Around The Empire

Ep 272 ATE Live: Nuclear Threats Panel with Kyle Anzalone, Dan Wright

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 02:49:03 +0000

10/19/22 Panel: Joanne Leon, Kyle Anzalone, Dan Wright. Discussion of Ukraine war, risk of nuclear escalation plus Kyle's article being tweeted by Elon Musk.

FOLLOW Kyle @KyleAnzalone_ @Con_Interest FOLLOW Dan @DSW_xyz

Recorded on October 19, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

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Ep 271 ATE Live Ukraine War Panel with Connor Freeman, Kelley Lane, Patrick MacFarlane, Riley Waggaman, Dan Wright

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 21:45:40 +0000

Panel: Joanne Leon, Connor Freeman, Kelley Lane, Patrick MacFarlane, Riley Waggaman, Dan Wright. Discussion about the war in Ukraine and latest developments.

Recorded on September 15, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ukraine's counterattack: Unheeded warnings from Russia's pro-war hardliners, Riley Waggaman

Military summary channel

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Ep 270 Crisis in Iraq PANEL feat Elijah Magnier Kyle Anzalone Dan Wright

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 04:53:42 +0000

Panel: Kyle Anzalone, Joanne Leon, Elijah Magnier, Dan Wright.

Discussion about the protests and political crisis in Iraq and the Iran deal JCPOA.

Elijah Magnier is a veteran war correspondent and political analyst with over 35 years of experience covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest. Dan Wright is a writer and podcaster and the co-founder of Around the Empire.

FOLLOW Elijah on Twitter @ejmalrai. Find and support his work on his website https://ejmagnier.com where you can subscribe and donate.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter @KyleAnzalone_ and @Con_Interest, find his writing at Libertarian Institute and Antiwar.com and on Patreon.

FOLLOW Dan on Twitter @DSW_xyz

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Recorded on August 31, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Nuclear Deal is not Ripe Yet and Israel's Worries are Irrelevant, Elijah Magnier

Ep 269 Trouble in Eurasia: China, Korea, Russia, Ukraine feat Kyle Anzalone

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 04:51:03 +0000

Guest: Kyle Anzalone. We discuss a number of new articles written by Kyle about China, Korea, Russia and Ukraine. In a bonus segment we talk about how the war in Ukraine seems to be changing from a conventional war to an insurgency and dirty war. We also talk about Dugin car bombing.

Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest show.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter @KyleAnzalone_ and @Con_Interest, find his writing at Libertarian Institute and Antiwar.com and on Patreon.

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Recorded on August 22, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 268 One Nation Under Blackmail: The Enterprise, PROMIS and Casolaro feat Whitney Webb

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:50:56 +0000

Guest: Whitney Webb. We discuss her new book "One Nation Under Blackmail: The Sordid Union between Intelligence and Organized Crime that gave rise to Jeffrey Epstein." We focus on the story of the PROMIS software and the "Enterprise Network" that Danny Casolaro was investigating for his story about "The Octopus". In a bonus segment we discuss the surprising roles played by Israel and China during the Clinton presidency years.

Whitney Webb is an author and an investigative journalist. Her highly anticipated books will be published in September (Volume 1) and October (Volume 2) by the publisher, Trine Day. Ebooks and audio book versions will also be available. Subscribe to her mailing list for all the latest updates on her writing and the book.

FOLLOW Whitney on Twitter @_whitneywebb subscribe to her mailing list, subscribe to her podcast and read her work at her website Unlimited Hangout.

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Recorded on August 23, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

One Nation Under Blackmail (Volumes 1 and 2, Bundle)
Around the Empire: Ep 87 Newsguard & the "Trust Industry" feat Whitney Webb
Around the Empire: Ep 117 The Mega Group and the Epstein Affair feat Whitney Webb
Around the Empire: Ep 170 Biotech Industrial Complex feat Whitney Webb
Around the Empire: Ep 170 EXTRA Biotech Industrial Complex feat Whitney Webb
Around the Empire: Ep 121 Epstein and the Clintons feat Whitney Webb
Around the Empire: Ep 202 Solar Winds, Dark Winter feat Whitney Webb
Around the Empire: Ep 202EXTRA Beyond the 2020 Election and the WEF Agenda feat Whitney Webb

Ep267 Ukraine War and Logistics feat Tyler Weaver (Armchair Warlord)

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 04:24:46 +0000

Hosts: Joanne Leon, Kyle Anzalone. Guest: Tyler Weaver (Armchair Warlord)

Discussion with Tyler Weaver aka Armchair Warlord about the war in Ukraine with some focus on logistics and armaments. A retrospective look at the war and also the recent developments. In a bonus segment we talk about Russia's objectives in Ukraine at the point of invasion and how they have evolved since then.

Tyler Weaver aka Armchair Warlord is a veteran, the author of the book "Maidens War" and a military analyst.

FOLLOW Tyler on Twitter @ArmchairW, on Telegram at https://t.me/VampireSix and find his book on Amazon and at other booksellers.

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Recorded on August 21, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Tyler Weaver (Armchair Warlord) recommended Telegram channels:

https://t.me/Slavyangrad

https://t.me/azmilitary11

https://t.me/DonbassDevushka

https://t.me/CyberspecNews

https://t.me/intelslava

https://t.me/asbmil

https://t.me/levigodman

https://t.me/brianlovethailand

Around the Empire LIVE: Ep 266 Taiwan / China Panel

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 00:46:09 +0000

Hosts: Joanne Leon, Dan Wright

Guests: Peter Lee, Patrick MacFarlane, Connor Echols

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Recorded on August 3, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

As Pelosi Taiwan visit looms, Menendez bill would 'gut' One China policy, Connor Echols
Taiwan and Our 'Feigned Ambiguity', Patrick MacFarlane

Ep 265 Third Party Candidates Disrupt the Status Quo PANEL

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 02:10:00 +0000

Hosts: Joanne Leon, Kelley Lane. Guests: Shannon Bray, Matthew Hoh, Scott Horton, Angela McArdle

Panel discussion about the importance of third party candidates, especially anti-interventionist candidates who can act as a political insurgency to disrupt the establishment status quo. We also discuss the recent scandal with the North Carolina election board voting along partisan lines to prevent US Senate candidate Matthew Hoh from getting on the ballot, the recent takeover of the Libertarian party by the Mises Caucus and the need to find common ground among anti-interventionists across the political spectrum.

Shannon Bray is running for US Senate in North Carolina on the Libertarian party ticket and Matthew Hoh is running for US Senate in North Carolina on the Green Party ticket. Scott Horton is an author, director of the Libertarian Institute and Editorial Director of antiwar.com. Angela McArdle is the recently elected chair of the Libertarian national party.

FOLLOW Shannon Bray on Twitter at @ShannonBrayNC, Matthew Hoh at @MatthewPHoh, Scott Horton @scotthortonshow, Angela McArdle at @angela4LNCChair, Kelley Lane at @Kelleyswords, Joanne Leon at @JoanneLeon and Around the Empire at @AroundtheEmpire

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Recorded on July 27, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 264 Ukraine War From a Baltic Perspective Swapcast Eastern Border

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 04:29:12 +0000

This is a swapcast with Kristaps Andrejsons, host of the Eastern Border podcast. We talk about life in Latvia, what it's like to be a small former Soviet republic country with a big neighbor like Russia, and the Ukraine war from a Baltic perspective. In a bonus segment we discuss the increase in NATO troops in Europe and the Baltic countries.

Kristaps Andrejsons is an historian and a podcaster from Riga, Latvia, He hosts a podcast called Eastern Border about the politics and the history of the eastern Europe and the USSR and the Baltic region but which is now mostly focused on the war in neighboring Ukraine.

FOLLOW Kris and the podcast on Twitter at @Eastern_Border and find the podcast on podcast apps and Youtube and the website theeasternborder.lv.

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Recorded on June 29, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Baltic Citizens Worry They're Next on Russia's Menu: Moscow's aggression has stirred old fears in its neighbors, Kristaps Andrejsons
Russia and Ukraine Are Trapped in Medieval Myths: A shared past underpins—and worsens—the conflict.
Putin's Speech Laid Out a Dark Vision of Russian History: There's no room for Ukraine in the Russian leader's distorted telling of the past.
Eastern Border Podcast: War in Ukraine: Famine

Ep 263 Financial War: Fed Declares Independence feat Tom Luongo

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 04:47:03 +0000

Guest: Tom Luongo. We continue our conversations from previous episodes about the Federal Reserve and financial war underlying the conflicts and crises around the world right now. We discuss recent moves by the Fed and what it means, along with a lot of other political and philosophical commentary mixed in. In a bonus segment I ask Tom how the US and EU manage to be united in the Ukraine war while the Fed and ECB are waging epic battles.

Tom Luongo is a former research chemist, amateur dairy goat farmer, anarcho-libertarian, and obstreperous Austrian economist. His specialty is connecting geopolitics and finance/investment and he publishes the Gold Goats, and Guns newsletter and podcast and whose work can be found on sites like Zerohedge, Lewrockwell.com, Bitcoin Magazine and Newsmax Media.

FOLLOW Tom at @TFL1728. Find his work at the Gold, Goats 'n Guns website, on Youtube, Odysee, Patreon and other platforms.

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Reference Links:

Ep 262 Yemen Ceasefire and Reasons Behind It feat Isa Blumi

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:39:34 +0000

Guest: Isa Blumi. We talk about the ceasefire in Yemen, the circumstances and the reasons why it happened. We also talk about energy development, the Hodeidah blockade, the situation in Aden, the ousting of Hadi and creation of a new Presidential Council and we continue our discussion from previous episodes about the war within wars in Yemen and the Gulf states. In a bonus segment we talk about Sweden and Finland changing their neutral status and joining NATO. When we recorded this, Turkey was still holding up the approval but yesterday at the NATO summit that block was cleared and it was announced that they would be joining NATO.

Dr. Isa Blumi is an historian, an author and Professor of Global History, Islamic World, Ottoman Empire, Yemen, Albania. His most recent book Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia." He also authored the book Ottoman Refugees, 1878-1939: Migration in a Post-Imperial World.

FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his work at Google Scholar and his latest book at UCPress.edu.

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Recorded on June 10, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 261 War in Ukraine Panel Podcast

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 03:58:09 +0000

Panel: Connor Freeman, Kelley Lane, Joanne Leon, Stephen Semler, Dan Wright. A wide ranging discussion about the war in Ukraine, the possible escalation to nuclear war and the billions of dollars being approved by Congress.

FOLLOW @stephensemler, @WrightLeaning, @Kelleyswords, @FreemansMind96, @joanneleon, @AroundtheEmpire

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Reference Links:

A breakdown of the Ukraine aid bill, Stephen Semler
THERE IS NO OFF-RAMP': A RECIPE FOR NUCLEAR WAR, Connor Freeman, Libertarian Institute

Ep 260 Intel Influence Operations and British Leadership feat Kit Klarenberg

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 05:07:00 +0000

Hosts: Joanne Leon and Dan Wright. We had a long and fascinating discussion with Kit Klarenberg about his recent report "Operation Surprise: leaked emails expose secret intelligence coup to install Boris Johnson" and his latest report "Leaked emails expose UK Home Secretary Priti Patel's connection to MI6-style 'research and influence operation'". We also talked about the parallels in American and global politics, Julian Assange and a variety of other subjects.

Kit Klarenberg is an investigative journalist who explores the role of intelligence services in shaping politics and perceptions and he has been published by numerous media outlets including The Grayzone, Cradle, Electronic Intifada, RT, MintPress News and more.

FOLLOW @KitKlarenberg, follow his work on his substack https://substack.com/profile/29599137-kit-klarenberg

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Reference Links:

Operation Surprise: leaked emails expose secret intelligence coup to install Boris Johnson, Kit Klarenberg, The Grayzone
Leaked emails expose UK Home Secretary Priti Patel's connection to MI6-style 'research and influence operation', Kit Klarenberg, The Grayzone
Yes Minister — Why Britain Joined the European Union (near 36min mark)
Christina Pushaw Twitter THREAD about Nina Jankowicz's book
MSNBC contributor deletes tweet of Russian plane being shot down after learning it was from video game

Ep 259 War Planning in the Pacific feat Peter Lee

Thu, 19 May 2022 04:21:33 +0000

Guest: Peter Lee. We discuss two of Peter's recent China Threat Report episodes titled Death By Oil: US Warplanning in the Pacific and The Escalation Solution with a focus on Taiwan. In a bonus segment, we talk about the escalation in Ukraine, timely catastrophes and why Peter now considers himself a "catastrophist".

Peter Lee has decades of experience in East Asia both as a businessman and as a writer. He produces Peter Lee's China Threat Report and has been published at Asia Times, CounterPunch at his own blog, China Matters. FOLLOW @chinahand. SUBSCRIBE to Peter Lee's China Threat Report.

FOLLOW @chinahand. SUBSCRIBE to Peter Lee's China Threat Report.

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Recorded on May 6, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Death By Oil: US Warplanning in the Pacific, Peter Lee, China Threat Report

The Escalation Solution, Peter Lee, China Threat Report

Ep 258 The Sword and Cross at Albright's Funeral feat Sam Husseini

Tue, 17 May 2022 05:44:09 +0000

Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. Guest: Sam Husseini. We talk about his recent article, Albright's Funeral -- The Sword and the Cross Come Together and more. In a bonus question, we talk about the convergence of neoliberal and neoconservative actors in the foreign policy establishment and the Biden administration.

Sam Husseini is a Washington, DC metro based independent journalist who has been piercing through the establishment's falsifications for 25 years. His more recent work includes the possible lab origin of the pandemic (which he started writing about in its early days) and the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 trial. In the 1990s and 2000s he covered the Yugoslavia Wars, sanctions policy against Iraq and the Iraq war. He has rigorously questioned officials including Colin Powell, Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi, Saudi Amb. Turki bin Faisal al-Saud and many others.

FOLLOW Sam on Twitter at @samhusseini and subscribe to his Substack. Find his past writings at http://husseini.org/ and his artwork at https://bethatempty.org/.

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Reference Links:

Albright's Funeral -- The Sword and the Cross Come Together

Autopsy Of A Disaster: The U.S. Sanctions Policy On Iraq, Institute for Public Accuracy

Ep 257 Checkered Relations of U.S. and Russia Through History feat Peter Kuznick

Sun, 01 May 2022 02:07:25 +0000

Guest: Peter Kuznick. We talk about the checkered history of relations between the United States and Russia (and the USSR). We talk about the book "The Untold History of the United States" including a second edition with some new chapters on more recent history. In a bonus question we talk about possible Russian revanchism and whether the Baltic states and other former USSR states in the region are now in danger if Russia begins to feel threatened by NATO activity in those states and in the context of the current invasion of Ukraine.

Peter Kuznick is an author, historian and the Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University. He was active in the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements and remains active in antiwar and nuclear abolition efforts. He regularly provides commentary for all the major U.S. and international media and has begun his fourth term as Organization of American Historians Distinguished Lecturer.

FIND Peter Kuznick on the American University website, look for the updated version his book with Oliver Stone: The Untold History of the United States (new 2019 edition) and watch their documentary series which is available on multiple streaming services.

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Ep 256 Clare Daly & Mick Wallace: The Anti-war Voices Heard Around the World

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 17:38:31 +0000

Guest: Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. We talk to the Irish Members of the European Parliament who are now some of the most powerful anti-war voices heard around the world. We discuss the war in Ukraine, sanctions, flooding the war with more arms and how all of these things lead to more war and destruction, not peace. We disagree with taking sides in a situation that requires more nuance. In a bonus segment, we talk about the position of neutrality taken by Ireland and how this status is constantly under pressure.

FOLLOW Clare on Twitter @claredalymep and follow Mick @wallacemick. Listen and subscribe to their podcast I4C Trouble with Daly and Wallace, "political podcast from Ireland's two best-known independent left wing MEPs, straight from the belly of the EU beast".

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Recorded on April 12, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 255 It's a Financial War feat Tom Luongo

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 15:45:18 +0000

Guest: Tom Luongo. We continue and update our conversation from Episode 229 Central Bank Wars about the financial war underlying the conflicts and crises around the world right now. We discuss the global financial infrastructure, LIBOR and it's replacement, SOFR, the Federal Reserve, the great power wars, the hot war in Ukraine, and more. In a long bonus episode we talk about whether Russia and China are part of the Great Reset and "in on it", so to speak, taking into consideration some arguments from both sides of that question. And more.

FOLLOW Tom at @TFL1728. Find his work at the Gold, Goats 'n Guns website, on Youtube, Odysee, Patreon and other platforms.

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Recorded on March 31, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

ATE Ep 229 Central Bank Wars feat Tom Luongo
GGG Podcast Episode #75 – Davos and the Week That Changed Everything Part 1
GGG Podcast Episode #76 – Davos, Ukraine and the Week That Changed the World Part II
SOFR v. LIBOR: Have We Been Missing Something About the Fed's Upcoming "Policy Error?", Tom Luongo
The Putin Interviews, Oliver Stone
Tom Luongo: Can Russia Kill the Great Reset? Palisades Gold Radio

Ep 254 Analyzing VAERS: The Unacceptable Interview feat Jessica Rose

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 06:16:30 +0000

Guest: Dr. Jessica Rose. We talk about her work analyzing the VAERS database and more. Due to censorship issues, most of this episode will not be available on Youtube but the full episode is available on our other platforms. You can find those on aroundtheempire.com.

Dr. Jessica Rose is a brilliant Canadian scientist with integrity. She is an immunologist and molecular biologist who has specialized in computational biology and the bio-mechanisms behind pathogenic infections. She has degrees in Applied Mathematics, Immunology, a PhD in Computational Biology and 2 Post Doctoral degrees: one in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Her research and publications include investigating hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus, HIV, and anthrax and her most current research project is analysis of the VAERS data and an effort to make this data accessible to the public. She is currently based in Israel and she loves surfing.

She publishes in her Substack Unacceptable Jessica and her website Jessica's Universe.

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Recorded on March 27, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 253 D-Day in Kyiv feat Jeffrey Carr

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 04:48:01 +0000

Guest: Jeffrey Carr. We talk about his experience working with the Ukraine Ministry of Defense cyber warfare team when the invasion began.

Jeffrey Carr has been an internationally-known cybersecurity adviser, author, and researcher since 2006. He has worked as a small business/entrepreneur in Russia for the CIA's Open Source Center Eurasia Desk. He invented REDACT, the world's first global R&D database and search engine to assist companies in identifying which intellectual property is of value to foreign governments. He is the founder and organizer of Suits & Spooks, a conference for discussion of challenges in the national security space, and he is the author of the book Inside Cyber Warfare: Mapping the Cyber Underworld.

FOLLOW @jeffreycarr on Twitter and at Inside Cyber Warfare on Substack and find his book "Inside Cyber Warfare" book on O'Reilly Media.

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Recorded on March 24, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

D-Day in Kyiv, Jeffrey Carr
Around the Empire Episode 13: Crowdstrike's Russian Hacking Claims feat. Jeffrey Carr
Around the Empire Ep 145 Crowdstrike Analysis Revisited feat Jeffrey Carr
Exclusive: U.S. spy agency probes sabotage of satellite internet during Russian invasion, sources say
Hackers Attacked Satellite Terminals Through Management Network, Viasat Officials Say (Update on the Viasat hack that was reported on the same day this podcast was recorded)

Ep252 Global Finance & Putin's Invasion of Ukraine (Swapcast)

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 18:00:36 +0000

Kyle Anzalone (Conflicts of Interest) and Joanne Leon (Around the Empire). We talk about some global finance aspects of the ongoing hybrid war, the invasion of Ukraine and geopolitics.

FOLLOW on Twitter: @KyleAnzalone_ and @Con_Interest and find Kyle and the Conflicts of Interest podcast at Libertarian Institute

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Recorded on March 23, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 251 Global Technocracy feat Iain Davis

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 05:43:19 +0000

Guest: Iain Davis. We talk about his article titled: "Technocracy: The Operating System For The New International Rules-Based Order." We discuss the western international rules-based order vs a new international laws based order proposed by China and Russia and the governing mechanism of global technocracy. We also talk about global stakeholders, public-private partnerships, UN sustainable development goals, Agenda 21 and Agenda 2030 and more. In a bonus segment we speculate about the likelihood that a world war would advance the goals of global technocracy and whether that's the situation we are in right now.

Iain Davis is an independent investigative journalist based in the UK. His focus is upon widening readers awareness of evidence that is not commonly reported by the so-called mainstream media. He writes for the UK Column, Unlimited Hangout and on his blog In This Together. His work has been featured by the Corbett Report, the OffGuardian, Lew-Rockwell, Zero Hedge and other independent news outlets.

FOLLOW Iain on Twitter at @_InThisTogether

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Recorded on March 3, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Technocracy: The Operating System For The New International Rules-Based Order, Iain Davis, Unlimited Hangout
Book: Pseudo Pandemic: New Normal Technocracy, Iain Davis
United Nations: Agenda 21
United Nations: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Book: Tragedy & Hope: A History of the World in Our Time, Carroll Quigley
Book: Tragedy and Hope 101: The Illusion of Justice, Freedom, and Democracy, Joseph Plummer
Book: Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution: The Remarkable True Story of the American Capitalists Who Financed the Russian Communists, Anthony Sutton
Book: Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler, Anthony Sutton
World Economic Forum
The World War I Conspiracy, Corbett Report

Ep 250 Wars Within Wars feat Isa Blumi

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 04:53:15 +0000

Guest: Dr. Isa Blumi. A wide ranging discussion where we discuss the various wars within wars in Yemen and other areas. We talk about the turmoil in Lebanon, competition between the Gulf states, Europe's gas supply and the gas fields in Eastern Mediterranean and more.

Dr. Isa Blumi is an historian, an author and Professor of Global History, Islamic World, Ottoman Empire, Yemen, Albania. His most recent Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia." He also authored the book Ottoman Refugees, 1878-1939: Migration in a Post-Imperial World

We recorded this in February, 2022.

FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his work at Google Scholar and his latest book at UCPress.edu.

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Ep 249 Realistic View of Ukraine and Russia feat Mary Dejevsky

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 07:19:39 +0000

Guest: Mary Dejevsky. We talk about the recent communications between US, NATO and Russia with a realistic view of Russia and Ukraine. In a bonus segment we talk about why the UK establishment is hostile toward Russia.

Mary Dejevsky is a veteran journalist and columnist, a former foreign correspondent in Moscow, Paris, Washington and a special correspondent in China. She has written about the collapse of the USSR from inside Moscow and she is an expert on relations between Russia and the western world. She now writes for several media outlets across the political spectrum.

FOLLOW Mary Dejevsky on Twitter @marydejevsky, read her columns at the Independent, at Spiked and The Spectator. Also look for her writing and appearances on various media outlets.

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Recorded on January 29, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Zbigniew Brzezinski at the Wilson Center June 2014: Mutual Security on Hold? Russia, the West, and European Security Architecture
Ukraine's president is the voice of reason in stand-off with Russia, Mary Dejevsky, The Independent
What Putin really wants, Mary Dejevsky, Spiked Online
What the US and UK get wrong about Ukraine, Mary Dejevsky, Spiked Online
5,000 helmets and Germany's dark history in Ukraine, Mary Dejevsky, The Spectator

Ep 248 Russia's Range of Options for Ukraine Crisis feat Mark Sleboda

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 04:02:12 +0000

Guest: Mark Sleboda. We talk about the likelihood of Russian intervention in Ukraine, the options available to them, and the overall situation with the standoff between NATO and Russia.

Mark Sleboda is an International Affairs & Security Analyst, a US Navy veteran, a university lecturer and a foreign policy realist.

FOLLOW Mark on Twitter @MarkSleboda1 and look for his appearances on RT, Sputnik and other international channels.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

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Recorded January 26, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Around the Empire: Ep 213 Ukraine Escalation feat Mark Sleboda
Around the Empire: Ep 157 Crisis of Confidence in Ukraine feat Mark Sleboda
Around the Empire: Ep 120 Ukraine Political Transformation? feat Mark Sleboda
Around the Empire: Ep 99 Ukraine feat Mark Sleboda
Around the Empire: Ep 141 Maidan Massacre in Ukraine feat Ivan Katchanovski
A Year After 1/6, Ukraine's War Draws U.S. Far-Right to Fight Russia, Train for Violence at Home, Tom O'Connor, Naveed Jamali, Newsweek

Ep 247 Can Ukraine Crisis Be Solved Without War? (Swapcast)

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 04:58:35 +0000

Swapcast with the hosts of Conflicts of Interest Podcast: Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman. We talk about the crisis in U.S.-Russian relations. This roundtable first covers Washington and NATO's written responses to Moscow regarding last month's Russian security proposals and then we discuss the threat of war, the potential scope of such a war, why Russia is likely no longer concerned about further U.S. sanctions, the role of CIA paramilitaries on the front line, the shutdown of the Ukrainian opposition, and the increasing influence of Nazis and Nazi adjacent elements in Ukraine's power structures.

There is also conversation on the Biden-Putin relationship, the malign influence of the Victoria Nuland circle, and the recently resumed Normandy Format style talks with the Russians, the Ukrainians, the French, and the Germans.

FOLLOW on Twitter: @KyleAnzalone_ @Con_Interest and @FreemansMind96. SUBSCRIBE to the Conflicts of Interest podcast and find their writing at the Libertarian Institute

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Recorded on January 26, 2022, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 246 Questions About Kazakhstan feat Hrvoje Morić

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 08:43:23 +0000

Guest: Hrvoje Morić, host of the Geopolitics and Empire podcast. About a week after the protests and unrest in Kazakhstan in early January, Hrvoje and I got together for a chat about the questions we still had about the situation and our skepticism about the immediate claims of color revolution. Some things have changed in the past two weeks since we recorded this but for me, many questions still remain.

Hrvoje Morić is a podcaster and an educator. He lived in Kazakhstan from 2017 to 2020 while he worked as a teacher at Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools. He is also a professor of International Relations. He served with the Peace Corps in Mongolia and has traveled extensively.

FOLLOW Hrvyoe on Twitter @Geopolitics_Emp and find his podcast at https://geopoliticsandempire.com.

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Recorded on January 13, 2022. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

After Kazakhstan, the color revolution era is over, Pepe Escobar
After Kazakhstan Crisis, China Will Reassess Its Influence in Central Asia
Documentary: 9 Days: From My Window in Aleppo

Ep 245 Covert State Sponsored Media feat Kit Klarenberg

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 02:42:08 +0000

Guest: Kit Klarenberg. Kit Klarenberg returns to the show, again with leaked documents related to information and psychological warfare. We discuss his Grayzone article titled: "Leaked files expose Syria psyops veteran astroturfing BreadTube star to counter Covid restriction critics." In this case a state-sponsored influence operation was created to undermine critics of coronavirus policies and they're covertly using at least one prominent YouTube personality as their media conduit for elite, establishment, imperial narratives. In a bonus question we talk about strategies for finding genuine media sources and channels.

FOLLOW @KitKlarenberg, follow his work on his substack https://substack.com/profile/29599137-kit-klarenberg

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Reference Links:

Leaked files expose Syria psyops veteran astroturfing BreadTube star to counter Covid restriction critics, Kit Klarenberg, Grayzone
ProDemocracy Pod: Episode 19: Breadtube Exposed with Kit Klarenberg and Caleb Maupin
Around the Empire: Ep 210 Information Warfare Networks feat Kit Klarenberg & Mohamed Elmaazi

Ep 244 Biological Weapons in the Korean War feat Jeffrey Kaye

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 08:24:11 +0000

Guest: Jeffrey Kaye. We talk about his research and writing on the Korean War and the biological warfare that was waged. HIs work is based on years of experience and research including in depth research of the depositions by prisoners of war and other materials that required laborious and expensive efforts to obtain. In a bonus segment we talk about how the US biowarfare operations have changed since the offensive bioweapon programs were officially ended during the Nixon administration when the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention was ratified.

Jeffrey Kaye is a retired psychologist. For nearly 10 years he worked part time with Survivors International in San Francisco, conducting both assessment and psychotherapy of torture victims. After 9/11, he joined others in protesting the activities of psychologists in the CIA and Department of Defense, some of whom who helped develop interrogation programs that have widely been exposed as including torture and other forms of cruel treatment of prisoners. He is also a blogger and an author of the book "Cover-up at Guantanamo". His articles have been published for many years on various media outlets including Counterpunch, The Guardian and Al Jazeera.

FOLLOW Jeffrey Kaye on Twitter @Jeff_Kaye and find his work at Medium.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

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Reference Links:

Secret History: U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps Flyers' Confessions on Use of Biological Weapons in the Korean War, Jeffrey Kaye
CIA, MKULTRA and the Cover-up of U.S. Germ Warfare in the Korean War, Counterpunch, Jeffrey Kaye / Insurge Intelligence
"A Real Flood of Bacteria and Germs": Communications Intelligence and Charges of U.S. Germ Warfare During the Korean War, Jeffrey Kaye, Counterpunch
New Revelations on Germ Warfare: It's Time for a Reckoning with Our History from the Korean War, Jeffrey Kaye, Counterpunch
The Schnacke Affidavit: U.S. Admission of Offensive Germ Warfare Capability During the Korean War, Jeffrey Kaye, Counterpunch
Censored: North Korea Accused U.S. of Working with Unit 731 War Criminals on BW Attacks, Jeffrey Kaye
A Concealed War Crime: U.S. Anthrax Bombings of China During the Korean War, Jeffrey Kaye
REVEALED: The long-suppressed official report on US biowarfare in North Korea, Jeffrey Kaye

Ep 243 Civil War in Ethiopia Swapcast feat Teodrose Fikremariam

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:25:38 +0000

Guest: Teodrose Fikremariam. An in depth discussion of the civil war in Ethiopia. This is a swapcast with Kyle Anzalone of the Conflicts of Interest podcast.

Teodrose Fikremarium, is the co-founder and editor of the Ghion Journal and host of video shows on the Ghion Journal channel. Originally from Ethiopia, he is a published author, a prolific writer, a consultant in the defense industry and a former community organizer and political activist.

FOLLOW Teodrose at @teodrose3 and find his work at the Ghion Journal and on their YouTube channel. Follow Kyle Anzalone KyleAnzalone_ and the Conflicts of Interest podcast.

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Recorded on December 16, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Why Is Ethiopia at War With Itself?, New York Times
Around the Empire: Ep 93 Weaponized Identity & Malcolm X Warnings feat Teodrose Fikre
Around the Empire: Ep 193 Sudan and Red Sea Region feat Isa Blumi

Ep 242 Libya Elections and Foreign Intervention feat Giorgio Cafiero

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 20:19:26 +0000

Guest: Giorgio Cafiero. We talk about the upcoming elections in Libya, scheduled for December 24, 2021. The situation still remains chaotic and uncertain with just a few days left. To quote Giorgio in one of his recent articles:

"Libya is at a delicate point in its history. The deeply fractured and divided North African country has the first round of presidential elections officially set for December 24, yet we do not know if the elections will be held that day. Whether or not elections are held then, and whether the second round and parliamentary elections are held in February will matter significantly. But more importantly, how various domestic and foreign actors act in the period following elections matters even more."

In a bonus episode we talk about the possibility of Libya being integrated into the broader Arab world and to become one of the countries who normalize relations with Israel. We also talk about the main candidates Haftar, Ghaddafi and the interim prime minister Dbeibeh.

Giorgio Cafiero is a Washington based analyst and CEO of Gulf State Analytics. He is a regular contributor to many media outlets, an adjunct fellow at the American Security Project, an affiliate at the Mena Center and an analyst at London-based advisory Rosa & Roubini Associates.

FOLLOW @GiorgioCafiero and find his work at gulfstateanalytics.com

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Recorded on December 13, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Libya's planned elections are a ticking time bomb, Giorgio Cafiero, TRT
UN Security Council Resolution 2323: The situation in Libya (2016)
Libya's presidential election was meant to unite the country, The Economist
Different Nations for One Libya, Karim Mezran
Gaddafi's Ex-Spox: Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi Has Widest Support Heading Into Libyan Elections, RT Going Underground
WATCH: Armed men surround Tripoli government HQ, RT
Armed groups deploy around key sites in Libya's Tripoli, Al Arabiya
Libya, Al Samoud Brigade Besieges Tripoli. Elections At Risk, Southfront
UN Chief: 'Unprecedented Levels' of Foreign Interference in Libya, VoA

Ep 241 Theranos Through A New Lens feat Alex Krainer

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 01:40:21 +0000

Guest: Alex Krainer. After two years of pandemic response, there are new and interesting perspectives and ways to view Theranos through a new lens. We discuss Alex Krainer's three-part article titled Theranos Scandal: The Real Story. In a bonus episode, we talk about how world wars have led to "great resets" in the past and whether our current situation signals that preparations for world changing wars are being made and who the real "empire builders" are.

Alex Krainer has an impressive and multi-faceted background that has positioned him to look at this case with from a new angle. He is a market analyst, researcher, futures trader, investor, author and former hedge fund manager based in Monaco. He was born in Yugoslavia and lived through hyperinflation in the 1980s. He went to university abroad in the United States and Switzerland and then worked in Venezuela where he experienced his first banking crisis when nine of of Venezuela's sixteen largest banks failed and brought the country's economy to a grinding halt. He then returned to his native Croatia and served in the military during the last phases of Croatia's war of independence. From there he moved to Monaco to work in the oil trading business and rose the level of CEO, having built an R & D unit specializing in market analysis, neural networks and artificial intelligence in trading financial and commodities markets. He developed I-System strategies, launched his own high performing investment management business and managed units of other investment firms.

Krainer is also the author of finance related books and professional papers including: "Mastering Uncertainty in Commodities Trading," which was ranked #1 book on FinancialExpert.co.uk list of "The 5 Best Commodities Books for Investors and Traders, He also wrote "Commodity price risk, profits and value creation" and "Alex Krainer's Trend Following Bible." In 2017 he published a book based on his investigation of Bill Browder titled "Great Deception: the Truth About Bill Browder, the Magnitsky Act and anti-Russia Sanctions." The book was targeted by Jonathan Winer, former policy adviser to Secretary of State John Kerry (in the Obama administration) and Amazon deleted his account and reviews. They failed to pay royalties since 2018 but kept the book on the Amazon site at hugely inflated prices (while retaining all proceeds from sales) until just last week when Amazon removed his books from the site without explanation.

FOLLOW Alex on Twitter @NakedHedgie and find his work on his blog The Naked Hedgie and his professional website I-System Trend Following.

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Reference Links:

Ep 240 Witnessing the Transformation of China feat ADVChina (Winston & Matt)

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 00:23:21 +0000

Guests: Hosts of the ADVChina YouTube channel and podcast Winston Sterzel (aka Serpentza) and Matthew Tye (aka C-Milk/laowhy86) lived and traveled through most of China for more than a decade. They started a custom motorcycle business and did most of their traveling on those motorcycles and they produced two documentary films. Their video and podcast content (they have individual channels as well as the ADVChina channels) is broad ranging but mostly about life in China from a westerner's perspective and the more recent content has a lot of information about how things have changed. Both Winston and Matt married and have extended families in China and in their home countries of South Africa and the United States and they left China for the United States in the past couple of years after witnessing a significant transformation in China. We talk about that transformation, what life in China was like when they first moved there and how things are now. We talk about the real estate bubble, the Evergrande crisis, and Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign, Xinjiang and the Uyghurs. We then discuss the escalating hostility between China and the United States and its allies. In a bonus episode we discuss whether or not China is becoming an imperial power "with Chinese characteristics". And more.

FOLLOW Winston on Twitter at @serpentza, follow Matt at @laowhy86. Subscribe to their YouTube channels ADVChina, ADVPodcasts, Serpentza, laowhy86 and find their work on their website advchina.net

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Reference Links:

ADVChina: Why is Everything in CHINA FALLING APART?
ADVChina: China's Biggest Ghost City - The Military Chased us Out!
ADVChina Documentary: Conquering Southern China
ADVChina Documentary: Conquering Northern China
ADVPodcast
Associated Press: Terror & Tourism: Xinjiang eases its grip, but fear remains
Around the Empire: Ep 207 Chinahawks' Uyghur Genocide Narrative feat Gareth Porter
Around the Empire: Ep 216 Indy Media Chinahawks (Swapcast) Patrick MacFarlane
Around the Empire: Ep 181 Xinjiang and the Uyghurs feat Peter Lee

Ep 239 Questions Still Unanswered (Part 2): Anthrax Attacks

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 03:52:53 +0000

Panelists: Peter Castagno, Gumby, Joanne Leon, Robbie Martin, Dan Wright. A panel discussion about the questions that are still unanswered 20 years after 9/11. This is part two of an ongoing series where we talk about the anthrax attacks. We are honored to have such a knowledgeable and talented line up in this panel.

Joanne Leon and Dan Wright are co-founders of Around the Empire. Peter Castagno is the co-owner of the Citizen Truth independent media website covering international politics. He is an independent writer & researcher with an MA in International Conflict Resolution.

Gumby is an independent researcher, well known for his research threads on Twitter and podcast appearances under the pseudonym @gumby4christ (a handle that he chose years ago in jest but then became a brand). Robbie Martin is documentary film maker (see his film A Very Heavy Agenda at AVeryHeavyAgenda.com), a musician, researcher and the host of Media Roots Radio.

FOLLOW @JoanneLeon, @DanSWright, @gumby4christ, @petercastagno_, @fluorescentgrey.

