Loud & Clear

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Keith Bennett, researcher and analyst on Chinese politics and international relations who advises both Chinese and western companies, as well as by David Ewing, chair of the San Francisco branch of the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association.Will U.S.-China relations reach a boiling point under the Donald Trump administration? Anti-China hawk Peter Navarro is heading up a new National Trade Council as Trump himself has said he doesn’t think the U.S. should necessarily be bound by the One China policy that dates back almost four decades. How have relations between Washington and Beijing reached this degree of turbulence? We’ll examine how the ascendancy of China on the world stage has altered global politics as U.S. hegemony finds itself challenged.

On today's special episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Israeli peace activist Miko Peled, author of the book The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine.Since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the Palestinian people have been struggling for the right of return to their homes and for their independence and dignity. But an often untold part of the story is the Israeli citizens who have turned against the Zionist ideology and the Israeli government and have joined the movement for Palestinian rights and the creation of a single democratic state. One of these activists in Miko Peled, the son of an Israeli general who also turned peace activist, and grandson of one of the signatures of the Israeli Declaration of Independence.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker discusses developments in the war in Syria with journalist Eva Bartlett, Loud & Clear producer Walter Smolarek, and host of Radio Sputnik's weekly show Hard Facts John Wight. The saying goes that in war, the first casualty is the truth. While the corporate media reports that Aleppo has fallen, many Syrians consider the city as having been liberated. This momentous development came just before the assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov and the following day’s watershed summit between Turkey, Russia and Iran.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by China expert Keith Bennett. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed anti-China hawk Peter Navarro to head up a new National Trade Council, further aggravating relations with Beijing. Will U.S-China relations reach a boiling point under the Trump administration? Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel is a friend of hardline settlers, and threats to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem are being hurled by the Trump camp - what does this mean for the Palestinian people’s struggle for justice and independence? Professor Ghada Talhami joins Becker to discuss what the ramifications of such a move would be. The movement against the U.S. military’s presence in Okinawa was dealt a blow this week as Japan’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of the government’s plan to relocate - not remove - the U.S. military base on the island. But Okinawans are determined to keep up the fight. Will Griffin, an activist with Veterans for Peace, joins the show.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by independent journalist and political analyst Ben Norton.Over a dozen people have been arrested in connection with the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara. Turkey has pointed the fingers at the Fethullah Gulen and by extension the United States as political shockwaves reverberate throughout the Middle East and the world.The race for the next chair of the Democratic National Committee is in full swing and all indications are that the Democrats refuse to learn the lesson of Hillary Clinton’s humiliating defeat. Ted Rall, political cartoonist and columnist, joins the show to discuss what the importance of the race. Egypt’s Interior Ministry has arrested five people for fabricating images that would be passed off as scenes of suffering in Aleppo. In Syria’s five and a half year war, it’s far from the only incident of images being produced or manipulated to mould public opinion. Becker is joined by Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief o

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Peter Lavelle, the host of RT's flagship program CrossTalk, to discuss the aftermath of the assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey. Turkey, Russia and Iran held talks on the war in Syria in Moscow the day after Andrey Karlov was gunned down in Ankara. Will the dramatic development change the dynamic of the war in Syria and the relations between the three countries?As the fallout from the Berlin truck ramming that killed 12 people continues, what will the impact be on crucial upcoming elections in Germany and France? Denis Rogatyuk, freelance journalist and activist, joins the show to discuss the rising tide of far-right and anti-immigrant groups in Europe.Additional criminal charges have been filed in the scandal over lead poisoning in the water supply for residents of Flint, Michigan as the state’s Attorney General indicts two former “emergency managers” – unelected bureaucrats with dictatorial powers. A recent Reuters report reveals t

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Sputnik International political analyst Dmitry Babich to discuss the shocking assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey. Andrey Karlov was shot dead in Ankara at an art exhibition as his shooter, a policeman, shouted “Do Not Forget Aleppo”. Russia has called the incident an act of terrorism, but will the western powers agree? How will this incident impact the war in Syria and relations between Turkey and Russia?The evacuation of Islamist rebels from Aleppo continues as the mainstream media shamefully ignores attacks by jihadists and the evacuation of the Shia majority villages of Fua and Kefraya. Will the UN Security Council resolution to send observers make a difference? Catherine Shakdam, independent political analyst, joins Becker to discuss the ongoing information war. As President Obama holds his last press conference the narrative that Russia had a role in hacking the Democratic Party during the election continues to be promoted end

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Anoa Changa, Editor at Large at the Progressive Army and host of the radio show The Way with Anoa, and by Walter Smolarek, producer of Loud & Clear.The electoral college convenes today after an intense period of Russia bashing. There is a well publicized effort to deny Donald Trump the number of 270 electors needed to take the presidency.Donald Trump’s phone call with Taiwan’s president violated a bedrock principle of U.S.-China relations, the "One China Policy", which Trump went on to say the U.S. is not bound by. Are these the opening moves in an escalation of U.S. hostility towards the country? David Ewing, chair of the San Francisco chapter of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association, joins the show. The number of people killed in Syria’s five year war is often cited as now being over 400,000, but can such numbers be independently verified, and how many of the dead are soldiers, civilians and opposition fighters? Sharmine Narwani, co

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Dr. Robert Epstein to discuss how Google is adapting to the loss of their close friend Hillary Clinton.How will Google adapt to the Trump presidency? Money heals all wounds.The corporate media has gone into overdrive in the final stages of the battle for Aleppo, launching a propaganda campaign about mass killings and even genocide being carried out by the Syrian army. Are the western governments and press outlets really the humanitarians they claim to be? Journalist Eva Bartlett joins the show.Despite international and domestic condemnation, the far-right government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems determined to push ahead with a law that would legalize Israeli settlements built on private Palestinian land. Miko Peled talks with Brian about this move.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by editorial cartoonist Ted Rall to discuss what Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of State means for the U.S. and the world. The high-stakes drama over Trump's choice has come to an end as Rex Tillerson gets the nod. The CEO of Exxon Mobil is the latest millionaire businessman to join Trump’s cabinet.Today marks the five year anniversary since the Obama administration declared the war in Iraq over, but thousands of troops remain half a decade later as the U.S. bombs Mosul and the country teeters on the verge of partition. Becker is joined by Michael Prysner, a former U.S. Army soldier who fought in Iraq who became an anti-war activist. Donald Trump has picked Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas and fellow climate change denier, to lead the Energy Department that he once advocated abolishing - a position that he had a little trouble remembering. Greg Mello, the Secretary and Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, joins the show.