Unauthorized Disclosure

Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola bid farewell to 2017 in the season's finale.

During the show, the hosts talk about Donald Trump's foreign policy and what liberal imperialists and neoconservatives disliked about Trump's first year.

We celebrate what parts of Trump's agenda grassroots resistance was able to stall while addressing where opposition really faces an intense struggle.

At one point in the show, Rania takes a true-false quiz based on the Trump administration's environmental policy.

Happy New Year!















Direct download: S4E42.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola interview Todd Miller, the author of Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, and Homeland Security. It was published by City Lights Books in September and was praised by Bill McKibben, Christian Parenti, and Dahr Jamail, who has appeared on this podcast multiple times.

Miller traveled to the Philippines, Honduras, Guatemala, the Mexico-Guatemala border, the United States-Mexico border, and Paris. There he observed and met individuals witnessing the escalating impacts of climate change on their communities. He also attended multiple expos or conventions, where people from the security-industrial complex spoke about how they are preparing for climate change—in order to control borders and make profits off future calamities.

During the hour-long interview, Miller discusses the "21st Century Border," as well as the concept of "Prevention Through Deterrence"—how countries deter migration by increasing the potential for death. He highlights what he observed in the Philippines and recalls his experience at Milipol, a massive Homeland Security expo he attended in Paris days after ISIS attacked the city and around the time the Paris climate agreement was deliberated over by much of the world.

Direct download: S4E41edit.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss President Donald Trump and his administration's plans to move the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. They also comment on the tax bill and react to Senator Al Franken's resignation over sexual harassment allegations.

Khalek, who is involved in a new project called Redfish, is currently based in Berlin. She talks about what she is working on for the project and the culture shock she is experiencing as she adjusts to Germany.

Finally, the show's hosts raise the issue of Patreon's changes, which will shift the fees creators were paying to patrons. It is outrageous, and they mention a way patrons will be able to support the show without going through Patreon.










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Dan Berger, author of Captive Nation: Black Prison Organizing In the Civil Rights Era, is our guest on the show this week. He joins the show to talk about his contribution to Rebellious Mourning: The Collective Work Of Grief. This is the second interview in a current series on grief and loss in organizing.

Berger describes prison as a "grievous institution" and talks about the AIDS organizing that went on in prisons in the 1980s. It was revolutionary and saved countless lives and contains many lessons for a political moment in which grief and loss seems to surround us all to a greater extent every day.

In the discussion portion, Kevin Gosztola talks about the tax bill that passed through the Senate and how we should be mindful of the fact that Democrats have been in this situation before. They could not stop corporate tax cuts under President George W. Bush, and most of what passed was never repealed.

Direct download: S4E39.mp3
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Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola start the show talking about the Keystone XL pipeline, which gushed 210,000 gallons of oil into South Dakota because, who knew that was probably going to happen?

It is a rather bleak open that leads into a conversation about Russia Today and the Justice Department coercing the foreign media outlet to register as a foreign agent. Then, they talk about the frenzy around Donald Trump Jr's correspondence with WikiLeaks that was terribly overblown and dominated by what the CIA would like the public to think about the media organization.

Finally, the show's hosts address the rising flood of sexual assault allegations but begin with the cautionary example of Jordan Chariton of Young Turks, who was falsely accused of rape this past week. The Huffington Post did a story based upon vindictive allegations that they later had to take down from their site.

Direct download: S4E38.mp3
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Arab American professor and activist Rania Masri joined the show from Lebanon to talk about Saudi Arabia and how they are holding Saad Hariri, the Lebanese Prime Minister, captive.

In the interview, Masri, a guest for the full episode, breaks down what has unfolded, briefly outlines political responses in Lebanon, what King Mohammed bin Salman may be seeking to accomplish, and how media is whitewashing the regime by treating Salman as a "reform king." She also addresses the blaming of Iran by the Saudis, Israel, or the United States to justify the escalation of tensions among countries.

