of the think tank himself said “The big news in this forecast is the speed of growth of the Chinese economy.”
Kei Pritsker with Breakthrough News, joins us to discuss the New York Legislature on Monday overwhelmingly passed one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation. Under the new measure, landlords will be barred from evicting most tenants for at least another 60 days in almost all cases, and new eviction cases are to be banned until May 1. Some small landlords will be protected from foreclosure, and the bill also automatically renews tax exemptions for homeowners who are elderly or disabled. What's some of the work happening in New York to help people stay in their homes, and what results that’s had.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy, joins us to discuss the actual fight brewing in the Senate, propaganda in the pages of the Washington Post, and the intrigue between the UAE and Venezuela.
KenYatta Rogers, Freelance Theatre Artist and Professor of Theatre at Montgomery College and William Dawson, writer, author and culture critic, joins us to discuss Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the importance of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, and the politics and economics of turning theatrical plays into movies.
Human rights activist and lawyer Jonathan Kuttab; and author and activist Miko Peled, whose books include “The General’s Son: The Journey of an Israeli in Palestine” and “Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five,” join us to talk about the long-running and acute crisis in Gaza.
Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, joins to discuss the United Kingdom, where it seems Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has found a deal with the European Union to exit the bloc.
Dr. Wes Bellamy, chair of the Political Science Department at Virginia State University and author of “When White Supremacy Knocks, Fight Back. How White People Can Use Their Privilege and How Black People Can Use Their Power,” joins us to discuss the possibility of student debt relief under the incoming Biden administration, as well as Google hijacking culture.
David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University and author of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter,” joins us to discuss declining college enrollment, declining aid applications and what they mean for education, income and the future workforce, as well as for the concept of a politically educated and engaged population.
Bill Honigman, California state coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America and co-coordinator of its Healthcare Human Rights Issue Organizing Team, joins us to discuss a provision in the relief bill Congress passed earlier this week that would put an end to some surprise medical bills in this country.
Chris Smalls, former Amazon employee and founder of The Congress of Essential Workers, joins us to discuss Amazon's impact on warehouses, transit wages and US President-elect Joe Biden's infrastructure plan.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss the three-sided showdown between US President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Either it’s Trump outflanking Democrats from the left on stimulus checks, or it’s Trump forcing a battle with McConnell for the soul of the GOP, or it’s Trump just shooting Republicans in the gut on his way out of the White House. Trump could be ensuring a Democratic loss in Georgia's Senate runoff elections or handing them the win. Will he be the hero, or will it be someone like Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who called Trump’s holding up the recent stimulus bill to demand larger checks for citizens “an attack on every American” and an attempt by Trump to “burn this country down.” What is really going on?
Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, joins us to discuss everything we ought to know about paying college athletes, protesting at the Olympics and elsewhere, and the impact of youth sports!
Tina Landis, environmental and social justice advocate and author of "Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism," joins us to discuss what looks like some good news - a victory in the fight to connect air polluters to the deaths they cause. Last week, in what is being called a landmark case, a coroner in the UK ruled that air pollution was a cause of death for a 9-year-old London girl. "Philip Barlow, the inner south London coroner, said Ella Kissi-Debrah’s death in February 2013 was caused by acute respiratory failure, severe asthma and air pollution exposure," The Guardian reported. He said over the course of her life, emissions of nitrogen dioxide exceeded EU and national safety thresholds, particulate matter levels exceeded World Health Organization guidelines and that that kind of pollution "both induced and exacerbated" her severe asthma, the outlet noted. What could this mean in other pollution cases?
Community organizer Maru Mora-Villalpando, an immigrant to the US and founder of La Resistencia; and Carlos Castaneda, immigration attorney, joins us to discuss Mexico’s apparent effort to control the work of US officials and agents inside Mexico - and the way it’s being covered. A Daily Beast story put it this way: “‘The Winners Are the Cartels’: Mexico Slaps Cuffs on the DEA.” But upon reading the story, it looks like a country just trying to place some restrictions on the actions of foreign agents within its borders. The Daily Beast is appalled that the reform strips diplomatic immunity from US agents in Mexico, but isn't diplomatic immunity for foreign mission staff, not for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and FBI agents? The law also says foreign agents have to apply to Mexican authorities to carry a firearm in the country and that they have to share information they gather with Mexican officials and federal authorities, none of which sounds shocking to me. What's going on here?
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joins us to discuss what it is like to be inside the UK right now as the country deals with a new variant of COVID-19, as well as what exactly is in the latest pandemic stimulus bill here in the US. "Britain was all but cut off from the rest of Europe on Monday, with flights and trains banned by some 40 countries and freight deliveries halted at French ports, as its neighbors tried desperately to stop a fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus from leaving the UK," the New York Times reported.
Jackie Luqman, co-host of By Any Means Necessary, joins us as we look at "Small Axe," a British anthology film series created and directed by Steve McQueen. The anthology consists of five original films which tell distinct stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London during the 1960s, '70s and '80s.
Dr. Chaand Ohri, community doctor, joins us to discuss the latest developments regarding COVID-19 vaccines, including where in line you may find yourself to receive a shot, as a second vaccine is released on the US market. We'll also discuss the protests at Stanford Medical Center, where medical students took direct action on Friday morning, holding signs and demanding answers from Stanford's leadership about why just seven of its more than 1,300 residents were selected to receive the vaccine in the first round of 5,000 doses.
Levi Rickert, editor or Native News Online, joins us to discuss the complicated relationship between energy and the US Department of the Interior. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM), who was recently named as US President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for the post of interior secretary, has said she opposes fracking on public lands, but New Mexico remains an oil and gas producer, and fracking is a very big part of that. What has been her record on energy and the environment so far, and how is she going to work within Biden's oft-repeated promise not to ban fracking?
Ted Rall, syndicated columnist and political cartoonist, joins us to discuss the state of Pennsylvania, which didn’t actually spend about $108 million of the $175 million it got through the CARES Act for rent relief and mortgage help. The money was supposed to help landlords and tenants, but the way the state devised the program to distribute it made it either too burdensome or too unappealing to take part. It also made tenants jump through hoops to prove they were unemployed or had lost at least 30% of their income, which is hard to do when your employer has closed up shop temporarily or permanently. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency flagged these issues in July, but nothing was done. What's really going on here?
Joel Segal, national director of the Justice Action Mobilization Network, joins Misfit Hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees for the EPA and the Department of Interior, the next administration’s long climate timelines, and Democratic infighting over Medicare for All.
Journalist Mohammed Elmaazi, editor of the Interregnum, discusses new audio released of discussions between Julian Assange and Hillary Clinton’s State Department, and the hypocrisy it reveals in the case against him. He also reviews the latest attempts in the UK to shield police from critical reporting and investigation.
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, discusses the fraud that is “inauguration fundraising,” the latest declassified text messages from former FBI agent Peter Strzok, the evolution of the latest huge hacking scandal, and the reanimation of the Lockerbie bombing investigation.
The Misfits told White House aides to take the weekend off, along with a series of other meddlers and miscreants. They also get into the Supreme Court’s latest immigration punt, and the horrifying new footage released of the death of Ahmaud Arberty in Georgia.
Fred Magdoff, professor of plant and soil science at the University of Vermont and co-author of “What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know About Capitalism” and “Creating an Ecological Society: Toward a Revolutionary Transformation," joins us to discuss a story in the New York Times Magazine entitled “How Russia Wins the Climate Crisis.” The main thrust of this article seems to be that Russia will benefit from the climate crisis as global warming makes more of its landmass agriculturally useful and as it is able to accommodate population transfers. But what are the politics at work when it comes to climate change reporting?
Sarah Crozier, communications director at Main Street Alliance, joins us to discuss the latest efforts for the US Congress and the White House to wrap up negotiations on another coronavirus relief bill. It seems at least Republicans and Democrats are close to finishing the details of the roughly $900 billion package with the hopes of passing a bill through Congress before the end of the week.
Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to talk about the latest efforts to repeal the Patriot Act, whether or not the Democratic Party will ever find new leadership and the newest information regarding the 1988 Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
Shuaib Mitchell, president of Nubia Filmworks LLC and motion picture and television producer/director, joins us to discuss the trend of major movie companies abandoning hopes that box office revenue will return in 2021 and dumping their movies on streaming platforms instead.
Mark Sleboda, international relations and security analyst, joins us to discuss Syria and how the war there has seemingly been forgotten. While Syria was grabbing headlines for years, it seems like some people want to stuff it down the memory hole with Libya, and we don’t want to let that happen.
Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principle at TML Communications; and Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist, join us to discuss the nomination of Pete Buttigieg for secretary of transportation under the Biden administration.
Jon Jeter, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, joins us to discuss hunger in the US as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how banks get away with preying on the poor and what’s been traded away and left out of the new pandemic relief package being negotiated in Congress.
Dr. Clarence Lusane, author, activist, lecturer and former chair of the Political Science Department at Howard University, joins us to discuss the US sanctioning Turkey’s main defense procurement entity and the major officers of that entity, including its president. They’ll face US visa restrictions, and their financial assets in the US are to be frozen. The sanctions, of course, are over Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 Russian air defense system two years ago, and they’ve been a long time coming - the US had already kicked Turkey out of its F-35 program as a result of the S-400 purchase, but it seems like that was never going to be enough. The sanctions are supposedly intended to deter Turkey from buying any more weapons technology from Russia - are they going to be effective?
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss the latest on COVID-19 vaccines. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) intends to authorize use of the Moderna vaccine on Friday. This comes after newly released data confirmed that Moderna’s vaccine is highly protective against the coronavirus. Distribution of the first 6 million doses of the vaccine could begin across the US next week. "The review by the FDA confirms Moderna’s earlier assessment that its vaccine had an efficacy rate of 94.1 percent in a trial of 30,000 people," the New York Times reported Tuesday. "Side effects - including fever, headache and fatigue - were unpleasant but not dangerous, the agency found." This comes on the heels of another 400 hospitals across the country receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday as the push to protect frontline health workers continues. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities will start to see the vaccine later in the month starting December 21.
By Any Means Necessary host Sean Blackmon and Chris Jenkins, award-winning journalist political strategist and producer of the award-winning documentary "Trapped: Cash Bail in America," streaming on YouTube Originals, join us to discuss the impact of America’s corporate media structure on poor communities across the country and the lies we’ve been told about cash bail and civil asset forfeiture. We'll also take a look at the art that is changing how we see criminal injustice in the US.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy," joins us to discuss a recent Washington Post story that claims Russian government hackers are behind yet another espionage campaign that has infiltrated US agencies. We'll also take a look at the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the larger conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. A few days ago Eurasianet came out with a report on what has been circulating on social media for weeks now: videos depicting shocking atrocities by Azerbaijani soldiers against Armenian civilians and prisoners of war. Has global media just let Azerbaijan walk all over Armenia without any kind of fuss?
Teodrose Fikre, co-founder of the Ghion Journal, joins us to discuss the latest developments in northern Ethiopia as the country's government continues to look to regain complete control of the Tigray Region. The government said Monday that "power and phone connections had been partly restored in Tigray, where civilians spoke of deprivation, fear and violence in the troubled region after six weeks of silence," AFP reported. "Tigray has been under a communications blackout since November 4 ... The shutdown, coupled with restrictions on access to the region, made verifying the situation on the ground difficult as the army battled forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)."
Anthony Lorenzo Green, a core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC, joins us to discuss the Pro-Trump Proud Boys demonstration here Washington, DC, over the weekend. At least four people were stabbed in confrontations late Saturday after a daylong MAGA rally that featured recently pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and a flyover from what appeared to be the Marine One presidential helicopter. Clashes between Proud Boys, Antifa and the police continued well into the evening on Saturday, leading to the arrests of at least 33 people, according to NBC4 Washington, which cited local police.
Exclusive Interview with Black Lives Matter DC’s Anthony Lorenzo Green. Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte are joined by Green following a large MAGA rally and demonstrations by the group Proud Boys.
Monica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, joins us to discuss the taxi caravan from New York City to Washington, DC, picking up cabbies and supporters along the way, to go to the Capitol to make some demands of the people who are supposed to represent Americans. Some of the demands are the extension of unemployment aid and the reinstatement of the $600 bonus, as well as funding to help the taxi industry recover, including medallion debt forgiveness and tax exemption on forgiven debt.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, author and professor in the Economics and Politics Departments at St. Mary's College of California, joins us to discuss the big week that it has been for initial public offerings (IPO) - DoorDash had one of the biggest! And pandemic stimulus negotiations are underway in Congress: what should we expect?
Brandon Sutton of The Discourse podcast joins us to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process, anti-vaxxers vs. vaccine skeptics and why liberals may be getting their hopes up just a bit too much when it comes to the year 2021.
Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition and Dr. John Wesley Boyd Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, joins us to discuss what farmers are looking for under a Biden administration and what Secretary Vilsak will accomplish.
Dr. Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and chief editor of LeftWord Books, joins us to discuss the movement happening in India, the latest in Venezuela and the US election.
Sage, the founder and CEO of WORDS LIIVE, an education technology startup company and a former teacher of social entrepreneurship at Montgomery College, joins us to discuss the recent firing of Timnit Gebru, the AI researcher at Google who said the company fired her after she refused to remove her name from a research paper she contributed to regarding the limitations of text-processing AI and some ethical issues that processing raised.
Maurice Cook, founder of Serve Your City and Steve Glaude, Executive Director of Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development, joins us to discuss the housing crisis and what will happen as tech companies invest in urban development.
Mary Grant, Public Water for All campaign director at Food and Water Watch, joins us to discuss California water futures beginning to be traded this week. That means investors can now bet on future water availability in the state, and potentially make big bucks as reservoirs dry up. It’s being touted as a way to eliminate some uncertainty and to make prices predictable and transparent, but of course, all many of us can see is the prospect of hedge funds betting on droughts and making more money on suffering.
Delvone Michael, senior political strategist at the Working Families Party, joins us to take a look at state and local efforts to reform prosecutorial policies. On Monday, Marilyn Mosby, state's attorney for Baltimore, Maryland, announced the launch of "a sentencing review unit in Baltimore to address both mass incarceration and racial inequities in the justice system," the Washington Post reported. "Of the 2,500 people serving life sentences in Maryland, 79 percent are Black, Mosby said, though African Americans make up only 30 percent of the state population. In Baltimore, of the 815 prisoners sentenced to life, 94 percent are Black. Also Monday, the newly elected district attorney of Los Angeles, George Gascón, announced at his swearing-in that he, too, is launching a sentencing review unit. Gascón said he conservatively estimates that 20,000 prisoners will immediately qualify for resentencing. He said he believes some were given drastically long sentences, others are older and unlikely to reoffend, and others should be released because of COVID-19 concerns." What are some other opportunities that can create change when we focus on the State Attorney and Attorney General races?
Kristine Hendrix, mother, activist and president of the University City Board of Education, joins us to discuss US President-elect Joe Biden nominating Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to head the Department of Housing and Tom Vilsack to run the Department of Agriculture. We will also be talking about whether talk of defunding the police and Medicare for all helped or hurt Democrats in the 2020 elections.
Antone Barnes, founder and CEO of Brand Architects; and Karleigh Webb, journalist, videographer, anti-imperialist and labor and trans rights organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Connecticut, join us to discuss Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year winners for 2020, who are LeBron James, Breanna Stewart, Patrick Mahomes, Naomi Osaka and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Steward. They have been deemed activists, but are they all playing huge, meaningful parts in the movement for Black lives, or should there have been others that made it to the top spots?
Abdus Luqman of Luqman Nation joins us to discuss police reform and what police want from a Biden administration. A recent CNN article tries to rehabilitate or at least cast a blind eye towards policing. The article revolved around a survey of almost 400 police chiefs across the US, administered by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), which asked law enforcement leaders to identify priorities for the incoming administration. "A clear majority said they hope the Biden administration will help increase trust in police, with 76% calling it a priority, and 57% wanting to address calls for police reform," CNN noted. "Fewer than half of respondents - 43% - said crime reduction was among their top three priorities for next year."
David Rosen, author of “Prohibition New York City: Speakeasy Queen Texas Guinan, Blind Pigs, Drag Balls & More,” joins us to give an update on the case of Ghislaine Maxwell - friend and confidant of the late sex criminal, financier and friend to the American political elite Jeffrey Epstein - and a recent bombshell about former US President Bill Clinton. The Clinton bombshell comes from a Vanity Fair interview with the former president’s longtime aide, Doug Band. Band insisted that he knew nothing of Epstein’s misdeeds, but “got enough bad vibes that he advised Clinton to end the relationship,” the outlet noted. Band also said he refused to accompany Clinton on a 2003 visit to Epstein's private island of Little St. James, claiming it was among the few trips he did not take with Clinton while working for him. A spokesperson for Clinton told Vanity Fair that the visit never happened. How many people sort of knew enough to joke about this, but figured as long as they weren’t trafficking people themselves, their hands were clean?
Elisabeth Myers, lawyer and adjunct associate professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law, democracy lead at Democrats Abroad Morocco and former editor-in-chief of Inside Arabia, joins us to discuss reform in Saudi Arabia and the nation's role in global politics. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) at one point envisioned Saudi Arabia living without oil by 2020, which observers at the time said was not meant to be taken literally. Has Saudi Arabia made much progress diversifying its economy under MBS?
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show in Austin, Texas, joins us to discuss why Texas never turns blue, the eviction crisis in the state and retired US Army Gen. Lloyd Austin being nominated to head the Department of Defense for the Biden administration.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of “Get Your News On With Ron,” joins us to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the film industry. This pandemic has been difficult for people who make their money touring and performing, but while the US government has decided the show definitely doesn’t need to go on for them, if you’re a multibillion-dollar film studio or, God help us, mobile phone application, well, by all means, don’t let a little thing like a pandemic get in your way. Last week, a very busy coronavirus testing site at Union Station in Los Angeles, California, was almost shut down for filming of a remake of the movie "She’s All That," which has cast a TikTok star in a leading role. Now, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti is trying to save face.
Ricardo Vaz, analyst and editor at Venezuelanalysis.com, and our own Garland Nixon, co-host of Radio Sputnik's The Critical Hour, join us to discuss the election in Venezuela. Who is recognizing the results, and who isn’t? The UK issued a statement saying it recognizes the National Assembly elected in 2015 and recognizes Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela. Brazil has called the elections illegitimate, Colombia doesn’t recognize them, and the US on Monday morning called them a sham.
Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, joins us to discuss the big news this weekend in France, where thousands of people across the country have protested against a proposed security bill that would make it more difficult to film police officers. In total, nearly 100 rallies were planned nationwide on Saturday. "Media freedom and human rights groups have led protests for weeks to have the government scrap or revise a bill that would restrict the filming of police, saying it would make it harder to prosecute cases of abuse," AFP reported over the weekend.
Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition, joins us to discuss plans to ban live animal exports for slaughter being unveiled in the UK. The practice could be banned by the end of 2021. In the UK, the legislation results from a combination of Brexit issues and animal welfare campaigning - an attempt to end the practice a few years ago was squashed because it was found to violate the EU’s free trade rules, for example. Now, the government seems like it’s taking the opportunity to put another positive spin on Brexit by moving to lead on animal welfare issues, in its own words.
David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University and author of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter," joins us to discuss his latest piece, "The Problem with Governing by Presidential Executive Order." We'll also cover education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. "A study being released this week by McKinsey & Co. estimates that the shift to remote school in the spring set white students back by one to three months in math, while students of color lost three to five months," the Washington Post reported Sunday. "As the coronavirus pandemic persists through this academic year, McKinsey said, losses will escalate."
Tina Landis, environmental and social justice advocate and author of "Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism, joins us to discuss a recent UN report on climate that says humans are at war with nature.
Jeremy Mohler, a writer, meditation teacher, and host of the “Meditation for the 99%” podcast, joins us to discuss Democrats taking back the White House, but seemingly looking to install the same policies that people rejected in 2016 and we talk about the continued efforts to privatize public goods and services now in the name of COVID austerity measures.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, President of the National Economic Association; and Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, join us to talk about the latest economic reports and what the recent jobs report means for the future.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy and Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, joins us to discuss the conflict in Afghanistan we can’t seem to find our way out of. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Brookings Institute, “We went to Afghanistan ... to ensure that Afghanistan never again became a platform for terrorists to strike the United States...We believe that now after 20 years — two decades of consistent effort there — we’ve achieved a modicum of success.” How true is that?
Greg Palast, an award-winning investigative reporter featured in The Guardian, Nation Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, BBC and elsewhere, joins us to discuss the Black Voters Matter Fund and others announcing a lawsuit against the State of Georgia to return nearly 200,000 voters they say were wrongly purged from the polls in 2019, a lawsuit based on your report about voter purges from September. We will discuss the news conference and any bombshells that were dropped.
Carmine Sabia, journalist and writer for Citizen Truth, joins us to discuss the future of the Republican Party with or without Donald Trump and whether or not the GOP can keep the screws together ahead of Georgia’s Senate runoff election early next year.
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist takes a look at the brand new app Clubhouse and how you may be giving up more than you think online.
Terry Collingsworth, executive director of International Rights Advocates, which sued Nestle USA and Cargill over the alleged child slavery used on cocoa plantations they buy from, joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss that case’s journey to the Supreme Court, the labor abuses the case documents, and their efforts to confront and curtail the growing impunity of corporations.
Journalist Mohammed Elmaazi, editor of the Interregnum, reviewed recent efforts to silence independent media in the UK, including left-leaning news website The Canary, and the Labour Party’s role in muting the left.
Alan MacLeod author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, explained why you probably haven’t heard much about France’s recent protests, got into former President Barack Obama’s role in crushing the ambitions of the left, and the incredible doublespeak of the mainstream press as they congratulate Joe Biden for avoiding Obama’s mistakes even as he rehires all the Obama staffers who made them.
Bryan Weaver, founder and executive director of Hoops Sagrado, and Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, joined to discuss covid forfeits and labor rights in the NFL, the way sports are coopted to carry jingoistic and nationalistic messages, and the importance of these ephemeral means of human expression.
Bryan Weaver, founder and executive director of Hoops Sagrado, and Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, joined to discuss covid forfeits and labor rights in the NFL, the way sports are coopted to carry jingoistic and nationalistic messages, and the importance of these ephemeral means of human expression.
Terry Collingsworth, executive director of International Rights Advocates, which sued Nestle USA and Cargill over the alleged child slavery used on cocoa plantations they buy from, joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss that case’s journey to the Supreme Court, the labor abuses the case documents, and their efforts to confront and curtail the growing impunity of corporations.
Sara Dady, an immigration attorney in Illinois and a former Democratic congressional candidate, and Jason Dzubow, an immigration attorney at Dzubow & Pilcher and a blogger at The Asylumist, join Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the case before the Supreme Court on whether to count undocumented immigrants for Electoral College and Congressional apportioning. They dig into the ramifications of the case and make predictions about Joe Biden’s immigration policy.
Levi Rickert, editor of Native News Online, breaks down Trump administration’s efforts to force through mining on sacred Apache land at Oak Flat, including how the Apache see the land, what copper mining would do to it, how long this fight has actually been going (it didn’t start with Trump, folks), and other efforts by Native Americans to protect their environments.
Award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall dropped by to talk about Facebook’s efforts to control political messages on its platform, the lessons Democrats haven’t learned from this election, and the battle between church, state and capitalism in New York.
Jacquie Luqman, cohost of Radio Sputnik’s “By Any Means Necessary,” gets into the importance of diversifying horror, the impact that could have on the genre, and the gems, like “His House,” that black horror writers and filmmakers are producing.
Author, award-winning foreign correspondent, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Jon Jeter and BreakThrough News journalist Kei Pritsker join Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss Neera Tanden and Joe Biden’s other latest cabinet nominees, the brand-above-all orientation of the Democratic Party and the media focus on messengers over message.
Journalist and East African political analyst Marshey Demissie and Chichester University Professor Hakim Adi help break down the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia between the government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the efforts of the African Union to mediate and the strange framing of a civil war as a “law enforcement operation.”
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, discussed the recent assassination of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the dishonest coverage of Iran’s nuclear program, the timing of this provocation and the Trump administration’s legacy in the Middle East.
Your Misfits hosts also broke down the best and worst from the Sunday news shows and got into the National Football League as a microcosm of US exploitation of labor
Maru Mora-Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia, community organizer and undocumented immigrant, joins us to discuss the eight people currently detained at the NWDC in Tacoma, who are on a hunger strike that started on Friday last week to demand changes to how COVID-19 cases are being handled. With the new coronavirus-related restrictions and the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in the state of Washington, the government continues to fail to prioritize the health of the people inside the NWDC. We'll also discuss US President-elect Joe Biden previewing his agenda for his first 100 days in office.
Dan Kovalik, lawyer, professor and author of “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian Intervention’ to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests," joins us to discuss OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s guilty plea on Tuesday and how that helps the Sackler family. The company admitted to committing three felonies in its efforts to keep prescriptions of the painkiller flowing, including paying illegal kickbacks to doctors; paying a medical records company to send doctors information on patients that encouraged them to prescribe more opioids; and lying to the Drug Enforcement Administration about trying to prevent its opioids from entering the black market and misleading the agency to boost its manufacturing quotas. But this plea has the opposite effect of what one might guess - rather than holding any of the Sackler family, who made billions of dollars from these drugs, accountable, it instead preserves the value of the company so it can be turned into a public-benefit corporation, which can then be plundered for fines and settlements, leaving the Sacklers’ profits untouched. Is this right?
Dr. Larry Caplin, a national leader on public health subjects and health care logistics and the CEO of DOCS Health, joins us to discuss the intersection of sports and COVID-19. Despite the pandemic, sports leagues continue to play and even continue to begin seasons in the midst of record numbers of new cases. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball begins Wednesday, and there's already been a fair amount of chaos even before the first game is played. A number of coaches have tested positive for COVID-19, and several teams have seen their matchups canceled or postponed, including Baylor University's No. 1-ranked men's team. On the women's side, No. 3-ranked University of Connecticut has suspended all team activities after a member of the program tested positive. NCAA football continues to see teams cancel games due to the virus. Should these leagues continue to play, or is it time that they end their seasons?
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, joins us to discuss Biden’s transition into the White House and Michael Flynn’s likely pardon. US President Donald Trump "has told confidants he plans to pardon his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts," Axios reported Tuesday, citing "two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions."
Fred Magdoff, professor of plant and soil science at the University of Vermont, co-author of “What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know About Capitalism” and “Creating an Ecological Society: Toward a Revolutionary Transformation, joins us to discuss lead abatement upset Americans should all be at how much lead we live with in our urban environments and how it got there.
Bill Honigman, California state coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America and co-coordinator of its Healthcare Human Rights Issue Organizing Team, and Dr. Margaret Flowers, Co-Founder of Popular Resistance and Director of the Health Over Profit for Everyone, joins us to talking about health care, labor at our nation’s hospitals and vaccine distribution.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy," joins us to discuss Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees, why America’s refuse to work together to stem the pandemic and what Elon Musk's rise to the 2nd richest person in the world says about America.
Ben Norton, journalist, writer, filmmaker, assistant editor of The Grayzone and producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, joins us to discuss why comedy and satire have been so, so bad under Donald Trump.
Eugene Puryear, host at Breakthrough News and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America," joins us to give his analysis of the presidential election; voter disenfranchisement; and those who feel underrepresented.
Emily Paul, DC Ward 1 resident, policy analyst at Upturn and member of the Community Oversight of Surveillance Coalition in DC; and Freddy Martinez, director of the Lucy Parsons Institute in Chicago, join us to talk about surveillance: where it is, how it’s spreading, how we can monitor and control it and, in this time of COVID-19, how we can separate the good from the bad.
Morgan Artyukhina, Sputnik News journalist, joins us to talk about news that’s come out over the past week about the US war machine and the consequences it has for us and the rest of the world. A report by Airwars documents almost every single one of the US coalition’s strikes against ISIS. It’s being called a major transparency breakthrough, and the Pentagon is getting some credit for giving Airwars such specific geographic data about the strikes. But what does this report say about civilian casualties in the war on ISIS?
Antone Barnes, founder CEO of Brand Architects and Bryan Weaver, Founder of Hoops Sagrado, joins us to discuss the future of sports in the age of COVID, the NBA draft, and why baseball players continue to use Performance Enhancing Drugs even after testing positive several times.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda to talk about the latest on Rudy Guiliani’s literal meltdown, some of Joe Biden’s worse picks so far, and the State Department’s new offensive against BDS.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to break down the new record breaking COVID numbers of a quarter million, including 1,800 deaths yesterday alone and a record 79,000 current hospitalizations.
Dr. Shayla C. Nunally, professor of political science and Chair of Africana studies at the University of Tennessee; author of "Trust in Black America: Race, Discrimination, and Politics,” and former President of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists joins us to discuss the issue of bipartisanship in congress and the presidential administration. Does it help or hurt and who profits the most. Also, can a Biden administration change things?
Kara Gostch, Director of Strategic Initiatives at The Sentencing Project, joins us to discuss The Justice Roundtable’s new lengthy report titled, “Transformative Justice: Recommendations for the New Administration and the 117th Congress.”
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist, joins us to discuss the US military purchasing data of people around the world, through two separate supply chains that transfer user data through a variety of brokers and contractors to US Special Operations command. One is a Muslim pro, an app that reminds users when it’s time to pray. What’s the significance of learning the US military wants this kind of data? And what would they be using it for?
Robert Fantina, activist and journalist working for peace and social justice and author of 'Propaganda, Lies and False Flags: How the U.S. Justifies its Wars,' joins us to discuss Pompeo’s trip to Israel, the state of the Palestian people, and what Joe Biden will mean for the future of the Israel occupation.
John Ross, author, economist and senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute of Renmin University of China, joins us to discuss the ASEAN trade deal. Over the weekend a major trade deal was signed between China and 14 other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The economic benefits from the partnership are modest and will take years to materialize but that diplomatically, it’s a victory for China. What does the trade deal achieve, or doesn’t, for China and the region, economically and politically.
Lucho Garate, journalist and director of the independent media outlet ComuniCambio; and Jimena Laso, immigrant mom and graduate student in Latin American studies, join us to discuss the ongoing political crisis in Peru. President Martin Vizcarra was removed last week, Manuel Merino lasted five days before resigning Sunday, and then Francisco Sagasti of the Morado Party was sworn in as president on Tuesday. Sagasti's ascent seems to have triggered relief everywhere. He’s been described as a centrist, he’s worked at the World Bank, and he is liked by the Organization of American States. But will he do much good or at least return things to normal?
Julian Vigo is a journalist, filmmaker and editor of Savage Minds. Her latest book is "Earthquake in Haiti: The Pornography of Poverty and the Politics of Development." She joins us to discuss protesters who have taken to the streets to fight back against the recent tightening of Poland's abortion laws by the country's Constitutional Tribunal, a decision backed by the ruling Law and Justice party.
John Lyman, editor-in-chief of International Policy Digest, joins us to discuss a recent report that claims US President Donald Trump met with advisors to discuss a possible strike against an Iranian nuclear site. We'll also look at Trump possibly ordering more troops to leave Afghanistan and Iraq as soon as this week. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, however, warned Tuesday against an early withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, saying that the price for leaving too soon could be very high and that Afghanistan could once again become a haven for international terrorists to plan attacks.
Graham Peebles, a British freelance writer and charity worker who set up The Create Trust in 2005 and runs education projects in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and India, joins us to talk about the ongoing fighting in Ethiopia and the instability across the horn of Africa. We'll first look at Ethiopia, where fighting between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front in the North has now spilled over into Eritrea. The spark that lit the powder keg seems to be an attack on the Ethiopian military's Northern Command. We'll learn about what led to the fighting the last two weeks and what the aim of the Tigray People's Liberation Front is.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, documentary filmmaker, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins us to discuss US President-elect Joe Biden’s transition teams, focusing on the Department of Justice. We'll also talk about MSNBC, the media and Biden. Last week, Jon Meacham was revealed to have been working on Biden’s speeches, drafting them and sending edits, while he was a paid analyst at MSNBC, sometimes providing commentary on speeches he helped write! And we have three paid MSNBC contributors leaving the network to join Biden’s transition teams: Barbara McQuade, Ezekiel Emanuel and Richard Stengel. How troubled should we be about this overlap between media and politics?
Ntebo Mokuena, community organizer, abolitionist and front-line liberation fighter; and Sean Michael Love, founder and editor-in-chief of Black House News, join us to discuss the so-called 'Million MAGA March" over the weekend in Washington, DC - which, despite its name, drew a crowd of only thousands - and the ever-increasing police brutality against antifacist protesters.
Carlos Castaneda, an attorney who specializes in immigration law, joins us to take a look at how the parents of hundreds of kids who were separated from them at the US' southern border still can’t be found. Some of these children whose parents can’t be located were separated from them in 2017! They’ve been living with relatives and sponsor families in the US all that time. Last month, lawyers said they hadn't yet found the parents of 545 children, but NBC reported this week, citing an email from one of those attorneys to the Justice Department, that the number was actually 666 children. And it gets worse: the pilot program that predated the zero-tolerance family separation program that began in 2018 didn’t even have any plan to reunite kids with their parents. According to a Justice Department memo from 2018 that NBC says it viewed, the pilot program authors decided they shouldn’t separate kids younger than 12 from their parents because the kids couldn’t find their way back to their parents alone. Is there anything else we should know about this terrible program?
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog with Beyond Nuclear, joins us to discuss peace activists who received 14-month prison sentences for a protest at a US Navy submarine base. Seven Catholic peace activists snuck into the Kings Bay Naval Base in Georgia in 2018 and committed some symbolic vandalism. They splashed blood around, hammered at what’s been described as a monument to nuclear war and spray-painted some peace slogans on the ground. Their acts weren't horrible, and yet we’re seeing these activists, who seem to be almost all older people, being sentenced to more than a year in prison.
Joia Jefferson Nuri, communication specialist for In The Public Eye Communications; and Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist, join us to discuss a potential Trump run in 2024, as well as whether he could be planning a coup or if we're headed to a civil war. They also discuss the upcoming "Million MAGA March" and what US President-elect Joe Biden's plan is for Black America.
Ralph Cooper III, journalist, political satirist and founder of District Comedy in Washington, DC, joins us to take a look at how Trump's reign has affected comedy.
Carlos Castaneda, an attorney who specializes in immigration law, joins us to take a look at how the parents of hundreds of kids who were separated from them at the US' southern border still can’t be found. Some of these children whose parents can’t be located were separated from them in 2017! They’ve been living with relatives and sponsor families in the US all that time. Last month, lawyers said they hadn't yet found the parents of 545 children, but NBC reported this week, citing an email from one of those attorneys to the Justice Department, that the number was actually 666 children. And it gets worse: the pilot program that predated the zero-tolerance family separation program that began in 2018 didn’t even have any plan to reunite kids with their parents. According to a Justice Department memo from 2018 that NBC says it viewed, the pilot program authors decided they shouldn’t separate kids younger than 12 from their parents because the kids couldn’t find their way back to their parents alone. Is there anything else we should know about this terrible program?
Dan Kovalik, lawyer, professor and author of “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian Intervention’ to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests"; and Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist and columnist, join us to discuss what’s happening at the Defense Department. Trump recently fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper; Esper’s chief of staff resigned and was followed by top Pentagon policy official James Anderson and top intelligence official Joseph Kernan. Sliding over as acting defense secretary is Christopher Miller, who had been director of the National Counterterrorism Center. And replacing Anderson is someone who has raised a lot of hackles - Gen. Anthony Tata, who was forced out of consideration for that job originally because of a bunch of pretty vicious, Islamophobic statements. What could do these changes mean for the potential Biden administration?
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology at the University of Arizona, joins us to discuss energy and the environment and what it would mean for the US to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. Biden can have the US rejoin the accord and has promised to do so as he takes office. What does the deal bind us to? Under Trump, how far have we shifted from the emissions limits and funding promises to which we were supposed to adhere, and what is it going to take to pull us back in line?
David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University and author of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter," joins us to discuss Trump’s ongoing legal efforts to change what appears to be a victory for Biden in the presidential election, and also get into what’s happening in our education systems as COVID-19 tears unhindered through the US.
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist, joins us to examine the trend of tech executives being invited to weigh in on what seems like every single aspect of our government! There are a few employees from Amazon joining Biden's transition agency review teams, as well as a LinkedIn representative. There's someone who previously worked for Google and the Obama administration who is back to oversee the National Security Council review team. There are also staff from Airbnb, Uber, Lyft and Stripe. What should we make of all these tech employees being involved with the State Department and aspects of national security?
Guy McPherson, scientist and professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology at the University of Arizona, joins us to discuss energy and the environment and what it would mean for the US to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. US President-elect Joe Biden can have the country rejoin the accord and has promised to do so as he takes office. What does the deal bind us to? Under US President Donald Trump, how far have we shifted from the emissions limits and funding promises to which we were supposed to adhere, and what is it going to take to pull us back in line?
Karleigh Webb, journalist, videographer, anti-imperialist and labor and trans rights organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Connecticut; and Chris Smalls, former Amazon employee and founder of The Congress of Essential Workers, join us with a look at who’s represented on US President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team when it comes to labor and what kind of fight workers are gearing up for under a new administration.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins us to discuss a new proposal by Deutsche Bank strategist Luke Templeman that working from home be taxed. He says workers who aren’t leaving their houses aren’t paying into infrastructure that already exists. The proposal suggests a salary tax of 5% on people who choose to work from home, which would be paid by their employers. That money would then be paid out as grants to people who can’t work from home and who don’t make much money. Surely there’s another way to support low-income workers than by taxing people for staying home?
Abe Paulos, deputy director of communications and policy at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, joins us to talk about the harsh realities facing African refugees and immigrants in the United States, as well as what immigration policies advocates are demanding from the future Biden administration.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins us to discuss a new proposal by Deutsche Bank strategist Luke Templeman that working from home be taxed. He says workers who aren’t leaving their houses aren’t paying into infrastructure that already exists. The proposal suggests a salary tax of 5% on people who choose to work from home, which would be paid by their employers. That money would then be paid out as grants to people who can’t work from home and who don’t make much money. Surely there’s another way to support low-income workers than by taxing people for staying home?
Lucho Garate, journalist and director of the independent media outlet ComuniCambio, joins us to discuss the latest in Peru, where the country's Congress has voted to impeach President Martín Vizcarra, no longer trusting him to run the country. Overall, 105 of Peru’s 130 lawmakers voted to remove him on corruption charges. "Vizcarra denied as 'baseless' and 'false' the latest allegations that he accepted bribes worth 2.3 million soles [about $635,000] from companies that won public works contracts when he was the governor of the southern region of Moquegua," The Guardian reported Tuesday. Some are calling Vizcarra’s impeachment a coup, while others are saying it is a referendum on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. What has taken place here?
Jefferson Morley, a journalist and editor who has worked in Washington, DC, journalism for over 30 years and is the author of "The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton" and "Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA"; and human rights activist and lawyer Jonathan Kuttab join us to discuss possible coming foreign policy changes under a Biden administration with regard to Israel, Palestine and Afghanistan.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," joins us to discuss the bloody conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the resurgence of fighting in Afghanistan. Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a full ceasefire after six weeks of violence over the long-disputed border region. As part of the agreement, Russian soldiers will stand watch and keep peace between the two sides. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan; however, thousands of ethnic Armenians live there. How big a deal is this for Russia?
Ty Hobson-Powell, founder and director of policy for Concerned Citizens of DC and lead organizer with the 51 for 51 DC statehood campaign, joins us to discuss the fight for the soul of the Democratic Party and the sham of capitalism. Lots of liberals are saying that “now the real fight begins” - wait until January 20, and then it's on! Do people really know what that means? Many have hyped voting up so much and focused their civic participation entirely on casting ballots every few years. Will this make it it hard for them to pivot to “real work”?
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," joins us to discuss the bloody conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the resurgence of fighting in Afghanistan. Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a full ceasefire after six weeks of violence over the long-disputed border region. As part of the agreement, Russian soldiers will stand watch and keep peace between the two sides. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan; however, thousands of ethnic Armenians live there. How big a deal is this for Russia?
KJ Noh, writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics; and David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," join us to discuss what might change under a Biden administration concerning some key foreign policy positions and international relationships, beginning in East Asia.
Elisabeth Myers, lawyer and adjunct associate professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law, democracy lead at Democrats Abroad Morocco and former editor-in-chief of Inside Arabia, joins us to discuss what a Biden administration could mean for foreign policy in the Middle East. Celebration of a possible Biden win from Saudi Arabia has been less than minuscule, but what does that mean? The US relationship with Saudi Arabia has been stable, yet Biden has said he intends to “reassess” that relationship. He wants more accountability, but has not offered specifics. Is there a chance that a Biden administration would take a major, concrete step, like ceasing the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia? And if not, what else would the Saudi leadership be worried about?
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 Radio, joins us to discuss Biden’s Build Back Better plan. Biden’s website lists four main priorities: COVID-19, racial justice, economic recovery and climate change. However, will these efforts make use of neoliberal economic policies and privatized land, housing and neighborhoods? All of these further exacerbate the economic gaps between white and Black Americans.
KJ Noh, writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics; and David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," join us to discuss what might change under a Biden administration concerning some key American foreign policy positions and international relationships in East Asia.
Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition; and Rev. Dr. Sharon Anderson, CEO of KCG Consulting and former associate professor at the Howard University School of Law and Georgetown Law, join us to discuss the US presidential election, the courts and whether constant lawsuits over vote counting are the future for the country. Since the counting started, there have been a bunch of lawsuits, mostly by the Trump campaign, regarding access for observers. There have also been lawsuits in several states regarding which votes could be counted and what the results have been. Should we look at these legal fights launched by the Trump campaign and think that US election and voting laws are pretty weak and unsettled? Or, on the contrary, should we conclude that the laws and courts are functioning as they should, and these lawsuits are just harassment?
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss medical education during a pandemic and a new Hippocratic Oath that addresses racism. The new oath comes from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Class of 2024. In September, students in the class "started a new tradition by writing their own class oath to acknowledge their ever-evolving responsibilities as physicians," a release from the university noted. It acknowledges “the fundamental failings of our health care and political systems in serving vulnerable communities.” It is intended as a “first step in our enduring commitment to repairing the injustices against those historically ignored and abused in medicine: Black patients, Indigenous patients, Patients of Color and all marginalized populations who have received substandard care as a result of their identity and limited resources.” But what will the students taking this oath be up against as they try to uphold it while going through medical school and into their own practices?
Anoa Changa, writer, activist, lawyer and journalist, joins us to discuss the elections in Georgia. The presidential race seems to be coming to a close, but the state will have not one but two US Senate seats heading to runoff elections on January 5, 2021. One race will be Republican Sen. David Perdue vs. Democrat Jon Ossoff, and the other race will be GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler - who has never won an election - vs. Democratic Pastor Raphael Warnock. Just about every Democrat has come forward with advice on how best to win each seat. On one side, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her allies have warned Georgia Democrats to not run too far to the left, or they will blow their chances in both contests. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) said during a Thursday caucus call that if “we are going to run on Medicare for All, defund the police, socialized medicine, we're not going to win," Politico reported. "But Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, thought differently, jumping in on a Democratic Party strategy call to defend liberal ideas, saying that’s what keeps the Democratic base motivated to turn out and vote," the outlet noted. How do Democrats win these two Senate seats in Georgia? What is the path?
Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition; and Rev. Dr. Sharon Anderson, CEO of KCG Consulting and former associate professor at the Howard University School of Law and Georgetown Law, join us to discuss the US presidential election, the courts and whether constant lawsuits over vote counting are the future for the country. Since the counting started, there have been a bunch of lawsuits, mostly by US President Donald Trump's campaign, regarding access for observers. There have also been lawsuits in several states regarding which votes could be counted and what the results have been. Should we look at these legal fights launched by the Trump campaign and think that US election and voting laws are pretty weak and unsettled? Or, on the contrary, should we conclude that the laws and courts are functioning as they should, and these lawsuits are just harassment?
Niko House, political activist, independent journalist and podcaster, joins us to discuss the deep divide between red and blue America. A Washington Post piece highlights America's deep divide when examining how Joe Biden expanded the margin of Democratic victory in key urban and suburban counties, but didn't make a lot of inroads in exurban and rural areas. The article says the divide "underscores fundamental disagreements among Americans about how to control the coronavirus pandemic or whether to even try; how to revitalize the economy and restore jobs; how to combat climate change or whether it is an emergency at all; and the roles of morality, empathy and the rule of law in the body politic.” But is the red and blue framing really useful at all anymore? Do Americans disagree about the roles of morality, empathy and the rule of law, or do we disagree about what those terms mean, in a way?
Alejandro Chavez, political director for Smart and Safe Arizona, joins us to discuss US President Donald Trump’s loss and the passing of the Smart and Safe Arizona Act. Voters in Arizona passed the act by approving Proposition 207, with 60% of ballots supporting it and 40% opposed. "Instead of facing felony arrest for any testable amount of marijuana, adults 21 and older in Arizona will now be able to possess up to an ounce of 'flower' and up to five grams of concentrates," the Phoenix News Times reported Thursday. "They can also grow up to six plants, or 12 if they have two people living on one property."
Levi Rickert, editor of Native News Online, joins us to discuss how Native American candidates fared overall and what wins or losses will be most significant. Because of the American federal system, issues of sovereignty and tribal relationships with the US government are negotiated more at the state level, and so state legislative races will sometimes be more important than national ones. Were there any significant developments for Native American candidates at the state level? Also, are any US major parties or third parties taking enough notice, reaching out and attempting real and meaningful conversations with these communities?
Niko House, political activist, independent journalist and podcaster, joins us to discuss the deep divide between red and blue America. A Washington Post piece highlights America's deep divide when examining how Joe Biden expanded the margin of Democratic victory in key urban and suburban counties, but didn't make a lot of inroads in exurban and rural areas. The article says the divide "underscores fundamental disagreements among Americans about how to control the coronavirus pandemic or whether to even try; how to revitalize the economy and restore jobs; how to combat climate change or whether it is an emergency at all; and the roles of morality, empathy and the rule of law in the body politic.” But is the red and blue framing really useful at all anymore? Do Americans disagree about the roles of morality, empathy and the rule of law, or do we disagree about what those terms mean, in a way?
Rosa Clemente, American community organizer, independent journalist and hip-hop activist. She is the president and founder of Know Thy Self Productions and PR on the Map, and of course, she was the vice presidential running mate of 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, joins the discussion to discuss the role of Latino voters in the election. Is this election, or should it be, the death knell of the concept of “the Latino voter” in the US? Is it time to retire this notion that we can categorize a continent’s worth of people, with very different heritages, very different racial identities, very different economic backgrounds and goals, just because consultants and pollsters like to have one nice, flat line in their demographic breakdowns?
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse podcast, Brandon how much last night felt like a bit of a backlash vote against the Black Lives matter movement, joins us to discuss Tuesday's election and the state of Bernie Sanders supporters. How much last night felt like a bit of a backlash vote against the Black Lives matter movement, Joe Biden’s looked at that movement and said nah I’m good, I’m gonna denounce these folks and stand over here, while Trump beat up Biden on the movements. And its like what cowards Biden is, oh no they’ll say I’m a socialist, bash socialism, oh no anti-police, bash BLM. At the end of the day they won votes on calling Biden an anti-cop socialist.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, author and professor in the Economics and Politics departments at St. Mary's College of California, joins us to discuss the math behind the election process. Also, how come every time they count mail-in ballot dumps they are so devastating in their percentage and power of destruction? Things looked like they were going pretty well for Trump last night, but what is the mathematical paths to victory still open to Biden and Trump.
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse podcast, Brandon how much last night felt like a bit of a backlash vote against the Black Lives matter movement, joins us to discuss Tuesday's election and the state of Burnie Sanders supporters. How much last night felt like a bit of a backlash vote against the Black Lives matter movement, Joe Biden’s looked at that movement and said nah I’m good, I’m gonna denounce these folks and stand over here, while Trump beat up Biden on the movements. And its like what cowards Biden is, oh no they’ll say I’m a socialist, bash socialism, oh no anti-police, bash BLM. At the end of the day they won votes on calling Biden an anti-cop socialist.
Rosa Clemente, American community organizer, independent journalist and hip-hop activist. She is the president and founder of Know Thy Self Productions and PR on the Map, and of course, she was the vice presidential running mate of 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, joins the discussion to discuss the role of Latino voters in the election. Is this election, or should it be, the death knell of the concept of “the Latino voter” in the US? Is it time to retire this notion that we can categorize a continent’s worth of people, with very different heritages, very different racial identities, very different economic backgrounds and goals, just because consultants and pollsters like to have one nice, flat line in their demographic breakdowns?
Patricio Zamorano, political analyst and co-director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), joins us to discuss the state of movements from 2016-2020. In 2016, There was a huge movement towards alternative political organizations including the Green Party, Democratic Socialist of America, and smaller groups like the Party for Socialism and Liberation. After the election where do you think movement energy will trend?
Ed Forchion (Four-Che-En) Jr., aka NJ Weedman, an American Rastafari cannabis rights and free speech activist. He is the founder of the Legalize Marijuana Party, joins us to discuss marijuana the ballot initiatives. Voters in Republican-led Arizona and South Dakota and Democrat-led Montana and New Jersey will consider proposals to legalize recreational marijuana today. Another red state, Mississippi, is weighing a pair of ballot questions to legalize medical marijuana. Polls show that the ballots initiatives have support in Arizona, Montana and New Jersey. Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use. All but two did so by ballot initiative, which poses the question directly to voters.
Ted Rall, award winning political cartoonist and columnist, joins us to discuss the Mueller Investigation and what effect it's had on the last 4 years. Was it really a game changer? Did Russiagate have an impact on the presidency? According to Buzzfeed, newly released portions of a report sheds new light on the seriousness with which the special counsel investigated the hacks of Democratic party computers. And while the fact that prosecutors elected not to file any charges in that matter is an apparent vindication for both Assange and Stone, Buzzfeed tells us with great solemnity that Mueller didn’t “completely absolve either man,” nothing that “factual uncertainties” remained “the subject of ongoing investigations” by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Maru Mora-Villalpando, immigrant rights activist and organizer, joins us to take a look back on the past four years of US immigration policy. Have Trump’s actions matched his rhetoric? Has his administration significantly changed American immigration policy, and which of its efforts have been failures? We'll also look at what immigration would look like under Biden and the best ways to keep pressure on a Biden administration. There are a number of Trump administration policies that Biden could reverse if he wins the election. Which would he pick first?
Steven Hill, journalist and author of "Raw Deal: How the 'Uber Economy' and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers" and "10 Steps to Repair American Democracy," joins us to discuss one of the most important ballot initiatives of the year, Proposition 22 in California. It's the most expensive California ballot measure of the year, and apparently the most expensive in the state's history. It is described by Ballotpedia as a citizens' initiative. Was it really a bunch of concerned citizens who forced this measure onto the ballot, after California last year passed Assembly Bill 5, which was supposed to fix this problem and force gig employers to extend benefits to staff who reasonably fit the category of “employee” rather than “contractor?” How is some of that money being spent?
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda; and Dr. Dave Ragland, co-executive director of the Truth Telling Project and director of the Grassroots Reparations Campaign, join us to discuss the sentiments behind Tuesday's election and the division it's caused. "Voters in Republican-led Arizona and South Dakota and Democrat-led Montana and New Jersey will consider proposals to legalize recreational marijuana," CNN reported Saturday. "Another red state, Mississippi, is weighing a pair of ballot questions to legalize medical marijuana." We are really at a great dividing point in American politics. Are families actually ripping apart in new ways? And if that is the case, did the huge spike in protests and the shock of wokeness through the American populace actually stick? What's really going on across the US?
Maru Mora-Villalpando, immigrant rights activist and organizer, joins us to take a look back on the past four years of US immigration policy. Have US President Donald Trump’s actions matched his rhetoric? Has his administration significantly changed American immigration policy, and which of its efforts have been failures? We'll also look at what immigration would look like under Joe Biden and the best ways to keep pressure on a Biden administration. There are a number of Trump administration policies that Biden could reverse if he wins the election. Which would he pick first?
Journalist and editor of The Interregnum Mohammed Elmaazi discusses the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s questionable report on anti-semitism in the UK Labour Party and the suspension of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn over his mild rebuttal of the accusations in it. He also broke down the role of the media in formatting the scandal and where Labour’s disgruntled left wing could go from here.
Julian Vigo, independent scholar and filmmaker who specializes in anthropology, technology and political philosophy, reports from Italy as it enters a second lockdown and explains why a public so initially supportive of restrictions is rebelling now. She also warns of the possibility of children’s data being exploited by big tech companies as overtaxed governments hand over control of public education.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of “Get Your News On With Ron,” discusses Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s dueling rallies in Florida, the Democrats’ authenticity problem, the latest polls and who the real contenders in this electoral contest are.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte also took apart the latest Trump-mania of the New York Times and issued some suggestions as to which political figures and other entities should take the weekend off.
Ron Placone, comedian and host of “Get Your News On With Ron,” discusses Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s dueling rallies in Florida, the Democrats’ authenticity problem, the latest polls and who the real contenders in this electoral contest are.
Julian Vigo, independent scholar and filmmaker who specializes in anthropology, technology and political philosophy, reports from Italy as it enters a second lockdown and explains why a public so initially supportive of restrictions is rebelling now. She also warns of the possibility of children’s data being exploited by big tech companies as overtaxed governments hand over control of public education.
Web developer and Chris Garaffa joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to talk about the tepid defense tech CEOs gave of section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, why that imperfect law remains so important, and why the National Security Agency shouldn’t be trusted to set up and monitor its own oversight when it comes to creating backdoors into what should be secure information.
Tiana Caldwell, Board President of KC Tenants, and Will Merrifield, a tenant lawyer formerly with the DC Clinic for the Homeless and a candidate for DC Council At-Large, discuss militant action to prevent evictions during this pandemic; the crime of evicting families without notice, based on nothing but a Zoom hearing, in the midst of a health and economic crisis; the roots of our urban housing crises; and the humanitarian disaster the nation faces as a result of rising homelessness.
Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist, joined Ra Shad Frazier Gaines, founder of Black Progressives, to help the Misfits break down some of the marquee Senate races that will also be decided on November 3, including showdowns in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. They also discuss the role of money in these record-breakingly expensive races.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, explained the impact covid 19 is already having on heart disease and cancer outcomes and predicted how we’ll see that impact reverberate through our public health and insurance systems. She also laid out the priorities authorities should have for handling what seems like an inevitable surge in chronic disease resulting from this pandemic.
Tiana Caldwell, board president of KC Tenants, and Will Merrifield, a tenant lawyer formerly with the DC Clinic for the Homeless and a candidate for DC Council At-Large, discuss direct action to prevent evictions during this pandemic; the crime of evicting families without notice, based on nothing but a Zoom hearing, in the midst of a health and economic crisis; the roots of our urban housing crises; and the humanitarian disaster the nation faces as a result of rising homelessness.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, explains the impact covid 19 is already having on heart disease and cancer outcomes and predicts how we’ll see that impact reverberate through our public health and insurance systems. She also lays out the priorities authorities should have for handling what seems like an inevitable surge in chronic disease resulting from this pandemic.
Greg Palast, an award-winning investigative reporter featured in The Guardian, Nation Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, BBC and elsewhere, joins Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to explain exactly how the Supreme Court of the US and other courts could affect the outcome of this presidential election and brings an update on voter suppression efforts and resistance to them in states across the nation.
Director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies John Feffer discussed his new report, “A Pandemic Pivot,” which argues that returning to the liberal status-quo won’t cut it post-covid. He talks about his research into what countries are handling the pandemic well and why, and about bringing Hollywood tricks and tactics to think tank products to try to expand their reach.
Journalist and political analyst Caleb Maupin says reports of the death of neoliberalism are greatly exaggerated - as is “Havana Syndrome,’ despite the credulity of the Washington Post and other outlets. Not quite as exaggerated: fears about the inroads Prager U and other conservative organizations are making into US education systems.
Greg Palast, an award-winning investigative reporter featured in The Guardian, Nation Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, BBC and elsewhere, joins Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to explain exactly how the Supreme Court of the US and other courts could affect the outcome of this presidential election and brings an update on voter suppression efforts and resistance to them in states across the nation.
Nate Wallace, creator and cohost of the podcast Redspin Sports, breaks down the politics of healthcare for athletes, the barriers to player solidarity and the power athletes could have as universal health care advocates.
Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives and first Native American Democratic woman elected to that state’s legislature Ruth Anna Buffalo joins Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the impact of Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation on the health of her constituents and on Native Americans in general, as well as the potential for actual truth and reconciliation with regard to this country’s history of cultural genocide.
Nate Wallace, creator and cohost of the podcast Redspin Sports, got into the politics of healthcare for athletes and the power athletes could have as advocates for universal health services.
Margaret Kimberly, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of “Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents,” trashes the corporate media that has turned from on a dime from Russiagate to demonizing China using the very same playbook, discusses why a post-Trump truth and reconciliation commission won’t happen and weighs in on what if anything can be done to rein in lies online.
Actor E. Faye Butler joins to discuss her role in “Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It!” the need for artists to also be activists, the drive she sees in younger generations and the unsung hero she portrays.
Margaret Kimberly, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of “Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents,” trashes the corporate media that has turned from on a dime from Russiagate to demonizing China using the very same playbook, discusses why a post-Trump truth and reconciliation commission won’t happen and weighs in on what if anything can be done to rein in lies online.
Gilbert Mercier, editor in chief of News Junkie Post, joins Political Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the diplomatic spat between France and Turkey, the French president's unhelpful tweets, and the geopolitical and domestic ramifications of the latest flareup in the strained relationship between Paris and Ankara.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, broke down China’s sanctions on US arms makers, Chile’s constitutional redo and what we can learn from it, what’s happening to the American people as their long wait for a new stimulus bill drags on and the arrest of an alleged member of the “Boogaloo Bois.”
The Misfits also discussed the weekend’s dark pandemic milestones, took aim at media hypocrisy and hyperbole from the Washington Post and elsewhere, deplored the usual Sunday news softballs and Senator Kamala Harris’ “60 Minutes” performance, and made big plans for the moon’s newly revealed water.
Gilbert Mercier, editor in chief of News Junkie Post, joins Political Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the diplomatic spat between France and Turkey, the French president's unhelpful tweets, and the geopolitical and domestic ramifications of the latest flareup in the strained relationship between Paris and Ankara.
Sinclair Skinner, an American engineer and founder of ILoveBlackPeople.com, and Dr. Linwood Tauheed, President of the National Economic Association, join Political Misfits to discuss the ongoing protests in Nigeria that have lead to nearly 60 people being killed, the role cryptocurrencies can play in protecting grassroots fundraising from hostile governments, and how the global poor can accumulate wealth.
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik News Analyst joins live from Bolivia to talk about the future of the country's economy under Luis Arce, if America's puppet government will leave office peacefully, and the targeting of independent journalists since last Sunday's election.
Jon Jeter, an author, award-winning foreign correspondent, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize joins the show to talk about last night's final Presidential debate, the unwillingness of American media to cover class issues, the chances of Bernie Sanders serving as Labor Secretary in a Biden administration, Walmart suing the Federal government, and the wave of evictions facing millions of Americans come December.
In this week's "Working for the Weekend" segment Bob and Michelle demand that Washington D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department, Senator Mitch McConnell, and Evangelical singer and former Republican congressional hopeful Sean Feucht all take the weekend off.
Sinclair Skinner, an American engineer, human rights activist, political adviser and founder of ILoveBlackPeople.com, and Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and president of the National Economic Association, join Political Misfits to discuss the ongoing protests in Nigeria and the role cryptocurrencies can play in protecting grassroots fundraising from hostile governments.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor in the Economics and Political Science Departments at St. Mary's College of California, joins us to discuss what’s not happening in terms of another stimulus bill. And later in the segment, we'll take a closer look at the $8 billion settlement Purdue Pharma agreed to Wednesday, pleading guilty to several criminal charges. However, the settlement means no member of the Sackler family will serve prison time.
Ann Garrison, journalist and contributor to a number of outlets such as Black Agenda Report, Black Star News, MintPress and CounterPunch; and Dan Kovalik, lawyer, professor and author of “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian Intervention’ to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests," join us to discuss how Paul Rusesabagina, the hero whose story is the basis of the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” was kidnapped in Dubai and illegally rendered to Rwanda in late August. He now awaits trial on terrorism charges. We'll learn more about the arrest and what he now stands accused of.
Kim Iversen, independent journalist and host of the "Kim Iversen Show" on YouTube; and Nicolas Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq," joins us to discuss Israel and Bahrain officially signing a communique on establishing diplomatic relations and stories about how Israel has actually had a secret mission in Bahrain for a decade, promoting deals between Israeli and Bahraini businesses and providing a communication channel to the Israeli government. It seems pretty obvious that the Abraham Accords only made public what had been going on in secret. We’ll also discuss a Wednesday Politico story - based on the word of an anonymous congressional aide and an anonymous former State Department official - that the State Department is preparing to accuse a number of prominent international NGOs of anti-Semitism.
Kim Iversen, independent Journalist and Host of the Kim Iversen Show on YouTube; and Nicholas Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq," joins us to discuss Israel and Bahrain officially signing a communique on establishing diplomatic relations and stories about how Israel has actually had a secret mission in Bahrain for a decade, promoting deals between Israeli and Bahraini businesses and providing a communication channel to the Israeli government. It seems pretty obvious that the Abraham Accords only made public what had been going on in secret. We’ll also discuss a Politico story based on the word of an anonymous congressional aide and some anonymous former state officials - that the State Department is preparing to accuse a bunch of prominent international ngos of anti-semitism.
Nikkita Oliver, community organizer, attorney and Seattle Peoples Party co-founder; and Matt Remle, Lakota human rights activist, writer and community organizer, join us to dive into the importance of focusing on local budgets and how those budgets shape the politics and society around us.
Sean Blackmon, the man, the legend and the host of By Any Means Necessary here on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss police misconduct in Washington, DC, and a new law hoping to curb racist 911 calls in San Francisco, California. On Tuesday, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the Caution Against Racial and Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act, giving people the right to sue a 911 caller in civil court. "All 11 supervisors signed on to the legislation, guaranteeing its passage," the Associated Press reported Tuesday. "Other places have moved to make placing racist 911 calls a hate crime. California’s governor recently signed a measure making the crime a misdemeanor punishable by jail time and a fine. New York approved legislation allowing the victims of racist 911 calls to sue." Will this slow down white people from calling the cops?
Lee Camp, comedian, activist, journalist, host of the show “Redacted Tonight” on RT America and author of the recent book “Bullet Points and Punch Lines,” joins us to discuss the recent news that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is vetting Republicans - surprise, surprise - for his Cabinet. GOP names floating around include former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, former Ohio Governor John Kasich, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and former Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent. Is this just for show, or should we fully expect Biden to try to put together some sort of “team of rivals” to show that he’s a uniter, in the event that he wins?
Sean Blackman, the man, the legend, and the host of By Any Means Necessary here on Radio Sputnik, joins us to discuss police misconduct in DC and a new law hoping to curb racist 911 calls in San Francisco.
Shelly Martin, who made history last year as the first Mi’kmaq woman to be appointed as adjudicator of the Small Claims Court of Nova Scotia, joins us to discuss ongoing and increasingly violent attacks on the Mi'kmaq people of Nova Scotia as they exert their rights to fish in St. Mary’s Bay.
Shelly Martin, who made history last year as the first Mi’kmaq woman to be appointed as adjudicator of the Small Claims Court of Nova Scotia, joins us to discuss ongoing and increasingly violent attacks on the Mi'kmaq people of Nova Scotia as they exert their rights to fish in St. Mary’s Bay. "Several hundred lobster traps have either been destroyed or seized by non-Indigenous commercial fishermen in the past month, and two Mi’kmaq fishing boats were alleged to have been set on fire by the same group," Global News reported Monday.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," joins us to discuss cyberwarfare and Monday's indictments by the US Justice Department against alleged Russian hackers over the NotPetya malware and other attacks. "The prosecutors also said the hackers were behind the NotPetya attack, a ransomware attack that spread across the world in 2017, causing billions of dollars in damages," TechCrunch reported Monday. What's really going on?
James Early, former director of cultural heritage policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, joins us to discuss whether or not America’s left should endorse Joe Biden and what Luis Arce’s defiant win in Bolivia's presidential election means for the Americas.
Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and editor of The Interregnum, joins us to look at the new documentary "Keenie Meenie," a project by journalist Phil Miller and documentary filmmaker Lou Macnamara with Declassified UK. The documentary looks at a group of UK mercenaries operating under the company name Keenie Meenie in Sri Lanka in the 1980s during the country's long civil war.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," joins us to discuss cyberwarfare and Monday's indictments by the US Justice Department against alleged Russian hackers over the NotPetya malware and other attacks. "The prosecutors also said the hackers were behind the NotPetya attack, a ransomware attack that spread across the world in 2017, causing billions of dollars in damages," TechCrunch reported Monday. What's really going on?
Wyatt Reed, Sputnik News analyst, joins us to discuss the elections that took place in Bolivia. It looks like the Movement for Socialism (MAS) and its candidate Luis Arce have won the presidential election outright. Exit polls have Arce with a lead of 52.4% to 31.5%, which would give MAS the victory and avoid a second-round runoff. Does this seem to be the consensus in Bolivia early on Monday? MAS still needs to return to power and put the country back together in many ways, such as with regard to the economy, the COVID-19 coronavirus and the scars of a US-backed coup. What will the next few months or even the year look like for the people of Bolivia?
Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University; and Gilbert Mercier, editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post and the author of "The Orwellian Empire," join us to discuss former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been questioned by French police - again - over allegations of corruption mostly linked to campaign financing. This investigation is a few years old now, and this is far from the first time Sarkozy has been arrested and questioned. In this particular investigation, he’s facing charges of corruption, illegal campaign financing, benefiting from embezzled public funds and membership in a criminal conspiracy. The gist of this seems to be the suspicion that Sarkozy and several associates received millions of euros from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to help his 2007 election campaign, violating French laws about campaign contribution limits and foreign funding. Sarkozy is also facing charges in two other cases: one linked to fake invoices allegedly devised to mask overspending on his failed 2012 re-election campaign, and another for allegedly trying to bribe a judge.
Brian Downing, political-military analyst and author of "The Military Revolution and Political Change,” joins us to discuss the ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Despite the United States looking to craft some sort of peace deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government, fighting continued over the last several days in the southern Helmand region, because nothing says peace like bombing and killing civilians. "The Taliban, facing international condemnation for a 10-day assault in southern Helmand province, is accusing the US military of violating their February accord by carrying out 'excessive' aerial attacks and bombings in recent days," the Washington Post reported Sunday. We'll also check in on what’s happening in Kyrgyzstan. On Thursday, we saw President Sooronbai Jeenbekov resign, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed, and Sadyr Japarov step into not only the prime ministership but also the role of interim president. Japarov said his ascent resulted from a “peaceful and legal transfer of power,” but of course he was only sprung from jail earlier in October. He’d been convicted of kidnapping.
Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University; and Gilbert Mercier, editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post and the author of "The Orwellian Empire," join us to discuss former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been questioned by French police - again - over allegations of corruption mostly linked to campaign financing. This investigation is a few years old now, and this is far from the first time Sarkozy has been arrested and questioned. In this particular investigation, he’s facing charges of corruption, illegal campaign financing, benefiting from embezzled public funds and membership in a criminal conspiracy. The gist of this seems to be the suspicion that Sarkozy and several associates received millions of euros from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to help his 2007 election campaign, violating French laws about campaign contribution limits and foreign funding. Sarkozy is also facing charges in two other cases: one linked to fake invoices allegedly devised to mask overspending on his failed 2012 re-election campaign, and another for allegedly trying to bribe a judge.
Dr. Margaret Flowers, Co-Founder of Popular Resistance and Director of the Health Over Profit for Everyone campaign, joins us to discuss a new New York Times that says, “U.S. efforts to cut Iran off from the rest of the world in the midst of the pandemic are cruel.” So, the US has imposed sanctions on every single Iranian bank at this point, I believe, trying to cut them off from international transactions almost entirely and forcing scarcity upon the Iranian population as a whole. Is this a crime equal to that of Iran not releasing political prisoners during a pandemic? We'll also discuss a new report that says $8m people have slipped into poverty since May as federal aid dries up.
We are joined by Wyatt Reed, producer of the great show By Any Means Necessary, the elections in Bolivia. Are they in the midst of the same mail in voting/remote voting chaos as the US because of the pandemic, or will the votes be mostly in person? We've obviously seen the violent repression of Bolivia’s indigenous majority and of supporters of the left-wing MAS party during the coup last year and ever since. But now we’ve seen some right wing candidates call for “resistance” if the results and the response isn’t what they want, and I imagine MAS is prepared to take to the streets if the results seem fraudulent. So what are political leaders threatening and what should we be anticipating?
Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principle at TML Communications, joins us to discuss several leading stories. First, the two Presidential candidates held competing town halls on competing cable networks. The media has tried to play a neutral arbitrator in the election process and be some sort of platform for American’s to decide who to vote for. The fact that ABC and NBC allowed for their networks to compete like this is absurd. Before we get to the candidates, we'll examine the agents that gave them a platform. Also, Ice Cube, the actor, filmmaker and rapper is defending his decision to advise President Trump on "The Platinum Plan," a Trump administration initiative to help Black Americans. Ice Cube is receiving pushback after Trump campaign senior advisor Katrina Pierson revealed that the rapper helped revise the plan. What are we to make of this?
Biden argued that he is the best candidate to address the needs of communities of color. The former VP argued that his life experience is more attuned to the concerns of African Americans than President Trump's experiences. Biden acknowledged that the 1994 crime bill that he co-authored turned out to be both good and bad. Biden expressed regrets for pushing mandatory prison time for low-level drug offenses. Was it the apology that was needed?
Dr. Margaret Flowers, Co-Founder of Popular Resistance and Director of the Health Over Profit for Everyone campaign, joins us to discuss a new New York Times that says, “U.S. efforts to cut Iran off from the rest of the world in the midst of the pandemic are cruel.” So, the US has imposed sanctions on every single Iranian bank at this point, I believe, trying to cut them off from international transactions almost entirely and forcing scarcity upon the Iranian population as a whole. Is this a crime equal to that of Iran not releasing political prisoners during a pandemic? We'll also discuss a new report that says $8m people have slipped into poverty since May as federal aid dries up.
Eugene Puryear, host at Breakthrough News and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America," and Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist join us to discuss GOP lawmakers slamming Twitter for limiting distribution of a New York Post story about Hunter Biden's business activities in Ukraine. The Post's story claims to show "smoking gun" emails about Joe Biden and his son. Dorsey, who is the CEO of Twitter, put out a statement admitting that blocking the story without context is not acceptable. We'll also look at Twitter suspending fake accounts that claim to be Black President Trump supporters. A spokesperson for the company told CNN the accounts were impersonating others and violating the platform's rules about manipulation and spam. Many of the accounts tweeted the same phrase saying "YES IM BLACK AND I'M VOTING FOR TRUMP" in all capital letters. Also, our guests will look at Stop and Frisk policies and how they are now digital.
Ted Rall, columnist, syndicated editorial cartoonist and author, joins us to discuss a New York Times piece that alleges Trump administration officials this winter, while publicly insisting that the virus was contained in the US and was nothing to worry about, were a lot more cautious when speaking privately to investors. This is not the first story we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic about the wealthy and powerful being tipped off to the danger of this situation before the public. What do you make of this particular iteration of that theme? We'll also analyze a bipartisan bill proposed to give Israel veto on US arms sales to the Middle East. Proposed by Illinois Democrat Brad Schneider, the bill wouldn’t exactly give Israel the “veto” over US arms sales that some headlines are suggesting, but it would force the president to consult with the Israeli government to ensure Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge in the region is maintained.
Dr. Wes Bellamy, chair of the Political Science Dept at Virginia State University, joins us to discuss his new book, “When White Supremacy Knocks, Fight Back. How White People can use their Privilege and How Black People can use their Power." We'll discuss third party politics and look at a new movement and party block called Our Black Party, that focuses on the needs of Blacks in America.
Ted Rall, columnist, syndicated editorial cartoonist and author, joins us to discuss a New York Times piece that alleges Trump administration officials this winter, while publicly insisting that the virus was contained in the US and was nothing to worry about, were a lot more cautious when speaking privately to investors. This is not the first story we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic about the wealthy and powerful being tipped off to the danger of this situation before the public. What should we make of this?
Eugene Puryear, host at Breakthrough News and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America," and Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist join us to discuss Twitter suspending fake accounts that claim to be Black President Trump supporters. A spokesperson for the company told CNN the accounts were impersonating others and violating the platform's rules about manipulation and spam.
Dr Jack Rasmus, who teaches economics and politics at St. Mary’s College of California and is the author of the book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump, joins us to discuss the recent Nobel Prize winners in economics. What does it tell us in general about what is studied and rewarded in that field, and what is ignored?
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on childcare and development.There has been a significant drop in kindergarten enrollment. And looking through a wider lense what is the impact on the whole public education system? How will it affect funding?
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show in Austin, Texas, joins us to discuss a range of topics that include: Pete Butiegge is now the new slayer; Biden is making an increasingly aggressive pitch to moderate voters; and the latest on Lindsay Graham's political fight!
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on childcare and development.There has been a significant drop in kindergarten enrollment. And looking through a wider lense what is the impact on the whole public education system? How will it affect funding?
Dr Jack Rasmus, who teaches economics and politics at St. Mary’s College of California and is the author of the book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump, joins us to discuss the recent Nobel Prize winners in economics. What does it tell us in general about what is studied and rewarded in that field, and what is ignored?
Dr. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins us to discuss new sanctions against Iran that were announced Thursday. The Trump administration announced new sanctions on the last 18 banks in the country that were not yet subject to secondary sanctions. The Treasury Department explained that it had “sanctioned sixteen Iranian banks for operating in Iran’s financial sector and one bank for being owned or controlled by a sanctioned Iranian bank. Additionally, today’s action includes the designation of an Iranian military-affiliated bank under Treasury’s counter-proliferation authority.” It also warns of penalties for banks doing certain kinds of business with these Iranian banks - which, of course, European countries will be scrutinizing. The move basically blacklists Iran’s entire financial industry, cutting it off from the international finance system.
Our next guest Mohamed Elmaazi, journalist and editor of the Interregnum, joins us to recap the extradition hearing of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange and what lies ahead for him. Assange’s hearing has concluded and now barristers for the prosecution and defense have one month to submit closing arguments in writing to Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who will render her verdict on January 4. The United States worked with its friends Britain, Sweden and Ecuador to stand against their enemy Assange. And what exactly did the US do with its friends? They violated Assange’s right to a fair trial, destroyed his health, assassinated his character and worked to imprison him in solitary confinement for the rest of his life.
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joins us to discuss a BuzzFeed News story this week that said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have begun implementing a new, fast-track deportation policy that will allow them to arrest and deport many more undocumented people without even allowing them a hearing in front of a judge. We'll also discuss a few stories by MacLeod titled "Following US Pressure, Aid to Yemen Falls to Just 25 Cents Per Day" and "Flint-Linked Veolia Merger Brings Water Privatization Closer to 'Global Reality,'" as well as a pair of Bloomberg stories titled "The 50 Richest Americans Are Worth as Much as the Poorest 165 Million" and "Museums Sell Picasso and Warhol, Embrace Diversity to Survive."
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joins us to discuss a BuzzFeed News story this week that said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have begun implementing a new, fast-track deportation policy that will allow them to arrest and deport many more undocumented people without even allowing them a hearing in front of a judge. We'll also discuss a few stories by MacLeod titled "Following US Pressure, Aid to Yemen Falls to Just 25 Cents Per Day" and "Flint-Linked Veolia Merger Brings Water Privatization Closer to 'Global Reality,'" as well as a pair of Bloomberg stories titled "The 50 Richest Americans Are Worth as Much as the Poorest 165 Million" and "Museums Sell Picasso and Warhol, Embrace Diversity to Survive."
David Pearson, research professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University; and Philip Fearnside, ecologist at the National Institute for Research in Amazonia (INPA) in Brazil, join us to give an overview of the conditions under which Amazon rainforest fires are raging. A recent report by Mighty Earth highlighted the connections between big beef producers and areas where fires are concentrated. So what role does the meat industry play in this destruction, and what role does it play in Brazil’s economy? Soy farming is also a huge part of this problem, as rainforests are turning into savannah.
Ajamu Baraka, national organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace, joins us to discuss Wednesday night's vice-presidential debate, specifically regarding foreign policy. Then we'll look at whistleblowers from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons being shut down at the UN by the US and France.
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist, joins us to discuss the latest trends in tech, including how the US Internal Revenue Service is using location data services to find people without a warrant.
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist, joins us to discuss the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI). "For all the US military’s technical advantages over adversaries, it still struggles to counter disinformation. A new software tool to be developed for the US Air Force and Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, may help change that," Defense One reported on October 2. Also, we'll look at the latest trends in tech, including how the US Internal Revenue Service is using location data services to track people without a warrant.
David Pearson, research professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University; and Philip Fearnside, ecologist at the National Institute for Research in Amazonia (INPA) in Brazil, join us to give an overview of the conditions under which Amazon rainforest fires are raging. A recent report by Mighty Earth highlighted the connections between big beef producers and areas where fires are concentrated. So what role does the meat industry play in this destruction, and what role does it play in Brazil’s economy? Soy farming is also a huge part of this problem, as rainforests are turning into savannah.
David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University and author of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter," joins us to discuss corporate media's obsession with election law; politicians stoking the fears of election fraud; and if the US Supreme Court will be involved in determining the presidential contest's outcome.
Brian Downing, political-military analyst and author of "The Military Revolution and Political Change" and "The Paths of Glory: Social Change in America from the Great War to Vietnam," joins us to discuss factors complicating the Afghan peace process. "Diplomats had told Reuters that the talks got off to a difficult start, with disagreements over how the Hanafi Islamic code could be used to guide negotiations and on whether the deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in February should be the basis for the talks, as demanded by the Taliban," Reuters reported Tuesday. "A ceasefire is a top priority for the Afghan officials and the western diplomats who are facilitating these talks."
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and president of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss a recent Reuters report that shows how the COVID-19 pandemic has really been filling the sails - and coffers - of a select few, while the rest of us suffer. This story cites a report by the UBS investment bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers that found - surprise, surprise - billionaire wealth has reached record highs during this pandemic, driven by stock prices and tech and health care gains. The wealth of the world's richest - in this study, 2,000 billionaires representing 98% of billionaire wealth - has cracked the $10 trillion mark. We'll also discuss US President Donald Trump calling off all stimulus negotiations until after the election. What does this mean for those small businesses and individuals struggling to hang on right now? What is the political calculus behind Trump making that decision?
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and president of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss the number of people who have joined the ranks of the long-term unemployed. This comes as a recent Reuters report showed how the COVID-19 pandemic has really been filling the sails - and coffers - of a select few, while the rest of us suffer.
Brian Downing, political-military analyst and author of "The Military Revolution and Political Change" and "The Paths of Glory: Social Change in America from the Great War to Vietnam," joins us to discuss factors complicating the Afghan peace process. "Diplomats had told Reuters that the talks got off to a difficult start, with disagreements over how the Hanafi Islamic code could be used to guide negotiations and on whether the deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in February should be the basis for the talks, as demanded by the Taliban," Reuters reported Tuesday. "A ceasefire is a top priority for the Afghan officials and the western diplomats who are facilitating these talks."
Ricardo Vaz, analyst and editor of Venezuelanalysis.com, joins us to discuss a British appeals court that ruled in favor of the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro, and said the legal fight over the future of $1 billion in gold stored in the vaults of the Bank of England should be reconsidered. The judges Monday reversed a lower court ruling that the U.K. had unequivocally recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. What does the ruling mean for Maduro?
Kumi Smith, assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, joins us to discuss what new CDC guidance means for the treatment of covid patients in hospital settings and for people going about their lives, trying to avoid getting sick? Yesterday, two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control published and then took down COVID-19 guidance that described the virus as “airborne,” and issued something similar. The notable change is that the CDC now says “Some infections can be spread by exposure to viruses in small droplets and particles that can linger in the air for minutes to hours. These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space.” The CDC says these transmissions occur in enclosed spaces where ventilation is poor, and often where the infected person has been breathing heavily, and it still says the most important vector of transmission is through respiratory droplets and close contact with an infected person.
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the Love Lounge radio show, joins us to discuss several top stories. We begin with police trying to repress activists. The snatching of protest leaders in Denver, political assassinations over the years, targeting and following of those who speak out, and state repression of protestors. Then we'll look at the fight for reparations. The nation’s capital would be the latest jurisdiction to seriously explore providing reparations to the descendants of enslaved people under legislation proposed by a member of the D.C. Council. The bill to establish a task force to study reparations comes after District residents demanded racial justice and equity during protests over the summer after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Announced Monday by Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5), the legislation would instruct the nine-member task force to scrutinize the economic impact of slavery as well as racist policies that continued after it was abolished to recommend a plan for economic atonement to help African Americans in the District.
Kumi Smith, assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, joins us to discuss what new CDC guidance means for the treatment of covid patients in hospital settings and for people going about their lives, trying to avoid getting sick? Yesterday, two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control published and then took down COVID-19 guidance that described the virus as “airborne,” and issued something similar. The notable change is that the CDC now says “Some infections can be spread by exposure to viruses in small droplets and particles that can linger in the air for minutes to hours. These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space.” The CDC says these transmissions occur in enclosed spaces where ventilation is poor, and often where the infected person has been breathing heavily, and it still says the most important vector of transmission is through respiratory droplets and close contact with an infected person.
Mark Shmueli, immigration attorney representing asylum seekers before the Asylum Office and EOIR; and Maru Mora-Villalpando, immigrant rights activist and organizer, joins us to discuss the dozens of people detained at the infamous Northwest ICE Processing Center being tested for COVID-19 today, after at least one entire unit of the facility was exposed to the virus. Private prison company GEO Group, has failed to implement adequate COVID-19 protocols and has been lax in enforcement of existing protocols. Also, we'll look at the border issues. Vice President Mike Pence in March directed the nation’s top disease control agency to use its emergency powers to effectively seal the U.S. borders, overruling the agency’s scientists who said there was no evidence the action would slow the coronavirus.
Sterling Johnson, a member of the Black and Brown Workers Cooperative, joins us to discuss after a months-long standoff over two homeless encampments, city officials and Philadelphia Housing Action appear to have reached a tentative deal that will provide protest camp residents with 50 vacant homes to be placed in a community land trust.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, joins us to discuss a variety of topic news stories including: the intersection of Donlad Trump having COVID and the economy; the Pope making some headlines this weekend taking aim at the economy, market capitalism and COVID; A British appeals court ruling in favor of the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro, and said the legal fight over the future of $1 billion in gold stored in the vaults of the Bank of England should be reconsidered; and the escalating Nagorno-Karabakh clashes.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics and founder of the blog Gold Goats 'n Guns, joins us to discuss the intersection of US President Donald Trump having COVID-19 and the economy. There have been many reports over the past five days about markets going up and down with the health of Trump - with the majority of articles linking market declines and Trump not being well. What's going on?
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, joins us to discuss a recent report that makes it look like economically, things had been going well for lower income families, for black and hispanic families and for families where breadwinners didn’t have college degrees under Donald Trump. Since Trump has been in office, many non white families, families without college degrees and families earning lower incomes have actually benefitted, while for wealthy white families, the rate of income increase has slowed. Tell me about how these conclusions were drawn, how accurate you think they are, and whether this means we should revise our thinking about Trump’s economic policies. Is there anything hiding in this data that we’re not being shown?
Dan Kovalik, a lawyer, professor, and author of “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian Intervention’ to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests, joins us to discuss how teachers are fighting returning to what they say are unsafe conditions in schools and how covid is spreading through Amazon. Paydayreport has news about teachers strikes or threatened strikes in four states, mostly in the US South. We have teachers in Little Rock, Arkansas, saying they’ll work remotely but not in classrooms because of covid; we have a sickout in South Carolina over promised raises and bonuses that didn’t appear this year; we have teachers in Louisiana threatening to strike over changes to their curriculum that would use subcontracted teachers to create pre-recorded lessons the teachers think aren’t equal to face-to-face, live instruction; we have a walkout in Georgia over covid conditions, and we have a threatened strike in Alaska over poor pay.
Niko House, political activist, independent journalist and podcaster, joins us to discuss the inability of Democrats and Republicans to offer meaningful political differences to the American people, the power of non political parties to sway US politics.
Dan Kovalik, a lawyer, professor, and author of “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian Intervention’ to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests, joins us to discuss how teachers are fighting returning to what they say are unsafe conditions in schools and how COVID is spreading through Amazon.
We are joined by Neil Clark, journalist, broadcaster and director of Public Ownership and Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University joins us to discuss the Julian Assange. The trial is in its third week and a lot of the focus has been on the hacking charges against him - which, it seems, are being revealed in court to be pretty flimsy. We also heard this week about the fear of repercussions some witnesses are living with, including some members of a Spanish security firm accused of spying on Assange for the CIA while he was living in the Ecuadorian embassy, who were allowed to provide testimony anonymously for fear of being kidnapped or killed by the head of that company.
Dr. Reese Halter, award-winning broadcaster, distinguished conservation biologist and author of “Environmental Catastrophe and Ecological Restoration”, joins us to discuss the fires that are ravaging California. There was some bad news for residents of Napa and Sonoma Valley and the fire crews working there - the weather is not with them right now. It’s unusually hot and it's about to get windy, triggering red flag warnings in different parts of Northern California for the next 24 hours. The Glass Fire now covers more than 51 thousand acres and as of last night was just 2 percent contained.
Ben Norton - Journalist, writer, filmmaker, assistant editor of The Grayzone and producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, joins us to discuss his recent piece in Grayzone titled “Fake news hoax exposed: NY Times podcast star lied about joining ISIS”. The lead, the main source for the New York Times’ award-winning podcast, Caliphate, has been arrested and charged with lying about joining ISIS. The major media outlet had relied on this man’s fabricated story as the core of its reporting, and said two US government officials had independently confirmed his identity.