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Reference Links:

Timeline: Anthrax Timeline by Barbara Hatch Rosenberg
Timeline: NJ.com timeline of the anthrax case
Timeline: NY Times Anthrax timeline
Unlimited Hangout/Whitney Webb: 20 Years After Anthrax with Robbie Martin
MediaRoots Radio: Amerithrax 20th Anniversary: St Petersburg Letters, Bruce Ivins' Bilocation & the Anthrax Timeline
MediaRoots Radio: Kathy Nguyen the Anthrax Victim FBI Called a Terrorist & Swabbing Hijacker Remains in Shanksville
MediaRoots Anthrax Cache, Anthrax Cache Addition 1, Anthrax Cache Addition 2
NYT 2001: Florida Man Dies of Rare Form of Anthrax
NYT 2001: Anthrax Found in NBC News Aide
Letter to Brokaw traced
Anthrax Now Discovered in Bellmawr P O
Anthrax At Belmawr Post Office?
Another regional N.J. post office is closed after employee develops possible skin anthrax
AP: Man [Hatfill] in Anthrax Probe Bragged of Ties
Bioweapon expert denies anthrax involvement
Anthrax Epizootic in Zimbabwe, 1978-1980: Due to Deliberate Spread? By Meryl Nass, MD
Vanity Fair / Don Foster: The Message in the Anthrax
NYT: Scientist Is Paid Millions by U.S. in Anthrax Suit
Newsweek: Steven Hatfill's Strange Trip From Accused Terrorist to Medical Adventurer
Anthrax victim's family sues U.S. government
FBI Amerithrax or Anthrax Investigation
nj.com Holt remains skeptical about conclusions in anthrax investigation
nj.com Report requested by Holt found gaps in FBI's investigation of anthrax attacks
Unlimited Hangout/Whitney Webb: Head of the Hydra: The Rise of Robert Kadlec

Ep 238 Taiwan Trouble feat Peter Lee

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:56:39 +0000

Guest: Peter Lee aka @chinahand. As Peter said "it's been a pretty good week for the chinahawks." In fact, a lot of good weeks lately. We talk about the escalation of tensions with China over Taiwan, the US-led "Asian NATO"l ships sailing through the Taiwan strait and in the South China sea, Chinese military exercises scrambling jets near Taiwan, the issue of Taiwan independence and US defense, the political situation and the prospects for war to break out and more. In a bonus episode I ask Peter what triggered Xi JInping's crackdown in China and what caused the sudden shift in relations between the US and China, the real estate crisis and why Chinese billionaires had been allowed to thrive for so long.

FOLLOW @chinahand. SUBSCRIBE to Peter Lee's China Threat Report.

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Reference Links:

Peter Lee's China Threat Report: Taiwan ADIZ Sound and Fury
Peter Lee's China Threat Report: How Do You Spell Cold War 2.0? AUKUS
WSJ: U.S. Troops Have Been Deployed in Taiwan for at Least a Year
Chinese Foreign Ministry: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Remarks on Taiwan-related Statement Issued by US State Department Spokesperson
Global Times: Op-Ed: Time to warn Taiwan secessionists and their fomenters: war is real: Global Times editorial

Ep 237 Realignments in the Middle East & Africa feat Isa Blumi

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:31:24 +0000

Guest: Dr. Isa Blumi. This is a wide-ranging discussion about the political realignments in the Gulf states, new partnerships in the Middle East and Africa, Qatar's involvement in the withdrawal from Afghanistan, developments in Yemen, quiet military repurposing of strategic island of Socotra, the long and complicated exploitation of East Africa, the Red Sea region and Horn of Africa, the mass of military bases in Djbouti, the Turkey-Russia relationship and more.

For those listening to the audio version of this podcast, we have added many maps and other visual enhancements to the video version that you might find helpful during some of this discussion so if you are interested you can find those versions on Youtube and Rokfin right now and other video platforms in the not too distant future.

FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his work at Google Scholar and his latest book at UCPress.edu.

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Recorded on October 6, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Book: Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World

ATE Ep236 Questions Still Unanswered

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 23:35:08 +0000

Panelists: Peter Castagno, Gumby, Joanne Leon, Dan Wright. A panel discussion about the questions that are still unanswered 20 years after 9/11. This is part one of a series. There is an "after hours" bonus segment where we talk about turning this into a series, the fact that dissent from the official 9/11 story is (finally) being discussed more openly and there is strong pressure to make it less taboo, and more.

FOLLOW @JoanneLeon, @DanSWright, @gumby4christ, @petercastagno_

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Reference Links:

9/11 Independent Commission (Family Steering Committee) - Unanswered Questions
Book: Unanswered Questions: What the September Eleventh Families Asked and the 9/11 Commission Ignored
History Commons: BBC Reports WTC 7 Collapse Before It Happens
BBC Response re: reporting WTC 7 collapse before it happened
ClandesTime 114 – An Alternative History of Al Qaeda: Ali Mohamed
Porkins Policy Review: Ali Mohamed: The CIA's Favorite Terrorist (Guest article by Tom Secker)
History Commons: Ali Mohamed
Covert Action Magazine: The Twenty Year Shadow of 9/11 (Part 1): U.S. Complicity in the Terror Spectacle and the Urgent Need to End It, Aaron Good, Ben Howard and Peter Dale Scott
Covert Action Magazine: The Twenty Year Shadow of 9/11 (Part 2): Why Did Key U.S. Officials Protect the Alleged 9/11 Plotters?, Aaron Good, Ben Howard and Peter Dale Scott
Covert Action Magazine: Stepping out of the Shadow of 9/11 (Part 3): Start by Ending the Post-9/11 States of Emergency, Aaron Good, Ben Howard and Peter Dale Scott
Gumby's Twitter thread on Pentagon's special unit DO5 and Pentagon whistleblower codenamed Iron Man
Truthout (2011): New Documents Suggest DoD Watchdog Covered Up Intelligence Unit's Work Tracking 9/11 Terrorists, Jason Leopold, Jeffrey Kaye
Truthout (2011): Report: Intelligence Unit Told Before 9/11 to Stop Tracking Bin Laden, Jeffrey Kaye
Covert Action Magazine: Anthrax Attacks Directed Against Public Officials Following 9/11 Had all the Markings of a False Flag Operation, Graeme McQueen
Slate: How Did I Get Iraq Wrong?, Richard Cohen
ProPublica: Colleague Says Anthrax Numbers Add Up to Unsolved Case
Washington Post: Justice Dept. takes on itself in probe of 2001 anthrax attacks, Jerry Markon
Book: The Watchdogs Didn't Bark: The CIA, NSA, and the Crimes of the War on Terror, Ray Nowosielski, John Duffy
Epistemic Vice: A Critique of Quassim Cassam's "Conspiracy Theories", Peter Castagno
Book: Logical Investigative Methods: Critical Thinking and Reasoning for Successful Investigations, Robert J. Girod
Book: Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, Richards J. Heuer Jr.
Book: The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation, Philip Shenon
A Very Heavy Agenda (documentary series), Robbie Martin
Book: Another Nineteen: Investigating Legitimate 9/11 Suspects, Kevin Ryan
Guns and Butter: Another Nineteen, Part One thru Five - Kevin Ryan, #287-291
Max Keiser interviews Jim Rickards on 9/11 Stock Irregularities on The Keiser Report (RT 2014)
Unusual Option Market Activity and the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001, Allen M. Poteshman, University of Chicago Press
Was There Abnormal Trading in the S&P 500 Index Options Prior to the September 11 Attacks?, Wing-Keung Wong, Asia University, Department of Finance
Detecting Abnormal Trading Activities in Option Markets, Marc Chesney (University of Zurich - Department of Banking and Finance), Remo Crameri (University of Zurich - Swiss Banking Institute ISB), Loriano Mancini (USI Lugano - Institute of Finance; Swiss Finance Institute)

Ep 235 Afghans Come to America

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 04:37:39 +0000

Panelists: Kyle Anzalone, Kelley Lane, Joanne Leon, Dan Wright. A panel discussion about the war in Afghanistan and the evacuation of tens of thousands of Afghans, most of whom will be settling in the United States. There is a bonus "After Hours" segment where we let loose on the foreign policy establishment "Blob" of idiots, the profiteering, the pivot to China and more.

FOLLOW @KyleAnzalone_, @Kelleyswords, @JoanneLeon, @DanSWright

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Recorded on August 27, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 234 Afghanistan War: The Big Lie feat Matthew Hoh

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 02:37:01 +0000

Guest: Matthew Hoh. Hosts: Joanne Leon and Dan Wright. A wide ranging discussion about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the response to losing the war, the media coverage over the past 20 years and the bad actors we were allied with throughout the war but now upon leaving, the outrage and sudden concern for the Afghan people. Over the years, so many lies were told that the whole war seems like a big lie. We also talk about why the evacuation went so badly, the national security council, the British freak out and more. In a bonus segment we talk about the opium trade in Afghanistan and the Taliban pledge to shut it down.

Matthew Hoh is a Senior Fellow with the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC and a member of the Eisenhower Network. He's a disabled veteran, a former US Marine Corps officer and Department of Defense and State Department official. Matthew was in the Iraq War with the Marines and in both Afghanistan and Iraq with State Department teams. He is on the Boards and Advisory Boards of a number of organizations including Expose Facts, Institute for Public Accuracy and Veterans For Peace. He writes and speaks regularly on issues of war and peace, has appeared on numerous media networks and his work has been published by a wide array of online and print media

FOLLOW Matthew on Twitter @MatthewPHoh and Facebook. Find his recent writings at CounterPunch, antiwar.com and on his website https://matthewhoh.com

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Recorded on August 26, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

What critics of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan get wrong, Matthew Hoh, CNN
"I Was Living Like Scarface": The Ludicrous Costs of the War in Afghanistan Revealed in New Documents, Testimonies, MintPress News, Alan MacLeod
Around the Empire: Ep 154 Afghanistan Papers and the Culture of Lying feat Matthew Hoh

Ep 233 Hold the Generals Accountable This Time feat Ray McGovern

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 04:54:01 +0000

Guest: Ray McGovern. Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. We talk about Ray's recent article calling for military generals to be held accountable this time, for this 20-year March of Folly called the War in Afghanistan. If they are not held accountable, there will be still worse to come. In a bonus episode, we talk about Biden's battle with the media, the intelligence complex and the whole "MICIMATT" (an acronym that Ray has coined for the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank complex, the same complex that worked so hard to put him in the White House.

Ray McGovern is a retired CIA analyst who served as Chief of the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch and preparer/briefer of the President's Daily Brief. Prior to that he served as an infantry/intelligence officer in the 1960's. He is co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), an activist, a prolific writer and a frequent guest on various media outlets.

FOLLOW Ray on Twitter @raymcgovern, find his website at https://raymcgovern.com

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Recorded on August 23, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Hold the Generals Accountable This Time, Ray McGovern
Welcome to Vietnam, Mr. President, Ray McGovern
$10,000 Invested in Defense Stocks When Afghanistan War Began Now Worth Almost $100,000, Jon Schwarz
Book: The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam, Barbara W. Tuchman

Ep 232 The Escalation Ladder With China feat Connor Freeman

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 01:59:43 +0000

Guest: Connor Freeman. We talk about the escalation ladder of hostilities with China and how it developed under the last four presidents and how we seem to climb further up that ladder every day.

In a long bonus episode we talk about the fall of Saigon moment in Afghanistan, playing out right now. We recorded this episode less than 48 hours ago but things are changing so rapidly that I added an update at the end of the bonus episode.

Connor Freeman is a writer at the Libertarian Institute, primarily covering foreign policy. He has been featured at Antiwar.com and Counterpunch and the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. He is a frequent guest on the Conflicts of Interest podcast.

FOLLOW Connor at @FreemansMind96 and find his work at The Libetarian Institute, Antiwar.com, The Ron Paul Institute and other media outlets.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on August 12, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Next on the Agenda: War With China, Connor Freeman

Ep 231 Hybrid Warfare and Cyberdiplomacy feat Jon Lancelot

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 03:46:28 +0000

Guest: Jon Lancelot. Hosts: Joanne Leon, Kelley Lane. A wide ranging discussion on hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, cyberdiplomacy, democracy, technocracy and more. In a bonus segment we talk about creeping fascism and what went wrong with the progressive movement.

Jonathan Lancelot is a cybersecurity analyst at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and principal policy analyst for the OSET Institute focused on election cybersecurity in the context of national security. He has a Master of Diplomacy with a focus on cyber-diplomacy and has been published in several journals. He also has an extensive technical background in computer science and has worked for Apple, the U.S. Senate and the US Department of Defense.

FOLLOW Jon on Twitter at @lancelotpolitic

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on July 21, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Human Crisis in Mozambique in the age of Cyber-Diplomacy, Jonathan Lancelot, Small Wars Journal
Russia Today, Cyberterrorists Tomorrow: U.S. Failure to Prepare Democracy for Cyberspace, Jonathan F. Lancelot, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law
Cyber-diplomacy: cyberwarfare and the rules of engagement, Jonathan F. Lancelot, Journal of Cyber Security Technology

Ep 230 Who Rules Haiti? Undermining Haiti's Sovereignty feat Margaret Kimberley

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 20:20:06 +0000

Guest: Margaret Kimberley. We talk about the recent assassination and leadership change in Haiti and the campaign for US military intervention. The details of the assassination are important but the fundamental issue is the undermining of Haiti's sovereignty and who is really dominating and determining the rulership of the country.

From Black Alliance for Peace:

Who rules Haiti? Certainly, neither the Haitian people nor Haitian civil society. Instead, in the two weeks since President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, the absence of Haitian sovereignty and the hollow nature of Haitian independence has been cynically exposed.

"A rogue's gallery of international actors—supposed "friends" of Haiti—have intervened in the republic's internal political affairs, handpicking the face of Haiti's government, while determining who best can serve Haiti's imperial masters," says Jemima Pierre, Haiti/Americas Coordinator for the Black Alliance for Peace."

In a bonus segment, we talk about the relentless regime change operations in Cuba and the current events happening there, from a perspective of self determination for a decades long target of imperial powers.

Margaret Kimberley is the author of the book Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents and she's the co-founder, editor and senior columnist for Black Agenda Report (BAR). She also writes on her own FreedomRider blog and is a member of the Coordinating Committee at Black Alliance for Peace.

FOLLOW Margaret on Twitter @freedomrideblog Find her work at the Black Agenda Report and at her FreedomRider blog.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Reference Links:

Ep 229 Central Bank Wars feat Tom Luongo

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 17:41:07 +0000

Guest: Tom Luongo. We talk about the financial aspect of war and foreign policy, central bank wars between the Fed and the European Central Bank, the World Economic Forum and the Great Reset. In the bonus segment we talk about how the sanctions and trade disputes with China were condemned when Trump was in office but have been resurrected under Biden and it now seems that trade war with China is back in fashion.

Tom Luongo is an analyst, writer and a former research chemist. His specialty is markets analysis informed by geopolitics. He publishes a blog Gold Goats 'n Guns, a podcast and a monthly investment letter. He contributes at Newsmax Media and is published by and does commentary for many other media outlets.

FOLLOW Tom at @TFL1728. Find his work at Gold, Goats 'n Guns, on Youtube, Odysee and other platforms.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on July 16, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 228 Leaving Afghanistan feat Scott Horton

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 04:02:24 +0000

Guest: Scott Horton. We talk about the war in Afghanistan, a landlocked country with rough terrain and the diverse groups of people who live there. We talk about the reasons why we lost that war and have to withdraw. We also discuss the news and footage from the withdrawal in progress and the reactions to the various factions who support and oppose that, and the dishonesty and hypocrisy that happen when people try to justify long wars and occupations like this one. In a bonus episode, we discuss the possibility for destabilization of the entire region around Afghanistan, the impact and involvement of China, Russia and Iran, and how things are likely to play out.

Scott Horton is the author of the book Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan and his most recent book Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism. He's the managing director of the Libertarian Institute, editorial director at Antiwar.com, host of Antiwar Radio on KPFK and the host of the Scott Horton Show podcast. Scott has spent the past two decades giving voice to ardent anti-war and anti-interventionist activists, experts and reporters from across the spectrum and has done more than five thousand interviews. Find his work at LibertarianInstitute.org, antiwar.com, ScottHorton.org, and FOLLOW him on Twitter at @scotthortonshow.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on July 15, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Book: Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism, Scott Horton

Book: Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan, Scott Horton

Ep 227 Consolidation of Political Power in Iran feat Neda Bolourchi

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 05:08:46 +0000

Guest: Dr. Neda Bolourchi. We talk about the recent election in Iran: a deep dive about the background, the people involved, the consolidation of power and the outlook for the future. In a bonus segment we talk about the US shifting priorities toward great power competition and what this means for policy and strategy with respect to Iran.

Dr. Neda Bolourchi is an assistant professor and Associate Director of Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University-New Brunswick Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Her research travels include years in Iran, Syria, and Armenia, has peer reviewed work on religion, politics, legal systems, and the modern Middle East and She also has a J.D. in International Law and her legal work includes international and comparative analysis of human rights violations in the Middle East.

Find Neda at LinkedIn and find her work on her Rutgers University Center for Middle Eastern Studies web page.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on July 2, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

In Focus South Asia | Iran's Presidential Elections | Episode 164 | Indus News
The who's who of Iranian players behind the new president, Muhammad Sahimi
"Seeing Red, Hearing the Revolution" (chapter by Neda Bolourchi) Losing Our Minds, Coming to Our Senses: Sensory Readings of Persian Literature and Culture by Leiden University Press

Ep 226 4th of July Holiday Special

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:23:22 +0000

As a holiday special for 4th of July, a researcher who is well known on Twitter and goes by the pseudonym Gumby4Christ and Joanne talk about his research on the Covid origins lab leak theory, the pandemic in general and how basic freedoms and rights in our society have been impacted by the response to all of it.

FOLLOW @gumby4christ on Twiitter.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on July 4, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19's Origins, Vanity F
RFK Jr The Defender podcast: Fauci's Smoking Gun with Dr. Meryl Nass
MediaRoots podcast: Libs Love Lab-Leak, Geopolitical Sting Op & the Wuhan Coincidence w/ gumby4christ
MediaRoots podcast: The Oswald Institute of Virology, COVID-19 Origins & US Military Biowarfare w/ gumby4christ
In-Depth Interview: Author Kris Newby and Prof. Mark Crispin Miller Talk About Chronic Lyme Disease, and Its Likely Origins, Peter B. Collins
Documents from gumby4christ FOIA request CDC FOIA: USAMRIID

Ep 225 Business, Politics and Organized Crime feat Jeremy Kuzmarov

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 04:12:43 +0000

Guest: Jeremy Kuzmarov. We talk about Jeremy's new article in Covert Action Magazine, titled How Organized Crime Infiltrated American Business After WW II and Corrupted National Politics from Truman to Trump. In it, he talks about a book by Jonathan Marshall, titled Dark Quadrant: Organized Crime, Big Business, and the Corruption of American Democracy. In a bonus segment, we talk about the January 6th riots.

Jeremy Kuzmarov is Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He is the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including Obama's Unending Wars (Clarity Press, 2019) and The Russians Are Coming, Again, with John Marciano (Monthly Review Press, 2018).

FOLLOW Jeremy at @jkuzmarov and find his work at Covert Action Magazine.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on June 16, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

How Organized Crime Infiltrated American Business After WW II and Corrupted National Politics from Truman to Trump, Jeremy Kuzmarov
Was January 6th a Dress Rehearsal for Coup d'État in the U.S.? Jeremy Kuzmarov
Book: Dark Quadrant: Organized Crime, Big Business, and the Corruption of American Democracy, Jonathan Marshall

Ep 224 Swapcast with Geopolitics and Empire

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 06:19:30 +0000

Joanne from Around the Empire and Hrvoje from Geopolitics and Empire get together for a wide ranging discussion about the Great Game, the Great Reset, the pandemic lockdowns and other responses, the ramping up of hostilities with Russia and China, withdrawal from Afghanistan and the sudden permission to speak about the lab leak theory.

FOLLOW Hrvoje at @Geopolitics_Emp SUBSCRIBE to the Geopolitics and Empire podcast on podcast apps, Youtube, Odyssey and other platforms and find the website at geopoliticsandempire.com

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on June 7, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 223 Gaza and the Resistance, Another Ceasefire feat Sharmine Narwani

Fri, 28 May 2021 16:21:05 +0000

Guest: Sharmine Narwani. We talk about Gaza, the Resistance and the differences between attacks on Gaza in past years and what is happening now, who really needs a ceasefire the most and why a ceasefire with no real change does not really help the Palestinians. We talk about reactions from other countries in the region to the latest attack on Gaza and Sharmine provides an update on the current situation in Lebanon which has fallen out of the news of late but is still in crisis and still deals with foreign interference. Lastly we talked about a new media project that Sharmine will be launching soon. In a bonus question, we talk about the evolution of the map of Palestine and Israel since World War II and how that map might change going forward -- essentially the future of Israel and Palestine.

FOLLOW Sharmine @snarwani and find her work at her website mideastshuffle.com

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on May 18, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

When Fighting Erupts Between Israel and Hamas, the Question of War Crimes, New York Times
Human Rights Watch: A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
(2014) Another ceasefire in Gaza? No, thank you, Sharmine Narwani

Ep 222 Election Integrity: Arizona Audit feat Craig (Pasta) Jardula

Wed, 19 May 2021 06:01:16 +0000

Guest: Craig (Pasta) Jardula. Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. We talk about the latest developments in the election integrity arena surrounding the 2020 election, especially the Arizona audit. There have been a lot of claims about audits in various states but the term "audit" means a lot of different things in American elections (as in some "audits" are really not audits). However, the audit that is happening in the state of Arizona right now is a real audit, which is important for a lot of reasons that we discuss in this episode. Around the Empire's main focus is not electoral politics or any politics in particular. But politics are at the center of all wars and foreign policy and the presidential elections in the United States are at the center of most wars and foreign policy in today's world.

Craig (aka Pasta) Jardula is a host on the Convo Couch show, an independent media show focused on politics, rooted in progressivism and one that strives to stand up for the little guy against the machine. They've done extensive work with candidates and investigation of elections and election systems.

FOLLOW Pasta on Twitter at @yopasta and @theconvocouch, and find their show on YouTube, Rokfin and other platforms.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on May 8, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 221 Franco-American Imperial Projects feat Danny Sjursen

Mon, 10 May 2021 22:59:59 +0000

Guest: Danny Sjursen. We talk about reasons for the 2011 regime change in Libya, the complex power struggle and foreign intervention that has ensued ever since and the importance of that story in understanding everything else in the Sahel areas of Africa and the broader region. We also discuss the 21st century American-enabled version of the French and British empires, European influence in African countries and how military operations in Africa are largely hidden from the citizens of the NATO countries who are driving them.

In a recent article, Sjursen wrote about the impact:

Conflicts are catalyzed, authoritarianism accelerated, human rights go to hell-in-a-hand-basket, and the cycle runs on repeat like a skipping (non-) strategy record. Generally, at least in Franco-America's African adventures, it's all done so secretly, sleazily, and – because hidden from the pesky public's peepers – almost silently. Only sometimes the most wretched walking evidences of criminal complicity have a nasty habit of dying on us, and, for a moment the conspirators stand exposed. That's when the linguistic-apologia indecency starts.

In a bonus question we talk about NATO, how its priorities are set and how its mini-empires are sustained.

Major Danny Sjursen, USA (ret.) is prolific writer and speaker and a leading expert voice among veterans. He is a Director of the Eisenhower Media Network, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, contributing editor at Antiwar.com, the co-host of the Fortress on a Hill podcast and the author of two books: Ghostriders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge, his new book Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War.

FOLLOW @SkepticalVet, SUBSCRIBE to the Fortress on a Hill podcast and buy his book Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War published by Heyday.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on April 29, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Our 'Dear Friend' Deby Is Dead – Yea, About That…, Danny Sjursen
Deby's Death, Chad's Crisis, and the Ghosts of Libyan Fiascoes Past, Danny Sjursen
New Hillary Emails Reveal Propaganda, Executions, Coveting Libyan Oil and Gold, Brad Hoff (2016)
State Department FOIA Archives, Clinton email December release

Ep 220 Russia's Sphere of Influence feat Kovalik

Fri, 07 May 2021 03:30:42 +0000

Guest: Dan Kovalik. We talk about his op-ed "The West's sole prerogative is that Russia has no right to self-defense... even when the threat is right on its border"

Daniel Kovalik teaches International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and is author of the book: No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using "Humanitarian" Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests.

FOLLOW @danielmkovalik and find his book at Skyhorse Publishing.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on April 27, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The West's sole prerogative is that Russia has no right to self-defense... even when the threat is right on its border, Dan Kovalik

Ep 219 Support the Tropes feat Alan MacLeod

Sat, 01 May 2021 00:24:11 +0000

Guest: Alan MacLeod. We discuss his article "Support the Tropes: How media language encourages the left to support wars, coups and intervention" and how how media is used as an instrument to manufacture consent for regime change and various acts of war, especially targeting left-leaning audiences. In a bonus segment we talk about Alan's research on Bellingcat and his article How Bellingcat Launders National Security State Talking Points into the Press.

Dr. Alan MacLeod is an academic, an author and a journalist who does work on media analysis and politics with a focus on social media, Latin American politics and propaganda. He writes for MintPress News and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting and he has written two recent books, Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent.

FOLLOW Alan on Twitter at @AlanRMacLeod. Find his work at MintPress News and look for his books Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on April 26, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Support the Tropes: How media language encourages the left to support wars, coups and intervention, Alan MacLeod, FAIR
Humanitarian Imperialism: How corporate media sell regime change, Intervention and war to progressive audiences, Alan MacLeod, FAIR
How Bellingcat Launders National Security State Talking Points into the Press, Alan MacLeod, MintPress News

Ep 218 Seeing the Larger World With a New Lens feat Alison McDowell

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 05:36:18 +0000

Guest: Alison McDowell. We talk about her research into Agenda 21, the transformation of education, the natural systems being financialized, the biosecurity state, stakeholder capitalism and more. In a bonus question we talk about why the "great reset" or new normal agenda seems to have been fast-tracked and if there are common threads in the institutions and entities who are behind it.

Alison McDowell is a mom, a prolific researcher and producer of network mapping and reporting on her independent media site, wrenchinthegears.com and her Youtube channel.

FOLLOW @Philly852 SUBSCRIBE to her YouTube channel. Find her work at her website wrenchinthegears.com

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on April 19, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 217 The Doom of the Elite feat Michael Vlahos

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 05:52:53 +0000

Guest: Michael Vlahos. We discuss his article published at The American Conservative

titled "The Doom Of The Elite: The rise and fall of elites shapes our history and can be predicted". In a bonus episode we talk about the prospects for a new civil war, Vlahos' theory that "cancel culture" is a response to the decline, and other warnings from his recent article titled "There Will Be Blood: Beware the Ides of March!"

Michael Vlahos is an author, a military historian and strategist. He has taught war and strategy graduate courses at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), the U.S Naval War College, and at Centro Estudios Superiores Navales, D.F. He is the author of the book Fighting Identity: Sacred War and World Change and he is a weekly contributor to The John Batchelor Show.

Michael Vlahos is a writer and author of the book Fighting Identity: Sacred War and World Change. He has taught war and strategy at Johns Hopkins University and the Naval War College and other institutions.

FOLLOW @Michalis_Vlahos and find his blog at anewcivilwar.com.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on April 15, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Doom Of The Elite: The rise and fall of elites shapes our history and can be predicted. Michael Vlahos, American Conservative
There Will Be Blood: Beware the Ides of March!, Michael Vlahos
Old Civil Wars Never Die: Like Zombies They Are Raised By History to Devour Us, Michael Vlahos

Ep 216 Indy Media Chinahawks (Swapcast) Patrick MacFarlane

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 05:25:57 +0000

Swapcast with Liberty Weekly / Patrick MacFarlane. In this age of decline of the establishment mainstream media, the pundits and the usual chinahawk commentators aren't the only ones parroting the hostile and aggressive narratives toward China. A surprising number of independent media personalities with large followings are doing the same thing. Patrick takes note of some of the people and places where this is happening and also does some deep dive research into the Uyghur genocide claims and counterclaims themselves and takes a sober look at the evidence.

Patrick MacFarlane is a practicing attorney in Wisconsin, a libertarian podcaster and a contributor at the Libertarian Institute.

FOLLOW @liberty_weekly SUBSCRIBE to his podcast Liberty Weekly. Find his work at libertyweekly.net and the Libertarian Institute

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on April 16, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Independent Media Parrots Questionable Uyghur Genocide Claims, Patrick MacFarlane, Libertarian Institute
Conflicts of Interest #93 - China's Uyghurs: Genocide Victims or CIA Pawns?
ATE Ep 207 Chinahawks' Uyghur Genocide Narrative feat Gareth Porter
ATE Ep 181 Xinjiang and the Uyghurs feat Peter Lee

Ep 215 Turkey's Geopolitical History & Role in the World Today feat Isa Blumi

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 00:28:08 +0000

Isa Blumi provides some historical background on Turkey and Ottoman empire, some more current history of Turkey and NATO and also an analysis of Turkey's current involvement in the rising crisis between US/NATO and Russia in Ukraine. We also explore the role of Turkey's president Erdogan and what it means when people say that he and his political allies have neo-Ottoman aspirations.

FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his work at Google Scholar and his latest book at UCPress.edu.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on April 14, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 214 Fiasco in Alaska, US/China Relations feat Peter Lee

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 21:09:40 +0000

Guest: Peter Lee. We talk about the Fiasco in Alaska aka the Alaska Summit talks between the US and China on March 18th where Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with top Chinese diplomats including Yang Jiechi, the Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office in China. The preaching by the American officials was met with an unexpected clapbac and the whole affair blew up in international media including Chinese social media where the Chinese translator Zhang Jing and the defiant message she relayed was widely celebrated. We also talk about the US Indo-Pacific command's containment strategy for China, a multi-faceted Cold War on the rise, the situation with Taiwan, Project 2049, and the prospects for war between Taiwan and China. In a bonus episode Peter explains the "who lost China?" narrative that has influenced the military and diplomatic corps for decades. Before we begin the interview, I'll include some excerpts of the Chinese response to Blinken from the Fiasco in Alaska.

FOLLOW @chinahand. SUBSCRIBE to Peter Lee's China Threat Report.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

Twitter @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on March 31, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Peter Lee's China Threat Report

Ep 213 Ukraine Escalation feat Mark Sleboda

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:17:03 +0000

Guest: Mark Sleboda. We talk about the state of affairs in Ukraine with the current Zelensky administration and the new US administration's policies (which involve a lot of old geopolitical rhetoric). We also talk about the escalation in the Donbas and the Black Sea region. In bonus segment for patrons, we talk about the perils of creating external enemies for political purposes and the reasons behind US sanctions and hostility toward Russia.

Mark Sleboda is an International Affairs & Security Analyst, a US Navy veteran, a university lecturer and a foreign policy realist.

FOLLOW Mark on Twitter @MarkSleboda1 and on Facebook, look for his appearances on RT, Sputnik and other international channels.

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

Recorded on March 26, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 212 Russiagate and Propaganda feat Oliver Boyd-Barrett

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 20:41:03 +0000

Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. Guest: Oliver Boyd-Barrett. We discuss Boyd-Barrett's book titled RussiaGate and Propaganda: Disinformation in the Age of Social Media, which focuses on the Russiagate case in the broader understanding of propaganda. In the bonus episode, we talk about the recent resurrection of the Russiagate saga and the reasons for it.

Dr. Oliver Boyd-Barrett is Professor Emeritus of Journalism and Public Relations at Bowling Green State University and the author of the book: RussiaGate and Propaganda:

Disinformation in the Age of Social Media. He serves on the international advisory board of the Organization for Propaganda Studies and he is currently working on a new book "Conflict Propaganda in Syria: Narrative Battles".

Find Olivery Boyd-Barrett on Facebook look for his books including RussiaGate and Propaganda: Disinformation in the Age of Social Media and his upcoming book "Conflict Propaganda in Syria: Narrative Battles".

Around the Empire aroundtheempire.com is listener supported, independent media.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. FOLLOW Kelley Lane at @KelleysWords

Recorded on March 25, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Russiagate as Organized Distraction, Oliver Boyd-Barrett, Consortium News
The Great Hack (2019 documentary) Brittany Kaiser

Ep 211 Third Parties, War, Elections & Lockdowns feat Angela McArdle

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 05:02:34 +0000

Guest: Angela McArdle. Co-hosts Joanne Leon, Kelley Lane and Kyle Anzalone. This is a swapcast for the Around the Empire podcast and the Conflicts of Interest show. It's a broad discussion about war and foreign policy, interventionism, elections and the handling of the pandemic with lockdowns and other restrictions and its impact on the lives of Americans, the economy and our rights. There is a bonus episode questioning whether censorship and lockdowns can be compared to a modern day gulag.

Angela McArdle currently serves as Chair of the Libertarian Party of Los Angeles County and is seeking the National Libertarian Party Chair in 2022. Angela was a two time candidate for California's 34th Congressional District. She is a paralegal and legal aid who currently works in litigation focused mainly on real estate and constitutional law. She also has a private practice providing self help legal services to low income clients and she was a key organizer for the 2013 protest in LA against a ban on feeding in public rights of way. Angela believes strongly in the sanctity of personal choice and allowing people to govern their own lives.

FOLLOW Angela at @angela4congress and on her website angelamcardle.com

FOLLOW on Twitter: @KyleAnzalone_ @Con_Interest SUBSCRIBE to the Conflicts of Interest podcast at the Libertarian Institute and on YouTube and LBRY.

FOLLOW Kelley at @Kelleyswords

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 16, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 210 Information Warfare Networks feat Kit Klarenberg & Mohamed Elmaazi

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:57:37 +0000

Guests: Kit Klarenberg & Mohamed Elmaazi. New documents that appear to be from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been leaked by a group that identifies as "Anonymous" and is allegedly the same group that has published leaked documents over the past two years about UK Foreign Office covert programs. This batch of documents shows that Whitehall uses private contractors to infiltrate a variety of media (including smaller, "independent" media and social media influencers and civil society. In this case the stated noble objectives are things like improving literacy, ensuring balance in reporting and countering disinformation. The real objectives revealed in the documents are something else entirely. There is also a bonus episode for patrons about how this seems like an evolved, 21st century Operation Mockingbird.

Kit Klarenberg is an investigative journalist who explores the role of intelligence services in shaping politics and perceptions and he currently writes for RT. Mohamed Elmaazi is a journalist with experience in human rights law who is currently writing for Sputnik International.

FOLLOW Mohamed on Twitter at @MElmaazi. Find his writing at Sputnik News, The Canary and visit his blog The Interregnum. Follow Kit's work at RT.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 3, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 209 Propaganda on Steroids feat Monica Perez

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:46:11 +0000

Guest: Monica Perez from the Propaganda Report show. We talk about the October, 2019 exercise called Event 201 hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the World Economic Forum and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which illustrated that "public/private partnerships will be necessary during the response to a severe pandemic in order to diminish large-scale economic and societal consequences." We have a wide-ranging discussion about the Great Reset and other emerging plans that have been set out by various global institutions. We focus on the immense public relations and propaganda efforts around these things and other broader topics about the way the world is changing. There is also a bonus episode for patrons about what the end game is and how likely it is to be successful.

Monica Perez is co-host of the Propaganda Report podcast and was the host of The Monica Perez Show for 8 1/2 years on WSB in Atlanta. Prior to that she was an investment banker. She holds a degree from Harvard and a JD-MBA from Stanford and she is a Chartered Financial Analyst and member of the bar of the State of New York. Monica now lives in Los Angeles, California and is the proud (and busy) mother of three teenagers.

FOLLOW Monica @MonicaPerezShow, SUBSCRIBE to the Propaganda Report podcast and https://rokfin.com/propagandareport Rokfin channel. Find her work at The Propaganda Report website or MonicaPerezShow.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 17, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 208: NATO Escalates in Iraq feat Elijah Magnier

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 02:36:01 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. We talk about the the three attacks in one week on US bases in Iraq following an announcement that the US will escalate the operation in Iraq. US and NATO troops will no longer be withdrawn from Iraq but instead the escalate and expand the mission substantially. We also talk about Syria, the axis of resistance and the broader region. When we recorded this interview a few days ago the media was reporting that the Biden administration is taking a calm approach, investigating the source of the attacks and not overreacting. All of that changed just a couple of days later when Biden launched an retaliatory attack on "infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria." Reports on the multiple-target attack are still varying at the moment but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that 22 people were killed. The strikes happened in al Bukamal near the border with Iraq and the "Iranian-backed militant groups" that the Pentagon spokesman referred to are Iraqi Popular Mobilization Force (PMF) fighters. The PMF is sponsored by the Iraqi government and was reorganized around 2014 to fight against ISIS, something that Elijah has explained in previous interviews on this podcast. No evidence from the alleged investigation that the media claimed the Biden administration was conducting before any response has been reported. The Pentagon frames it as a defensive strike and also claims that this was an attempt to "de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq."

There is also a bonus question for patrons about US support for Saudi operations in Yemen and an increase in deployment of US troops in Saudi Arabia and why the American people don't elect leaders who can end the forever wars.

FOLLOW Elijah on Twitter @ejmalrai. Find and support his work at ejmagnier.com where you can subscribe to his articles and donate.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 23, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 207 Chinahawks' Uyghur Genocide Narrative feat Gareth Porter

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 19:44:27 +0000

Guest: Gareth Porter. We discuss Gareth's new article on the Biden administration's endorsement of the Chinahawk narrative on Uychur genocide. Gareth examines the origin, source and credibility of that narrative, the Uyghur people and the Xinjiang province in China. There is also a bonus question about the likelihood of the Biden administration re-entering the JCPOA Iran deal and US military buildup in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf area. There is also a bonus question for patrons where Gareth gives his thoughts about a US return to the Iran deal under the new Biden administration and some further thoughts on Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Gareth Porter is an independent Investigative historian and journalist on the national security state. He is the author of numerous books including Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam (2005) and Manufactured Crisis: the Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare (2014).and the co-author with John Kiriakou of his latest book The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis: From CIA Coup to the Brink of War. Gareth is the winner of the 2012 Gellhorn Prize for Journalism

FOLLOW Gareth on Twitter at @GarethPorter. Find his work at The Grayzone. Read his most recent book authored with John Kirakou: The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis: From CIA Coup to the Brink of War.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Reference Links:

US State Department accusation of China 'genocide' relied on data abuse and baseless claims by far-right ideologue, Gareth Porter at The Grayzone

Ep 206 New Boss Same As the Old Boss? (Swapcast)

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 19:42:30 +0000

Swapcast: Kyle Anzalone from Conflicts of Interest and Joanne Leon from Around the Empire. We compare the Biden foreign policy to the Trump, Obama and Bush administrations, analyze press conference and announcements from NATO's Jen Stoltenberg about expanding the number of troops and area of operation in Iraq and freezing any withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and more.