Later in the show, she recaps the first year of Donald Trump's presidency and how the administration has reinforced the agenda of the Saudi regime.

Direct download: S4E37_RaniaMasri.mp3
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Host Rania Khalek has mostly finished a transition to a new journalism project and returns to the show.

On this week's episode, hosts Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss 2016, a year that seemingly will never end. The election remains a constant conversation, with the past week dominated by allegations against the Democratic National Committee from Donna Brazile. They both talk about the anniversary of Donald Trump's election or Hillary Clinton's miserable failure.

Later in the show, Khalek discusses Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation in Saudi Arabia and what that may mean. She also addresses the CIA's dump of Osama bin Laden files so it could propagandize people into believing al Qaeda is tied to Iran.

The show concludes with talk about the EPA, climate change, and Joe Ricketts, a vulturous billionaire who shut down DNAinfo.com and The Gothamist because staff at one of the offices successfully unionized.

Direct download: S4E36.mp3
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Cindy Milstein, the editor of Rebellious Mourning: The Collective Work Of Grief, joins the show for an interview on why we should not bury or make private our pain when we are grieving from death or loss as a result of injustice or systemic oppression. She talks about creating space for open grieving, as well as the authoritarian manners in which many citizens are expected to grieve.

Milstein contends that grief can open cracks in the walls of the system and create possibilities for contestation and reconstruction, intervulnerability and strength, empathy and solidarity."

It is the first in a series of interviews from contributors to the collection of essays available from AK Press

Direct download: S4E35edit.mp3
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Max Suchan, a director of operations and co-founder of the Chicago Community Bond, joins the show to talk about the fund's latest work.

Cook County recently adopted reforms to money bond. Bond, like most parts of the United States, disproportionately affects poor black people.

During the interview, Suchan describes how judges are failing to properly execute an order issued by Chief Judge Timothy Evans that was supposed to help individuals who cannot afford bond. Suchan later highlights how the fund decides who to help and the kind of cases that are typical when it comes to money bond.

In the discussion part, Kevin Gosztola addresses President Donald Trump's phone call to Sgt. La David Johnson, which consumed media during the past week. He puts the focus on the issue of why U.S. troops are even in Niger in the first place.
Direct download: S4_E34.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss reports that Russia is behind racism, xenophobia, and all other topics that divide Americans and stem from systemic oppression. They also talk about the referendum for independence in Kurdistan, the #TakeAKnee protests by NFL players, St. Louis police waging war on protesters, and more.














Direct download: S4Ep-33.mp3
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In a discussion, posted in addition to a conversation with host Rania Khalek about her reporting in Iraq, hosts Khalek and Kevin Gosztola talk about Hillary Clinton's incredible persistence (she just won't go away), Bernie Sanders' introducing a "Medicare For All" bill with the support of 16 Democratic senators, and The Intercept's coverage of Syria. 

We also introduce a new segment, where we roast someone on social media. 

Direct download: S4E32.mp3
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Host Rania Khalek of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast spent a week with the Yezidi Yezidi Popular Mobilization Forces in newly liberated south Sinjar in August. She learned many Yezidis join the PM to protect their families, defend their towns, and save those in their family captured by ISIS.

Khalek wrote about the stories she heard from Yezidis for "The Grayzone Project." Those she spoke with described tales of genocide and conflict to her, sometimes in utterly horrific detail.

We talk about her time in Iraq with the Yezidi PMF.

Direct download: S4E31-RaniaKhalekInIraq-edit.mp3
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As Hurricane Irma hits Florida, we have an interview with Niecee X of the Black Women's Defense League about the organizing work the organization is doing to provide relief for those in the Houston area impacted by Hurricane Harvey. They are particularly focused on women of color and marginalized people, who are neglected and under-served after natural disasters.

During the discussion portion of the show, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola talk about Hurricane Irma, Hillary Clinton's unwanted book tour, and North Korea.

