Investigative reporter and historian Gareth Porter returns to the show to discuss Donald Trump’s decision to bomb the Assad government in Damascus. Porter explains how the evidence has been repeatedly massaged to misconstrue what is ambiguous as what is clear—and that this case, of all the previous, might be the most egregious. Scott and Porter then discuss the ways in which Trump’s strikes differ from one another and how the Trump policy toward Syria compares with Obama’s. Finally they...
4/10/18 Rick Sterling on the supposed Assad chemical attack in Syria
Investigative journalist Rick Sterling joins Scott to discuss his latest article for Consortium News, “Taking the World to the Brink.” Sterling describes what he’s seen in his time in Syria and shares his perspective on the war and the most recent chemical attack in Douma. Sterling then explains why he’s very skeptical, once again, that the Syrian government is responsible for the latest chemical attack. Scott and Sterling discuss the failures of U.S. foreign policy generally, and then...
4/6/18 Daniel McAdams on Russian spies, Trump’s Syria policy, and Kosovo lies
Co-host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report Daniel McAdams returns to the Scott Horton Show. McAdams shares what he knows about the ex-Russian spy poisoned in London, how the details of the story have continually changed with one glaring exception—the certainty that the Russian government is responsible. Scott then transitions to Trump’s Syria policy and the ridiculous position many democrats and liberals hold that the United States will limit the sphere of its influence if it pulls its troops out...
3/30/18 Trita Parsi on how Trump is pushing Iran toward a nuclear bomb
Trita Parsi returns to the show to discuss his latest article for Foreign Policy, “Blame Trump When Iran Races for the Bomb.” Parsi says Trump is using the Iran Deal as a negotiating chip with North Korea and explains how the message might incentivize other countries—and Iran in particular—to further develop their nuclear programs in the future. Parsi then goes through the common misconceptions and the real consequences of the Iran Deal and how much good diplomacy could be undone if the deal...
3/30/18 David Collum on the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in London and Austrian Business Cycle
Cornell professor of organic chemistry David Collum joins Scott to discuss the recent poisoning of a Russian ex-spy and his daughter in London. Collum explains why Theresa May’s initial comments about the chemical’s properties set off his skeptic alarms and what the alternative possibilities to the accepted narrative are. Collum then explains why he’s a believer in Austrian Business Cycle theory and argues that, had the criminals of the 2008 recession been justly prosecuted and imprisoned, the...
Iraq War II: A History Lesson
It's been 15 years since they lied us into Iraq War II. So I did a couple of long, in-depth interviews with Jonathan Schwarz about how and why they lied us into it, and Gareth Porter about how the war played out. Especially for those of you who were too young or wrong back then to know about it, I hope it's helpful.
3/28/18 Gareth Porter on the history of Iraq War 2
Investigative journalist and historian Gareth Porter returns to the show to do a deep dive on the history of the Iraq War. Porter begins by detailing the role of the air force in propagating the neoconservatives’ goals and the behind-the-scenes struggle for power that took place between the army and the air force. Scott then asks Porter: how could the neoconservatives not realize that overthrowing Saddam Hussein would empower the Iranians? On their way through the history of the Iraq War Scott...
3/28/18 Nasser Arrabyee on the 3-year anniversary of the U.S.-Saudi war in Yemen
Yemeni journalist Nasser Arrabyee returns to the show to discuss the U.S.-Saudi war in Yemen, which is now entering its fourth year. Arrabyee describes the mood on the ground in Yemen, how things have changed since the beginning of the war, and what a political solution might look like. Scott then asks about the role of the UAE in the conflict and its alliance with the separatists of Southern Yemen and what Arrabyee’s thoughts are on the recent failed Senate resolution to invoke the War Powers...
3/29/18 Q & A Show
Scott talks about Jesse Trentadue, the book, Iraq, Yemen, the Iran deal, Star Wars 8, Bolton and Ellsberg.
3/23/18 Patrick Cockburn on the fighting in Afrin and Eastern Ghouta
Patrick Cockburn, Middle East reporter for the Independent, returns to the show to discuss the fighting in Syria, focusing on the conflicts in Afrin and East Ghouta where much of the killing of civilians has taken place. Cockburn details the tangled maze of allegiance in Syria and how the United States will likely deal with its warring allies. Cockburn then shares what he knows about where the surviving displaced ISIS fighters have re-surfaced. Cockburn says that despite considerable bias in...
3/21/18 Andrew Cockburn on how the United States boosts the Afghan opium trade
Washington editor of Harper’s magazine Andrew Cockburn returns to the show to discuss his latest article “Mobbed Up: How America boosts the Afghan opium trade.” Cockburn explains how Trump’s major contribution to the war in Afghanistan has been to take the existing restraints off the air force so they can, Cockburn says, “try to pacify Afghanistan from 20,000 feet.” Cockburn and Scott then discuss the war on drugs in Afghanistan and Cockburn outlines why the narrative that the Taliban relies...
Retired USSC Justice Stevens: Repeal the 2nd Amendment
Other than conservatives, is there a group of people anywhere dumber than American liberals? How childish is this thinking?: Change the law and all the guns will vanish and then shooting will decrease. Here’s a more likely result: the second America Civil War, mass assassinations and murders, state secession, hundreds of thousands or even millions killed in, wait for it … gun violence, as Americans by the millions choose to protect their rights to firearms by using them, and the state clamps...
3/21/18 Phil Weiss on Ahed Tamimi’s sentencing and its consequences
Phil Weiss joins Scott to discuss Ahed Tamimi’s plea bargain, which will result in eight months in prison. Weiss argues that Israeli culture has gone off the rails and that all the fears that Americans have about the rightward swing in the U.S. are being fully realized in Israel. Weiss then details the shift in American Jews’ views towards Israel and how young people, in particular, have unfavorable views toward Israel. Finally Weiss and Scott talk about the move of the Iran Deal, John Bolton,...
3/21/18 Doug Bandow on Donald Trump’s decision to negotiate with North Korea
Cato’s Doug Bandow returns to the show to discuss Donald Trump’s decision to negotiate seriously with the North Koreans. Bandow believes that, while much can still go wrong, this is a real opportunity for traction and progress. Bandow raises the Iran Deal and the North Koreans certain interest in what the Trump administration will ultimately decide to do with the existing agreement with Iran. The interview then turns to Iran, and whether Donald Trump could take the same approach to Iran that...
3/20/18 Jonathan Schwarz on the history and lies of the Iraq War
The Intercept’s Jon Schwarz returns to discuss the history of the Iraq War 15 years after one of the most shameful events in U.S. history. Schwarz and Scott run through and debunk the myriad lies and propaganda that were spread before and after the invasion. Schwarz then details through the major players in and out of the government who cheerleaded for war in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. The two then discuss the role Ariel Sharon and the Israeli government pumped the Bush...