FOLLOW on Twitter: @KyleAnzalone_ @Con_Interest SUBSCRIBE to the Conflicts of Interest podcast at the Libertarian Institute and on YouTube and LBRY.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 18, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 205 Biden Foreign Policy, Censorship & Elections feat Convo Couch

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 03:26:36 +0000

Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. Guests: Craig Jardula (aka Pasta) and Fiorella Isabel from the Convo Couch

We talk about Biden's foreign policy speech (and other declarations) and the people who are now returning to the helm of the "national security state". We talked about the increase in censorship (including the recent demonetizing of Convo Couch and others), the "blue fascism" of the establishment and our thoughts on the time being ripe for for a broad, independent political movement. There is a bonus question for patrons about election integrity and the "storming of the citadel of democracy" on January 6th and the impeachment that followed. Fiorella and Pasta were there on the ground in Washington that day and they share with us their observations and analysis of the situation.

Craig (aka Pasta) Jardula and Fiorella Isabel are the hosts of the Convo Couch show, an independent media show focused on politics, rooted in progressivism and one that strives to stand up for the little guy against the machine. They've done extensive work with candidates and investigation of elections and election systems.

FOLLOW them on Twitter and other social media platforms at @theconvocouch, @Fiorella_im and @yopasta and find their show on YouTube, Rokfin and Patreon.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 11, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 204 How an "Elite Cabal" Fortified the 2020 Election Narrative

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Swapcast: Kyle Anzalone from Conflicts of Interest and Joanne Leon from Around the Empire.

We discuss the 2020 election and a new Time magazine article titled "The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election" which explains how an "elite-cabal" "saved democracy" by 'influencing perceptions, changing rules and laws, steering media coverage and controlling the flow of information". These actions are not illegal, but they affirm the feeling of many Americans that something was wrong with the 2020 election.

Joanne and Kyle argue that the article is even more nefarious than it appears. The bold, and likely exaggerated, claims about the cabal's influence are reported as unquestionably heroic. Meanwhile any effort by Trump or his supporters to question or challenge the "shadow campaign" is treated as an evil attack on democracy. The message is: Americans need our elites to craft the appropriate narrative so Americans consume the right information and vote for the correct candidate.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @KyleAnzalone_ SUBSCRIBE to the Conflicts of Interest podcast at the Libertarian Institute and on YouTube.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 6, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election, Time
Nevada bill would allow tech companies to create governments, AP
Bill would allow tech companies to create local governments, Las Vegas Review Journal

Ep 203 Short Squeeze feat Tom Luongo

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 21:26:15 +0000

Guest: Tom Luongo. We talk about market trading, the short squeeze tactic, Robinhood, Gamestop, silver and other assets that have been in play recently along with an allegedly grassroots populist, online-coordinated effort to rebel against hedge funds and Wall Street. Some have framed this movement as another generation of Occupy Wall Street. We also had a broader conversation about the overall unrest and in a bonus question about the possibility that behind the latest chaos might be yet another factional battle that could even involve foreign entities in a hybrid type war.

This podcast is another example of how both Tom Luongo and I seek out common ground for discussions even though our views are very different on some issues. But we both believe that a huge number of people from across the spectrum have many of the same fundamental wants, needs and objectives and we should seek those out when we can instead of demonizing and waging war against each other. These divides can be (and are) manipulated, aren't in our best interest and only favor people who we should be opposing because they absolutely don't have the best interests of the populace at heart. When we do that, we all lose, so let's find common ground.

FOLLOW Tom at @TFL1728. Find his work at Gold, Goats 'n Guns Also find his work at Patreon, Youtube and DLive and other platforms.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 1, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Market Weekly: Game Stop Revolution or the Matrix Reloaded?, Tom Luongo
Gold Goats 'n Guns Live -- The Silver #ShortSqueeze, Tom Luongo
GameStop Short Squeeze: These Are the Big Wall Street Players Who Stood to Make Billions, Wall Street on Parade
GameStop Promoter Keith Gill Was No "Amateur" Trader; He Held Sophisticated Trading Licenses and Worked in the Finance Industry, Wall Street on Parade
GameStop Shares: Dark Pools Owned by Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, UBS, et al, Have Made Tens of Thousands of Trades, Wall Street on Parade
Last American Vagabond Interview with Whitney Webb

Ep 202 Solar Winds, Dark Winter feat Whitney Webb

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 02:27:42 +0000

Guest: Whitney Webb. We talk about the Solar Winds hack that has been reported by the media since December, including an important update on January 6 which was largely drowned out by the January 6 incidents at the Capitol and the 24/7 media blast that followed.

News articles about the Solar Winds hack with warnings about impending disaster continue to be published frequently. An article in Lawfare today titled "The SolarWinds Hack Can Directly Affect Control Systems" said: "As Microsoft's CEO pointed out, what's been seen so far is only the 'first phase' of the attack that targeted IT systems in the government and companies large and small. While disconnecting the SolarWinds Orion system from one's IT system may mitigate some of the damage, it neglects the possibility that potentially destructive malware could easily have been planted on OT systems as well. And the impact of OT breaches can be more significant than mere IT penetration; OT consists of systems that affect the physical world."… "By attacking the SolarWinds platform, the Russians were able to get a "two-fer," that is, persistent access and data exfiltration from the IT networks and access to control system devices and control system OT networks." Lawfare directly attributes all of this to the Russian government and it should be noted that Lawfare is very well connected to the national security establishment and has been one of the most extreme promoters of the Russiagate narrative for the past four years.

In the story about the Solar Winds hack, some key cybersecurity entities familiar to us from Russiagate reappear, like CrowdStrike and FireEye as do some familiar figures like Ghilaine Maxwell's sister, Isabel. Reports of a massive and ongoing compromise to a broad range of government and private networks with a weak attribution claim about Russian state-sponsored hackers began to spread like a 2016 DNC "hack" narrative deja vu. Dire warnings about dark winters and ruinous cybersecurity attacks have been put on a loop setting, predicting unprecedented economic and institutional impact. Some new entities have emerged and some old figures have reappeared in the latest impending crisis. At the same time there have been rigorous efforts to shift the threat target toward domestic terrorism and dissent.

One of the disturbing aspects of the whole thing is that long before the reports about the Solar Winds hack, similar but more vague warnings along these lines have been put out into the public by entities whose exercises and simulations have tended to actually occur in real life.

There is also a bonus question about how the 2020 election was a prerequisite for a much larger, more broad transformative objective that has been signaled by various official organizations inside and outside the US government and marketed by the World Economic Forum whose annual meeting in Davos begins today.

FOLLOW Whitney @_whitneywebb SUBSCRIBE to her podcast Unlimited Hangout and find her work at the Unlimited Hangout website, Rokfin and at The Last American Vagabond.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on January 25, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

(Jan, 2021) Another Mega Group Spy Scandal? Samanage, Sabotage, And The SolarWinds Hack, Whitney Webb
(Jan, 2021) Silicon Valley and WEF-Backed Foundation Announce Global Initiative for COVID-19 Vaccine Records, Whitney Webb
(Jan, 2021) Lawfare: The SolarWinds Hack Can Directly Affect Control Systems
(Jan. 20. 2021: WHO Information Notice for IVD Users 2020/05: Nucleic acid testing (NAT) technologies that use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of SARS-CoV-2
(July, 2020) Why a Shadowy Tech Firm With Ties to Israeli Intelligence Is Running Doomsday Election Simulations, Whitney Webb
(July, 2020) How an Israeli Spy-Linked Tech Firm Gained Access to the US Gov't's Most Classified Networks, Whitney Webb
(July, 2020) The Maxwell Family Business: Espionage, Whitney Webb

Ep 201 No Extradition and No Bail feat Mohamed Elmaazi

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 00:02:17 +0000

Guest: Mohamed Elmaazi. The long awaited extradition decision for Julian Assange came on Monday, January 4, 2021, followed by a bail hearing two days later. These recent days have been an emotional rollercoaster for Assange supporters and many were surprised, even shocked, by both decisions. Mohamed Elmaazi continues to be one of the foremost journalists covering the case on the ground at the Old Bailey Courthouse in a press annex or other nearby locations, attending via video link as required during the Covid lockdowns. And two weeks from now the executive power changes hands. The news from the second hearing, the bail hearing, happened on the same day that Congress held the session with the electors from the states in the presidential election and all hell broke loose, so the news about the bail hearing was drowned out. In this interview he provides us with details and analysis on what happened in those hearings.

Mohamed Elmaazi is a journalist with experience in human rights law, with degrees from American University in Cairo and SOAS. He writes for Sputnik News, he publishes The Interregnum blog and he has been a contributor to Open Democracy, The Canary, the Grayzone and The Real News Network.

FOLLOW Mohamed on Twitter at @MElmaazi. Find his writing at Sputnik News, The Canary and visit his blog The Interregnum

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on January 6, 2021. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

UK Judge Denies Bail for Julian Assange During US Extradition Appeal, Mohamed Elmaazi
Assange's Lawyers to Seek Bail After UK Judge Ruled Against Extradition to US, Mohamed Elmaazi
Judge Rules Against Extraditing Julian Assange to the US, Purely Based On His Risk of Suicide, Mohamed Elmaazi
Britain Refuses to Extradite 'Suicidal' WikiLeaks Founder to US (VoA interview with Marcy Wheeler) Video version of the interview here

Ep 200 Assange Extradition Decision Imminent New Audio Evidence Released feat Mohamed Elmaazi

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:50:12 +0000

Guest: Mohamed Elmaazi. Journalist Mohammed Elmaazi and I had this conversation the week before Christmas just as new exculpatory evidence, audio of conversation between Julian Assange and a State Department official, was released by Project Veritas. We are also now in the final weeks leading up to the court decision on Assange's extradition from the United Kingdom to the United States and there have been many people, including some pretty influential people, urging Trump to pardon Assange. In our conversation we reviewed some of the events and players and skullduggery over the years since the early days of Wikileaks. Plus there is a bonus episode with our thoughts on whether Assange will be pardoned, who we think are the most influential people lobbying Trump for and against a pardon and how things might play out if Assange is pardoned.

Even The Guardian, whose behavior toward Assange has been contemptible, made an editorial statement opposing extradition. Mohammed commented on it on Twitter: "This editorial statement by The Guardian on Julian Assange is spot on. If only they made this clear years ago rather than 3 weeks before the judge is due to give her decision." I'd also like to mention a few of the things have happened recently since we recorded this interview. First. there was breaking news about members of the UK parliament now lobbying for an Assange pardon and also German MPs have formed a working group to free Julian Assange.

FOLLOW Mohamed on Twitter at @MElmaazi. Find his writing at Sputnik News, The Canary and visit his blog The Interregnum

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Reference Links:

Assange Supporters Denounce 'Lies', 'Smears' and 'Fabrications' Outside The Guardian Headquarters, Mohamed Elmaazi
Audio Recordings Confirm Assange Spoke to US State Dept to Stop Publication of Unredacted Cables, Mohamed Elmaazi
German MPs Form 'Free Julian Assange' Working Group Amid Growing Calls for a Trump Pardon, Mohamed Elmaazi
Assange's Removal From Embassy Was Coordinated on 'Direct Orders From the US President', Court Told, Mohamed Elmaazi (Mohamed interview of Cassandra Fairbanks)
Tucker Carlson interview with Stella Moris
"Project Veritas" Leak: Julian Assange Asked Clinton State Department For Help Mitigating Damage Of Unintentional 2011 Data Dump, Real Clear Politics
Glenn Greenwald on Tucker Carlson show re: Assange

Ep 199 Evolution of Protests in 2020 feat Ford Fischer

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 18:34:09 +0000

Guest: Ford Fischer. Ford has been covering the various protests and counterprotests that we have seen since May, 2020. These including the Black Lives Matter and social justice protests, pro and anti police demonstrations, pandemic related things like the anti-lockdown and back to work demonstrations, anti-fascist protests and counter protests, and also the multitude of election related protests during that period of time. Often these protests aren't easily categorized as Left or Right or pro/anti-Trump or Biden or political party. Ford not only describes the things he has witnessed on the ground at these events but helps analyze what they're about and what is happening with a more informed and nuanced perspective based on his observations and interactions with the people on the ground. In a bonus question we talk about the recent warnings and predictions that a civil war is brewing.

Ford Fischer is an independent videographer and editor, a computer scientist and web designer. He's the editor-in-chief and co-founder of News2share.com where citizen journalists and independent videographers and citizen journalists contribute content to the evolving news cycle. His work has been featured on many news networks. He also does freelance work as a videographer/journalist.

FOLLOW Ford on Twitter at @FordFischer. Follow his news site at @N2Sreports on Twitter and at news2share.com on the web. Support his work at https://www.patreon.com/FordFischer/.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 15, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

ATE Ep 95 Chelsea Manning Jailed, Resisting Wikileaks Grand Jury feat Ford Fischer

Ep 198 Morrell Hazard (Swapcast)

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:40:44 +0000

Joanne Leon and Kyle Anzalone, hosts of Around the Empire and Conflicts of Interests podcasts, team up for another swapcast. We discuss the 2020 election, upcoming electoral college vote, protests and some of Biden's potential picks for high level positions, like Mike Morrell as director of the CIA. We also talk about the risk of war with Iran and other issues in the Middle East.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @KyleAnzalone_ SUBSCRIBE to the Conflicts of Interest podcast at the Libertarian Institute and on YouTube.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 13, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 197 Brzezinski and the Soviet-Afghan War feat Gunar Olsen

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:31:24 +0000

Guest: Gunar Olsen. Gunar recently published a response to an historian's analysis of the Soviet Afghan invasion and the question of whether or not Zbigniew Brzezinski's goal (under the Carter administration) in assisting the mujahedin was really about provoking the Soviet military intervention. There is also a bonus question on why there was so much push back and resistance to Trump's last ditch effort to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and what the real reasons behind it.

Gunar Olsen is an independent scholar, writer and journalist who covers the politics of U.S. imperialism. His articles have been published in The New Republic, The Nation, Jacobin, The Grayzone, Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting and other publications. He also provides research for the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

FOLLOW @GunarOlsen. Find him and his work at his website gunarolsen.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

"We Don't Need a Smoking Gun": U.S. Provocations and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, Gunar Olsen

Ep 196 Iran & Middle East: Shifting Priorites? feat Elijah Magnier

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 04:21:23 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. We talk about the recent assassination of an Iranian top scientist and threats of retaliation proposed by hardline Iranian media, the precarious situation due to Trump likely leaving office soon and Netanyahu's political troubles. We discuss the failure to withdraw US troops from Iraq and the likely consequences, the prospects for rejoining the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal and the things that could complicate that, the stronger influence of Russia and China in the region and finally a bonus question about the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu near the end of his term.

FOLLOW Elijah on Twitter @ejmalrai. Find and support his work at ejmagnier.com. There is a "donate" button at the bottom of the page.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on November 29, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

IS THE MIDDLE EAST ON JOE BIDEN'S PRIORITY LIST? (1), Elijah Magnier
CAN IRAN CONVINCE BIDEN TO RESOLVE THE NUCLEAR DEAL? (2), Elijah Magnier
WHY IRAQ IS EXPECTED TO BE HOT FOR JOE BIDEN AND VICE-VERSA? (3), Elijah Magnier
WHY DOES IRAN BELIEVE ISRAEL COULD BE PREPARING A STRIKE AGAINST ITS NUCLEAR FACILITY?, Elijah Magnier
The Pride of Israel: Assassinations, Haaretz
Iran plans 'calculated' response after nuclear scientist killed as newspaper calls for revenge on Israeli city, Fox News

Ep 195 Elections, Voting Systems & Democracy feat Fiorella Isabel & Craig (Pasta) Jardula

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 23:22:40 +0000

Guest: Convo Couch hosts Fiorella Isabel and Craig (Pasta) Jardula. Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. We discuss corrupt voting systems and party machines, rigging the Democratic primary elections and signs of rigging the 2020 elections by a bipartisan establishment, irregularities and challenges to the 2020 election results and more.

FOLLOW them on Twitter at @theconvocouch, @Fiorella_im and @yopasta and find their show on YouTube, Rokfin and Patreon.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on November 18, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ways To Flip And/Or Fix An Election w/David Webber, Convo Couch

Ep 194 A Biden Foreign Policy, US/UK and Media feat Afshin Rattansi

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:51:22 +0000

Guest: Afshin Rattansi. Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. We discussed the Biden transition team, the direction that a Biden cabinet would take in war and foreign policy, Brexit and the US/UK and EU relationship, and the current state of the media.

Afshin Rattansi is an award-winning journalist, author and the host of the show "Going Underground" that airs three times weekly on the RT network. He has previously worked for BBC Radio, CNN International, Press TV, Al Jazeera and various other international media organizations. He began his journalism at The Guardian and still contributes at Counterpunch.

FOLLOW Afshin on Twitter @afshinrattansi.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire @joanneleon @Kelleyswords

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on November 16, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

What Will Biden's Foreign Policy Look Like? (Prof. Charles Krupchan, Ex-Special Adviser to Obama), Going Underground 11/14/20
The Joe Biden Presidency: Will It Be Neoliberalism & Regime Change or Progressivism? (Matt Taibbi), Going Underground 11/14/20

Ep 193 Sudan and Red Sea Region feat Isa Blumi

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:51:53 +0000

Guest: Isa Blumi. We discuss the recent lifting of sanctions in Sudan, the development of the strategic Red Sea region and the historical trends, wars, economic collapse, exploitation, violence and political engineering that led up to it as part of a much larger strategy and ambitions. In a bonus question we discuss the likelihood that the 2020 elections cleared the way for multinational factions to resume imperial enterprises and transformations and the way that politics, media and pandemic are employed.

Dr. Isa Blumi is an historian, an author and Professor of Global History, Islamic World, Ottoman Empire, Yemen, Albania. His very prescient book, titled Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia."

FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his work at Google Scholar and his latest book at UCPress.edu.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on November 12, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Trump lifts sanctions on Sudan as he announces deal between African nation and Israel, ABC News

Ep 192 Contested Election feat Rod Phillips

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 17:51:26 +0000

Guest: Rod Phillips ("Rod from Philly"). On the weekend after the election Rod Phillips and I got together to talk about our thoughts on the contested election, what we have seen and experienced in real life in the Philadelphia area, the bigger questions and the impact on average Americans. In a bonus question we talked about how we see this playing out, corruption, common ground and what we would like to see going forward.

Rod is a media analyst and the current producer on the radio show "The Backstory" (Radio Sputnik 4-6 PM EST Mon-Fri). He is a former athlete and worked as an EMT for more than seven years. FOLLOW Rod on Twitter @Rodr_76.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on November 7, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 191 Pre Election Discussion

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 02:47:34 +0000

With guest co-host Kelley Lane we talk about what we're observing in real life in the days before the 2020 election, rallies, polls, fearmongering and the extraordinary measures that have been put in place for this election. We talk about our concerns and in a bonus segment about our predictions for outcomes and things that might happen.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on November 2, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 190 Election Integrity feat Tim Canova, Kelley Lane

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 18:44:28 +0000

Guests: Tim Canova and Kelley Lane tell the story of Tim Canova's experience running in the Democratic primary against Debbie Wasserman-Schultz in Florida's 23rd district in 2016 and running again in the general election as an independent in 2018. We also talk about election integrity issues and the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

Tim Canova is an activist, politician and law professor specializing in banking and finance. Since 2012 he has been a Professor of Law and Public Finance at Nova Southeastern University. He's the chairman of Progress for All, a small-donor based grassroots political and community action group supporting progressive candidates and causes at the national, state, and local levels.

Kelley Lane is an independent journalist and activist. She is a board member for Candidates With A Contract (CWAC) and the editor/producer of the Assange Countdown to Freedom show and a volunteer with AuditUSA..

FOLLOW Tim at @Tim_Canova and find his work.at progressforall.org

FOLLOW Kelley at @Kelleyswords.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on October 19, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 189-2 (Improved Audio) OPCW Whistleblowers, Russiagate and a Tribute to Stephen Cohen feat Aaron Maté

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 20:00:03 +0000

Note: There were mono/stereo issues with the original episode. This is the same content with improved audio.

Guest: Aaron Maté. We talk about OPCW whistleblowers, Jose Bustani and Aaron's testimony at the UN. We also discuss recent developments in the Russiagate conspiracy and pay tribute to the great Stephen Cohen, prominent scholar, professor and author. There is a bonus segment for patrons about who was behind the pressuring of OPCW and for what purpose. Ep 189EXTRA Relentless Pressure on OPCW feat Aaron Maté

Aaron is the host of the Pushback With Aaron Maté show at the Grayzone and a contributing writer at The Nation.

FOLLOW Aaron on Twitter @aaronjmate, subscribe to his show Pushback with Aaron Maté at the Grayzone channel on YouTube and support him at Patreon.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on October 16, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Grayzone's Aaron Maté testifies at UN on OPCW Syria cover-up, Aaron Maté
(Part 1) Analysis: That Senate 'Collusion' Report? It's Got No Smoking Gun ... but It Does Have a Fog Machine,Real Clear Investigations, Aaron Maté
(Part 2) Analysis: Senate Russiagate Report Left Big Stones Unturned. Two Were Named Mifsud and Assange, Real Clear Investigations, Aaron Maté
Pelosis Take a Big Stake in CrowdStrike, Democrat-Connected Linchpin of Russia Probe, Real Clear Investigations, Aaron Maté
Pushback: OPCW Syria whistleblower and ex-director attacked by US, UK, France at UN, Aaron Maté
Ex-OPCW chief Jose Bustani reads Syria testimony that US, UK blocked at UN
Pushback: Ex-OPCW chief defends Syria whistleblowers and reveals he was spied on before Iraq war, Aaron Maté

Ep 189 OPCW Whistleblowers, Russiagate and a Tribute to Stephen Cohen feat Aaron Maté

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 00:49:24 +0000

Aaron is the host of the Pushback With Aaron Maté show at the Grayzone and a contributing writer at The Nation.

FOLLOW Aaron on Twitter @aaronjmate, subscribe to his show Pushback with Aaron Maté at the Grayzone channel on YouTube and support him at Patreon.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 16, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Grayzone's Aaron Maté testifies at UN on OPCW Syria cover-up, Aaron Maté
(Part 1) Analysis: That Senate 'Collusion' Report? It's Got No Smoking Gun ... but It Does Have a Fog Machine,Real Clear Investigations, Aaron Maté
(Part 2) Analysis: Senate Russiagate Report Left Big Stones Unturned. Two Were Named Mifsud and Assange, Real Clear Investigations, Aaron Maté
Pelosis Take a Big Stake in CrowdStrike, Democrat-Connected Linchpin of Russia Probe, Real Clear Investigations, Aaron Maté
Pushback: OPCW Syria whistleblower and ex-director attacked by US, UK, France at UN, Aaron Maté
Ex-OPCW chief Jose Bustani reads Syria testimony that US, UK blocked at UN
Pushback: Ex-OPCW chief defends Syria whistleblowers and reveals he was spied on before Iraq war, Aaron Maté

Ep 188 Assange Extradition Hearings Week 3-4 feat Mohamed Elmaazi

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 19:10:43 +0000

Guest: Mohamed Elmaazi. We talk about the Assange extradition hearings, what transpired in weeks 3 and 4 and what procedures lie ahead in this process. Mohamed has been providing continuous coverage of the extradition hearings both last year and this year from the press annex of the different court facilities or from nearby facilities via video link when in person coverage wasn't possible.

FOLLOW Mohamed on Twitter at @MElmaazi. Find his writing at Sputnik News, The Canary and visit his blog The Interregnum

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 9, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Mohamed Elmaazi articles at Muckrack
Assange's Extradition Hearings End With Warnings That 'Journalism is on Trial' From WikiLeaks Chief, Mohamed Elmaazi
Assange's Lawyers 'Priority Targets' of US-Backed Espionage of Ecuadorian Embassy, Court Told, Mohamed Elmaazi
I Had Convinced Myself That They Were Ok' Ex-Prison Warden Tells Assange Hearing on Detainee Regime, Mohamed Elmaazi

Ep 187 Don't Avert Your Gaze From the Abyss feat Alastair Crooke

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 18:54:14 +0000

Guest: Alastair Crooke. In a recent article, Alastair said: "Theories of human 'Progress' as an upward-trending, linear continuum, inevitably leading to 'a better human end', though clothed today as technological 'miracles', were never empirical hypotheses. They were always concocted myths, answering to a human need for meaning, yet manipulated ruthlessly in the interests of power." Alastair argues that these kinds of "struggles" have a long and bloody history. Politics in the United States in 2020 have been configured into a crusade against a "cosmic evil" and we seem to be barreling toward a major crisis from which we must not avert our gaze. We go into detail on these topics and Alastair offers an insider's view of how we got to this point. There is a bonus segment for patrons, Ep 187EXTRA: Underlying Political and Ideological Battles in 2020, about who the key players are in this epic battle, what their goals are and to what lengths they are willing to take all of this.

Alistair Crooke is a former British diplomat, the founder and director of the Conflicts Forum, a former ranking figure in both British intelligence (MI6) and European Union diplomacy. and he served as an advisor to the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (CFSP) from 1997 to 2003. He was also a member of an international fact finding committee, the Mitchell Committee, which published the Mitchell Report in 2001 on the causes of the Second Intifada. He is the author of the book Resistance: The Essence of the Islamist Revolution which offers strategic insights into the origins and logic of Islamist groups which have adopted military resistance as a tactic.

Find Alastair's writing at Strategic Culture and look for his book Resistance: The Essence of the Islamist Revolution.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 2, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

And Then What? – We Daren't Not Look Into the Abyss, Alastair Crooke
Book: Resistance: The Essence of the Islamist Revolution.

Ep 186 Withdrawal From Iran Deal Snaps Back feat Neda Bolourchi

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 20:32:01 +0000

Guest: Neda Bolourchi. We talk about the recent developments with the JCPOA Iran deal and how the Trump administration is trying to "have its cake and eat it too". We discuss the happenings in the UN general assembly and UN Security Council, the news of troop withdrawals from Iraq and a lot more. There is an extra bonus segment for patrons: Ep 186EXTRA Middle East Prospects in the New Cold War Era.

Dr. Bolourchi teaches at Rutgers University-New Brunswick Center for Middle Eastern Studies. She is is a thought leader whose work crosses multiple fields, from the academic to the legal to foreign policy and more. Her academic research examines the transformative discourse on Iran during the twentieth century across the political and religious spectra. She completed years of research in Iran, Syria, and Armenia and she has provided foreign policy and security analysis and commentary for a variety of publications and news channels internationally. She previously worked on matters of civil litigation and white collar criminal defense. Her legal work includes international and comparative analysis of human rights violations in the Middle East.

Find Neda at LinkedIn and find her work on her Rutgers University Center for Middle Eastern Studies web page.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on September 23, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey

Reference Links:

Ep 185 Patriotic Dissent feat Danny Sjursen

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 22:51:46 +0000

Guest: Danny Sjursen. We talk about his new book Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War. We talk about the ways that Danny has broken down, categorized and explained the various forms of patriotism and dissent that he sees. He also talks about his own personal evolution in his views of these things. He gives some examples of people in American history who dissented and why that gives him cause for some optimism. One of the people who urged Danny to write this book, Robert Scheer, said: "Sjursen calls for a critical exploration of our allegiances, and suggests a path to a new, more complex notion of patriotism. Equal parts somber and idealistic, this is a story about what it means to be an American in the midst of perpetual war, and what the future of patriotism might look like." There is an extra bonus segment for patrons: Ep 185EXTRA 9/11 in 2020.

Daniel A. Sjursen is a retired U.S. Army Major, a prolific writer and speaker, an author/columnist/speaker/podcast host.. He is a contributing editor at Antiwar.com. His work has appeared in the LA Times, NY Times, The Nation, HuffPost, The Hill, Salon, BuzzFeed News, Tom Dispatch and Truthdig.com, among other publications. He is the co-host of the Fortress on a Hill podcast and does interviews on numerous podcasts and other media. He wrote a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War titled, Ghostriders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge, his new book Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War was published this month and he has another book in progress on the history of the United States.

FOLLOW @SkepticalVet, SUBSCRIBE to the Fortress on a Hill podcast and buy his book Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War published by Heyday.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 17, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War, Danny Sjursen
September 14, 2001: The Day America Became Israel, Danny Sjursen
What Activists Today Can Learn From MLK's Bold Anti-War Stance, Danny Sjursen
NYT 1967 response to MLK Beyond Vietnam speech: "Dr. King's Error"
How Do You Prefer Your Empire: Coarse or Polite?, Danny Sjursen

Ep 184 Assange Extradition Week 2 feat Kevin Gosztola

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 21:29:02 +0000

Guest: Kevin Gosztola. We focus on week 2 of the Assange Extradition hearings, witness testimony from Eric Lewis, Thomas Durkin, Daniel Ellsberg, John Goetz and Carey Shenkman and Assange's defense team. We also talked about the password leaked in a book by Luke Harding and David Lee, the highly problematic Espionage Act and how it, like the Assange case, is political in nature. Kevin has been doing reporting and analysis on the cases of Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange and Wikileaks both on the ground (and now remotely) for the past decade.

Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof, he publishes the Dissenter newsletter and he produces and co-hosts the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast with Rania Khalek.

FOLLOW Kevin @kgosztola, find his work at shadowproof.com, and subscribe to his podcast Unauthorized Disclosure and his Substack newsletter The Dissenter.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 18, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 183 Assange Extradition Hearings Resume feat Mohamed Elmaazi

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:54:27 +0000

Guest: Mohamed Elmaazi. We talk about the Assange extradition hearings that resumed this month in London. Mohamed gives us the highlights of the first week's proceedings with various witnesses and new charges against Assange. He has provided continuous coverage of this case and he is able to give us a sense of what it's like on the ground in London reporting on these hearings now being conducted with Covid19 special arrangements.

FOLLOW Mohamed on Twitter at @MElmaazi. Find his writing at Sputnik News, The Canary and visit his blog The Interregnum

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 12, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Absolutely Ludicrous': Diplomat Reacts to Decision in Assange Case Disallowing Witness Summaries, Mohamed Elmaazi
Assange Hearing: Refusal to Grant an Adjournment is a 'Gross Violation', Says WikiLeaks Chief, Mohamed Elmaazi
EXCLUSIVE: 'A Danger for Justice' - Assange Defence Expert Explains How US Conspiracy Trials Work, Mohamed Elmaazi
There's Strong Evidence that Assange's Prosecution is 'Politically Motivated', Defence Expert Says, Mohamed Elmaazi
Charges Against Julian Assange Are 'Unconstitutional' And Threaten Press Freedom, Expert Tells Court, Mohamed Elmaazi
Espionage Charges Against Assange 'An Abuse of the Criminal Law Enforcement Power': Defence Expert, Mohamed Elmaazi
Journalism On Trial: The UK & Press Freedom, Redfish
The War on Journalism: The Case of Julian Assange, Juan Passarelli

Ep 182 Belarus feat Bryan MacDonald

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 02:00:54 +0000

Guest: Bryan MacDonald. We talk about some of the history and the current state of affairs in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko and his opposition, the recent elections and subsequent protests and whether or not this is a color revolution. Bryan has been to Belarus many times understands the politics in Russia and Eastern Europe. There's a bonus question for patrons about the alleged poisoning of Alexei Navalny and the information leaked by Lukashenko about that affair. I also add some recent updates on Navalny who posted on Instagram today after several weeks in a medically induced coma. He said that he plans to return to Russia.

Bryan MacDonald is an Irish journalist based in Russia. He has written for RT since 2014. Before moving to Russia, Bryan worked for The Irish Independent, the Evening Herald, Ireland on Sunday, and The Irish Daily Mail. Follow him on Twitter @27khv

FOLLOW Bryan on Twitter @27khv and find his work at RT.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 6,, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Tens of thousands join Belarus march against Lukashenko, AFP
Lukashenko Says 'Intercepted Call' Shows Germany 'Falsified' Navalny Poisoning Claims, Moscow Times
Johnson's Russia List
RT Bradley Blankenship Aug 12: The Belarusian protests are not a 'color revolution' – they're the result of Lukashenko repeating Soviet mistakes
Alexei Navalny Releases Photo From Hospital Bed After Nerve Agent Poisoning, NPR

Ep 181 Xinjiang and the Uyghurs feat Peter Lee

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 03:32:56 +0000

Guest: Peter Lee. We discussed some of the background story on Xinjiang, a province and autonomous region in the northwest of China that borders on Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India and is part of the historical Silk Road. We also talked about the Uyghurs, the current situation in Xinjiang, the media coverage and the escalating tensions between the US and China. In a bonus question for patrons (Ep 181EXTRA Taiwan and Top Asia-Related Issues), I asked Peter Which Asia-related issues he thinks are most pressing, worrying or important to focus on right now.

Peter has decades of experience in East Asia both as a businessman and as a writer. He produces Peter Lee's China Threat Report and has been published at Asia Times, CounterPunch at his own blog, China Matters.

FOLLOW @chinahand. SUBSCRIBE to Peter Lee's China Threat Report.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 2, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Peter Lee's China Threat Report: The Xinjiang Series No. 1: The Crisis of Governance
Peter Lee's China Threat Report: Assessing the Timetable for Taiwan Independence and World War III
Peter Lee's blog archive on Uyghurs
Scott Horton interview with Andrew Bacevich: Ep. 5009 – Andrew Bacevich on Soros and Koch Teaming Up to End the Wars – 7/3/2019
ATE Episode 14: The Future of China in the Age of Trump feat. Peter Lee (Chinahand)
ATE Episode 61: Escalation With China feat Peter Lee

Ep 180 Evolving Geopolitical Landscape in Middle East feat Isa Blumi

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Guest: Isa Blumi. We talk about the current state of affairs in the gulf states and the region during the economic crisis and lockdowns for Covid19, the UAE-Israel deal, the evolution of situation in the Middle East, the war Yemen and the rivalry between Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Turkey. We discuss the increasing influence of China in the region and we also talk about media coverage and how it is heavily influenced by various sources of funding.

There is a bonus question for patrons at the end of the interview on China's increasing influence in the Middle East and whether they will be a savior for the Global South. Episode 180EXTRA Will China be the Savior of the Global South?

FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his latest book at UCPress.edu.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on August 30, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 179 US - China Relations feat Carl Zha

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 19:48:24 +0000

Guest: Carl Zha. We did a follow up discussion about the Hong Kong protests (which we had talked about last summer in Episode 119). Then we had a longer, broad ranging discussion on the rapid deterioration of US-China relations, a new Cold War, the power structure in China, protectionism, globalism, Silicon Valley, the military-intelligence complex and more. There's a bonus question for patrons about whether we are now in a Cold War with China, the prospect of a hot war between US and China and if that did happen, what would the war look like. Episode 179EXTRA War between US and China.

Carl Zha is an engineer, historian, podcaster, and a Caltech Alum. His podcast, Silk and Steel, is about China, US-China Great Power competition and the history of Empires, past and present.

FOLLOW @carlzha, SUBSCRIBE to his podcast Silk and Steel and listen to his previous podcast, Clash.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 27, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Around the Empire Ep 119 Hong Kong Protests Reality feat Carl Zha
Silk and Steel podcast EP#71-Biking to Xinjiang with Jerry Grey

Ep 178 Bolivia, Nicaragua and the New Cold War feat Ben Norton

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 18:08:11 +0000

Guest: Ben Norton. We talk about the latest developments in Bolivia, life in Nicaragua, the new Cold War with Russia and China and we wrapped up with a discussion about big picture geopolitics.

Ben Norton is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker. He is the assistant editor of The Grayzone, and the producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, which he co-hosts with editor Max Blumenthal.

FOLLOW @BenjaminNorton Find his work at The Grayzone and subscribe to his podcast Moderate Rebels.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 20, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Around the Empire Ep 136 Coup in Bolivia feat Ben Norton

Ep 177 TDY and War Trafficking feat Doug Valentine

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 22:39:32 +0000

Guest: Doug Valentine. Doug talks about his latest book, "TDY" based on a story told to him by a veteran of the Vietnam war who was sent on a covert mission related to the CIA and military involvement in trafficking. There is also a bonus segment about how and why the CIA uses trafficking for funding of covert operations Ep 177EXTRA TDY and War Trafficking.

From the book description:

"This novel by Douglas Valentine, author of the nonfiction bestseller The CIA as Organized Crime, is based on a true story, one told to him by a Vietnam veteran, and barely, yet grippingly, fictionalized here.

"In early 1967, a bored, adventurous photojournalist on an Air Force base in Texas is offered a Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment somewhere overseas. The mission is steeped in secrecy, but Pete is promised a large bonus and hazardous duty pay. The mission that unfolds is terrifying beyond anything Pete ever imagined."

Here's what Oliver Stone said about the book: "I read it in suspense and found the last revelations after the mission even more disturbing."

Douglas Valentine is an author, investigator, journalist and poet. He's the author of many other books, including "The Phoenix Program: America's Use of Terror in Vietnam," and "The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World." He is well known for his extensive research and interviews of numerous CIA officers, former CIA director William Colby and others involved in the Phoenix Program. The Phoenix Program was a large operation that involved kidnapping, torture, and assassination. Its goal was the destruction of the Viet Cong insurgency, a political and paramilitary movement that worked against the United States and the US-backed South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam war.