Direct download: S4E31edit.mp3
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In this abbreviated episode, the show highlights listener comments and covers President Donald Trump's decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan. Particularly, the show focuses upon how President Barack Obama kept the war going and takes to task Democrats who are meekly pledging to demand specifics to ensure Trump's strategy works. The specifics that matter are the statistics that reflect the human toll - the number of civilians killed, the children killed in airstrikes, the number of refugees who have fled, etc.

Direct download: S4E30.mp3
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On this week's show, we interview Juan Demetrixx, an organizer of Howard University Resist, and Jared Ware, journalist and producer of the "Beyond Prisons" podcast. Demetrixx talks about what he witnessed on the ground in Charlottesville a little more than a week ago. Ware highlights Redneck Revolt, one of a large contingent of left-wing groups that was present in Charlottesville.

Later in the interview, Demetrixx and Ware share their perspectives on confronting or challenging white supremacists and the response of Donald Trump's administration to the violence in Charlottesville.

The second half of the show is spent reading a statement from Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh, who had her sentencing hearing in Detroit. The judge refused to let her read this statement. She will be deported. And also, we highlight a settlement in lawsuit against CIA torture psychologists and pay tribute to the black comic and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, who died on August 19.

Direct download: S4E29edit.mp3
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Host Kevin Gosztola interviews Tom Secker, the co-author of "National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence Of Government Control in Hollywood." The interview highlights a few examples of Pentagon or CIA influence, including "Contact," "The Interview," and "Hulk" in the Marvel cinematic universe. The two discuss the nature of national security cinema, how government agencies go to lengths to keep records on their collaboration with Hollywood secret, and why. They also get into the military's interest in demilitarizing or "civilianizing" movies.

Direct download: S4E28.mp3
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This is is a snippet of Patron Exclusive content, which was recently posted. Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss Venezuela.

The exclusive was recorded on August 6. The crisis in Venezuela continues to be intense. It has escalated sharply since the world rejected President Nicolas Maduro's call for a constituent assembly vote. Or to put it another way, since the opposition in Venezuela refused to participate in a democratic process and instead carried out another round of violent protests to further destabilize the country.

For access to the full discussion, become a Patron of our show.

Direct download: VenezuelaPatronExclusive_Teaser.mp3
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Amal Saad, a professor of political science at Lebanese University and the author of a book called, "Hezbollah: Politics and Religion," joins the show to talk about Hezbollah and its role as a resistance army in Lebanon. Hezbollah recently liberated a part of Lebanon near the Syria-Lebanon border that was controlled by al Qaida.

We spend the hour with Saad, as she describes Hezbollah's history of protecting what it sees as the "Resistance Axis," countries in the Middle East which challenge the U.S. and Israel. She addresses the notion of sectarianism around the Shia crescent and outlines the reality on the ground — the demographics of people who truly faced violence and oppression for their identity and needed help to survive.

Later in the episode, Saad and Rania Khalek break down some of the key misperceptions the left has about identity, terrorism, and resistance in countries like Lebanon.

Direct download: S4E27.mp3
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Hosts of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast welcome Kim Wilson and Brian Sonenstein, co-hosts of the "Beyond Prisons" podcast, to the show. Wilson and Sonenstein discuss their new show, which covers prisons and prison reform from an abolitionist perspective. It elevates people directly impacted by the system of mass incarceration by featuring their voices.

In the latter half of the episode, a short segment highlights how CIA torture architects James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen invoked the cases of accused Nazi war criminals to argue they should not be held responsible for torture.














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Abdul Malik Mujahid, president of Sound Vision, which does public relations for Muslim American communities, joins the show to talk about the Muslim Ban, the Islamic State, the refugee crisis, wars in the Middle East, and more.