Philippa Hughes, Director of Looking For America; and Dr. Dave Ragland, Senior Bayard Rustin Fellow at the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Co-Founder of the Truth Telling Project, join us to discuss trend towards civility and dialogue. Will Americans new slogan become Will You Shut Up, Man. On some days it seems like civility does still rule the day, we have all sorts of folks on our show, we see people working together across this country to run cities, so not all is lost. But then we also have events like Tuesday night’s Presidential debate where civility is thrown out the window. And of course its not just Trump and Biden, we are seeing partisanship in our politics like never before.
We are joined by Neil Clark, journalist, broadcaster and director of Public Ownership and Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University joins us to discuss the Julian Assange Trial. It is in its third week and a lot of the focus has been on the hacking charges against him - which, it seems, are being revealed in court to be pretty flimsy. We also heard this week about the fear of repercussions some witnesses are living with, including some members of a Spanish security firm accused of spying on Assange for the CIA while he was living in the Ecuadorian embassy, who were allowed to provide testimony anonymously for fear of being kidnapped or killed by the head of that company.
Medea Benjamin, Co-founder of Code Pink, Dr. Clarence Lusane, African-American author, activist, lecturer and former chair of the Political Science Department at Howard University, joins us to discuss Tuesday's presidential debate and brawl. The first showdown between President Trump and Joe Biden is being described by many as chaotic, combative, and a disgrace. Trump spent most of the 90 minutes interrupting, shouting, even ignoring the moderator. Two more debates are set for next month.
Patrick D. Anderson, a visiting assistant professor of philosophy at Grand Valley State University, contributor to Black Agenda Report and editor-in-chief of the WikiLeaks Bibliography, joins us to discuss that as soon as next week, the US Justice Department is going to strike its first real blow at a major tech company since it opened anti-trust investigations into Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple. They’re going after Google - the lawsuit focuses on Google search results. It accuses Google of trying to disadvantage search engine rivals by depriving them of the data about users and user preferences that they need to improve and to advertise to people. We'll also look at a WaPo report that says the Trump administration is planning to use ICE for an “immigration enforcement blitz next month that would target arrests in U.S. cities and jurisdictions that have adopted “sanctuary” policies.”
Patrick D. Anderson, a visiting assistant professor of philosophy at Grand Valley State University, contributor to Black Agenda Report and editor-in-chief of the WikiLeaks Bibliography, joins us to discuss a WaPo report that says the Trump administration is planning to use ICE for an “immigration enforcement blitz next month that would target arrests in U.S. cities and jurisdictions that have adopted “sanctuary” policies.”
Medea Benjamin, Co-founder of Code Pink, Dr. Clarence Lusane, African-American author, activist, lecturer and former chair of the Political Science Department at Howard University, joins us to discuss Tuesday's presidential debate and brawl. The first showdown between President Trump and Joe Biden is being described by many as chaotic, combative, and a disgrace. Trump spent most of the 90 minutes interrupting, shouting, even ignoring the moderator. Two more debates are set for next month.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss the the longest-running land conflict in the former Soviet Union, occurring in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Since Sunday, Azerbaijani troops have been fighting forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian military, leaving nearly 100 people dead and perhaps hundreds more injured so far. What's behind the madness?
Shelly Martin, who made history last year as the first Mi’kmaq woman to be appointed as adjudicator of the Small Claims Court of Nova Scotia, joins us to discuss the fight over fishing rights happening in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Sipekne'katik First Nation is exerting what the nation says are its clear rights to fish for lobsters in St. Mary’s Bay. That has triggered standoffs with non-Indigenous commercial fishers in the area, who have gathered to harass Mi'kmaq fishers, seem to have been behind cutting Mi'kmaq trap lines and otherwise disturbing their traps and at least once gathered at the home of one of the Mi'kmaq’s customers to intimidate them. It seemed like there was really the potential for violence there last week, but the Mi'kmaq fishers did haul in their first lobster harvest, which was shared as a victory on social media.
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, joins us to discuss several news stories, beginning with: is Russiagate finally done? "The Justice Department has released a pair of documents casting fresh doubt on the judgment of senior law enforcement officials who investigated possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016," the Washington Post reported on September 25. We'll also look at a Monday report by the UK's Channel 4 News which said that "3.5 million Black Americans were categorized by Donald Trump’s campaign as ‘Deterrence’ – voters they wanted to stay home on election day. ... [C]ivil rights campaigners said the evidence amounted to a new form of voter 'suppression' and called on Facebook to disclose ads and targeting information that has never been made public." Also, a Kentucky grand jury member is taking action to reveal the truth in the Breonna Taylor case. A motion filed in court calls for the grand jury transcripts to be released.
Seema Sueko, deputy artistic director of Arena Stage in Washington, DC, joins us to discuss their new docudrama "The 51st State." According to Arena Stage, the film "premiered on September 16 and was inspired by the protests and and the drive for the creation of a movement after the murder of George Floyd and the quest for the creation of the 51st state and sovereignty in Washington, DC."
Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, joins us to discuss Russiagate. Is it finally done? "The Justice Department has released a pair of documents casting fresh doubt on the judgment of senior law enforcement officials who investigated possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016," the Washington Post reported on September 25. We'll look at how this all points to a hoax.
Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss the the longest-running land conflict in the former Soviet Union, occurring in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Since Sunday, Azerbaijani troops have been fighting forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian military, leaving nearly 100 people dead and perhaps hundreds more injured so far. What's behind the madness?
We have Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and president of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss a new report that alleges President Trump has paid virtually no taxes for the past two decades. The New York Times says Trump paid only 750-dollars in federal income taxes the year he won the White House. It also claims he paid no income taxes at all in ten of the previous 15 years mainly because of huge reported losses. Since his 2016 campaign, Trump has refused to release his tax returns over claims he is under audit.
Chris Garrafa, web developer and technologist, joins us to talk about a US judge delaying Donald Trump’s TikTok ban and whether or not Trump’s loss is a good or bad thing for our eyeballs and brains. We'll also talk about Netflix's new documentary, "Social Dilemma," that takes a look at the intentions behind social media tech giants.
Shane Stranahan, co-host of Fault Lines, joins us to discuss the ongoing debate in the United States around facial recognition software that is used by police. The facial recognition software has been under heavy criticism over the summer and more and more cities are banning the usage of the technology including San Francisco, Portland, and Boston. The city of Baltimore introduced a bill to ban facial recognition software last week and the Detroit City Council is on the verge of doing the same. We'll also discuss a new report that shows Military suicides have spiked during COVID-19.
We have Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and president of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss a new report out that alleges President Trump has paid virtually no taxes for the past two decades. The New York Times says Trump paid only 750-dollars in federal income taxes the year he won the White House. It also claims he paid no income taxes at all in ten of the previous 15 years mainly because of huge reported losses. Since his 2016 campaign, Trump has refused to release his tax returns over claims he is under audit.
Joia Jefferson Nuri, communication specialist for In The Public Eye Communications and China Dickerson, National Political Director for Forward Majority join us to discuss women's reproductive rights in light of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. What are the challenges that lie ahead; and what a new Trump justice could mean for Roe vs. Wade.
Sputnik News writer Morgan Artyukhina has details about China accusing the US of blurring lines, disguising its spy flights as civilian flights routinely over the past year. How does Beijing say the US is disguising these flights and how often is this happening?
Jon Jeter, an author, award-winning foreign correspondent, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, joins us to discuss several political issues. Starting in the world of healthcare Trump unveiled that part of his health plan Americans in the Medicare program for the elderly and disabled will be sent $200 discount cards for prescription drugs within weeks, potentially putting cash in their pockets ahead November 3rd. Trump didn’t explain in his speech what program or authority would allow the government to provide the cards. Assuming they are sent to 33 million Medicare beneficiaries, the figure Trump used, the cards would cost about $6.6 billion. Also, we'll discuss the US eviction crisis that is eroding and Jared Kuchner related apps that are taking advantage of the pandemic and the ensuing eviction crisis for millions of Americans. And lastly, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released a new poll finding that 44% of Americans disapprove of protests in response to police violence against Black Americans, while 39% approve. In June, 54% approved.
Joia Jefferson Nuri, communication specialist for In The Public Eye Communications and China Dickerson, National Political Director for Forward Majority join us to discuss women's reproductive rights in light of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. What are the challenges that lie ahead; and what a new Trump justice could mean for Roe vs. Wade.
Joia Jefferson Nuri, communication specialist for In The Public Eye Communications and China Dickerson, National Political Director for Forward Majority join us to discuss women's reproductive rights in light of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. What are the challenges that lie ahead; and what a new Trump justice could mean for Roe vs. Wade.
Trayce Redd, activist and organizer, joins us to discuss the grand jury in the police killing of Breonna Taylor which found that the two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend. The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor’s with people inside. Activists across the country are outraged to say the least, taking to the streets in several US cities including New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia. Protests in Louisville continued well into the evening despite city officials putting in place a 9 pm curfew.
Alexander Mercouris, Editor in Chief at theduran.com & host of "The Duran" on Youtube, joins us to discuss some highlights and lowlights from the UN assembly. There was another long list of speakers at the UNGA general debate - several Central Asian states, a few African leaders and South American leaders. Some of the leaders currently in the news who spoke yesterday were Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Jeanine Anez of Bolivia, Michel Aoun of Lebanon, Barham Salih of Iraq, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman.
Dr Jack Rasmus, who teaches economics and politics at St. Mary’s College of California and is the author of the book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump," analyzes the the FinCEN files and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ reporting on ongoing financial crimes at huge global banks.
Nicolas JS Davies, author of "Blood On Our Hands: the American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq," joins us to discuss Donald Trump’s threat to not peacefully transition power if he loses the Presidency in November; the latest efforts to normalize Israel’s occupation of Palestine; and Biden's foreign policy.
Erica Mossholder Executive Director of Children’s Craniofacial Association, joins us to discuss Craniofacial Acceptance Month.
Erica Mossholder, executive director of the Children’s Craniofacial Association, joins Political Misfits to discuss efforts to increase visibility and acceptance of people with facial differences, and what the entertainment and social media industries could be doing better.
Dr Jack Rasmus, who teaches economics and politics at St. Mary’s College of California and is the author of the book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump," analyzes the the FinCEN files and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ reporting on ongoing financial crimes at huge global banks.
Mohammed Elmaazi, journalist and editor of the Interregnum, joins us to discuss the latest in the Julian Assange trial in London. Yesterday and today the court was told that Assange poses a serious suicide risk - which was of course sad to hear. What role will this risk play in the defense’s case? Also, a lot of his testimony seemed to be about protecting the names of US sources on the ground - what did we hear in Assange’s defense about the charges that he recklessly endangered people by making their names public?
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology at the University of Arizona, joins us to talk about a shocking report out that after a spring and summer that saw record-breaking heat waves above the Arctic Circle — with 100+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures — the sea ice floating atop the Arctic Ocean reached its annual minimum extent last Wednesday, with 1.44 million square miles of sea ice remaining, coming in a close second to 2012. In the last decade, Arctic sea ice cover has declined drastically. What does this melting mean and what does it mean for the Arctic to enter a new ecological state?
Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst to talk about the Bidens, Ukraine and Senate Republicans report; Navalny and calls for the West to “do something,” and a boat load of bank financial crimes! What does it all mean?
Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst to talk about the Bidens, Ukraine and Senate Republicans report. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says the anti-Biden report recently released by Republican Senators smells like Kremlin propaganda. It was written by Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Iowa's Chuck Grassley and contained information already made public last year. They called the report "Hunter Biden, Burisma and Corruption," and it analyzes Joe Biden's son's involvement with a Ukrainian energy company. But Schumer says it had all been laid to rest by testimony from witnesses who proved the information was phony during the House's impeachment inquiry. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer called for taxpayers to be reimbursed by Grassley and Johnson for wasting their money.
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology at the University of Arizona, joins us to talk about a shocking report out that after a spring and summer that saw record-breaking heat waves above the Arctic Circle — with 100+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures — the sea ice floating atop the Arctic Ocean reached its annual minimum extent last Wednesday, with 1.44 million square miles of sea ice remaining, coming in a close second to 2012. In the last decade, Arctic sea ice cover has declined drastically. What does this melting mean and what does it mean for the Arctic to enter a new ecological state?
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist; and Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," join us to discuss how the pandemic is disproportionately affecting minority communities and what the long-term impact of this virus will be on the health and well-being of these communities. We'll also delve into a Washington Post story that the Pentagon, which had been given a $1 billion in funding to “plan, prepare for and respond to coronavirus,” decided that money could be spent not on masks and sanitizer and other health care and prevention efforts, but could be diverted toward “defense production.” So hundreds of millions of dollars went to contractors to produce uniforms, to produce aircraft parts, to produce surveillance equipment. Some of this money apparently also went to contractors that were already getting Paycheck Protection Program funding from Congress.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, discusses the General Debate of the 75th United Nations General Assembly that opened Tuesday "under the cloud of the coronavirus pandemic, heightened great power competition, and growing contempt for international institutions like the United Nations itself," as Foreign Policy reported. The assembly heard speeches Tuesday morning by world leaders such as Jair Bolsonaro, Donald Trump, Recep Erdoğan, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Cyril Ramaphosa.
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse podcast, joins us to discuss Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis announcing new legislation Monday afternoon targeting protesters; former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and his team raising more than $16 million to pay the court fines and fees of nearly 32,000 Black and Hispanic Florida voters with felony convictions; and the National Football League league issuing massive $100,000 dollar fines against three coaches for not wearing face masks and $250,000 against the teams for which the coaches work.
Sinclair Skinner, an American engineer, human rights activist, political adviser and founder of ILoveBlackPeople.com, joins us to discuss a new voter registration campaign aimed at battleground states through wearable tech art; why we must think globally in the effort to build upward mobility in Black communities; and the best ways to empower this generation.
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse podcast, joins us to discuss former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and his team raising more than $16 million to pay the court fines and fees of nearly 32,000 Black and Hispanic Florida voters with felony convictions. What will happen next?
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist; and Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," join us to discuss how the pandemic is disproportionately affecting minority communities and what the long-term impact of this virus will be on the health and well-being of these communities. We'll also delve into a Washington Post story which said that the Pentagon, which had been given a $1 billion in funding to “plan, prepare for and respond to coronavirus,” decided that money could be spent not on masks and sanitizer and other health care and prevention efforts, but could be diverted toward “defense production.” So hundreds of millions of dollars went to contractors to produce uniforms, to produce aircraft parts, to produce surveillance equipment. Some of this money apparently also went to contractors that were already getting Paycheck Protection Program funding from Congress.
Gregg Mosson, federal and Maryland state litigator, in private practice, and a University of Baltimore Adjunct Professor, talks to us a bit about Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s legacy on the Supreme Court and what propelled her to being, probably, the most famous justice in the land? And what's at stake in the next SCOTUS pick?
Maru Mora-Villalpando, immigrant rights activist and organizer; and Carlos Castaneda, Board certified specialist in immigration law in San Antonio, Texas, discuss allegations of unnecessary hysterectomies being performed on immigrant women in ICE detention. The complaint noted that whistleblower Dawn Wooten said she witnessed a surprising number of women in the center getting hysterectomies - sometimes without understanding why or knowing what they’d supposedly consented to. AP was able to confirm 8 or 9 procedures done by Dr. Mahendra Amin, who is at the center of these allegations, and at least one hysterectomy, and their investigations shows that while some of the procedures seem to be medically justified, the facility doesn’t seem to have bothered to get informed consent from the women it sent for treatment.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show in Austin, Texas to talk about the latest about violence in America,and the revelation that back on June 1st during protests in Washington D.C that military police allegedly asked the National Guard for a “heat ray” weapon which uses millimeter wave technology essentially to heat the skin of people targeted by its invisible ray. What's going on?
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show in Austin, Texas to talk about the latest about violence in America,and the revelation that back on June 1st during protests in Washington D.C that military police allegedly asked the National Guard for a “heat ray” weapon which uses millimeter wave technology essentially to heat the skin of people targeted by its invisible ray. What's going on?
As the Assange trial ends its first week, what has led to past delays?
Neil Clark, journalist, broadcaster and director of Public Ownership Joined us to discuss the latest in the Julien assigned extradition trials. Why have there been so many delays; new evidence in the case; and why justice may not be served.
Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-Chief of The Duran, joins us to discuss Brexit negotiations which seem to say the least are not going well. From the NYTimes Britain and the European Union were on a collision course Thursday, after Brussels demanded the speedy withdrawal of proposed Brexit legislation that the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted would breach international law.
Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice-chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist, joins us to discuss race relations in America; NFL booing; controversy surrounding the movie Mulan; Microsoft Russian hacking and the Department of Education targeting internal book clubs.
Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-Chief of The Duran, joins us to discuss Brexit negotiations which seem to say the least are not going well. From the NYTimes Britain and the European Union were on a collision course Thursday, after Brussels demanded the speedy withdrawal of proposed Brexit legislation that the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted would breach international law.
Neil Clark, journalist, broadcaster and director of Public Ownership Joined us to discuss the latest in the Julien assigned extradition trials. Why have there been so many delays; new evidence in the case; and why justice may not be served.
Portland enacts the ban on facial recognition in the country. Will others file suit?
Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss the Portland City Council unanimously approving bans on city and private use of facial recognition technology on Wednesday. These are the strictest such restrictions in the country. The ban on the use of facial recognition technology by city departments goes into effect immediately, and Oregon Live reminds us that police across the state of Oregon are already banned from using facial recognition technology in their body cameras. The ban on the private use of the technology goes into effect January 1.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, discusses President Donald Trump admitting he knew weeks before the first confirmed US coronavirus death that the virus was dangerous, airborne, highly contagious and "more deadly than even your strenuous flus," and that he repeatedly played it down publicly, according to legendary journalist Bob Woodward in his new book "Rage." But now, Woodward is defending his decision to sit on bombshell tapes of President Trump for months. Trump also told Woodward he doesn't feel any responsibility to better understand the pain Black Americans feel. That interview, released Wednesday, took place just weeks after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis. Woodward suggested to Trump they have a duty, as privileged white men, to try to better understand the pain and anger African Americans feel. Trump replied, "No...You really drank the Kool-Aid, didn't you? No. I don't feel that at all."
Max Blumenthal, award-winning journalist and editor of The Grayzone, this week published a report on the backlash to the film Planet of the Humans. It came out in April, it was directed by Jeff Gibbs with Michael Moore as executive producer, and if you watched it you might have come away quite frightened at how the same old corporate interests are lurking behind some high-profile “green energy” and “revolutionary green technology” projects, frightened at how destructive some of these “green energy” projects actually are, frightened at how much oil and gas is still powering them. And then you might have been confused as a team of climate activists fronted a suppression campaign to discredit and hide the documentary greenwashing, the corruption of movements by the forces of capital, and the cynical deployment of cadres of “professional activists” to stand in the way of real critique and real change. And drawing all those threads together is a single movie, and the backlash to it.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News , discusses President Donald Trump admitting he knew weeks before the first confirmed US coronavirus death that the virus was dangerous, airborne, highly contagious and "more deadly than even your strenuous flus," and that he repeatedly played it down publicly, according to legendary journalist Bob Woodward in his new book "Rage." But now, Woodward is defending his decision to sit on bombshell tapes of President Trump for months. Trump also told Woodward he doesn't feel any responsibility to better understand the pain Black Americans feel. That interview, released Wednesday, took place just weeks after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis. Woodward suggested to Trump they have a duty, as privileged white men, to try to better understand the pain and anger African Americans feel. Trump replied, "No...You really drank the Kool-Aid, didn't you? No. I don't feel that at all."
Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss the Portland City Council unanimously approving bans on city and private use of facial recognition technology on Wednesday. These are the strictest such restrictions in the country. The ban on the use of facial recognition technology by city departments goes into effect immediately, and Oregon Live reminds us that police across the state of Oregon are already banned from using facial recognition technology in their body cameras. The ban on the private use of the technology goes into effect January 1.
Air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk in Europe, what's being done about it?
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology at the University of Arizona discusses the quietly horrifying little report released by the European Environmental Agency that found that environmental factors such as air pollution and heatwaves exacerbated by climate change contributed to around 13% of all deaths in Europe. They were looking at data from 2012, the latest year data was available from, and found that a total of 630,000 deaths in the European UN countries plus Britain were attributable to environmental factors that year. How preventable are these deaths?
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, discusses how American presidential politics continue to be determined by a small number of swing states, and while states may come and go from the list of swing states, in the last 3 cycles there are only really 10 states that come into play. We'll also analyze the two parties, election strategies and how they pander to their base.
Guy McPherson, scientist and professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology at the University of Arizona, discusses the quietly horrifying little report released by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) which found that "environmental factors such as air pollution and heatwaves exacerbated by climate change contributed to around 13% of all deaths in Europe," as reported Tuesday by Reuters. The EEA was looking at data from 2012, the latest year for which information was available, and found that a "total of 630,000 deaths in the European Union's 27 countries plus Britain were attributable to environmental factors" that year, Reuters noted. How preventable are such deaths?
David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University. He is the author of Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter and wrote recently for Counterpunch about covid-19 and its exposure of the corporate rot at the heart of our university system. We had reports starting in April about college students being sent home with partial reimbursements for room and board, but absolutely no break on tuition. How do they justify this, when they’ve spent the past few decades reinventing university as about more than your courses, but about networking, connections, and “experience”?
Patrick D. Anderson, a visiting assistant professor of philosophy at Grand Valley State University, contributor to Black Agenda Report and editor-in-chief of the WikiLeaks Bibliography, joins us to discuss the extradition trial of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, which is expected to last four weeks. The US charges are, almost entirely, accusations that Assange violated the US Espionage Act.
Ted Rall, columnist, syndicated editorial cartoonist and author, joins us to discuss this political pivot we have seen over the past week of liberals, conservatives, generals, unnamed sources, suckers and media outlets attacking Donald Trump on his relationship with the US military. And just like motion, with every attack on Trump comes an equal and opposite reaction on those attacking him. We'll also talk about two self-described "Boogaloo Bois" charged with attempting to provide material support to Hamas. And a new WSJ report with a FAA review of Boeing Dreamliner analyzing quality control.
Ted Rall, columnist, syndicated editorial cartoonist, and author joins us to discuss Donald Trump and his relationship with the US military. Do his words line up with his actions?
Patrick D. Anderson, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Grand Valley State University, contributor to Black Agenda Report and editor in chief of the Wikileaks Bibliography joins us to discuss the extradition trial of Julian Assange, that is expected to last four weeks. The charges remain, almost entirely, accusations that Assange violated the Espionage Act.
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, national coordinator with Movement for a People's Party, tells us all about their mission, how different they are from the DSA and from the Green Party? They say they are building a major new party that is genuinely of, by and for the American people, one that will truly represent us, and that aims to build the stronger, healthier and more just society we all deserve. We'll hear what their next steps are and more on field candidates and long term goals.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show in Austin, Texas, joins us to discuss Gov. Greg Abbott considering a proposal from former state lawmakers that would force the Austin Police Department to answer to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic radio show in Austin, Texas, joins us to discuss Gov. Greg Abbott considering a proposal from former state lawmakers that would force the Austin Police Department to answer to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Eugene Puryear, host at Breakthrough News and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America," joins the show to talk about the White House recently ordering a review about cutting federal funding to places which the Trump administration labels "anarchist juridictions."
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, explains how the US Labor Department has changed up the way it calculates unemployment, introducing a seasonal adjustment mechanism.
How does the US Labor Department calculate unemployment numbers, and who does it benefit?
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, explains how the Labor Department has changed up the way it calculates unemployment, introducing a seasonal adjustment mechanism.
Dandara Araujo, member of the State Board of the Landless Workers Movement (MST) in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, talks about a letter calling for support and attention to a series of evictions of farming families from the MST Quilombo Campo Grande that began on August 12. The eviction process has seen incredible violence and aggression by police. What's going on here?
Eugene Puryear, host at Breakthrough News and author of "Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America," talks about the Trump administration’s efforts to penalize cities that do things it doesn’t like, including reining in their police forces. We'll also get into a report of a counter-terrorism paramilitary unit in Kenya that the US and the UK have been funding and training; courts ruling the National Security Agency's phone snooping illegal; and protests in Washington, DC.
Marcus McAllister, international trainer, implementation specialist and Cure Violence Global program coordinator, discusses the number of homicides in Chicago, Illinois; Washington, DC; and other large cities. We'll also explain what community organizations are doing to help decrease the numbers and uplift their communities.
Michael Prysner, producer of "The Empire Files," joins us to talk about the announcement that Fort Hood is launching yet another investigation related to the series of fatalities on the base, this one into how its chain of command responded to the disappearances and deaths of service members like Specialist Vanessa Guillen, whose body was found in June. What's going on here?
Jefferson Morley, a journalist and editor who has worked in Washington, DC, journalism for over 30 years and is the author of "The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton" and "Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA," discusses his recent Washington Post piece analyzing the controversial and true history of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and its creator Francis Scott Key.
Kevin Zeese, editor of Popular Resistance, joins us to discuss the announcement by Germany's government that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. He also takes a look at an order issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to block COVID-19-related evictions through the end of this year. We'll also discuss the battle brewing between DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC US Attorney's Office over prosecuting rioters; and MSNBC host Joy Reid's recent Islamophobic comments.
Michael Prysner, producer of The Empire Files and an army veteran, gives his perspective on the steady stream of sexual assaults, suicides and homicides linked to Fort Hood. This particular base might be getting a lot of attention, but it's just the latest manifestation of problems pervasive in the US military and US culture, he says.
Kevin Zeese, editor of Popular Resistance, joins us to discuss the announcement by Germany's government that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. "German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said toxicological tests on samples taken from Navalny had been carried out at a German military laboratory, providing 'unequivocal evidence of a chemical nerve agent' from the Novichok group," CNN reported Wednesday. "In a statement, Seibert said it was 'startling' that 'Navalny was the victim of an attack with a chemical nerve agent in Russia.'"
Why has it taken a 17-year legal battle for the US federal government to agree to take some responsibility for plutonium waste near the Savannah River in South Carolina?
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog with Beyond Nuclear, discusses South Carolina's settlement with the federal government to end litigation regarding weapons-grade plutonium. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson on Monday announced a $600 million settlement related to the remaining plutonium that was relocated to the Savannah River Site in the early 2000s. The federal government will pay the sum immediately, and the Department of Energy must remove the 9.5 metric tons of plutonium by 2037. Wilson says he is committed to preventing South Carolina from becoming a "dumping ground for nuclear waste."
Levi Rickert, editor of Native News Online, takes a look at the Trump administration's interesting record when it comes to issues of tribal sovereignty in the US. US President Donald Trump came into office determined to push the Dakota Access Pipeline through; he praised the concept of manifest destiny and continues to evoke a vision of a white America that sprang into being on an empty continent and is now fighting off outsiders.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," discusses Trump's visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin. He says it will help heal the community because he's about law and order, and the Black community wants the police to help them stop crime. Wisconsin's governor and Kenosha's mayor, both Democrats, have asked the president to stay away. They fear his visit will lead to more protests just when things seem to be calming down.
Ra Shad Frazier-Gaines, founder and chair of the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of America and founder and chair of Black Progressives, talks about the legacy left by actor Chadwick Boseman. Boseman died Friday after battling colon cancer the past four years, but his role as Black Panther helped shape Black culture, address colonialism and bring up issues between African-Americans and continental Africans.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," discusses US President Donald Trump's visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin. He says it will help heal the community, because he's about law and order, and the Black community wants the police to help them stop crime. Wisconsin's governor and Kenosha's mayor, both Democrats, have asked the president to stay away. They fear his visit will lead to more protests just when things seem to be calming down.
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog with Beyond Nuclear, discusses South Carolina's settlement with the federal government to end litigation regarding weapons-grade plutonium. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson on Monday announced a $600 million settlement related to the remaining plutonium that was relocated to the Savannah River Site in the early 2000s. The federal government will pay the sum immediately, and the Department of Energy must remove the 9.5 metric tons of plutonium by 2037. Wilson says he is committed to preventing South Carolina from becoming a "dumping ground for nuclear waste."
Ted Rall, award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist, discusses big news coming our way this week as Donald Trump heads to Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday. What should we make of the trip there and what messages are you expecting from him? Also, Joe Biden’s lead over Donald Trump since March over that time in national polls actually increased from 6 to 7 points to now 8 points. There is not a relational support between Black Lives Matter and Joe Biden?
Daniel Lazare, Investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," discusses the pretty explosive weekend, and one of the bigger metaphorical booms with the decision by the office of the Director of National Intelligence to stop offering in person briefings to congressional intelligence committees about election security and foreign election interference. The committees will still get the same information, but it will now be mostly in writing, meaning committee members won’t be able to directly ask questions about it and get immediate responses. The DNI wouldn’t be doing any more all-member briefings, to all members of the House and all members of the Senate, so maybe the implication is that the committee members are trustworthy, but the riff raff in the rest of the Congress are dangerous?
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, broke down the background to the stark inequality of diabetes outcomes and amputations in the US between Black and White patients, new efforts to address them, and Donald Trump’s claim to have advanced health care in the United States.
Niko House, political activist, independent journalist and podcaster, tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte that Republican attempts to deflect blame for violence during their convention were of course dishonest, but that the Democrats don’t have a lot to recommend them, either. He also spoke about the loss of Steve Bannon and what it means for Trump’s message, what policing might look like under a Biden-Harris administration, and the political impediments to a thorough pandemic response in America.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, broke down the background to the stark inequality of diabetes outcomes and amputations in the US between Black and White patients, new efforts to address them, and Donald Trump’s claim to have advanced health care in the United States.
Dave Lindorff, investigative reporter and founder of the news collective This Can't Be Happening, talks about how the narrative of violence in Kenosha is being shaped, how public opinion is turning against the American culture of policing, how these Hatch Act violations by the Trump administration showcase the power of the presidency, how crucial the post office remains for so many Americans and why private companies can’t be relied on to take over.
LJM, founder of Speakezie and Ms Black America DC, also stopped by to talk about who needs to take the weekend off and discuss the work she’s doing with the cultural experience and space for authenticity, Speakezie.
Dave Lindorff, investigative reporter and founder of the news collective This Can't Be Happening, talks about how the narrative of violence in Kenosha is being shaped, how public opinion is turning against the American culture of policing, how these Hatch Act violations by the Trump administration showcase the power of the presidency, how crucial the post office remains for so many Americans and why private companies can’t be relied on to take over.
Ajamu Baraka, National Organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace gives us his analysis of the situation in Kenosha. We are seeing a remarkable ripple effect since the shooting of unarmed Jacob Blake on Sunday. Since then we’ve seen heightened protests across the country and in Kenosha itself we saw Kyle Rittenhouse kill 2 people and injury a third on Tuesday night. We continue to learn more about the shooter Rittenhouse since he was charged with homicide. Rittenhouse’s social media presence is filled with him posing with weapons, posting “Blue Lives Matter,” and supporting Trump for president. Footage from the Des Moines, Iowa, rally on Jan. 30 shows Rittenhouse feet away from the president, in the front row, to the left of the podium.
Mark Gray, veteran reporter and broadcaster for HRSN.com and Zinger News Wire, discusses NBA, MLB and other sports teams boycotting games and demanding changes in the wake of racial unrest in the US.
Max Blumenthal, award-winning journalist and editor of The Grayzone, breaks down a Washington Post story that asks if racial tension are at the heart of misinformation targeting voters. We'll also look at the differences between both political parties and delve further into police and militia ties.
Mark Gray, veteran reporter and broadcaster for HRSN.com and Zinger News Wire, discusses NBA, MLB and other sports teams boycotting games and demanding changes in the wake of racial unrest in the US.
Push back against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to address the Republican National Convention on Tuesday. Democrats say he violated the Hatch Act.
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, reflects on night two of the RNC, Mike Pompeo on a tour of the Middle East, and reports that Israel in the last days has bombed both Gaza and Lebanon.
Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition discusses the reality of our “economy” on a large scale is obscured by some of its traditional indicators in the context of agriculture. We'll discuss agricultural headlines that have been in the news lately - ones about farmers increasingly filing for bankruptcy, coupled with ones about unusually high prices for commodities at the global level and food in our grocery stores.
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, discusses the third night of protests in Wisconsin following the shooting of Jacob Blake and what to make of the drop in viewers at both major parties conventions this year.
Fires are burning in California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and across the US due to the lack of oversight and accountability, as well as political corruption. Who can put out the environmental, social and political flames?
Tina Landis, environmental and social justice advocate and author of "Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism," gives us the latest on California's wildfires. As of Tuesday morning, more than 1.4 million acres had burned. There have been more than 7,000 fires already in 2020, and this year seems to be exceptional. Is this an outlier or, worse, a marked shift in California’s fire trends?
Dr Jack Rasmus, who teaches economics and politics at St. Mary’s College of California and is the author of the book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump," analyzes the difference between the economic plans of US President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. With the US economy having suffered a collapse on par with the Great Depression, it’s no surprise Trump and Biden have been trying to sell economic visions as major parts of their campaigns. Biden’s got his Build Back Better plan, which includes promises to “equalize the network of retirement saving tax breaks.” Biden’s also going to raise taxes on people making more than $400,000 a year, but not on anyone making less or on small businesses, he says. Trump is trying to scare people about tax increases and touting his “Opportunity Zones,” which he claims over two years have collected more than $75 billion in investment. Did either candidate’s economic plan become clearer in the last week, and what impact would each have?
Mondale Robinson, founder of the Black Male Voter Project, and Senator Lena Taylor, who is serving her third term in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 4th Senate District, discuss the unrest in Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. The Wisconsin National Guard has been ordered to the town of Kenosha in the wake of the incident. Following the shooting, there have been mass uprisings across the country, adding fuel to the recent protests against police brutality. They'll also look at what the Republican National Convention had to say on Monday night about law and order in the United States, as well as efforts to roll back qualified immunity across the US.
Tina Landis, environmental and social justice advocate and author of "Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism," gives us the latest on California's wildfires. As of Tuesday morning, more than 1.4 million acres had burned. There have been more than 7,000 fires already in 2020, and this year seems to be exceptional. Is this an outlier or, worse, a marked shift in California’s fire trends?
Stephanie Myles, a former USPS employee and co-founder of The Palm Collective, and Chris Smalls, an Amazon worker who was fired after organizing a walkout of his Staten Island, New York, warehouse and who has become a voice for labor, discuss worker strikes, worker mobilization, striking back against corporate bosses, and how to connect local and national movements.
Workers speak out to condemn the handling of proposed cuts to the US Postal Service (USPS), while the Trump administration paints a different picture.
Stephanie Myles, a former USPS employee and co-founder of The Palm Collective; and Chris Smalls, an Amazon worker who was fired after organizing a walkout of his Staten Island, New York, warehouse and who has become a voice for labor, discuss worker strikes, worker mobilization and protests striking back against corporate bosses.
Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist; and Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principle at TML Communications discuss, QAnon and the Trump administration's response; what to expect during the Republican National Convention; US President Donald Trump's sliding poll numbers; and the the controversy over mail-in voting and the USPS.
Kim Iversen, independent journalist and host of the "Kim Iversen Show" on YouTube; and Richard Becker, author of “Palestine, Israel and the US Empire,” talk to us about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and the Democratic National Convention. Some of the party’s newest and highest-profile members of Congress actively support BDS and are critics of Israel’s policies toward Palestine, and the 2020 Democratic contenders for president skipped this year’s American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference, bucking tradition somewhat. And Linda Sarsour was invited to take part in a convention panel - it’s not like she crashed it. But of course, we have a Democratic platform that doesn’t support legalizing marijuana, so is the denunciation of Sarsour just another knee-jerk reaction by an out-of-touch establishment, or something more?
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and president of the National Economic Association, breaks down Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's economic plan. Both US President Donald Trump and Biden are making America’s economy prominent parts of their campaign - of course. Trump is trying to scare voters with the possibility of tax increases and touting his “job creation” numbers. Biden, naturally, is pointing out the economic havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic and Trump’s response, as well as promising to “Build Back Better.” But this week, we might have gotten an update on what that building would entail.
Eleanor Goldfield, a creative activist, journalist and co-host of the Common Censored podcast with Lee Camp and the filmmaker behind the new documentary “Hard Road of Hope," discusses the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) fossil fuel stance. On Monday, the DNC's revised draft platform was circulated; notably, previous language on ending fossil fuel subsidies had been removed, despite both Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) having campaigned in support of ending those policies. The Verge reported Thursday that Biden had "recommitted to ending fossil fuel subsidies following backlash from environmentalists." What are we to make of this?
Eleanor Goldfield, a creative activist, journalist and co-host of the Common Censored podcast with Lee Camp and the filmmaker behind the new documentary “Hard Road of Hope," discusses the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) fossil fuel stance. On Monday, the DNC's revised draft platform was circulated; notably, previous language on ending fossil fuel subsidies had been removed, despite both Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) having campaigned in support of ending those policies. The Verge reported Thursday that Biden had "recommitted to ending fossil fuel subsidies following backlash from environmentalists." What are we to make of this?
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and president of the National Economic Association, breaks down Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's economic plan. Both US President Donald Trump and Biden are making America’s economy prominent parts of their campaign - of course. Trump is trying to scare voters with the possibility of tax increases and touting his “job creation” numbers. Biden, naturally, is pointing out the economic havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic and Trump’s response, as well as promising to “Build Back Better.” But this week, we might have gotten an update on what that building would entail.
Stephen Lendman, author and geopolitical analyst, discusses the UK following the US' lead in restricting Huawei from its 5G network. But it’s not clear how many other nations will do the same. How much of a hold does the US have on the global chip market? And we'll talk about the economic blowback from these sanctions.
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the Love Lounge radio show, breaks down the Flint, Michigan, settlement. The state of Michigan is expected to pay about $600 million to victims of the Flint water crisis, according to two people with knowledge of a major settlement that is set to be announced this week, according to the Wall Street Journal. The money would largely be designated for children in Flint who were poisoned by lead-tainted tap water after officials changed the city’s water supply six years ago. Anyone who was living in Flint between 2014 and 2016 could be eligible for a claim. The payments are expected to be distributed beginning in spring 2021.
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist, breaks down why we should be watching Apple, the world's first $2 trillion company. The tech giant's market cap reached that height in trading on Thursday. Its stock has been on a roll since the company announced a four-for-one stock split, a move which was common 20 years ago but has fallen out of favor. Although it doesn't change the value of anyone's portfolio, the split will cut Apple's stock price to 25% of its current value, allowing more investors to get in at a price point they can afford. Apple's stock was up 2.22% at closing on Thursday, per MarketWatch.
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the Love Lounge radio show, breaks down Flint settlement. The state of Michigan is expected to pay about $600 million to victims of the Flint water crisis, according to two people with knowledge of a major settlement that is set to be announced this week. The money would largely be designated for children in Flint who were poisoned by lead-tainted tap water after officials changed the city’s water supply six years ago. Anyone who was living in Flint between 2014 and 2016 could be eligible for a claim. The payments are expected to be distributed beginning in spring 2021.
Dina Al Bayati, an activist, humanitarian, and movement builder focused on peace and security, youth empowerment, and countering violent extremism in the Middle East & North Africa, discusses the US stance in Iraq. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a big announcement about helping out Iraq yesterday - not by leaving, no, no, no but by pledging some money toward the wellbeing of the Iraqi people and promising to help Iraq get rid of what he characterized as rogue militias.
Julian Vigo, an independent scholar and filmmaker who specializes in anthropology, technology and political philosophy, discusses Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia agreeing to present draft proposals over the management of Addis Ababa's giant and controversial Nile hydroelectric dam. Ethiopia's $4.5 billion effort to build the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will look to generate 6,000 megawatts of power, making it the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa. But will Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia be able to settle on an agreement on how they can peacefully share the Nile?
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, speaks on the near misses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s high-security lab that illustrate the risk of accidents with the coronavirus.
Dr. Wilmer Leon, co-host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, discusses the Senate finally finishing and releasing its 1,000-page report on the 2016 Trump campaign’s alleged connections to Russia. The report comes to some firm conclusions about people who remain far out of legal reach, and it includes a lot of wishy-washy language about people who are in the US and able to be charged with crimes.
Dr. Wilmer Leon, co-host of The Critical Hour, discusses the Senate finally finishing and releasing its 1,000 page report into the Trump campaign’s connections to Russia. The report comes to some firm conclusions about people who remain far out of legal reach, and a lot of wishy washy language about people who are here, in this country, and able to be charged with crimes.
Yolandra Hancock, board- certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, speaks to the near misses at UNC Chapel Hill’s high security lab that illustrate the risk of accidents with coronavirus.
Rashid Nuri, founder of the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture (TLW), describes the hunger problems going on in the US and abroad, both pre- and post-COVID-19. Can these issues be solved, or are games being played?
Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations and security analyst, updates us on the Belarus crisis. Since President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the victor of the country’s presidential election earlier this month, Belarussians have been pouring into the streets for what have been described as the biggest protests ever seen in the country - and they're getting more massive as they continue. What’s going on here? Also we’ll look at presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s foreign policy record. Will things be different?
Doug Blecher, founder of Autism Personal Coach, discusses the new Netflix series "Love on the Spectrum." Finding love can be hard for anyone. For young adults on the autism spectrum, exploring the unpredictable world of dating is even more complicated. Does this show do justice in opening up the vast world of autism?
Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations and security analyst, updates us on the Belarus crisis. Since President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the victor of the country’s presidential election earlier this month, Belarussians have been pouring into the streets for what have been described as the biggest protests ever seen in the country - and they're getting more massive as they continue. What’s going on here? Also we’ll look at presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s foreign policy record. Will things be different?
Rashid Nuri, founder of the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture (TLW), describes the hunger problems going on in the US and abroad, both pre- and post-COVID-19. Can these issues be solved, or are games being played?
Jim Kavanagh, writer and contributor to the ThePolemicist.net and CounterPunch, discusses how Kevin Clinesmith, a former FBI lawyer who resigned last year, is going to plead guilty to making a false statement in a deal struck with prosecutors looking into the entire Russiagate investigation. Clinesmith altered an email describing Trump campaign adviser Carter Page to add the words “not a source” and then forwarded that email to a colleague who was working on getting a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant to spy on Page.
Rami Mumir, writer for Citizen Truth based in Palestine, discusses the recent Israeli attacks on Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israelis say the attacks were due to Palestinians launching incendiary and explosive balloons toward Israel.
Mnar Muhawesh, MintPress News founder, CEO and editor-in-chief, discusses several stories topping the news. Last week, MintPress published an article about Maffick titled "Popular Viral Video Firm Sues Facebook over Russian Propaganda Label"; the company says its sole owner is an American. How is this new “state-funded media” brand being applied? Also, WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange is facing more charges. "The charge sheet contains further allegations that he conspired with others to obtain US government information by encouraging computer hacking," Computer Weekly reported on Friday. This comes as the US continues to try and delay Assange's extradition trial in the UK. And we'll take a look at recent protests among residents in Chicago, Illinois.
Mnar Muhawesh, MintPress News founder, CEO and editor-in-chief, discusses several stories topping the news. Last week, MintPress published an article about Maffick titled "Popular Viral Video Firm Sues Facebook over Russian Propaganda Label"; the company says its sole owner is an American. How is this new “state-funded media” brand being applied? Also, WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange is facing more charges. "The charge sheet contains further allegations that he conspired with others to obtain US government information by encouraging computer hacking," Computer Weekly reported on Friday. This comes as the US continues to try and delay Assange's extradition trial in the UK. And we'll take a look at recent protests among residents in Chicago, Illinois.