FOLLOW Doug on Twitter @DougValentine77 Find his work at his website douglasvalentine.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on August 20, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 176 Financial Crisis in Lebanon feat Ehsani

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 21:28:21 +0000

Guest: Ehsani. We talk about the financial crisis that has been building for years and the structural problems in Lebanon's economy and banking system that has been in place since the 1990's. The Beirut explosion and widespread damage brought the broader crisis to a head and exposed how the system is broken. We also talk about the political issues, protests and external interference. There is a bonus question for patrons at the end of the interview on whether this is a push for regime change and which external forces are behind it.

Ehsani is a Syrian American, born in Lebanon and raised in Aleppo. He has a solid background in finance. Find his analysis and discussion on Twitter at @ehsani22. He has also written for the Syria Comment blog under the pseudonym, "Ehsani".

FOLLOW Ehsani on Twitter at @EHSANI22

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 18, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Beirut faces rising poverty after blast, Al Jazeera English
Lebanon's economy: Plundered by politics and banking elites | Counting the Cost, Al Jazeera English

Ep 175 Beirut Explosion feat Elijah Magnier

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 22:25:21 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. We talk about the August 4, 2020 explosion in the Beirut port, details of what happened, political implications, cui bono and more. Elijah has gathered information from Beirut and provided some of that information for the first time in this interview as an exclusive. There is also a bonus question for patrons, Ep 175EXTRA Beirut Explosion and Political Implications where we talk about the possibility of the faction aligned with Trump, Netanyahu and Salman wanting to escalate while they can in anticipation of Trump and Netanyahu being out of power in the near future.

FOLLOW Elijah on Twitter @ejmalrai. Find and support his work at ejmagnier.com. There is a "donate" button at the bottom of the page.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 6, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

US-ISRAEL MEETING: WHEN IS THE HEZBOLLAH RESPONSE EXPECTED?, Elijah Magnier (7/28/20)
Beirut blast: more than 100 dead and over 5,000 wounded in huge explosion, France24
Will the Beirut explosion lead to political change in Lebanon? | Inside Story, Al Jazeera English
Beirut has suffered a catastrophe that will live long in the memory – and the repeated betrayal of its citizens is a travesty, Robert Fisk
Around the Empire Ep 40 Lebanon Crisis feat. Sonia Mansour Robaey (12/13/17)

Ep 174 Factional Wars, Brexit & Maxwell feat Tom Luongo

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 18:57:45 +0000

Guest: Tom Luongo. We talk about factional wars among the powers that be, the Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein case, the Southern District of New York (SDNY) federal prosecutor's office and Brexit (meaning the larger battle between the EU and the US/UK). We attempt to analyze how these things are related and could provide a higher level understanding of some of the scandals and chaos we are witnessing in the run up to the 2020 election and Brexit and the chaos that has escalated to more extreme and public levels since the 2016 election. There is also a bonus episode for patrons (Ep 174BONUS Getting Started With Crypto & Gold) on getting started with investment in cryptocurrency and gold for those who might be considering alternative investments in periods of instability.

Tom Luongo is an analyst, writer and a former research chemist. His specialty is markets analysis informed by geopolitics. He is a libertarian and Austrian economist who publishes a blog Gold Goats 'n Guns and a monthly investment letter. He contributes at Newsmax Media and is published by and does commentary for many other media outlets.

Note: Tom and I are very different politically but we believe in finding common ground especially on war/foreign policy and also on some other very basic things. No doubt his listeners will be aggravated with me and mine with him to some extent but common ground is more important than ever and I also want to provide a variety of voices on this podcast. We already have too many echo chambers and hyperpartisanship, in my view, which are doing more harm than good.

Another note: I have to apologize for the audio quality in this interview. I think we both had some internet issues that caused some audio issues which I fixed as best I could. We had to stop and start a couple times. I edited a lot of the worst problems and hopefully it's fairly easy to listen to now despite the problems.

FOLLOW Tom at @TFL1728. Find his work at Gold, Goats 'n Guns Also find his work at Patreon, Youtube and DLive.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on July 8, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 173 Libya: Civil War & Foreign Intervention feat Giorgio Cafiero

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 21:39:14 +0000

Guest: Giorgio Cafiero. We discuss the civil war and complicated foreign intervention in Libya. We first do a review of what has happened in Libya since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi and then we sort out the situation in Libya right now. There is an extra (bonus question) for patrons only (Ep 173EXTRA) about the outlook for Libya going forward, whether it's likely to split and/or be used as a battlefield by larger powers.

Giorgio Cafiero is the CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics, a geopolitical risk consultancy based in Washington, DC. His research interests include geopolitical and security trends in the Arabian Peninsula and the broader Middle East. He is a regular contributor to the Middle East Institute, Al Monitor, LobeLog, Inside Arabia, and New Arab and he frequently appears as a commentator on various media networks. He is also an adjunct fellow at the American Security Project, an affiliate at the Mena Center and an analyst at London-based advisory Rosa & Roubini Associates.

FOLLOW @GiorgioCafiero. Find him at Gulf State Analytics.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 28, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 172 Prejudential and BLM feat Margaret Kimberley

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 15:15:08 +0000

Guest: Margaret Kimberley. We talk about Margaret's new book: Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents and about the current Black Lives Matter protest movement. Here is Dr. Cornel West's comment about the book: "Margaret Kimberley gives us an intellectual gem or prophetic fire about all the U.S. presidents and their deep roots in the vicious legacy of white supremacy and predatory capitalism. Such truths seem more than most Americans can bear, though we ignore her words at our own peril!"

There is an extra (bonus question) for patrons only (Ep 172EXTRA) where we get Margaret's advice for people who strongly support anti-racism, strongly oppose police brutality, discrimination and the militarization of police but who prefer peaceful protests and are uncomfortable with random violence and political exploitation of these issues by disingenuous politicians and others who are actually part of the problem themselves.

Margaret Kimberley is an author and she's the co-founder and Editor and Senior Columnist for Black Agenda Report (BAR). Her Freedom Rider column appears weekly in BAR, and is widely reprinted elsewhere. She is from New York City and her work has appeared in numerous publications and sites. She also writes on her own FreedomRider blog.

FOLLOW Margaret on Twitter @freedomrideblog Find her work at the Black Agenda Report and at her FreedomRider blog.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 20, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents by Margaret Kimberley

Ep 171 UNLOCKED Quarantine? Edition #4

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:45:18 +0000

Joanne Leon and Dan Wright do another quarantine episode while on newly reduced lockdown in New Jersey in a conversation about the pandemic, protests, the movement to defund police, the hypocrisy of politicians, and Governor Murphy the Friendly Cartoonish Dictator. We also talk about majoritarianism, Turchin's theory on stability, inequality and the overproduction of elites, and more. This episode is for patrons only and may be unlocked for the public at a later date.

FOLLOW Dan on Twitter @DanSWright

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 18, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

This model forecast the US's current unrest a decade ago. It now says 'civil war', Australian Broadcasting Corp.
The Science behind My Forecast for 2020, Peter Turchin
Elite Overproduction, Inequality, and the Unraveling of Cooperation (Structural-Demographic Dynamics), Peter Turchin

Ep 170 Biotech Industrial Complex feat Whitney Webb

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 23:24:49 +0000

Guest: Whitney Webb. We discuss Whitney's three-part series titled Engineering Contagion: Amerithrax, Coronavirus and the Rise of the Biotech Industrial Complex, which she and Raul Diego wrote during the past few months.

Quoting from the first article in the series:

"This investigative series, entitled 'Engineering Contagion: Amerithrax, Coronavirus and the Rise of the Biotech-Industrial Complex,' will examine these disturbing parallels between the 2001 anthrax attacks and the current scandals and "solutions" of the Covid-19 crisis as well as the simulations that eerily preceded both events. By tracing key actors in Dark Winter from 2001 to the present, it is also possible to trace the corruption that has lurked behind U.S. "biodefense" and pandemic preparedness efforts for decades and which now is rearing its ugly head as pandemic panic distracts the American and global public from the fundamentally untrustworthy, and frankly dangerous, individuals who are in control of the U.S. government's and corporate America's response.

Given their involvement in Dark Winter and, more recently, Event 201 and Crimson Contagion, this series seeks to explore the possibility that, just like the 2001 anthrax attacks, government insiders had foreknowledge of the Covid-19 crisis on a scale that, thus far, has gone unreported and that those same insiders are now manipulating the government's response and public panic in order to reap record profits and gain unprecedented power for themselves and control over people's lives."

Whitney Webb is a writer and research and soon to be author. She has made numerous radio, television and video appearances on a variety of programs across the political spectrum. Her work aims to highlight under-reported issues and find common ground between people of different political persuasions regarding corruption, government overreach, the lack of accountability for militaries and intelligence agencies and the military-industrial complex. She publishes at The Last American Vagabond and on her website Unlimited Hangout and she is the host of a new podcast, also titled Unlimited Hangout. She was formerly a staff writer at MintPress News.

FOLLOW Whitney @_whitneywebb SUBSCRIBE to her podcast Unlimited Hangout and find her work at Unlimited Hangout and at The Last American Vagabond.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 9, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Engineering Contagion (Part 1): ALL ROADS LEAD TO DARK WINTER, Whitney Webb
Engineering Contagion (Part 2): A KILLER ENTERPRISE: HOW ONE OF BIG PHARMA'S MOST CORRUPT COMPANIES PLANS TO CORNER THE COVID-19 CURE MARKET, Whitney Webb
Engineering Contagion (Part 3): HEAD OF THE HYDRA: THE RISE OF ROBERT KADLEC, Whitney Webb
Unlimited Hangout podcast episode 1

Ep 169 Sanctioned Countries Collaborate feat Elijah Magnier

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 00:37:28 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. Eventually, sanctioned countries collaborate with each other. In the age of decline of the Anglo-American empire, every tool in the toolbox has been pulled out and weaponized and deployed to maintain dominance and for much longer than is normally effective. Elijah explains how Russia, Venezuela and the axis of resistance in the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen) with assistance from China are collaborating to overcome and get around both long standing and ever increasing sanctions by the US and allied countries and also finding ways to be more self sufficient to the point where the sanctions have much less impact and in some ways destructive for those doing the sanctioning. We also talk about the latest developments in Syria and the reconstruction dilemma.

There's an extra/bonus segment for patrons. Given that this seems like a turning point for the US and the world, I ask Elijah for insights on whether there are parallels in history and for his views on how things are likely to play out. You can find that on Patreon, Episode 169 EXTRA.

Elijah Magnier is a veteran war correspondent and political analyst with over 35 years of experience covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

FOLLOW Elijah Magnier @ejmalrai. Read and support his work at ejmagnier.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 5, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Persian Rug Weaver Strikes in the US's Backyard Through Venezuela, Elijah Magnier
Syria Caesar's Law: Who Does it Target and How Will it Affect President Assad? Elijah Magnier
Syria: Russia Challenges the US Through the Levant Gate, Elijah Magnier
Syria: Will the Great Middle Eastern War Begin in the Levant? Elijah Magnier

Ep 168 Insurrection? Military as Police Force feat Danny Sjursen (Swapcast)

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:21:00 +0000

Guest: Danny Sjursen. Swapcast: Around the Empire's Joanne Leon and Foreign Policy Focus host Kyle Anzalone. We discuss Danny's experience on the ground at the protests in Kansas City and the broader protest movement, whether this is an insurrection, the idea of calling in the military to act as a police force or worse, and the parallels between current policing practices and counterinsurgency missions.

Major Danny Sjursen is a retired US Army strategist, West Point grad and former history instructor at West Point. He served tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the author of a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War titled: Ghostriders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge and a new book available for pre-order now: Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War. His articles are published by numerous media outlets: antiwar.com, The American Conservative, Truthdig, TomDispatch and others. He is the co-host of the Fortress on a Hill podcast.

FOLLOW Danny @SkepticalVet, SUBSCRIBE to the podcast Fortress on a Hill and find his website at skepticalvet.com

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @Kyaaale. SUBSCRIBE to the podcast Foreign Policy Focus at the Libertarian Institute.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 5, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Dispatches From Kansas City: The 'Insurrection' That Wasn't (May 30-31, 2020), Danny Sjursen
Do Police Face Less Discipline Than U.S. Soldiers?, Danny Sjursen
Military Officers And Vets Uncomfortable With Trump's Domestic 'Battlespace', Mark Perry
Book: Ghostriders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge, Danny Sjursen
Book: Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War, Danny Sjursen

Ep 167 Averting Our Gaze From Biowarfare feat Sam Husseini

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 00:37:15 +0000

Guest: Sam Husseini. The origins of COVID-19 and the novel coronavirus are not yet clear but the possibility of it being the result of bioweapon engineering research or gain-of-function experimentation that makes viruses more deadly or some other scenario have largely been dismissed, from early on, by officials and some scientists and to a large extent suppressed by the corporate media. Regardless of the origin of this pandemic, there needs to be more discussion and airing of different views on this subject and on the topic of the global biological arms race that is very real and happening largely outside of the public view.

There's an extra/bonus segment for patrons on the question of privatized and/or covert biowarfare research, a short discussion with Sam and some additional information that I later added, reading from some articles and adding some commentary to expand a little and for important context. You can find that at Patreon, Episode 167 EXTRA.

Sam Husseini, a writer and artist living in Maryland. He has been published in The Nation, Consortium News, CounterPunch and elsewhere. He is senior analyst for the Institute for Public Accuracy. He's also founder of VotePact.org -- which helps break out of the two party bind.

FOLLOW @SamHusseini. Find his work at husseini.org.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 22, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Averting our Gaze from Biowarfare: Pandemics and Self-fulfilling Prophecies, Sam Husseini
Did this virus come from a lab? Maybe not — but it exposes the threat of a biowarfare arms race, Sam Husseini, Salon
Questioning the CDC: Is it a Complete Coincidence That China's Only BSL4 Is in Wuhan? -- Audio and Video, Sam Husseini
Perspectives on the Pandemic | Investigative Journalist Sam Husseini | Episode 7, Journeyman Films

Ep 166 The Russiagate Walls Are Closing In feat Aaron Maté

Tue, 26 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Guest: Aaron Maté. Key allegations from the Russiagate conspiracy have now officially collapsed with the release of transcripts from witness interviews that were conducted over the past three years. Now the walls are truly closing in and not in the way the Trump-Russia obsessed media presented it in the past. Key Obama administration officials, under oath, said they had no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Perhaps the biggest blow was delivered by Crowdstrike, the private cybersecurity firm that served as a critical source on the Russian hacking claim. We now know that Crowdstrike's president told Congress more than two years ago that it had no real evidence that Russian hackers exfiltrated emails and passed them to Wikileaks. Aaron notes, in an understated manner, that this "raises new questions about whether Special Counsel Robert Mueller, intelligence officials and Democrats misled the public." At the end of the interview, there's an extra/bonus segment for patrons on the question of which forces were driving the Russiagate conspiracy. You can find that at Patreon, Episode 166 EXTRA.

Aaron is the host of the Pushback With Aaron Maté show at the Grayzone and a contributing writer at The Nation.

FOLLOW Aaron on Twitter @aaronjmate, subscribe to his show Pushback with Aaron Maté at the Grayzone channel on YouTube and support him at Patreon.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 21, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 165 Weaponized Immigrants as Tools of Empire feat Yasha Levine

Mon, 25 May 2020 01:52:10 +0000

Guest: Yasha Levine. We talk about his new series on Substack, titled Immigrants as a Weapon. Yasha refers to this as an "investigative newsletter" about "weaponized immigrants, oligarchs, and the twisted politics of American power". He refers to himself as "a Soviet immigrant living in an era of American decline" and it speaks for itself as to why his perspective is so perfect for this fascinating topic. At the end of the discussion, there's an extra segment on surveillance and contact tracing. It's a separate bonus extra for patrons titled Episode 165 EXTRA Surveillance and Contact Tracing in the Pandemic Era.

Yasha Levine is an investigative journalist and author. Born in Leningrad, he grew up in San Francisco, and just moved back to California. He has reported from all over the world — with a focus on America and the former Soviet Union. He is the author of Surveillance Valley:The Secret Military History of the Internet, a book about the forgotten counterinsurgency origins of the Internet. He's also working on some documentary projects, including one about California's Oligarch Valley.

FOLLOW @yashalevine SUBSCRIBE to his Substack investigative newsletter, Immigrants as a Weapon. Read his book Surveillance Valley and visit his website yashalevine.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Reference Links:

Weaponized Immigrants and the History of America's Imperial Propaganda Machine, Yasha Levine
Weaponizing Fascism for Democracy: The Beginning, Yasha Levine

Ep 164 Exposing of the Origins of Russiagate (Swapcast)

Sat, 16 May 2020 20:56:37 +0000

Swapcast: Around the Empire's Joanne Leon and Dan Wright and Foreign Policy Focus host Kyle Anzalone discuss the origins of Russiagate. For three years, we have been fighting to debunk the fake news created about the imagined Russian conspiracy to help Trump beat Hillary. Now, the fake news and false allegations have run dry and some of the faces behind it are being exposed. We discuss the unmaskings and why it is so important.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @Kyaaale. SUBSCRIBE to the Foreign Policy Focus podcast at the Libertarian Institute. Follow Dan Wright @DanSWright

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 14, 2020.

Reference Links:

Foreign Policy Focus Debunking Russiagate series: episode 211, episode 212 and episode 213

Ep 163 UNLOCKED Quarantine Edition #3

Sat, 16 May 2020 19:26:42 +0000

Joanne and Dan Wright spend another afternoon while on quarantine / lockdown in New Jersey in a long conversation about the pandemic, civil rights, protests, religious rights, so called philanthropists and oligarchs, and the breaking news on the Flynn case and Russiagate. This episode is for patrons only and may be unlocked for the public at a later date.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 8, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

U.S. Constitution shredded by dangerous elected officials, Andrew Napolitano
House Intelligence Committee: Russia Investigation Transcripts and Documents
Jersey City break up fight on Bostwick Avenue, video NJ.com
When COVID-19 Deaths Go Up, Other Deaths Go Down
Mccarthy clip
NJ State officials hold April 29 coronavirus briefing
President Trump Meets with the Governor of Texas
'Open New Jersey now!' Protesters in Trenton demand Gov. Murphy lift coronavirus lockdowns despite rising death toll

Ep 161 UNLOCKED Quarantine Edition #2

Sat, 16 May 2020 19:08:30 +0000

Joanne and Dan Wright spend another evening while on quarantine / lockdown in New Jersey in a long conversation about Coronavirus, the reopening of states, "contact tracing", Trump, the Clintons, Anthony Fauci, information from skeptics like RFK, Jr., and we also talk about the Kim Jong Un mystery. This episode is for patrons only but will be unlocked later for the public.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on April 27, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

NJ State officials hold April 27 coronavirus briefing
Corbett Report: Stop calling it contact tracing
RFK, Jr. interview (starts at 43:00)

Ep 162 China Hawks Exploit Pandemic feat Dave DeCamp

Sun, 03 May 2020 21:25:43 +0000

Guest: Dave DeCamp. We talk about the way that China hawks are exploiting the pandemic and global crisis to influence the opinion of a fearful public. There are legitimate issues with China but some of the same bad actors who were involved in the post 9/11 push for war in the Middle East and others seem to be using this crisis to advance their own great power competition agenda, for political and financial reasons and for the evergreen goal of preserving the empire. If there was ever a time to avoid conflict, it's now, while the country is in pretty dire straits. Big crises can result in big changes and profiteers who don't have our best interests at heart know that better than anyone. Dave has written two articles on the topic, filled with great examples and context and we talk about those today.

FOLLOW Dave @DecampDave. Find his work at antiwar.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 1, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

China Hawks Exploiting America's Fear of Coronavirus, Dave DeCamp
New Anti-China Propaganda Uses Russiagate Playbook, Dave DeCamp

Ep 160 UNLOCKED Quarantine Edition #1

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 18:53:32 +0000

Joanne and Dan Wright spend an evening over the weekend while on quarantine / lockdown in New Jersey in a long conversation about Coronavirus, the theories about it and the response to this pandemic. We discuss the use of technology for surveillance measures, the hybrid war with China. We then spent some time talking about the "pandemic primary", Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. This episode is for patrons only but might be unlocked later for the public. .

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on April 10, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 159 Military Ambitions vs Pandemics in 1918 and 2020 feat Gareth Porter

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 04:03:43 +0000

Guest: Gareth Porter. Both in 1918 and 2020 pandemics forced the US military to make changes in their operations but the Pentagon has also revealed a resistance to stand down even when it's necessary to protect troops. We talk about the similarities and differences between the situations in 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic and World War I and today's Coronavirus pandemic during never ending imperial wars. We also talk about the kinds of movements, changes and consequences that might be catalyzed by this latest crisis.

FOLLOW Gareth on Twitter at @GarethPorter. Find his work at The American Conservative, Truthdig, Antiwar.com, Middle East Eye and other media outlets. He's also now at The Grayzone. Read his new book: The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis: From CIA Coup to the Brink of War.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on April 10, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

How Generals Fueled 1918 Flu Pandemic To Win Their World War, Gareth Porter, The American Conservative
1918 Influenza Epidemic Records, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC)
Philadelphia, Nurses, and the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918, US Navy
Book (2020): The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis: From CIA Coup to the Brink of War.
Book (2005): Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam
Book (2014): Manufactured Crisis: the Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare

Ep 158 Conflict Between Russia and Turkey in Syria feat Mark Sleboda

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Guest: Mark Sleboda. We talk about the recent conflicts between Russia and Turkey in Syria. Negotiations resulted in a Sochi 2.0 Agreement, also called the Moscow Memorandum which settled the issue for the time being but none of the underlying problems were solved so it's likely a temporary solution. We also discussed the overall situation in Syria and Turkish President Erdogan's predicament and predictions for his future.

Mark is an International Affairs & Security Analyst, a US Navy veteran, a university lecturer and a foreign policy realist.

FOLLOW Mark on Twitter @MarkSleboda1 and on Facebook, look for his appearances on RT, Sputnik and other international channels.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 10, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 157 Crisis of Confidence in Ukraine feat Mark Sleboda

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Guest: Mark Sleboda. We talk about recent events in Ukraine and what has developed into a crisis of confidence for Ukrainian President Zelensky. It resulted in a reshuffling in Zelensky's cabinet, a no confidence vote in the Rada and no progress on bringing the civil conflict to an end, threats from the ultranationalist factions and strong opposition to Zelensky's neoliberal economic policy proposals. Recent polls have also shown a larger lack of confidence in the legitimacy of the post-Maidan government overall. We also talk about the Ukrainian oligarch Kolomoisky and the Biden / Burisma Affair.

Mark is an International Affairs & Security Analyst, a US Navy veteran, a university lecturer and a foreign policy realist.

FOLLOW Mark on Twitter @MarkSleboda1 and on Facebook, look for his appearances on RT, Sputnik and other international channels.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 10, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ukraine shake-up throws future of reforms into doubt, Financial Times
Ukraine's Zelensky Fires His Cabinet, New York Times

Ep 156 Western Denial About Syria feat Régis Le Sommier

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 22:54:53 +0000

Guest: Régis Le Sommier. We discuss the fact that the United States and its western allies are in denial about having lost the war in Syria. Calls to reboot that war are unrealistic and against the wishes of the majority of Syrian people who are living in government controlled areas, still suffering under sanctions and whose voices are rarely heard in western media. The sanctions are being used in an effort to keep options open for regime change and to deny the Assad government the opportunity to rebuild and stabilize the country. Western leaders and media are also in denial about the nature and objectives of the people who control the opposition held areas. Régis brings us insights from Syria having spent time on the ground there in both government and opposition controlled areas.

Correction: in the interview I said that Jennifer Caparaella worked for the Institute for the Study of Peace but the name of the organization is the Institute for the Study of War. Apologies for that!

Régis Le Sommier is director at the Paris Match magazine. He has covered American presidential elections and interviewed several American presidents, other leaders and celebrities and reported from many places around the world including Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also spent time on the ground in Syria in both government and opposition held areas.

FOLLOW @LeSommierRgis Find his work at Paris Match magazine, parismatch.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Reference Links:

Time to Recommit to Syria, Foreign Affairs, Jennifer Cafarella
Jennfier Cafarella Twitter THREAD on Syria

Ep 155 5 Years of War in Yemen & Coronavirus Crisis (Swapcast)

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 00:20:31 +0000

On this Foreign Policy Focus and Around the Empire swapcast, Kyle and Joanne discuss the five year anniversary of the US/Saudi/UAE war on Yemen. The anniversary has received almost no media coverage in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Ironically, the five years of war in Yemen has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis – making Yemen one of the most likely to be devastated by a coronavirus. The US/Saudi/UAE/UK bombing campaign has intentionally targeted the civilian infracture of Yemen. Now – before coronavirus even reaches Yemen – 24 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and millions of children are at risk of starvation. Yemen must be remembered and the war must end.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @Kyaaale. SUBSCRIBE to the Foreign Policy Focus podcast at the Libertarian Institute.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on March 26, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Around the Empire: Ep 132 Ending the War in Yemen feat Shireen Al-Adeimi
Around the Empire: Ep 128 Will the Saudi Kingdom Survive Their War on Yemen? feat Isa Blumi
Around the Empire: Ep 64 Yemen War Big Picture & Media Narrative feat Isa Blumi
Around the Empire: Ep 55 Imperial War, Gulf State Rivalry, Resources and Resistance in Yemen feat Isa Blumi
Foreign Policy Focus FPF #209 – Killing Yemen
Clashing UAE and Saudi interests are keeping the Yemen conflict alive, The Guardian
3/26/20 Shireen al Adeimi Twitter THREAD

Ep 154 Afghanistan Papers and the Culture of Lying feat Matthew Hoh

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:04:15 +0000

Guest: Matthew Hoh. We talk about the Afghanistan Papers that were published in the Washington Post at the end of 2019 and the media treatment of these issues. We discuss Matthew's experience in the military and in foreign service, the war in Afghanistan during the Bush and Obama administrations, and the culture of lying that has developed in the military. Matthew resigned in protest in 2009 over the war in Afghanistan.

Matthew Hoh is a Senior Fellow with the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC. He's a disabled veteran, a former US Marine Corps officer and Department of Defense and State Department official. Matthew was in the Iraq War with the Marines and in both Afghanistan and Iraq with State Department teams. He is on the Boards and Advisory Boards of a number of organizations including Expose Facts, Institute for Public Accuracy and Veterans For Peace. He writes and speaks regularly on issues of war and peace, has appeared on numerous media networks and his work has been published by a wide array of online and print media

FOLLOW Matthew on Facebook. Find his recent writings at CounterPunch, antiwar.com and on his website https://matthewhoh.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Reference Links:

Matthew Hoh website: https://matthewhoh.com
At War With the Truth, Washington Post, Craig Whitlock (first WaPo article on Afghanistan Papers)
The Secret History of the War, Washington Post, Craig Whitlock (Afghanistan Papers)
Wiki: Afghanistan Papers
Those who ran the Afghanistan war lied. They must be held to account, Washington Post, Katrina vanden Heuvel
Afghan Papers Inadvertently Document WaPo's Role in Spreading Official Lies, FAIR
WaPo's Afghan Papers Propagate Colonial Narrative of Noble Intentions Gone Awry, FAIR
Book: The Cost of Loyalty: Dishonesty, Hubris, and Failure in the U.S. Military, Tim Bakken
Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession, Army War College, Dr Stephen J Gerras, Dr Leonard Wong

Ep 153 Saudi Crackdowns Fail to Silence Online Dissent feat Jennifer Pan and Alexandra Siegel

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 00:40:50 +0000

Guests: Jennifer Pan, Alexandra Siegel. We talk about their research paper titled "How Saudi Crackdowns Fail to Silence Online Dissent" which was published in American Political Science Review. They studied the effects of well-known Saudi activists, religious leaders and journalists being imprisoned for online dissent. They analyzed tweets and Google search data from 2010 to 2017 using automated analysis of text and crowd-sourced evaluation of content to draw conclusions about the behavior of their peers and followers. Their research showed that it did not suppress online dissent overall.

Jennifer Pan is an Assistant Professor Dept. of Communication Stanford University. Her research focuses on political communication and authoritarian politics, political censorship, propaganda, and information manipulation in the digital age. She uses experimental and computational methods with large-scale datasets on political activity in China and other countries. Website: http://jenpan.com

Alexandra Siegel is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University Immigration Policy Lab and a Research Associate at NYU Social Media and Political Participation Lab.

In her research she studies mass and elite political behavior in the Arab World including intergroup conflict, extremism and disinformation. Her analysis involves large datasets from social media, text and networks, machine learning methods and experiments. Website: https://alexandra-siegel.com

FOLLOW Jen on Twitter @jenpan and find her work on her website jenpan.com. Follow Alexandra on Twitter @aasiegel and find her work on her website alexandra-siegel.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Ep 152 Kevin Gosztola: Insights from Assange Extradition Hearing in London

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 00:07:31 +0000

Kevin Gosztola provides an account of his experience reporting on the Julian Assange extradition hearing for four days at the court in London, plus more details and insights about the case and the people involved.

Kevin Gosztola is a journalist and managing editor of Shadowproof. He also produces and co-hosts the excellent weekly podcast with Rania Khalek, "Unauthorized Disclosure." Kevin also reported on Chelsea Manning's military

FOLLOW Kevin @kgosztola, find his work at shadowproof.com, and subscribe to his podcast Unauthorized Disclosure.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 28, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

(Day 1) ASSANGE'S DEFENSE DETAILS CIA-BACKED ESPIONAGE OPERATION, TRUMP'S POLITICIZATION OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, Kevin Gosztola, Shadowproof
(Day 2) ASSANGE EXTRADITION HEARING: CHELSEA MANNING'S GRAND JURY RESISTANCE A MAJOR HURDLE FOR PROSECUTORS, Kevin Gosztola, Shadowproof
(Day 3) PROSECUTION: US-UK TREATY DOES NOT APPLY TO ASSANGE EXTRADITION, Kevin Gosztola, Shadowproof
(Day 4) JUDGE: JULIAN ASSANGE MUST REMAIN IN GLASS BOX DURING EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS, Kevin Gosztola
Around the Empire: Ep 110 Assange Indictments Rely on Contrived Narrative feat Kevin Gosztola
Around the Empire: Ep 97 Chelsea Manning's Resistance feat Kevin Gosztola

Ep 151 Journalism on Trial feat Gordon Dimmack

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:18:42 +0000

Guest: Gordon Dimmack. We discuss the extradition hearing for Julian Assange, the failure of the mainstream media journalists and more. John Pilger has made good use of the phrase "journalism on trial" and it As John Pilger noted today: "Should Julian #Assange be extradited, it will not only be a crime of the British state but of those quisling journalists who smeared and lied about him". Their actions and negligence are also undermining their own press freedoms and placing their own profession in jeopardy. Gordon has repeatedly made these same arguments with strong substantiation. He has dedicated himself to both calling them out and making up for their failings.

Gordon hosts a popular YouTube channel where he covers news, politics, war and the horrific state of our corporate media. He broadcasts mostly from the Midlands but also on the ground at various events around the country and his slogan is "Make Orwell fiction again."

FOLLOW @gordondimmack SUBSCRIBE to his YouTube channel, find and support his work on his website http://gordondimmack.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on Feb 25, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 150 Assange: Torture and Interrogation feat Karen Kwiatkowski

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:50:43 +0000

Guest: Karen Kwiatkowski. We discuss the treatment of Julian Assange and his reported torture and interrogation by US authorities in Belmash prison, the ongoing Assange extradition hearing and more.

Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, USAF (ret.) is a farmer, a teacher and a retired Air Force officer. She has degrees from Harvard, University of Alaska and a PhD from Catholic University. Before retiring she was a Pentagon desk officer who was in the building during the attack on 9/11 and worked for the Pentagon's Near East and South Asia directorate which dealt with the Office of Special Plans. Since retiring, she has become a noted critic of the U.S. government's involvement in Iraq and other aspects of foreign policy. She is a founding member of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and the recipient of the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence Award in 2018 for her insider essays which denounced a corrupting political influence on the course of military intelligence leading up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Karen has said that the role she played as a source for Knight-Ridder is accurately portrayed in the Rob Reiner's film "Shock and Awe." She has also appeared in documentary films, including "Why We Fight".

FOLLOW @karen4the6th Find her work at LewRockwell.com, Consortium News and American Conservative.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Reference Links:

Why is Julian Assange Being Tortured to Death?, Karen Kwiatkowski
Pray and Weep, Karen Kwiatkowski
Assange in Court, Craig Murray
VIPS: Extradition of Julian Assange Threatens Us All, Consortium News
VIPS Fault Mueller Probe, Criticize Refusal to Interview Assange, Consortium News
Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski Wins 2018 Sam Adams Award, Consortium News
The new Pentagon papers, Karen Kwiatkowski, Salon
In Rumsfeld's Shop, Karen Kwiatkowski, American Conservative
Conscientious Objector, Karen Kwiatkowski, American Conservative
Open Door Policy, Karen Kwiatkowski, American Conservative
James Comey: Justice is supposed to be blind. Bill Barr can't see that, Washington Post

Ep 149 US vs Iran Conflicts feat Danny Sjursen

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 19:22:13 +0000

Guest: Maj. Danny Sjursen, US Army (ret.) We talk about two articles that Danny wrote about the conflicts between the United States and Iran over the last seven decades and what he calls a "timeline of provocations and retaliations" and we also talk about Iran's history of relative restraint.

Major Danny Sjursen is a retired US Army strategist and former history instructor at West Point. He served tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the author of a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War titled: "Ghostriders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge". His articles are published by numerous media outlets: antiwar.com, The American Conservative, Truthdig, TomDispatch and others. He is the co-host of the Fortress on a Hill podcast.

FOLLOW Danny @SkepticalVet, subscribe to his podcast Fortress on a Hill.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Reference Links:

Who Started It?: A (Reverse) Timeline of US/Iran Retaliations, Danny Sjursen
The Islamic Republic of Restraint, Danny Sjursen

Ep 148 Low Intensity War in Northeast Asia feat Tim Shorrock

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 22:36:21 +0000

Guest: Tim Shorrock. In recent weeks there have been cries of alarm about North Korea's missile testing all throughout the media but they've omitted some key developments like the massive military build up in South Korea and Northeast Asia over the past few years. Tim provides us with some of that omitted context including the fact that the South Korean armed forces, allied with the US, is the seventh largest in the world.

Tim grew up in Japan and Korea and he has been covering national security and other topics around Asia and the Korean peninsula since the late 1970's . He is a correspondent at The Nation and he's the author of the popular book "Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing".

FOLLOW @TimothyS Find his work at The Nation and at his website http://timshorrock.com. Buy his book: Spies For Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 31, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

A Low-Intensity War Is Underway in Northeast Asia, Tim Shorrock, The Nation

Ep 147 Propaganda Campaigns Against Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders feat Alan MacLeod

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 21:43:20 +0000

Guest: Alan MacLeod. We discuss the recent UK elections and how the Labour Party's Brexit strategy backfired. We talk about the relentless propaganda campaign that was launched against Jeremy Corbyn and how there is a similar campaign being run against Bernie Sanders in the United States that is growing in intensity. We wonder if Bernie will learn from Corbyn's experience or whether he'll continue the kind of "high road" approach that did not turn out well for Corbyn. We also discuss the post-election implications for the future of the United Kingdom and its constituent countries England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We also discuss the coup in Bolivia.

FOLLOW him on Twitter at @AlanRMacLeod. Find his work at MintPress News and look for his books Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 19, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Corporate Media Find All the Wrong Lessons for US Left in Corbyn's Defeat, Alan MacLeod
Labour's Brexit Strategy Backfires as UK Votes to Leave EU at Any Cost, Alan MacLeod, MintPress News
Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn to Step Down After UK Election Catastrophe, Alan MacLeod, MintPress News
British Weapons Manufacturers, Banks, See Share Price Rocket after Conservative Election Victory, Alan MacLeod, MintPress News
Election Result Signals a Possible End of the United Kingdom, Alan MacLeod
Around the Empire: Ep 96 Using Venezuela to Suppress Populism & Anti-Imperialism feat Alan MacLeod

Ep 146 Pompeo's Gulf of Tonkin feat Gareth Porter

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 06:35:29 +0000

Guest: Gareth Porter. As the news was breaking of Iranian retaliatory strikes on military bases in Iraq where American troops were deployed, Gareth Porter and I were talking about his analysis comparing the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident in Vietnam to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's apparent strategy to "grease the skids" for war with Iran.

Gareth Porter is an independent Investigative historian and journalist on the national security state. He is the author of numerous books including Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam (2005) and Manufactured Crisis: the Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare (2014). He is the winner of the 2012 Gellhorn Prize for Journalism

FOLLOW Gareth on Twitter at @GarethPorter. Find his work at The American Conservative, Truthdig, Antiwar.com, Middle East Eye and other media outlets. Read his new book: The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis: From CIA Coup to the Brink of War.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on Jan 7, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Pompeo's Gulf Of Tonkin Incident, Gareth Porter
Book: Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam, Gareth Porter
Book: Manufactured Crisis: the Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare, Gareth Porter
Book: The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis: From CIA Coup to the Brink of War, Gareth Porter, John Kiriakou

Ep 145 Crowdstrike Analysis Revisited feat Jeffrey Carr

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 22:12:02 +0000

Guest: Jeffrey Carr. Dan Wright and Joanne Leon did a reunion conversation with cybersecurity expert, Jeffrey Carr, to revisit the infamously erroneous Crowdstrike analysis of the DNC hack which they attributed to Russia based on their analysis of an alleged Russian hack of a Ukrainian military artillery app. We also discussed Crowdstrike's history, its recent mention in President Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky (the same phone call that led to his impeachment for a different reason) and the broader issue of how cybersecurity firms are incentivized to make specious claims concerning attribution of a hack, particularly if it gains them notoriety that leads to more business.