During the discussion portion, Rania Khalek, who is in Syria, talks about some of what she is witnessing and uncovering. Khalek and Kevin Gosztola spend the rest of the show on issues, such as the lack of left opposition to the right-wing destabilization of Venezuela.

Direct download: S4E25.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola highlight previous clips from the show in this "Best Of" episode that features: Nima Shirazi, Douglas Williams, Vivek Chibber, and Donna Murch.

Direct download: S4E24-BestOfEpisode.mp3
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Former CIA officer John Kiriakou and former US Marine Joseph Hickman join the show to discuss their new book on Abu Zubaydah called "The Convenient Terrorist: Two Whistleblowers' Stories Of Torture, Terror, Secret Wars, and CIA Lies."

Kiriakou was involved in the capture of Abu Zubaydah, who the U.S. government initially claimed was the No. 3 man in al Qaida. Hickman was stationed at Guantanamo Bay. They wrote a definitive book on Abu Zubaydah to call attention to details the U.S. government would prefer the public ignore about him.
 

Direct download: S4E23.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola highlight some pretty awful and horrible stories on this week's show but not before talking about the Democratic Party's latest epic fail with Jon Ossoff's loss in Georgia.

After discussing what happened with Ossoff, the show moves on to the United States and a network of torture chambers in Yemen. They cover developments in Syria, a Supreme Court decision against Arab or Muslim immigrants rounded up in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and the video of Officer Jeronimo Yanez killing Philando Castile.

The show ends on a lighter note with a look at the Democratic challengers that have come forward to challenge Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in 2018.

Direct download: S4E22.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss the rift between Saudi Arabia and Qatar and tension among the Gulf countries in the Middle East. They talk about the Saudi arms deal, which the Senate would have opposed if five Democrats had not voted against a bill to block the deal.

Later in the show, Khalek and Gosztola talk about how Bernie Sanders and the movements he is aligned with ignore ongoing U.S. wars and their impact and contrast that with British political leader Jeremy Corbyn, who frequently makes connections between terrorism and the United Kingdom's support for wars.

The rest of the show is spent on the People's Summit, which Gosztola attended, and the GOP baseball shooting in Alexandria. In particular, the hosts criticize the New York Times for their coverage, which suggested Bernie Sanders supporters may bear some responsibility for a former campaign volunteer turning to violence.

Direct download: S4E21.mp3
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Abby Martin and Mike Prysner, who produce the weekly independent show, "The Empire Files," join the show to talk about their recent reporting trip to Venezuela.

Both describe the nature of the opposition in Venezuela. They share details about the violence they witnessed and speak about opposition figures targeting them with a vicious campaign of intimidation and harassment (particularly online).

Throughout the episode, the left-wing Chavism's ability to withstand this opposition is highlighted. Martin and Prysner talk about the engagement of Venezuelans, especially lower class citizens, in participatory democracy. They address what they thought they would uncover and outline what they found to be so very different about the country's government.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E20.mp3
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Peter Van Buren is a former State Department employee, who blew the whistle on malfeasance and corruption related to reconstruction efforts in Iraq. He also is a writer and fiction book author. He joins the show to discuss his new book, "Hooper's War."

"Hooper's War" is a raw novel, caustic in tone and sober in its treatment of war and the forever rot that war creates within us.

During the interview, Van Buren highlights what influenced his story. We delve into the concept of moral injury. We discuss myths about wars that are told, particularly how those who served in World War II were the "Greatest Generation."

Later, Van Buren addresses endless war and what the book's main character, Hooper, might think about this current era, given that he is WWII veteran.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E19.mp3
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On this week's discussion for the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss President Donald Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia and how ordinary Syrians view the armed opposition in Syria. They celebrate the release of Chelsea Manning.

The hosts also talk about the Comey memo scandal that has roiled the Trump administration and a news story published by Gosztola on a development involving Trevor FitzGibbon, the founder of a progressive public relations firm which abruptly shut down as sexual allegations were leveled against him. A U.S. Attorney's Office declined to pursue charges based on three criminal complaints, which were filed.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.