Jim Kavanagh, writer and contributor to the ThePolemicist.net and CounterPunch, discusses how Kevin Clinesmith, a former FBI lawyer who resigned last year, is going to plead guilty to making a false statement in a deal struck with prosecutors looking into the entire Russiagate investigation. Clinesmith altered an email describing Trump campaign aide Carter Page to add the words “not a source” and then forwarded that email to a colleague who was working on getting a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant to spy on Page.
Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran; and Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University
Alexander- what is behind the increase of migrants crossing the English Channel. Britain and France have agreed this week to increase their efforts to stop migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats, according to a UK government minister who took part in talks in Paris on Tuesday. Immigration minister Chris Philp said that London and Paris were working to develop what he called a "comprehensive action plan" to make the route unviable.
Karleigh Webb, journalist, videographer and anti-imperialist, labor and trans rights organizer with the PSL in Connecticut, breaks down new changes to Title IX.
Secretary DeVos has taken historic action to strengthen Title IX protections for all students. DeVos' sexual misconduct rule will take effect Friday. Why have these Title IX changes have caused so much controversy?
Jim Kavanaugh, writer for ThePolemicist.net, discusses all the hell breaking loose with the post office. The Postal Service is warning some votes might not be counted for the November election. The Washington Post reports 46 states and DC have been told there's no guarantee ballots mailed back to election offices will arrive in time. USPS has been going through sweeping changes to cut costs. One has already caused mail delivery to be delayed by a week in some places. Another has removed 10-percent of mail sorting machines, which could make the slowdown worse.President Trump admits the delay in getting a new stimulus agreement is because he wants to prevent Americans from voting by mail. Democrats are pushing for more money for the post office and states to handle the millions of mail-in ballots expected this year. Trump said on Fox Business' Mornings With Maria that it's a scam. He said denying them the money means he can prevent universal mail-in voting this November.
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, discusses his new piece in MintPress News looking at the US military presence in Africa, which goes shamefully underreported and almost unquestioned. There’s a spate of hand-wringing every time a US soldier dies in a country we had no idea they were stationed in, as with the ambush in Niger in 2018, for example. But the media cycle then moves on, and the troops stay. What kind of military personnel are there, what does our government say they’re doing, and what is the government leaving out?
Morgan Artyukhina, Sputnik news analyst and journalist, breaks down the newest branch of the US Armed Forces, the Space Force. This week, the service issued its first doctrine, laying out its mission, methods and domain in a capstone publication entitled “Spacepower.” Artyukhina helps us understand this new doctrine and how the Space Force is already pretending to be on the defensive when the US has been militarizing space for decades.
Jon Jeter, author, award-winning foreign correspondent, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, talks about the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris ticket. A few polls out on Wednesday showed that Harris is viewed a bit more favorably in a few categories of voters than Biden is. She’s slightly more popular with young people - slightly being two percentage points. What's more, 60% of women polled had a favorable view of her, compared to 53% for Biden. Republicans also like her more, with 25% giving her a thumbs up, compared to 20% for Biden. Polls on Monday and Tuesday showed that 44% of adults would vote for Biden, while 37% would back US President Donald Trump. After the announcement that Harris had joined the Demcoratic ticket, 46% of adults said they’d vote for Biden, while 38% said they’d vote for Trump.
Miko Peled, author of “The General’s Son: The Journey of an Israeli in Palestine” and “Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five,” discusses the massive support from Zionists and nationalists trying to secure Trump's victory. According to a July Pew Research Center poll, about 7 in 10 white evangelical Protestants approve of how Trump is performing in the White House. The same survey found that if the 2020 US presidential election were held today, 82% of white evangelical Protestant registered voters would vote for Trump or lean toward doing so. And of those white evangelicals polled, only 9% said Biden would be “great” or “good” in the Oval Office.
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, discusses his new piece in Mint Press News which looks at the US presence in Africa, which goes shamefully underreported and almost unquestioned. There’s a spate of hand-wringing every time a US soldier dies in a country we had no idea they were stationed in, as with the ambush in Niger in 2018, for example. But the media cycle then moves on and the troops stay. What kind of military personnel are there, what does our government say they’re doing, and what is the government leaving out?
Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, tackles Yemen's humanitarian crisis, as well as the role of USAID in that country and around the world. A few stories appeared last month about Yemeni forces saying they’d found hundreds of weapons bearing USAID's logo in possession of Saudi mercenaries. What are the Yemeni forces saying, and what does this mean?
Kari Fulton, an environmental justice advocate and founder of Checktheweather.net, discusses the fires in the Amazon rainforest, which are on pace to create record-breaking destruction, and also a US Environmental Protection Agency decision to rescind methane regulations.
Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principle at TML Communications; and Ted Rall, author and award-winning political cartoonist, talk about Biden selecting Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) for vice president. Harris by no means has a strong record on policing, so Team Biden is not going to get a bump from one of the largest protest movements the US has ever seen, and so enthusiasm levels for Biden are not likely to move in any significant way. California is already in the bag for Democrats, and political scientists say that at best, the VP nominee can cause 1-2% movement in an election. So what does it all mean?
Kari Fulton, an environmental justice advocate and founder of Checktheweather.net, discusses the fires in the Amazon rainforest, which are on pace to create record-breaking destruction, and also a US Environmental Protection Agency decision to rescind methane regulations.
Garland Nixon, co-host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, unveils how Chicago private developers with the support of the government have been able to loot the city’s tax base through tax increment financing (TIF) districts and projects. He also covers Uber losing $1.78 billion in the second quarter of 2020 - a private company essentially “disrupting” and breaking public services but then not being able to actually be sustainable or profitable. So Uber has broken down a public good and then failed to offer a replacement. And in Louisville, Kentucky, "officials announced Sunday afternoon the [Louisville Metro Police Department] will no longer allow protests in public streets. Instead, participants are confined to sidewalks and must follow pedestrian and traffic laws," the Louisville Courier-Journal reported Sunday.
Dan Kovalik, author, human rights and labor lawyer, tears apart Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's heartfelt opinion piece that ran Monday in the New York Times, begging the US government to let Uber treat its drivers better.
Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst who focuses his coverage on US foreign policy and the global system of monopoly capitalism and imperialism, discusses the weird showdown looming between Team GOP, accusing China, and Team Democrat, accusing Russia, in the contest to create the biggest election boogeyman; US Attorney General William Barr’s new, adjective-heavy scare-mongering about Black Lives Matter; and more.
Deja Perez, radio host on 93.9 WKYS and 102.3 Majic DC and creator of WKYS’ newsy and juicy "What's Poppin!" segment, breaks down the controversy behind Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's new song "WAP."
Garland Nixon, co-host of The Critical Hour, unveils how Chicago private developers with the support of the government have been able to loot the City’s tax base through TIFs. He also covers Uber losing $1.78 billion in the second quarter, a private company essentially “disrupting” and breaking public services but then not being able to actually be sustainable or profitable, so this private company breaking a public good and then failing to offer a replacement. And In Louisville, Kentucky officials announced Sunday afternoon the city will no longer allow protests in public streets. Instead, participants are confined to sidewalks and must follow pedestrian and traffic laws.
Dr. Hicham Safieddine, professor of the history of the modern Middle East at King's College London, discusses unrest in Beirut, Lebanon, post-explosion as residents demand political change and the country's prime minister quits. Will the current government hold on or fail?
Dr. Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and chief editor of LeftWord Books, talks about the privatization of space exploration and, of course, SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action, breaks down US President Donald Trump's executive orders that are causing questions over their legality and effectiveness. Trump ordered an additional $400 a week in benefits to those who are unemployed, after the $600 weekly bonus passed earlier this year by Congress expired at the end of July. The federal government would pay 75% of the tab, while local and state governments are to pay 25%. What does it mean to have states chip in?
Dr. Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and chief editor of LeftWord Books, talks about the privatization of space exploration and, of course, SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Netfa Freeman, policy analyst with the Institute for Policy Studies, organizer with Pan-African Community Action and member of the coordinating committee of the Black Alliance for Peace, takes a look at Libya. The country’s last two administrations have pushed it into absolute chaos. How has the conflict proceeded between the major factions in Libya? Have there been any big changes in the past month?
Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog with Beyond Nuclear discusses the 75th anniversary of the first use of a nuclear bomb in war, when the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. What have we learned and why is there still nuclear testing?
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse Podcast discusses Joe Biden’s comments about the diversity of Latinos in America or for that matter lack of diversity; Twitter announcing that it will introduce new labels to better identify accounts belonging to government officials and senior staff of state-backed media; and protests in Portland.
Netfa Freeman, policy analyst with the Institute for Policy Studies, organizer with Pan-African Community Action, and member of the coordinating committee of the Black Alliance for Peace, takes a look at Libya. The country’s last two administrations pushed into absolute chaos. How has the conflict stands in that country between the major factions? Have there been any big changes in the past month?
Elisabeth Myers, democracy lead for Democrats Abroad Morocco, lawyer and former editor-in-chief of Inside Arabia, discusses a recent Wall Street Journal exclusive that says Saudi Arabia has quietly built a plant to process uranium ore into yellowcake and questions whether China is helping in the process! What's going on here?
David Schultz, author and professor of political science at Hamline University and a professor in the Hamline and University of Minnesota Schools of Law, discusses New York Attorney General Letitia James filing a lawsuit calling for the NRA to be dissolved. The suit alleges that for decades, the organization’s leaders have plundered its coffers for their own gain - to the turn of $64 million over three years. Also, US President Donald Trump's business woes are coming to light. Deutsche Bank, one of Trump’s major lenders in his days as a private citizen, was subpoenaed by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. last year in what, according to a New York Times report, "appears to be the first instance of a criminal inquiry involving Mr. Trump and his dealings with the German bank, which lent him and his company more than $2 billion over the past two decades."
Litesa Wallace, former Illinois state representative for the 67th District and founder of the Wallace Institute for Learning and Empowerment, has the details on everything in Rockford, Illinois. A lot of the focus given to the current Black Lives Matter movement has been in large US cities. However, we continue to see lots of movement in smaller and mid-size cities across the country. Rockford, with a population of about 150,000, is no exception. On May 30, Rockford Police used tear gas to disperse crowds who had gathered to protest at the District 1 police station, and just this past Friday, nine people were taken into custody after staging a protest calling attention to the aggressive police tactics on May 30. There is a lot of unrest in the city. What's going on, and what's being done about it?
David Schultz, author and professor of political science at Hamline University and a professor in the Hamline and University of Minnesota Schools of Law, discusses the New York attorney general filing a lawsuit calling for the NRA to be dissolved. They allege for decades the organization’s leadership have plundered its coffers for their own gain - to the tun of $64 million over three years. Also, Trump business woes are coming to light. Deutsche Bank, one of Trump’s major lenders in his days as a private citizen, was subpoenaed by Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. last year in what, according to a NYT report, is the first instance of a criminal inquiry involving Mr. Trump and his dealings with the German bank, which lent him and his company more than $2 billion over the past two decades.
Randi Nord, founder of Geopolitics Alert, discusses the explosion that rocked Beirut, in which 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate in a warehouse became a ticking time bomb. Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has vowed to punish those responsible for the negligence. This couldn't have come at a worse time, as protesters are hitting the streets in Lebanon over elections, and the country's failing economy is now even more crippled.
Carlos Casteneda, attorney with the Law Offices of Thomas Esparza Jr., discusses the Supreme Court ruling barring the Trump administration from ending DACA. However, the administration is still not accepting new applications for the program. Also, a Netflix docuseries designed to shed light on US Immigation and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and possibly explain their work ends up exposing the ugly horrors and discord within the agency. Should it be dismantled?
Eugene Craig III, Republican strategist, former vice chair of the Maryland Republican Party and grassroots activist, discusses whether or not the US government will restart its $600 weekly payouts to those who are unemployed after the program lapsed last week. What is the winning path for Trump in the election at this point? Without direct cash payments to the people, the economy is going to be hurting come November 3. The COVID-19 crisis in the US will not change, and kids will get sick at school. Also, he talks about gun sales being up in the African-American community and why being a Black Republican matters.
Carlos Casteneda, attorney with The Law Offices of Thomas Esparza Jr., discusses The Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration couldn’t end the DACA program, however the administration is still not accepting new applications to the program. Also, a Netflix docuseries designed to shed light on ICE agents and possibly explain their role ends up exposing the ugly horrors and disconnection within the agency. Should it be dismantled?
Elizabeth Davis, president of the Washington Teachers Union, and Joshua Harris, vice-president of the Baltimore branch of the NAACP discuss reopening schools, what this year might look like and how this pandemic might affect our public education system for years to come.
Elizabeth Davis, president of the Washington Teachers' Union, and Joshua Harris, vice-president of the Baltimore, Maryland, branch of the NAACP, discuss reopening schools, what this year might look like and how this pandemic might affect the US public education system for years to come.
Yves Engler, a Montreal-based writer and political activist who is the author of 10 books and a contributor to a variety of media outlets, including The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star, discusses Bolivia, as unions and other organizations across the country march or go on strike to protest elections there being delayed - again.
James Early, former director of cultural heritage policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses the resignation letter from a top producer at MSNBC calling cable news a "cancer" on society. We also address America’s obsession with Russia!
James Early, former director of cultural heritage policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses the resignation letter from a top producer at MSNBC calling cable news a "cancer" on society. We also address America’s obsession with Russia!
Katie Spellman, an organizer with the Washington, DC, branch of the Communist Party USA, explains the difference between capitalism and communism and identifies the foundational crisis in America. Would a communist form of government be able to combat this public health crisis and the ongoing police violence that seem to be the urgent matters of the moment?
Jack Rasmus, a professor of economics and politics at St. Mary’s College of California and the author of the book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump," delves into the struggling US economy pre-COVID-19 and the collision course the country was on. Also, US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says the US can't afford to take on too much debt for the next pandemic stimulus package, so why not divert some of the billions of dollars in loans going to big corporations?
Scott Thompson, a labor market economist and rural sociologist in Des Moines, Iowa, explains the momentum for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as Trump continues to show his inability to wrangle with the coronavirus. National surveys look pretty good for Biden, with him leading by about 8% across all polls. The numbers don’t necessarily translate to the state level, though. While it's good for Democrats that Biden has closed that gap, it's one thing to close a gap and another thing to win. Iowa is an extremely important state - maybe not for its prized six Electoral College votes, but it serves as a bellwether for a lot of other Midwestern states. The state has correctly chosen the last seven presidents. If the election were held today, who would take Iowa? How do Democrats win Iowa and convince people to come back to their party?
Jack Rasmus, professor of economics and politics at St. Mary’s College of California and author of the book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump," delves into the struggling US economy pre-COVID and the collision course the country was on. Also, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says the US can't afford to take on too much debt in the next pandemic stimulus package, so why not divert some of the billions of dollars in loans going to big corporations?
Government officials are still trying to delay the case of WikiLeaks' Julian Assange; meanwhile the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly compiled a list and is tracking journalists who leak documents. In Ferguson, Missouri, charges have been dropped against the white cop who killed Michael Brown. Is justice being served anywhere?
Mohamed Elmazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including The Canary, TheInterregnum.net and Sputnik International, who joins us from London, has an update on Assange's case. He remains stuck in London's maximum security Belmarsh Prison as his extradition trial moves forward in fits and starts. His partner, Stella Moris, explained this week that Assange's legal team is expecting him to be somehow rearrested on the same charges for a different extradition request, because it seems the powers prosecuting him have blown past a technical deadline or two.
Kristine Hendrix, president of Missouri's University City School Board, junior Bayard Rustin Fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation, contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and the We Stay Woke podcast and co-chair of Cori Bush's campaign for Congress, discusses the news out of St. Louis and neighboring Ferguson. On Thursday, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell announced that after reinvestigating the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson, he did not have enough evidence to disprove Wilson's self-defense claim, and thus no charges will be filed. She also breaks down DHS stating this week that it will maintain its current, augmented federal law enforcement presence in Portland, Oregon. Will they be coming to a city near you next?
Wyatt Reed, journalist and producer for By Any Means Necessary radio show, has been covering the latest tensions and protests between demonstrators and federal law enforcement officers. As many agents begin to leave Portland today some will stay behind vowing to protect the courthouse, a backdrop for much of the unrest.
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist, gives an overview of the House top anti-trust subcommittee hearing involving leaders of four major US technology companies: Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook. The hearing began with a suggestion that these four companies are not only threats to competition, but to democracy. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Apple’s Tim Cook, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Sundar Pichai fielded questions about alleged anti-conservative bias, anti-conservative bias, anti-conservative bias, oh, and collecting too much data, using that data illegally and being too cozy with China.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, talks about the US cutting back its troop deployments in Germany. Nearly 12,000 US troops will be pulled from the country, with some shifted around the continent, including sending some units to Belgium and Italy, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper confirmed. He said the change will begin within weeks, but overall the shifts will take months or even years. What about the argument some German politicians have made, that this will cost German jobs and German workers “didn’t deserve this”? Mitt Romney called the move a “grave error” and “a slap in the face at a friend and ally when we should instead be drawing closer in our mutual commitment to deter Russian and Chinese aggression.” Is China now going to invade Germany?
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in action, takes a look a the jobs report and breaks down the bleak economic forecast. The US GDP fell 9.5 percent during the second quarter of the year - and in the standard and annualized method of reporting quarterly data, that equals a 32.9 percent drop. That’s the biggest, swiftest drop since modern record keeping began, with the only true comparisons in this country’s history being the Great Depression and the demobilization after World War II, both of which occurred before the advent of modern economic statistics. This drop, of course, was deliberately undertaken by shutting down the economy. But the fear seems to be that we didn’t shut down thoroughly enough or long enough, and so what might have been, if we’d gotten lucky, a steep drop and then a steep and rapid recovery, it looks like we’re instead in for a long period of both health and economic uncertainty, which doesn’t bode well for the recovery.
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, medical director of the CRC Wellness Center and founder of Delta Health & Wellness Consulting, explains why Americans have fewer children isn't a good thing for the economy. The American story, from Bloomberg, focuses on the US birthrate and the current crisis, and cites two studies showing that Americans are, in fact, not stuck at home fueling another baby boom, but much the opposite. A Guttmacher Institute survey of about 2,000 American women in late April and early May found that 34% wanted to delay pregnancy or have fewer children as a result of the pandemic - more than the 17% who said they wanted children sooner or more of them. And in June, it says, the Brookings Institution released a study predicting the U.S. is headed for “a large, lasting baby bust”, citing research predicting 300,000 to 500,000 fewer children will be born in the U.S. in 2021 than there would have been absent the crisis, which amounts to a decrease of roughly 10% from 2019. Why is there a decline and what is the impact on us all?
Wyatt Reed, journalist and producer for By Any Means Necessary radio show, has been covering the latest tensions and protests between demonstrators and federal law enforcement officers. As many agents begin to leave Portland today some will stay behind vowing to protect the courthouse, a backdrop for much of the unrest.
Everybody has a plan, but few have real solutions. Who are the winners and losers of the US Federal Reserve's programs, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's new economic plan and US Attorney General William Barr's justification of federal agents descending upon cities, purportedly to enforce law and order?
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, National Economic Association (NEA) president and associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, discusses the Federal Reserve's recent policy meeting. The Fed's benchmark short-term interest rate remains near 0%, and it has decided to extend its emergency programs. However, who's really benefiting? While Fed Chairman Jerome Powell remains hopeful about people being able to return to the workplace in the weeks and months ahead, there will be many scars left from heavy economic decline and uncertainty. Also, Biden unveils his plan to help minority communities and stimulate the economy. Will it work?
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, delves into Barr's Tuesday testimony before Congress. The attorney general did not provide much insight into the mechanisms behind the actions of federal agents over the weekend, but thanks to ProPublica, we are getting a better understanding of the intimidation and legal tactics used by the Trump administration against protesters. What do the federal government's actions mean for people's First Amendment rights?
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, National Economic Association (NEA) president and associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, discusses the federal reserve policy meeting. The Fed's benchmark short-term interest rate remains at near-zero percent and they've decided to extend emergency programs. However, who's really benefiting. While the Fed Chairman remains hopeful about people being able to return to the workplace in the weeks and months ahead there will be many scars left from heavy economic decline and uncertainty. Also, Biden unveils his plan to help minority communities and stimulate the economy. Will it work?
Dan Kovalik, author and labor and human rights lawyer, updates Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte on some of the major labor movements underway during this pandemic, and what workers can achieve not only for workers’ rights, but for gender and racial justice.
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog with Beyond Nuclear, warns listeners that fusion is a very expensive pipe dream, and not nearly as safe as proponents of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) would like you to believe. The money being funneled toward this project could instead be used to address very real and urgent energy needs in the countries funding it, he argues.
Artepreneur Vincent (V!n$ysnT) discusses his new album, Social Vandalism, how to stay relevant in a constantly changing social milieu, the feedback loop between politics and music, and how to stay afloat as an independent arts in the creative economy.
The Misfits also broke down the latest polling data on Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the disappointing ‒ or is that predicable ‒ Democratic Party platform so far and the differences between Biden and Hillary Clinton and 2020 versus 2016.
Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog with Beyond Nuclear, warns listeners that fusion is a very expensive pipe dream, and not nearly as safe as proponents of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) would like you to believe. The money being funneled toward this project could instead be used to address very real and urgent energy needs in the countries funding it, he argues.
Ted Rall, author and award-winning political cartoonist, explains the upheaval between the DNC and supporters of US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Just three weeks from the Democratic National Convention, "more than 360 delegates, most of whom back Sanders, have signed on to a pledge to vote against the Democratic Party’s platform if it does not include support for 'Medicare for All,'" Politico reported Monday. Also, on Friday, the Washington Post settled its lawsuit with Nicolas Sandmann over its coverage of Sandmann and a group of teens from Covington Catholic High School who were near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, for the March for Life and a group of Native American demonstrators in the same area for the Indigenous Peoples March on January 18, 2019. And is Antifa the new boogeyman?
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, covers the protests in Israel. While the US is locked in its own COVID-19 and economic crises, the huge protests in Israel right now aren’t getting as much attention. Israelis are confronting their government over its handling of the coronavirus and the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Anoa Changa, writer, activist, lawyer and journalist, talks about Garrett Foster, who was shot and killed on Saturday in Austin, Texas, by a man driving a car through a crowd of protesters during a peaceful march; uprisings in Portland and Seattle, Washington; a ProPublica report on the New York Police Department; and Black mayors tackling police reform without "defunding the police."
Anoa Changa, writer and activist, lawyer and journalist talk about Garrett Foster was killed in Austin by a man driving a car into protestors during a peaceful march; uprisings in Portland and Seattle; and Pro Publica report on the NYPD.
Wyatt Reed, journalist and producer for By Any Means Necessary on Sputnik News Radio, gives updates on the latest in Portland, Oregon. The American Civil Liberties Union has gotten a restraining order issued against federal agents, preventing them from moving against or threatening journalists covering the protests there. Also the Department of Justice is launching an investigation into federal agents' role in the unrest in the city. Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he is responding to a complaint from the US attorney in Oregon over use of force. What will all this amount to?
KJ Noh, a writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics, breaks down the latest conflict between the US and China. On Thursday night, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stood in front of an audience at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library to make it extremely clear that if the US isn’t planning to reverse the course of engagement with China, it is definitely changing that engagement - or so he’d have us believe.
Dr. Bill Honigman, California state coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America and co-coordinator of its Healthcare Human Rights Issue Organizing Team, talks about California surpassing New York as the state with most coronavirus cases after a record day. California was billed as a miracle state back in March with its initial response to the pandemic; what has gone so terribly wrong? Also, US President Donald Trump is calling off plans for the big acceptance speech he wanted to make in Jacksonville, Florida. The president had pushed the Republican National Committee to move that portion of the event from North Carolina so he could accept the party's nomination in front of thousands of fans. Is he taking the virus more seriously?
China Dickerson, national political director for Forward Majority, also addresses Trump canceling the GOP convention in Jacksonville. This of course came after North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper kicked the Trump team out of his state over fear of the coronavirus. Trump has been using a new tone on the virus, wearing a face mask, taking precautions at rallies and restarting the COVID-19 news conferences. We'll also break down Morning Consult's new polls, several of which revolve heavily around police sentiments towards the movement for Black lives and the latest police reforms.
Dr. Bill Honigman, California State Coordinator and Co-Coordinator of the Healthcare as a Human Right Issue Organizing Team for Progressive Democrats of America, talks about California surpassing New York as state with most coronavirus cases after record day. California was billed as a miracle state back in March with its initial response to the pandemic, what has gone so terribly wrong? Also,Trump is calling off plans for the big acceptance speech he wanted to make in Jacksonville. The President had pushed the Republican National Committee to move that portion of the event from North Carolina so he could accept the party's nomination in front of thousands of fans. Is taking the virus more seriously?
KJ Noh, a writer and scholar of Asian Pacific geopolitics, breaks down the latest conflict between the US and China. And then last night, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stood in front of the Nixon library to make it extremely clear that if the US wasn’t planning to reverse the course of engagement with China, it is definitely changing that engagement. Or so he’d have us believe.
Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, takes a look at the federal death penalty resuming. "Last week, for the first time in nearly two decades, federal executions resumed at the US Penitentiary in Terre Haute, [Indiana]," the Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday. "After a 17-year hiatus, three men have been executed: Daniel Lewis Lee on July 14, Wesley Ira Purkey on July 16 and Dustin Lee Honken on July 17." Why now?
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for Illinois, discusses Trump trying to prevent more categories of people from entering the US and escalating the measures used to track down and deport undocumented, and in some cases absolutely documented and legal, residents. Now he is attempting to exclude people who are in the US from the census. A memo he issued Tuesday directs the Census Bureau to exclude undocumented people from the apportionment base that will be calculated from the upcoming US Census.
Kim Iversen, independent journalist and host of the Kim Iversen Show, tackles Operation Legend, in which a surge of federal forces have been sent to Kansas City, Missouri, and now will go to Chicago, Illinois, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Also, she discusses Democratic nominee and former US Vice President Joe Biden's war of words with Trump. During a virtual town hall on Wednesday, Biden called Trump the first racist to be elected to the US presidency, while Trump responded later that day that he has "done more for Black Americans than anybody, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln." Do both get a big "F" for lying?
Sara Dady, immigration attorney and former Democratic congressional candidate for Illinois, discussed US President Donald Trump trying to prevent more categories of people from entering the US and escalating the measures used to track down and deport undocumented, and in some cases absolutely documented and legal, residents. Now he is attempting to exclude people who are in the US from the census. A memo he issued Tuesday directs the Census Bureau to exclude undocumented people from the apportionment base that will be calculated from the upcoming US Census.
Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, tackles Yemen's humanitarian crisis. The country remains in the middle of a brutal war, and the accompanying humanitarian crisis is going on years now of being the world’s worst. It seems pretty preventable, but we simply can’t get the US to stop helping Saudi Arabia rain terror on the country, to our great shame. And Yemen’s war and famine haven’t stopped the COVID-19 pandemic from reaching the country: the disease is now wreaking havoc on a health care system that has basically collapsed under the weight of war and famine. And now, a massive oil tanker that has been stranded off the Yemeni port of Ras Isa since 2015 is becoming dangerously destabilized. How did we get here, and how can we avert an environmental catastrophe?
Danny Haiphong, contributing editor at the Black Agenda Report and co-host of "Black Agenda Report Presents: The Left Lens," discusses the misinformation and accusations that China is “threatening US sovereignty,” “coercing business leaders” and “intimidating US citizens,” because these days, this particular US citizen mostly feels intimidated by the US Park Police and other American law enforcement and troops in the streets. He also explains his new piece for the Black Agenda Report, in which he describes this situation as a new Cold War with China.
Dr. Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and chief editor of LeftWord Books, breaks down the European Union’s finance deal that will keep the bloc together for now at the expense of its citizens. Also, how can we help developing nations crippled by the coronavirus? And we analyze how leftist movements are destroyed.
Dr. Vijay Prashad, Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and chief editor of LeftWord Books, breaks down the European Union’s finance deal that will keep the union together for now at the expense of its citizens. Also, how can we help developing nations crippled by coronavirus; and we analyze how leftist movements are destroyed.
Dr. Hicham Safieddine, professor of the history of the modern Middle East at King’s College London, has the latest on Lebanon's economic woes. Lebanon has not been spared in the coronavirus crisis, but unluckily for the country, the virus hit amid a slowly building economic crisis that seems to have suddenly hit the gas over the past few months, with electricity being cut to a few hours a day, food prices rising so high and so fast that they’re going beyond the reach of some citizens, the Lebanese pound losing 80% of its value over the course of the last year and the country’s banks and citizens running out of foreign currency. That Lebanon is in a serious crisis seems beyond doubt. But how did the country get here?
Jim Kavanagh, political analyst, commentator and editor of The Polemicist, breaks down a British report targeting Russia. The UK Parliament's cross-party Intelligence and Security Committee has issued a report saying in part that "the UK took its 'eye off the ball' in relation to Russia's attempts to meddle in British politics and deliberately 'glossed over' allegations of a Kremlin-sponsored influence campaign during the Brexit referendum," CNN reported Tuesday. Some are saying that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government does not want to reveal what truly took place, while the report said that "British intelligence agencies didn't investigate as they did not see the security of [the] UK voting process as part of their role because they feared the issue was a 'hot potato,'" CNN noted. What do we make of this?
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the Love Lounge radio show on Square1Radio.com, dropped by to talk about Trump sending federal agents to Chicago this week in an attempt to combat violence in the city. Will it quell the uprising or add fuel to the movement? The Chicago Tribune reports that the Department of Homeland Security plans to deploy about 150 agents to assist other federal law enforcement officers and Chicago police. On Monday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot sent Trump a letter which "detailed ways the federal government could help the city to reduce violence, including gun safety reform, public safety support, community outreach and community investment," the Associated Press reported. Is the administration tone-deaf to the issues really plaguing the country?
What can we take from the legacies of Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and Rev. C.T. Vivian, and what can we learn from them as we deal with Portland, the Trump administration and police reform?
Dr. Wilmer Leon, host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, takes a look back at the lives of Lewis and Vivian, two tremendous civil rights icons. We'll see how their legacies shaped policy, culture and future generations.
Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief of The Duran; and Dr. Kenneth Surin, professor emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, discusses the EU's economic recovery. What do these tense negotiations mean for the future of the union? Is this just a one-off, a tough deal to make in tough times, or a sign that, post-Brexit, the union itself is fracturing?
Dr. Gerald Horne, historian and holder of the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston, breaks down the protests and unrest in Portland, Oregon. Over the weekend protesters broke into the Portland Police Association offices and set the building on fire. Authorities subsequently declared the protest a riot. These actions came after, as we reported here, federal officers in unmarked vehicles were forcefully seizing protesters from the streets and detaining them without justification. This is in addition to really brutal videos this weekend of police pepper-spraying peaceful protestors and hitting them with batons. Where do we go from here?
Chris Garaffa, web developer and technologist, explains how deepfake technology was used to attack an activist couple. Plus, a US and EU data sharing deal called Privacy Shield was struck down by a European court on Thursday.
Nate Wallace, creator of Redspin Sports, discusses bombshell revelations inside Washington's NFL team. Several former members of the organization have been accused of sexual harassment and verbal abuse by 15 women who used to work for the NFL team. The incidents allegedly happened between 2006 and 2019. The women claim they faced unwanted sexual advances and were even urged to wear revealing clothes or flirt to close sales deals.
Daniel Lazare, journalist and author of the books "The Frozen Republic," "The Velvet Coup" and "America's Undeclared War," tackles hacking, more hacking and the UK government's supposed 95% certainty about hacking by Russia that's all false. Also, are newspapers giving mea culpas for letting officials lie?
Daniel Lazare, journalist and author of the books: The Frozen Republic, The Velvet Coup and America's Undeclared War, tells the Misfits what about this latest Russian hacking story should raise alarms, why we should be worried about the Trump administration's brazen disregard for transparency, and how far Bolivia's right-wing coup government has come in its effort to roll back protections for its citizens.
Nate Wallace, creator of Redspin Sports, discusses bombshell revelations inside Washington's NFL team. Fifteen women have accused members of sexual harassment and verbal abuse by 15 women who used to work for the NFL team. The incidents happened between 2006 and 2019. The women claim they faced unwanted sexual advances and were even urged to wear revealing clothes or flirt to close sales deals.
Tim Wise, senior advisor at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the author of "Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food," discusses the new report "False Promises: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa." Find out why policy makers are ignoring the low-cost solutions to the problems of poverty and hunger and instead pushing expensive policies that aren’t even good in the short term, let alone the long term. Find out how the Gates Foundation’s Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa is failing.
Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst who focuses his coverage on US foreign policy and the global system of monopoly capitalism and imperialism, breaks down the Trump administration's failed foreign policy strategy - sanctions, sanctions and more sanctions. What's the latest in police reform as Portland, Oregon, police jump out of vans, more protesters are arrested and so much more!
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, a pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, discusses how we can eliminate racial disparities in health care and health outcomes in the US, as well as some of the milestones recently achieved. Also, learn about the Commonsense Childbirth School, a new, nationally accredited, Black-owned midwifery school.
Tim Wise, senior advisor at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the author of Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food, discusses the new report, False Promises: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. Find out why policy makers are ignoring the low cost solutions to the problems of poverty and hunger and instead pushing expensive policies that aren’t even good in the short term, let alone the long term. Find out how The Gates’ Foundation’s Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa is failing on their word.
Steve Grumbine, founder of Real Progressives, discusses an op-ed in the New York Times on how the US Internal Revenue Service has made this the easiest time for the rich to get richer! This year’s tax day comes with an extra-special level of chaos, given the rates of unemployment and uncertainty in the country. But for one group, the story is different.
John Ross, author, economist and senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute of Renmin University of China, discusses US President Donald Trump's announcement that Washington has ended Hong Kong’s special status with the US. What does it all mean, and who's it good for?
Richard Lachmann, American sociologist and specialist in comparative historical sociology at the State University of New York at Albany, discusses the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention being cut out of the COVID-19 information loop, Ivanka Trump’s insensitive advice to the unemployed and the winners and losers of Tuesday's election results.
Steve Grumbine, Founder of Real Progressives, details his latest op-ed in The New York Time, on how the IRS has made this the easiest time for the RICH to get RICHER! This year’s tax day comes with an extra special level of chaos given the rates of unemployment and uncertainty in the country. But for one group the story is different.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, National Economic Association (NEA) president and associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, gives the political and economic ramifications of the UK banning Huawei from its 5G network. What's at stake, and how is China reacting?
Rianna Eckel, Maryland organizer for Food & Water Watch, discusses a recent Guardian investigation into a water crisis in the US. This Guardian report looked at 12 diverse cities across the US and found that in all of them, the annual costs of water had increased by 27% to 154% from 2010 to 2018, becoming unaffordable, in their calculation, to most of those cities’ poor residents. It also highlights what can happen when water is shut off to people, telling the story of a man who lost his house to a fire because he’d been unable to pay his water bill and therefore had nothing to put out what could have been a minor household accident. And what does this mean globally?
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," discusses the latest decision by the Department of Justice to resume federal death penalties, Tucker Carlon’s upcoming fishing trip and the latest in presidential politics. Also, she gives her latest take on the Congressional Black Caucus. Are they really protecting the people who need them, or are they helping to hold up the blue line? Have they “joined the neoliberals to derail any real attempt at challenging the devastating power of the police,” as Kimberley has written?
Rianna Eckel, senior organizer with Food and Water Watch, tells the Misfits that the water accessibility crisis in America is only growing, and explains how being unable to pay bills of a few dozen or a few hundred dollars can cause people to lose their credit, their homes and even their lives.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, National Economic Association (NEA) president and associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, gives the political and economic ramifications of the UK banning Huawei from 5G. What's at stake and how is China reacting?
Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation, takes us through the recent McGirt v. Oklahoma case, a monumental win for Native Americans. Now that the US Supreme Court has ruled that nearly half of Oklahoma belongs to Indigenious tribes, what does that mean? We'll also look at several other sovereignty cases.
David Shams discusses: what’s in a name? After decades of pressure Washington, DC's NFL franchise will no longer be known as the “Redskins.” Should other teams follow suit and get rid of their racist names? What will it all mean? And Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer is interrupted by protests as the role of gentrification in Breonna Taylor’s death is explored.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of People's Republic, breaks down presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's lead in the polls and the Trump country states that may turn with the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
David Shams discusses what’s in a name? After decades of pressure Washington's NFL franchise will no longer be known as the “Redskins.” Should other teams follow suit and rid their racist names? What will it all mean?
Jon Jeter, an author, award-winning foreign correspondent, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte that the problem with our economy is that we don’t have any customers, and Joe Biden’s big Buy American plan won’t tackle that issue. Nor, of course, will Donald Trump. The crisis is capitalism, but our deteriorating discourse is making that harder to identify.
Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, chair of the Social Justice Committee of Macedonia Baptist Church in Bethesda, Maryland, and author of the Pulitzer Prize nominated: No FEAR: A Whistleblowers Triumph over Corruption and Retaliation at the EPA, explains the efforts to protect an African burial ground in Bethesda, Maryland, and how the US disregards its heritage of slavery.
Ted Rall, author and award winning political cartoonist, walks readers through the slow breakdown of much of the Russian bounty story and gives an update on the prospects for peace in Afghanistan. He talks about new sanctions on China over Xinjiang, misinformation about Joe Biden and who Ghislaine Maxwell should be afraid of.
Axios Sports Editor Kendall Baker weighs in on which sports and sports-adjacent personalities need to take a long nap as well as the notion that American sports aren’t “political.”
The hosts also broke down ICE’s new citizen training academies, the Supreme Court’s big Oklahoma decision, the resumption of federal executions in the US and other stories.
Ted Rall, author and award winning political cartoonist, walks readers through the slow breakdown of much of the Russian bounty story and gives an update on the prospects for peace in Afghanistan. He talks about new sanctions on China over Xinjiang, misinformation about Joe Biden and who Ghislaine Maxwell should be afraid of.
Jon Jeter, an author, award-winning foreign correspondent, former Washington Post bureau chief and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte that the problem with our economy is that we don’t have any customers, and Joe Biden’s big "Buy American" plan won’t tackle that issue. Nor, of course, will Donald Trump. The crisis is capitalism, but our deteriorating discourse is making that harder to identify.
Dr. Ajamu Baraka, political activist and former Green Party nominee for vice president of the United States in the 2016 election, sheds light on the truth behind groups like the Lincoln Project, which seemed to target US President Donald Trump in a recent ad. A "group of at least 200 former officials, aides and Cabinet secretaries formed 43 Alumni for Biden to block President Donald Trump from winning a second term," USA Today reported on July 2. But is Biden turning out to be a huge disappointment to the left? Let's break down Biden's Unity Task Force and what we did or didn't learn from 2016. And, is the Broadway play "Hamilton," which is about to be available on Disney Plus, serving up a dish of revisionist history?
Dr. David Schultz, professor of law specializing in election law at the University of Minnesota Law School, breaks down recent Supreme Court rulings and one that is sure to rattle the Trump administration. The high court ruled to allow Manhattan prosecutors to see Trump’s tax records, but dealt a blow to House Democrats. Next, Biden released an economic plan, but is it for everyone? Lastly, transcripts from the George Floyd police killing were released. We know it was a tragedy, but how can we make it a stepping stone towards justice?
David Schultz, professor of law specializing in election law at the University of Minnesota Law School breaks down the Supreme Court’s ruling to allow Manhattan prosecutors to see Trump’s tax records, but deals a blow to House Democrats.
Dr. Clarence Lusane, African-American author, activist, lecturer and former chair of the Political Science Department at Howard University, sheds light on the tensions between France and Turkey, which could leave the NATO alliance in limbo.
Helena Olea, human rights adviser for Alianza Americas, discusses Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador's visit to the White House on Wednesday to celebrate the entry into force of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Is there anything really new in this trade deal, and how will the impact be felt in the three North American nations? The deal is supposed to replace the 1990s-era North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but is it more of the same?
Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, tears down the hidden agenda and white privilege in the Trump administration's Tuesday announcement telling states to reopen schools in the fall and threatening to cut federal funding for those that didn't follow suit. Also, Democrats need to gain four seats to take the majority in the Senate in November. Will they be able to do it, and is anyone a sure bet?
Dr. Clarence Lusane, African-American author, activist, lecturer and former chair of the Political Science Department at Howard University, explains the tensions between France and Turkey and what threat they pose to the NATO alliance. The conflict, kicked off by a NATO naval incident, has been riddled with months of escalating disputes; weapons smuggling; accusations of extremism; and France done with it all. Also, we'll examine the issue of racism in Turkey and the double edged sword it yields.
Dr. Linwood Tauheed, National Economic Association (NEA) president and associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, breaks down recently released US Small Business Administration records that reveal who got "the big payback" when it comes to Paycheck Protection Program loans. Meanwhile, over 100 economists have signed a letter urging Congress to keep stimulus checks coming in order to boost the economic recovery.
Kei Pritsker, journalist and activist who focuses on international politics and economics, has the latest details on two unlawful and horrific murders. From Ellijah McClain in Colorado to Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, where will truth and justice land? Also, online foreign students get the cold shoulder as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement issues a stark ultimatum to those enrolled in fully online schools and programs: leave the country, transfer institutions or face deportation. Do all these stories have a touch of supremacy?
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, discusses the news that a UN special rapporteur has found that the US airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani violated the UN charter. He and hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte ask what is the role of the UN and the international community in addressing extrajudicial state violence, and how American imperial violence bleeds into domestic oppression.
Brandon Sutton, host of the "Discourse" podcast, says there’s no point in shaming different American populations for spreading coronavirus, because the ultimate fault likes with our leadership, and the media class that defends their interests, even if it can sometimes antagonize their various avatars in the White House. He also makes some predictions about candidate Kanye West and about post-COVID-19 America.
Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and orientalism at the University of Tehran, breaks down the recent explosions in Iran, one of which he describes as an accident, the other as sabotage. He explains who might be behind attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and who benefits from the perpetual stories of sabotage.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, tears into the Republican groups supporting Joe Biden and explains what Donald Trump might do next in his reelection campaign, and what a winning message could be from the president. He also talks gun control, protest and social unity, which somehow managed to come together over the weekend in a few states, and gives his take on why Ghislaine Maxwell has ended up in custody now.
Scholar of Asia-Pacific geopolitics and correspondent for Flashpoints, Dissident Voice, Counterpunch and other outlets K.J. Noh breaks down Hong Kong’s new security law for Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber. He discusses the foreign funding supporting Hong Kong’s long-running protests and the very ordinary nature of this national security legislation that has caused so much uproar. He predicts how enforcement of the law could evolve, what’s actually driving the outrage over this law, and where it might lead.
Eleanor Goldfield, creative activist, organizer, journalist, and co-host of the podcast Common Censored, discusses the response she’s gotten to her documentary, “Hard Road of Hope,” and gets into Joe Biden’s lazy attempt to hijack the voices of America’s essential workers. She also explores the UK government’s decision to keep Venezuela’s gold from its elected government and the role of symbolism in American politics.
Web designer and technologist Chris Garaffa explains the dishonest EARN IT Act purporting to protect children while it actually threatens internet privacy and quietly pushes more social media censorship. He also discusses the trend of using “protecting women and children” to quell speech and increase surveillance, the complex relationship between government and media and tech companies, and how trusting we should be of any online privacy promises.