Jeffrey Carr is a cybersecurity author, researcher, entrepreneur and consultant, who focuses on cyber warfare. He is the author of the book "Inside Cyber Warfare: Mapping the Cyber Underworld" and the creator of the Suits and Spooks conference series which "bridges the gap between the Intelligence Community and Industry on hard challenges in Information Security".

Follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffreyCarr and find the Suits and Spooks conference series at suitsandspooks.com and find his writing at his blog https://jeffreycarr.blogspot.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 17, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Around the Empire Episode 13: Crowdstrike's Russian Hacking Claims feat. Jeffrey Carr (4/12/17)
Think Tank: Cyber Firm at Center of Russian Hacking Charges Misread Data, VOA
Cyber Firm Rewrites Part of Disputed Russian Hacking Report, VOA
Trump-Zelensky July 25, 2019 phone call transcript
"How a Fringe Theory About Ukraine Took Root in the White House", New York Times, Scott Shane
(Questionable recent story mentioned in podcast) Ukraine SBU detains several involved in hacking the DNC servers, Scott Humor

Ep 144 What Really Happened in Iraq feat Elijah Magnier

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 01:39:18 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. We discuss what really happened in Iraq over the past week, leading up to the killing of the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and the Iraqi PMU vice commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes. We talk about the reactions, justifications and likely consequences. Also, Elijah provides some more clarification on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF/PMU or Hashd al-Shaabi) and the way the different Iraqi security forces have been described inaccurately in western media.

Elijah Magnier is a veteran war correspondent and political analyst with over 35 years of experience covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

FOLLOW Elijah Magnier @ejmalrai. Read and support his work at ejmagnier.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on January 4, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

What Comes Next After the US Assassination of Qassem Soliemani? The Options, Elijah Magnier
ATE Episode 140: Uprising in Iraq feat Elijah Magnier (12/18/19)
ATE Episode 127: Iraq Protests, US-Iran War, Regime Change feat Elijah Magnier (10/6/19)
ATE Episode 68: Iraq Politics & Stalled Idlib Op in Syria feat Elijah Magnier (9/17/18)

Ep 143 The Killing of Soleimani feat Neda Bolourchi

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 21:14:07 +0000

Guest: Neda Bolourchi. We talk about the assassination of Iranian major general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Qasem Soleimani by the US military. Was it a punishment for past actions or an attempt at deterrence toward Iran or both? We discuss the impact on the people of Iraq and Iran and the recent protests, the prospects for retaliation by Iran and war throughout the region.

Find her at LinkedIn and find her work on her Rutgers University Center for Middle Eastern Studies web page.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on January 3, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

A 'New' Yes with Iran? Economics, Logistics and Timelines, The International Institute for Strategic Studies
Hello, world? Tehran has a few things to say, Neda Bolourchi, Atlantic Council
Tehran, It's Time To Listen And Take A Realistic View Of The Protests In Iraq, Neda Bolourchi, LobeLog
Revealed: Why Hariri going won't stop the Lebanese protests – and how Iran could now be in peril, Neda Bolourchi, Redaction Politics

Ep 142 Regime Change Resistance: OAS, Bolivia and Dominica feat Jeb Sprague

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 23:01:45 +0000

Guest: Jeb Sprague. We discuss how regime change projects seem to be on overdrive right now, the key role played by the Organization of American States (OAS) in regime change operations in Latin American and Caribbean states (former colonial states). Recently in the Commonwealth of Dominica (an island country in the West Indie), there was a successful resistance to regime change. In Bolivia, there was strong resistance as well, but the coup plotters succeeded. Jeb's research and reporting on the role of Bolivia's top police and military brass in planning and executing the coup, shows that it was a long term project with training at the School of the Americas.

Dr. Jeb Sprague is currently a Research Associate at the University of California, Riverside. He formerly taught at the University of Virginia and at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a founding member of the Network for Critical Studies of Global Capitalism (NCSGC) and has taught in the Caribbean, East Asia, and North America. He is the author of two books: "Globalizing the Caribbean: Political economy, social change, and the transnational capitalist class" (2019) and "Paramilitarism and the assault on democracy in Haiti" (2012).

FOLLOW Jeb Sprague @JebSprague and find his writing at The Grayzone, MintPress News, The Canary and at his website jebsprague.blogspot.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 6, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Top Bolivian coup plotters trained by US military's School of the Americas, served as attachés in FBI police programs, Jeb Sprague, The Grayzone
Book: "Globalizing the Caribbean: Political economy, social change, and the transnational capitalist class" (2019), Jeb Sprague
Book: "Paramilitarism and the assault on democracy in Haiti" (2012), Jeb Sprague
Around the Empire: Ep 109 Hybrid War on Venezuela, Embassy Seizure feat Jeb Sprague

Ep 141 Maidan Massacre in Ukraine feat Ivan Katchanovski

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 18:06:53 +0000

Guest: Ivan Katchanovski. We talk about his vast research and his detailed and prolific writings and presentations on the Maidan protests and the 2014 Maidan massacre in Ukraine.

Dr. Ivan Katchanovski is a political scientist and his research focuses on politics, conflicts, policy & political communication in Ukraine, US & Canada. who teaches at the University of Ottawa. He was Visiting Scholar at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, Visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of Politics at the State University of New York at Potsdam, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto, and Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Library of Congress. He received his Ph.D. from George Mason University.

He is a prolific researcher and writer and his publications (which can be found on his University of Ottowa website and elsewhere), his interviews, and comments have appeared in numerous media outlets internationally.

FOLLOW @I_Katchanovski. Find his work at his website https://uottawa.academia.edu/IvanKatchanovski

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 5, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Far Right, the Euromaidan, and the Maidan Massacre in Ukraine, Ivan Katchanovski, Academia
The Maidan Massacre in Ukraine: Revelations from Trials and Investigations, Ivan Katchanovski (presentation)
How Maidan Protesters Were Shot from Maidan-Controlled Buildings: Video Appendix H, Ivan Katchanovski (video appendix for presentation)

Ep 140 Uprising in Iraq feat Elijah Magnier

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:10:56 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. A new generation of Iraqis has new ideas and is not willing to accept an old, corrupt system dominated by ruling parties and sectarianism. Iraqis want foreign meddling to stop and they want reform and change. They want the country's resources to be used to improve the quality of life. Sayyed Moqtada al-Sadr still has enormous influence over the protesters in the street and the ministers in the government. But what does Sayyed Moqtada al-Sadr want to achieve?

Prime Minister Mahdi inherited all the corruption and deficits from previous governments, the complications of alliances with the US and Iran and neighboring countries. His errors in handling the protests and his police forces and the violent crackdown led to his downfall. The search for a new leader of the parliament and the important ministries is on but there probably won't be a new election until 2021. Will this new generation of Iraqis succeed in acting as a check on the corrupt actors going forward?

Elijah Magnier is a veteran war correspondent and political analyst with over 35 years of experience covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

FOLLOW Elijah Magnier @ejmalrai. Read and support his work at ejmagnier.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 4, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Why Abdel Mahdi has to go: Many mistakes by the US, Iran and the Marjaiya, Elijah Magnier
Who holds the Initiative, and who has the Power to mobilise the Street in Iraq?, Elijah Magnier
ATE Episode 68: Iraq Politics & Stalled Idlib Op in Syria feat Elijah Magnier (9/17/18)
ATE Episode 127: Iraq Protests, US-Iran War, Regime Change feat Elijah Magnier (10/6/19)

Ep 139 All Roads Lead to Intelligence (Swapcast) feat Kyle Anzalone

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 20:41:12 +0000

On this Foreign Policy Focus and Around the Empire swap cast, Kyle and Joanne discuss the Democrats' efforts to impeach Trump over Russiagate. Statements by Nancy Pelosi and witnesses in the impeachment hearings show the blob's real aim to prevent Trump from adopting a more realistic foreign policy towards Russia. The hosts also cover Attorney General Barr's interview about the FBI IG report on the investigation into Trump's campaign. Barr explains why the media's coverage of the report is misleading and the Durham report could reveal the intelligence community's role in the origin of Russiagate.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @Kyaaale. SUBSCRIBE to the Foreign Policy Focus podcast at the Libertarian Institute.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 10, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 138 Crazy US and UK Politics feat Gordon Dimmack

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:01:29 +0000

Guest: Gordon Dimmack. We chat about the crazy politics in the US and UK, the high level of propaganda, and the election in the UK that will be held this week with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn as top contenders for Prime Minister. We talk about the Tory, Labour and other UK parties, likely coalitions and the top issues like Brexit and the NHS. We also touch on Russigate and the recently released IG Report.

FOLLOW Gordon on Twitter @gordondimmack. SUBSCRIBE to his YouTube channel and support him via Patreon.com/GordonDimmack or StreamLabs. Find his work at his website gordondimmack.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 10, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Q&A: Manipulators, Optimism, Utopia, Trump, Writing Tips & More, Caitlin Johnstone

Ep 137 The Great NHS Heist feat Dr Bob Gill

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 18:34:30 +0000

Guest: Dr. Bob Gill. We discuss the documentary, "The Great NHS Heist", wherein Dr. Gill, a general practitioner within the NHS system, and others, talk about the imminent threat to and the covert destruction of the English National Health Service. We also talk about what we in the UK and in the US can do to better understand the situation and inform our peers about our respective situations in health care.

To quote from a bit of the abstract on the film from its website:

"We witnessed the new corporate managerialism and marketisation of healthcare, shrinkage of the NHS bed capacity, and transfer of assets into the private sector using Private Finance Initiative and NHS land sales. Private operators expanding their grip on the NHS, securing contracts for the provision of ancillary and then clinical services, rapidly accelerated by the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. The privatisation lobby crafted effective cover stories and carefully managed the national debate to maintain public ignorance and remained largely unchallenged by a compliant mainstream media. Successive reforms were presented as essential improvements while disguising the reality of creeping privatisation. The stage was set for the heist of NHS land, patient medical data, and the £120 billion annual tax-funded budget for US corporate raiders."

Dr. Bob Gill is a British doctor, an NHS campaigner and the producer of the crowdfunded documentary film, "The Great NHS Heist"..

FOLLOW @drbobgill, find all the information at the website TheGreatNHSHeist.com SUBSCRIBE to their YouTube channel and support the work at GoFundMe.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on December 8, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Documentary: The Great NHS Heist
Website: TheGreatNHSHeist.com
The Great NHS Heist GoFundMe

Ep 136 Coup in Bolivia feat Ben Norton

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Guest: Ben Norton. We discuss the coup in Bolivia where the recently reelected president, Evo Morales, was forced to step down by the military leaders and later flee to Mexico. An extreme right-wing opposition and fascist paramilitary then moved in to take control. Ben explains some of the groups and individuals involved in the coup and the support and involvement of other Latin American countries and the United States.

Ben Norton is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker. He is the assistant editor of The Grayzone, and the producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, which he co-hosts with editor Max Blumenthal.

FOLLOW @BenjaminNorton Find his work at The Grayzone. SUBSCRIBE to their Youtube channel and support them on Patreon.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on November 14, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Bolivia coup led by Christian fascist paramilitary leader and millionaire – with foreign support, Grayzone, Max Blumenthal & Ben Norton
Top Bolivian coup plotters trained by US military's School of the Americas, served as attachés in FBI police programs, Grayzone, Jeb Sprague
Bolivia: audios leaked from opposition leaders calling for a coup against Evo Morales, EN24

Ep 135 2020 Election & Impeachment feat Michael Tracey

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 22:44:00 +0000

Guest: Michael Tracey. In a wide ranging discussion we talk about the Democratic primary, the progression of Russiagate, Spygate, Ukrainegate and how it led to the impeachment circus going on now. We discuss the "investigate the investigators" process going on in the background and the media coverage of all of the above. In relation to the 2020 primary, we talk about the different candidates and their rallies and supporters. And we talk about Tulsi Gabbard's rise in the polls and her recent events and appearances, including her support for the 9/11 families.

Michael Tracey is a journalist based in the New York City metro area and the host of a podcast and Youtube channel. His articles are published by many different media organizations and he is a frequent commentator on TV and online media.

FOLLOW @mtracey, subscribe to his Youtube channel and support his work at Patreon,

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on November 11, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 134 How Democrats Became the Party of Monopoly & Corruption feat Matt Stoller

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 03:00:00 +0000

Guest: Matt Stoller. In this episode, we discuss an excerpt of Matt's new book: Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. Here are two paragraphs from the book's abstract:

In Goliath, Matt Stoller explains how authoritarianism and populism have returned to American politics for the first time in eighty years, as the outcome of the 2016 election shook our faith in democratic institutions. It has brought to the fore dangerous forces that many modern Americans never even knew existed. Today's bitter recriminations and panic represent more than just fear of the future, they reflect a basic confusion about what is happening and the historical backstory that brought us to this moment.

The true effects of populism, a shrinking middle class, and concentrated financial wealth are only just beginning to manifest themselves under the current administrations. The lessons of Stoller's study will only grow more relevant as time passes. Building upon his viral article in The Atlantic, "How the Democrats Killed Their Populist Soul," Stoller illustrates in rich detail how we arrived at this tenuous moment, and the steps we must take to create a new democracy.

Matt Stoller is a fellow at the Open Markets Institute. He worked for both the Senate and House of Representatives as an advisor. He has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, The New Republic, Vice, Salon and he was a producer for MSNBC's The Dylan Ratigan Show,

Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthewstoller. Find his work at Open Markets Institute and various publications. Buy his new book: "Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy"

FOLLOW @matthewstoller and buy his new book "Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy"

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 28, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

How Democrats Became the Party of Monopoly and Corruption, VICE, Matt Stoller
Book: Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy, Matt Stoller

Ep 133 The Blob Strikes Back feat Hunter DeRensis

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 15:12:36 +0000

Guest: Hunter DeRensis. Hunter describes the US foreign policy establishment, or "The "Blob", as a "self-anointed mandarin class or, if you prefer, deep state, that has largely operated unmolested until the advent of Trump now appears to believe that it can foil, or even subvert, the policies of a president it deems unfit for office, a development that should worry Democrats and Republicans alike." We talk about William Taylor, an old Cold warrior member of "The Blob" and discuss how they are driving the impeachment effort. We also talk about the anonymous op-ed published in the NYT last year and a new book by the same anonymous author, titled "The Warning" published this month. Lastly, I ask Hunter to speculate on who that anonymous author might be and he gives us his theory and the reasoning behind it.

Hunter DeRensis is a foreign policy reporter for The National Interest and a contributor to The American Conservative and the Libertarian Institute.

FOLLOW @HunterDeRensis and find his work at the The National Interest.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on October 28, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Blob Strikes Back, Hunter DeRensis, National Interest
A Warning: Why Should Anyone Trust Anonymous?, Hunter DeRensis, National Interest

Ep 132 Ending the War in Yemen feat Shireen Al-Adeimi

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 03:24:11 +0000

Guest: Shireen Al-Adeimi. We discussed the recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities and the battle in Najran, near the Saudi-Yemen border. Shireen then lays out some history on the wars in recent decades in Yemen, both civil wars and foreign interventions, and offers important insights on how the Saudi-United Arab Emirates coalition backed by the US and other western powers, does not even have a coherent objective anymore. Further, the Saudis and Emiratis are fighting against each other in a proxy war. Lastly we talk about Samantha Power's new memoir in which she omits any mention of the war in Yemen or her role in the Obama administration's decision to support and sustain it.

"Shireen Al-Adeimi is an assistant professor of education at Michigan State University. Having lived through two civil wars in her country of birth, Yemen, she has played an active role in raising awareness about the U.S.-supported, Saudi-led war on Yemen since 2015. Through her work, she aims to encourage political action among fellow Americans to bring about an end to U.S. intervention in Yemen."

FOLLOW Shireen on Twitter @shireen818. Find her work on the In These Times website.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 3, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The U.S.-Backed Coalition Can't Agree on Why It's Bombing Yemen, Shireen Al-Adeimi
How Dare Samantha Power Scrub the Yemen War From Her Memoir, Shireen Al-Adeimi
Yemeni Alliance Committee on Facebook

Ep 131 Halloween Special: Trump v Hillary, a Ghoulish Rematch? feat Margaret Kimberley

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 18:57:40 +0000

Guest: Margaret Kimberley. On this Halloween special episode, we discuss the prospects for a "ghoulish rematch" in 2020 between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. We mainly focus on Hillary Clinton, recent events and various signs that she is considering making another run for president and why that would be a disaster.

FOLLOW Margaret on Twitter @freedomrideblog Find her work at the Black Agenda Report.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 29, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Freedom Rider: The Return of Hillary Clinton, Margaret Kimberley, Black Agenda Report
Wasserman Schultz, Democrats did not tilt 2016 primary in Clinton's favor, judicial panel rules, Sun-Sentinel
Event: How Propaganda Manufactures Consent by Big Apple Coffee Party featuring Max Blumenthal, Margaret Kimberley, Aaron Mate, Lee Camp

Ep 130 Kashmir and Modi feat Ahsan Butt

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:49:21 +0000

Guest: Ahsan Butt. We discuss the history of Kashmir and the current situation after India stripped the Jammu & Kashmir regions of their limited autonomy status to bring it under the direct control of the Indian government. Also we talked about Prime Minister Modi's history and his relationship with American officials and politicians and why India is considered an important geopolitical balance to China. We discuss Tulsi Gabbard's support for Modi and lastly about the obstacles to ending the war in Afghanistan.

Ahsan Butt is an Associate Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and a non-resident fellow at the Stimson Center. He generally work on issues of ethnicity and nationalism, security, international order, and South Asia and he is the author of the book: Secession and Security: Explaining State Strategy Against Separatists

FOLLOW @ahsanib, find his book on Amazon or at the OAOPEN Library, or visit his website.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 25, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Book: Secession and Security: Explaining State Strategy Against Separatists, Ahsan I. Butt, Amazon, Download
Ahsan Butt's website, Twitter page
India just pulled Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy. Here's why that is a big deal for this contested region, Ahsan Butt, Washington Post
The Caravan: All in the Family: The American Sangh's affair with Tulsi Gabbard

Ep 129 The Borg Freaks Out Over Syria (Swapcast)

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 23:46:21 +0000

Swapcast with Foreign Policy Focus podcast host Kyle Anzalone, on the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria and the Kurds/SDF new partnership with Syria with Russia as the guarantor.

The Turkish military continues with its "Operation Peace Spring" invasion along with its "rebel" fighter allies, some of whom are jihadis formerly backed by the US-led coalition. President Trump ordered the withdrawal of US forces from Syria with the exception of Al Tanf. It remains to be seen how much, if not all of that territory will be reclaimed by the Syrian state. Syrian government forces are moving rapidly into some parts of northeast Syria that had been under the control of the Kurdish-led, US-backed SDF forces. They aim to regain control of all of their territory, which might result in direct fighting between Syrian and Turkish forces.

Meanwhile the American foreign policy "Borg" (as retired Col. Pat Lang calls it or "the Blob" as President Obama called it, or the War Party as I sometimes call it) is engaged in a total freak out which Kyle and I will describe in more detail. The events of the past few days are momentous for a number of different reasons that are just as complicated and multi-faceted as this war in Syria itself.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @Kyaaale. SUBSCRIBE to the Foreign Policy Focus podcast at the Libertarian Institute.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 14, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

If We Have to Choose Between Compromise and Genocide, We Will Choose Our People, Mazloum Abdi (SDF Commander), Foreign Policy
"This is our reward?": After 4 years fighting ISIS, Syrian Kurds face uncertain future as US pivots to Turkey, Defense Post, January 2019
Democrats, Republicans to seek reversal of Trump Syria pullback, AFP

ATE Ep 128 Will the Saudi Kingdom Survive Their War on Yemen? feat Isa Blumi

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 04:03:38 +0000

Guest: Isa Blumi. We discuss the war in Yemen, the recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities, the ground operation in Najran, some recent, perhaps game changing statements by Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, and other comments made by the Saudi energy minister and by Russian and Iranian officials at the Valdai conference. Isa talks about what he describes in his book as the "shifting causal factor behind the ongoing violence in Yemen", the need for resources, the coalition infighting and the worsening predicament of the Saudi Kingdom and their frenemies in the Gulf. At the root of it is a fragmenting, collapsing empire and global financial interests plundering the world.

Dr. Isa Blumi is an historian, an author and an Associate Professor at Stockholm University. His very prescient book, titled Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia."

FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his latest book at UCPress.edu.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 4, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World, Isa Blumi, UC Press
Around the Empire: Ep 55 Imperial War, Gulf State Rivalry, Resources and Resistance in Yemen feat Isa Blumi
Around the Empire: Ep 64 Yemen War Big Picture & Media Narrative feat Isa Blumi

Ep 127 Iraq Protests, US-Iran War, Regime Change feat Elijah Magnier

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 21:48:15 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. We discuss the uprising and protests across Iraq that turned violent this week, with over a hundred deaths and thousands of injuries.

Elijah's sources within the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi told him that the protests were planned during the summer months and the demands of the people are legitimate. The current prime minister inherited a corrupt system and a country struggling to recover from devastating war, sanctions and billions of dollars in debt. The protests coincide with an assassination attempt on the leader of the Iranian Quds force, Qasem Soleimani and PM Mahdi's office said the objective now seems to be about creating chaos in Iraq and Iran and possibly a coup d'état / regime change carried out by military or encouraged by foreign forces, Saudi Arabia and the US.

Elijah Magnier is a veteran war correspondent and political analyst with over 35 years of experience covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

FOLLOW Elijah Magnier @ejmalrai. Read and support his work at ejmagnier.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on October 6, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

THE US-IRAN SILENT WAR IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN "IRAQ UPRISING", Elijah Magnier
Around the Empire: Ep 68 Iraq Politics & Stalled Idlib Op in Syria feat Elijah Magnier
Around the Empire: Ep 122 Brink of War: Israel and Hezbollah feat Elijah Magnier
The Post-Saddam Hussein Settlement in Iraq Is on the Brink of Collapse, Patrick Cockburn
Iran-US Tensions Threaten Fragile Iraqi Stability, Amid Army Dismissal, Patrick Cockburn

Ep 126 Magnitsky Myth feat Lucy Komisar

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:30:24 +0000

Guest: Lucy Komisar. A deep dive into the story behind the "Magnitsky Hoax". Lucy tells the story of Bill Browder, Hermitage (his hedge fund) and how he managed to create a massive political weapon called the Magnitsky Act to protect himself and his benefactors and to use against others. The story also involves shell companies, tax havens, money laundering, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Robert Maxwell, Gazprom, HSBC, Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Trump Tower meeting, the resurgence of the Cold War with Russia, Russiagate, the Mueller Report, and more.

Lucy Komisar is a New York City-based journalist with a long history of investigating offshore banks and corporate secrecy and abuses. One of her current long term projects is the investigation of the Browder/Magnitsky hoax.

FOLLOW Lucy on Twitter @LucyKomisar where there is lively and active participation in this investigative work and find her work at her website TheKomisarScoop.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 24th and 27th, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Komisar Scoop
The Man Behind the Magnitsky Act, 100Reporters, Lucy Komisar
The BBC and the European Court get the Magnitsky story wrong, Lucy Komisar
The Man Behind the Magnitsky Act: Did Bill Browder's Tax Troubles in Russia Color Push for Sanctions?, Lucy Komisar
Documentary: The Magnitsky Act: Behind the Scenes, Andrei Nekrasov

Timestamps:

2:00 Intro, Lucy's background, how she met Bill Browder, investigating money laundering, Khodorkovsky, Avisma, Browder, Yukos, Peter Bond, Russia

9:00 The Magnitsky Hoax, how Browder/Magnitsky ties into other things like Russiagate, resurgence of the Cold War, Robert Maxwell, etc.

11:30 Bill Browder background, Robert Maxwell, Salomon Brothers, telecom Peter Star, Edmond Safra, IMF funds, Beny Steinmetz, Hermitage hedge fund, Mossack Fonseca, Ziff Brothers

16:30 Offshore shell companies, fall of USSR, "shock therapy", shares/vouchers, Cyprus, Gazprom, Russia-Cyprus double taxation treaties, fraud, Kalmykia region in Russia, Browder tax evasion

23:45 Sergei Magnitsky (Browder's accountant) investigated 2006, Browder lost Russian visa 2005, Putin, 2007 Browder companies docs seized, Firestone Duncan, Browder says companies stolen

31:00 Magnitsky interrogated 2008, prepares to flee, arrested & imprisoned, HSBC (trustee for Hermitage fund), tax refund fraud, Renaissance, Prevezon, OCCRP, Browder media stenographers, Rimma Starova blew the whistle, Russian reporter Oleg Lurie met Magnitsky in prison, Magnitsky doesn't mention abuse to Lurie or human rights orgs, Browder doesn't mention to US House Human Rights Committee, Magnitsky dies in prison in Nov 2009 poor medical treatment, Russian authorities investigate and report terrible prison conditions, medical neglect

46:00 Russia still pursuing Browder for tax evasion, Jonathan Winer worked for John Kerry's State Dept and later APCO, Khodorkovsky also client of APCO, Winer helps Browder craft a new story & strategy ("Magnitsky Hoax") of Magnitsky murder, forgeries, used by media and govt for The Magnitsky Act, in his fraudulent document Browder names new culprits

54:30 Browder and Magnitsky Act help advance US anti-Russia foreign policy, OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) helps Browder create docs, Magnitsky Act includes a section protecting Khodorkovsky

1:01:00 Documentary "The Magnitsky Act: Behind the Scenes" debunks Browder's story, banned from broadcast

1:03:00 Ken Dilanian's May 2016 reporting on Magnitsky and Browder was killed by NBC, Robert Otto State Dept emails leaked

1:11:45 Trump Tower meeting, Natalia Veselnitskaya, Rob Goldstone, Prevezon case, Russiagate narrative, Fusion GPS, Glenn Simpson

1:32:30 Trump-Russia investigation, The Mueller Report repeats Browder's Magnitsky hoax story

1:43:00 in 2016 Browder found guilty in Russian court and new embezzlement charges filed as a result of his tax refund fraud

1:51:00 Complexity of tax havens, shell companies, money laundering, purpose of Global Magnitsky Acts campaign as a political weapon

Ep 125 Yemen Drone Attacks on Saudi Oil Facilities feat Nasser Arrabyee

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:47:19 +0000

Guest: Nasser Arrabyee. Speaking to us from Yemen, Nasser describes the recent drone attacks by the Yemen armed forces (led by the Houthis) on the Saudi oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais. We discussed the fact that there have been numerous other, progressively advanced, retaliatory strikes by Yemen on Saudi Arabia in recent months and over the past few years. Further, we talk about the five year bombardment and blockade of Yemen by Saudi Arabia (with the critical assistance of the United States) and how the number of casualties has been grossly understated.

Nasser Arrabyee is a journalist and filmmaker based in Sanaa, Yemen. He has produced four documentaries about the war in Yemen and has been published by numerous media outlets including the New York Times, Bloomberg and Foreign Policy.

FOLLOW Nasser Arrabyee on Twitter @narrabyee.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 17, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

9/14/19 video statement from spokesman for Yemen/Houthi armed forces about the drone attack on Saudi oil facilities. Translation by Nasser Arrabyee
Yemen's Houthis say Aramco plants still a target, Reuters
Scott Horton Show: 9/9/19 Nasser Arrabyee on the Ongoing War in Yemen
Damage At Saudi Oil Plant Points To Well Targeted Swarm Attack, Moon of Alabama
The Secret of Yemen's War? We Can End It, NYT, Martin Griffiths (UN Special Envoy for Yemen)
Yemen Houthi drones, missiles defy years of Saudi air strikes, Reuters

Ep 124 The Kremlin Spy & Russiagate feat Aaron Maté

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 03:37:34 +0000

Guest: Aaron Maté. We talk about the latest Russiagate "bombshell" story that revealed the identity and Washington, DC area location of a Kremlin spy, Oleg Smolenkov, and claimed that he provided intelligence proving that Vladimir Putin ordered an election influence operation favoring Donald Trump. Also we discuss the machinations of former CIA DirectorJohn Brennan, the Barr and Durham investigation of the investigators and the political ramifications of Russiagate overall.

Aaron is the host of the Pushback With Aaron Maté show at the Grayzone and a contributing writer at The Nation.

FOLLOW Aaron on Twitter @aaronjmate, subscribe to his show Pushback with Aaron Maté at the Grayzone channel on YouTube and support him at Patreon.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 15, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Exclusive: US extracted top spy from inside Russia in 2017, CNN, Jim Sciutto
C.I.A. Informant Extracted From Russia Had Sent Secrets to U.S. for Decades, NYT, David Sanger
Possible Russian spy for CIA now living in Washington area, NBC, Ken Dilanian
CIA slams CNN's 'misguided' and 'simply false' reporting on alleged CIA spy's extraction from Kremlin, Fox News, Gregg Re
Kremlin says reported U.S. spy in Russian president's office was fired years ago, Reuters
Loud and Clear radio show 9/10/19

Ep 123 Swapcast: Bolton Booted feat Kyle Anzalone

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 01:59:47 +0000

Swapcast with Foreign Policy Focus podcast host Kyle Anzalone, on the firing of Trump's national security advisor, John Bolton.

FOLLOW Kyle on Twitter: @Kyaaale. SUBSCRIBE to the Foreign Policy Focus podcast at the Libertarian Institute.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on September 14, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Trump Oval Office press conference on Bolton firing
Pushback with Aaron Maté: Ex-CIA analyst on why he predicted John Bolton's firing
Around the Empire: Ep 111 John Bolton and Escalation With Iran feat Kyle Anzalone
Washington Post: How clashes with Trump led to John Bolton's firing

Ep 122 Brink of War, Israel & Hezbollah feat Elijah Magnier

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 20:49:38 +0000

Guest: Elijah Magnier. We discuss the recent Israeli bombings in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, the political situation and the impending retaliation by Hezbollah. Also we talk about the purpose and importance of the occupation of al Tanf and the battle for Idlib including Turkey's realignment and the Astana agreement.

Elijah Magnier is a veteran war correspondent and political analyst with over 35 years of experience covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

FOLLOW Elijah Magnier @ejmalrai. Read and support his work at ejmagnier.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 30, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Timestamps:

2:30 Recent Israeli bombings in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, violation of 2006 rules of engagement

10:30 Hezbollah warnings of retaliation, preparation for war

14:00 Political situation in Lebanon and Israel, Hezbollah response before Israeli elections

22:45 Hezbollah response to recent attacks is imminent

29:00 Political impact on Netanyahu, Trump/Netanyahu alliance, risk to American soldiers after bombings in Iraq

36:00 Israeli launched attacks in Iraq from an American base

41:45 Al Tanf base, economic warfare

49:30 Situation in Idlib, Syrian army advance, Turkey realignment and withdrawal of support for former allied jihadi groups; Astana agreement

Reference Links:

Why Netanyahu Dares to Hit Iran's Backyard in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon: Israel Accepts Hezbollah's Challenge, Elijah Magnier
Hezbollah Will Respond to Israel But When? And at What Cost? Elijah Magnier

Ep 121 Epstein & the Clintons feat Whitney Webb

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 18:48:33 +0000

Guest: Whitney Webb. We continue the discussion on Whitney's multi-part investigative journalism articles on the Jeffrey Epstein affair, the multi-national criminal enterprise, with an American wing that is whole heartedly bipartisan and perennial. Today we focus on Part 4 of the series: From "Spook Air" to the "Lolita Express": The Genesis and Evolution of the Jeffrey Epstein-Bill Clinton Relationship.

Both familiar and unfamiliar names and events turn up in this episode. Iran Contra, Bill & Hillary Clinton, Mena, Arkansas, Rose Law Firm, William Barr, BCCI, PROMIS, Systematics, Danny Casolaro, Jackson Stephens, Adnan Khashoggi, and more. Part 4 is the final piece of this series but not really the end, and Whitney gives us some hints about spinoff investigations that will be pursued.

Whitney Webb is a MintPress news journalist and the co-host of the MintCast podcast. She is based in southern Chile and has contributed to numerous independent media outlets with writing and interviews and Whitney is the 2019 winner of the Serena Shim Award for Uncompromised Integrity in Journalism.

FOLLOW @_whitneywebb, find her work at MintPress News and the MintCast podcast. Support her work by contributing to MintPress News or by becoming a patron at patreon.com/MintPressNews.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 23, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

MintPress: From "Spook Air" to the "Lolita Express": The Genesis and Evolution of the Jeffrey Epstein-Bill Clinton Relationship (Part IV of "Too Big to Fail" investigative series by Whitney Webb)
Around the Empire: Ep 115 Epstein, Trafficking & Blackmail feat Whitney Webb
Around the Empire: Ep 117 The Mega Group and the Epstein Affair feat Whitney Webb

Ep 120 Ukraine Political Transformation? feat Mark Sleboda

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 17:39:51 +0000

Guest: Mark Sleboda. Mark Sleboda joins us today from Moscow to talk about political affairs in Ukraine and the recent snap elections in the Ukrainian parliament, the Rada. The "throw the bums out" trend continues and the new president,Volodymyr Zelensky and his brand new political party now has a rare absolute majority and they begin the task of actually governing this troubled state.

Mark is an International Affairs & Security Analyst, a US Navy veteran, a university lecturer and a foreign policy realist.

FOLLOW Mark on Twitter @MarkSleboda1 and on Facebook, look for his appearances on RT, Sputnik and other international channels.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 7, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Timestamps:

01:30 Ukraine presidential and snap parliamentary elections, Zelensky, "Servant of the People", rejection of Poroshenko, anti-corruption, vague policies that appeal to East and West Ukraine, new inexperienced Zelensky party in Rada with diverse policy positions, no party platform or ideology

11:00 Oligarch Kolomoisky, originally pro-Maidan, funded & armed nationalist/neo-Nazi battalions, Privat Bank, fled country with IMF funds, self-exiled and later returned, possibly created Zelensky

16:30 Zelensky continues orientation toward EU and the West, Minsk agreement, privatization and austerity

18:30 Civil war, refusal to talk with Donbass separatists leaders, relations with Russia

21:30 Ukrainian economy

27:30 Control of military and national guard, intelligence services

30:30 Ukraine elections and parties (also with an introduction to Mark's pets voicing their opinion in the background :) (see photos in reference links)

44:00 VICE article (see reference links) propaganda on the far-Right militias, influence on Europe, missiles found in Italy, blowback of Western proxies, current situation with neo-Nazi militias, previous contradictory work of VICE in Ukraine

Reference Links:

Around the Empire: Ep 99 Ukraine feat Mark Sleboda
Netflix: Servant of the People
VICE: FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISTS HAVE BEEN USING UKRAINE'S WAR AS A TRAINING GROUND. THEY'RE RETURNING HOME.
Pics of Mark's pets (including Morrigan the crow)

Ep 119 Hong Kong Protests Reality feat Carl Zha

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 18:18:37 +0000

Guest: Carl Zha. A wide-ranging discussion about colonial Hong Kong, the transition back to China, and the social and economic changes that developed. We analyze the current Hong Kong protests, the forces at work and the prospects for a military crackdown or peaceful resolution.

Carl Zha is an engineer, historian, podcaster, and a Caltech Alum. His podcast, Silk and Steel, is about China, US-China Great Power competition and the history of Empires, past and present.

FOLLOW @carlzha, SUBSCRIBE to his podcast Silk and Steel and listen to his previous podcast, Clash.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 15, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Promo Video of PLA troops stationed in Hong Kong since 1997
New York Times: Opinion: A Hong Kong Protester's Tactic: Get the Police to Hit You
Documentary: The Gate of Heavenly Peace
The Silk and Steel Podcast

Ep 118 Foreign Intel, CIA & Epstein feat Doug Valentine

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 03:15:06 +0000

Guest: Douglas Valentine. We talk about the CIA, foreign intelligence and liaison operations, Donald Trump and the Jeffrey Epstein affair.

Douglas Valentine is an author, investigator, journalist and poet. He's the author of many books, including "The Phoenix Program: America's Use of Terror in Vietnam," and "The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World." He is well known for his extensive research and interviews of numerous CIA officers, former CIA director William Colby and others involved in the Phoenix Program. The Phoenix Program was a large operation that involved kidnapping, torture, and assassination. Its goal was the destruction of the Viet Cong insurgency, a political and paramilitary movement that worked against the United States and the US-backed South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam war.

FOLLOW Douglas Valentine @dougvalentine77 and find his books, writing and archives on his website www.douglasvalentine.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on July 29, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Timestamps:

2:30 Clip from Andrew McCarthy interview on expectations for the IG report on Russiagate/Spygate, foreign intelligence and liaison operations

7:45 Origins of CIA, political police force, liaison operations, Trump and Epstein, gangsters, ideology based in capitalism, makes it possible for people like Trump & Epstein to thrive, anti-communism/socialism, patriarchy, system enables sexual predatory activity

14:00 Mafia is a model for capitalist corporate enterprises, CIA exempt from laws, all intel services organized similarly, CIA tries to shape social and political environment in other countries for US business enterprises

18:30 To control other countries CIA must control criminal underworld in those countries, Various tactics like sexual blackmail used to coerce businessmen and officials in other countries, partners with organized crime for blackmail, arms and drug trafficking

22:30 1980's Donald Trump wanted to advance his business overseas, money laundering

26:00 CIA has intel on American businessmen and makes use of them to do its bidding in the US without conducting operations here, immunized and covered up by the national security state

31:30 Five directorates of CIA, directorate of operations has two parts. Foreign intelligence/liaison branch spies and recruits assets, partners with and bargains with foreign intelligence services.

41:30 Recruiting people to spy on their own countries, wittingly or unwittingly. Creates many "proprietary companies" including charitable entities and NGOs, intelligence operations under cover of civic action.