Direct download: S4E18.mp3
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In a special episode for the podcast, former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou joins the show to talk about his new book, "Doing Time Like A Spy: How The CIA Taught Me To Survive And Thrive In Prison."

Kiriakou talks about writing prison letters, how he came up with the concept for his book, and he shares some of his stories from his incarceration. He highlights the case of Mark Lanzilotti, who was given an extremely draconian sentence for his nonviolent drug offense.

Later in the discussion, he talks about why he became the target of prosecution and what lesson he learned from his time incarcerated.


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Direct download: S4E17-JohnKiriakou.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola welcome Azadeh Shahshahani, who is a legal and advocacy director for Project South. She joins the show to talk about a report her organization worked on called "Imprisoned Justice: Inside Two Georgia Immigrant Detention Centers."

Shahshahani addresses how asylum seekers and immigrants are denied due process and in some cases even tricked into signing papers for deportation. At Stewart Detention Center and Irwin County Detention Center, solitary confinement is used as punishment against individuals who resist the conditions of their confinement.

She talks about the water in these facilities, the rotten food served to prisoners, and the labor they are expected to perform often for very little pay or no money at all. And Shahshahani describes the programs the government operates with local police forces that load up private facilities like Stewart with bodies for companies to make profits.

Later in the show, Khalek and Gosztola discuss a reaction to Max Blumenthal's interview last week, Chelsea Manning's upcoming release, and the firing of FBI director James Comey.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.



Direct download: S4E16.mp3
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Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola welcome Max Blumenthal, journalist, senior editor of AlterNet's Grayzone Project, and author of The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza.

Blumenthal addresses how the Syrian conflict has created fractures among the left in the United States and its impact on the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

He talks about the International Socialist Organization and "Democracy Now!", including a recent appearance by journalist Anand Gopal on the show, and their politics on the conflict.

Later in the show, Blumenthal discusses how the far right in Europe capitalizes off the refugee crisis and the frenzy over Russia among Democrats.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E15.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss UC Berkeley and Ann Coulter, immigrant prosecutions, President Donald Trump's busy day on April 26, and one of the most recent ominous reports about the Arctic ice melting.

With Rania in the Middle East for the next months, she is a bit detached from U.S. current events. She asked Kevin to give her an update on some of what she missed.

No guest this week.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E14.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:43pm EDT

Host Kevin Gosztola interviews the filmmakers involved in the production of "Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 22.

Josh Fox, Oscar-nominated director of "Gasland" and "How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can’t Change," produced Part 1 of the film.

Part 2 was created by James Spione, who was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the short film, "Incident In New Baghdad." He is also known for directing "Silenced," a documentary profiling whistleblowers.

Myron Dewey, founder of Digital Smoke Signals, is Newe-Numah/ Paiute-Shoshone from the Walker River Paiute Tribe, Agui Diccutta Band (Trout Eaters) and Temoke Shoshone. Through Part 3, he captures much of the indigenous perspective of what unfolded at Standing Rock in the struggle against the Dakota Access pipeline.

Dewey also is a media maker known for live streaming and flying a drone to capture what was unfolding on the ground. What appears in the film from this footage is stunning, whether what we see happening at Standing Rock is beautiful or tragic.

The film is available at AwakeTheFilm.org for streaming.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.







Direct download: S4E13.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Michael Mann, who is a distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Penn State University. He also directs the Penn State University Earth Science Center. And he's the co-author of the book, "The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial Is Destroying The Planet, Ruining Our Politics, and Driving Us Crazy."

Mann recounts his experience testifying before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which is chaired by Republican Representative Lamar Smith, a massive climate change denier. He addresses the chilly atmosphere for scientists currently in Washington, DC, and talks about the dire situation the world finds itself on as President Donald Trump rolls back initiatives intended to combat climate change.