The Misfits also addressed the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, the latest economic figures, the resurgence of coronavirus in states around the country, dog deportations and more.
Scholar of Asia-Pacific geopolitics and correspondent for Flashpoints, Dissident Voice, Counterpunch and other outlets K.J. Noh breaks down Hong Kong’s new security law. He discusses the foreign funding supporting Hong Kong’s long-running protests and the very ordinary nature of this national security legislation that has caused so much uproar. He predicts how enforcement of the law could evolve, what’s actually driving the outrage over this law, and where it might lead.
Mitchell Plitnik, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, gives Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber an update on Israel’s annexation plans for the West Bank, saying Israel is waiting for a clear response from the United States. That doesn’t mean annexation isn’t moving forward - that is, after all, the purpose of occupation. And where do the Palestinians have to go but back to a dead peace process to attempt to avert this action, even though they’ve already declared that process inadequate? And what would this move mean for Jordan?
Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, makes the chilling prediction that August will be the beginning of a mega-depression as a result of misunderstanding and mishandling of this crisis and our economy. He discusses what we could see and what could be done about it, with enough political will and imagination.
Anya Parampil, independent journalist at the Grayzone, has some strong words for the US mainstream media outlets attempting to use grieving families to prolong the life of the dodgy Russian bounty story. She also weighs in on CHOP in Seattle and the limits of anarchy as protest, as well as the possibly well-meaning but naive attempts to shame Facebook into a stricter censorship regime.
Bob and Michelle also talked about the latest campaign ads, advances in sex dolls and Florida’s refusal to slow its reopening in the face of a covid-19 spike.
Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance, tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte about who benefits from the latest thinly sourced Russiagate twist, this time about bounties in Afghanistan. History teaches us that we have to take stories in the New York Times that escalate conflict with a major pinch of salt, he reminds listeners. He also discussed Iran’s arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump and the political mandates of supposedly apolitical organizations like Interpol and the International Criminal Court.
Brandon Nakasato, founding president of the Kentucky education and civic engagement nonprofit, Our Commonwealth, reviews what propelled Charles Booker to his surprising showing against Amy McGrath in the primary campaign there, and what we should expect to see from McGrath if these initial results hold and she does maintain her slim margin of victory.
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group, breaks down the UK Labour Party’s latest “anti-semitism” scandal, the unconscionable pricing of Gilead’s COVID-19 treatment and contrasting studies in ignoring the message of Black Lives Matter.
Lucy Murphy, songleader of the DC Labor Chorus and director of the Black Workers Center explains the power and significance of protest art and what’s she’s seeing in today’s streets. She talks about the role of commerce in the rise or fall of protest music and all art, but also how to escape the commercial restrictions that can block artistic connections.
Jacquie Luqman, cohost of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte to discuss the weekend of protests in Washington, DC, as well as in Colorado, Missouri, Illinois and elsewhere. They talked about the supposed end of vandalism in America, the fear and rage expressed by the homeowners targeting protesters with guns on Sunday, and how much we should care about statues falling. Local community mentor and violence interrupter Chris Thomas discusses being a soldier of deescalation and reconnection, the complicated issue of gun violence
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of People’s Republic, discussed efforts to defuse or monetize the current protest movements, the way Texas, Florida and other states are trying to hide their huge and growing Covid-19 outbreaks. She also helped break down the explosive story about a Russian military intelligence unit allegedly offering a bounty for attacks on American troops in Afghanistan, and the absolutely credulous way it’s being handled by US mainstream media. At what point does this shift from incompetence to an active disinformation campaign, she asks?
The Misfits also discuss the continued coronavirus failures of our national leaders, Mike Bloomberg’s latest encroachment into the Democratic National Committee, President Donald Trump’s latest Twitter outrages and the slow-rolling death of big shale.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, helps Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber break down the scaremongering about TikTok and the national security gambit, as well as the police victimhood complex that is gripping the US.
Jason Dzubow, an immigration attorney, partner at Dzubow & Pilcher, PLLC and blogger at www.asylumist.com, explains in more detail the US Supreme Court decision yesterday that dealt a blow to some asylum seekers, saying a main result will be eliminating oversight from aspects of the asylum process. Other changes will make work permits more difficult to get, will further hamstring asylum seekers, redirects funding toward law enforcement rather than immigration services, and could simply slash the immigration services workforce.
Mondale Robinson, founder of the Black Male Voter Project, tells us why he is so hopeful after the latest wave of primary contests and about some of the downballot candidates he’s watching. Establishment Democrats have been served notice, not to mention Congressional Republicans, he says.
The Misfits also covered Taiwan’s singular Pride parade, the dust cloud hitting the US, the surge in Covid-19 cases, the CHOP and BHAZ controversies, and more.
Kei Pritsker, journalist with BreakThrough News, helps Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber break down the scaremongering about TikTok and the national security gambit, as well as the police victimhood complex that is gripping the US.
Attorney Mike Liszewski, an advisor to Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and who has spent a decade lobbying on behalf of several marijuana reform organizations such as Americans for Safe Access and the Drug Policy Alliance, tells Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber that it would absolutely be par for the course for the Department of Justice to unfairly target marijuana growers with antitrust probes. He describes past harassment by state forces of the industry, and the changes in drug policy over the past few administrations.
Karleigh Webb, a journalist, videographer and anti-imperialist, labor and trans rights organizer in Connecticut, breaks down the victories trans athletes have recently won, the obstacles they still face, and the true threats to women’s sports. She also discusses some recent labor actions by athletes as they avoid trying to return to crowded, potentially infectious stadiums and fields of play.
Jamal Muhamed, aka “DJ One Luv,” the host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, discussed discrimination in policing and Congress’ inability ‒ or is it unwillingness ‒ to put together a police reform package. They discuss the role of AI and facial recognition technology in policing, the latest unemployment numbers and the potential for another wave of white flight as covid-19 continues to rip through the US.
Keith Frederick the owner of FrederickPolls, says the proliferation of polls is not necessarily leading to more informed media or voters. Who you’re interviewing and the quality of your electorate model matters, he says, and for pete’s sake, use cell phones, but those aren’t the only issues in getting accurate polls.
The Misfits also got into Rep. Devin Nunes’ court loss, a strange move from a whitening face cream maker and more Republican support for Joe Biden.
Attorney Mike Liszewski, an advisor to Students for Sensible Drug Policy who has spent a decade lobbying on behalf of several marijuana reform organizations such as Americans for Safe Access and the Drug Policy Alliance, tells Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber that it would absolutely be par for the course for the Department of Justice to unfairly target marijuana growers with antitrust probes. He describes past harassment by state forces of the industry, and the changes in drug policy over the past few administrations.
Jamal Muhamed, aka “DJ One Luv,” the host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, discussed discrimination in policing and Congress’ inability ‒ or is it unwillingness ‒ to put together a police reform package. They discuss the role of AI and facial recognition technology in policing, the latest unemployment numbers and the potential for another wave of white flight as covid-19 continues to rip through the US.
Writer and Kentuckian David Shams tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte about the role of economics in culture in Kentucky politics, the dissipation of energy from Amy McGrath’s campaign and the burst that has propelled Charles Booker to an unexpectedly strong showing, whatever the final results are.
Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition, explains how America’s agricultural industry has come to be so hyper-centralized, and what that means for farm owners, laborers, and consumers. He discusses how changing our consumption patterns could help change our cruel farming profile, and the political support needed to effect such a change.
China Dickerson, national political director for Forward Majority, predicts what kind of reception the progressive newcomers who won in some of last night’s primaries will get when they arrive on Capitol Hill, the latest statues to fall in the name of tearing down racists, the fundraising reunion of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and what kind of message the Democratic candidate needs to get out to both address the current mood in the US and attempt to undercut the president’s message.
The hosts also broke down the latest political ads, some big news out of the International Criminal Court, the clashes between police and protesters at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, DC, and some strange concerts.
Abdus Luqman of Luqman Nation tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte what he saw yesterday afternoon in front of the White House as people tried to pull down a statue of Andrew Jackson. More tear gas, more violence, but also more resilience by protesters were on display, and the face off in the nation’s capital continues.
Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer and author of “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests,” joins Chris Smalls, an Amazon worker who was fired after organizing a walkout of his Staten Island warehouse and who’s become a voice for labor, to describe last Friday’s massive International Longshore and Warehouse Union strike. They discuss the efforts to organize the historic strike, the difficulty in getting media to recognize the connections between economic, racial and social justice, and new efforts to galvanize workers in the US and internationally.
Ben Norton, journalist, filmmaker and assistant editor of the independent investigative journalism website The Grayzone, spoke about the wealthy and powerful forces assembling to try to challenge popular progressive Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and how US media is prepared to play straight into their hands. He also gets into Washington’s ironic censorship of almost anything Chinese these days, and the ideologues behind Wikipedia’s political decisions.
The Misfits also broke down today’s primary races, a CRISPR gene-editing breakthrough, the reopening of theaters and whatever the hell is going on with “Labor of Love.”
Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer and author of “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests,” joins Chris Smalls, an Amazon worker who was fired after organizing a walkout of his Staten Island warehouse and who’s become a voice for labor, to describe last Friday’s massive International Longshore and Warehouse Union strike. They discuss the efforts to organize the historic strike, the difficulty in getting media to recognize the connections between economic, racial and social justice, and new efforts to galvanize workers in the US and internationally.
Claire Cook, DC-based community organizer with ONE DC and a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, tells Misfit hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber about how the last statue commemorating a confederate general in Washington, DC, came down Friday night, and how long the capital's residents had tried to get the city to tear Albert Pike down before they finally took it into their own hands. She also talks about symbolic acts versus concrete programs and how well Mayor Muriel Bowser is succeeding at the latter.
Eugene Puryear, journalist with BreakThrough News, discusses the firing of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman, the strange wave of fireworks in cities around the US, how serious a threat the Boogaloo bois actually are, NASCAR's struggle to fight racism in its ranks, and how on earth sports are going to go on as this pandemic shows no sign of slowing.
The hosts also broke down President Donald Trump's Tulsa rally, former National Security Adviser John Bolton's latest moment of network glory, the bizarre news that the pandemic has actually reduced poverty in the US, and Black and Hispanic prison guards being kept away from detained Officer Derek Chauvin. They also, of course, took a few swings at the toothless Sunday news shows.
Eteng Ettah, a community organizer with Black Youth Project 100, DC Chapter, says there’s nothing more American than protecting property over people. What might be changing now is our understanding that this is systemic and foundational, not accidental and occasional. She explains that prison abolitionists do, of course, desire safe communities, but they recognize violence as a result of disinvestment in communities. Policing and imprisonment happen after a crisis. What if we shifted our approach to preventing these crises in the first place, and instead of disappearing offenders, addressed what actually works when it comes to recidivism and rehabilitation?
Aline Piva, a researcher and journalist based in Sao Paulo, revealed that Brazilian police have been killing 10 people a day, many minors, during Brazil’s Covid-19 crisis. Communities have been protesting as a result, but the grinding poverty in many of Brazil’s most vulnerable communities makes enduring protest a challenge. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is increasingly ignoring the country’s constitution, and while the military, a major source of his support, does not want to be the face of this government, that doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely powerful behind the scenes.
Eteng Ettah, a community organizer with Black Youth Project 100, DC Chapter, says there’s nothing more American than protecting property over people. What might be changing now is our understanding that this is systemic and foundational, not accidental and occasional. She explains that prison abolitionists do, of course, desire safe communities, but they recognize violence as a result of disinvestment in communities. Policing and imprisonment happen after a crisis. What if we shifted our approach to preventing these crises in the first place, and instead of disappearing offenders, addressed what actually works when it comes to recidivism and rehabilitation?
Ted Rall, author and award-winning political cartoonist, talks about Joe Biden’s deadly enthusiasm gap and the stagnation of both major parties in the US. He cautions listeners not to underestimate the political value of Trump’s dangerous and medically ill-advised Tulsa rally ‒ it is at least generating energy, which is something Biden can’t seem to conjure from his basement. The next movement to hit the streets will be explicitly attacking economic injustice, he predicts. They also break down the comedy of police strikes, Trump’s new Nazi-symbol campaign ads and Facebook’s response, and the resounding quiet of Democrats on so many of these issues.
Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also got into Amy Klobuchar’s last act of campaign pettiness, the global surge in refugees, and, of course, aliens.
Aline Piva, a researcher and journalist based in Sao Paulo, revealed that Brazilian police have been killing 10 people a day, many minors, during Brazil’s Covid-19 crisis. Communities have been protesting as a result, but the grinding poverty in many of Brazil’s most vulnerable communities makes enduring protest a challenge. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is increasingly ignoring the country’s constitution, and while the military, a major source of his support, does not want to be the face of this government, that doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely powerful behind the scenes.
Morgan Artyukhina, Sputnik news analyst and writer, tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that Amtrak was born in crisis, and its financial woes long predate this pandemic. It’s been a punching bag in Congress for politicians who simply hate any kind of public service: witness the constant attacks on the postal service, for example. Now, COVID-19 is providing a very convenient fig leaf for further gutting these services, and media organizations like the Washington Post abet this creeping austerity by reporting these cuts uncritically and ignoring the huge bailouts given, for example, to airlines.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, documentary filmmaker, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, described the recent court victories against “ag-gag” laws, which protect huge factory farms against investigations that publicize their cruelty to animals, employees and the environment. He described the role of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, in creating these business-friendly laws, and how US courts seem to have recognized that these laws target speech illegally. These laws sometimes call for huge fines for people who reveal abuses like blatant violations of environmental or animal cruelty regulations, and while these court victories are a positive trend, the corporations that want them have deep pockets and are very motivated to keep their practices under wraps.
Morgan Artyukhina, Sputnik news analyst and writer, tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that Amtrak was born in crisis, and its financial woes long predate this pandemic. It’s been a punching bag in Congress for politicians who simply hate any kind of public service, like the postal service, for example. Now, COVID-19 is providing a convenient fig leaf for further gutting these services, and mainstream media is abetting this creeping austerity by reporting these cuts uncritically and ignoring the huge bailouts going to other companies.
Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principle at TML Communications, says despite this difficult economic moment, she’s seeing unity in the efforts to support small businesses like hers. She describes the contrast in attitudes within her city and across US regions regarding worries about a new civil war, and pinned the blame on public education for the fight over statues of slaveholders and their role in “preserving history.” She also has strong words for political climbers trying to trade on what’s trending ‒ in this case, Black Lives Matter ‒ and how to hold them accountable for their commitments.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, documentary filmmaker, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, described the recent court victories against “ag-gag” laws, which protect huge factory farms against investigations that publicize their cruelty to animals, employees and the environment. He described the role of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, in creating these business-friendly laws, and how US courts have recognized that these laws target speech illegally. These laws sometimes call for huge fines for people who reveal abuses like blatant violations of environmental or animal cruelty regulations, and while these court victories are a positive trend, the corporations that want them have deep pockets and are very motivated to keep their practices under wraps.
The fellows also broke down the charges against the officer who killed Rayshard Brooks, the apparent Atlanta police sick out, Congressman Matt Gaetz’s battle with colleague Cedric Richmond, how the John Bolton renaissance lays bare the hypocrisy of the #resistance, the Supreme Court’s DACA decision, and more.
Dr. Ashan Butt, associate professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, explains that neither the border between India and Pakistan nor the border between India and China is clear and demarcated. This is high altitude, remote terrain where the border remains a very big gray area. Usually border disputes are dealt with peacefully, so the deaths this week are extraordinary, and while India might feel comfortable pushing Pakistan around, China is very different. India does not want conflict with China to escalate: their relationship has suffered in the last decade, and India and Pakistan remain stuck in a perpetual frozen conflict. However, neither do Beijing or New Delhi want other powers interfering in their negotiations.
Robert Johnson and Jodi Bartolo, who have taken active par in the rolling protests in Atlanta, report on their experience on the ground, including the solidarity they’ve witnessed and the financial support offered through bail and other funds to support those demonstrating. A new wave of young activists is bringing their strength to the streets, but there is an intergenerational movement following their direction. They break down the commodification of blackness and of BLM, and the failure of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to meaningfully address inequality and violence in her city.
Dr. Ashan Butt, associate professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, explains that neither the border between India and Pakistan nor the border between India and China is clear and demarcated. This is high altitude, remote terrain where the border remains a very big gray area. Usually border disputes are dealt with peacefully, so the deaths this week are extraordinary, and while India might feel comfortable pushing Pakistan around, China is very different. India does not want conflict with China to escalate: their relationship has suffered in the last decade, and India and Pakistan remain stuck in a perpetual frozen conflict. However, neither do Beijing or New Delhi want other powers interfering in their negotiations.
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse podcast, called it heartening to see relatively little public support for the reactionary, violent response force that is US policing, despite the failures of US education and media. They break down Nascar’s Blue Lives Matter car and the lie of apolitical sports, and the whiplash of seeing so many social divisions dissolve so quickly. The three also discuss the codependent relationship of the two party system to police violence and the efforts of both major parties to subvert this national movement.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also talked about PG&E’s slap on the wrist for murder, new research into the possibility of intelligent life in space, and Donald Trump versus John Bolton.
Dr. Bill Honigman, Progressive Democrats of America national outreach lead and co-coordinator of the Healthcare as a Human Right Issue Organizing Team for Progressive Democrats of America says BLM protest and the health care movement that pushed medicare for all to 88% popularity could join for a broader criticism of an ineffectual government. With covid 19 raging during the same time states are pushing to reopen the economy, CDC demographics of the pandemic paint an appalling picture of inequality driven health disparities where blacks are found to be more susceptible to mortal outcomes. Dr. Honigman also ventures into domestic politics with conjecture on whether Joe Biden’s dripping unpopularity ( according to CNN latest poll, the overwhelming majority of people backing Biden are doing so to stop Trump) will adversely affect down ballot races.
Trump finally releases his performative executive order on policing at a high noon press conference. What a disaster! Complete with slurred words and ridiculous statements like, “school choice is the civil rights statement of the year.” Yes, dumping billions of taxpayer dollars into corporations with a secondary to tertiary interest of educating our kids with the intended result of cutting teacher wages, assaulting teacher unions and ultimately supplanding the universality of the public school system is exactly what the public is clamoring for. This speech couldn’t have been worse if it was scribbled in crayon and recited by the dumbest third grader at the most dilapidated school. Bob and Jamarl also discuss the mega church pastor that is not feeling the term “white privilege” and instead, would prefer … “White Blessing”. Yeah. We can stop here, anything else will be a string of expletives.
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group explains the reason for North Korea’s blowing the Liaison Center to smithereens. He also explains the practical and historical rationale for weapons treaties and the stark terror that should be on the front of every television screen now that Trump is nakedly following John Bolton’s workable point of view to assiduously dismantle decades old missile treaties. Alan also provides his appraisal of the protest and the inability of the government to act rationally to the call of it’s population. Alan give his analysis of the Biden Veepstakes, and the politics between choosing Elizabeth Warren or doubling down on a tough on crime ticket with Kamala Harris.
Dr. Dady Chery, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free" takes the controversial perspective, with respective push back, that vaccine testing could be an undiscussed proponent in the resurgence of covid 19 in the multitude of states experiencing peaking numbers over the past several days as opposed to an organic expansion of the virus resulting from the early openings of the economies of those states. Dr. Cheri argues the virus is now better understood than it was when it first occurred and is not as severe as was originally believed, making the opening of the economy a reasonable action.
Bob and Jamarl discussed the Rayshard Brooks shooting by cops in Atlanta, Georgia and the swift action taken by the state to appease an already on edge community. Within 24 hours of the shooting, the cop involved was fired and the police chief was one of the 40 million out of a job. Strangely enough, the most interesting part wasn’t the cop killing, that is unconscionably normal (cops kill 1000 a year, 99% result in no charges) - it was the city’s reaction given material circumstance associated with the shooting.
Vijay Prashad, historian, journalist and executive director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research brilliantly explains how the US Government, despite not responding rationally to the phenomenal crisis to which this country finds itself, it is legitimately concerned with the protest taking on larger and broader concerns considering 40 million people are out of a job, tens of millions will be evicted from their homes, and millions are already on the streets. Prashad drilled into the inability of both parties to address the vocal concerns of the population, instead preferring performative politics and theatrics over honestly regarding the public’s indignation. For example, Mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowse trolling Trump by painting “Black Lives Matter”in large letters on the street in front of the White House, while simultaneously increasing the police department’s budgets.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also discussed the rather surprising win for common sense and good conscience. A conservative Surpreme Court has ruled that Civil Rights laws must also protect the worker's rights of people that classify themselves as lesbians, gay, and transgender.
Kristine Hendrix, co-chair of Cori Bush’s campaign for Congress, president of the University City School Board, Junior Bayard Rustin Fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and the "We Stay Woke" podcast, says the current wave of protest in Missouri is an extension of the uprising in Ferguson after the killing of Michael Brown. She discusses the difficulty of running against establishment Democrats, the real fight that must be taken to big party donors, the message Donald Trump is sending with his planned rally in Tulsa, and the issues of inequality underpinning the violence in Missouri.
Dan Kovalik, human rights and labor lawyer and the author of the recent book “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests,” reminds listeners that the US has always had contempt for the International Criminal Court and wished to keep the court as weak as possible ‒ but is quick to try to turn the court on any of Washington’s enemies. Now that the court wants to investigate alleged American and Israeli war crimes, the Trump administration has renewed its attack with its latest incredibly broad executive order threatening sanctions and expulsion of ICC staff involved in investigating Americans.
Jamal Muhamed, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, says he didn’t expect to see an uprising like this for decades. He also says the anger on display is helping drive the change we’re beginning to see, like it or not. He discusses the power of police unions, Joe Biden’s strange statement on the death of Martin Luther King, the power of toppling statues and the utility of black nationalism, and joins in the debate over whether “defunding” the police is too strong a message, or just provocative enough.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also railed about the missing stimulus checks, corporate BLM flip-flops, and the censorship of The Grayzone by Wikipedia.
Dan Kovalik, human rights and labor lawyer and the author of the recent book “No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests,” reminds listeners that the US has always had contempt for the International Criminal Court and wished to keep the court as weak as possible ‒ but is quick to try to turn the court on any of Washington’s enemies. Now that the court wants to investigate alleged American war crimes in Afghanistan and Israeli crimes in its occupied territories, the Trump administration has renewed its attack with its latest incredibly broad executive order threatening sanctions and expulsion of ICC staff involved in investigating Americans. He also discusses the US decision to remove troops from Germany.
Caroline Light, professor and researcher at Harvard and the author of “Stand Your Ground: A History of America’s Love Affair With Lethal Self-Defense,” tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that this moment has given her a lot of reason to hope as no time in the recent past has. She discusses the effects of encouraging citizens to carry lethal weapons in public to protect their property, and how the murder of Ahmaud Arbery crystallized centuries of legal discrimination and a culture that reveres whiteness, as well as the role the military has played in suppressing protest.
Steve Grumbine, founder of the nonprofit Real Progressives and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, explains that oversight of the CARES Act has been criminally negligent and is clearly benefiting the already wealthy rather than suffering American workers. This is a bipartisan robbery of the populace, as usual. He talked about what the real national debt is, how debt-scaring is used to punish the poor, and how debt hawks only end up starving the economy.
Investigative reporter and documentarian Greg Palast, author of “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy” and the upcoming book “How Trump Stole 2020: the Hunt for America’s Vanished Voters,” describes the police violence he’s seen on the streets of Los Angeles and then breaks down Georgia’s role as a testing ground for different types of vote suppression. Democrats do it too, he warns, but unlike Republicans, they’re trying to suppress their own left wing voters, a faction that usually breaks down along racial lines. He describes voter suppression efforts he’s witnessed in the recent past, and how voters have successfully challenged some of those efforts.
Karleigh Webb, journalist, videographer and organizer, says the moment we’re in right now in the US is unique, with its closest analogue the post-Civil War labor rights. The coronavirus is helping push this wave of radicalization by showing how vulnerable so many of us are, regardless of our kaleidoscope of individual identities, and the violence meted out by police is showing people who considered themselves untouchable that they in fact are not.
Dr. Caroline Light, professor and researcher at Harvard specializing in gender, critical race and ethnic studies and the author of “Stand Your Ground: A History of America’s Love Affair With Lethal Self-Defense,” tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that this moment has given her a lot of reason to hope as no time in the recent past has. She discusses the effects of encouraging citizens to carry lethal weapons in public to protect their property, and how the murder of Ahmaud Arbery crystallized centuries of legal protections and a culture that reveres whiteness. They also discussed the apology by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for abetting Trump’s recent photo opportunity and what other stains lie within our national DNA.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that the conflict in Libya is now more complicated even than in Syria, but gamely breaks it down for listeners anyway, including the usual misleading media representations. Russia has pulled back and shifted support for specific factions there, aiming for a more frozen conflict and a real ceasefire. He also explains Russia and China’s opposition to snapping back sanctions on Iran, the US’ duplicitous stance on those sanctions, and the effect the pandemic is having on the Middle East. The US’ soft power globally is waning, he notes, and its pandemic response, economic crisis and domestic upheaval definitely aren’t helping the empire save face.
Ashton Woods, founder of Black Lives Matter Houston and a past contender for a Congressional seat in Texas, discussed the funeral of George Floyd yesterday and the embarrassing spectacle of Congressional Democrats. The Congressional Black Caucus needs to stop engaging in performance and push for real change, he said. And just voting isn’t enough, considering the candidates consistently on offer, and the efforts to suppress the vote in states across the country, including the frightening scenes on display in Georgia. Stop voting in cowards who give nothing but empty gestures and make sure voting isn’t the end of engagement, he says. Be willing to make people uncomfortable, and be focused on what is effective - and it isn’t Blue No Matter Who. They also discussed climate justice and the impact of climate change on organizing.
The Misfits also discussed the artistic and cultural reckoning American streaming platforms and production houses are undergoing, the best way forward for this protest movement, the lawsuit filed by Black Lives Matter against Donald Trump for the attack on protesters in front of the White House, and the latest signals we’re receiving from space.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that the conflict in Libya is now more complicated even than in Syria, but gamely breaks it down for listeners anyway, including the usual misleading media representations. He also explains Russia and China’s opposition to snapping back sanctions on Iran, the US’ duplicitous stance on those sanctions, and the effect the pandemic is having on the Middle East. The US’ soft power globally is waning, he notes, and its pandemic response, economic crisis and domestic upheaval definitely aren’t helping the empire save face.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas and producer
Michelle Witte broke down the incidents of violence against protesters
over the weekend and some of the latest polling on the protests and
the issues driving Americans into the streets. They also scratched
their heads over the WHO’s latest confusing statements on asymptomatic
transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
Joel Segal, co-author of the original Medicare for All bill, executive
director of the Justice Action Mobilization Network and national
director of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Group, explained the
difference between hate, systemic racism and structural racism, and
broke down some of the passive ways inequalities are enforced without
drawing attention. He drew the clear connections between poverty and
crime, and to the permanent black underclass that has come to be
accepted in the US. These protests can help usher in a new America,
but they have to address structures. He also offers some advice on
framing demands.
Artist and activist Billie Krishawn discussed the art she’s been
documenting in downtown Washington, DC, around Lafayette Park.
Americans have been turning their pain into beauty on streets and
walls, she says, and officials have been engaged in a full-time
erasure of it. There is a struggle playing out on surfaces as well as
in three dimensional space, and it is important to commemorate this
struggle without endangering those involved. She also describes the
solidarity she’s felt in the streets and how people involved in these
protests are managing their own community.
The Misfits also covered Rio Tinto’s destruction of priceless cultural
heritage sites.
Artist and activist Billie Krishawn discussed the art she’s been
documenting in downtown Washington, DC, around Lafayette Park.
Americans have been turning their pain into beauty on streets and
walls, she says, and officials have been engaged in a full-time
erasure of it. There is a struggle playing out on surfaces as well as
in three dimensional space, and it is important to commemorate this
struggle without endangering those involved. She also describes the
solidarity she’s felt in the streets and how people involved in these
protests are managing their own community.
Joel Segal, co-author of the original Medicare for All bill, executive
director of the Justice Action Mobilization Network and national
director of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Group, explained the
difference between hate, systemic racism and structural racism, and
broke down some of the passive ways inequalities are enforced without
drawing attention. He drew the clear connections between poverty and
crime, and to the permanent black underclass that has come to be
accepted in the US. These protests can help usher in a new America,
but they have to address structures. He also offers some advice on
framing demands
Joseph Richardson, professor of African-American Studies and
Medical Anthropology at the University of Maryland College Park and
the University of Maryland School of Medicine, tells Misfit hosts Bob
Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that it is high time for radical and
revolutionary change, not only in policing but across all our
institutions. He connects the layers of trauma experienced by black
people through state sanctioned and structural violence to the trauma
inflicted across the globe by the same American systems, and says our
media does Americans a disservice by separating these two linked
phenomena. He also stresses the very real physiological effects of
existing in a constant state of fight or flight, the danger of
ignoring economic inequality in the current conversation, and the need
to see money in politics as a racial issue.
Gustavo Vargas, a member of the Bolivian immigrant community in the DC
area and a member of the DMV Bolivia Solidarity Network, explained the
media blockade that has expanded in Bolivia since the coup and the
proliferation of misinformation about the country, even as Western
press reckon with their failure to accurately report the coup last
year. He also draws parallels to overpolicing, racism and violence in
Bolivia, perpetrated by the government supported by the US.
Margaret Kimberly editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report
and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the
Presidents," breaks down the difference between performative kente
cloth on Democratic leaders and the real solidarity in the streets,
and explains why she has hope ‒ and it ain’t Joe Biden. We need to be
talking about real community control of the police, including hiring,
firing and subpoenas, as well as prison abolition, the role of the
federal government in escalating police violence and, once again, US
imperial violence. Beware of incremental change or window dressings,
even if they’re pushed by black politicians, and continue the
grassroots organizing and demonstrating that’s actually making change.
She also breaks down how economic and racial injustice were
deliberately decoupled by dishonest leaders.
Margaret Kimberly editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report
and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the
Presidents," breaks down the difference between performative kente
cloth on Democratic leaders and the real solidarity in the streets,
and explains why she has hope ‒ and it ain’t Joe Biden. We need to be
talking about real community control of the police, including hiring,
firing and subpoenas, as well as prison abolition, the role of the
federal government in escalating police violence and, once again, US
imperial violence. Beware of incremental change or window dressings,
even if they’re pushed by black politicians, and continue the
grassroots organizing and demonstrating that’s actually making change.
She also breaks down how economic and racial injustice were
deliberately decoupled by dishonest leaders.
Joseph Richardson, professor of African-American Studies and Medical
Anthropology at the University of Maryland College Park and the
University of Maryland School of Medicine, who investigates violence,
trauma and the effectiveness of hospital violence intervention
programs, tells Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that
it is high time for radical and revolutionary change, not only in
policing but across all our institutions. He connects the layers of
trauma experienced by black people through state sanctioned and
structural violence to the trauma inflicted across the globe by the
same American systems, and says our media does Americans a disservice
by separating these two linked phenomena. He also stresses the very
real physiological effects of existing in a constant state of fight or
flight, the danger of ignoring economic inequality in the current
conversation, and the need to see money in politics as a racial issue.
Dr. Richard Wolff, professor of economics at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, visiting professor in the graduate program in
International Affairs of the New School University and the author,
most recently, of “Understanding Socialism” and “Understanding
Marxism,” tells the Misfits that the US had no excuse for being
unprepared for this pandemic ‒ except for the perennial excuse that it
wasn’t profitable. Our government could have been buying and storing
public health supplies the same way it does military supplies, but it
doesn’t. Our capitalist system crashes every four to seven years, but
the combination of events this year has pushed us to a total system
breakdown. He urges listeners not to be deflected by the wedges the
forces of capital will try to drive between us, be they racial,
generational or otherwise. He also predicts much more civil unrest,
because job losses on this scale are an open invitation to labor
abuse.
Erik Vargas, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and
Liberation at the Philadelphia Liberation Center, says the action he’s
seen in that city has been both mind-boggling and terrifying. Protests
have gone from a few dozen to a few hundred people at a time, to
several protests per day of hundreds or thousands. People are showing
that they’re willing to be hurt and die for actual systemic change,
and they won’t stop for anything short of it. Now is the time for
ideological education and rigorous organization, he says, to maintain
momentum, and to make sure our lens remains trained on repressive
systems, not “bad apples.”
Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host and author of “The Scourge of
Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” reminds
listeners that today’s mini-recovery is only very, very qualified good
news. Consistently undercounted are the part time jobs lost, the gig
jobs lost, or the unemployed independent contractors. And the Labor
Department itself admits that its own labor survey is so limited as to
be barely meaningful. There’s also no way we see a V-shaped recovery,
he says. Get ready for the big W, austerity programs that only
exacerbate public pain, and a decade before we get back the jobs we’ve
lost. Meanwhile, of course, the same people who always profit will
continue to use their corporate power to line their pockets with our
recovery money.
An academic physician working in DC who wishes to remain anonymous
joined to explain how his hospital is joining in on the performative
allyship movement. But large hospitals are built to make money, and
they make that money by exploiting the most vulnerable of their labor
force. If your institution is institutional racism, how can it call
out institutional racism? Hospitals are cutting costs, exploiting
staff, and crawling with police, because they remain pillars of a
capitalist system, he says.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also broke down New
York’s decision to erode our right to habeas corpus, DC’s efforts to
evict soldiers from its hotels and Fox News’ latest bro meltdown.
Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host and author of “The Scourge of
Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” reminds
listeners that today’s mini-recovery is only very, very qualified good
news. Consistently undercounted are the part time jobs lost, the gig
jobs lost, or the unemployed independent contractors. And the Labor
Department itself admits that its own labor survey is so limited as to
be barely meaningful. There’s also no way we see a V-shaped recovery,
he says. Get ready for the big W, austerity programs that only
exacerbate public pain, and a decade before we get back the jobs we’ve
lost. Meanwhile, of course, the same people who always profit will
continue to use their corporate power to line their pockets with our
recovery money.
An academic physician working in DC who wishes to remain anonymous
joined to explain how his hospital is joining in on the performative
allyship movement. But large hospitals are built to make money, and
they make that money by exploiting the most vulnerable of their labor
force. If your institution is institutional racism, how can it call
out institutional racism? Hospitals are cutting costs, exploiting
staff, and crawling with police, because they remain pillars of a
capitalist system, he says.
Dr. Richard Wolff, professor of economics at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, visiting professor in the graduate program in
International Affairs of the New School University and the author,
most recently, of “Understanding Socialism” and “Understanding
Marxism,” tells the Misfits that the US had no excuse for being
unprepared for this pandemic ‒ except for the perennial excuse that it
wasn’t profitable. Our government could have been buying and storing
public health supplies the same way it does military supplies, but it
doesn’t. Our capitalist system crashes every four to seven years, but
the combination of events this year has pushed us to a total system
breakdown. He urges listeners not to be deflected by the wedges the
forces of capital will try to drive between us, be they racial,
generational or otherwise. He also predicts much more civil unrest,
because job losses on this scale are an open invitation to labor
abuse.
We are joined by Dr. Gerald Horne, historian and chair of history and
African American Studies at the University of Houston, warns DC
activists that they are probably the most heavily surveilled in the
nation, and that this administration appears to be pulling out all the
stops to smear and prosecute them. Fascism arrives on little cat feet,
he says, and it is imperative to block it now, before that fist can
fully form and fall. For whatever reason, the black community and its
allies have finally snapped, and we may be on the verge of more than a
long, hot summer. They discuss historical mechanisms used to disrupt
protest movements and parallels to effective paths we’ve seen in the
past, and his fears that this wall-to-wall media coverage of today’s
protests will still somehow miss the point.
Hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also discussed the charges
levied against the three officers present at George Floyd’s death,
Drew Brees’ disappointing statement and bizarre apology on the
subject, the rise of the thin blue line flag, the frightening trend of
attacks on media and the fighting breaking out within media organs
over how to cover this uprising.
We are joined by Dr. Gerald Horne, historian and chair of history and
African American Studies at the University of Houston, warns DC
activists that they are probably the most heavily surveilled in the
nation, and that this administration appears to be pulling out all the
stops to smear and prosecute them. Fascism arrives on little cat feet,
he says, and it is imperative to block it now, before that fist can
fully form and fall. For whatever reason, the black community and its
allies have finally snapped, and we may be on the verge of more than a
long, hot summer. They discuss historical mechanisms used to disrupt
protest movements and parallels to effective paths we’ve seen in the
past, and his fears that this wall-to-wall media coverage of today’s
protests will still somehow miss the point.
Nicole Roussell, producer of Loud and Clear on Radio Sputnik,
described to hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas how she was
attacked by police while filming in front of the White House on
Monday. She documented people being maced, shoved and trampled by
officers in riot gear. Despite holding her badge up and shouting that
she was press as she attempted to film the events, she was pelted with
stinger grenades, raising welts. But that was only the first attack ‒
minutes later, she was struck with a rubber bullet, again despite
being clearly identified as press, and eventually shoved to the ground
by a police officer with a shield. This was the experience of many
media figures at the event, as well as countless protesters, she
notes, and once again, it’s not an aberration. This is the prescribed
functioning of the system of policing, laid bare.
Mohamed Elmazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets
including the Canary, the interregnum.net, and Sputnik International,
said that in London, a huge and racially mixed crowd came out into the
streets to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Many of them told
him racism and violence on the part of the police in the UK are
pervasive, and merely better covered up than in the US. He also laid
bare the power and influence of the armed forces in the UK, as
exemplified by several war crimes investigations being dropped, and
brought an update on the case of Julian Assange, who has missed even
video conferencing into his most recent hearings because of health
concerns.
The Misfits also shared the voices of voters who’d waited in line for
hours due to the District’s incompetence and those who’d come to the
streets to protest again, talked about Congressman Eliot Engel’s hot
mic disaster, busted open the fiction of Donald Trump’s Antifa
boogeyman and wondered what the hell happened to Justin Trudeau
yesterday.
Mohamed Elmazi, journalist and contributor to numerous outlets
including the Canary, the interregnum.net, and Sputnik International,
said that in London, a huge and racially mixed crowd came out into the
streets to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Many of them told
him racism and violence on the part of the police in the UK are
pervasive, and merely better covered up than in the US. He also laid
bare the power and influence of the armed forces in the UK, as
exemplified by several war crimes investigations being dropped, and
brought an update on the case of Julian Assange, who has missed even
video conferencing into his most recent hearings because of health
concerns.
Nicole Roussell, producer of Loud and Clear on Radio Sputnik,
described to hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas how she was
attacked by police while filming in front of the White House on
Monday. She documented people being maced, shoved and trampled by
officers in riot gear. Despite holding her badge up and shouting that
she was press as she attempted to film the events, she was pelted with
stinger grenades, raising welts. But that was only the first attack ‒
minutes later, she was struck with a rubber bullet, again despite
being clearly identified as press, and eventually shoved to the ground
by a police officer with a shield. This was the experience of many
media figures at the event, as well as countless protesters, she
notes, and once again, it’s not an aberration. This is the prescribed
functioning of the system of policing, laid bare.
Nathaniel Wallace of RedSpin Sports dropped by to discuss some of the
history of activism and politics in sports and how they’re expressed
in that industry today. High profile players have real power, which
they have leveraged into concessions for their own labor. As sports
begin to reopen, we may see them again flex their muscle to protect
themselves, and perhaps to support some of the social movements in the
streets today.
Dr. Alex Vitale, sociology professor at Brooklyn College and author of
the recent book “The End of Policing,” tells Bob and co-host Jamarl
Thomas that the murder of George Floyd has ripped off the bandage that
was trying to cover up the plague of police violence. The police do
not treat Americans equally: they explicitly uphold the race and class
divisions of our society, and no amount of anti-bias training can
change that mandate. A solution has to begin with defunding police, he
says, but also by simultaneously refunding other social and community
services and systems to support problem solving without the police. In
the same way, we can’t invest all of our political energy into
electoral politics, but must also build community organizations and
systems to work toward our goals. Don’t let corporate media and the
defenders of this cruel system make you forget this moment, he
cautions.
Misfit host Bob Schlehuber and producer Michelle Witte shared
firsthand reports from the peaceful protests that were violently
broken up in Washington, DC, last night, describing the tactics the
police deployed first to clear the way for President Donald Trump’s
Bible-toting photo opportunity and then to intimidate protesters after
curfew, including hovering over them in military helicopters. Activist
and organizer Tracye Redd also shared their on-the-ground experience,
during which they got the opportunity to put a Black Lives Matter lawn
sign to the test. The three also broke down Joe Biden’s terrible
suggestion that the police “shoot them in the leg” when confronted by
armed or unarmed people.
Dr. Alex Vitale, sociology professor at Brooklyn College and author of
the recent book “The End of Policing,” tells Bob and co-host Jamarl
Thomas that the murder of George Floyd has ripped off the bandage that
was trying to cover up the plague of police violence. The police do
not treat Americans equally: they explicitly uphold the race and class
divisions of our society, and no amount of anti-bias training can
change that mandate. A solution has to begin with defunding police, he
says, but also by simultaneously refunding other social and community
services and systems to support problem solving without the police. In
the same way, we can’t invest all of our political energy into
electoral politics, but must also build community organizations and
systems to work toward our goals. Don’t let corporate media and the
defenders of this cruel system make you forget this moment, he
cautions.
Nathaniel Wallace of RedSpin Sports dropped by to discuss some of the
history of activism and politics in sports and how they’re expressed
in that industry today. High profile players have real power, which
they have leveraged into concessions for their own labor. As sports
begin to reopen, we may see them again flex their muscle to protect
themselves, and perhaps to support some of the social movements in the
streets today.
Garland Nixon, cohost of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik, reminds
us to judge politicians on their records, not on their platitudes.
This unrest is not only about the murder of George Floyd: that was the
spark that ignited social unrest simmering under the tens of millions
out of work, trying to get by on one measly government check, too poor
to go to the doctor, with no guidance on how to best take care of
themselves in this pandemic. He blows up the double standard on
visiting protesters, that somehow it’s great when people come from
across the country for a right-wing protest, but it’s a crime when
people travel to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter. They also
discuss Keith Ellison leading the prosecution against the officers who
killed George Floyd, what needs to happen to start police reform, and
make some predictions about a very hot July.
Eugene Puryear, journalist with BreakThrough News, brings a report
from the ground in Minneapolis, and confirms that the demonstrations
there are being driven by locals, by real people with real anger,
including at local officials they say consistently protect violent
police. He also confirms that many issues are driving people to the
streets: poverty, police violence, the disproportionate impact of
COVID-19 on black communities, and more. People are recognizing that
white supremacy is a pillar of our capitalist system, he says, and
people in Minneapolis are excited to see the other protests popping
off in the US and around the world.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of People’s Republic, reports that
she did not hear anyone speaking Russian at protests in Austin, but
she did encounter American officials pulling administrative strings to
shut down legitimate protest. Is this making Americans safer? No. But
mainstream media wants to run with this narrative about foreign
instigators exacerbating American tensions to turn people’s minds away
from class oppression to a foreign bogeyman. She and host Jamarl
Thomas also trashed former President Barack Obama’s weak call for
people to vote in response to police violence and the toothless
analysis from the Sunday news shows.