46:00 Assets like Epstein are expendable. Trump became president, so not expendable. Ghislaine Maxwell and blackmail operations. Operations will never be revealed because covered by national security laws

50:30 Women can also perpetuate the corrupt, patriarchichal system. Details of various spectacles aren't very important in the big picture, as nothing will change until the system is changed

Reference Links:

John Batchelor Show 7/25/19: Durham and Horowitz aim to answer the hard questions about Spygate [and Liaison Operations]
Book: "The Phoenix Program: America's Use of Terror in Vietnam"
Book: "The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World"
www.douglasvalentine.com

Ep 117 The Mega Group and the Epstein Affair feat Whitney Webb

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 15:13:41 +0000

Guest: Whitney Webb. We continue the discussion on Whitney's multi-part investigative journalism articles on the Jeffrey Epstein affair, his ties to intelligence and organized crime, trafficking networks and sexual blackmail operations, and the origins of the Epstein case, going back decades. We focus on Part 3: Mega Group, Maxwells, and Mossad: The Spy Story at the Heart of the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal,

FOLLOW @_whitneywebb, find her work at MintPress News and the MintCast podcast.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on August 7, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Around the Empire: Ep 115 Epstein, Trafficking & Blackmail feat Whitney Webb
Mega Group, Maxwells, and Mossad: The Spy Story at the Heart of the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal, Whitney Webb, MintPress News

Ep 116 The Tulsi Effect feat Danny Sjursen

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 00:06:53 +0000

Guest: Major Danny Sjursen, US Army (ret.). We discuss what Danny refers to as "The Tulsi Effect" and its impact of forcing the issue of war onto the Democratic party agenda and the 2020 presidential election.

The issue of war and foreign policy is something that liberals and progressive candidates would much prefer to ignore in debates and on the public stage. As Danny Sjursen wrote: "This was ever so apparent in the first two nights of Democratic primary debates this week. Foreign policy hardly registered for these candidates with one noteworthy exception: Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard—herself an (anti-war) combat veteran and army officer." All of this is true, and stunning, especially given that our country "remains mired in several air and ground wars from West Africa to Central Asia."

Tulsi has made ending the wars a centerpiece of her campaign and even though she is not a frontrunner she does stand out for making this her priority and not only that, she is forcing the issue of war onto the Democratic agenda. We also talk about Joe Biden's Iraq War problem, Trump's chaotic and contradictory foreign policy cabinet, the silent anti-interventionist majority in America and the state of the anti-war movement.

Major Danny Sjursen is a retired US Army strategist and former history instructor at West Point. He served tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the author of a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War titled: Ghostriders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge. His articles are published by numerous media outlets: antiwar.com, The American Conservative, Truthdig, TomDispatch and others. He is the co-host of the Fortress on a Hill podcast.

FOLLOW Danny @SkepticalVet, find his podcast at Fortress on a Hill.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on July 10, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Tulsi Effect: Forcing War Onto the Democratic Agenda, Danny Sjursen, The American Conservative
Tulsi Gabbard Was the Clear Winner of the Democratic Debates, Truthdig, Danny Sjursen
Here's one way Democrats can defeat Trump: be radically anti-war, The Guardian, Mark Hannah, Stephen Wertheim
Putting the Warriors on Terror on Trial, Danny Sjursen, antiwar.com
Giving Trump Credit (But Not Too Much) on Iran, Danny Sjursen, antiwar.com
Troika Fever, Danny Sjursen, TomDispatch

Ep 115 Epstein, Trafficking & Blackmail feat Whitney Webb

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 19:06:47 +0000

Guest: Whitney Webb. We discuss Whitney's multi-part investigative journalism articles on the Jeffrey Epstein affair, his ties to intelligence and organized crime, trafficking networks and sexual blackmail operations, and the origins of the Epstein case, going back decades. We focus on Part 2 of the series, titled Government by Blackmail: Jeffrey Epstein, Trump's Mentor and the Dark Secrets of the Reagan Era.

FOLLOW @_whitneywebb, find her work at MintPress News and the MintCast podcast.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on July 26, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Shocking Origins of the Jeffrey Epstein Case, Whitney Webb, MintPress News
Government by Blackmail: Jeffrey Epstein, Trump's Mentor and the Dark Secrets of the Reagan Era, Whitney Webb, MintPress News
WSJ: Jeffrey Epstein's Pilots Are Subpoenaed in Sex-Trafficking Investigation
NYT: How Jeffrey Epstein Used the Billionaire Behind Victoria's Secret for Wealth and Women

Ep 114 Russia - China Convergence feat George Szamuely

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 18:47:42 +0000

Guest: Dr. George Szamuely. We talked about the strengthening alliance between Russia and China, 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.

George Szamuely is the author of Bombs for Peace: NATO's Humanitarian War on Yugoslavia and a senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute.

FOLLOW George at @GeorgeSzamuely Read his book Bombs for Peace: NATO's Humanitarian War on Yugoslavia.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 15, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

China's Xi calls Putin his 'best friend' against a backdrop of souring US relations, CNBC
Book: Bombs for Peace: NATO's Humanitarian War on Yugoslavia, George Szamuely

Ep 113 Management of Savagery (Part 2) feat Max Blumenthal

Sat, 29 Jun 2019 16:00:00 +0000

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

Here's an excerpt from the promo for the book:

The rise of international jihad and Western ultra-nationalism

In the Management of Savagery, Max Blumenthal excavates the real story behind America's dealings with the world and shows how the extremist forces that now threaten peace across the globe are the inevitable flowering of America's imperial designs.

Washington's secret funding of the mujahedin provoked the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. With guns and money, the United States has ever since sustained the extremists, including Osama Bin Laden, who have become its enemies. The Pentagon has trained and armed jihadist elements in Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya; it has launched military interventions to change regimes in the Middle East. In doing so, it created fertile ground for the Islamic State and brought foreign conflicts home to American soil.

These failed wars abroad have made the United States more vulnerable to both terrorism as well as native ultra-nationalism. The Trump presidency is the inevitable consequence of neoconservative imperialism in the post–Cold War age. Trump's dealings in the Middle East are likely only to exacerbate the situation.

This interview became a longer and more wide-ranging discussion than we had anticipated, and a really interesting one at that. Not only did we talk about the book and what we think is one of the biggest scandals in American history, but we also talked about the rise of anti-interventionism both as a generational movement and a general awakening. The current positions taken by Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election also comes up in the conversation. In Part 2 of the interview, we discussed our own evolutions and how we came to understand the role of the US and the empire in the world. We ventured into what we think are the best practices for helping others who are in varying states of their own awakening. Max then explains how the book, The Management of Savagery, is actually the compilation of his new understanding of the US role in the world.

FOLLOW Max on Twitter @MaxBlumenthal. Find and support his work at The Grayzone and at Moderate Rebels.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 14, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Book: The Management of Savagery: How America's National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump, Max Blumenthal, Verso Books

Ep 112 Management of Savagery (Part 1) feat Max Blumenthal

Sat, 29 Jun 2019 00:48:21 +0000

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

Here's an excerpt from the promo for the book:

The rise of international jihad and Western ultra-nationalism

In the Management of Savagery, Max Blumenthal excavates the real story behind America's dealings with the world and shows how the extremist forces that now threaten peace across the globe are the inevitable flowering of America's imperial designs.

Washington's secret funding of the mujahedin provoked the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. With guns and money, the United States has ever since sustained the extremists, including Osama Bin Laden, who have become its enemies. The Pentagon has trained and armed jihadist elements in Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya; it has launched military interventions to change regimes in the Middle East. In doing so, it created fertile ground for the Islamic State and brought foreign conflicts home to American soil.

These failed wars abroad have made the United States more vulnerable to both terrorism as well as native ultra-nationalism. The Trump presidency is the inevitable consequence of neoconservative imperialism in the post–Cold War age. Trump's dealings in the Middle East are likely only to exacerbate the situation.

FOLLOW Max on Twitter @MaxBlumenthal. Find and support his work at The Grayzone and at Moderate Rebels.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 14, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Book: The Management of Savagery: How America's National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump, Max Blumenthal, Verso Books

Ep 111 John Bolton and Escalation With Iran feat Kyle Anzalone

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 16:41:31 +0000

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.

Find Kyle's work at ImmersionNews.com and at LibertarianInstitute.org

Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on June 21/24, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 110 Assange Indictments Rely on Contrived Narrative feat Kevin Gosztola

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 15:15:01 +0000

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.

Kevin says that: "In order to defend the First Amendment and investigative journalism itself, it is crucial to understand the timeline of events for Chelsea Manning's disclosures to WikiLeaks and their publication in 2010." He uses his extensive experience covering that military trial to demonstrate the prosecutor's dilemma and to show how specific arguments based on those details will be more crucial than the broad defense of rights.

Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof. He also produces and co-hosts the excellent weekly podcast with Rania Khalek, "Unauthorized Disclosure."

FOLLOW Kevin @kgosztola, find his work at shadowproof.com, and subscribe to his podcast Unauthorized Disclosure.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 31, 2019 / June 19, 2019.. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Unraveling the Justice Department's Conspiracy Theory Against Julian Assange, Kevin Gosztola, Shadowproof
Trump Justice Department's Prosecution Of Julian Assange Relies On Contrived Conspiracy Theory, Kevin Gosztola, Medium
WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Charged in 18-Count Superseding Indictment, US Dept. of Justice
Around the Empire Ep 97 Chelsea Manning's Resistance feat Kevin Gosztola

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

Fri, 24 May 2019 16:13:15 +0000

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.

Jeb Sprague lectures at the University of Virginia and formerly taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author of Globalizing the Caribbean: Political Economy, Social Change, and the Transnational Capitalist Class (Temple University Press, 2019) and Paramilitarism and the Assault on Democracy in Haiti (Monthly Review Press, 2012). In addition, he has authored and co-authored a number of scholarly articles, and is the editor of Globalization and Transnational Capitalism in Asia and Oceania (Routledge, 2016). He is a founding member of the Network for Critical Studies of Global Capitalism (NCSGC) and has taught sociology in the Caribbean, East Asia, and North America. Find his articles at The Grayzone, MintPress News, The Canary and at his website jebsprague.blogspot.com.

FOLLOW Jeb Sprague @JebSprague and find his writing at The Grayzone, MintPress News, The Canary and at his website jebsprague.blogspot.com. Visit him at Jeb Sprague CV.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 21, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Who's Behind the Pro-Guaidó Crowd Besieging Venezuela's D.C. Embassy?, Jeb Sprague, Alex Rubinstein, Mint Press News
Washington's hybrid war on Venezuela – a very 21st-century attempt at regime change, Jeb Sprague, The Canary

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

Thu, 23 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

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'".

FOLLOW Douglas Valentine @dougvalentine77 and find his books, writing and archives on his website www.douglasvalentine.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 18, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

www.douglasvalentine.com.

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

Wed, 22 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

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

In Dave's own words:

"The U.S. status quo model of the military is one composed of advanced conventional forces equipped with modern ships, planes, tanks, sensor networks, and logistic capability and also nuclear weapons. The Pentagon, the broader government, and the industrial base is beholden to this status quo and favored visions of future operations. The Pentagon can modify to a degree for operations but finds it difficult to adapt structurally to new realities. The primary reasons are financial. Last War-ism and nostrums of future scenarios always vastly outweigh truly fresh thinking. The commitment to the ideas of the past that exist today – as business relationships, existing infrastructure, organizations, systems, plans, and past research – dominate the Pentagon's budget. With rare exception, the entire Pentagon budget funds the status quo."

Dave Foster is a data analyst in the private sector. He's a former Marine Corps pilot and a Defense Department contract and civilian weapons engineer and operations analyst. You can find his writing at antiwar.com.

Timestamps:

1:45 Dave Foster's background
6:30 Anti-war vs anti-interventionism vs pacifism
7:15 Empire, military-industrial complex, weapons evolution
9:15 Last war-ism, building weapons for the last war or last century's war, air war
13:15 Reviving the Cold War, peer level competitor adversaries, for-profit wars
16:15 Return to priority on conventional land forces and weapons with Russia as adversary. Competition between different branches of the military, repurposing anti-Soviet weapons for Middle Eastern wars, GPS aided weapons. Adversaries focusing on surface-to-air weapons
20:15 Iraq war, all volunteer force
26:00 Excerpt from Lawrence Wilkerson's speech at a Maine Peace Action speech, May 2019
31:15 Military-industrial complex, profiteering, maintaining the status quo, form of welfare and what we build isn't really suitable for the future.
33:45 Post-WWII, Korean war, Vietnam war, setting up a military poised to go out and look for things to do, wasted good will, world views US as a threat
38:45 War is no longer dependent on having a big conventional military, vulnerability due to large number of bases and ships
42:15 Batteships are outdated, size of the navy, difficulty making big changes in big organizations, life cycle costs of military products, assumptions and estimations
54:15 Recent proposal for fighting Chinese navy
56:15 Arleigh Burke class destroyers accidents, vulnerabilities, vast operations present opportunity for adversaries to study our systems, network-centric systems
1:02:15 Digital systems, testing complex systems
1:09:15 Pentagon has a hard time dealing with disruptive realities, inertia and profits, investing in old fashioned notions of what a military should be
Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 12, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Pentagon's Days of Future Past, Dave Foster, antiwar.com
National Security in Three Diagrams and Six Takeaways
Maine 2019 Spring Gathering & Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson Speech
So Much for Conventional Wisdom, America Actually Seems to Care About Foreign Policy, Deep State Radio podcast

Ep 106 Bolton-Pompeo Axis feat Patrick Lawrence

Tue, 21 May 2019 21:12:37 +0000

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.

Patrick Lawrence is a columnist and essayist who specializes in foreign affairs and media analysis and his work is published at The Nation, Consortium News, Salon and other outlets. Also he's the author of the book "Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century."

FOLLOW Patrick Lawrence @thefloutist. Find his work at his website patricklawrence.us and support his work at patreon.com/thefloutist.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 16, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

A Week of Dangerous Developments from Iran to North Korea, Patrick Lawrence, Consortium News
The US Moves on Iran's Oil Market as an Expression of an Irrational Foreign Policy, Patrick Lawrence, Consortium News
Trump & the Bolton-Pompeo Axis, Patrick Lawrence, Consortium News
White House Reviews Military Plans Against Iran, in Echoes of Iraq War, New York Times
Pompeo, Russia's Lavrov see hope for improved US-Russia ties, AP

Ep 105 War With Iran? feat Elijah Magnier

Mon, 20 May 2019 21:04:17 +0000

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.

Elijah Magnier is a veteran war correspondent and political analyst with over 35 years of experience covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

FOLLOW Elijah Magnier @ejmalrai. Read and support his work at ejmagnier.com

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 17, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

What Would be the Role of Iraq in a US-Iran War Scenario? Elijah Magnier
No Attacks Against US Forces in the Middle East but Against US Allies, Elijah Magnier
No War Between Iran and the US Anytime Soon: Trump Doesn't Know How to Negotiate With Iran, Elijah Magnier
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps on Full Alert Sending a Clear Warning to Gulf Countries, Elijah Magnier
From Karbala to Al Fujairah: An Act of Sabotage May End Prospects of a Summer War in the Middle East, Elijah Magnier
US sets course for its next Middle Eastern war of choice, Financial Times, Edward Luce

Ep 104 Assange Arrest, Crucial Crossroads Feat Michael Krieger

Sun, 19 May 2019 18:43:47 +0000

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.

Michael Krieger is the creator and editor of Liberty Blitzkrieg. He's a former Wall Street analyst from New York now based in Colorado where he is, as his Twitter profile says, " poet laureate of the debt apocalypse."

FOLLOW Michael on Twitter @LibertyBlitz and find his work at LibertyBlitzkrieg.com.

Timestamps:

04:00 Kreiger's background and article, Wall Street, TARP bailout bill, information arbitrage, Tech giants, a turning point, precedents set, no rule of law
11:00 Assange arrest another precedent being set, national security state, no transparency, loss of freedom of speech and investigative journalism
14:00 No accountability for elites aligned with empire, lying on a ridiculous level, outrageous propaganda
22:00 Too big to jail, voluntary corporate surveillance, passive population, rulers and the ruled
31:00 The "problematic" people, dissidents, Assange, Manning and Snowden
35:00 Decline of empire, acceleration of abuse of power
41:00 Investigative journalism, voluntary suppression of leaked or hacked information
44:00 Suppression of speech online, deplatforming from the public square
50:30 Open source software, platforms, systems, journalism

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 8, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Krieger 4/15/19: Arrest of Julian Assange is an Attack on Journalism, Liberty, Self-Government and Civilization Itself

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

Wed, 15 May 2019 16:36:47 +0000

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 cover at all.

In Lazares's own words:

"Mueller's door-stopper of a report may be chockfull of facts, but it's also filled with the non sequiturs, loose threads and self-serving arguments that we've come to expect from official Washington. It's good on collusion, pointing out that reports of a Trump-Russia conspiracy remain unsubstantiated despite desperate Democratic efforts to spin it otherwise."

"But it's lousy on interference, regurgitating the standard intelligence-community line that Russia 'interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion.' Simultaneously, it is remarkably incurious about how the scandal began, who propelled it along, and how it all snowballed into a mega-Watergate."

Timestamps:

02:00- historical recap (from 2014) of US-Russia relations and flawed US foreign policy: Maidan revolution, Crimea, Syria regime change war, Russian intervention and subsequent fury and panic of US War Party, Trump campaign's pro-Russia stance leading to War Party believing Trump was in league with Putin
8:30 Origins of Russiagate: US and foreign intelligence suspicions about Trump campaign's contacts with Russians, counterintelligence investigation. Informants, creating pretexts for investigations, Papadopoulous, Mifsud, Roger Stone, Felix Sater
18:00 Mueller and Weismann reputations, Manafort, collusion section of Mueller report
24:00 Other foreign policy and empire ambitions and problems that influenced Russiagate, e.g. Syria, Ukraine, refugee crisis in Europe, rise of right-wing parties
32:00 Watergate narrative, DNC alleged hack, neverending Russiagate, Assange
36:00 Key questions we have about the Mueller Report and questions the Mueller report does not answer, creeping conspiracy culture, the Steele dossier, IRA, GRU, new investigations and the political impact

Daniel Lazare is a journalist and author of three books: The Frozen Republic; The Velvet Coup, and America's Undeclared War.

FOLLOW Dan on Twitter @dhlazare. Find his work at Consortium News and find his writings and his books at daniellazare.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 8, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Top Ten Questions About the Mueller Report, Daniel Lazare, Consortium News
The 'Guccifer 2.0' Gaps in Mueller's Full Report, Daniel Lazare, Consortium News
The Tale of a 'Deep State Target', Daniel Lazare, Consortium News
Bachelor Show 5/7/29 interview with Andrew McCarthy: "I think they're not finding Mifsud because they don't want to find him."

Ep 102 Another Failed Coup in Venezuela feat Joe Emersberger

Fri, 10 May 2019 18:31:27 +0000

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.

Joe Emersberger is a Canadian engineer and UNIFOR member with Ecuadorian roots. He writes for FAIR, Venezuela Analysis, Counterpunch, The Canary, MintPress News, Telesur English, and Znet.

Timestamps:

00:00 Canada's foreign policy and involvement in US empire and British empire
10:00 LIMA Group
12:45 Venezuela Constituent Assembly, 2018 election
18:20 Sanctions causing tens of thousands of deaths in Venezuela
19:30 January 23 and April 30 coup attempts
36:00 Political support and resistance to intervention and sanctions in US and Europe
43:00 Maduro cabinet members' false defections
48:00 Warnings against military intervention
57:00 Anti-interventionist movement
1:00:00 Trump-Putin phone call on Venezuela, larger risk of war with Russia & China

FOLLOW Joe on Twitter @rosendo_joe and find his writing at FAIR, Venezuela Analysis, Counterpunch, The Canary, MintPress News, Telesur English, and Znet.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on May 4, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Report finds that US sanctions have killed 40,000 people in Venezuela since 2017, Joe Emersberger, The Canary
The Black Book of Canadian Foreign Policy, Yves Engler
Trump's May 3 tweet about phone call with Putin
Kremlin readout on Trump's phone call with Putin
Venezuela's Failed Uprising: How a Deal to Oust Maduro Unraveled, Bloomberg
Quotes from retired Adm. James Stavridis in Foreign Policy: Venezuela Is at a 'Tipping Point'

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

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 23:17:56 +0000

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.

Zaid Jilani is a journalist from from Atlanta, Georgia, currently a Writing Fellow for the University of California, Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. He has previously worked as a reporter and blogger for ThinkProgress, and for other political organizations and media outlets. He is the co-host of the Extremely Offline podcast.

FOLLOW Zaid on Twitter @ZaidJilani and subscribe to his podcast: Extremely Offline

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on April 20, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Bernie Sanders Is Right: Money Always Corrupts. Will The Liberal Establishment Listen?, Zaid Jilani, The Forward
Zaid Jilani Twitter THREAD April 14 thru April 18
The Rematch: Bernie Sanders vs. a Clinton Loyalist, NYT
Bernie Sanders' campaign escalates feud with top liberal think tank, CNN

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

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

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.

Bryan MacDonald is an Irish journalist living and working in Russia. He writes for RT and previously Before moving to Russia, Bryan worked in Ireland for the Evening Herald, Ireland On Sunday and the Irish Independent and has written for many other publications and was a regular guest on various networks.

FOLLOW Bryan on Twitter @27khv and find his work at RT.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Website: aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 31, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Ep 99 Ukraine feat Mark Sleboda

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:57:19 +0000

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.

We do a deep dive into the 2014 Maidan / Euromaidan uprising and intervention by the US, EU and NATO, and how Ukraine became the country that it is today. There is an ongoing separatist movement, civil war and an economic and ideological break from Russia. But there has been no significant improvement for its citizens, leaving the country with a crisis of confidence, poverty and corruption. We discuss the three frontrunner candidates in the elections: the current president Poroshenko, former prime minister Tymoshenko, and Zelensky, a dark horse, anti-corruption comedian who plays a president on TV on a media channel owned by an infamous exiled oligarch, Kolomoisky.

This interview was recorded on the day before the first part of the elections on March 30. We now know that Poroshenko and Zelensky will now advance to the runoff elections on April 21.

FOLLOW him on Twitter @MarkSleboda1 and on Facebook, find his appearances on RT and other international channels.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 30, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 98 Russiagate, This Generation's WMD feat Matt Taibbi

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Journalist and author Matt Taibbi joins the show to talk about his latest book chapter, titled: "It's official: Russiagate is this generation's WMD: The Iraq war faceplant damaged the reputation of the press. Russiagate just destroyed it" and we discuss some corporate media reaction to the piece. We think back on the changes to American policy and American life brought about by the WMD lies, the Iraq War and the War on Terror and the likelihood of serious, real world consequences of the Russiagate conspiracy. This is one of the reasons why it's so important to re-examinine the origins and details of the Russiagate story now that it has collapsed.

But even as the Russiagate conspiracy collapses, the curiously bipartisan consensus on the matter of Russia being a threat to our democracy lives on -- or at least the establishment and national security state are working hard to make sure it survives even if all or most other aspects of the narrative die.

Matt Taibbi is an author, journalist and contributing editor for Rolling Stone. He won the 2008 National Magazine Award for columns and commentary. His most recent book is 'I Can't Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street,' about the infamous killing of Eric Garner by the New York City police. He's also the author of the New York Times bestsellers 'Insane Clown President,' 'The Divide,' 'Griftopia,' and 'The Great Derangement.'

FOLLOW Matt on Twitter @mtaibbi. Find his articles at Rolling Stone and find his book writing subscription at taibbi.substack.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 27, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

It's official: Russiagate is this generation's WMD: The Iraq war faceplant damaged the reputation of the press. Russiagate just destroyed it, Matt Taibbi, Hate, Inc.
Serious journalists should be proud of — not bullied over — their Russia reporting, Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post
Taibbi: As the Mueller Probe Ends, New Russiagate Myths Begin, Rolling Stone
FT Edward Luce: Robert Mueller is the God that failed Democrats
Edward Luce on Morning Joe, MSNBC, March 25, 2019
Video: Christopher Steele's Former Boss Dismisses Trump Dossier Claims, Calls Them 'Overrated'
Podcast: John Batchelor Show with Stephen Cohen, Feb. 14/15, 2017

Ep 97 Chelsea Manning's Resistance feat Kevin Gosztola

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 19:08:47 +0000

Editor and journalist Kevin Gosztola joins the show to talk about the jailing of former US Army intelligence analyst and whistleblower Chelsea Manning for her resistance to a grand jury investigating Wikileaks. Kevin has been reporting on Manning's case from the start in 2010 and has been a tireless advocate. Secret grand juries, and investigations have been used against dissidents and activists for more than a century as a political tactic of repression, isolation, intimidation and harassment. But there is also a long tradition of resistance. As Kevin wrote: "Chelsea Manning is carrying on this tradition through her bold defiance." In Manning's own words:

"I will not participate in a secret process that I morally object to, particularly one that has been historically used to entrap and persecute activists for protected political speech."

We discuss what little information we have about the secret grand jury and speculate about other factors that might be affecting the timing of the Manning subpoena. We also talk about the wild political flip flops of the Left and the Right on the subject, about Julian Assange and Wikileaks publications before and after the 2016 election. We toss around some ideas on how the Trump-Russia investigation (aka Russiagate) might factor in. Finally we discuss how Manning's well being and her health related needs, especially given the history, are the most important priorities and foremost in our minds.

Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof. He also produces and co-hosts the excellent weekly podcast with Rania Khalek, "Unauthorized Disclosure."

FOLLOW Kevin @kgosztola, find his work at shadowproof.com, and subscribe to his podcast Unauthorized Disclosure.

Chelsea Manning's legal defense fund can be found at xychelsea.is. Her friends and volunteers are managing her Twitter account @xychelsea and her support committee Twitter account @ResistsChelsea while she is in jail. They published an address where she can receive letters (They note that the jail does not accept books or cards):

Chelsea Elizabeth Manning

A0181426

William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center

2001 Mill Road Alexandria, VA 22314

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 11, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Defying Wikileaks Grand Jury, Chelsea Manning Carries on Tradition of Resistance and Goes to Jail, Kevin Gosztola
Interview: Chelsea Manning Jailed for Refusing to Cooperate with Wikileaks Grand Jury, Kevin Gosztola on The Real News Network
Book: TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES: The U.S. vs. Private Manning, Kevin Gosztola, Greg Mitchell

Ep 96 Using Venezuela to Suppress Populism & Anti-Imperialism feat Alan MacLeod

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Dr. Alan McLeod has done extensive analysis of the past two decades of media coverage on Venezuela ,since the election of Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian revolution. He joins us today from Scotland to share some of that analysis and one particularly interesting observation. Corporate media has used Venezuela, "consistently demonized and misrepresented in the US press," to pressure left-leaning political movements conform with and even promote aggressive American foreign policy.

We look at the current case of Bernie Sanders and his positions on regime change in Venezuela to illustrate this process of policing narratives and manufacturing consent for meddling and aggression. We also talk about how regime change operations against countries with strong socialist policies are driven not just by the desire for domination and the pursuit of resources. They're also used to manipulate politics at home: to suppress anti-imperialist dissent and to subvert the rise of left-oriented populist movements.

MacLeod, an expert in sociology, media theory and analysis, is a writer, and a member of the Glasgow University Media Group. His research interests include social media, Latin American politics and propaganda. He is the author of 2018 book titled: Bad News from Venezuela: Twenty years of fake news and misreporting and he is currently working on a project to update and refine the Propaganda Model of Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky.

FOLLOW him on Twitter at @AlanRMacLeod

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 7, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Venezuela-Baiting: How Media Keep Anti-Imperialist Dissent in Check, FAIR, Alan MacLeod
Book: Bad News from Venezuela: Twenty years of fake news and misreporting (2018) (Routledge Focus on Communication and Society)
Twitter 2/3/19 THREAD on Venezuela media coverage, Alan MacLeod
Manufacturing Consent for the 2018 Elections in Venezuela and Colombia (2018), Alan MacLeod, Media Theory Journal
Chavista 'thugs' vs. opposition 'civil society': western media on Venezuela (2019), Alan MacLeod, SAGE Journals
Was Hugo Chávez to Blame? Media Depictions of Polarisation in Venezuela, 1998–2013, Alan MacLeod, Bulletin of Latin American Research. Society for Latin American Studies
A Force for Democracy? Representations of the US Government in American Coverage of Venezuela (2019), Alan MacLeod, frontiers in Communication
Manufacturing Consent in Venezuela: Media Misreporting of a Country, 1998–2014,
Noam Chomsky on Venezuela, audio clip from Ralph Nader Radio Hour, March 2, 2019

Ep 95 Chelsea Manning Jailed, Resisting Wikileaks Grand Jury feat Ford Fischer

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 02:24:35 +0000

Today former Army intelligence analyst and whistleblower Chelsea Manning was jailed for contempt of court. She is resisting testifying in front of a grand jury convened in the Eastern District of Virginia to deal with sealed charges against Wikileaks' Julian Assange. Manning said the matter was related to her 2010 disclosures. She has already spent 7 years in prison, before and after being convicted by a military tribunal on her leaking of material related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her sentence was commuted by President Obama before leaving office in 2017. Journalist and filmmaker Ford Fischer was at the courthouse today and is here to tell us about it.

Ford Fischer is an independent videographer and editor, a computer scientist and web designer. He's the editor-in-chief and co-founder of News2share.com where citizen journalists and independent videographers contribute content to the evolving news cycle. His work has been featured on CNN, Fox, MSNBC, ABC and more. He also does freelance work as a videographer/journalist.

In protestation, Wikileaks made statements and published other people's statements on Twitter. They said: "This is America, 2019: A secret trial against a source for refusing to testify against a journalist." Their lawyer, Jen Robinson said: "No journalist or their source should ever be subjected to this."

Wikileaks cited Glenn Greenwald's response: "This is disgusting, and all due to the efforts of the DOJ to criminalize the publication of classified information in order to prosecute WikiLeaks and Assange: something all press freedom groups, major newspapers & even the Obama DOJ said would be a major threat to press freedom."

Pentagon Papers whistleblower Dan Ellsberg issued a statement calling for Chelsea Manning to be released. He called it a travesty and said that "an investigation into Wikileaks for publishing is a grave threat to all journalists' rights." He said that she has suffered enough and should be released immediately.

Chelsea Manning's legal defense fund can be found at the website xychelsea.is.

FOLLOW Ford on Twitter at @FordFischer. Follow his news site at @N2Sreports on Twitter and at news2share.com on the web. Support his work at patreon.com/FordFischer.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in if you can at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 8, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Audio clips from outside the courthouse included with Ford Fischer's permission.

Reference Links:

Chelsea Manning Held in Contempt, Taken Into Custody (includes video), Ford Fischer, News2Share
Ford Fischer's Facebook livestream outside the courthouse
Chelsea Manning jailed for refusing to testify before grand jury in Virginia, NBC News
Refusing to "Snitch," Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Becomes Two-Time Political Prisoner, Alexander Rubinstein, MintPress News
With Ecuador's Cooperation Bought by IMF Loans, Washington Waxes Optimistic on Assange Extradition, Whitney Webb, MintPress News
Chelsea Manning Legal Defense Fund

Ep 94 How Regime Change Wars Are Born feat Sharmine Narwani

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Sharmine Narwani joins us today to talk about how western regime change wars are born and raised. She offers some of her research and analysis on Middle East wars, particularly the war in Syria as a comparison to what we are seeing in Venezuela today and with a special focus on how it all starts with a carefully crafted narrative.

Sharmine is a commentator and analyst of Mideast geopolitics based in Beirut. She is a former senior associate at St. Antony's College, Oxford University and has been published by a wide variety of publications, including the New York Times, the Guardian, Asia Times Online, al Akhbar English, Al Jazeera and RT. And you can always find her writing at her website, MidEastShuffle.com.

The methods used in much of the regime change and destabilization that we have seen so frequently in recent years is laid out in the 2010 Unconventional Warfare (UW) Manual of the US Military's Special Forces, which was leaked in 2010. Sharmine has written about it and shares some of those insights today. This manual begins with the following paragraph:

"The intent of U.S. [Unconventional Warfare] UW efforts is to exploit a hostile power's political, military, economic, and psychological vulnerabilities by developing and sustaining resistance forces to accomplish U.S. strategic objectives…For the foreseeable future, U.S. forces will predominantly engage in irregular warfare (IW) operations."

But, as we note in our conversation, the world is changing and the success rate of these methods, used for decades by the American empire and its allies, is declining. The political environment in America and even more consequential, the balance of power in the world is also in a state of flux, dynamic and uncertain. There are many signs that the American people want to adopt a new approach toward the world and foreign policy. But it remains to be seen whether the elected government, the plutocrats and the dominant national security state will be able to accept a new global reality and the loss of their sole superpower empire.

FOLLOW Sharmine @snarwani and find her work at her website mideastshuffle.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on March 1, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

How narratives killed the Syrian people, Sharmine Narwani (2016)
Going Rogue: America's Unconventional Warfare in the Middle East, Sharmine Narwani (2012)
Elizabeth Warren tweet
Americans Want a Less Aggressive Foreign Policy. It's Time Lawmakers Listened to Them, Ian Bremmer, TIME
Vox Populi, Vox Peanut Gallery?, Eurasia Group Foundation
Bush rejects Chávez aid, The Guardian

Ep 93 Weaponized Identity & Malcolm X Warnings feat Teodrose Fikre

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 21:29:07 +0000

Today we welcome author and editor Teodrose Fikre for a discussion about his profound article about Malcolm X's warnings on American political parties and their "bourgeois hustlers". We talk about colonization, the weaponization of identity, the deliberate division of the people and the need for unity and collaboration for inclusive justice.

Teodrose Fikre, is the co-founder and editor of the Ghion Journal and host of video shows on the Ghion Journal channel. Originally from Ethiopia, he is a published author, a prolific writer, a former consultant in the defense industry and a former community organizer and political activist. He told me about his two year journey, going from a life of upper-middle class privilege to a time of hardship and struggle, and how this taught him a valuable lesson in the essence of togetherness and the need to speak against injustice. He believes we should focus not just on the symptoms but need to get over the divides and actually speak truth to power instead of speaking half truth to power, and that's what the Ghion Journal is all about. His writing defies conventional wisdom and challenges readers to look outside the constraints of labels and ideologies that serve to splinter the people.

FOLLOW Teodrose Fikre at @TeodroseFikre. Find his work at GhionJournal.com and at the Ghion Journal channel on YouTube.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 23, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Wisdom of Malcolm X: He was Warning Us about These Bourgeois Hustlers, Teodrose Fikre
Malcolm X interview with Mike Wallace, CBS, aired on June 9, 1964

Ep 92 Brexit and War Party Attacks on Corbyn & Tulsi feat Gordon Dimmack

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Gordon Dimmack joins us from the West Midlands, UK with updates and analysis on Brexit and to offer some insights on the similarities between the War Party attacks on Jeremy Corbyn and Tulsi Gabbard. We also have a wide ranging discussion on war, the Anglo-American empire, Russiagate, the Skripal Affair, and UK politics.

Gordon hosts a popular YouTube channel where he covers news, politics, war and the horrific state of our corporate media. He works to fill their void by striving to analyze and report truthfully and consistently. In his own words:

"The corporate and mainstream media have sunk to such depths of distrust, that the public are tuning in to the rantings of a middle aged man on his YouTube channel instead. That's a damning indictment on the state of Western media today, in my opinion. Which is really something considering I'm the middle aged man in question.

The Fourth Estate has become the Fifth Column, in the UK and many other Western countries, which is extremely dangerous. Democracy can only thrive if it has an independent media holding power and government to task, unearthing lies and corruption rather than being complicit in them, as our media now sadly is."

FOLLOW Gordon on Twitter @gordondimmack. SUBSCRIBE to his YouTube channel and support him via Patreon.com/GordonDimmack or StreamLabs. Find his work at his website gordondimmack.com.

Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.

SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app.

Recorded on February 10, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Tulsi gets the Corbyn treatment - Smeared relentlessly by NBC, Gordon Dimmack
Theresa May: A Prime Minister in Denial, Gordon Dimmack

Ep 91 Political Mind Games feat Dr. Roy Eidelson

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 21:26:40 +0000

Psychologist and author Dr. Roy Eidelson joins us today to talk about political mind games and manipulative ploys used by the power elite to mislead Americans, divide us and thwart efforts to advance the common good.

Dr. Eidelson has been a practicing clinical, research, and political psychologist for over thirty years and his work focuses on applying psychological knowledge to issues of social justice and social change. He is the former executive director of the Solomon Asch Center for Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict at the University of Pennsylvania, and a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility and he is also a member of the Coalition for an Ethical Psychology, which advocates against complicity in torture and in favor of restoring psychology's commitment to do-no-harm ethics.

Eidelson has been published in many academic journals and more recently has written for a broader audience in his Psychology Today blog, and in various media outlets like the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Alternet, and Truthout. Last year he published a new book, Political Mind Games: How the 1% Manipulate Our Understanding of What's Happening, What's Right, and What's Possible.

FOLLOW Roy on Twitter @royeidelson. Find his work at royeidelson.com and his blog.

Around the Empire is independent media supported by our listeners. You can pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook. SUBSCRIBE on YouTube

Recorded on February 7, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Book: Political Mind Games: How the 1% Manipulate Our Understanding of What's Happening, What's Right, and What's Possible, Roy Eidelson
In a World of Corporate-Backed Politicians, Beware the Sounds of Sirens, Roy Eidelson
Resisting the Drums of War, Roy Eidelson
Get Ready for These Political Mind Games in 2019, Roy Eidelson

Ep 90 American Coup Playbook in Venezuela feat Ted Snider

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 04:39:11 +0000

Columnist and analyst Ted Snider joins us to talk about patterns in US foreign policy and history as it relates to coup attempts in Venezuela. We discuss the well established history of American-backed coups in Venezuela and how democratic nationalist leaders like Maduro are not tolerated because they're too difficult to subjugate. Ted provides some detail about Juan Guaidó and his extreme opposition party and the role that resources and oil play in these regime change operations. We also explain our objections to the way that many people frame their opposition to the coup in that they ultimately help the advance the regime change narrative by structuring their argument as follows: "Maduro is a bad dictator but coups are bad too".