Later in the show, Mann talks about why he wrote a satirical book about climate change. He also highlights the Science March planned for April 22, when scientists will mobilize against the Trump administration for its agenda of climate change denial and attacks on science.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E12.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola spend the full hour discussing President Donald Trump's attack on a Syrian airbase. In the beginning, the reaction of support from media personalities and Democrats and neoconservatives is highlighted.

Further into the show, the hosts break down who the media has referred to as sources for information on what happened in the alleged chemical attack that led Trump to escalate U.S. military action. The hosts also discuss the left's response to the strike and what the attack may mean for the Syrian conflict.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E11.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:01am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Michael Lighty, policy director for National Nurses United. He has worked on health care reform for over 25 years.

Lighty addresses the need for Democrats to go on the offensive and push for a national Medicare For All system. He describes why the Affordable Care Act is flawed and not enough. He highlights a push in the state of California for a Medicare For All system.

Later, Lighty speaks to the Trump administration's agenda of dismantling environmental regulations designed to protect the public's health. He also previews People's Summit 2.0 in Chicago, which was announced this past week and will take place from June 9-11.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E10.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss an effort to convince a student group at Oregon State University to disinvite Khalek from an event, where she is scheduled to speak with Mnar Muhawesh, editor of Mintpressnews.com, and journalist Abby Martin. The campaign is also targeting Muhawesh.

The students put out a statement refusing to cancel the event or disinvite Khalek. We talk about the stand the students took and then discuss the larger issue of "no platforming" or demanding groups or universities cancel speaking events.

In the last part of the discussion, Khalek and Gosztola address the expansion of war in Somalia by President Donald Trump's administration.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E10-Discussion.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Mark Ames, a journalist and co-host of the Radio War Nerd podcast. He also is the co-author of "The Exile: Sex, Drugs, and Libel in the New Russia" and "Going Postal: Rage, Murder, and Rebellion from Reagan's Workplaces to Clinton's Columbine and Beyond." He worked on a satirical publication that was shut down by the Kremlin.

Ames joins the show to talk about the history of the United States government's meddling in Russia, especially how the government backed Boris Yeltsin to lead the country. He addresses the frenzy over Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and the complete lack of evidence of conspiracy. He also discusses Putin and who he is as a leader and how it is ridiculous to suggest Putin is similar to Trump.

There is no discussion portion because Ames talked with us for a full hour.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E9.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Patrick Cockburn, a longtime Middle East correspondent well-known for his coverage of Iraq and Syria. He is the author of The Age of Jihad: Islamic State and the Great War for the Middle East.

Cockburn discusses the destruction of Mosul, the rise of Sunni fundamentalism, the role of Turkey in Iraq and Syria, and President Donald Trump and his potential plans for aggression toward Iran.

During the discussion, Gosztola discusses a trip to New Zealand, and later, Gosztola and Khalek talk about Trump's proposed budget and the GOP's healthcare plan.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E8.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:27pm EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss the campaign against Khalek, which led to her speaking event at the University of North Carolina being canceled. She also discusses Salafism and Wahhabism, extreme right-wing ideologies within Islam that are pretty modern.

The discussion veers into a discussion of U.S. empire and how the government has aligned itself with right-wing Islamic extremists in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. It all relates to the smears Khalek has had to confront because a faction of people—pro-regime change in Syria—have committed themselves to silencing her voice.

*No guest this week.

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Direct download: S4E7.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00pm EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Ben Norton, a journalist for AlterNet's "Grayzone Project."

Norton provides a brief overview of the terribly under-covered and mostly ignored war in Yemen as well as recent developments involving a CIA-backed warlord in Libya. He sticks around for the latter part of the show, when Khalek and Gosztola discuss the election of Tom Perez to Democratic National Committee chair.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E6.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:11am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola talk about President Donald Trump's pledge to go to war against "low-life leakers" in his administration. They express their frustrations over how the media is positioning itself as radical opponents of Trump, when they're still the same institutions that cozied up to the Obama administration for access. They also talk about whether a person should be allowed to be a trillionaire and highlight the press conference between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E5-Discussion.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:14am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Josh Fox, the Oscar-nominated director of "Gasland," and, "How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can't Change." He was also of the Democratic Platform Committee and a surrogate for the presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders.