Garland Nixon, cohost of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik, reminds us to
to judge our politicians on their records, not on the platitudes they
spout. (Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, we are looking at you.) But this
unrest is not only about the murder of George Floyd: that was the
spark that ignited social unrest simmering under the tens of millions
out of work, trying to get by on one measly government check, too poor
to go to the doctor, with no guidance on how to best take care of
themselves in this pandemic. He blows up the double standard on
visiting protesters, that somehow it’s great when people come from
across the country for a right-wing protest, but it’s a crime when
people travel to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter. They also
discuss Keith Ellison leading the prosecution against the officers who
killed George Floyd, what needs to happen to start police reform, and
make some predictions about a very hot July.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of People’s Republic, reports that
she did not hear anyone speaking Russian at protests in Austin, but
she did encounter American officials pulling administrative strings to
shut down legitimate protest. Is this making Americans safer? No. But
mainstream media wants to run with this narrative about foreign
instigators exacerbating American tensions to turn people’s minds away
from class oppression to a foreign bogeyman. She and host Jamarl
Thomas also trashed former President Barack Obama’s weak call for
people to vote in response to police violence and the toothless
analysis from the Sunday news shows.
Eugene Puryear, journalist with BreakThrough News, brings a report
from the ground in Minneapolis, and confirms that the demonstrations
there are being driven by locals, by real people with real anger,
including at local officials they say consistently work to protect
violent police. He also confirms that many issues are driving people
to the streets: poverty, police violence, the disproportionate impact
of COVID-19 on black communities, and more. People are recognizing
that white supremacy is a pillar of our capitalist system, he says,
and people in Minneapolis are really excited to see the other protests
popping off in the US and around the world.
Glen Ford, executive editor of the Black Agenda Report, tells host Jamarl Thomas that the vast majority of urban rebellions in this country were sparked by police violence, because the inherent conflict in our system remains unresolved. But the time for tears is over, they tell Bakari Sellers. The conflict here is very clear, and the question of “what do I tell my kids” has long since been settled. The question is, what are you going to do about it? And what is your candidate, Joe Biden, going to do, other than offer lip service? Likely nothing, given how black politics and black organizations have been annexed by the Democratic Party, because we all know who controls both aspects of the US political duopoly. In times like this, it behooves us to remember the upheaval of the 1960s and remember that electoral politics is not the only mechanism for change.
Author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group Alan MacLeod reminds listeners of Amy Klobuchar’s integral role in upholding reactionary police and judicial systems in Minnesota, and how recent some of her liberal positions are. But once you get to a certain level in society, your job is to defend the indefensible, including supporting forces that are supposed to protect and serve but are obviously used just to pacify. Alan breaks down the role media and storytellers play in this pacification and the myths we tell ourselves.
The Misfit team also broke down the COVID-19 chaos in Pennsylvania, Van Jones actually speaking some truth on CNN, the new photos of Julian Assange in the courtroom, the New York Times’ struggling obituary section, and an Australian sex fantasy gone wrong.
Glen Ford, executive editor of the Black Agenda Report, tells host Jamarl Thomas that the vast majority of urban rebellions in this country were sparked by police violence, because the inherent conflict in our system remains unresolved. But the time for tears is over, the two tell Bakari Sellers. The conflict here is very clear, and the question of “what do I tell my kids” has long since been settled. The question is, what are you going to do about it? And what is your candidate, Joe Biden, going to do, other than offer lip service? Likely nothing, given how black politics and black organizations have been annexed by the Democratic Party, because we all know who controls both aspects of the US political duopoly. In times like this, it behooves us to remember the upheaval of the 1960s and remember that electoral politics is not the only mechanism for change.
Phil Stinson, professor of criminal justice at Bowling Green State University and the principal investigator for the Henry A. Wallace Police Crime Database, reminds the Misfits that the ugliness of police violence exists, day in and day out, and only rises to public consciousness occasionally. The blatant disregard for life shown by the officer who killed George Floyd pulls the curtain back on a cop culture that supports violent street justice and deliberately generates a fear of black people. Officers with troubled histories escape the consequences of their violence daily, and progress in breaking through the thin-blue-line culture is slow. People have a right to be angry, he says.
Dr. Marvin Weinbaum, director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies at the Middle East Institute, explains that there’s still debate over when and how to pull out of Afghanistan, despite Trump’s desire to leave that war behind. And with an election coming up, nothing is set in stone. He also explains that peace and ceasefires aren’t necessarily components of the “exit agreement” the US has with the Taliban. The Taliban, however, is behind the latest ceasefire, which is a PR ploy and covers for the fact that it’s actually the Afghan government making all the latest concessions.
Walter Smolarek, Sputnik news analyst and producer of Loud and Clear, describes the relationship between Hong Kong, China and the US, and whether the US really is going to change its economic relationship with Hong Kong. The US is definitely taking steps to bar Chinese students, a hysteria consciously cultivated by the US intelligence community. They also discussed North Korea’s rational nuclear deterrence, and Pyongyang’s role in Asian geopolitics.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also discussed the latest unemployment numbers and the US’ huge economic contraction, the million-dollar lifeboats CEOs will escape this crisis in, Trump’s executive order on social media, and the coming US charges against Venezuela’s first lady.
Phil Stinson, professor of criminal justice at Bowling Green State
University and the principal investigator for the Henry A. Wallace
Police Crime Database, reminds the Misfits that the ugliness of police
violence exists, day in and day out, and only rises to public
consciousness occasionally. The blatant disregard for life shown by
the officer who killed George Floyd pulls the curtain back on a cop
culture that supports violent street justice and deliberately
generates a fear of black people. Officers with troubled histories
escape the consequences of their violence daily, and progress in
breaking through the thin-blue-line culture is slow. People have a
right to be angry, he says.
Sean Blackmon, cohost of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that he’s learned to harness his sadness and rage at this pattern of police violence and turn it to organizing and activism. The only way to stay sane is to stay in the struggle; outrage is the easy part. Images are powerful, but images alone will not shift consciousness, and sharing them must not be the limit of your involvement. We must push for justice in these individual cases, he says, but we must also recognize that the police as an institution are brutal and are racist and serve the brutal capitalist society we live in. The problem of police violence cannot be solved without dismantling this system that requires it. He also has some strong words for the black celebrities sheepdogging for the very Democrats who continue to stand in the way of revolution.
Ben Norton, an investigative journalist and assistant editor of the independent news website The Grayzone, broke down what’s been lost in Bolivia since a coup ousted elected President Evo Morales. This week, members of the country’s military broke into the legislative assembly and demanded a pay increase at gunpoint. These are the US’ allies in Latin America: Christian fascists bent on breaking indigenous rule.
Norton also said that Twitter and so-called “independent fact checkers” should not be in the business of censoring information on social media. We’ve already allowed them to shut down factual sites sharing information the US government and corporate leaders don’t want made public. Giving them more power is not the solution. Neoliberals and many Americans are looking for easy solutions that don’t lay blame at our centers of power, instead of recognizing the huge problems of our corporate, political and media networks.
The Misfits also got into US skepticism about vaccines, the double slit experiment, Alberta’s energy minister saying the quiet part loud, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo covering for his nursing home donors who helped fuel that state’s outbreak, and the FBI dropping its probe into insider trading among Congress members.
Sean Blackmon, cohost of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that he’s learned to harness his sadness and rage at this pattern of police violence and turn it to organizing and activism. The only way to stay sane is to stay in the struggle; outrage is the easy part. Images are powerful, but images alone will not shift consciousness, and sharing them must not be the limit of your involvement. We must push for justice in these individual cases, he says, but we must also recognize that the police as an institution are brutal and are racist and serve the brutal capitalist society we live in. The problem of police violence cannot be solved without dismantling this system that requires it. He also has some strong words for the black celebrities sheepdogging for the very Democrats who continue to stand in the way of revolution.
Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance, explains the international victory it was to have Iranian oil tankers arrive in Venezuela. Two have docked so far, a result of Tehran and Caracas refusing to relinquish their rights to survive. If countries stand together, these illegal sanctions can be overcome, he says. The US might find that it has only isolated itself in trying to impose these coercive measures on other independent nations, and at a time when the US economy is in crisis. Both the US, Iran and Venezuela took a very calculated approach to this situation, and it is clear who won. He also discussed what effects US actions are having on the ground in Venezuela and Iran.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, tells the Misfits President Trump is using the coronavirus as a tool to advance his longstanding goal of decoupling the US and China. The closer the election comes, the more Trump will ramp up his rhetoric, including making threats to allies like Australia for maintaining strong economic ties to Beijing. Much of this is sheer propaganda, but it raises the question of what propaganda is Trump himself consuming? And will Team Trump or Team Biden end up with the China hot potato? They also got into the NGO takeover of Hong Kong’sl uprising, Hong Kong’s pivotal role in Asian power politics, what Germany’s increasing rejection of globalization means for global currencies and the global economy, and the normie bellwether that is Joe Rogan.
Artist and activist Eleanor Goldfield explained her new documentary, “Hard Road of Hope,” about the tragedy of mining in West Virginia, the new exploitation of fracking, and the spring of radical resistance reemerging there.
Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also broke down the White House’s characterization of Americans as “human capital stock,” Trump and Biden’s battle of masks, the human loss in US meat processing plants, the violence retail and service workers are facing, and the latest weaponization of police against black men.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, tells the Misfits that President Trump is using the coronavirus as a tool to advance his longstanding goal of decoupling the US and China. The closer the election comes, the more Trump will ramp up his rhetoric, including making threats to allies like Australia for maintaining strong economic ties to Beijing. Much of this is sheer propaganda, but it raises the important question of what propaganda is Trump himself consuming? And will Team Trump or Team Biden end up with the China hot potato?
Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance, explains that both Venezuela and Iran have been under attack by the US for years, and for them to come together to thwart US sanctions is an international victory. Two Iranian oil tankers have arrived in Venezuela so far, as a result of Tehran and Caracas refusing to back down on their rights to survive. If countries stand together, these illegal sanctions can be overcome, he says. The US may soon find that it has only isolated itself in trying to impose these coercive measures on other independent nations, and at a time when the US economy is in great peril. Both the US, Iran and Venezuela took a very calculated approach to this situation, and it is clear who won.
Steve Grumbine, founder of the nonprofit Real Progressives and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that we are cruising for an economic crisis triggered by dodgy commercial property loans, and that this whole racket has been conducted and shielded for decades. The same people who are evaluating the creditworthiness of these loans, and of the securities they’re packaged into, are exactly the ones who created the last loan crisis. This is an entire criminal enterprise organized to enrich a very few people who know exactly what they’re doing, he says. As for the rest of us, the results of this crash will be biblical. There are efforts underway to stimulate local commerce, including looking into alternative currencies.
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology and at the University of Arizona, explains how cleanup efforts can spread carcinogens. Climate change can, too: as dams break, pollutants are carried further; as wind speeds increase, harmful particles find new places to contaminate. A warming planet is also more hospitable for infectious disease. A tiny new virus can have huge, global effects, he says, and what we’re seeing now is just the beginning. There is some good news, however: this lockdown has slashed global carbon emissions, and renewable energy is on track to eclipse coal use in the US by the end of 2020. These are both positive trends, but climate change is a thorny issue, Guy reminds us. We’ve already overused extractive energies and pushed our planet to the brink, and greenhouse gasses aren’t our only problem. There might be technological solutions to help ameliorate these problems, but if we can’t tackle them, soon, it's time to begin saying goodbye to life as we know it.
The Misfits also got into Klob for VP, the US exiting the Open Skies treaty, the double standard on China and Hong Kong, the continued trashing of Tara Reade, and Biden’s sneaky position on Syria.
Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, explains how human efforts to clean up are actually spreading carcinogens further. Climate change is also doing this: as dams break, for example, pollutants are carried further; as wind speeds increase, harmful particles and debris find new places to contaminate. A warming planet is also much more hospitable for infectious disease, he explains. A tiny thing like a virus can have huge, global effects, he says, and what we’re seeing now is only a fraction of what could happen. There is some good news, however: this lockdown that was forced upon us has dramatically lowered global carbon emissions, and renewable energy use is on track to eclipse coal use in the US by the end of this year. These are both positive trends, but climate change is a thorny issue, Guy reminds us. We’ve already overused extractive energies and pushed our planet to the brink, and it’s not only greenhouse gasses we have to worry about, but the loss of the aerosol masking effect. There might be technological solutions to help ameliorate these problems, but if we can’t tackle them, soon, it's time to begin saying goodbye to life as we know it.
Steve Grumbine, founder of the nonprofit Real Progressives and host of the podcast Macro n Cheese, tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that we are indeed cruising for an economic crisis triggered by dodgy commercial property loans, and that this whole racket has been conducted and shielded for decades. The same people who are evaluating the creditworthiness of these loans, and of the securities they’re packaged into, are exactly the ones who created the last loan crisis. This is an entire criminal enterprise organized to enrich a very few people who know exactly what they’re doing, he says. As for the rest of us, the results of this crash will be biblical.
Jason Dzubow, attorney and partner at Dzubow & Pilcher, PLLC, which specializes in immigration law, asylum, deportation defense, and a blogger at www.asylumist.com, reminds hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that the Trump administration has always had a solution without a problem when it came to immigration. The system was working, he argues, but this administration couldn’t get enough of locking people up, so they tried to criminalize asylum seeking and other legal actions and created chaos. Now we have at random being separated from their parents, deported without their guardians’ knowledge and other horrors. Trump has taken a short cut around the law, weaponizing bureaucracy to slow immigration.
Rev. Mareo Johnson, community leader, activist, public servant, pastor and founder of Black Lives Matter Tulsa, dropped by to discuss the resumption of evictions in Oklahoma and the evolution of the Movement for Black Lives.
Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, broke down some of the pressures the EU and the UK are facing as they try, still, to bang out a trade deal. Not least of these is Donald Trump, who will do anything he can to make life difficult for the EU. The US is also attempting to block any consequences the EU would try to impose on Israel for its annexation plans ‒ but the real problem is that the EU itself is divided on the issue. And don’t expect Russia to play peacemaker between the US and the Palestinians. After all, who is there in the US for the Palestinians to negotiate with, as a good-faith partner? He also helped explain the murky history of Joe Biden in Ukraine, which he essentially ran via former Ukrainian Petro Poroshenko. What Biden did in Ukraine was clearly unethical, but whether it was strictly illegal remains unclear. This legacy will be felt more in Ukraine than in the US, he argues, no matter how shady Biden’s business in the country was.
The Misfits also broke down a potpourri of polls and statistics, the musicians being idiots on Twitter, Cyclone Amphan and Joe Scarborough’s embarrassing opinion piece in the Washington Post.
The EU can't summon up the political will to confront Israel over its plans to annex much of the West Bank, because the bloc itself is divided on the issue. It may protest, but expect no consequential response, says Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst.
Dr. Wilmer Leon, a political scientist and host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, helped hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas work through the backlash directed at Ronan Farrow and how genuine it is. Are Ben Smith and the New York Times really concerned about Farrow’s reporting, or is this an attack on investigative journalism itself? And why this dance around the concept of “resistance journalism” without ever addressing the reality of propaganda? As Farrow defends his reporting and independent journalists are smeared daily, Rachel Maddow continues to be broadcast every night, and proven liars like Brian Williams and John Brennan are allowed to shape and deliver narratives that affect far more people. We also need to reckon with the power of social media to drive stories and hide others.
John Feffer, author, actor and director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, was a test subject for the Misfits’ new game of Question-tine! He and the fellows worked through historical parallels to today’s plague, what work of art most accurately reflects our current predicament, and the future of hands-free romance. They also made some predictions about pandemic political disruptions, praised the leaders who have handled things well.
The Misfits also got into Trump’s latest executive order; a new poll showing huge support for a single-payer healthcare system to respond to the pandemic and for more government relief; the deathbed confession of Norma McCorvey, who said she was paid by anti-abortion activists to do an about face on this issue; the catastrophic flooding in Michigan; and, of course, some very spooky questions about the nature of time.
Teresa Lundy, a communications strategist and principle at TML Communications, joined hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to talk about Joe Biden lowering his campaign to the president’s level despite promises to keep it classy, and how the Democratic Party can’t seem to settle on a message. And honestly, at this point, maybe voters would settle for basic communications competence and just one campaign event without honking geese, dropped cue cards and other mistakes. Basic lack of follow through, from digital communication to policy proposals, is dogging the Democrats, again. Donald Trump’s campaign team, on the other hand, might not have a lot of positive information to communicate, but they sure do have money to spend, and that always helps. Trump’s also the only candidate trying to reach the Latino community in the US, which is disappointing a lot of groups, she reports. The three also broke down changes in pandemic and post-pandemic voting.
Margaret Kimberly, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," discussed former President Barack Obama’s commencement speech over the weekend, and his obvious disdain for black people. Saint Obama has always tried to speak over black people to address his white supporters, she argues. The genuine racism Obama faced as well as our overall inability to critique political power and our political system has protected his administration from a real reckoning. Callers argued about Obama’s toxicity, the history of black voting and labor and the complexities of assessing a black president in a white country.
The Misfits also broke down Trump’s hydroxychloroquine bombshell, his latest ultimatum to the WHO, accusations of a judicial double standard when it comes to the Obama administration, the latest drama at the State Department, the Trump-Fox feud and the Biden-Trump ad battle.
Dr. David Belk, author of “The Great American Healthcare Scam: How Kickbacks, Collusion and Propaganda Have Exploded Healthcare Cost In The United States,” discussed the ad hoc evolution of the US healthcare system, from the WWII-era decision to link health insurance to how the Red Scare prevented a shift to a single-payer system and to today’s mess. The complexity of the US healthcare system is one of the biggest barriers to reform. He breaks down the disconnect between actual medical costs and medical bills, the way the complexity of this system supports the scam that it has become, and the prescription grift.
Texas whisperer Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the show People's Republic, broke down the COVID-19 response in the capitalist testing ground of the Lone Star State and how few Texans actually want to open up in the face of illness. She also got into the efforts of the current powers that be, including local police departments and federal forces as well as private security contractors, to stockpile equipment and supplies, not only for medical treatments but for violent clashes. The militarization of all of society continues, and don’t be fooled into thinking this isn’t part of the class war, she says. These are the preparations of the ruling classes to fight off workers if they try to buck their continued oppression. The three also discussed Joe Biden’s campaign writing off Latino voters and the difference between capturing a vote and actually engaging people, and wondered why Chuck Todd wanted to talk conspiracy theories with one of the US’ top conspirators.
The fellows also broke down the firing of State Department inspector general Steve Linick, China's support for a global inquiry into how the coronavirus pandemic was handled, some sexy South Korean soccer fans and the latest offering from Trump’s Keyboard Warriors.
Texas whisperer Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the show People's Republic, broke down the COVID-19 response in the capitalist testing ground of the Lone Star State and how few Texans actually want to open up in the face of illness. She also got into the efforts of the current powers that be, including local police departments and federal forces as well as private security contractors, to stockpile equipment and supplies, not only for medical treatments but for violent clashes. The militarization of all of society continues, and don’t be fooled into thinking this isn’t part of the class war, she says. These are the preparations of the ruling classes to fight off workers if they try to buck their continued oppression.
Medea Benjamin, author, activist and co-founder of Code Pink, joined Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to talk about the disconnect between the anti-war rhetoric often used on the campaign trail (to great applause) and the bloodthirsty status quo candidates settle into once in office. There must always be a boogeyman for politicians to pull out of their hats in a crisis, though polls show Americans have no real appetite for war. The will of the arms industry consistently trumps the will of the people. Pushing Joe Biden to commit to cutting the defense budget by $200 million each year could perhaps begin the process of ending these long-running wars, she says. She also discusses the difficulty of holding politicians to account as hearings, conventions and other formerly public meetings are locked down due to the pandemic.
Eleanor Goldfield, creative activist and journalist, frontlines organizer and co-host of the podcast Common Censored along with Lee Camp, updated the hosts on the mutual aid work helping communities keep afloat in this time of crisis and the rise in interest in it.. She also slammed the Federal Reserve’s flood of support for huge corporations and oil companies, which are using provisions in pandemic stimulus bills to get out of paying their taxes. These sneaky maneuvers depend on our ignorance, as does our cruel health care system and the rest of our exploitative economic apparatus, she says. Instead of being surprised, take this opportunity to examine our own support for this system and how we can shrug it off. The answer, as always, is education ‒ and recognizing that our masters’ master is fear.
The Misfits also broke down the depth of the left’s electoral bench, Joe Biden’s strange strategy of telling people not to vote for him, the Patriot Act’s new cover to reach into our internet browser history and the shameful vote that allowed it. They delivered some bad news about retail sales and some good news about a tiger roundup in Mexico.
Eleanor Goldfield, creative activist and journalist, frontlines organizer and co-host of the podcast Common Censored along with Lee Camp, updated the hosts on the mutual aid work helping communities keep afloat in this time of crisis and the rise in interest in it. There’s no blueprint for how mutual aid should work, only that it should be locally rooted and responsive, she notes. She also slammed the Federal Reserve’s flood of support for huge corporations and oil companies, which are using provisions in pandemic stimulus bills to get out of paying their taxes. These sneaky maneuvers depend on our ignorance, as does our cruel health care system and the rest of our exploitative economic apparatus. Instead of being surprised, take this opportunity to examine our own support for this system and how we can shrug it off.
Trudy Goldberg, chair of National Jobs For All Coalition and professor emerita of Social Policy at Adelphi University, describes the real unemployment situation in the US, beyond the numbers released by the Labor Department, which use unrealistic criteria that eliminate many job hunters from their count. The true percentage of unemployed people is more like 26 percent, she estimates. She explains the difference between an economically induced recession and a pandemic-induced recession, how a job guarantee can push us into a real recovery after the health crisis is under control, and why it’s been so hard for labor movements to generate broad power.
Award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall spoke to hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas about prosecutorial pressure in the Michael Flynn case and how the power of the state influences American justice. The obvious double standard and lack of integrity on display in this case and the case of Tara Reade is concerning, he said, and the US media has largely abandoned its responsibility to hold the powers that be accountable. This laziness plus the technological revolution of the past decade mean the old media order will be unable to withstand this economic crisis, and what will replace it is still unknown.
Gail Witte, a 500 hour registered yoga teacher and certified personal trainer, dropped by to talk about the challenges seniors face to their fitness, particularly right now, how they can overcome them and how we can all learn to age more delightfully.
The Misfits also got into the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s big gamble, President Donald Trump’s assertions that Democrats are fighting him rather than the virus, today’s scary testimony from Dr. Rick Bright, and the latest Chinese hacking scare.
Trudy Goldberg, chair of National Jobs For All Coalition and professor emerita of Social Policy at Adelphi University, describes the real unemployment situation in the US, beyond the numbers released by the Labor Department, which use unrealistic criteria that eliminate many job hunters from their count. The true level of unemployment is more like 26 percent, she estimates. She explains the difference between an economically induced recession and a pandemic-induced recession, how a job guarantee can push us into a real recovery after the health crisis is under control, and why it’s been so hard for labor movements to generate broad power.
Dr. Dave Ragland, senior Bayard Rustin fellow at the Fellowship of Reconciliation and co-founder of the Truth Telling Project, spoke with hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas about the havoc COVID-19 is wreaking in America’s prisons, why this suffering is being ignored, and what processes our huge prison populations serve. Genocidal is not too strong a term for these rates of incarceration and this lack of care during the pandemic, he argues. The three break down the willful ignorance of American society at large, the history of experimentation on black people in the US and who else Washington, DC, decides doesn’t matter.
Author and human rights and labor lawyer Dan Kovalik joined to discuss the travesty of the case against Michael Flynn and the tussle now over dropping the charges against him. He explained the barriers preventing international law from being used effectively to achieve justice, and, closer to home, how the US’ dysfunctional democracy rigs the political and economic systems against workers and the poor. Seventy percent of the US population wants Medicare for All, 70 percent of the population want to stay at home until COVID-19 is better under control. But the will of the people is completely ignored on Capitol Hill. The question now is, revolution or reform?
John Kiriakou, CIA torture whistleblower and co-host of Loud and Clear, explained just how badly the FBI messed up in accidentally releasing the identity of a Saudi official suspected of directing support to 9/11 hijackers. Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah supervised the work of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, a controversial ministry to start with. What Jarrah is described as having done would have needed the permission of his boss, the ambassador, and the ambassador’s boss, he said. Kiriakou blows up the idea that Riyadh and Washington are best buddies. He also notes that this release might not be the “mistake” it’s made out to be, and what role President Trump might have played in it.
The fellows also tore into the Democrats’ new Heroes plan, how rising prices will affect consumers, and the murder of Breonna Taylor by Kentucky cops.
John Kiriakou, CIA torture whistleblower, author and co-host of Loud and Clear, explained just how badly the FBI messed up in accidentally releasing the identity of a Saudi official suspected of directing support to 9/11 hijackers. Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah supervised the work of Ministry of Islamic Affairs, a controversial ministry to start with. What Jarrah is described as having done could not have been done without the permission of his boss, the ambassador, and the ambassador’s boss, he said. Kiriakou blows up the idea that Riyadh and Washington are great buddies - this is purely a business relationship. He also notes that this release might not be the “mistake” it’s made out to be, and what role President Trump might have played in it.
Dr. Dave Ragland, senior Bayard Rustin fellow at the Fellowship of Reconciliation and co-founder of the Truth Telling Project, spoke with Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas about the havoc COVID-19 is wreaking throughout America’s prisons, why this suffering is being ignored, and what processes our enormous prison populations serve. Genocidal is not too strong a term for these rates of incarceration and this lack of care during a pandemic, he argues. The three break down the willful ignorance of American society at large, the history of experimentation on black people in the US and who else Washington, DC, decides doesn’t matter.
Joel Segal, co-author of the original Medicare for All bill, executive director of the Justice Action Mobilization Network and national director of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Group, tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas what is clear to all: that the president is in way over his head. Trump was hoping to cruise to reelection on a supposedly booming economy, and with that plan shot down, he’s launched an utterly reckless pandemic response that’s not only killing people but killing the economy. Now more than ever, we see the need for new, more representative leadership, Segal says. The work is getting people moving and involved in electoral processes.
Jamal "DJ One Luv" Muhammad, host of the "Love Lounge" radio show on Square1Radio.com, dropped by to talk about the reverberations of these planned armed protests against the pandemic lockdown and the striking sanitation workers in New Orleans, who have been fired and replaced with prison labor, individuals who, of course, are paid far less than the striking workers. The fragility of the US economy is being reflected in the fragility of the economic health of its workers, and the pandemic has tipped these systems large and small into crisis. They also work through the role of identity politics in slowing rebellion against the Democratic Party.
Renae Al-Fdeilat, the artist behind Penawapskewi Designs, and Carrie Moran McLeary, artist and owner of Plains Soul, joined to talk about the intersection of native arts, politics and commerce and what it means to keep arts traditions alive. The boys also broke down Joe Biden’s latest efforts to use China to bash Trump, Trump’s rebuke to a reporter to “ask China,” and how the city of Wuhan is about to stomp the US’ testing efforts.
Joel Segal, co-author of the original Medicare for All bill, executive director of the Justice Action Mobilization Network and national director of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Group, tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas what is clear to all: that the president is in way over his head. Trump was hoping to cruise to reelection on a supposedly booming economy, and with that plan shot down, he’s launched an utterly reckless pandemic response that’s not only killing people but killing the economy. Now more than ever, we see the need for new, more representative leadership, Segal says. The work is getting people moving and involved in electoral processes.
Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News and author of "How I Lost By Hillary Clinton,” helped hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas wade through the recently released Congressional testimony on Russiagate. They break down the contrast between Crowdstrike’s dishonest public statements and the company’s closed-door admissions they had no evidence that Russia hacked the DNC, the role of the Obama administration in hiding the FBI’s activities from the Trump administration, the complicated role of James Comey, and why the Democrats and US intelligence agencies will now want us to move on and forget about the story they brayed about for three years.
Author, journalist and media analyst Alan MacLeod dropped by to discuss the 41-page contract between Silvercorp and Juan Guaido and what it reveals about the kind of support the mercenaries who attempted to invade Venezuela earlier this month expected to receive and who they got free rein to murder without consequence in their attempted coup. They review the US’ history of outsourcing regime change activities, and the role of Venezuela’s neighbors in helping the US pressure Caracas.
Howie Hawkins, candidate for the Green Party’s presidential nomination, joined to offer his point of view on the way forward for the American left. Hawkins elaborated on the barriers to third parties in the US, why their successes sometimes go unheralded and the importance of voting for what you truly want and making the political system deal with those desires. He also explained his eco-socialist platform, his Green New Deal and how he’s budgeted his plans, and policy positions on nuclear weapons and arms control, income inequality and other issues.
The Misfits also got into Chuck Todd’s selective editing over the weekend, the Trump administration’s response to criticism by the former president, a standoff in South Dakota and an Interpol red notice for Anne Sacoolas.
Author, journalist and media analyst Alan MacLeod dropped by to discuss the 41-page contract between Silvercorp and Juan Guaido and what it reveals about the kind of support the mercenaries who attempted to invade Venezuela earlier this month expected to receive and who they wanted free rein to murder without consequence in their attempted coup. They review the US’ history of outsourcing regime change activities, and the role of Venezuela’s neighbors in helping the US pressure Caracas.
John Ross, senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute, Renmin University of China, dropped by to discuss Europe’s tactics in addressing the economic fallout of the pandemic, and the success some countries have had through understanding that economic recovery can only come after medical recovery. Some Eastern European countries, who used their advanced warning wisely, have had great success in keeping the virus at bay to begin with, he reports ‒ something the US did not bother to do. They discuss how some governments are borrowing to help their populations, while others are starving people back to work, and the inevitable shift of economic power from West to East after this pandemic.
Independent restaurant owner Chef Geoff, who has been in business in the DC area for 20 years, explained the roller coaster the area’s restaurants have been riding for the past few months. This chef was able to get a payroll protection loan, and to use the sudden windfall to employ a number of people, including many who had been waiting weeks for a response from overwhelmed unemployment offices. But this is a ticking time bomb, he warns. This money will run out in July, and what will happen for these workers then?
Ron Placone, comedian and host of Get Your News On With Ron, joined Misfits hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to talk about Cuomo on Cuomo violence; the hypocrisy of Biden supporters attacking Tara Reade; and the Democrats’ constantly disappearing plans to help us. The boys also discussed the Justice Department’s dropping charges against Michael Flynn and the thorny question that is reparations for slavery.
In this segment of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas are joined by Dr. Brandi Thompson Summers to talk about her book “Black in Place: The Spatial Aesthetics of Race in a Post-Chocolate City.”
John Ross, senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute, Renmin University of China, dropped by to discuss Europe’s tactics in addressing the economic fallout of the pandemic and the success some countries have had through understanding that economic recovery can only come after medical recovery. Some Eastern European countries, who used their advanced warning wisely, have had great success in keeping the virus at bay to begin with, he reports ‒ something the US did not bother to do. They discuss how some governments are borrowing to help their populations, while others are starving people back to work, and the inevitable shift of economic power from West to East after this pandemic.
Aline Piva, a researcher and journalist based in Sao Paulo, joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to explain the crisis brewing in Jair Bolsonaro’s government. She puts the current standoff between Bolsonaro and Sergio Moro in context, explains Bolsonaro’s undemocratic rise to power and how, despite pressure, he retains some key support, including that of the military, which has gained enormous power under his administration. She also breaks down the increase in violence against political opposition groups, the power the upper classes have to enforce their own rules against the less powerful, and the new approaches the left is taking in political and class struggles.
Ajamu Baraka, national organizer of Black Alliance for Peace and former Green Party nominee for vice president of the US in 2016, spoke about ways to push back against the looming death march back to work the Trump administration is gearing up for. There’s no formula for this, he said, but that only means it’s a time to experiment, quickly and with energy, to see what does work to unify the opposition in the US. The good news is that people have learned a lot since the days of Occupy Wall Street, and are much more willing to look at political alternatives, including casting a critical eye on the entire corporate and labor structure of society. He makes the case for uniting anti-war voices with anti-imperialist movements, and argues that we’ll need international solidarity to truly challenge and upend global corporate capture of governments.
Brandi Thompson Summers, assistant professor of geography at UC Berkeley, and author of “Black in Place: The Spatial Aesthetics of Race in a Post-Chocolate City,” explained how the commodification of ideas of blackness and coolness helps enact the violence of displacement and gentrification, and how ignoring the realities of black experiences and needs allows blackness to become a signifier rather than a powerful political reality. .
The hosts also discuss American policing, why police are so often the only members of our society to engage with people who are traumatized and on edge, and how those engagements so often end in death.
Aline Piva, a researcher and journalist based in Sao Paulo, joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to explain the crisis brewing in Jair Bolsonaro’s government. She puts the current standoff between Bolsonaro and Sergio Moro in context, explains Bolsonaro’s undemocratic rise to power and how, despite pressure, he retains some key support, including that of the military, which has gained enormous power under his administration. She also breaks down the increase in violence against political opposition groups, the power the upper classes have to enforce their own rules against the less powerful, and the new approaches the left is taking in political and class struggles.
Danny Haiphong, activist, writer and political analyst, and co-author of “American Exceptionalism and American Innocence: A People's History of Fake News From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror,” told Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that the current hostility to China isn’t a surprise ‒ it’s been building since the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia” redirected US military forces toward the Pacific. The ruling class has been trying for years to goad China into a broader conflict, building China as a boogeyman for every ill. China now is a perfect target for the Trump administration because the Democrats will take the right wing’s Sinophobic bait and allow the GOP to outflank them on the right. History contradicts the administration’s talking points on China; whether that will be noticed by corporate media is, of course, unlikely.
Kimberlyn Carter, a political strategist for progressive campaigns, focusing on economic justice, criminal justice reform and climate justice, joined to discuss the tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, which she describes as a modern-day, public lynching. Donald Trump issued white supremacists a call to action when he said America needed to be reopened and “liberated,” offering cover to vigilantes everywhere. Meanwhile, Joe Biden’s “Lift Every Voice” plan is an insult, from its name to its content. And speaking of content, it is obvious this plan was devised without a whisper of input from anyone on the Sanders campaign, she notes. The three also discussed how disturbing it is that New York had to be sued into allowing democratic process to continue, and the DNC’s role in that debacle and others.
The hosts also got into Joe Biden’s hypocrisy about Ukraine and the clear corruption of his involvement there, the asteroid we didn’t see until it was right on top of us, and the embarrassment of CBS at the hands of Project Veritas.
Danny Haiphong, activist, writer and political analyst, and co-author of “American Exceptionalism and American Innocence: A People's History of Fake News From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror,” told Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that the current hostility to China isn’t a surprise ‒ it’s been building since the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia” redirected US military forces toward the Pacific. The ruling class has been trying for years to goad China into a broader conflict, building China as a boogeyman for every ill. China now is a perfect target for the Trump administration because the Democrats will take the right wing’s Sinophobic bait and allow the GOP to outflank them on the right. History contradicts the administration’s talking points on China; whether that will be noticed by corporate media is, of course, unlikely.
Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance and one of the founders of the Venezuelan Embassy Protection Defense Collective, told Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that yes indeed, these unlucky mercenaries captured in Venezuela do indeed have deep ties both to the US administration and to Juan Guaido, the US puppet and supposed opposition leader in Venezuela. Guaido is at this point a joke in Venezuela, but just because this and previous attempts to wrest control from President Nicolas Maduro have failed, don’t expect Washington to abandon its imperialist ambitions or forget its hunger for the resource wealth of countries around the world.
Journalist Mohammed El Maazi explained why Julian Assange’s extradition hearing has been postponed until September, a concession his team had long called for. However, the judge raised the possibility of moving the next hearing outside of London, which will help keep the process out of the public eye. The London police are also doing their part to keep the public from learning what’s happening, he reported. Yesterday’s hearing drew an unprecedented police presence, who were enthusiastically harassing protesters and journalists and threatening to arrest them for violating imaginary lockdown protocols.
Ben Becker, editor in chief of BreakThrough News, reported from the COVID-19 epicenter of New York City. He broke down Amazon’s efforts to suppress organization among its employees, the scathing post-resignation letter from a high-level employee and some of the obstacles, including surveillance technology, to labor organization. The three also discussed how to build powerful movements and how movements can force change.
Yasmina Mrabet and Delonte Wilkins, co-founders of LinkUp, joined to talk about Link Up magazine and the importance of art in liberation movements. The two explained how they use art, culture and communication to break down walls between communities inside and out and how they center political education in it all.
The Misfits also broke down Democrats’ hypocrisy on Tara Reade and the gift it is for the GOP, plus some more bad news about COVID-19.
Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance and one of the founders of the Venezuelan Embassy Protection Defense Collective, told Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that yes indeed, these unlucky mercenaries captured in Venezuela do indeed have deep ties both to the US administration and to Juan Guaido, the US puppet and supposed opposition leader in Venezuela. Guaido is at this point a joke in Venezuela, but just because this and all his previous attempts to wrest control from President Nicolas Maduro have failed, don’t expect Washington to abandon its imperialist ambitions or forget its hunger for the resource wealth of countries around the world.
Dr. Dady Chery, a microbiologist, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post, and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free," tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that yes, in her opinion, this deadly coronavirus does seem to have been manmade: its structure is so improbable that natural evolution seems impossible. But that doesn’t mean China is to be blamed for this pandemic. From the start, China has been extremely collaborative and has worked with a variety of international partners. Researchers from France, Spain, the US, Canada, Australia, Pakistan and a host of other nations have cycled through the Wuhan lab, and it has partnered with the EU, the WHO and USAID. This is not secret Chinese research ‒ it is funded and supported by countries around the world, all of which are supportive of finding these nasty viruses and experimenting with them. And all, she notes, would be motivated to obscure the role of this research in this pandemic.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, gave his take on “well-intentioned grandstander” Congressman Justin Amash’s potential third-party run to take on Donald Trump. Amash would be a refreshing voice in politics, he said; Jesse Ventura, on the other hand, is probably a spent force. They also got into Joe Biden’s campaign woes, the rehabilitation of George W. Bush, whether a Trump second term is inevitable, and whether anyone now in government is capable of ensuring accountability in the distribution of the huge government expenditures we’re seeing now. Tom made the case that the only way to dig out of this Trump-sized hole is collaboration between the libertarian right and the anti-imperialist left.
Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek dropped by to talk about the bizarre attempted assault on Venezuela over the weekend, whose fingerprints are on that plan, and why Venezuela is once again under attack. The Misfits also brought you the worst takes from the Sunday news shows, noted the return of Kim Jong Un and warned of the arrival of the “murder hornet” on US shores.
Dr. Dady Chery, a microbiologist, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post, and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free," tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to make the argument that yes, unfortunately, this deadly coronavirus does seem to have been manmade: its structure is so improbable that they make natural evolution seem impossible. But that doesn’t mean China is to be blamed for this pandemic. From the start, China has been extremely collaborative and has worked with a variety of international partners. Researchers from France, Spain, the US, Canada, Australia, Pakistan and a host of other nations have cycled through that lab, and it has partnered with the EU, the WHO and a branch of USAID. This is not secret Chinese research ‒ it is funded and supported by countries around the world, all of which were supportive of finding these nasty viruses and experimenting with them. And all, she notes, would be motivated to obscure the role of this research in the pandemic we’re now suffering.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host and author of “The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” explained the funhouse mirror that is Wall Street and why people should ignore it. The real economic state can be seen in our unemployment, real investment and housing crises, and it’s grim. If and when the financial sector cracks, a cycle of defaults could tip us into Great Depression territory, and the Federal Reserve is engaged in an unprecedented experiment to try to stave it off. But we can’t blame this instability on the virus alone ‒ this corporate debt pileup has been accruing for years, and the virus is a great excuse to wipe it out, at the expense of everyone else. Don’t expect a new normal after that kind of fleecing, he warns, but prepare for a push for the cruelest austerity packages yet.
Political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, Mitchell Plitnick joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to discuss the diplomatic protests against Israel’s plans to annex more of the West Bank this summer and the International Criminal Court’s reiteration of its position that Palestine is correctly classified as a state for the purposes of investigating war crimes by Israel there. These are positive developments, he says, but this is only the beginning of a long-overdue process. Europe’s objections to Israel’s annexation push are sincere, but they have no real leverage to exercise over Tel Aviv, or none they’d choose to use in the face of certain retaliation by the US.
China Dickerson, national political director for Forward Majority, dropped by to discuss Joe Biden and whether his continued support by high-profile Democrats contradicts the party’s full-throated support for the MeToo movement. How long will Biden command the loyalty of the party with these charges in the air, whether or not they’re true? The three grapple with the limits of morality when it comes to winning the dirty game of politics and the role of the Democratic Party in the future.
Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host and author of “The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” explained the funhouse mirror that is Wall Street and why people should ignore it. The real economic state can be seen in our unemployment, real investment and housing crises, and it’s grim. If and when the financial sector cracks, a cycle of defaults could tip us into Great Depression territory, and the Federal Reserve is engaged in an unprecedented experiment to try to stave it off. But we can’t blame this instability on the virus alone ‒ this corporate debt pileup has been accruing for years, and the virus is a great excuse to wipe it out, at the expense of everyone else. Don’t expect a new normal after that kind of fleecing, he warns, but prepare for a push for the cruelest austerity packages yet.
Venezuelanalysis.com writer and editor Paul Dobson joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to explain what exactly is happening in Venezuela's oil sector and in its national oil company, PVDSA. There is a wave of privatisation happening in Venezuela, he said, and it is possible that reports in Western media of the privatisation of PVDSA contain some truth. Such a move would be unpopular at home, though obviously much desired by neoliberal economies. Dobson broke down the major players on the oil scene and what they really represent, and the complex pressures Caracas is operating under. He also gives an overview of the media landscape in the country so maligned by the US, and the view on the ground of attacks on its major industry.
Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of HOPE, Health Over Profit, an organization working to achieve a national improved Medicare for All healthcare system, joined to explain this week’s Supreme Court decision that Congress has to pay for some bills accrued because of the Affordable Care Act and put it in the context of the long battle for humane health care in the US. She discussed how a national single payer health care system would function, including during a pandemic, and how for-profit health hurts the public. They also got into the politics of health systems and the need to be uncompromising and independent of parties when pushing for health care reform, as well as the dishonesty in mainstream discussions about the “cost” of single payer systems.
Bob also waxed apoplectic about the latest Russiagate revelations, namely the release of documents that further undermine the already shoddy case against Michael Flynn and the innocuous correspondence between Roger Stone and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and Jamarl let loose on Tara Reade’s attackers and Joe Biden’s enablers. The hosts also covered the new jobless claims released by the US, the collapse of state systems intended to protect workers, and plans for unprecedented walkouts in the US to mark May Day.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas broke down some of the day’s biggest domestic politics stories with host of The Discourse Podcast Brandon Sutton, including Andrew Yang’s bold move to sue the New York Board of Elections for shutting down its primary, the DNC’s recent history of suppressing voter turnout and what ends that serves, and how Joe Biden is being packaged and sold. They also tear into the new super PAC, Future to Believe In, started by some former Bernie Sanders staffers, and what that says about the senator’s team. They also got into potential third party presidential runs, and who’s not wearing what on television these days.
Anya Parampil, independent journalist at the Grayzone, joined the conversation to discuss the new surveillance tools being rolled out to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and how quickly they’ll be turned toward labor suppression or other spying.
Seth Rosenberg of District Psychedelic and press secretary and entheogen expert for Decriminalize Nature DC, dropped by to get into the wild and weird history of magic mushrooms, and the politics governing what drugs are made legal and which ones aren’t. We are nature, he reminds us, and humans still have a long way to go toward taking back their full power to use natural medicines, both at home and in medical settings.