Ted Snider writes on analyzing patterns in US foreign policy and history. His writing can be found in several places, including Mondoweiss and Truthout. You can follow his work at AntiWar.com where he is a columnist.

Around the Empire podcast is listener supported independent media. Your support is needed and appreciated. Please pitch in at patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. You can also find these links on our website aroundtheempire.com. And please help me build up the Around the Empire YouTube channel as I prepare to expand into the world of video content. Do that by subscribing to the channel. Youtube.com/aroundtheempire.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on February 6, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

What the Media Won't Tell You About the Venezuelan Coup, Ted Snider

Ep 89 The Real Story of Venezuelan Elections feat Dan Kovalik

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:27:01 +0000

Dan Kovalik joins us today to talk about the situation in Venezuela. US officials and almost all media outlets have made claims about the illegitimacy of the Venezuelan presidential election last May, using that claim to recognize a little known opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, as the new interim president, replacing President Nicolás Maduro. Dan begs to differ with that characterization, having witnessed that election process, up close, while he was on the ground in Venezuela as an election monitor. He shares that experience with us today and many other insights on the country, the region, and the media coverage and politics around it here in the United States.

Daniel Kovalik is a labor and human rights lawyer, a peace activist, an author and a college professor. He teaches International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

The Christian Science Monitor described him as "one of the most prominent defenders of Colombian workers in the United States" in reference to his work defending Colombian unionists under threat of assassination. He is the recipient of the Project Censored Award for his work exposing the killing of trade unionists in Colombia. He has done interviews and written articles for many different media sites including Counterpunch and the Huffington Post. He has recently written three books, including The Plot to Control the World: How the US Spent Billions to Change the Outcome of Elections Around the World, which was published last November.

Find Dan's work at Counterpunch and the Huffington Post and look for his informative interviews on various alternative media channels. FOLLOW him on Twitter @danielmkovalik.

Around the Empire is independent media supported by our listeners. You can pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on February 5, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Real Venezuela Is Not What You Think: Human Rights lawyer Daniel Kovalik tells of his recent trip to Venezuela as part of the international electoral accompaniment mission, Venezuela Analysis
Book: The Plot to Control the World: How the US Spent Billions to Change the Outcome of Elections Around the World (2018), Dan Kovalik
Book: The Plot to Attack Iran: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Iran (2018), Dan Kovalik
Book: The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Putin (2017)
Book: Humanitarian Imperialism: Using Human Rights to Sell War, Jean Bricmont
Film: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (2003)
Goodbye Middle East, Hello Latin America: The Coming Destruction of the Caribbean Basin, Thierry Meyssan, MintPress News

Ep88 Beyond Vietnam feat Margaret Kimberley

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 23:57:59 +0000

Columnist, editor and well known activist Margaret Kimberley joins us today to talk about a 1967 speech at the Riverside church in New York City by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Beyond Vietnam: Time to Break the Silence". We talk about the prescience of the lesser known but epic speech and its relevance today. We also talk more broadly about NATO, the new Cold War, the yellow vests protest in France, Brexit, Greece and American politics.

Margaret Kimberley is a senior columnist and editor at the Black Agenda Report and an activist for peace and justice issues. Her work has been published in many newspapers and websites and she has been a guest on radio shows around the country. Margaret has spoken at Riverside Church herself for seminars and student groups and she speaks to us today from New York.

Find her work at Black Agenda Report, her blog FreedomRider.blogspot.com

FOLLOW her at @freedomrideblog and patreon.com/margaretkimberley.

Around the Empire is independent media supported by our listeners. You can pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on January 28, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence (transcript and audio), Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 4, 1967
Black Alliance for Peace
BAP's Second Anniversary Celebration and A Call for a Mass Mobilization to Oppose NATO, War & Racism, March 30 and April 4, 2019

Ep 87 Newsguard & the "Trust Industry" feat Whitney Webb

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Journalist Whitney Webb joins us today from Chile to talk about the budding "trust industry" -- the latest crusade (and gold rush) to fight fake news. A new, for-profit startup called Newsguard, aims to partner with major tech platforms, marketing firms and other institutions to mark news and information websites with color-coded flags to show consumers which ones are reliable. It is already installed as a feature of Microsoft's mobile web browser and is running as a browser extension in some public libraries.

Newsguard markets itself as a "a news literacy tool," "a research tool" and claims that it will "tell you if a news site is reliable" with the lofty goal of

"restoring trust and accountability." One of their founders has made the rounds in the print, online and TV media pledging to fight fake news, disinformation and Russian propaganda.

Whitney Webb did her own extensive research, fact-checking and analysis on the credibility and reliablity of Newsguard itself: its founders, financial backers, advisory board and staff and she discovered a lot of troubling facts. She also provides insightful analysis on the risk and potential outcome if Newsguard succeeds in becoming a ubiquitous, involuntary service, and some more upbeat advice on ways to deal with a scenario that threatens to blacklist genuine, independent media outlets that allow dissent and refuse to stick to the establishment-approved narratives.

Whitney Webb is an American journalist and staff writer for MintPress News who has been published by and done interviews with many other independent media outlets. She currently lives with her family in southern Chile. FOLLOW Whitney on Twitter @_whitneywebb . Find her work at MintPress News.

Around the Empire is independent media and we rely on the support of our listeners. You can pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or offer one-time contributions via aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on January 26, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

How a NeoCon-Backed "Fact Checker" Plans to Wage War on Independent Media, Whitney Webb, Mint Press News

Ep 86 Misunderstanding Regime Change in Iran feat Neda Bolourchi

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 01:37:18 +0000

Dr. Neda Bolourchi joins us for a discussion of several major issues around Iran -- involvement in Syria, the complicated alliance with Russia and their decentralized power structure. We also focus on the Green Revolution, the MEK and especially the misplaced expectations from some factions in the American foreign policy establishment that Iran's people, especially their minority communities, will bring about the regime change that their adversaries desire.

To quote Dr. Bolourchi from her recent Atlantic Council article:

"Like previous American administrations, the Trump Administration seeks regime change in Tehran. And like the current White House, but more fervently, the Washington establishment assumes Iranian minorities will join in what is being called in certain circles 'transformative change.'

Recent nationwide demonstrations in Iran—over the state of the economy, Tehran's regional activities, corruption, and general disenchantment with the Islamic government—are strengthening the Trump administration's hopes. But attempts to catalyze religious or ethnic minority protests as a means to transform the Islamic Republic have been a failed US policy for almost as long as the theocracy has existed. This time will be no different. History demonstrates ethnic and religious minorities will neither spur nor lead regime change."

Dr. Bolourchi is Assistant Professor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick Center for Middle Eastern Studies. She is an interdisciplinary scholar who focuses on modern legal practices in and the history of the Middle East, particularly Iran. She is deeply engaged in legal and archival theory and methodology as she continues a book project on the ideas of political theology, nationalism, war, and minority communities. She is also working on an oral history project and she completed years of research in Iran, Syria, and Armenia for her doctoral dissertation at Columbia University.

Around the Empire is independent media supported by our listeners. You can pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on January 18, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Lessons from the Iran-Iraq War: Iranian Minorities Won't Lead Transformative Change, Atlantic Council, Neda Bolourchi
Iranian and Russian involvement in Syria: purposes and prospects, The International Institute for Strategic Studies:
The Sacred Defense: Sacrifice and Nationalism Across Minority Communities in Post-Revolutionary Iran, Neda Bolourchi

Ep 85 By Ending Wars Trump Outflanks Opposition feat Scott Horton

Fri, 04 Jan 2019 23:35:18 +0000

Scott Horton joins us from Texas to talk about the withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan. Scott and Joanne offer some cautiously optimistic analysis on Trump's latest actions on war and foreign policy and how he could use a "Horton's Rule" strategy to his advantage, outflanking Left and Right opponents with detente and de-escalation. Is there an "only Nixon could go to China" opportunity for Trump and will he deliver on it?

We also discuss the dilemma that Establishment Democrats' have created for themselves as they assume a twisted political opposition to scaling down wars and now routinely provide unquestioning fealty to the national security state. Lastly, we review William Atkin's dissenting farewell memo to NBC and the media's passive acceptance and cheerleading of perpetual war.

Scott Horton is the author of the book Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan. He's the managing director of the Libertarian Institute,, opinion editor at Antiwar.com, host of Antiwar Radio on Pacifica and the host of the Scott Horton Show podcast. Scott has spent the past two decades giving voice to ardent anti-war and anti-interventionist activists, experts and reporters from across the spectrum and has done nearly five thousand interviews. Find his work at LibertarianInstitute.org, antiwar.com, ScottHorton.org Patreon.com/ScottHortonShow and FoolsErrand.us.

Around the Empire is independent media and we rely on the support of our listeners. You can pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or offer one-time contributions via aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on January 3, 2019. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 84 Temple of Covert Propaganda Part 2 feat Mohamed Elmaazi

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 19:00:00 +0000

In this two-part series investigative journalist Mohamed Elmaazi joins us from London. Mohamed has been working on what is potentially one of the most explosive international scandals in recent years. Hacked documents have exposed a secretive "charity" think tank, the Institute for Statecraft, which is funded by the British Foreign Office, the US State Department, NATO, Facebook, a neoconservative foundation and others. Mohamed located their London office in a neo-gothic mansion, Two Temple Place, and later accompanied a British MP on an unwelcome visit. One of the Institute for Statecraft's projects, The Integrity Initiative, possibly a front for military intelligence, is a covert propaganda network of politicians, journalists, academics, researchers and military officers engaged in smearing political leaders and interfering in the affairs of other allied governments.

Mohamed Elmaazi is a journalist with experience in human rights law, with degrees from American University in Cairo and SOAS. He contributes to Open Democracy, The Canary, the Grayzone and The Real News Network. FOLLOW Mohamed on Twitter at @MElmaazi.

Around the Empire is independent media and you can support it at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on December 22, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Inside the Temple of Covert Propaganda: The Integrity Initiative and the UK's Scandalous Information War, Gray Zone, Mohamed Elmaazi and Max Blumenthal
Institute for Statecraft slams door in Labour MP's face, The Canary, Mohamed Elmaazi
Labour's Chris Williamson warns of 'British interference' in Spain's national security affairs, The Canary, Mohamed Elmaazi
Briefing note on the Integrity Initiative, Paul McKeigue, David Miller, Jake Mason, Piers Robinson
CyberGuerilla site, Nov 5 post, Nov 29 post

Ep 83 Temple of Covert Propaganda Part 1 feat Mohamed Elmaazi

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 00:54:15 +0000

Around the Empire is independent media and you can support it at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on December 22, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Inside the Temple of Covert Propaganda: The Integrity Initiative and the UK's Scandalous Information War, Gray Zone, Mohamed Elmaazi and Max Blumenthal
Institute for Statecraft slams door in Labour MP's face, The Canary, Mohamed Elmaazi
Labour's Chris Williamson warns of 'British interference' in Spain's national security affairs, The Canary, Mohamed Elmaazi
Briefing note on the Integrity Initiative, Paul McKeigue, David Miller, Jake Mason, Piers Robinson
CyberGuerilla site, Nov 5 post, Nov 29 post

Ep 82 Withdrawal From Syria feat Elijah Magnier

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 21:24:32 +0000

Elijah Magnier returns to the show. He is currently in Beirut enroute to Damascus. We discuss Trump's announcement of a rapid withdrawal from Syria, the prospect of a Turkish invasion of Kurdish and US-occupied areas in Syria, and the situation this creates for the Kurds, who, even if Trump reneges on his order, are now confronted with a crisis of confidence in long term American occupation. We also discuss Russia's consequential change in the rules of engagement with Israel and Syria, and a possible Middle East summit.

Elijah is a veteran war correspondent, a terrorism/counterterrorism analyst specializing in the Europe and the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya. FOLLOW Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work at ejmagnier.com. Support him by using the Paypal link at the bottom of every page on his website.

Around the Empire is independent media and you can support it at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on December 20, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SYRIA AND ISRAEL, AS RUSSIA CHANGES ITS POSITION, Elijah Magnier

Ep 81 Bush 41, Gulf War, State of the Empire feat Patrick Eddington

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 15:54:05 +0000

A wide-ranging discussion with author and policy analyst Patrick Eddington about his service in the CIA during the Bush 41 and Bill Clinton eras, the Gulf War, Russiagate, the failure to change course at the end of the Cold War and about the unsustainability of and America's incompatibility with empire.

Patrick Eddington is a policy analyst in homeland security and civil liberties at the Cato Institute. He was an advisor to Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey and he's an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies. Eddington was a military imagery analyst at the CIA's National Photographic Interpretation Center from 1988 to 1996 with assignments that included monitoring the breakup of the former Soviet Union and providing military assessments to policymakers on Iraqi and Iranian conventional forces.

Eddington resigned from the CIA in 1996 after working on a book titled (Gassed in the Gulf: The Inside Story of the Pentagon-CIA Cover-up of Gulf War Syndrome) and he also wrote a 2011 memoir titled Long Strange Journey about his years in the CIA. He has been published at many outlets and has opinion pieces at the CATO Institute, Just Security and other sites. Find his work and links to his articles and events at the CATO Institute and at his blog, PatrickEddington.com. FOLLOW him on Twitter at @PGEddington.

Around the Empire is independent media and you can support it at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on December 11, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Eddington's Twitter thread on GHWB's death
George H.W. Bush's Persian Gulf War: Victory, With Tragedy, Patrick Eddington
Long Strange Journey: An Intelligence Memoir, Patrick Eddington
Gassed in the Gulf: The Inside Story of the Pentagon-CIA Cover-up of Gulf War Syndrome, Patrick Eddington

Ep 80 The Permanent War Complex feat Gareth Porter

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Joanne Leon and investigative journalist and historian Gareth Porter discuss "The Permanent War Complex" and how it developed in stages to the point where we have defense and intelligence mega-contractors helping to drive perpetual wars around the globe. Eisenhower's nightmare has now come true. We also talk about recent machinations in the case of Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

Gareth Porter specializes in covering issues related to U.S. wars and interventions. He is the winner of the 2012 Gellhorn Prize for Journalism who has covered U.S. policy toward Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Syria for Inter Press Service from 2004 to 2014, and his stories were widely republished on other news sites. Since then he has published stories and columns at Truthdig, American Conservative, Foreign Policy, Consortium News, Truthout, antiwar.com The Nation and Middle East Eye.

He is the author of five books, including three books on Vietnam and the U.S. war in Indochina. His latest book, Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare, reveals the true story of the Iran nuclear issue that has been hidden and distorted by government propaganda and complete lack of media scrutiny. FOLLOW Gareth on Twitter at @GarethPorter.

Around the Empire is independent media and you can support it at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on December 4, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

U.K. and Ecuador Conspire to Deliver Julian Assange to U.S. Authorities, Gareth Porter
America's Permanent-War Complex, Gareth Porter

Ep 78 The Khashoggi Affair (Part 2) Roundtable with Kyle Anzalone, Will Porter

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Friends of the show Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter join Joanne Leon for a special two-part series on the Khashoggi Affair, which symbolizes a much bigger geopolitical crisis and battle. Roundtable format, released in two separate episodes in the coming week for our listeners or available in advance, in full for patrons.

Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute.

Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on November 23 and 24, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Fair Use Act Disclaimer. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Reference Links:

FPF #274 - Trump Runs Cover for MbS guest Will Porter, Kyle Anzalone, Will Porter
Khashoggi Was No Critic of Saudi Regime, Asad AbuKhalil, Consortium News
Why Did CIA Turn Against Saudi Crown Prince MBS? It's More Than Khashoggi, The Real News, Ben Norton, Professor Asad AbuKhalil
Off the Hookah podcast 10/31/18: Episode #075: Crown Control (feat. Bruce Riedel)
One-on-one with Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, Fox Business, Maria Bartiromo, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal
Saudi Arabia vs Iran: Is the cold war heating up? - UpFront, Al Jazeera English, Mehdi Hasan, Jamal Khashoggi, Seyed Hossein Mousavian
Saudi Prince Turki says CIA cannot be trusted on Khashoggi, Al Jazeera
Rand Paul on Face the Nation
Lindsey Graham on Meet the Press
Lindsey Graham on Hannity
Tulsi Gabbard Twitter thread
Here is a Saudi 'war game' scenario that demonstrates the peril of a post-Khashoggi period for the US and the Middle East, CNBC, Fred Kempe
Exclusive: After Khashoggi murder, some Saudi royals turn against king's favorite son, Reuters
Keeping Bin Salman In Place Will Hurt Trump's Middle East Policies, Moon of Alabama

Ep 77 The Khashoggi Affair (Part 1) Roundtable with Kyle Anzalone, Will Porter

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 17:23:21 +0000

Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute.

Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on November 23 and 24, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

FPF #274 - Trump Runs Cover for MbS guest Will Porter, Kyle Anzalone, Will Porter
Khashoggi Was No Critic of Saudi Regime, Asad AbuKhalil, Consortium News
Why Did CIA Turn Against Saudi Crown Prince MBS? It's More Than Khashoggi, The Real News, Ben Norton, Professor Asad AbuKhalil
Off the Hookah podcast 10/31/18: Episode #075: Crown Control (feat. Bruce Riedel)
One-on-one with Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, Fox Business, Maria Bartiromo, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal
Saudi Arabia vs Iran: Is the cold war heating up? - UpFront, Al Jazeera English, Mehdi Hasan, Jamal Khashoggi, Seyed Hossein Mousavian
Saudi Prince Turki says CIA cannot be trusted on Khashoggi, Al Jazeera
Rand Paul on Face the Nation
Lindsey Graham on Meet the Press
Lindsey Graham on Hannity
Tulsi Gabbard Twitter thread
Here is a Saudi 'war game' scenario that demonstrates the peril of a post-Khashoggi period for the US and the Middle East, CNBC, Fred Kempe
Exclusive: After Khashoggi murder, some Saudi royals turn against king's favorite son, Reuters
Keeping Bin Salman In Place Will Hurt Trump's Middle East Policies, Moon of Alabama

Ep 76 Istanbul Summit: Europe Joins Astana Process feat Joshua Landis

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 19:15:27 +0000

Middle East expert Joshua Landis returns to the show to discuss the recent summit in Istanbul, Europe's move to join the Astana process, the war in Syria, the Khashoggi Affair and the forces aligning against the current US foreign policy in the MidEast.

Professor Landis is the Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He spent much of his childhood in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, and later lived in several other countries in the Middle East including Syria and Turkey. He is a frequent interview guest in numerous media outlets in the United States and abroad. You can find his work at his blog, Syria Comment. FOLLOW him on Twitter at @joshua_landis and on Facebook.

Around the Empire is independent media and you can support it at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or at aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on November 1, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Landis thread on the Istanbul Summit (Twitter thread)
Istanbul Summit on Syria Was a Success but Caveats Remain, MK Bhadrakumar

Ep 75 Myths and Quagmires feat Major Danny Sjursen

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 21:33:16 +0000

Major Danny Sjursen joins the show to talk about about the war in Afghanistan, an unsustainable quagmire for which no more blood and treasure should be sacrificed. We also talk about the magical American soldier myth and the empire denial syndrome.

Major Danny Sjursen is a US Army strategist and former history instructor at West Point. He served tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has written a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War, Ghostriders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge. He's the co-host of the podcast Fortress on a Hill, and his articles are published frequently at numerous websites including The Nation, Truthdig, TomDispatch and antiwar.com. FOLLOW Danny Sjursen on Twitter at @skepticalvet and support his work at patreon.com/fortressonahill.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on October 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Quagmire: What the Attack on General Miller in Afghanistan Tells Us, Maj. Danny Sjursen
Not Worth Another Life: An Afghan Anniversary To Lament, Maj. Danny Sjursen
The Limits of Power – The Myth of the Magical American Soldier, Maj. Danny Sjursen
Danny Sjursen on The War on Terror, Scott Horton Show
Major Danny Sjursen: Endless War in Afghanistan,The Zero Hour

Ep 74 War Machine & Charlie Wilson's War (Part 2) feat Tom Secker

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 19:42:16 +0000

Tom Secker joins the show for this two-part series as we compare and contrast two movies: War Machine and Charlie Wilson's War. We talk about Afghanistan, wars, history, geopolitics, movies, the involvement of the national security state in the entertainment industry and more. A great conversation that is interesting and informative, both serious and light-hearted at varying times and is packaged into two episodes (available in full in advance for patrons).

Tom Secker is a writer, researcher and podcast host from Northern England, who specialises in the intelligence services, Hollywood and the history of terrorism. He hosts the ClandesTime podcast and is the author of two books, including National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood. Find his work and ways to support that work at spyculture.com and patreon.com/tomsecker.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on October 18, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

War Machine (2017), IMDB
Charlie Wilson's War (2007), IMDB
Did the CIA rewrite Charlie Wilson's War?, Tom Secker
The Cinema of the Soviet-Afghan War, Tom Secker
How to Catch Brzezinski in a lie, Tom Secker
Towards an International History of the War in Afghanistan, 1979-1989, Christian F. Ostermann, Mircea Munteanu, The Wilson Center
National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood, Tom Secker
06/23/10 – Michael Hastings – The Scott Horton Show
04/21/09 – Michael Hastings – The Scott Horton Show
Brzezinski's Afghan War and the Grand Chessboard, The Real News Network
The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan, Michael Hastings
The Runaway General, Rolling Stone, Michael Hastings
The Brzezinski Interview with Le Nouvel Observateur (1998), D. Gibbs, University of Arizona

Ep 73 War Machine & Charlie Wilson's War (Part 1) feat Tom Secker

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 02:26:21 +0000

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Joanne Leon at @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on October 18, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

War Machine (2017), IMDB
Charlie Wilson's War (2007), IMDB
Did the CIA rewrite Charlie Wilson's War?, Tom Secker
The Cinema of the Soviet-Afghan War, Tom Secker
How to Catch Brzezinski in a lie, Tom Secker
Towards an International History of the War in Afghanistan, 1979-1989, Christian F. Ostermann, Mircea Munteanu, The Wilson Center
National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood, Tom Secker
06/23/10 – Michael Hastings – The Scott Horton Show
04/21/09 – Michael Hastings – The Scott Horton Show
Brzezinski's Afghan War and the Grand Chessboard, The Real News Network
The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan, Michael Hastings
The Runaway General, Rolling Stone, Michael Hastings
The Brzezinski Interview with Le Nouvel Observateur (1998), D. Gibbs, University of Arizona

Ep 72 Syria: Idlib Deal & Outlook feat Ehsani

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:54:30 +0000

Syrian analyst Ehsani returns to the show to talk about the latest developments in the Syrian war, with a focus on the Idlib deal, Turkey's role in the war, perspectives from Syrians, and the prospects for recovery.

Ehsani is a Syrian American originally from Aleppo. You can find his social media analysis and discussion about Syria on Twitter at @ehsani22. He has also written for the Syria Comment blog under the pseudonym, "Ehsani".

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on October 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Photo: By Jamen Schahoud at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Reference Links:

Ep 34 An End to the Syrian War feat Ehsani (9/20/17)
Ep 45 Ghouta, Afrin and Eastern Syria feat Ehsani (3/27/18)

Ep 71 Rise & Fall of John Brennan (Part 3)

Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Friends of the show Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter join Joanne Leon for a special three-part series on the Rise and Fall of John Brennan, done in a roundtable format and released in three separate episodes in the coming week for our listeners or available in advance, in full for patrons.

Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute.

Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News

In American political life, few officials have weathered as many storms as former CIA director John Brennan. With a career marred by a virtually endless series of scandals, Brennan's ability to maneuver himself within institutions of power has served him exceptionally well both inside and outside of government.

Brennan's decades-long tenure at the CIA presents a microcosmic portrait of US foreign policy since the fall of the Soviet Union—a true exemplar of the American role in a "unipolar" world.

His name has become synonymous with torture, regime change, targeted assassinations, drones, spying, the arming of foreign militias and now, in the era of Trump, politicized intelligence.

But that may have finally come to an end. The recent revocation of Brennan's security clearance could represent the final nail in a coffin that, until now, has simply refused to stay shut.

Join us in this 3 part series reviewing Brennan's career at the CIA, the litany of scandals tied to his name, as well as what could come next for the retired intelligence officer.

Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook.

This discussion was recorded in two sessions: August 24 and 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

President Trump's Claims of No Collusion are Hogwash, New York Times, John Brennan
William H. McRaven: Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President, Washington Post
Scores of ex-spies join in rebuking Trump over security clearances, Politico
The Seven Deadly Sins of John Brennan, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy
Confront and Conceal (book), David Sanger
Gates to National Security Team on Osama Raid: 'Shut the F--- Up', Daniel Halper, Weekly Standard
Exclusive: Did White House "spin" tip a covert op?, Mark Hosenball, Reuters
Who Bombed Khobar Towers? Anatomy of a Crooked Terrorism Investigation, Gareth Porter, Truthout
Brennan-led secret raids may have led to Benghazi retaliation, book claims, FoxNews
The media are misleading the public on Syria, Stephen Kinzer, Boston Globe
US Special Forces sabotage White House policy gone disastrously wrong with covert ops in Syria, SOFREP, Jack Murphy
Secret Kill List Tests Obama's Principles New York Times, Jo Becker, Scott Shane
A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows, New York Times Magazine, Mattathias Schwartz

Ep 70 Rise & Fall of John Brennan (Part 2)

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute.

Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News

Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook.

This discussion was recorded in two sessions: August 24 and 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

President Trump's Claims of No Collusion are Hogwash, New York Times, John Brennan
William H. McRaven: Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President, Washington Post
Scores of ex-spies join in rebuking Trump over security clearances, Politico
The Seven Deadly Sins of John Brennan, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy
Confront and Conceal (book), David Sanger
Gates to National Security Team on Osama Raid: 'Shut the F--- Up', Daniel Halper, Weekly Standard
Exclusive: Did White House "spin" tip a covert op?, Mark Hosenball, Reuters
Who Bombed Khobar Towers? Anatomy of a Crooked Terrorism Investigation, Gareth Porter, Truthout
Brennan-led secret raids may have led to Benghazi retaliation, book claims, FoxNews
The media are misleading the public on Syria, Stephen Kinzer, Boston Globe
US Special Forces sabotage White House policy gone disastrously wrong with covert ops in Syria, SOFREP, Jack Murphy
Secret Kill List Tests Obama's Principles New York Times, Jo Becker, Scott Shane
A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows, New York Times Magazine, Mattathias Schwartz

Ep 69 The Rise & Fall of John Brennan (Part 1)

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 03:28:38 +0000

Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute.

Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News

Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook.

This discussion was recorded in two sessions: August 24 and 31, 2018.

Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

President Trump's Claims of No Collusion are Hogwash, New York Times, John Brennan
William H. McRaven: Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President, Washington Post
Scores of ex-spies join in rebuking Trump over security clearances, Politico
The Seven Deadly Sins of John Brennan, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy
Confront and Conceal (book), David Sanger
Gates to National Security Team on Osama Raid: 'Shut the F--- Up', Daniel Halper, Weekly Standard
Exclusive: Did White House "spin" tip a covert op?, Mark Hosenball, Reuters
Who Bombed Khobar Towers? Anatomy of a Crooked Terrorism Investigation, Gareth Porter, Truthout
Brennan-led secret raids may have led to Benghazi retaliation, book claims, FoxNews
The media are misleading the public on Syria, Stephen Kinzer, Boston Globe
US Special Forces sabotage White House policy gone disastrously wrong with covert ops in Syria, SOFREP, Jack Murphy
Secret Kill List Tests Obama's Principles New York Times, Jo Becker, Scott Shane
A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows, New York Times Magazine, Mattathias Schwartz

Ep 68 Iraqi Politics & Stalled Idlib Op in Syria feat Elijah Magnier

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 21:53:36 +0000

Elijah Magnier returns to the show for an update and insight on the political situation in Iraq where the prime minister selection process (also a proxy battle of sorts between the US and Iran) is still ongoing. See Around the Empire Episode 56 for our first conversation on this topic. We also talk about the stalled operation in Idlib and the power players involved.

Elijah is a veteran war correspondent, a terrorism/counterterrorism analyst specializing in the Europe and the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya. He recently left Iraq and is speaking to us today from Lebanon.

Follow Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work at ejmagnier.com. Support him by using the Paypal link at the bottom of every page on his website.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on September 14, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

A Weak and Divided Iraq is Stumbling Towards an Unbalanced Future (6/8/18), Elijah Magnier
The US Forces in Al-Tanf are Beleaguered on both the Syrian and Iraqi Sides. Tehran is Challenging Washington in Iraq Abadi is No Longer the Agreed Favourite Candidate (7/23/18), Elijah Magnier
Which War for Mesopotamia? Iraq Must Choose Between Iran and the US (8/21/18) , Elijah Magnier
Faleh Al-Fayyad is the Official Anti-US PM Candidate in Iraq, While the US is Trying to Hit Iran Below the Belt (8/31/18), Elijah Magnier
The US Horse Fell at the First Jump in Iraq (9/4/18), Elijah Magnier
The USA Oblivious to the Rise of a Resistance Movement in Response to Its Interference in Iraqi Elections (9/5/18), Elijah Magnier
A Wake-Up Call to the US in Baghdad: Will Haidar Abadi Become the Mohammad Morsi of Iraq? (9/7/18), Elijah Magnier
Haidar Abadi Has Fallen With the Burned Walls of the Iranian Consulate in Basra (9/10/18), Elijah Magnier
The Liberation of Idlib: Turkey is in the Way, With Russia Slowing Down (9/14/18), Elijah Magnier
Syria - The Rationale Behind The Delay Of Idleb's Liberation, Moon of Alabama
Can Erdogan intimidate Assad into backing off Idlib?, Amberin Zaman, Al Monitor
"Turkey reinforces military in Syria's Idlib after ceasefire call fails", Orhan Coskun, Reuters
Turkish Strategy in Northern Syria Military Operations, Turkish-Backed Groups and Idlib Issue, SouthFront
"Notorious Terrorist Commander Eliminated By Syrian Troops In Idlib", Muraselon/The Syria Reporters

Ep 67 Mourning McCain, Mourning Empire feat Michael Tracey

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 23:45:30 +0000

Roving journalist Michael Tracey joins the show for a discussion about the McCain Holy Week, as he called it, and what it tells us about the state of the American empire.

Tracey is a journalist who has been published by numerous media organizations including The Young Turks, Rolling Stone, The New Republic, VICE, The Intercept. The Nation, Reason, American Conservative and New York Daily News.

FOLLOW @mtracey on Twitter and find his work on Medium and on his website.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on September 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

John McCain Was Not An Anecdote, Michael Tracey
Funeral For A Dying Doctrine, Michael Tracey
John McCain's Funeral Was the Biggest Resistance Meeting Yet, Susan Glasser, The New Yorker
Washington Mourns John McCain – And Its Own Demise Under Trump, Tim Alberta, Politico Magazine
John McCain: The View from the Middle East, As'ad AbuKhalil, Consortium News

Ep 66 The Mission in Yemen feat Nasser Arrabyee

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 19:29:55 +0000

Yemeni journalist and filmmaker Nasser Arrabyee speaks to us from Sanaa about the war in Yemen. In 2015, a CENTCOM commander told a US Senator that he did not know Saudi Arabia's goals and objectives in its war on Yemen and therefore could not assess the chances of success. More than three years later, Nasser Arrabyee helps us explore the answers to those questions. We talk about the US-backed Saudi and UAE coalition's mission in Yemen, the Yemeni Resistance and Iran's involvement. Arrabyee updates us on the situation in Hodeidah and we discuss the recent AP report on the Saudi/UAE cooperation with al Qaeda.

Arrabyee has produced four documentaries about the war in Yemen and has been published by numerous media outlets including the New York Times, Bloomberg and Foreign Policy. FOLLOW @narrabyee on Twitter and find his work at his website yemen-now.com.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

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Recorded on August 16, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (3/26/15) exchange between Sen. Gillibrand and Gen. Lloyd Austin (at 2:16:46)
America Is Committing War Crimes and Doesn't Even Know Why, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy
The toll of wars in the Middle East, WHYY Radio Times, Marty Moss-Coane
Why is Saudi halting oil shipments through the Red Sea?, Stephen Kalin, Rania El Gamal, Reuters
Yemen: US allies don't defeat al-Qaida but pay it to go away, AP
Inside the UAE's war on al-Qaeda in Yemen, Bel Trew, The Independent
After dozens of children die, Trump administration faces mounting pressure over Yemen war, Missy Ryan, Washington Post

Ep 65 Turkey: Economic War & Global Realignments feat Tom Luongo

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 00:59:33 +0000

Analyst and writer Tom Luongo returns to the show to talk about the economic and geopolitical implications of the current hybrid war between the US and Turkey and the broader war around it. We discuss the collapse of the Turkish Lira, dollar-denominated debt, how currency wars work, and the inertia of markets and traders. We also delve into the geopolitical lead up to this crisis -- Turkey's role in the Syrian war and a failed coup -- both of which led to realignments and new allies that might result in an unusual rescue. Will Turkey employ a Russian formula for surviving sanctions and currency crises? Will it lead to an exit from NATO? Or will the old guard, Cold Warrior foreign policy establishment bring a defiant Erdogan back into the fold one more time?

Tom is former research chemist and a current staunch libertarian. His speciality is markets analysis informed by geopolitics. Tom currently publishes his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns along with a monthly investment newsletter focused on geopolitics, commodities and cryptocurrencies. His work is also featured regularly on sites like Zerohedge, Strategic Culture Foundation and Investing.com. FOLLOW Tom @TFL1728. Find his work at Gold, Goats 'n Guns, Steemit and on YouTube.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

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Recorded on August 14, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Lira Collapse To Jump The Mediterranean, Tom Luongo, ZeroHedge
BRICTS: Turkey Is Getting Off The US Reservation, Tom Luongo, ZeroHedge
Five Pillars of Debt Default, Tom Luongo, Gold, Goats n Guns
Turkey's president: US waging economic war against Turkey, Associated Press
Losing Faith Fast, Istanbul Merchants Throw in Towel on the Lira, Bloomberg
Erdogan: How Turkey Sees the Crisis With the U.S., New York Times Op-Ed

Ep 64 Yemen War Big Picture & Media Narrative feat Isa Blumi

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:49:49 +0000

We continue our discussion with Dr. Isa Blumi, speaking to us from Sweden, about the war in Yemen including the battle for Hodeidah, the development of Horn of Africa and Red Sea coast and the bigger picture this war reveals. We discuss the underlying existential battles between Gulf States, the political factions in the United States they're aligned with, and the western imperial and corporate powers at work in the region. Dr. Blumi expertly analyzes and advises on how to read the western media coverage and propaganda on Yemen and the old "divide and rule" exploitation tactics that are employed.

Dr. Blumi is an historian, an author and an Associate Professor at Stockholm University. His recent book Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia." FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his latest book at UCPress.edu.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

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Recorded on July 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World, Isa Blumi, UC Press
UAE talks up diplomacy as Congress curtails US involvement in Yemen war, Jack Detsch, Middle East Monitor
China probing emerging UAE reserves, Daniel J. Graeber, UPI
Why is Saudi halting oil shipments through the Red Sea?, Stephen Kalin, Rania El Gamal, Reuters
Yemen: US allies don't defeat al-Qaida but pay it to go away, AP

Ep 63 Helsinki Summit and the New Great Game in Eurasia feat Pepe Escobar

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 22:53:30 +0000

Our guest, journalist and analyst Pepe Escobar, speaks to us from Bangkok about the new Great Game in Eurasia and why the critical military and geopolitical situation requires that the US resume relations with Russia despite the massive forces working against that.

Escobar is the correspondent-at-large for Asia Times and a frequent contributor to websites, TV and radio shows ranging from the US to East Asia. Born in Brazil, he's been a foreign correspondent since 1985, and has lived in London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Washington, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

FOLLOW Pepe Escobar on Facebook and find his work at Asia Times.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

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Recorded on July 26, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Here's the real reason the US must talk to Russia, Pepe Escobar, Asia Times
Losing Military Supremacy: The Myopia of American Strategic Planning, Andrei Martyanov

Ep 62 Trump Putin MidEast Grand Bargain feat Jim Kavanagh

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 13:38:56 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Jim Kavanagh about the summit between American President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki and the anticipated attempt to strike a MidEast grand bargain.

Jim is editor and writer at The Polemicist. His work is also published at CounterPunch, Greanville Post and he's a frequent guest on the Loud and Clear radio show.

Follow Jim at @ThePolemicist_ . Find his work at polemicist.net.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

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Recorded on July 12, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Lindsey Graham interview laying out War Party strategy for Syria, Iran, Turkey (starts at 2:20)
Israeli, Saudi, and Emirati Officials Privately Pushed for Trump to Strike a "Grand Bargain" with Putin, Adam Entous, New Yorker
Netanyahu May Offer Putin: Remove Iran From Syria for Lifting of U.S. Sanctions on Russia, Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz
Middle East officials flocking to Moscow – is there a big deal to be made before Putin meets Trump?, RT
The Real "Deal of The Century" in The Middle East is The One Russia Struck With Israel Regarding Syria, Adam Garrie, Eurasia Future
The Warm War: Russiamania At The Boiling Point, Jim Kavanagh, The Polemicist

Ep 61 Escalation With China feat Peter Lee

Fri, 13 Jul 2018 14:16:22 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with writer and analyst Peter Lee (aka @chinahand) about the escalation between the United States and China. We also discuss the broader East Asian region including Japan, Taiwan and Korea.

