- Page 2 of 9 - The American empire and its many tentacles. Podcasts & articles

Ep 114 Russia-China Convergence feat George Szamuely

Guest: Dr. George Szamuely. We talked about the strengthening alliance between Russia and China (the Russia-China Convergence), the shock and concern expressed by US officials after recent meetings and comments by the Chinese and Russian leaders and about the American policy decisions and imperial adventures over the last few decades that made that convergence inevitable. We discussed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Brzezinski, McFaul and the long history of opposition to detente with Russia by factions of the US national security state. Then we talked about how this relates to Russiagate as well as recent developments in that arena.

Ep 112-113 Management of Savagery (Part 1 & 2) feat Max Blumenthal

Guest: Max Blumenthal. We discuss his new book, The Management of Savagery: How America’s National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump

Ep 111 John Bolton and Escalation With Iran feat Kyle Anzalone

Guest: Kyle Anzalone. Escalation of the conflict with Iran. Tucker Carlson’s major pushback against John Bolton and others urging Trump to provoke or start a hot war with Iran. Iran’s retaliatory “maximum pressure” campaign against the United States. The downing of an American drone over the Persian Gulf and Trump’s last minute stand down on missile strikes. Increasingly sophisticated strikes on Saudi Arabia by the Houthis.

Ep 110 Assange Indictments Rely on Contrived Narrative feat Kevin Gosztola

Guest: Kevin Gosztola studied and analyzed the 17 superseding indictments brought against Julian Assange on May 23. He argues that a familiar contrived, conspiracy narrative and timeline underpin the Dept. of Justice charges.

Ep 109 Hybrid War on Venezuela, Embassy Seizure feat Jeb Sprague

Guest: Jeb Sprague. We discuss the hybrid war being waged on Venezuela with an end goal of regime change. We also talk about recent events at the Venezuelan embassy under siege in Washington and the Venezuelan opposition figures who operated outside to help with a seizure in violation of the Vienna Convention.

Ep 109 Hybrid War Venezuela Embassy Seizure feat Jeb Sprague

Ep 108 CIA Warrior Class, A Heroic Myth feat Doug Valentine

Guest: Douglas Valentine. We discuss the CIA warrior class. As Doug says, they “truly believe the heroic myth they have created about themselves… endowing the warrior class with the highest social virtues, while justifying the tragic consequences of their imperial marauding as ‘fate’”.

Ep 108 CIA Warrior Class, A Heroic Myth feat Douglas Valentine

Ep 107 Last War-ism, Cold War Military-Industrial Complex feat Dave Foster

Guest: Dave Foster. We discuss the evolution of the military-industrial complex, Cold War weapons systems and “last war-ism.”

Ep 106 Bolton-Pompeo Axis feat Patrick Lawrence

Guest: Patrick Lawrence. We discuss President Trump’s relationship with his chosen cabinet hawks, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton and what Lawrence sees as a foreign policy coup by the Bolton-Pompeo axis.

Ep 105 War With Iran? feat Elijah Magnier

Guest: Elijah Magnier. According to Elijah’s analysis, the recent sabotage attacks in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were a warning from Iran to the US and allies in the region about what kinds of retaliation would occur if escalation continues and an attack on Iran is carried out. We also talk about his recent reporting about the prospects for a summer war in Lebanon and the wider region.

Ep 104 Assange Arrest, Crucial Crossroads Feat Michael Krieger

Guest: Michael Krieger. Michael explains how the extraction of Assange from the Ecuadorian embassy in London and subsequent arrest and request for extradition to the US was a profound turning point for investigative journalism, freedom of speech and for liberty and civilization. This event might end up being as consequential as the bailout of the “too big to fail” banks and the impact that had on the financial system and the rule of law.

Ep104 Julian Assange Arrest, Crucial Crossroads feat Michael Krieger

Ep 103 Russiagate Origins & Questions About the Mueller Report feat Daniel Lazare

Guest: Daniel Lazare. We discuss the origins of Russiagate, some key questions that we have about the Mueller Report and surprising things that the Mueller Report doesn’t even cover at all.

Ep 102 Another Failed Coup in Venezuela feat Joe Emersberger

Guest: Joe Emersberger. We talk about the latest failed coup in Venezuela, the sanctions causing tens of thousands of deaths, and the level of political support or resistance to intervention in the US and Europe. We also discuss Canada’s foreign policy and involvement in the American and British empires. Lastly we assess the risk of a larger war with Russia and China as they oppose American aggression and sanctions in various parts of the world.

Ep 101 Democrats’ Deep Divide; Money Corrupts Feat Zaid Jilani

Journalist Zaid Jilani joins the show to talk about the ideological differences in the Democratic party which have been on display in a recent public feud between the Bernie Sanders campaign and Neera Tanden, the leader of the Democratic party think tank, Center for American Progress (CAP). Jilani draws on his experience working at CAP for several years to help analyze the deep divide. We talked about how flooding the field with a large number of primary candidates might be used as a strategy to undermine Bernie Sanders. Lastly we discussed Russiagate and the politics of impeachment.

Ep 100 Russiagate Turned Ordinary Russians Against the US feat Bryan MacDonald

As Russiagate winds down, its toxic legacy endures in more ways than one. Journalist Bryan MacDonald has witnessed this first hand in his dealings with ordinary Russians. They’re losing their good will and admiration towards America largely because of Russiagate. Due to their broad exposure to western media and social media, Russian citizens are fully aware of the growing xenophobia and hatred expressed toward Russians by prominent Americans in government and media. Bryan tells us that “admiration and curiosity towards the US has been replaced with disappointment, hostility and often anger”. And this is a drastic change from the positive attitudes he found to be common just a few years ago.

Ep100 Russiagate Turned Ordinary Russians Against US feat Bryan MacDonald

Ep 99 Ukraine feat Mark Sleboda

Mark Sleboda joins us today from Moscow to talk about the state of affairs in Ukraine, the Ukraine elections and the larger geopolitical picture. Mark is an International Affairs & Security Analyst, a US Navy veteran, a university lecturer and a foreign policy realist.