Loud & Clear

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by NSA whistleblower Bill Binney.For the past several days, the corporate-owned media has been engaged in a smear campaign against Binney, the former NSA technical director and legendary whistleblower, labelling him a conspiracy theorist. This was prompted by reports that he met with CIA director Mike Pompeo to discuss his finding that the alleged hack of the DNC server during the 2016 election campaign was in fact a leak.The high-stakes intrigue in Saudi Arabia continues as Saudi citizens are instructed to leave Lebanon immediately, and the Lebanese Prime Minister continues to be held in what appears to be house arrest. Is another war around the corner? Radwan Chehab, political analyst, joins the show.A new study from Brown University has found that the total cost of the so-called War on Terror amounts to an eye-popping $5.6 trillion. That’s $23,386 per US taxpayer! Ted Rall, editorial cartoonist and columnist, joins Brian an

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by Jude Woodward, the author of “The US vs China: Asia's new Cold War?”, and by political analyst Ajit Singh.Donald Trump is in China today for the first time in his presidency for a high-profile summit with President Xi Jinping. The two leaders will discuss a range of issues of diplomatic, military and economic issues.Loud & Clear co-host John Kiriakou was invited to address the European Parliament in his capacity as a world-renowned whistleblower and human rights advocate. But his speech was cancelled at the last minute -- the “Russiagate” witch hunt strikes again. John speaks with Brian and Walter from Brussels.Democrats are jubilant following their victories in last night’s election. What does this tell us about the state of politics in the United States? And is the Democratic Party really on solid ground? Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance, joins the show.A leaked German government document has revealed th

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kirakou are joined by professors and authors Vijay Prashad and Jodi Dean, as well as Eugene Puryear, host of Radio Sputnik's By Any Means Necessary. 100 years ago today, an earth-shaking revolution took place in Russia that led to the establishment of the Soviet Union. The existence of the first socialist state reshaped all of global politics, and the end of that state 26 years ago became a defining feature of the 21st century as well. The Saudi purge continues to sow chaos across the Middle East, as the kingdom declares that Lebanon has declared war against it and President Donald Trump endorses the sweeping crackdown on opponents of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Joining the show to discuss these developments are Peter Ford, the former British ambassador to Syria, as well as independent journalist and analyst Marwa Osman. Speaking in South Korea where he met today with President Moon Jae-in, Donald Trump repeated his standard threats but als

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jana Nakhal, an independent researcher and a member of the central committee of the Lebanese Communist Party.Political turmoil has rocked Lebanon and Saudi Arabia in recent days, as Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned -- while he was in Saudi Arabia! -- and a sweeping purge eliminates rivals to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.Donald Trump is headed to South Korea following his meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On one of the most anticipated stops of his Asia tour, will Trump continue to press for war? Author Jude Woodward joins Brian and John to discuss Trump's trip.A flurry of U.S. airstrikes near the Afghan city of Kunduz has caused heavy civilian casualties according to Afghan government officials. The Trump administration’s “new strategy” for the Afghan War is proving to be even deadlier than before. Ann Wright, retired United States Army colonel and former U.S. State Department official in

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by journalist and author Patrick Lawrence, as well as Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek.Donald Trump is off to Asia for nearly two weeks, where he will visit five countries. While a range of issues will be discussed, his top priority appears to be beating the drums of war against North Korea.The fallout is continuing from Donna Brazile’s claim that Hillary Clinton orchestrated, in her words, “a secret takeover of the DNC” before becoming the party’s candidate in the 2016 election. Journalist and best-selling author Max Blumenthal joins the show.In a startling attack on one of the foundations of the U.S. legal system, Robert Mueller’s team based their indictment of Paul Manafort in part on the testimony of Manafort’s own lawyer. Brian and John are joined by Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, the executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund. Daesh has been driven out of its last pocket of the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor by

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey and investigative report Dave Lindorff. House Republicans unveiled their tax plan today, which slashes the tax rate for corporations alongside many other measures. But this is just the first step in a long and treacherous series of negotiations that could derail the push for tax reform.Former DNC chair Donna Brazile published a shocking -- for several reasons -- article in Politico slamming the Clinton campaign, Barack Obama, her predecessor Debbie Wasserman Schultz and more. What’s behind this surprise move? Anoa Changa, host of The Way With Anoa, joins the show.In a speech today in New York, Attorney General Jeff Sessions exploited the grief caused by Tuesday’s terror attack to push for mass surveillance and restrictions on travel and immigration. Journalist Chip Gibbons joins Brian and John.The Syrian opposition has rejected a proposal to hold a national “Congress” with the government

