Philip Giraldi, Executive Director of The Council for the National Interest, discusses the Boston Marathon bombing; the "surgical strikes" legal justification for drone attacks; the war in Syria; and the US empire's messy and ugly decline.

Anthony Gregory, author of The Power of Habeas Corpus in America: From the King's Prerogative to the War on Terror, discusses the 20 years of state terror since the FBI/ATF massacre of Branch Davidians at Waco; the precedent of killing rather than capturing criminal suspects; and why blood-lusting Americans are eager to accept the lies and propaganda told by the government and media.

John Feffer, co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses the lessons learned from recent US brinksmanship with North Korea; the entangling alliances that still threaten a WWI-type conflagration on the Korean Peninsula; and the terrible famines in China and Korea that have lead to cannibalism.

Psychologist and blogger Jeff Kaye discusses his article on Ahmed Abu Ali, who was tortured by the Saudis and the FBI into confessing a plot to assassinate George W. Bush and carry out a 9/11-type terrorist attack.

McClatchy journalist David Enders discusses his recent abduction in Syria by Jabhat al Nusra.

Grant F. Smith, director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington DC, discusses Scott Horton's appointment to IRMEP's board; using FOIA to piece together the US-aided origins of Israel's nuclear weapons program; how the neocons created an Israeli "Sparta" by exaggerating the Soviet threat during the Cold War; AIPAC's interpretation of the "peace process;" the DOJ's hands-off approach to decades of Israeli lobby crimes; and the Iranian nukes "conspiracy theory."

M.J. Rosenberg, a special correspondent for The Washington Spectator, discusses his article on the history of Israel's bad-faith negotiating with the US and PLO, and the responses of US administrations from Carter to Obama.

Yochai Benkler, Professor for Entrepreneurial Legal Studies at Harvard Law School, discusses his article "The Dangerous Logic of the Bradley Manning Case;" his upcoming expert testimony in Manning's court martial; why government whistleblowers/leakers are all but extinct; the government's unprecedented interpretation of "aiding the enemy;" and the threats against our First Amendment protections. Scott Horton Interviews Yochai Benkler April 10, 2013 Transcript (page down for the audio) Scott...

Sheldon Richman, vice president and editor at The Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses his article "The Absurdity of 'Universal' Background Checks;" what the "gunshow loophole" really means; the reactionary lawmakers who fret that "they have to do something;" the very real threats of gun registration and confiscation; individual rights and the mentally ill; and why the press doesn't run stories on guns being used to save lives.

Muhammad Sahimi, political columnist and professor of chemical engineering, discusses his article "The Long History of Lies about Iran;" why the P5+1 talks won't produce a compromise on Iran's nuclear enrichment program and sanctions; how the US and European nations flaunt international law by withholding parts for Iran's civilian airliners (offering them as "concessions" in nuclear talks); keeping Israel happy so they don't drag us into a war; and why Americans generally have a very distorted...

Muhammad Idrees Ahmad, a sociologist and editor of Pulsemedia.org, discusses the highly contested estimated number of Iraqi deaths due to the 2003 US invasion; why Iraq Body Count (the media's go-to source) vastly under-reports casualties; how "excess death" statistical studies work; and how low-balling the costs of war - in terms of blood and treasure - distorts the public debate.

Nathan Fuller of the Bradley Manning Support Network discusses Bradley Manning's long-awaited court martial, scheduled for June 3; why a military judge ruled Manning's 3 years in pretrial detention did not violate his right to a speedy trial; the government prosecutor's claim that Manning would be charged with "aiding the enemy" even if he had leaked classified documents to the NY Times instead of WikiLeaks; the chilling effect on government whistleblowers; and the DOJ's continuing efforts to...