Exclusive: the first reaction of Daniel Ellsberg, author of Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers, to Bradley Manning’s acquittal on charges of "aiding the enemy," but conviction under the espionage act, why journalism is still threatened, Manning's motives, the positive consequences of his leaks -- for instance ending America's occupation of Iraq once and for all, and the importance of whistleblowers to a free society. Page Down for Audio Scott Horton interviews Daniel...

Kevin Zeese, Co-Chair of Come Home America, discusses the verdict of Bradley Manning's military trial; the serious attack on freedom of the press; Judge Denise Lind's strange rulings (always favoring the prosecution) that could be overturned on appeal; the high-powered government witnesses scheduled to denounce Manning during the sentencing phase; and the tipping point in the battle between citizen and corporate media.

New York civil rights attorney Chase Madar discusses the imminent verdict in Bradley Manning's military trial; the lengthy sentencing hearings to follow; and why Manning's conviction on the more serious charges would be a blow against journalism and the country.

Brian Stull, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Capital Punishment Project, discusses the ACLU report "A Death Before Dying: Solitary Confinement on Death Row" and why an appeals process (even a lengthy one) is absolutely necessary in death penalty cases.

James Bamford, author of several books on the NSA, discusses the revelations/confirmations of NSA spying in whistleblower Edward Snowden's leaked documents; the "Secret War" waged by NSA director General Keith Alexander; and the Israeli companies helping the NSA collect and process information on American citizens.

Muhammad Sahimi, political columnist and professor of chemical engineering, discusses his article "Atoms For Peace" in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs; the history of Iran's nuclear energy program; the failure of countries with nuclear weapons to honor their NPT obligations; the incredibly tight IAEA monitoring of Iran's nuclear sites; and the possibility of a US-Iran peace offering - if only the US would negotiate in good faith.

IPS News journalist Adam Morrow discusses the pro-Mohamed Morsi counter protests not being covered by Egypt's media; the Egyptian exercise in democracy-as-mob-rule; how the Egyptian military is seizing power by invoking a "war on terror;" and the return of the Mubarak regime with (what it perceives as) a popular mandate for dictatorship.

Nathan Fuller of the Bradley Manning Support Network discusses the end of Manning's trial; the prosecution's die-hard attempts to depict Manning as a fame-seeking traitor; the defense's success at poking holes in the "aiding the enemy" and espionage charges; and the criminalization of investigative journalism.

Globetrotting Asia Times journalist Pepe Escobar discusses the advanced Russian missile defense systems heading to Iran (and possibly Syria); the massive Abu Ghraib prison break; the rumors of Hezbollah fighting in Syria; and how the US's war on terror makes Al Qaeda grudgingly accepted in the Muslim world.

Eric Margolis, author of American Raj, discusses the meaningless "kabuki theater" Israel-Palestine roadmap to peace; how Israel's continued settlement building amounts to slow-motion ethnic cleansing; retired CENTCOM General James Mattis's warning of an Israeli apartheid state; and Egypt's journey towards yet another US-endorsed military dictatorship with a civilian government veneer.

Chris Woods, writer for The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, discusses the leaked Pakistani report that confirms a high civilian death toll in CIA drones strikes; the CIA's own low-ball estimates; the significant decrease in reported civilian deaths since 2010; and why the CIA chose to pick another fight with the Pakistani Taliban.

Nima Shirazi, an independent researcher and political analyst, discusses the decades of Israeli-American scaremongering about Iran's nearly-here nuclear weapons; why the neocons and Zionists love Samantha Power; the never-apologize attitude of American exceptionalists; and the requirement of US Ambassador to the UN nominees to lie to the Senate and prostrate before Israel.

Max Blumenthal, author of the upcoming book Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel, discusses the cozy relationship between anti-Semitic Christian rapturists and AIPAC staffers; retired US Central Commander General James Mattis's frank talk of Israeli apartheid; how Dennis Ross and Martin Indyk made sure America was a dishonest broker in Israeli-Palestine peace talks; and the up-and-coming right wing Israeli politicians who want open apartheid instead of the incremental can-kicking...