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by journalist Ben Norton, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, and professor and activist Danny Shaw.In the wake of the terror attack in New York, we’ll spend the full hour discussing the historical roots of modern terrorism, the role of U.S. foreign policy during the past four decades in the Middle East and South Asia, and Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant response to the incident in New York City. Tech giants Facebook, Google and Twitter are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon as the media works itself up into another frenzy over so-called “Russian ads” influencing the 2016 election. Brian and John are joined by author and journalist Daniel Lazare.As part of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement, Hamas handed over control of several border crossings -- including the crucial Rafah Crossing - to the Palestinian Authority. Is the decade-long Palestinian division really coming to an end? Miko Peled, author o

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Kevin Zeese, the co-director of Popular Resistance, as well as Sputnik News analyst Walter Smolarek. Tech giants Facebook, Google and Twitter are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon as the media works itself up into another frenzy over so-called “Russian ads” influencing the 2016 election. Chief of Staff General John Kelly -- frequently praised by liberals for being the adult in the room of Trump’s White House -- gave an interview yesterday to Laura Ingraham where he said the US civil war happened because of a failure to compromise, causing outrage across the country. What’s the real history? Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston and author of many books including Race to Revolution: The U.S. and Cuba During Slavery and Jim Crow, joins the show. The head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made a final plea to the Trump administration to veto a measure

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jim Kavanagh, the editor of ThePolemicist.net, as well as by Dan Kovalik, a human rights and labor lawyer who is the author of “The Plot to Scapegoat Russia”.Indictments have been issued targeting Paul Manafort, Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos. What is Special Counsel Mueller’s strategy in the ongoing investigation? Are others likely to be indicted? None of the charges are related to Russian interference in the 2016 election, but “Russiagate” continues to gain steam.Catalan President Puigdemont has gone to Belgium along with several other Catalan officials following the announcement of heavy charges against pro-independence leaders. Meanwhile, the central government has declared that a new regional election will take place in December. Brian and John are joined by Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly.Longtime leader of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masoud Barzani has resigned following an independence refe

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kirakou are joined by Alberto Garcia Watson, former Middle East correspondent for HispanTV.Catalonia has declared independence, with hundreds of thousands pouring into the streets to celebrate. However, a dramatic showdown looms as the Spanish central government prepares to reassert its control. The United Nations has thrown its weight behind the narrative that the Syrian government made the decision to deploy chemical weapons while his forces were winning the war through conventional means. Is this really true? Rick Sterling, an investigative journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement, joins the show.The Trump administration and Jeff Sessions’ Justice Department have been closing halfway houses, canceling contracts with 16 since taking office and worsening the mass incarceration crisis in the United States. Brian and John are joined by Alex Friedmann, Associate Director of the Human Rights Defense Center and managing editor for Prison

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by journalist and bestselling author Max Blumenthal, as well as by Bruce Fein, a former Assistant Attorney General of the United States to discuss Twitter's announcement that it is banning advertising by RT and Sputnik.The Senate Intelligence Committee voted yesterday to not only renew the “702 program” of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that authorizes domestic surveillance, but in fact to expand it! What can be done to defend privacy rights and civil liberties? Bill Binney, a former NSA technical director who became a legendary whistleblower, joins the show. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont appears to be out of options as he refuses to declare independence or call snap elections. But will a grassroots surge in favor of independence force him to act -- or even push him aside? Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly, joins Brian and John.A huge military buildup by the U.S. navy within striking distance of

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda.Yet another twist has emerged in the “Steele dossier” prepared by the opposition research firm Fusion GPS -- it turns out that the Clinton campaign and the DNC were financial backers of the report. The battle between Donald Trump and Republicans in the Senate continues, as the high profile feud with Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee escalates. What next in the Republican Party civil war? Eugene Puryear, the host of Radio Sputnik’s By Any Means Necessary, and Bob Schlehuber, the producer of By Any Means Necessary, join the show for that discussion.After the expiration of its 120-day prohibition on refugee resettlement, the Trump administration has now come out with a new order banning refugees from 11 countries from coming into the United States for another 90 days. Anoa Changa, host of the weekly radio show The Way With Anoa, joins Brian and John.Followin

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey.The high-stakes balancing act on the budget and tax reform has become even more fragile in the wake of Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with Senator Bob Corker. But behind the drama, is Congress gearing up for a huge giveaway to corporations?Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman has voiced his desire to, in his words, “return” his country to “moderate Islam”. But does he really have any intention of easing the theocratic regime that rules Saudi Arabia? Catherine Shakdam, an independent journalist and author, is our guest.While Puerto Ricans are still struggling to survive in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes, corporations are salivating over lucrative reconstruction contracts and set their sights on the ultimate prize -- privatizing Puerto Rico’s electric grid. Activist Greg Cruz joins the show.Fresh off of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decisive reelection, U.S., South Korean an