The fellows also got into Trump’s order protecting meat processing plants and plant workers’ opposition to it, our economic future under Joe Biden, Washington’s continued bipartisan support for Israeli apartheid, and the political ramifications of the COVID-19 response in the US.
Activist and former Amazon worker Chris Smalls told Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas what he saw at his warehouse and how his concerns about his colleagues’ welfare was swept under the rug. He described how it feels to learn that the world’s wealthiest man is turning his PR team against you, but declared that it’s not Amazon versus Chris Smalls, it’s Amazon versus the People. He also spoke about the real toll of working on one of Amazon’s warehouses, the labor Amazon burns through to maintain its edge on the competition, and the robust organizing happening among Amazon’s workers and others behind the scenes. It’s our job to take our power back, Smalls said, and that’s what they’re working on. Prepare for unprecedented solidarity this May first.
Alan MacLeod, author, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, discussed the work of Cuban doctors around the world, the message they send and the comical suspicion with which they’re viewed by some. He brought an update on COVID-19’s impact in the UK and how mainstream media controls the narratives about government responses. He also warned of coming global food insecurity. The US, the UK and other wealthy countries are facing supply chain crises that mean food is being dumped while people are waiting in lines at food banks, but in countries that are already food insecure, the coming year could be catastrophic. Will the media connect the dots from oversupplies of food, dumping, long lines and profit? Unlikely. What’s in it for them? Likewise, with a media in servitude to the billionaire class, who’s going to tell Americans that their CARES Act is yet another huge giveaway to those among us already sitting pretty?
Trayce Redd, a longtime activist, spoke with the hosts about how mass action can happen under social distancing conditions, the theatrical elements of protest, and the need for more creativity in putting pressure on power.
The fellows also broke down the new AOC-Elizabeth Warren connection, some contrasts in handling the pandemic, DC’s dodgy new reopening plan, and coming meat shortages.
The economy is completely tanking, to state the obvious. And yet the billionaire class are seeing their wealth skyrocket, to the tune of $282 billion, at least in the US, says Alan MacLeod, author, journalist and media analyst and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group. Why? Well, the CARE Act, in part, which is yet another huge giveaway to those who are already sitting pretty. Surely watching the economy crash, and yet still serve the ultra-rich on its last legs should wake people up to the lopsided and cruel system Americans live under, but with a media in servitude to the billionaire class, is that likely?
Activist and former Amazon worker Chris Smalls. Smalls described what he saw happening at his warehouse and how his concerns about his colleagues’ welfare was swept under the rug. He describes being shut down by both corporate and state avenues before organizing a walkout as a last-ditch response, and how it feels to learn that the world’s wealthiest man is turning his PR team against you. He also talks about the real toll of working on one of Amazon’s warehouses, the labor Amazon burns through to maintain its edge on the competition, and the robust organizing happening among Amazon’s workers and others behind the scenes.
Some 70 percent of unemployed Americans didn’t get their benefits last month. We should protest! We’re just protesting the wrong things.
Arnold August, a Montreal-based writer, journalist, lecturer and the author of three books on Cuba, Latin America and the US, joined Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to talk about Brazil’s response to the pandemic and what’s happening in the administration of Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro’s power over Brazil’s right wing is likely to face a serious challenge from former members of his own administration in 2022 ‒ that is, if he isn’t impeached before that. The COVID-19 crisis has exposed Brazil’s untenable contradictions, and the political landscape is shifting accordingly. The three break down the impact of Bolsonaro firing his health minister, the accusations of corruption against more of his sons, and how this strengthens the position of ex-president Lula da Silva and his party as a powerful opposition force.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the radio show People’s Republic, dropped by to discuss domestic affairs, including the Cancel the Rent protests in 40 cities. The mood in these socially distant protests was strong and positive, she said. People are realizing that if they don’t want this crisis to make the rich richer and the poor poorer they need to turn out and fight back. The promise of home-ownership has grown illusory, due to actions by both Democrats and Republicans. The three discussed the failures of both parties to protect renters and the poor, why Democrats keep losing, where to turn to actually flex your labor muscle. They also speculated as to the efficacy of these Bernie-Biden task forces, particularly on criminal justice, as Texas saw another recent shooting by a police officer of an unarmed person. The tasks before us are actually clear, Griffith says. What we need is the will.
The Misfits also discussed the perpetual postponement of Julian Assange’s espionage trial, the predictable politics of who is being released from jail due to the pandemic and who isn’t, the battle to keep Bernie Sanders on the ballot in New York, the lazy takes of the Sunday news who’s-whos, and the latest updates on Tara Reade’s accusations against Joe Biden.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the radio show People’s Republic, tells Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that the mood at the weekend's Cancel the Rent (socially distant, of course) protests was strong and positive. The promise of home-ownership has grown illusory, due to actions by both Democrats and Republicans. The three discussed the failures of both parties to protect renters and the poor.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the radio show People’s Republic, tells Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that the mood at the weekend's Cancel the Rent (socially distant, of course) protests was strong and positive. The promise of home-ownership has grown illusory, due to actions by both Democrats and Republicans. The three discussed the failures of both parties to protect renters and the poor.
The president has been giving irresponsible medical advice for weeks now. Why are his qualified surrogates backing him up?
Yasmina Mrabet, co-founder of community organization LinkUp and a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, told the Misfits it’s no surprise corporations are taking advantage of the hardship now faced by the nation’s workers. As people who are struggling begin to wonder why the hardest hit are paying the most and getting the least out of these recovery efforts, it’s important to keep this awakening and this momentum from being co-opted by cynical political parties. She discussed the ways capitalist forces will use the crisis to their own ends, be it employers or major housing developers, and broke down the difficulties of organizing against massive corporations. There are some fruitful directions for people to resist, however, including #CanceltheRent car caravans planned for Saturday in Washington, DC, New York City and nationwide.
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, national coordinator with Movement for a People's Party, joined the conversation to update political misfits everywhere about the work underway to create a viable, powerful party that actually represents the people. The Democrats have undercut the left for too long, and that machine is clearly not reformable from the inside. The Movement for a People’s Party is intended to remedy that. It’s time for a leader who is willing to tell the truth, not talk out of both sides of their mouth, as those operating under the umbrella of the DNC have to do. She talks about how to shift from being a protest party to a real force and what prevents people from taking power.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also tore into President Donald Trump’s latest terrible medical advice, some good news from the limited antibody testing done this week, how we can tell we’re not in “The Matrix,” madness in Las Vegas, COVID-19 and pets and some other news.
Yasmina Mrabet, co-founder of community organization LinkUp and a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, told the Misfits it’s no surprise corporations are taking advantage of the hardship now faced by the nation’s workers. As people who are struggling begin to wonder why the hardest hit are paying the most and getting the least out of these recovery efforts, it’s important to keep this awakening and this momentum from being co-opted by cynical political parties. She discussed the ways capitalist forces will use the crisis to their own ends, be it employers or major housing developers, and broke down the difficulties of organizing against massive corporations. There are some fruitful directions for people to resist, however, including #CanceltheRent car caravans planned for Saturday in Washington, DC, New York City and nationwide.
Prolific author, historian and executive director of the Tri-Continental Institute, Dr. Vijay Prashad, told the Misfits that the 20 percent unemployment rate the US has just hit and probably exceeded is nothing compared to what we should expect under the conditions of “The Great Lockdown.” Neither main party in the richest country in the world seems to recognize that they’re facing a humanitarian crisis. Prashad offered a vision of a humane response in the US and explained where governments are actually stepping up to the job, including in the Indian state of Kerala. The three break down the ruling ideas of our age, the coming surge in platform capitalism, and what our neighborhoods will look like in the future.
Dr. Bill Honigman, Progressive Democrats of America national outreach lead and co-coordinator of the Healthcare as a Human Right Issue Organizing Team for Progressive Democrats of America, explained the intersection of senior care, race, housing and poverty at the heart of the covid-19 explosion in the US. He updated Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas on the results of some organizing efforts by nurses in California and provided some insight into the conditions of California emergency rooms, how budget cuts impact sanitation and health care, and why nurses and hospital staff need labor protections as much as other workers.They explored the historic disdain this country has for nurses and other workers and the opportunity the pandemic offers, by focusing attention on their important work and their shabby treatment, to recognize our other economic crimes.
The Misfits also covered grim warnings from the World Food Program about widespread famine, the latest major storms to rip across the US, the puppet masters behind some protests against social distancing lockdowns, the future of American health care, and the DNC’s plans to hold an in-person primary, come hell or high fevers.
Dr. Marvin Weinbaum, director of Afghanistan and Pakistan studies at the Middle East Institute, joined Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to talk about the peace agreement that is supposedly still in force in Afghanistan, even as conflict continues there. He explains what was wrong with the agreement from the start, how the hurdle of prisoner releases is going, and how the Afghan government ended up left out of some major negotiations. He also discussed the possibility that Afghanistan’s security forces will simply collapse, the fear of a return to Taliban control, and how Afghanistan’s population is dealing with generations of trauma.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney at Dady Law Group, dropped by to rip into President Donald Trump’s vague new immigration freeze and the administration’s obvious lack of understanding of how immigration processes work in this country. This is clearly just a political device. The exemptions to the freeze make it obvious that this order will have no public health impact, and is merely a dishonest way to make an invisible enemy visible, by embodying it in the form of immigrants.
David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," told the Misfits that a Joe Biden foreign policy would be far more cruel and bloodthirsty than the homespun, compassionate image he portrays. He’s to the right of former Bush administration officials on key foreign policy positions, but you won’t hear him grilled on those stances in mainstream US media. Refusing to vote for the lesser of two monsters isn’t an emotional outburst but a strategic choice, he explained. He also advocated for Americans to recognize the damage being done under the cover of sanctions or humanitarian responses and other bipartisan sleight of hand.
The boys also broke down some of the shocking new numbers on the spread of COVID-19, the corporate capture of both of the US’ major parties and how this pandemic is laying it bare, some agricultural tragedies, and other news.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney at Dady Law Group, dropped by to rip into President Donald Trump’s vague new immigration freeze and the administration’s obvious lack of understanding of how immigration processes work in this country. Immigration has already been paused by virtue of consular offices being closed, so this is clearly simply a political device. The exemptions to the freeze make it obvious that this order will have no public health impact, merely a dishonest way to make an invisible enemy visible, by embodying it in the form of immigrants.
Gilbert Mercier, Editor in Chief of News Junkie Post and the author of "The Orwellian Empire," spoke with Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to demystify the crash in oil prices and oil’s influence on geopolitics. This is what you get when you’re a slave to supply and demand, Mercier points out ‒ and also what you get when you’ve supported Saudi Arabia’s use of oil as a cudgel for decades. The West handed Riyadh a loaded weapon. Now they’re using it. He also explained the root causes of the ongoing riots in France, and how global supply chain failures manifest themselves in poor Parisian suburbs.
The two got into Amazon’s herculean efforts not to track COVID-19 cases among its workers, but to track efforts to unionize in its warehouses and among other parts of its empire, like Whole Foods.
The Misfits were joined again by an academic physician working in Washington, DC, who spoke anonymously about conditions in the capital’s hospitals. There is still not adequate personal protection equipment, and working conditions are so dire that nurses are actually taking to the streets to protest. He reminded the aghast hosts that hospitals are money-making businesses, and as pressure builds to “open up” the economy, hospitals will not be immune. But all of this is not new, he stressed. These deaths, this trauma, is the result of our system working exactly as it was designed to. He passed along a call from protesting nurses to recognize that their fight is the same one anyone advocating for fair labor practices, human health care services, anti-racist policies and related movements is trying to advance.
Political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy Mitchell Plitnick dropped by to talk about Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest political miracle and plans to annex the West Bank. With Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories so normalized and Palestinians so invisible, this planned annexation is hardly a controversy, merely a logistical challenge. They discuss the Trump administration’s fingerprints on the plan and whether Benny Gantz will ever be prime minister.
Gilbert Mercier, Editor in Chief of News Junkie Post and the author of "The Orwellian Empire," spoke with Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to demystify the crash in oil prices and oil’s influence on geopolitics. This is what you get when you’re a slave to supply and demand, Mercier points out - and also what you get when you’ve supported Saudi Arabia’s use of oil as a cudgel for decades. The West handed Riyadh a loaded weapon. Now they’re using it. He also explained the root causes of the ongoing riots in France, and how global supply chain failures manifest themselves in poor Parisian suburbs.
The Misfits were joined again by an academic physician working in Washington, DC, who spoke anonymously about conditions in the capital’s hospitals. There is still not adequate personal protection equipment, and working conditions are so dire that nurses are actually taking to the streets to protest. He reminded the aghast hosts that hospitals are money-making businesses, and as pressure builds to “open up” the economy, hospitals will not be immune. But all of this is not new, he stressed. These deaths, this trauma, is the result of our system working exactly as it was designed to. He passed along a call from protesting nurses to recognize that their fight is the same one anyone advocating for fair labor practices, human health care services, anti-racist policies and related movements is trying to advance.
Steve Grumbine, founder of the nonprofit Real Progressives and host of the podcast Macro ‘n Cheese, dropped by to talk about monetary policy and access to easy money and, on the other side, fiscal policy and the creation of brand new money. They broke down Modern Monetary Theory, the operations manual for fiat currencies, and how that undercuts the “how are we doing to pay for it” arguments. He and Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas explore the corporate giveaway launched under cover of this pandemic, the limits of universal basic income plans, and the strange bedfellows that need to come together to fight for a truly inclusive economic recovery. They also talked about the very real end-around option of the “trillion dollar coin.’
The Misfits also broke down the weekend’s entries into the new “who can bash China harder” category. Tied for victory are Fox’s Jeanine Pirro and Joe Biden, both of whom raised the xenophobic bar significantly.
Kimberlyn Carter, unapologetically black political strategist for progressive campaigns, focusing on economic justice, criminal justice reform and climate justice, joined for the second hour to discuss some of the most egregious health disparities on display in the US, the crisis in care for seniors, and the cost of ignoring local conditions to follow poor national leadership. They also got into the vice-presidential guessing game and what actual commitments Biden has made regarding his cabinet and other picks. Val Demings came up, as did Veronica Escobar, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Silvia Garcia and others, while Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s was definitively buried. There’s an embarrassment of riches for Biden to choose from, but while you can lead a horse to water … well, you know the rest.
The three also landed a few punches on the usual Sunday news program suspects, connecting with Chuck Todd over his softballs to Vice President Mike Pence and even Dr. Deborah Birx, Trump’s coronavirus response coordinator, falling blithely into blame-China lockstep.
Kimberlyn Carter, political strategist for progressive campaigns, focusing on economic justice, criminal justice reform and climate justice, joined for the second hour to discuss some of the most egregious health disparities on display in the US, the crisis in care for seniors, and the cost of ignoring local conditions to follow poor national leadership. They also got into the vice-presidential guessing game and what actual commitments Biden has made regarding his cabinet and other picks. Val Demings came up, as did Veronica Escobar, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Silvia Garcia and others, while Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s was definitively buried. There’s an embarrassment of riches for Biden to choose from, but while you can lead a horse to water … well, you know the rest.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents,” joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to talk about what’s actually behind the black support for Joe Biden, and how deep that support really goes. Kimberley asks where the real “black leadership” is in mainstream politics and explores the impact of American duopoly on its black population. She also explored the ways black people are being disproportionately hurt by this pandemic, both financially and physically, including becoming guinea pigs for treatment, whether in US jails or in medical research conducted in Africa. Black Americans still need to fight for their political independence, she says.
Ron Placone, a regular on the Jimmy Dore Show, comedian and host of “Get Your News On With Ron,” dropped by to talk about the surreal experience of watching a repeat of the 2016 narrative, this time with a pandemic and a candidate who folded sooner. The three try to figure out what gears are still turning in Joe Biden’s mind, whether he can count on a pandemic bump in the general, and what a Biden presidency might look like. They wrangle with the grim possibility that painting Ramblin’ Joe as a “progressive” might turn voters to the right after his policies inevitably disappoint and taint that moniker. The three also discuss the phenomenon of Biden’s magical disappearing assault story, and who’s been made to answer for it: that’s right, Bernie Sanders. They also get into the vice presidential horse race for the GOP and the Democrats. Has Stacy Abrams accidentally shown her hand, or will dark horse Liz come galloping in to steal second place?
The isolated Misfits also broke down some more news from the USS Roosevelt and the many sins of Ellen DeGeneres.
Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents,” joined Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to talk about what’s actually behind the black support for Joe Biden, and how deep that support really goes. Kimberley asks where the real “black leadership” is in mainstream politics and explores the impact of American duopoly on its black population. She also explored the ways black people are being disproportionately hurt by this pandemic, including becoming guinea pigs for treatment, whether in US jails or in medical research conducted in Africa.
It’s Thursday, so it’s time for our new weekly ritual: learning the latest unemployment figures. Award winning political cartoonist Ted Rall tells horrified Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that these levels of joblessness already exceed those of the Great Depression. They discuss what a sane administration might do and what we are actually seeing, in contrast, from our government, and how the financial irresponsibility of some of the country’s largest industries calls out for nationalization. They also get into the future of progressives in the Democratic Party (hint: there isn’t one).
Glen Ford, executive editor of the Black Agenda Report, joined to talk about Operation Gridlock in Michigan and the phenomenon of fighting to get back to work under dangerous conditions. Don’t be distracted by flareups: focus on the system that has left all of us vulnerable to all of life’s vicissitudes, including pandemics, and focus on the politicians who refuse to take even step one toward changing the failed status quo. Who benefits from this money created out of nowhere to relieve businesses, and who benefits from withholding it when it comes to our societies everyday inequalities? They also get into the fears that held back the Sanders campaign and where true change might come from
We are joined by Melissa Lavasani, chair of the Committee to Decriminalize Nature DC and proposer of the “Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020,” to talk about the progress made on medical research into psychoactive drugs and decriminalization. For once, the news seems good: this is a movement with momentum, Lavasani says, and the natural world is full of healing power we are getting closer to be able to once again access.
The Misfits also broke down the latest, dumbest revelations about the Steele dossier from the report by DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz, and what they should do to the FBI’s already shredded reputation.
Political Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas broke down the charade of Democratic endorsements for Joe Biden, led by Bernie Sanders and followed by Biden’s former bestie, Barack Obama. Callers weighed in with their thoughts on the primary and the future of a US left movement. So long, Bernie, and thanks for all the fish!
The two also discussed President Trump’s new sporting task force, the dark psychology of sports contests being observed only by cutouts and robots, and the constant overlooking of all the people behind organizing these spectacles: sanitation workers, parking attendants, maintenance crews, and more behind the scenes workers the US is apparently happy to put at risk, but not happy to support financially through this crisis.
CNN's Chris Cuomo gave us a rare moment of honesty, saying he was tired of his “ridiculous” job laundering both Democratic and Republican idiocy ‒ but unfortunately walked it all back a day later, praising his network and professing his gratitude. Chris, Chris, you were almost out! There was also some spitballing about Biden’s VP pick and what kind of dirty backroom deals were made throughout this primary process.
Cynthia McKinney, activist, former Democratic member of the US Congress who served six terms and currently an assistant professor at North South University in Bangladesh, dropped by with some bombshells for the misfits, including that Sanders wasn’t running to win from the start. Was the whole campaign a long-running sheepdogging campaign by someone who’d already sold out to the DNC? McKinney describes some of the tactics the Democratic establishment used against her, and why she’s staunchly ABD: Anybody But Democrats, to fight the current political duopoly. Recognize that this is a game of numbers and you might start winning. Who knows how much power a no can have?
The quarantined hosts also break down Trump’s war on the US Postal Service and the WHO and take a ride on a French UFO story.
Laura Carlsen, director of the Americas Program for the Center for International Policy, joined to discuss the urgent need for a rethinking of US immigration policy, and what that policy and how it is communicated means to the Latinx vote in the US. Joe Biden is pretty well known in Latin America as President Obama’s liaison and as a representative of repressive and violent drug policies. Why aren’t these disastrous tactics scrutinized more? Look to who benefits from them. And is there any chance a Biden presidency could return to the brief moment of promise offered in the early days of the Obama administration? Mexico’s president also recently won a tough victory in his fight against OPEC, Carlsen told hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas, but it wasn’t without cost. He accrued a mysterious debt to the US president, who backed his Mexican counterpart, but, as we see, not for free.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats ‘n Guns, dropped by to defend the #FireFauci folks and get into a heated debate about the US response to COVID-19, nationwide shutdowns versus locally specific solutions, and black and white versus nuanced restrictions. What is response, and what is over-response? Should we be chilled by Trump’s obvious enthusiasm for centralized power? Are our treatments for this disease even the right ones? And what is Trump’s economic and financial policy paving the way for here? Is the pandemic clearing the field for another huge multinational buyout? The Misfits also did some general election prognosticating, and reviewed the wreckage of the Democratic party over the past four years.
Hip hop artist and educator Bomani Armah spoke to the Misfits about how he’s continuing his educational efforts during this pandemic, and also about the limits of home learning and the need for compassion. He also spoke about how to tell stories, his path from artist to educator and the link between the two.
Laura Carlsen, director of the Americas Program for the Center for International Policy, discussed the urgent need for a rethinking of US immigration policy, and what that policy and how it is communicated means to the Latinx vote in the US. They also discuss the Mexican president's tough victory in his fight against OPEC and its mysterious cost: a debt to the US president, who backed his Mexican counterpart, but, as we see, not for free.
James Early, former director of cultural heritage policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, dropped by to discuss the news of Julian Assange’s secret family and what Assange’s case means for other potential truth-tellers. What has his case revealed about the corporate media, and how did it predict our current crisis of confidence across the spectrum of American institutions? They also surveyed the US left as it moves on from the Sanders campaign, grappled with the increasing meaninglessness of terms like “progressive” and plotted potential future courses for American and international movements on the left and the right.
Misfit hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas plus some callers also broke down the growing rift between Donald Trump and his chief infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, and wonder when those $1,200 checks are going to roll in and save us all.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the radio show People’s Republic, joined the conversation to assure Jamarl that Bernie Sanders wasn’t a long con by the Democratic Party. The senator from Vermont will likely end up sheepdogging young voters for Joe Biden, or whoever the DNC decides is their guy, but it doesn’t look like he’s going to have any success this time around. Now is the time to organize around different lines, she argues, but are people hearing this message? And speaking of messaging, how badly did the New York Times tell on itself with its late Tara Reade story?
The three then ripped into the Sunday news sleight of hand, this week with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser pretending her city isn’t already in crisis, and perennial favorite Chuck Todd once again not realizing that the call is coming from inside the house. Why isn’t there testing? Why is the US the global epicenter of this virus, why are we seeing such disparities in health outcomes, why are still sanctioning countries in crisis? Why hasn’t Chuck been calling out the cruelties and failures of this system all along?
James Early, former director of cultural heritage policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies, dropped by to discuss the news of Julian Assange’s secret family and what Assange’s case means for other potential truth-tellers. What has his case revealed about the corporate media, and how did it predict our current crisis of confidence across the spectrum of American institutions? They also surveyed US left as it moves on from the Sanders campaign, grappled with the increasing meaninglessness of terms like “progressive” and plotted potential future courses for American left movements.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda discusses Washington’s imperialist exploitation of Covid-19 and the sudden, strange ceasefire in Yemen. Pausing a deadly war to deal with a deadly pandemic may be a perfect excuse for the Saudis to retreat for the moment from what is looking like a losing fight.
Dr. Dady Chery, a microbiologist, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post, and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free," joined to discuss the ethics and politics of drug trials during a pandemic, new potential treatments, and some of the reasons for the stark disparities we are seeing in covid-19 outcomes. She also describes the grim intersection of politics, disease, research and aid money in Haiti ‒ but ended on a note of hope, with some descriptions of countries that are successfully tackling both this disease and the capitalist systems that leave so many so vulnerable.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda dropped by to talk about Washington’s imperialist exploitation of the pandemic and the criminal impact that has on some of the world’s poorest populations, including the most vulnerable in the US, as Europe stands by. He and hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also discuss the weirdness of the Yemen ceasefire and the politics of pausing a deadly war to deal with a deadly pandemic. Saudi Arabia’s migrant worker slums are prime breeding grounds for Covid-19, and members of the royal family have already been infected, so the virus may be a perfect face-saving excuse to get out of Yemen for the moment. Sleboda also breaks down the latest oil production agreement, which cooks are stirring that pot, and whether the industry should feel reassured.
The Misfits also discussed the real goals of the Democratic Party and how their basically incompetent presumptive nominee serves those goals. They tussled over Bernie Sanders’ stand on reparations and what role that might have played in his campaign, what the senator’s supporters should do at the ballot box in November, and whether he abandoned Julian Assange.
Dr. Dady Chery, a microbiologist, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post, and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free," joined to discuss the ethics and politics of drug trials during a pandemic, new potential treatments, and some of the reasons for the stark disparities we are seeing in covid-19 outcomes. She also describes the grim intersection of politics, disease, research and aid money in Haiti ‒ but ended on a note of hope, with some descriptions of countries that are successfully tackling both this disease and the capitalist systems that leave so many so vulnerable.
Briana Cartwright, a DNC member representing Young Democrats of America, joined our Misfits to talk about just how weird 2020 has been in every way and look at the hard choices ahead for people who want to make sure President Trump is held to one term. They ask how important Joe Biden’s running mate now becomes, who might be on that wish list, and whether the tendency of Democrats to pick each other apart helps or hurts their chances both to generate a movement and to win elections. Callers then weighed in with thoughts on the true value of vetting, character versus calculation, and the weakness of the left.
Alan MacLeod, journalist, media analyst and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, dropped by for some speculation about what kind of narrative the Democrats and the media will try to spin for Biden, and whether they’ll try the 2016 “at least I’m not the other guy” routine. He and hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas point out that the only definite Biden policies they can point to are bad ones, so a policy-driven campaign seems out. Has this race come down to style versus substance, and if so, is there ever hope that substance can win? And will the pandemic expose Trump as a charlatan, or give him the opportunity to posture as a wartime leader?
The three also touched on the chilling aspects of some disease surveillance efforts, and continued that thread with Shane Stranahan, producer of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik, to get into issues of privacy and also the links between Clearview AI and the US’ far right. Clearview’s facial recognition database dwarfs those of many law enforcement agencies. Should its connections both to some of the fringes of the far right, and to the Trump administration, raise alarms?
Alan MacLeod, journalist, author and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joined Political Misfits to discuss what narrative will be hammered out for Joe Biden and the Democrats as the presidential campaign moves on, as well as the depth and breadth of Google's information tracking and how privacy protections could be erased in the name of tracking disease.
Chad Nicholson, Pennsylvania community organizer for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) joined to talk about the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back environmental protections, as well as some bright points in the fight to protect local communities and the climate at large. Nicholson and hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas discussed efforts by California energy giant PG&E to escape responsibility for fires in the state, and the recent victory of a Pennsylvania community over fracking.
Jim Carpenter, a member of Progressive Democrats of America’s Milwaukee chapter and a Sanders campaign volunteer, as well as Rick Banks, political director/organizer with Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) spoke about what they saw on the ground in Wisconsin yesterday: the political weaponization of a pandemic. People risked their lives to vote in that state, in a situation made even more dangerous for some by inequalities in voting infrastructure. The four discussed that fiasco and the role Milwaukee’s history of segregation plays in enfranchisement, health and a host of other issues.
Lee Camp, comedian, activist, journalist, host of the show “Redacted Tonight” on RT America, and author of the recent book, “Bullet Points & Punch Lines” to talk about the whimper the Sanders campaign ended on. In the end, playing nice didn’t help the senator from Vermont make his ideological case or overcome the institutional obstacles placed in his way. They wrangle over what chance there ever was for change in the US’ rotten electoral system, and President Trump’s continued successful deployment of the conman playbook.
Then, because it’s Wednesday, we had some UFO stuff, took a jab at To The Stars Academy, were horrified by the grim prospect of rationed medical care in the US and assessed Mike Pence’s sad attempt at boosting esprit de corps.
Fred Magdoff, professor of plant and soil science at the University of Vermont, co-author of “What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know About Capitalism” and “Creating an Ecological Society: Toward a Revolutionary Transformation, joins our Misfits to talk about the gray area of recycling, the nature of profit in some “environmental” activities, and the widespread greenwashing of our consumption. When weak environmental fines can be incorporated into the cost of doing business, another strategy is called for.
Jerry Daniels, grand chief of the Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO), which represents 34 First Nations communities in Southern Manitoba, spoke with host Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas about the impact of colonization on health and the SCO’s ongoing work to achieve health determination. Daniels discussed the resonance of Cuba’s health care model with First Nations communities as well as efforts to negotiate with the Canadian government to allow Cuban doctors to aid indigenous communities in Manitoba.
Activist and journalist Eleanor Goldfield, co-host of the Common Censored podcast, let loose on those who are calling on Bernie Sanders to drop out of the primary. They get into what the left might look like after Sanders and the liberal politics of the MeToo movement revealed.
Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor also dropped by to discuss the unbelievable sequence of events leading up to Wisconsin holding in-person elections during a period of lockdown. Taylor discusses the public health crisis that is racism, voter suppression in her state and reckless actions by Milwaukee’s mayor. This vote is historic, she says, but in many shameful ways.
Jerry Daniels, grand chief of the Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO), which represents 34 First Nations communities in Southern Manitoba, discusses the impact of colonization on health and the SCO’s ongoing work to build responsive, locally rooted health systems. Daniels discussed the resonance of Cuba’s health care model with First Nations communities as well as efforts to negotiate with the Canadian government to allow Cuban doctors to aid indigenous communities in Manitoba.
Reasonable ideas are called radical, while the mainstream becomes a cult of perpetual but toothless opposition. How can the US smash this political funhouse mirror?
Journalist Mohamed Elmaazi, contributor to numerous outlets including the Canary, the Interregnum, The Grayzone and Sputnik International, hopped on the line to give us a report from the UK on how the pandemic is affecting that island and its politics. Despite being incredibly wealthy and having a health care system that was once the envy of the world, the UK has bungled this response as badly as its upstart former colony. The three discuss the role austerity policies have played in fueling this crisis, Labour’s failure to stop the squeeze, and perceptions of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s leadership. They also check in on the case of Julian Assange, still stuck in Belmarsh prison.
Anya Parampil, independent journalist with the Grayzone, pulled back the pandemic cover the US is using to once again threaten Venezuela militarily. The US is of course already committing violence against the country with its sanctions regime. Sending warships to the Caribbean should be a major story, but this pandemic is eating up all the ink. They also get into the strange and mysterious story of an empty, Portuguese-flagged cruise ship ramming and sinking a Venezuelan coast guard boat in Venezuelan waters. She also conveyed the opinions of the former head of the UN’s drug control and crime prevention body on the US’s indictments. Is this stage-setting for an invasion? And who actually is the common enemy of the poor in Venezuela, in Iran, in the UK, in the US, and around the world?
Hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas also shoot down the war metaphor frenzy among US officialdom and media, asking what purpose such allusions serve and where they lead us.
Journalist Mohamed Elmaazi, contributor to numerous outlets including the Canary, the Interregnum.net, The Grayzone and Sputnik International, reports from the UK on how the pandemic is affecting that island and its politics, how austerity has primed the pump for this crisis, and the responses from both Labour and Tory leaders.
Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas have strong words for anyone trying to lay the blame for this catastrophe anywhere outside the US, and on anyone not in power. Our capitalist system has brought us to this moment, and our leaders in both parties have perpetuated it, to their own gain and the loss of tens of millions. And the same people who profit from this system through every disaster will ensure that the face of the “opposition” in America is Joe Biden. When will we learn, and when will we act?
Ruth Hopkins, Dakota/Lakota Sioux writer & journalist, joined the Misfits to discuss the relief the government is providing to native communities during the pandemic and some of the unique challenges to responding to the pandemic on reservations. Indian health services are chronically underfunded, she says, and that exacerbates the difficulties in responding to this pandemic. The sheer distances between food sources, clinics and other necessary service and goods providers makes limiting travel very difficult on rural reservations. Hopkins spoke on the importance of protecting native elders and how tribal leaders have stepped up to respond to the pandemic and hold the line on tribal rights. She also gave us an update on pipeline projects in Indian Country and the intersection of energy, sovereignty and health.
Alex Vitale, sociology professor and author of the recent book “The End of Policing,” spoke with the Misfits about bail reform efforts in the US and the challenges they face, as well as whether the Democrats will attempt to bench Joe Biden before the convention. They also discussed crackdowns on coronavirus whistleblowers not in China, but right here in the US, and how the US’ imperial ambitions don’t translate into care for the actual individuals involved in its wars. The three discussed what drives overpolicing in the US, the lack of trust between Americans and their leaders, and what can be done to build connections and galvanize communities to expect and demand better.
Ruth Hopkins, Dakota/Lakota Sioux writer & journalist, joined the Misfits to discuss the relief the government is providing to native communities during the pandemic and some of the unique challenges to responding to the pandemic on reservations.
Quintin Williams, campaign manager at Heartland Alliance, doctoral candidate in sociology, consultant, and advocate for the freedom of those directly impacted by the carceral system; and Nnennaya Amuchie, organizer with BYP100 and No New Jails DC and an attorney with Movement Law Lab, reported on efforts to protect American inmates from the COVID-19 pandemic, and also on the conundrum of trying in this moment to support health and safety in cages that are designed to deny people both. They discuss the use of ‘violent’ to dehumanize prisoners, and reveal how much the disparate standards of care, lack of protective equipment, fear and misinformation on the inside mirror back our larger social failings.
Kimberlyn Carter, political strategist for progressive campaigns, focusing on economic justice, criminal justice reform and climate justice, spoke with the Misfits about how to move the Democratic Party and what role Bernie Sanders can play in doing that. They talk about why some media continue to stand in the way of any move left and get into the latest revelations of Senator Kelly Loeffler’s stock transactions as the pandemic hit the US. Carter also reports on the ongoing voter suppression efforts and the effects they will have on the political landscape, as well as some of the conversations on how to protest and engage in direct action at a time of isolation.
The apoplectic hosts also break down the absolutely astonishing unemployment numbers in the US this week and some of the ways the pandemic is being incorporated into the ongoing Russophobia and Sinophobia in US media and culture. Russia in particular came in for a walloping for daring to send a plane load of medical supplies to New York. Appalling. Also appalling: has Anthony Fauci been issued a security detail to protect him from “fervent admirers”? Wow. Love in a time of coronavirus indeed.
The moment is ripe for a general strike, the Misfits say. Hosts Jamarl Thomas and Bob Schlehuber wonder how it might come about, and how to get working Americans to flex their might.
The Misfits were joined by an academic physician working in Washington, DC, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals from his employers. The equipment shortages, wage and benefit cuts for staff and overcrowding at hospitals we are now seeing are neither accidents nor failures of the “health abuse” system at work in the US, he said. It’s exactly what the system was designed to do ‒ exploit the poorest among patients and staff to shuffle profits upward to health industry executives. It’s pandemonium. The world outside the hospital and the world inside are the same: we all need testing, we all need care, we all need homes, and we all need to work collectively to ensure these protections and others cover all of society.
Yesterday, yet another report pointing out the failings of the FISA court system dropped, this one revealing pervasive failures to document and verify assertions made in FBI applications to the secret court. CIA whistleblower and co-host of Radio Sputnik’s Loud and Clear John Kirakou says these kinds of errors can have very severe consequences for defendants ‒ and there’s no recourse! The whole process is secret, and, as is more and more clear, “epically sloppy.” Attorneys know how deep the problems go within the FBI. Maybe now the public will cotton on.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, spoke with the Misfits about the differences between the American and European economic systems and what that will mean for their responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also had some thoughts about perceptions of Donald Trump’s pandemic performance and what markets and governments will recover faster than others.
An academic physician working in Washington, DC, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals from his employers, says the equipment shortages, wage and benefit cuts for staff and overcrowding at hospitals we are now seeing are neither accidents nor failures of the “health abuse” system at work in the US. It’s exactly what the system was designed to do ‒ exploit the poorest among patients and staff to shuffle profits upward to health industry executives. The world outside the hospital and the world inside are the same: we all need testing, we all need care, we all need homes, and we all need to work collectively to ensure these protections and others cover all of society.
Washington’s handling of the pandemic has been by any measure bumbling and dangerous. How is it, then, that Donald Trump is seeing his approval ratings rise? Luke Nathan Phillips, freelance writer and editor with bipartisan civic organization Better Angels, spoke with Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas about the very different media environment media and establishment insiders inhabit, compared to that of most other Americans, and how that disconnect affects perceptions of Trump’s Covid-19 response. Americans often fail to recognize the grand structural narrative underpinning disparate events, to the benefit of some and the detriment of others.
Sarah Polito, an Instacart worker who is working with the strike organizers, and Matthew Telles, an Instacart driver since 2015 who’s worked with organizers for several years, discussed the working conditions at Instacart and the strikers’ demands. Shoppers and grocery store workers were excited about doing the necessary work of bringing food to vulnerable populations, but that enthusiasm has waned as protections for workers and customers failed to materialize. The workers discuss trends in worker solidarity, particularly in the gig economy, and some effective ways they’ve used to reveal their collective power to fellow workers. The three also broke down the possibilities of larger collective actions in this moment, including a general strike.
Artist and activist Alessandra Mondolfi explained how art can continue to serve as a rebuke to power, even in a period of distance and isolation. It’s a time of exploration and reinvention, she says, and although the losses and postponements are frustrating, creative people should be able to overcome these new barriers. And with the world’s ills suddenly brought into such relief, artists can and should respond powerfully.
Sarah Polito, an Instacart worker who is working with the strike organizers, and Matthew Telles, an Instacart driver since 2015 who’s worked with organizers for several years, discussed the working conditions at Instacart and the strikers’ demands. Shoppers and grocery store workers were excited about doing the necessary work of bringing food to vulnerable populations, but that enthusiasm has waned as protections for workers and customers failed to materialize. The workers discuss trends in worker solidarity, particularly in the gig economy, and some effective ways they’ve used to reveal their collective power to fellow workers. The three also broke down the possibilities of larger collective actions in this moment, including a general strike.
Luke Nathan Phillips, freelance writer and editor with bipartisan civic organization Better Angels, spoke with Misfits Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas about the very different media environment media and establishment insiders inhabit, compared to that of most other Americans, and how that disconnect affects perceptions of Trump’s Covid-19 response. Americans often fail to recognize the grand structural narrative underpinning disparate events, to the benefit of some and the detriment of others.
Emanuel Pastreich, president of the The Asia Institute, director of the Earth Management Institute and US presidential candidate, explains how we ended up on the verge of a classified economy and why things look different elsewhere.
If Biden isn’t up to taking the fight to Trump now, when the president should be on the ropes, what fight will the Democratic nominee be up for? And let’s not let the media off the hook ‒ Chuck Todd and his colleagues are also failing to hold our officials’ feet to the fire. But what else is new?
How is it that it’s the supposed “good guys” in Congress who are trying to push this corporate bailout designed as relief, not to mention paving the way for more surveillance and policing in our post-pandemic future, Emanuel Pastreich, president of the The Asia Institute, director of the Earth Management Institute and US presidential candidate, asks Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas. We’re on the verge of a classified economy, he warns. Pastreich explains how we got into this situation, and why things sometimes look different elsewhere.
Producer and host of People’s Republic Austin Brianna Griffith joins our Misfit hosts to discuss the media response to the accusations against Biden and what the establishment chooses to turn a blind eye to. The MeToo movement hit the usual roadblocks of entrenched class stratification and racial injustice. What needs to happen for that movement to grow real teeth?
The three also get into the waning enthusiasm for the Biden campaign, Biden’s belated efforts to woo Bernie Sanders’ supporters, the jingoism on display in media coverage of the pandemic lately and Biden’s floundering on, well, literally everything, these days. But will he continue getting nothing but pats on the back from our media class? You know the answer, Misfits.
Kumi Smith, assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, joins the Misfits to explain how social and economic factors explain the spread of Covid-19. She also reveals how information, education and even politics can affect who’s infected and who suffers most, and the daunting task of contact tracing disease in a global age. There will be lessons learned for every level of government in the aftermath of this pandemic.
Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance, discussed the latest absurd efforts of the US to depose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, this time with an indictment for drug trafficking and a bounty on his head. This evidence-free indictment is another regime change attempt, he explains. But given the US history of failure in Venezuela, maybe Washington’s global grip is loosening.
Political strategist China Dickerson took part in a virtual conversation about the allegations against Joe Biden and the trajectory of the MeToo movement. Biden can’t ignore these accusations, and they will have repercussions for his campaign. They also wrangled over whether Bernie Sanders should stay in the Democratic primary and where his actions can best be directed. Then callers took up the debate, weighing in on paths to electoral victory through the pandemic, and the boys informed listeners about some important religious transformations being effected by the virus.
Kumi Smith, assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, joins the Misfits to explain how social and economic factors explain the spread of Covid-19. She also reveals how information, education and even politics can affect who’s infected and who suffers most, and the daunting task of contact tracing disease in a global age. There will be lessons learned for every level of government in the aftermath of this pandemic.
Juan Jose Gutierrez, executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition tells us we’ve got very little information about the health and conditions of the 40,000 detainees in the US, most of whom are detained along the Mexican border, not to mention the 60,000 migrants stuck in Mexico under terrible circumstances trying to cross. But if the American people are not being adequately cared for in this crisis, what can we expect of these migrants, who are consistently smeared as criminals? Already, migrants’ due process rights have gotten the axe due to the virus. What little we know of the conditions at the border are horrific, he says, and will have far-reaching and catastrophic results.
Ted Rall, author, columnist, and award winning editorial cartoonist, tells the Misfits exactly whose pockets the Senate bill lines and the gaping holes in its protections for average Americans and the most vulnerable. The three angry men get into what Congress could have done to actually help people, not Wall Street, and Rall has some chilling historical examples of how quickly things can go bad and how blind elites can be.
Abdus Luqman, co-founder of Coffee, Current Events and Politics and Luqman Nation, stopped by to talk about the role of police and the military in a pandemic. What’s being policed now, and how? With inconsistent messaging from above, how are people to know how to behave, and what’s to guide enforcement efforts? And how are people softened up for the boot on their backs?
The fellows also spoke about the latest accusation against noted hair-sniffer and shoulder-rubber Joe Biden. The allegations Alexandra Tara Reade made this week are far more serious ‒ but will they be taken seriously by the legal system or the party Biden represents? Who decides which women are worth believing?
Abdus Luqman, co-founder of Coffee, Current Events and Politics and Luqman Nation, discusses the role of the military, police and enforcement in general in times of upheaval.
A $2 trillion relief bill cleared the US Senate, but who will it truly relieve?
A pandemic is causing a medical and economic crisis in the US under a Republican president, and still the Democrats are managing to lose the perception race. The party needs Bernie Sanders and his campaign as a nerve center for collaboration and hard-nosed policy if they’re going to be of any use in this crisis.
Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of HOPE - Health Over Profit, joined hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to break down the massive COVID-19 spending bill being heralded as a major victory. It’s an injection of money into a system that we already know has been failing Americans for decades. Why are we bailing out the corporations and industries supported by taxpayer money year after year? Where is the accountability? And why is our government still underestimating the duration of this crisis?
