Unauthorized Disclosure

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.

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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.

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

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

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