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dick Nichols, correspondent for Green Left Weekly in Barcelona.With the imposition of direct rule by the central government looming in Catalonia, pro-independence forces are scrambling to come up with a response. Crises and tensions are piling up in Asia as China continues to rise and the United States pulls out all the stops to maintain its power in the region. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s victory in yesterday’s election clears the way for a fully remilitarized Japan. Jude Woodward, the author of the new book “The US vs China: Asia's new Cold War?” is our guest for this discussion.The United States has put its formidable fleet of nuclear B-52 bombers on 24-hour alert for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Kevin Kamps, nuclear waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, joins the show. Next, Rex Tillerson made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan today before heading off to Iraq, as the Trump administratio

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by Vijay Prashad, Professor of International Studies at Trinity College, as well as author of the book, The Death of the Nation and the Future of the Arab Revolution. 50 years ago today, Edgar Ray Killen, the main organizer of the infamous 1964 murders of civil rights activists Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman was acquitted by an all-white jury. We’ll take an in-depth look at “Mississippi Burning” and the heroic battle against Jim Crow apartheid with Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston and author of Race to Revolution: The U.S. and Cuba During Slavery and Jim Crow. Continuing its assault on both reproductive and immigrant rights, lawyers for the Trump administration were in court today trying to deny a 17-year old undocumented immigrant who is being held in a detention center the right to an abortion. Samantha Herrera, an organizer for reproductive and economic justice alon

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Alberto Garcia Watson, former Middle East correspondent for HispanTV. The Spanish Prime Minister has announced his intention to disband the Catalan government in a major escalation of the conflict over the region’s push for independence. Newly released diplomatic cables show that U.S. officials were fully complicit in the 1965-1966 anti-communist genocide in Indonesia. Brian and Walter are joined by Peter Kuznick, a Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University and the co-author with Oliver Stone of “The Untold History of the United States.” The United States is under fire for its continued refusal to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Greg Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group and Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear join the show. 70 years ago, more than 750,000 Palestinian were expelled from their home in a horrific act of ethnic cleansing to make way for the creation of the new state of Isra

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by David Ewing of the US-China People’s Friendship Association; by political analyst Ajit Singh; and by Patrick Lawrence, the author of Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century. In our first hour we take an in-depth look at Xi Jinping’s big speech at the opening of the Chinese Communist Party’s Congress. The address, an event which happens once every five years, lays out his vision for the future of China at home and abroad. Will China be able to break apart the U.S.-dominated world order? Can the country manage growing inequality as it seeks to continue its rapid growth? The massive, classified CIA torture report produced during the Obama administration is back in the news, this time because of a controversy over a copy of the report the CIA claimed it had destroyed, but has now been found. Jeremy Varon of Witness Against Torture joins the show, and Loud & Clear co-host John Kiriakou returns to take part in th

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined from Germany by Dastan Jasim, and from London by Mark Campbell, both are supporters of the Kurdish movement in Syria. The Kurdish YPG forces did the bulk of the fighting in the liberation of the Raqqa from ISIS, but the future of Syria is far from certain. U.S. military forces supported the Kurdish-led offensive. But the Syrian government demands that all U.S. forces leave Syria. We discuss the political position of the Kurdish movement as it relates to the United States and the Syrian government. Meanwhile, fears of all-out war between the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and the central government Baghdad continue following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from the disputed city of Kirkuk.The future of healthcare in the United States is in the headlines, as a new proposal from Senators Michael Bennet and Tim Kaine is announced and Trump’s “drug tsar” nominee is forced to step down due to his ties with pharmaceutical com

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by journalist Mojtaba Masood and Kani Xulam, founder of the American-Kurdish Information Network.Iraqi pro-government forces have swept into the disputed region of Kirkuk, taking Kirkuk city from Kurdish peshmerga soldiers. As the fight over the shape of post-ISIS Iraq ensues, could another war be on the horizon?In a surprise turn of events in Venezuela, pro-government candidates won the vast majority of governorships in yesterday's elections. The opposition is crying fraud, but the government says that the election shows that the momentum is with the country’s Bolivarian Revolution. We are joined by Carlos Ron, the Charge D’affairs leading the Venezuelan embassy in the United States, and by Lucas Koerner, a journalist with Venezuelanalysis.comThe Supreme Court will hear a major case on about e-mail privacy. Does the government’s ability to subpoena personal e-mails extend to every corner of the globe? Editorial cartoonist Ted

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Walter Smolarek are joined by political analysts Shabir Razvi and Ajit Singh, as well as Mohammad Marandi from the University of Tehran, to look at Trump's Iran policy after he confirmed that he will be decertifying the nuclear deal and went on a tirade against the country, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism. Donald Trump delivered what many consider to be a death blow to the Affordable Care Act today by cutting off cost-sharing subsidies. The healthcare system in the United States is in crisis. Dr. Carol Paris, President of Physicians for a National Health Plan, joins the show. A new study from Harvard University has found that a shocking number of people who were killed by police had their cause of death misreported on death certificates. Brian and Walter speak with Aislinn Borsini, an organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement. Crucial elections are taking place to elect state governors in Venezuela on Sunday, and the future of the country’s Bol