The Misfits ask what exactly is going on with Joe Biden and why US media seems to be pretending that he’s fine? He’s not fine, guys.
Author and professor Gerald Horne, historian and chair of history and African American Studies at the University of Houston, spoke with the Misfits about the political context of this progressive moment in American politics, and how Sanders gained and lost so much steam. Horne also had a few lessons from the past as to what portions of the public are really helped by the public health system, and whose health matters.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, documentary filmmaker, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, explained Julian Assange’s plea to be released on bail, given his vulnerability to severe disease as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. That appeal was denied. Assange’s rights continue to be eroded because of what can only be described as personal distaste by the elites that he challenges, Gosztola argues. Now, an already sick man is left vulnerable to a death sentence, before his trial even concludes. The three also discuss the potential for the response to the virus to erode the rights to a fair and public trial.
Kevin Gosztola, journalist, documentary filmmaker, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, explained Julian Assange’s plea to be released on bail, given his vulnerability to severe disease as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, an already sick man is left vulnerable to a death sentence, before his trial even concludes.
A human crisis is burning our house down, and who will we save? We’re starting to see some strange answers to this question.
Dr. Dady Chery, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free,” joined “Political Misfits” to discuss misinformation about COVID-19, including the irresponsibility of relying on herd immunity. She also has some input on promising treatments for this virus and warnings for listeners about what COVID-19 could become if we aren’t sensible in our response.
The Misfits in exile turn to when and what the US Congress might do to help Americans as the pandemic crashes across the country, and what local governments have been attempting, or ignoring. Will Americans really stand for being ordered to risk their health and their lives for the Dow?
Christina Tobin, founder of Free and Equal, discusses positive potential political change could arise out of this crisis, and lessons we can learn from the past. She explained the barriers protecting the political establishment from change, but also described the coming confluence of factors that could be a springboard to meaningful reform, a more diverse political landscape and real change. Where can the energy independent candidates generate productively go? She has some ideas. Tobin also enlightened listeners on the role of technology in expanding electoral choice and participation.
Raymond Caldwell, producing artistic director at Theater Alliance, and Philippa Hughs, social sculptor and creative strategist, lent their voices to the urgent and ongoing discussion of how to reimagine performing arts in this crisis. How can performing arts retain their vitality under these circumstances, and how can we support and democratize art now and in the future? How can we support arts right now, and how can arts organizations more directly serve their communities now and in the future?
Dr. Dady Chery, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free,” joined “Political Misfits” to discuss misinformation about COVID-19. She also has a few warnings for listeners about what this virus could become if we aren’t sensible in our response.
In the best of times, the US likes to forget about its most vulnerable citizens. Can we change that in the worst of times?
Today on “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas grapple with the massive coronavirus relief package that’s stalled in the Senate now and with guest Kristine Hendrix, president of the University City School Board, junior Bayard Rustin fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, put forth their own ideas for how best to support individuals and businesses in a time of crisis. But with a government in the pockets of the biggest corporations of this country, who’s going to force them to do right?
What does accountability look like for this Congress, from the excruciating process of building this aid package to insider trading to profit on this crisis?
The three also explored the frightening reach the Department of Justice is trying to make, asking for judges to be given the ability to detain people indefinitely during the emergency. This isn’t anything the government isn’t already doing, Hendrix points out, they’re just trying to codify it into law. But would we have seen anything different under a different administration? Hendrix gave a chilling picture of what it actually looks like when the national guard comes into town to enforce the law.
Alan MacLeod, journalist, author and member of the Glasgow Media Group, discusses just how long Donald Trump can maintain his current trend of positive polling regarding his crisis response. Comparisons between countries that have flattened the curve and countries in crisis show what happens when the state is eroded and capital, and control, is ceded to corporations. They also talk about why Trump continues to call this the Chinese virus and what the administration is softening us up for.
In Europe, the strain is starting to show. Will this virus tear the EU apart? And what role will the power of printing money play in the recovery of the Eurozone?
The boys also take some jabs at the absent Joe Biden and get into a few potential silver linings of this crisis.
Kristine Hendrix, president of the University City School Board, junior Bayard Rustin fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, discusses the Department of Justice's attempted power grab and explains what a National Guard occupation of a neighborhood actually looks like.
Author and economist John Ross, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, joined “Political Misfits” to talk about the wave of unemployment crashing across the US. The economic impact, though severe, doesn’t have to be prolonged, Ross said, but avoiding that will take steps the US government so far seems unwilling to or incapable of taking. The economic aspect of this crisis cannot be addressed without getting a grip on the medical and social crisis, no matter how much money is shifted from place to place. There are examples of how to do that, if the world cares to see: China is already in recovery, physically and economically.
One thing we can also see is that some of the US’ own leadership are attempting to profit off the situation however they can, with senators appearing to sell off stock based on insider knowledge. Will this mass casualty event lay bare the structural flaws in economic and governance systems? In the aftermath, how will the US and the West assess their own societies and their place in the world?
In Washington, DC, the virus hasn’t stopped police from continuing low-level drug busts. Similarly, the US military is only scaling back, not eliminating, its military exercises. What does that say about our priorities?
Mondale Robinson, founder of the Black Male Voting Project, grapples with hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas on what opportunities this crisis might present. Will the sudden, real possibility of universal basic income break open the consciousness of the nation? Does it open a pathway to more socialist solutions? Or will Trump be able to spin his virus response as some kind of victory? And how many people are going to fall through the cracks?
The Democratic leadership is means-testing itself into irrelevance. Is there a role for Bernie Sanders to play in pushing the party to be better, and does he play that role in this primary race or out of it? Does he even deserve his reputation for moving the conversation to the left?
Author and economist John Ross, a senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, tells "Political Misfits" that the coronavirus crisis will test American society in a way that has few precedents. He also has some advice as to virus-fighting role models.
Many of the US’ biggest and most ubiquitous companies still deny their workers paid sick leave, and so far the so-called party of the workers, the Democrats, is doing nothing to force their hand. Gregg Mosson, civil litigation and employee rights attorney, joined “Political Misfits” to talk about what workers can do within the framework of US law. He and hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas got into the limits of laws protecting workers in hazardous conditions and what workers can and should expect in this time of global medical crisis. He had some advice for workers who are weighing their options and perhaps anticipating layoffs.
Sara Dady, immigration attorney in Illinois, tells the Misfits about the Democratic turnout she saw in that state and the barriers blocking immigrants and their families in the US from accessing even basic pandemic response benefits. They also discussed ICE’s work during the pandemic, the continued deportations and the four day one steps the next administration should take to unravel the US’ horrifying immigration law system.
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, author and former vice president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, told the Misfits about Benjamin Netanyahu’s assault on democracy, taking advantage of the coronavirus to expand the country’s surveillance state and detention powers. They’re bypassing debate in the name of emergency, and dodging protest as people follow lockdown guidelines. If it works in Israel, watch for Trump and others to follow this example.
Jenny Brown, author of BIRTH STRIKE: The Hidden Fight Over Women's Work and Without Apology: The Abortion Struggle Now and an organizer with National Women’s Liberation, discussed trends in reproductive rights and why we’re seeing some positive movement, particularly in Catholic countries. She also highlighted the need to see these and other supposedly niche concerns as part of broader social reform. Coronavirus provides a chance to examine the importance of the care work traditionally done by women and femmes. Laws providing free menstrual products for free must be only the beginning of our demands.
Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst and former vice president at the Foundation for Middle East Peace, spoke with Political Misfits about Benjamin Netanyahu's assault on Israeli democracy, and how the coronavirus is providing a perfect cover for him. Prepare for other nations to follow if this tactic succeeds.
Do you believe in last minute conversions? Yeah, neither do we, and Joe Biden’s about-face to try to appeal to Bernie Sanders’ movement is no exception. “Political Misfits” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas aren’t buying what he’s selling. Are you?
Donna Davis, political consultant, political organizer and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Tampa, told the Misfits she never felt the impact of the Sanders campaign in Florida, and today’s result reflects that. She asks whether his campaign misread where voters were, philosophically, and how to reach them. Did the movement fail to educate voters adequately on democratic socialism, or did people misunderstand how much changed psychologically between 2016 and now? They also broke down the voting demographics in Florida, the impact of economic trends on voting patterns, and what that means for Sanders and for the general election. Davis has some grim predictions.
Alejandro Chavez, political director for Smart and Safe Arizona, spoke about the conditions on the ground during the vote in that southwestern state yesterday, describing a mostly calm process. He and our lads examined what happened to Sanders’ domination among Latino voters there. They also explored the distance between packing rallies and packing polling places: do fun social events always translate into votes? And what is the illogical barrier between support for policies and support for candidates that advocate those policies? Chavez makes the case for voting for the possible, not the ideal, and sparks some heat, both among the hosts and callers.
Finally, Jamarl gets spacey once more in Revelations, asking if the US Army is willing to support organizations like To the Stars, shouldn’t we take them more seriously? Oh, and the Misfits get into some of the wilder hashtags us shut-ins are generating on Twitter.
“Political Misfits” Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas were joined by Dr. Dady Chery, associate professor of biology, co-editor-in-chief of News Junkie Post and author of "We Have Dared to Be Free," to discuss COVID-19 and how RNA viruses like this coronavirus get a huge assist from climate change and urbanization. COVID-19 also got an assist from classism, she said: the first travelers spreading the disease were arriving in airports in suits, and staff there were reluctant to test them. In many ways, COVID-19 began as a disease of the rich. And now, of course, it’s everywhere.
We also got an update from Paul Jones, president of the Columbia Heights tenants association, on the lack of assistance and information the seniors and vulnerable people in his neighborhood have received from their government so far. As airlines, casinos and other industries clamor for government cash taken from taxpayers, who will make sure those actual taxpayers get relief, too?
Guy McPherson, scientist and professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, brought good news, telling the Misfits we don’t have to worry about the Yellowstone supervolcano - but we still should be living as though we’re in planetary hospice.
Eleanor Goldfield, frontline activist and journalist focusing on radical and censored issues and co-host of the podcast Common Censored, discussed the irresponsible decision to continue Democratic primaries during a pandemic. With the DNC realizing that the Sanders movement isn’t actually made up of Democratic hostages, they’re happy to see turnout drop, so they can find a way to blame it on Sanders and avoid a much-needed conversation about healthcare. They can’t block this powerful movement completely, however, and this could be a time for a new alignment of political will and social might.
The pandemic is also a convenient way to bury the latest Russiagate embarrassment, with even the “troll farm” lawsuit dying an ignominious death.
The Misfits were also visited by Eduardo Machado, author of the play “Celia and Fidel,” which offers a creative and complex look at the US, Cuba, and what binds us.
Guy McPherson, professor emeritus of natural resources, ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, tells "Political Misfits" what's scarier than super volcanoes.
“Political Misfits” comes in hot today, declaring that lefties know “Blue No Matter Who” is a con, and this will only hurt Joe Biden’s chances against Donald Trump if that is indeed the contest in November. It seems that Bernie Sanders is just realizing that his base might not follow him if he ends up stumping for Biden ‒ another strategic error by Sanders, hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas declare. Our Misfits also chastised CNN for allowing rampant xenophobia during last night’s debate, including musings on how China should be punished for its supposed mishandling of the pandemic. But Bob has some horror stories of the response in the capital so far. Are US heads going to roll over our own lapses?
Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principle of TML communications, joined to talk about Sanders’ debate strategy and how well it worked. The senator from Vermont continued to try to walk a line, attacking his opponent but working to unify potential blue voters. Was his cross-examination of Biden effective enough? Or did Sanders roll over again?
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, joined the boys to talk about the economic hit we’re feeling now and what we’re looking at in the future. The Federal Reserve is pulling out the stops, but what power does it really have? The Fed, Tom warns, is just a bystander. Is now the time for universal basic income? Tax relief? Both? Americans are turning to their government for guidance and support, but should we also be afraid this crisis will be used to entrench greater control over our movement and our lives?
In our weekly Miss the Press segment, the semi-quarantined gentlemen get into the infuriating habit of our national media to play everything in red and blue. The Trump administration does deserve scrutiny and scorn for its response to this national crisis, but the lens needs to be broadened beyond Democrat and Republican talking points.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, joins "Political Misfits" to talk about the economic hit we’re feeling now and what might be coming. Is the Federal Reserve even capable of mitigating this economic crisis, and what steps should it be taking? Does the 2008 playbook apply? Should we be calling for more government intervention on every level - or fearing it?
The coronavirus outbreak shows no signs of flagging in the US. Which candidate is offering a compassionate, effective, rational response? You already know the answer. You also already know that Bernie Sanders’ lack of killer instinct might have doomed his campaign ‒ and his followers. Is it time to put down old “Blue No Matter Who” for good?
“Political Misfits” did cover the good news of the day: Chelsea Manning is once again a free woman. John Kiriakou, CIA whistleblower and co-host of Loud and Clear on Radio Sputnik, tells hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas that Manning’s incarceration shows the bankruptcy of the US judicial and carceral system. The entire process, in this case, was purely coercive. Kiriakou breaks down what the US government wanted Manning to do and why she refused, even under the torture of isolation.
International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda also joined the Misfits to break down exactly who the US is bombing in Iraq right now ‒ and it’s not the “Iranian militias” US corporate media keep referring to. Washington seems to think it can bomb a wedge between Iran and Iraq, but it doesn’t seem to be a winning strategy. What’s the US got to gain by continuing as an occupying force in Iraq anyway?
Gilbert Mercier, editor in chief of News Junkie Post and author of "The Orwellian Empire.", flipped the script on the boys in discussing the coronavirus in Europe. Yes, this is a serious problem and yes, it requires solidarity and discipline ‒ but is closing borders really going to help? The virus, which is proving to be a great equalizer, needs no passport. By allowing drastic lockdowns like the one that’s turned all of Italy into a ghost town, are we paving the way for a more authoritarian future?
The US response to COVID-19 has been a farce, and President Donald Trump’s address on it last night has only added to the confusion. What isn’t in doubt, however, is the administration’s priority: protect the market at all costs. Those in power are clearly more concerned about “consumers” than human beings in this country.
And that’s why this may be a moment for mutual aid organizations to step up, Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of Health Over Profit, an organization working to achieve a national improved Medicare for All healthcare system, tells our still-reasonably-healthy hosts. The virus can be contained, but it will take public education, well-staffed health hotlines, free walk in clinics, accessible testing and thoughtful monitoring, all steps our government so far has been unwilling to implement. The man-made crisis in this country, however, presents an opportunity to look clearly at the flaws in our health, social, and economic infrastructure and perhaps build a more equitable society in the aftermath.
Abe Paulos, deputy director of communications and policy at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, spoke with hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas about the administration’s racist immigration policies, namely the travel ban targeting a number of African nations. These restrictions are driven by politics and plain old economic bullying, as usual, and though they target black populations, domestic politics takes care to keep immigration from being seen as a “black issue,” dividing natural allies in the US political sphere.
Glen Ford, author and executive editor of the Black Agenda Report, described the forces controlling the black vote in this presidential primary. Duopoly politics, dominated by one ruling class, keeps black voters caught in a structure that offers them little choice, exacerbated by the domination of black civic and social organizations by the Democratic Party. However, the activation of Bernie Sanders’ base of young voters, young black voters among them, could mean a sea-change for the left, and point that way toward an escape from this system.
Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance and a member of the steering committee of HOPE - Health Over Profit, an organization working to achieve a national improved Medicare for All healthcare system, joined "Political Misfits" to discuss the spread of COVID-19 in the US and the failure of our public health systems in containing it. The man-made crisis in this country, however, presents an opportunity to look clearly at the flaws in our health, social, and economic infrastructure and perhaps build a more equitable society in the aftermath.
Today on “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas take a look at the results of Super Tuesday 2.0 ‒ and folks, they weren’t great. But don’t play the funeral march for the Bernie Sanders campaign just yet. There are a lot of delegates left to win, arguments to have, policies to set and conversations to shape. But, Jamarl says, it’s time to shake off this battered left syndrome and show the Democratic establishment that progressive, leftist votes cannot be taken for granted.
Kristine Hendrix, president of the University City School Board, Junior Bayard Rustin Fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, not to mention co-chair of Cori Bush’s campaign for Congress, joined the Misfits to break down the Missouri results. It was a disappointing night, and one made possible by wall-to-wall media proclaiming Joe Biden’s momentum, a coordinated coalition of dropouts and endorsements, and a smearing of Sanders as too radical. Biden wants to “restore dignity to the White House,” but what is he really offering to average Americans, or even downballot Democrats? And how long will voters allow their imaginations be stifled under the ambitions of the powerful to merely stay in power?
Misfit extraordinaire Kimberlyn Carter, a political strategist for progressive campaigns focusing on economic justice, criminal justice reform and climate justice, joined the show to exhort progressives to take heart. Sanders’ supporters love him for his fight, and fight is what he continues to show. The conversation has well and truly been changed since 2016, and that’s all the more reason to keep at it. The three, however, also get into the very real problem of voter suppression we see in this country, either through active measures or simple neglect of voting infrastructure. How can hours-long voting lines support a healthy democracy?
The fellows closed the show out with a little mind control news (it’s coming, folks), a “Star Trek” reference (of course) and a COVID-19 update (it’s going to get worse!).
Bernie Sanders was once again clarion clear in his town hall on Fox last night, host Jamarl Thomas tells “Political Misfits.” He got the crowd on his side, he speaks directly to the issues most voters say they care about. So why is he struggling against mainstream favorite Biden? Are Americans so beaten down they don’t believe better lives are possible?
Julie Hurwitz joins Jamarl and host Bob Schlehuber for a report from Michigan. The Detroit civil rights attorney and partner in firm Goodman Hurwitz and James tells our fellows she sees a disconnect between media narratives and on-the-ground realities in and around her community. Black voters in her area are turning out for the senator for Vermont, driven especially by the issue of student debt. Media are driving the story that Sanders is somehow unelectable, but not all voters are buying it.
Callers chimed in with their takes on the role of the ongoing Flint water crisis and what fallout the Democratic Party will or should face over that catastrophe, as well as the role of race in this vote.
Ruth Buffalo, a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives and the first Native American Democratic woman elected to the North Dakota Legislature, brought an update from that Great Plains state, where she said they’re hoping for a good turnout and lines are already long at polling stations. Sanders’ message resonates with disenfranchised communities, Buffalo said. Now, Sanders’ promise of real change is being pitted against Biden’s high-profile party endorsements.
And whither Warren? Sanders erstwhile Senate buddy has chosen a defacto endorsement of Biden with her silence. A true progressive or a true opportunist? We’re pretty sure we know which.
Joe Biden is unelectable. We’ll say it. How long are we going to watch people pretend that the man stands a chance against Donald Trump? The DNC can’t dictate the general debate rules to their liking and if Biden needs an armchair and a friendly audience to spar with Sanders, what’s he going to need against no-holds-barred Trump?
But what does it matter if COVID19 tanks the economy and our health system first? Vijay Prashad, historian, journalist and executive director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research joined the Monday Misfits to warn that, in case we hadn’t noticed the NYSE plummeting this morning, we’re headed into a perfect storm, economically speaking. The collapse of agreements between Russia and Saudi Arabia on oil production sent oil prices reeling, as Saudi begins flooding the market. But with this epidemic slowing air travel, trade and industry, oil producers might be looking at not only a supply crisis, but demand problems as well. This is the perfect opportunity to squeeze these dirty companies and force a transition to clean energy, but what we might see is an “obscene” alternative: a bailout of big energy.
Hope for the virus’ spread to be stemmed is dimming as the US proves it’s not civic-minded enough to make the sacrifices needed to contain the virus, and the UN, gutted by underfunding, can’t mount a unified global response.
It makes US Democratic politics look downright cheerful. Brianna Griffith, host and producer of People’s Republic Austin, to talk about the weekend’s wacky endorsements. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, both of whom have in the past criticized Biden for racist policies and associations, nonetheless endorsed the former vice president. So which was it, guys? Does Biden need to be held accountable for historical failures or was all that outrage fake? Jesse Jackson and Ben Jealous, on the other hand, came out for Sanders, Jackson reminding listeners that he’s standing with Sanders because Sanders has stood with him and his movement consistently. Warren, meanwhile, hasn’t endorsed anything but SNL, and that doesn't impress us much.
How dare she? The “Political Misfits” come in hot today with some strong words for Joe Biden surrogate Hilary Rosen. Rosen tried to explain Martin Luther King Jr. to Sanders surrogate Nina Turner, who was having none of it. But who allowed Biden to take the civil-rights-defender lane?
Also in the “more where this came from” category: the coronavirus! K.J. Noh, a scholar, peace activist and contributor to several media organizations, joined the misfits to warn that the US is woefully unprepared. While China was mobilizing every resource to deal with the novel disease, the US was trying to score political points. Now, the US population is going to pay for this leadership gap. And not only in human health terms - prepare to see the US economy take a hit even worse than what China is suffering.
Our as-yet-uninfected hosts also had some strong opinions about Maddow’s softball interview with Warren, where the two once again wrung their hands and furrowed their brows over online meanies. Where is that consternation over the millions of Americans living in poverty, the tens of thousands suffering and dying because they can’t access health care? Enough fretting over memes and internet insults. There are real, life and death issues at stake.
Top Scot Alan MacLeod, author and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, chimed in on the latest media hit pieces. Sanders’ latest crime is taking part in a sister cities program encouraged by Ronald Reagan during the Cold War to promote human contacts between the hostile great powers. Sanders could just as easily be called a hero for fighting the terrifying military buildup and tension on both sides, but in this xenophobic atmosphere, any Russian outreach, even from decades past, becomes suspect. Are all Peace Corps volunteers soon to be jailed as spies? The gents also get a laugh out of NPR’s assertion that Sputnik and its sister stations are working to elect Sanders, and wonder where is the appetite for media criticism that turns its lens on NPR’s corporate colleagues.
Alan MacLeod, author and member of the Glasgow University Media Group, joined Political Misfits to talk about the latest effort to smear Senator Bernie Sanders, this time by uncovering - horror of horrors - how he tried to work with a sister city in Russia to promote human connections, share experience in municipal management in snowy climates and perhaps bring about a thaw in the Cold War. What's the guy got to do to get some positive press - bomb somebody?
Elizabeth Warren is out, the latest Democratic contender to call it a day in the 2020 race. Meanwhile, Sanders has turned over a new leaf and seems finally willing to go on the attack. The senator is drawing sharper contrasts between himself and rival Joe Biden, who simply cannot stop fumbling, promising higher health premiums and health care that is “only affordable.” Thanks, Joe!
Kathy Kelly, American peace activist and author, founding member of Voices in the Wilderness and co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, joined hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas to discuss the strange peace deal in Afghanistan, which can apparently accommodate one party - the US - bombing the other - the Taliban. How peace can be achieved when some of the main players to the deal have so much to gain by making war is a mystery. Will the International Criminal Court inquiry into US and other war crimes in Afghanistan be a step toward some measure of accountability?
Peter Ford, former UK ambassador to Syria, told the misfits it appears that Russia had won on points in its diplomatic bout with Turkey on Syria. Turkey has had to back off its biggest demands and Syria will not relinquish the territorial control it has. Erdogan appears to have alienated most potential supporters, but with an agreement that can only hold a few weeks or months, Idlib’s future remains in doubt.
Brandon Sutton, host of The Discourse podcast and everyone’s favorite Twitter lefty, came with some advice for Bernie Sanders: make it known that the Democratic Party is shutting you out because of your ideas, not over manners or any other faux bones of contention. The more you let them dodge this ideological conversation, the more they win. Our gentlemen discussed the rise and fall of Warren’s campaign, who she might endorse and why, and what she does and doesn’t offer as a potential running mate.
Political Misfits was joined by Kathy Kelly, American peace activist and author, founding member of Voices in the Wilderness and co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, to discuss the prospects for peace in Afghanistan given the obscure terms of the US-Taliban peace deal, and where the responsibility lies for reconstruction in that country.
It’s What the Heck Wednesday on “Political Misfits,” as hosts Jamarl Thomas and Bob Schlehuber break down the results of Super Tuesday voting in the Democratic primary. Jamarl dishes out some tough love to Bernie Sanders, who, through his lack of aggression, is failing in his mandate to his movement to win, whatever it takes. It’s time to recognize who your enemies are, Bernie.
Communications strategist Teresa Lundy, principle at TML Communications, joined the misfits again to talk about the African American vote in this contest. Sanders, who had a poor showing among black voters, launched a new ad touting past praise from Barack Obama ‒ but is it too little too late? Where are Sanders’ high-profile African American endorsements, and how should the senator bring his civil rights history to the forefront?
Ashton P. Woods, community activist with Black Lives Matter Houston and a candidate for Texas House District 146, joined the fray to break down the Texas democratic primary vote and what happened to break the Texas wave toward Biden. Communities are not monoliths, Woods cautioned, and while some voters want a return to normalcy at all costs, a normal that includes the current levels of police violence, poverty and barriers to health care is not something to be aspired to.
Dr. Bill Honigman, national outreach lead for Progressive Democrats of America, reported on the results from California, where Sanders had a crucial victory. The Left Coast is still the epicenter of the blue wave, Honigman reassured the misfits, even if it is not yet a tsunami. But the Democratic machine stepped in and did what it needed to to block a revolution, and the surge of youth voters hasn’t yet materialized. Convincing the youth that their votes matter will be key to continued progress.
The misfits also discussed the real winner of the night, the corporate media, and the role their nonstop positive coverage of Joe Biden played in his comeback. Who needs a ground game?
Ashton Woods, a community activist with Black Lives Matter Houston and a candidate for Texas House District 146, spoke with Political Misfits about the Texas democratic primary and why a return to normalcy is not on his agenda.
The “Political Misfits” are all jitters as Super Tuesday rolls on ‒ well, host Bob Schlehuber claims to have ice in his veins, but we don’t believe him. Jamarl Thomas reviews the array of enemies gathering around Democratic front-runner Bernie Sanders, and the hosts get an update from Virginia. Sputnik news analyst Nicole Roussell is encountering two general types of voters out there and reveals which ones are voting for Sanders and which are tacking to the center.
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, dropped in with his take on the standoff between Russia and Turkey in Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia later this week. Whether Erdogan leaves that meeting with even face-saving concessions is up for debate. The Turkish president may have overplayed his hand in Idlib. Now, facing poor polling and real fiscal problems at home, Erdogan is finding that he’s alienated all the erstwhile allies that helped him out of economic jams in the past.
Luongo also had good news and bad news on coronavirus. The bad news is that in the US, with its monstrously expensive health care, minimal workers’ rights and epidemic of diet-related health issues, has created perfect-storm conditions for a public health crisis. The good news? Um...just that this virus doesn’t seem all that virulent.
Raymond Caldwell, producing artistic director at DC’s Theater Alliance, joined the league ‒ well, pair ‒ of gentlemen to discuss the Theater Alliance’s staging of “This Bitter Earth,” and the role of art in developing and maintaining imagination, even sometimes political imagination. Jamarl again took the opportunity to tell us all about “Star Trek” and its many variations. The trio also blasted at warp speed through art’s function in teaching empathy and communication, and how to maintain the performing arts in a culture that doesn’t value them. Answer: it’s the personal connection, folks!
(And that’s why we love our callers!)
Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns, joined Political Misfits to talk about Syria and the high stakes game Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and others are playing there. Luongo explains how Erdogan seems to have overplayed his hand both in Syria and in the refugee crisis he's threatening to unleash on Europe. The upcoming meeting between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia is likely to be a turning point. Whether Erdogan comes away from that meeting with even face-saving concessions is really up for debate.
Today on “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas reviewed the results of the Saturday open primary in South Carolina, where, as long predicted, Joe Biden won. Biden won decisively, with Bernie Sanders a distant second and the rest of the pack trailing even further. The defeat - or perhaps the consultations afterward - were enough to convince Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar to pack it up, pack it in and let the real fight begin.
Biden’s victory also breathed some new life into the press narratives of Joe as the Comeback Kid and Sanders as Bad on Race, both of which the misfits and guests China Dickerson and Ra Shad Frazier-Gaines sank their teeth into.
Dickerson, a South Carolina native and national political director for Forward Majority, gave her overview of older, rural, black southern voters and how some campaigns haven’t found messages that resonate with them. Representative Jim Clyburn’s endorsement of Biden seemed to prove consequential in exit polls, generating a result that incensed Frazier-Gaines, founder and chair of the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of America and founder and chair of Black Progressives. Biden’s victory might have been predicted, but it makes no sense, he explained. The misfits and friends also said the unsayable about President Trump at CPAC - the man is funny. He might be wrong, but he is making his supporters laugh, and the Democrats ought to figure out how to achieve that.
Also not making a lot of sense was Pence on his Sunday cable news tour, trying to convince Americans that the risk of coronavirus infection is low even as the virus spreads in some of the country’s busiest and most populous areas.
Finally, our hosts tried to make sense of the latest in Afghanistan, where a peace treaty between the US and the Taliban seems to have conditions in it that the Afghan government isn’t ready to meet. With the relaunch of “operations” by the Taliban against the government in Kabul, it’s possible this peace could be DOA.
What’s the real election interference - Russian facebook pages or FBI surveillance and voter suppression?
Today on “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas take a look at Tulsi Gabbard’s call for presidential candidates to stand against election interference by US intelligence agencies. The guys wonder what’s affecting US elections the most - memes or historic and ongoing voter suppression, both at home and abroad?
Ted Rall, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist whose work is at rall.com, joined in the second hour to talk about the broken FISA court system in the US and how the lack of any adversarial process within it facilitates further mass surveillance of the population. Now, the Democrats risk once again letting their rival party take the moral high ground on curbing the excesses of law enforcement - namely, this rubber-stamp court.
The three also discussed the rapidly rising tensions in Syria, where dozens of Turkish soldiers were just killed. With Assad there to stay and Ankara increasing its aggression, the situation shows all signs of becoming a long-running proxy war. And while the Turkish president may think he can pull NATO in to support him, he might be miscalculating. Europe, facing its own refugee crisis, could be on the brink of telling Erdogan to get lost.
Sputnik news analyst Wyatt Reed commented on the Washington Post’s publication of a study finding - once again - that the results of the Bolivian election last fall in fact made total sense, contrary to the OAS claims that fanned the flames of a violent coup. Why the Post and other media ignored similar studies immediately after the election and in the months that followed is a mystery - or is it?
In a spicy final hour, Mondale Robinson, founder of the Black Male Voting Project, took on Jamarl in a debate on the usefulness of race-neutral policies to address racial injustice and on the authenticity and effectiveness of some Democratic candidates’ proposals to address such injustice. Both parried callers with different opinions, but despite all the heat, somehow, no chairs were thrown. Maybe next week!
Ted Rall, award-winning editorial cartoonist, joins Political Misfits to discuss the broken FISA court system and how its rubber stamp contributes to the US surveillance state.
Democrat officials speak openly about taking the nomination from Sanders, oligarchs pulling DNC strings clearly prefer a split to a victory.
Hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas are incensed by a new story revealing that many Democratic officials and superdelegates are already planning how to hand the presidential nomination to anyone but Sanders on “Political Misfits” today. Our boys also discuss the Republicans urging GOP voters to cast ballots in their state’s open primary - for Sanders. Why? Because they, too, see what the Democratic establishment is planning and judge that splitting the party at the convention that way can only be good for Trump.
Jason Dzubow, an immigration attorney, partner at Dzubow & Pilcher, PLLC, and blogger at www.asylumist.com, spoke about the war on immigrants by the Trump administration and its latest victory, in which an appeals court found the federal government can withhold funding from sanctuary cities. The left-right paradigm of states’ rights versus federal rights is turned on its head, Dzubow noted. Given the role US foreign policy plays in generating immigration flows, the lawyer also brought up Washington’s moral responsibility to respond humanely to crises it creates.
Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek revealed that the judge in Julian Assange’s extradition trial has offered some measures to mitigate his isolation in a bulletproof box in the courtroom, but none address the fundamental issue that the WikiLeaks founder is being deprived of his due process rights by this bizarre confinement.
Glen Ford, executive editor of the Black Agenda Report, joined our intrepid hosts to review the recent punishment of journalists for speaking out of turn. The suspension of an ABC correspondent who criticized his network’s reporting on Trump should remind us to question the ethics of all corporate media, he said, and the blatant hostility of networks to Trump or Sanders, for example, is a smaller crime than their crocodile tears and incomplete reporting on Syria and other wars.
Freddy Martinez, director of the Lucy Parsons institute, joined to scare listeners with tales of the experimental use of new technology by police forces around the US, which seem free to reveal neither what information they are collecting with their new toys, nor what it will be used for.
Today on “Political Misfits,” host Jamarl Thomas breaks down the painful Democratic debate of the night before. Host Bob Schlehuber, who was spared the spectacle, does his best on a pop quiz about the candidates worst tactics and gotcha moments of the night.
David Swanson, activist, journalist, radio host and author of the book "Curing Exceptionalism," joined for a discussion of the debate’s foreign policy highlights and lowlights, including the beginning of some reckoning with the US’ bloody and imperial past. Sanders spoke of the need for “honesty” about Washington’s history of supporting wars and coups, and while his positions in much of the world would still be considered militaristic and right wing, they’re a breath of fresh air in US electoral politics. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was called out as a racist and a reactionary from the Democratic stage and not one candidate rushed to his defense, and Palestinians were framed by at least one candidate as deserving of human rights and dignity. Is this a pivotal moment in US politics?
Walter Smolarek, Sputnik news analyst, updated listeners on the extradition trial of Julian Assange, where the WikiLeaks founder is made to sit behind bulletproof glass, trailed by guards, giving the impression that he’s a violent and dangerous criminal. The prosecution’s is arguing that international law doesn’t actually apply in the UK - domestic laws supercede treaties barring political extraditions, they say, and London would be within its rights to overlook the overtly political nature of Assange’s case.
John Ross, senior fellow at Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China and an award-winning resident columnist with several Chinese media organizations, joined our lads to explain the impact of coronavirus on the global economy. For all the criticism it faced recently, China managed to control and contain the virus. Now, as cases in Italy hit the hundreds, the West’s own crisis looms. It’s this medical disaster and its impact on consumer spending and other indicators that could cause a big hit to the American and global economies.
Tuesday on “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas explore the methods the Democratic establishment is using to try to tank Bernie Sanders’ momentum, from coordinating among rival campaigns to stop him to openly signalling their expectation and acceptance of a brokered convention. The Democratic Party is going to need all the help it can get if the latest polls are to be believed. Biden’s latest flubs also got an airing. What office is he running for again?
Joining the misfits today to discuss Donald Trump’s visit to India was Namita Mankad, the co-founder and executive producer of iUSAradio.com, who enlightened the hosts and listeners on who controversial Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeals to and why. They spoke about the divisive new citizenship law in India and Modi’s long anti-Muslim history - and about the pages Modi seems to have lifted from former US President Barack Obama’s playbook.
Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek brought an update on Julian Assange’s extradition trial, where today defense lawyers began to make their case that the WikiLeaks publisher was being punished for embarrassing the United States and that he must not be extradited to that country on these purely political charges. Smolarek also detailed the harassment Assange faces at the hands of his jailers, preventing him from meaningfully participating in his own trial.
Fred Magdoff, author and professor emeritus of plant and soil science at the University of Vermont, spoke with the hosts in the second hour about the pipeline threatening the Appalachian Trail and the strange politics of cheap natural gas. The three also covered the benefits and limits of some current proposals to curb climate change, including the Paris Accord and the Green New Deal.
For the Tuesday Art of Politics segment, Bob and Jamarl were joined by LeeAnet Noble, audience enrichment manager with the Shakespeare Theater Company, and Antonio Michael Woodard, who plays a lead role in the company’s staging of “The Amen Corner,” James Baldwin’s play about poverty, race and the church. Noble and Woodard spoke on their personal connections to the play’s themes and this production.
On this episode of “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas broke down the Nevada Democratic primary - the winners, the losers, the ramifications, and the way it broke the pundits’ hearts. The Democratic Party can no longer ignore the Vermont senator’s movement.
Joel Segal, co-author of the original Medicare for All bill and national director of the Justice Action Mobilization Network, joined Bob and Jamarl to talk about the importance of healthcare policy in this primary, and the great divide the US must reckon with between those who know what it is like to struggle to make ends meet, to have to choose between paying bills or buying groceries, and those who don’t. The point was driven home by a caller who shared her story of struggling to maintain insurance for a very sick child and the sacrifices her family has had to make in that struggle.
Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek reported from London on the extradition trial of Julian Assange, describing the tactics of the legal team representing the US in the case. He also illustrated the passion of the protesters gathered outside the courthouse, many of whom have traveled great distances to be there. This passion is not echoed among Assange’s fellow journalists, who have largely distanced themselves from the WikiLeaks publisher, allowing his trial to be framed as a criminal matter, not an attack on journalism.
Brianna Griffith, producer and host of the People's Republic Austin radio program, spoke with Bob and Jamarl in the second hour, offering her take on the media meltdown following Sanders’ romp in Nevada. Mainstream media is just now waking up to the Sanders’ movement - as is the Democratic establishment, which spent much of the weekend either begging for Barack Obama to step in to stop it or sharing smears of Sanders as a Russian favorite. Because Russiagate was back - but only briefly. Friday ended with a story alleging Russia was interfering in the primary to help Sanders as well as Trump. Just two days later, CNN of all networks was calling that analysis greatly exaggerated.
On this episode of “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas are joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda to discuss the proxy wars underway in Syria and fears that Turkey’s offensive in the country could spark more direct conflict there. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recalcitrance on Syria could be propelling him toward a dramatic fall, and how much of the state he’ll take down with him remains a crucial question. The three also discuss the similar proxy faceoff in Libya, where global powers are reshuffled and again stacked up behind opposing factions vying for power.
Bob and Jamarl also noted the beginning of a seven-day reduction of violence in Afghanistan. The metric is fuzzy, but, if met, it would set the stage for a peace deal between the US and the Taliban and the beginning of pulling US troops from the battlefields of its longest-running war.
Greyzone journalist Anya Parampil joined Political Misfits for the second hour to discuss the New York Times’ efforts to relaunch Russiagate and the US mainstream media’s endless appetite for anonymous intelligence sources. With even mainstream media beginning to note that Trump’s policies aren’t exactly Russia-friendly, how quickly should we expect that narrative to be turned on Democratic presidential frontrunner Bernie Sanders, and to what effect? They also reviewed the revelations by Middle East Eye earlier this week of the history and breadth of UK efforts to generate propaganda about the Syrian conflict from within Syria, and similar efforts to sway public opinion at home. A caller chimed in to recall the mysterious death of journalist Serena Shim, after reporting on the Turkish government’s involvement in supporting militants in Syria, and the shameful silence of the media class on that tragedy.
Finally, the hosts took a quick look ahead to the Nevada primary, the tactics candidates are employing or should be and some likely winners and losers.
On this episode of “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas break down the good, the bad and the ugly of the Nevada debate. American democracy for once was the winner, as billionaire Mike Bloomberg found he’d bought his way onto a stage he was in no way prepared for. Elizabeth Warren came out swinging and seemed to even intimidate the moderators, Sanders stayed on message and did what he needed to to stay ahead, and Buttigieg and Klobuchar struggled.
Bob and Jamarl were joined in the second hour by Tom Luongo, independent analyst on politics, culture and markets at his blog, “Gold Goats 'n Guns,” to talk about Roger Stone’s 40-month sentence and the strange new twist in Julian Assange’s extradition case, allegedly involving US President Donald Trump, now-former Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher, and the possibility of a presidential pardon. Assange’s lawyers and Rohrabacher differ on whether and how this pardon was supposedly offered. The real question, as Assange awaits his extradition hearing next week, is how this new wrinkle will affect that outcome.
Bob, Jamarl and Tom also discussed the possibility that the US Justice Department is headed toward changing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter and others from most liability involving content posted by users. With once-scrappy new companies now dominating the tech and media landscapes, how should societies achieve a truly diverse digital commons and who should be held accountable for the content within it?
The evolution of technology and finance was also the focus of discussion with Chris Garaffa, who joined the misfits for the weekly Trends with Benefits segment to discuss Patreon’s shift to bank and financer of creators. Patreon’s new capital arm, which offers loans to creators based on their Patreon earnings, may make financing more creative, but it also further commodifies the internet and the creativity it facilitates. Finally, Boeing came in for a scolding about its still-sloppy production practices, as revealed by a recent story.
On this episode of “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas are joined by Taylor Hudak, journalist, activist and co-founder of Action for Assange, to talk about the letter published by Doctors for Assange in the Lancet. The group of more than 100 doctors from dozens of nations warns that Julian Assange is being tortured to death in the full view of the medical community and in clear violation of their oaths of ethics.
The hosts also talk about lines emerging in the Democratic primary - as health care workers organize in Nevada and other states to demand better pay and working conditions, the real needs of most Americans, the Democratic establishment would rather complain about “online bullies” they link to Bernie Sanders.
Bob and Jamarl are joined in the second hour by Alan MacLeod, author and member of the Glasgow Media Group, to discuss the true reach and impact of Mike Bloomberg’s billions and his media empire. As Bloomberg’s charitable contributions buy him good will and his ad buys fill media coffers, how can we expect him to be subjected to reasonable scrutiny? And in their rush to find a “moderate” alternative to Sanders, are the Democrats handing Trump his perfect foe: a New York elitist who controls a media empire, is known to lie and change position, and took away their giant sodas to boot? Bloomberg is walking onto the debate stage in Nevada tonight with a target on his back. Will criticisms from his fellow candidates be enough to dent his momentum?
To close the show, Jamarl breaks down the recent Popular Mechanics article detailing the US government’s extensive research into UFOs and what it means that stories like these, previously left to the fringes of media, are both being confirmed by government sources and brought into the mainstream.
On this episode of “Political Misfits,” hosts Bob Schlehuber and Jamarl Thomas are joined by Teresa Lundy, political strategist and principle of TML communications, to talk about the wave of attacks on Bernie Sanders over the weekend, the mainstream media’s obsession with ‘Bernie Bros’ and whether smearing Sanders on the basis of the alleged meanness of his supporters online will work. Are nasty memes and comments really as important as the histories of bigotry and exploitation other candidates carry with them, and if not, why are the supposed “bros” getting so much air time?
Bob and Jamarl also discuss the Nevada caucus, Sanders’ trajectory in state and national polls, and whether the new, untested iPhone “tool” the Nevada caucus plans to use to track vote counts augurs a repeat of the Iowa debacle.
In the second hour, the hosts are joined by Eleanor Goldfield, founder and host of the show Act Out! and co-host of the Common Censored podcast along with Lee Camp, to discuss the opioid crisis in America, including reports that big pharmaceutical companies are going to pay out far less to cover the costs of the crisis they spawned than did Big Tobacco 20 years ago.
Looking at reports from over the weekend that brought to light more detail about Democratic primary contender Michael Bloomberg’s decades-long history of sexism in the workplace, Goldfield provides some analysis of the Democrats’ hypocrisy when it comes to racism, sexism and other issues, and questions who the Democratic establishment really wants to beat - Trump, or Sanders.
For the weekly Politics of Art segment, the hosts discuss the unpleasant thrills of “Uncut Gems” and the fun of a movie populated by monsters. Finally, they are joined in the last segment by Sputnik DC Bureau Chief Mindia Gavasheli to talk about the latest hit piece on Sputnik. CBS News decided to reach out to Sputnik not for an interview, but simply a statement, in writing their story - and bit off more than they could chew.