Peter has decades of experience in East Asia both as a businessman and as a writer. He produces Newsbud's "China Watch" and is published at Asia Times, CounterPunch at his own blog, China Matters. Follow Peter at @chinahand.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon

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Recorded on July 6, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

China's retaliation to U.S. tariffs will hit American soybean farmers, automakers and oil producers -- and have the greatest effect on counties that voted for Trump, Wall Street Journal
Tariffs 'kick off 50-year trade war' with China, Pepe Escobar, Asia Times

Ep 60 Assange Immunity & Disclosure Deal Scuttled by Russiagate Officials feat Elizabeth Lea Vos

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 13:28:04 +0000

Joanne talks with Elizabeth Lea Vos about the immunity deal for Wikileaks founder and editor Julian Assange -- a deal that was scuttled by James Comey via Sen. Mark Warner in the Spring of 2017. We also discuss the independent analysis on the transmission of documents published by Guccifer2.

Elizabeth is the Editor-In-Chief of @DisobedientNews. Follow her at @ElizabethLeaVos and find her work at disobedientmedia.com. She also is an organizer of monthly #Unity4J vigils which advocate for the restoration of Julian Assange's rights to communication with the outside world and ultimately for his release. The next vigil is scheduled for the weekend of July 7-8, 2018. Details at Unity4J.com and @Unity4J.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon

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Recorded on July 3, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

How Comey intervened to kill WikiLeaks' immunity deal, John Solomon, The Hill
Did Sen. Warner and Comey 'Collude' on Russia-gate?, Ray McGovern, ConsortiumNews

Ep 59 US-Backed Rebels and Al Qaeda in Southern Syria feat Sharmine Narwani

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 03:11:10 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Sharmine Narwani about the Southern Front -- US-backed rebels based in southern Syria -- and their affiliation with al Qaeda. We also discuss how the Syrian war is like an irregular world war and how it played a role in accelerating a global shift in power.

Sharmine is a commentator and analyst of Mideast geopolitics based in Beirut, speaking to us today from the United States. She is a former senior associate at St. Antony's College, Oxford University and has been published by a wide variety of publications, including the New York Times, the Guardian, Asia Times Online, al Akhbar English, Al Jazeera and RT.

Follow Sharmine @snarwani and find her work at her website mideastshuffle.com

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com

Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon

Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on June 28, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Are al-Qaeda Affiliates Fighting Alongside U.S. Rebels in Syria's South?, Sharmine Narwani, The American Conservative

Ep 58 Russiagate Still Doesn't Make Sense feat Aaron Maté

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 18:04:26 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Aaron Maté about Russiagate and the Mueller investigation. We discuss Aaron's recent article which argues that after a year of investigation there have been several guilty pleas, but none of them go "to the core of the special counsel's mandate," about collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

Aaron is a host/producer for The Real News and a contributor at The Nation magazine. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronjmate.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com

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Recorded on June 21, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Mueller Indictments Still Don't Add Up to Collusion, Aaron Maté, The Nation

Ep 57 2016 Election Intelligence Ops & Investigations feat Garland Nixon

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 20:09:33 +0000

Joanne talks with political analyst and Progressive Independent Garland Nixon about investigations and intelligence operations concerning the 2016 election. We also talk about the recently published Inspector General report on the Clinton email "MidYear Exam" investigation.

Garland is the co-host of the daily radio show "Fault Lines" and host of the weekly radio show "News Views With Garland Nixon". He is also has a background in law enforcement and investigations. Follow him @Garland Nixon.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com

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Recorded on June 20, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 56 Politics in Iraq and the Battle for Southwest Syria feat Elijah Magnier

Thu, 31 May 2018 21:23:09 +0000

Elijah Magnier returns to the show to talk about politics in post-ISIS Iraq, the results of the recent election, and the mission to select a new prime minister and cabinet. Elijah and Joanne also talk about the latest developments in Syria as the battle for the southwest Syria begins.

Elijah is a veteran war correspondent, a terrorism/counterterrorism analyst specializing in the Europe and the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya. He recently left Iraq and is speaking to us today from Lebanon.

Follow Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work at ejmagnier.com

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com

Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon

Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on May 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Qassam Soleimani and Donald Trump Agree on Al-Abadi as Prime Minister Despite Ameri and Maliki's Discontent, Elijah Magnier
South Syria to Return Within the Control of Damascus: With or Without a Russian-Israeli Deal, Elijah Magnier
The Iraqi Elections: Implications For Regional Politics, Shireen Hunter, LobeLog

Ep 55 Imperial War, Gulf State Rivalry, Resources and Resistance in Yemen feat Isa Blumi

Wed, 23 May 2018 00:27:03 +0000

Joanne interviews Dr. Isa Blumi, an historian, an author and an Associate Professor at Stockholm University. His recent book Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia."

Dr. Blumi gives us a deeper understanding of the war in Yemen in a way that is compelling, fascinating, tragic, and largely untold in the western world. Yemen's people have a long history of resistance. The war in Yemen is an imperial war for resources and dominance and also a hidden war between Gulf state rivals. The latest escalation of the war has been fueled by Saudi Arabia's now urgent need for finance and resources.

Follow @IsaBlumi and find his latest book at UCPress.edu.

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Recorded on May 10, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World, Isa Blumi, UC Press

A History of the Colonial War in Yemen and the US Involvement, KPFA

Ep 54 Crossfire Hurricane

Fri, 18 May 2018 22:39:41 +0000

Dan and Joanne analyze the New York Times exposure of Operation Crossfire Hurricane and commentary by the authors. We examine the damning claims by pro-Trump media and we also talk about Daily Caller's revelation of the identity of the alleged FBI informant in the Trump campaign.

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Recorded on May 17, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Code Name Crossfire Hurricane: The Secret Origins of the Trump Investigation, Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman, Nicholas Fandos, New York Times
EXCLUSIVE: Cambridge Prof With CIA, MI6 Ties Met With Trump Adviser During Campaign, Beyond, Chuck Ross, Daily Caller

Ep 53 Iran Conflict & Transatlantic Crisis (preview)

Wed, 16 May 2018 18:38:42 +0000

In this bonus episode (a bonus episode for patrons, 30 minute preview free to the public), Dan and Joanne talk about the growing conflict with Iran, the impact of Trump's withdrawal from the Iran deal and the severe escalation in the Syrian war that began just hours after that withdrawal.

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Recorded on May 11, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Time for Europe to Join the Resistance, Spiegel, by Klaus Brinkbäumer

Ep 52 FBI Crisis

Fri, 11 May 2018 18:03:06 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk about the FBI in crisis, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, the Mueller investigation, and the abuse of power. We also discuss the strange political bedfellows the crisis has created

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Recorded on May 5, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The FBI Is in Crisis. It's Worse Than You Think, TIME, Eric Lichtblau
Rod Rosenstein is not above the law, The Hill, Mark Penn
Mueller, FBI face crisis in public confidence, The Hill, Mark Penn
Comey's last stand for the deep state, The Hill, Mark Penn

Ep 51 Roundtable: Macron's Prodigious Plan for the Middle East

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 22:43:02 +0000

We hold a roundtable discussion with Joanne Leon, Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter about French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the White House and Congress where he presented a prodigious plan for the Middle East that includes a harsher set of terms for the Iran deal, containment of Iran and Western dominance in the Middle East.

Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute.

Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News

Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist.

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Recorded on April 28, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep 50 Bush DOJ Official: Deep State is Real

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:01:41 +0000

Dan and Joanne discuss Jack Goldsmith's essay, "The 'deep state' is real. But are its leaks against Trump justified?"

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Recorded on April 24, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

"The 'deep state' is real. But are its leaks against Trump justified?", Jack Goldsmith, The Guardian
"'Can It Happen Here? Authoritarianism in America'", Jack Goldsmith, Lawfare (article, book announcement)

"Can It Happen Here?: Authoritarianism in America", Cass Sunstein (book)

Ep 49 Leaving Syria feat. Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, USA, Ret.

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 22:06:56 +0000

Joanne talks with Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret.about his recent article, "President Trump is right: Withdrawing from Syria strengthens US security," and about the current precarious situation where Trump has changed his mind and is signalling an imminent attack on Syria and Russia, using an alleged chemical weapons attack in Ghouta as justification.

Col. Davis served for 21 years, including four combat deployments. He retired from the Army in 2015 and is now a Foreign Policy/Defense Analyst and a senior fellow for Defense Priorities. His areas of expertise are American foreign policy, Middle East policy, Asia policy, grand strategy, international relations, international security, and counterinsurgency.

In 2012, he wrote a classified whistleblower report for Congress about the war in Afghanistan and released an unclassified version to the public. Col Davis regularly appears on news shows and is published in national and international publications.

Follow Col. Davis on Twitter at @DanielLDavis1

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Recorded on April 11, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

President Trump is right: Withdrawing from Syria strengthens US security, Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret., CNBC
Truth, lies and Afghanistan, Armed Forces Journal (2012), Daniel L, Davis
Fools Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan, Scott Horton

Ep 48 Dispatch From Damascus: Syrian War Big Picture & Power Players feat Elijah Magnier

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 03:33:29 +0000

Joanne talks with veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier, from Damascus, about recent developments in Syria and his recent three-part article about the big picture and power players in the Syrian war. We also talk about the new crowd-funded book that he is writing on the history of Hezbollah.

Elijah is a journalist and a senior political risk analyst with over 32 years experience covering Europe and the Middle East.

Follow Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work (in multiple languages) at ejmagnier.com

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Recorded on April 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

"Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 1)", Elijah Magnier

"Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 2)", Elijah Magnier

"Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 3)", Elijah Magnier

Ep 46 Trump's War Cabinet feat Tom Luongo

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:51:01 +0000

Joanne talks with economist and writer Tom Luongo about Trump's cabinet shuffle and the possibility that it is part of a Middle East grand bargain, as Alastair Crooke recently wrote about in the online journal, Strategic Culture.

Tom is former research chemist and staunch libertarian, Tom currently publishes his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns along with a monthly investment newsletter focused on geopolitics, commodities and cryptocurrencies. He is a regular contributor at Russia Insider and Seeking Alpha. His work is also featured regularly on sites like Zerohedge, Lewrockwell.com and Investing.com.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions.

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Follow Tom Luongo @TFL1728. Find his work on YouTube and at Steemit.com/@goldgoatsnguns.

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Recorded on March 27, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

1. "Is the North Korea Deal a Stalking Horse for Trump's Mid-East Makeover?", Alastair Crooke, Strategic Culture

2. "Neoconning the Trump White House", Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, American Conservative

Ep 45 Ghouta, Afrin and Eastern Syria feat Ehsani

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 02:15:29 +0000

Syrian analyst Ehsani returns to the show to talk about the latest developments in the Syrian war, with a focus on escalations in Eastern Ghouta, Afrin and Eastern Syria. Ehsani also shares his observations from a recent trip to Aleppo. This is a two-part interview originally recorded on March 8th. Due to delays in publishing and rapid developments in those regions, a second part was added on March 27th with updates on the situation.

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Recorded on March 8 and March 27, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

"US Mulls Action as Pro-Syria Forces Mass Nearby," Jason Ditz, Antiwar.com
"Erdoğan accuses US of planning to form 'terror army' in Syria," The Guardian
"Trapped in Eastern Ghouta," Patrick Cockburn, Counterpunch
"Which rebel groups are fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta?" Wesley Dockery, Deutsche Welle
"Nearly 6,800 militants, families leave E. Ghouta, head to Idlib" – Russian military, RT
"Turkish, FSA forces close in on Tel Rifaat town in northern Syria," Hurriyet
"In face of Ghouta defeat, Syrian rebels blame each other," Reuters
"Turkey Seizes Full Control Over Syria's Afrin District," Antiwar.com

Ep 44 Mueller Unites American War Party

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:12:48 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk about the Mueller's indictment of Russian internet trolls for defrauding the United States and meddling in the 2016 election by placing ads on social media (most of which ran after the election itself). While the indictments themselves seem absurd, they did bring about a significant change. Both the establishment Left and Right are now more united against Russia and around the War Party.

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Recorded on February 23, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Mueller Indictments, (via NPR)
"Hyping the Mueller Indictment," Aaron Mate, The Nation
"Russian Espionage, or Clickbait?" Aaron Mate, Max Blumenthal, The Real News
"A So-Called Expert's Uneasy Dive Into the Trump-Russia Frenzy," Adrian Chen, NewYorker
"Is Donald Trump a Traitor?" James Risen, The Intercept
"Confessions of a Russiagate Skeptic," Blake Hounshell, Politico Magazine
"Ex-NSA Hackers Worry China And Russia Will Try to Arrest Them," Lorenzo Franceschi Bicchierai, Motherboard

Quote Montage:

Rod Rosenstein, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Joy Reid, Bernie Sanders, Thomas Friedman, Lawrence O'Donnell, Max Boot, Jerry Nadler, Laura Ingraham, James Woolsey, Jimmy Dore, Adrian Chen, Max Blumenthal

Ep 43 MemoGate

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 20:33:48 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk about the lead up to and the release of the House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes' memo on the abuse of the FISA court related to Russiagate.

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Recorded on February 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

"Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Abuses at the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation", House Intelligence Committee
"Read the Nunes Memo, Annotated," Charlie Savage, New York Times

Quote Montage:

Donnie Deutsch, John Heilman, Chuck Shumer, Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, Tucker Carlson, Devin Nunes, Joe DiGenova, Donald Trump

Ep 42 Tillerson's Way Forward on Syria

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 22:08:54 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk about Rex Tillerson's unveiling of the Trump administration's new Syria policy via a Stanford University speech and interview with Condoleeza Rice. The policy is named "The Way Forward" but ironically it seems more like a regression to the Bush/Cheney neoconservative foreign policy for the Middle East.

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Recorded on January 23, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

State Dept. marketing video: "The Way Forward on Syria"
Press Briefing Jan. 18, State Dept.
Tillerson "Remarks on the Way Forward for the United States in Syria", Hoover Institution/Stanford University (transcripts and videos)
Follow up Tillerson interview with Condoleeza Rice, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
"Tillerson tells the truth about Syria," Washington Post Editorial Board
"A New Decision To Go To War In Syria," Paul PIllar, LobeLog

Episode 41 The Cost of Empire

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:09:45 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk about the cost of the Empire, the War on Terror aka "Empire Preservation Wars," current events and the new "Costs of War Project" done by Brown University.

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Recorded on January 17, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Costs of War Project, Brown University Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
Seeing Our Wars for the First Time, TomDispatch
KBOO interview with Costs of War Project co-director Neta C. Crawford
Where in the World Is the U.S. Military? Everywhere, US News & World Report

Ep 40 Lebanon Crisis feat. Sonia Mansour Robaey

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 23:35:19 +0000

Dan and Joanne speak with Middle East commentator Sonia Mansour Robaey. Sonia is a neuroscientist, philosopher, ethicist, educator and she is a Lebanese francophone living abroad.

Follow Sonia at @les_politiques and find her work at Les Politiques.

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Recorded on November 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Shiites of Lebanon under Ottoman Rule, 1516-1788, Stefan Winter

Ep 39 Russiagate and Censorship feat. Joe Lauria

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 21:16:59 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with author and journalist Joe Lauria about Russiagate and the growing censorship of dissent.

Joe Lauria is an American journalist based in the Middle East, author of "How I Lost By Hillary Clinton," and he has been a UN correspondent for 25 years. He now writes for Consortium News and has previously written for the Boston Globe and Wall Street Journal and numerous other publications.

Follow Joe at @unjoe and find his writing at Consortium News.

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Recorded on November 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Huffington Post Pulls Down Article That Runs Afoul of DNC/HuffPost Guidelines on Russia-gate, Ray McGovern
PDF copy of Joe Lauria's article "On the Origins of Russia-gate," published on Nov. 4 and removed less than 24 hours later

Ep. 38 Middle East Wars, Lebanon & Saudi Arabia

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 05:05:54 +0000

Dan and Joanne discuss the Saudi purge, unrest in Lebanon, and the possibility of wars escalating in the Middle East.

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Recorded on November 10, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

"Senior Saudi figures tortured and beaten in purge" Middle East Eye
State Dept. statement "On the Situation in Lebanon"
Israel Channel 10 published leaked diplomatic cable (Twitter)
Interview with Saudi foreign minister Jubeir, CNBC
Interview with Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, CNBC
"Yemeni rebels enhance ballistic missile campaign" Jane's Intelligence Review (PDF)

"US Air Force official: Missile targeting Saudis was Iranian" AP News

Ep. 37 AFRICOM

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 21:05:13 +0000

Ep. 37 AFRICOM

Dan and Joanne discuss the War on Terror shift to the African continent and the recent loss of US troops in Niger.

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Recorded on October 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The U.S. military is conducting secret missions all over Africa, Nick Turse
Where does the U.S. have troops in Africa, and why?, CBS
The U.S. Military Moves Deeper into Africa, Nick Turse
U.S. will expand counterterrorism focus in Africa, Mattis tells senators, Washington Post
2013 Interview with Emira Woods, The Real News
Interview with Léonce Ndikumana, The Real News
Interview with Horace Campbell and Mark Fancher Part 1, DemocracyNow

Interview with Horace Campbell and Mark Fancher Part 2, DemocracyNow

Ep 36 New Axis of Evil, Eurasia Great Game feat Pepe Escobar

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:59:44 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with correspondent Pepe Escobar about the new axis of evil. We discuss the geopolitical and economic importance of the New Silk Road and newly developing alignments on trade and security in Eurasia.

Pepe is the correspondent-at-large for Asia Times, author of several ebooks, and commentator. He is a frequent contributor to websites, TV and radio shows ranging from the US to East Asia. Born in Brazil, he's been a foreign correspondent since 1985, and has lived in London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Washington, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

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Recorded on October 2, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

"Unmasked: Trump Doctrine vows carnage for new axis of evil," Asia Times, Sept., 2017
"Shadow play: the New Great Game in Eurasia", Asia Times, Jan., 2017

Ep. 35 Afghanistan War, a Fool's Errand feat. Scott Horton

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Scott Horton about his new book, Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan.

Scott is an author, managing editor at the Libertarian Institute, editor at antiwar.com, host of Antiwar Radio for Pacifica, and the Scott Horton Show podcast.

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Follow @scotthortonshow, find his work at libertarianinstitute.org/scotthortonshow, foolserrand.us

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Recorded on September 15, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives (Brzezinski) https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Chessboard-American-Geostrategic-Imperatives/dp/0465027261
"Toward a Global Realignment" (Brzezinski) https://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/04/17/toward-a-global-realignment/
"The Broken Chessboard: Brzezinski Gives Up on Empire" https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/08/25/the-broken-chessboard-brzezinski-gives-up-on-empire/
Scott Horton interviews archive: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews-2/
No Good Men Among the Living (Anand Gopal) http://anandgopal.com/

Ep. 34 An End to the Syrian War feat. Ehsani

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 18:21:51 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Syrian analyst Ehsani @ehsani22 about the origins of the war and the new prospects for an end to the war. We also talk about the current situation in Deir Ezzor and Idlib.

Ehsani is from Aleppo, Syria. He is active on social media, especially Twitter, mainly with analysis and discussion about Syria. He has also written for Syria Comment under this pseudonymn "Ehsani"..

Follow @ehsani22 on Twitter. He has also been published many times at Syria Comment.

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Recorded on September 17, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference links:

Ep. 33 A Syrian Kurdish Perspective feat. Kovan Direj

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:19:54 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Syrian Kurdish photographer and journalist Kovan Direj about his perspective on Syria and the region.

Kovan is a Kurd from Rojava, Syria. He is a photographer, journalist and documentary film producer who spent most of his life in Aleppo and Qamishli and now works with refugees in Sweden.

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Recorded on August 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 32 Charlottesville and Extremist Proxies feat. Max Blumenthal

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 18:16:08 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Max Blumenthal about the history of the national security state and the ruling elite using radical and extremist groups as proxies both abroad and at home. We discuss the Syrian "rebels", neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine and we also talk about Charlottesville and how we got here.

Max is an author, journalist, senior editor of the Gray Zone Project at alternet.org, and co-host of the Moderate Rebels podcast. He is well known for his acclaimed books, The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza, Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel and Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party.

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Recorded on August 20, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

1) 18 August 2017 (VIDEO) The Real Story of How Bannon and Trump Got to the White HouseThe Real News Network - Thomas Hedges

2) 23 June 2017 John McCain and Paul Ryan Hold 'Good Meeting' With Veteran Ukrainian Nazi Demagogue Andriy Parubiy Alternet - Ben Norton, Max Blumenthal

3) 18 November 2014 How the Israel Lobby Protected Ukrainian Neo-Nazis Alternet Max Blumenthal (Rep. John Conyers wanted to block U.S. funding to neo-Nazis in Ukraine. But the ADL and Simon Wiesenthal Center refused to help.)

4) 24 February 2014 Is the U.S. Backing Neo-Nazis in Ukraine? Alternet Max Blumental

(Exposing troubling ties in the U.S. to overt Nazi and fascist protesters in Ukraine.)

5) 16 June 2017 (VIDEO) Anti-Muslim Manchester Demo Unites Britain's Far-Right

6) 16 June 2017 Former EDL leader holds large anti-Muslim demonstration in ManchesterHope Not Hate - Dr Joe Mulhall

7) 18 March 2017 New European Branch of International Alt-Right Group to Launch Hope Not Hate - Dr Joe Mulhall

8) 17 March 2017 More Transatlantic co-operation by the international Alt/Far Right – Hope Not Hate - Dr Joe Mulhall

9) 20 March 2017 (VIDEO) Can Europe Stop the Far Right if It Doesn't Stop Neoliberal Austerity? The Real News Network, Liz Fekete (Institute of Race Relations)

10) 20 June 2016 Return of the Reich - Mapping the Global Resurgence of Far Right PowerInsurge Intelligence - Nafeez Ahmed (A four part INSURGE intelligence investigative series commissioned by Tell MAMA)

11) 2012 (PDF) Pedlars of Hate: The Violent Impact of the European Far Right Institute of Race Relations - Liz Feket

Preview Bonus Ep. 31: DNC Leaks (Not Hacks) Part 1

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:23:39 +0000

Preview of episode 31 (a bonus episode for our patrons), part 1 of a series of bonus episodes on the alleged "Russian hack" of the 2016 presidential election.

Full episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-e...

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Recorded on August 20, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 30 Washington Babylon feat. Ken Silverstein

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 01:10:18 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with American author and investigative journalist Ken Silverstein about power and influence peddling in Washington and the role of think tanks, NGOs and the media.

Ken is a DC-based investigative journalist, and creator of Washingtonbabylon.com. He is a contributing writer to VICE and columnist for the New York Observer. His stated goal for Washington Babylon was "to cover DC politicians and journalists like Hollywood celebrities — not the way they are worshiped by our current media masters." He also wrote for Harpers Magazine, AP and LA Times.

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Recorded on August 11, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 29 Report From Baghdad on Iraq & Syria feat. Elijah Magnier

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 23:09:19 +0000

We talk with Elijah Magnier, chief international war correspondent for Al Rai media, reporting from Baghdad on current situation in Iraq and Syria.

Elijah has covered wars in Lebanon, the Balkans, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, and Syria. Beyond reporting on wars from the ground, Mr. Magnier also offers expert analysis on terrorism and terrorist organizations. He spoke to us from Baghdad.

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Recorded on August 4, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 28 War & Peace With North Korea feat. Tim Shorrock

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 00:36:00 +0000

Ep. 28 War & Peace With North Korea feat. Tim Shorrock

Dan and Joanne interview Tim Shorrock, an author, investigative journalist and commentator on US foreign policy, on national security and intelligence, and East Asian politics.

Tim grew up in Japan and Korea and was recently in South Korea for an extended visit. He's the author of the popular book "Spies for Hire". You can find Tim's work at The Nation, Newstapa/Korea Center for Investigative Reporting, and many other media outlets and also at his website timshorrock.com.

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Recorded on August 1, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 26 Torture in the American Empire feat. Jeffrey Kaye

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 15:15:33 +0000

Dan and Joanne interview psychologist and writer Jeffrey Kaye about the history of torture in the American empire and the latest news of black sites and outsourced torture in Yemen.

Jeff is a psychologist and a writer, specializing on the topics of torture, national security, civil rights. He has done some major collaborative investigatory work (some co-written with Jason Leopold) that have been published at Firedoglake, Truthout, and The Public Record.

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Recorded on June 27, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Episode 24: What Is The Antiwar Right? Feat. Angela Keaton

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 14:17:13 +0000

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In Around the Empire Episode 24, Dan and Joanne talk with Angela Keaton, executive director of Antiwar.com about libertarian and right-wing opposition to war and about areas of common ground with the antiwar Left where alliances or coalitions might be formed.

Angela is a second generation libertarian, a writer, legal researcher, and the Executive Director of Antiwar.com. She has worked in news and public affairs broadcasting since 1999 and she has served on the Libertarian National Committee. Her work is focused on a long term goal of ending militarism, war and torture.

Follow Angela on Twitter @Antiwar2.

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Episode 23: High-Level Leaks, Soft Coup, And Conspiracy Feat. Philip Giraldi

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 15:04:24 +0000

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In episode 23 of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne talk with Phil Giraldi about his recent article, "Do High-Level Leaks Suggest a Conspiracy?" Former intelligence officers are questioning whether leaks and other events signal an ongoing soft coup based in the national security establishment.

Phil Giraldi is a former counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer of the CIA. Giraldi is a columnist at The American Conservative and unz.com. He is also a commentator on mainstream and independent media. He is a consultant, the Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, and he is a member of a group called Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

Phil's article: "Do High-Level Leaks Suggest a Conspiracy?"

Follow Around the Empire @aroundtheempire

Episode 22: Shadow Wars And The Manchester Bombing

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 15:57:37 +0000

Dan and Joanne speak with author and scholar Dr. Christopher Davidson about manipulation of the Middle East by Western powers, the use of extremist groups as a strategic asset, the strife and extremism that has resulted. We also focus on the recent attack in Manchester by a man who fought with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) which helped overthrow Gaddafi.

Dr. Christopher Davidson is a scholar and expert in Middle East politics who teaches at Durham University in northern England. He is the author of numerous books including his latest: "Shadow Wars: The Secret Struggle for the Middle East," based on four years of archival work and interviews with former intelligence officials.

Follow Dr. Davison on Twitter @Dr_Davidson

Follow Around the Empire on Twitter at @AroundTheEmpire.

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Episode 21: Impeach Trump, Get President Pence? Hell No.

Wed, 24 May 2017 16:43:53 +0000

Dan and Joanne talk with Doug Henwood about the anti-Trump faction's endgame, the force applied by the unelected permanent government, and about the prospect of a President Pence (a "horror") and Republican-controlled Congress implementing the Republican dream in short order.

Doug Henwood is an American journalist, economic analyst, and financial trader who writes frequently about economic affairs. He publishes a newsletter, "Left Business Observer" and he hosts "Behind the News" a weekly radio show covering economics and politics."

Follow Doug on Twitter @DougHenwood

Doug's recent article "The post-Trump Era?"

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Episode 19: Deep State Sells Out American Counterterrorism Interests Feat. Gareth Porter

Tue, 09 May 2017 20:53:52 +0000

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In Episode 19, Dan and Joanne talk with Gareth Porter about how US national security bureaucracies or the "Deep State" sell out the American counterterrorism interests by conducting policy and operations that serve their own and their allies' interests. The result is that they strengthen and fuel the rise of extremist groups like al Qaeda.

Gareth Porter is an American historian, investigative journalist and policy analyst specializing in the national security state. He is the author of several books including: "Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare."

Porter's work has been published in distinguished media for decades, and he was the 2012 winner of the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. He is also working on a new book on the same subject as his recent article.

Follow Gareth on Twitter at @GarethPorter.

Gareth's recent article "US 'deep state' sold out counter-terrorism to keep itself in business"

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Episode 18: Kurdish Fighters In Iraq and Syria Feat. Joe Lawrence

Tue, 02 May 2017 20:27:10 +0000

In Episode 18, Dan and Joanne interview photographer and film director Joe Lawrence (Joey L.) about Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria, particularly the YPG/YPJ, the Yazidis YBS, the Peshmerga, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

We discussed his trips and photography in Raqqa and Sinjar, the recent Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish groups, and the precarious triangle of the United States, Turkey and the Syrian Kurds.

Joe Lawrence, known professionally as Joey L., is a Canadian-born photographer now based in Brooklyn who specializes in long term portrait photography projects. He is also a film director. One of his documentaries is titled: "Guerrilla Fighters of Kurdistan". Joey has traveled far and done work in Iraq, Syria, Ethiopia, and India. Many well known faces and high profile organizations are among his clients.

Follow Joe on Twitter: @JoeyLDotCom

Episode 16: The Blacklisting of Independent Media Feat. Kyle Kulinski

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:51:06 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview progressive journalist and activist Kyle Kulinski (Secular Talk) about media concentration and the seemingly coordinated strategy to weaken, undermine, and destroy independent media.

The discussion focuses on "ProporNot" blacklist and other "fake news" claims that establishment media has used to call for a crackdown on platforms such as Facebook, which has now agreed to begin blacklisting unapproved content.

A similar crackdown has occurred against independent media on YouTube known as the "Adpocalypse," which has demonetized numerous independent media content under the guise of preventing advertisers from being in front of "extremist content." The crippling demonetization of Kyle and others' news and politics shows comes as YouTube begins to launch YouTube TV with establishment media companies.

The blacklisting and demonetization are occurring on both platforms as independent media is increasingly taking market share and relevance from legacy outlets. The dangers of "fake news" and "extremist content" appear more and more to be pretexts for anti-competitive practices to protect established media monopolies.

Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleKulinski

Episode 15: Were The Chemical Weapons Attacks In Syria A Slam Dunk? Feat. Brad Hoff

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:11:28 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview educator, investigative journalist, and Marine veteran Brad Hoff on the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War.

Hoff has traveled and lived in the Middle East, including Syria. The discussion focuses on the recent chemical weapons attack in Khan Shaykhun and the 2013 attack in Ghouta, and the parallels between the two.

Also examined is the White House assessment and counterarguments from experts about the evidence, the parties involved, and the potential for further military intervention by the United States.

Follow Brad on Twitter @BradRHoff ‏

Episode 14: The Future of China In The Age Of Trump Feat. Peter Lee

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 15:51:33 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview China expert Peter Lee about the future of U.S.-China relations and the situation in North Korea.

Lee discusses how solving the Korean crisis is actually antithetical to the goals of the U.S. empire. If there ever was a unification of North and South Korea the U.S. would have difficulty justifying its presence in the region and South Korea would gravitate away from America towards China.

China's own ambitions are also discussed, including the country's scramble to secure resources in the developing world, especially in Africa where China is on a collision course with an ever-expanding U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

Follow Peter on Twitter @chinahand

Episode 13: CrowdStrike's Russian Hacking Claims Feat. Jeffrey Carr

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 16:18:49 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview cybersecurity expert Jeffrey Carr about Crowdstrike's controversial claims on successfully identifying Russia as the actor that hacked the Democratic National Committee. The evidence has always been thin despite U.S. intelligence agencies ultimately supporting the claim.

Carr discusses Crowdstrike's history of bad calls, including having to recently rewrite a report on alleged Russian hacking in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government as well as other cybersecurity experts heavily disputed Crowdstrikes initial claims.

Carr also offers a broader view of the cybersecurity industry and why firms like Crowdstrike are incentivized to often make specious claims concerning attribution of a hack. For firms like Crowdstrike, there's no financial downside in pretending to be able to attribute a hack as the nature of cyber makes it hard to prove or disprove an attribution. Additionally, each report serves as marketing material for future clients.

Follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffreyCarr

Episode 12: The Battle For Raqqa And Future Of Syria Feat. Joshua Landis

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:06:28 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview Syria expert Professor Joshua Landis on the battle for the Syrian city of Raqqa and the various competing forces in the Syrian Civil War.

Professor Landis discusses the difficulty the United States has in deciding who to work with once ISIS is driven out of its claimed capital of Raqqa. While, in theory, the Assad government is the only government recognized under international law, it appears unlikely that the U.S. will assist that government in reasserting jurisdiction.

Other factions in the Syrian Civil War on better terms with the U.S., such as Turkey and the Kurds, have their own designs for the city.

Such complexities mirror the larger struggle on how to govern Syria itself. Landis details a current plan to break up Syria into five statelets including; a Kurdish state (Rojava), Idlib state (currently run by Al Qaeda), Assad governed state, a southern state run by Jordanian militias backed by Israel, and a Euphrates valley state of Sunni Arab tribes.

Opposed to this structure are both the Kurds and the Assad government, who do not want a Sunni state backed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the other gulf states within Syria.

Landis believes Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, will ultimately prevail with a carve-out for the Kurds, who will continue to have U.S. backing.

Follow Josh on Twitter @Joshua_Landis

Episode 10: Disaster Capitalism And The Empire Feat. Antony Loewenstein

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:35:30 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview journalist Antony Loewenstein about his new book and upcoming film Disaster Capitalism. Loewenstein has traveled to the U.S., Britain, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Australia to research how multinational corporations exploit disasters for profit.

The discussion starts with a focus on recent decisions by the Trump Administration to increase use of private prisons and detention centers. Loewenstein details how companies profit from this approach both in the United States and around the world, and the role such companies play in expanding the surveillance and incarceration state.

Loewenstein also explains the complicated role of non-government organizations (NGOs) in international development and disaster capitalism. Using the failures of NGOs in Haiti as a starting point, he explains the conflicting incentives NGOs have that often lead to them failing to make a positive impact despite ample resources.

Follow Antony on Twitter @antloewenstein

Episode 9: The Surveillance State Trump Inherited Feat. Ken Lipp

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 21:42:11 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview journalist Kenneth Lipp about the sprawling national security and incarceration state President Donald Trump inherited when he took office.

Lipp has written extensively on the role that private firms play in assisting government surveillance programs and broke news on Project Hemisphere—a service offered by AT&T that allows law enforcement to access the communications giant's massive database for theoretically lawful investigations.

Part of the agreement for law enforcement to use Hemisphere is non-disclosure, which arguably necessitates the need for parallel construction, or using illegal information to investigate a target, then using that information to construct a legal way that information could have been obtained.

If that sounds like a great tool for an authoritarian regime to destroy political dissidents with, that's because it is.

Follow Ken on Twitter @KennethLipp

Episode 8: The Neocons In The Trump Era Feat. Robbie Martin

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:11:36 +0000

On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview filmmaker Robbie Martin about the future of the neoconservatives now that the candidate they lined up against, Donald Trump, has become president.

Episode 6: Inside The CIA's War With Trump Feat. John Kiriakou

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 20:21:11 +0000

On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou about the ongoing tensions between the CIA and President Donald Trump as well as his recent article about abolishing the CIA.

Kiriakou explains how the CIA works in both theory and practice, and that the agency's duties could be better accomplished by the State Department and the Pentagon. The State Department can do the analytical functions of the CIA, while the Defense Department's already existing human intelligence operations can recruit and run spies around the world.

The discussion also includes Kiriakou's detailed knowledge of John Brennan and the reforms he made to the CIA under President Barack Obama, and what Trump might do to purge the CIA of Brennan's influence.

Follow John on Twitter @JohnKiriakou

Episode 5: David Chibo On Trump And The Deep State

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:31:30 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview journalist David Chibo about his recent article on the deep state in the United States for Unz Review.

Chibo offers a comprehensive and holistic perspective for understanding the hidden forces influencing the U.S. government by synthesizing theories from seven different intellectuals to finally arrive at a "theory of everything." Using the famous Indian story of the Blind Men and the Elephant, Chibo shows that each intellectual was seeing only one part of the overall picture, but when combined, the full animal comes into view.

The discussion includes both an overview of Chibo's article as well as discussion of current events related to what appears to be a power struggle between President-elect Donald Trump and forces within the U.S. intelligence community.

Follow Dave on Twitter @DChibo

Episode 4: Ben Norton On Humanitarian Crisis In Yemen

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 23:44:37 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview journalist Benjamin Norton on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Ben has been closely monitoring the situation in Yemen for years writing previously in Salon and now for Alternet's Grayzone Project.

The discussion focuses on the overall dynamics of the civil war in Yemen, as well as the motives of external actors participating in the war such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Iran. The role of the United States in facilitating Saudi Arabia's brutal bombing raids has put the U.S. in jeopardy of being charged with war crimes.

Ben explains the horrendous toll the conflict is taking on the people of Yemen, the necessity for a political solution to stop the carnage, and the obstacles such a solution faces from all parties involved.

Follow Ben on Twitter @BenjaminNorton

Episode 3: War Reporter Elijah Magnier On Syria Peace Deal

Mon, 02 Jan 2017 21:26:57 +0000

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On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne interview war reporter Elijah Magnier. Elijah is the chief international and veteran war correspondent for Al Rai media. He has covered wars in Lebanon, the Balkans, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, and Syria.

Beyond reporting on wars from the ground, Mr. Magnier also offers expert analysis on terrorism and terrorist organizations. He spoke to us from Brussels about the current Syria peace deal and its wider implications for the region and world.

Follow Elijah on Twitter at @EjmAlRai
Read English versions of his work here.

Episode 2: Reporting From Syria Feat. Rania Khalek

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 00:07:38 +0000

On this episode, Dan and Joanne interview independent journalist Rania Khalek about her recent trip to Syria. Rania is one of the few journalists to have done reporting from actually inside Syria and reports what she witnessed observing and talking to Syrians.

Part of the discussion also focuses on a US-backed effort through traditional and social media to ignore the role Al Qaeda/Al Nusra is playing in the civil war.

Rania explains the "moderate rebels" are, in truth, Al Nusra and those groups ideologically aligned with Al Nusra. If the moderate rebels prevailed, a sectarian bloodbath would shortly commence targeting Alawites, Christians, Shiites, and any other minority not conforming to their Sunni jihadist worldview.

Follow Rania on Twitter at @RaniaKhalek

Episode 1: Introduction

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 00:55:43 +0000

Dan and Joanne discuss the rebels in Syria that the mainstream media has been promoting as freedom fighters, as well as the different powers waging proxy wars in Syria. They also talk about what might happen after Aleppo falls.