Fox provides a rundown on the thousands of pipeline leaks and disasters in the United States, which have occurred in recent years. He highlights many of the different struggles over pipeline projects, which are ongoing, and also addresses the confirmation of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Later in the interview, Fox tells the story of what happened when actress, activist, and friend Susan Sarandon asked Fox to come on MSNBC's "All In" with Chris Hayes with her. He was unsure if MSNBC would allow him to come on the show because, since working for Sanders in 2016, he was put on a blacklist and not allowed to be on MSNBC shows anymore.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, please become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

 

Direct download: S4E5-GuestInterview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:46am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, President Donald Trump's crime executive orders, Senator Joe Manchin, David Frum's advice for effective protest, and the CIA giving a Saudi prince an award for fighting terrorism.

Direct download: S4E4_Discussion.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:24am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Jacqueline Keeler, a writer who is of Dineh and Yankton Sioux Dakota heritage, is our guest this week. She is the author of "Edge of Morning: Native Voices Speak for the Bears Ears." Her work has been published by The Nation, Yes! Magazine, and other publications. 

Keeler talks with us about the U.S. government's decision to recommit itself to the Dakota Access Pipeline Project. She describes what can be done to fight the project and show solidarity with indigenous people. But she also goes deeper in her analysis and highlights the centuries-long history of America as a settler colonial state and how that remains true today.

America is not really a country in the sense that sovereign tribal nations are countries. America is still a colony, she contends.

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Direct download: S3E4-GuestInterview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:19am EDT

Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Jamil Dakwar, the director of the ACLU's Human Rights Program. Dakwar addresses how the Muslim ban signed by President Donald Trump has been applied. He highlights the issues involved in arguing the executive order is discriminatory and unconstitutional. He also outlines how dangerous it is that the Trump administration treats Islam as more of a political ideology than a religion.

The interview was recorded just before a federal judge in Washington issued a restraining order against the ban, the broadest directive yet. It forced the Homeland Security Department and State Department to go back to issuing visas and admitting travelers as they did prior to the ban.

During the discussion, Khalek and Gosztola discuss how the left talks about the Muslim ban, the saber-rattling of the Trump administration against Iran, the kill operation in Yemen that went horribly wrong and killed dozens, and Trump's Black History Month event.

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Direct download: S4E3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:04pm EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Sarah Jaffe, a journalist, Nation Institute fellow, and author of "Necessary Trouble: Americans In Revolt." Jaffe talks with us about the first week of resistance against President Donald Trump.

We discuss everything from the millions, who came out for the Women's March, to the protests in response to executive orders, like the orders against immigrants and refugees. Jaffe describes a protest she covered at a GOP retreat in Philadelphia. She also addresses how citizens recently becoming engaged can keep up the pressure and handle fatigue and how Trump really does not like seeing all these crowds turn out against him—and citizens should take advantage of that.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, then become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola kick off a new season of the podcast with guest Abby Martin, host of "The Empire Files." She joins the show for the entire episode. Martin discusses how a show she anchored for RT America was mentioned in the recent intelligence report on Russian hacking.

We discuss the deep state's push to increase aggressive action against Russia, and whether that is good if we all truly believe Donald Trump is erratic. We talk about where RT America fits in the media economy and how we need to focus on media literacy. And we talk about liberal delusions about America's history of meddling in democracies and supporting dictatorships. Trump will not be the first president to normalize this — at all.

If you would like to support the show and help keep us going strong, then become a subscriber on our Patreon page.

Direct download: S4E1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:24pm EDT

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