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Scott brings William Van Wagenen on to talk about his new book Creative Chaos: Inside the CIA’s Covert War to Topple the Syrian Government. They talk about why Wagenen was first drawn to the topic before digging into the details we know about covert US policy in Syria, Iraq and the region more broadly.  

Discussed on the show:

• Creative Chaos: Inside the CIA’s Covert War to Topple the Syrian Government by William Van Wagenen
• Why he was drawn to this topic
• “Questions Mount Over Failure to Hit Zarqawi’s Camp” (Wall Street Journal)
• Israel, Winner of the 2003 Iraq Oil War: Undue Influence, Deceptions, and the Neocon Energy Agenda by Gary Vogler
• “The Redirection” (The New Yorker)

William Van Wagenen is the author of Creative Chaos: Inside the CIA’s Covert War to Topple the Syrian Government. He has a BA in German literature From Brigham Young University and an MA in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. You can read his other writings on Syria for the Libertarian Institute here. Follow him on Twitter @wvanwagenen

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Incorporated; Moon Does Artisan Coffee; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; Libertas Bella; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

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Scott talks with Tim Shorrock about the build-up to today’s tension with North Korea. Shorrock takes us back to the 1990s when the U.S. and North Korean governments were making serious headway in negotiating a formal end to the Korean war. At the time, the North Korean nuclear program was nonexistent. By the end of the decade, there were even serious talks taking place about ending the entire missile program. Then George W. Bush came in and, with the help of John Bolton, ruined everything. Scott and Shorrock talk about what went wrong, how it was almost fixed during the Trump administration and how things spiraled back out of control—again thanks largely to John Bolton. 

Discussed on the show:

• The Shorrock Files — Patreon 
• “U.S. Government Quietly Declassifies Post-9/11 Interview With Bush and Cheney” (The Intercept)

Tim Shorrock is the author of Spies For Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing and a regular contributor to The Nation and the Korea Center for Investigative Reporting. Follow him on Twitter @TimothyS.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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Scott is joined by David Stockman to talk about the economic issues facing the world today. To start, Stockman explains where the American economy stands today. He argues that the crash of 2020 represents the next stage in a 50-year evolution of the boom-bust cycle. They also touch on the labor markets, which Stockman argues are not doing as well as the news would have you believe. Next they turn to China, where Stockman says an accelerating slide back towards central planning that’s all built on an absurd level of debt should dispel the idea we’re headed for a world run by Beijing. He also debunks the myth that China has been waging an effective economic war on the U.S. since the 1990s. Instead, Stockman says America’s economic troubles are all the Fed’s fault. Lastly, Scott and Stockman take a step back and look at how the dollar is faring on a global scale. 

Discussed on the show:

• David Stockman’s Contra Corner

David Stockman is the ultimate Washington insider turned iconoclast. He began his career in Washington as a young man and quickly rose through the ranks of the Republican Party to become the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan. After leaving the White House, Stockman had a 20-year career on Wall Street. He is the author of Trumped!, The Triumph of Politics, and his history of the financial crisis, The Great Deformation: The Corruption of Capitalism in America.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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Scott is joined by Branko Marcetic of Jacobin to discuss the recent revelations that the Department of Homeland Security has been guiding tech platforms on what they should censor. They observe some specific cases where platforms like Facebook and Google changed rules and suppressed stories to help prop up the U.S. government’s narratives, even when they proved false. Scott and Marcetic also talk about the potential for cross-idealogical coalitions to fight back against these blatant and dangerous government interventions in the information space. 

Discussed on the show:

• “The Quiet Merger Between Online Platforms and the National Security State Continues” (Jacobin)
• “Leaked Documents Outline DHS’s Plans to Police Disinformation” (The Intercept)
• Global Guerillas

Branko Marcetic is a writer for Jacobin Magazine, a fellow at In These Times, and host of the 1/200 podcast. He is the author of Yesterday’s Man: The Case Against Joe Biden. Follow him on Twitter @BMarchetich.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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On Antiwar Radio this past Sunday, Scott was joined by Muhammad Sahimi to discuss the protests in Iran. Sahimi gives some background about how the brutal death of Mahsa Amini after she had been detained by Iranian morality police sparked protests led by the country’s younger generations. While both are supportive of the Iranian people in their resistance to the theocracy, Scott and Sahimi are also wary of the potential for foreign intervention to make the situation worse for everyone. They talk about which governments are already getting involved, what different factions in Iran are pushing for and examine the danger the U.S. government could turn this into another Syria. 

Discussed on the show:

• The Murder of Mahsa Amini, Iranians’ Quest for a Democratic State, and the Role of Outside Forces” (Libertarian Institute) 

Muhammad Sahimi is a professor at the University of Southern California who analyzes Iran’s political developments, its nuclear program, and foreign policy.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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Dave DeCamp, the news editor at Antiwar.com, is back to run through some of the biggest foreign policy news of the day. He talks with Scott about Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi which appears to have been productive. Next they turn to Ukraine. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley recently gave a talk where he voiced his support for negotiations with Russia. Scott and DeCamp talk about some other developments that may signal the potential for talks. Lastly, they turn to Somalia. The Biden Administration has been escalating the U.S. war in Somalia, and very few journalists are reporting on it. Scott and DeCamp discuss what’s happening there and reflect on how ridiculous it is that America is still waging this immoral and unnecessary war. 

Discussed on the show:

• news.antiwar.com
• “Somalia Asks U.S. to Step Up Drone Strikes Against Qaeda-Linked Fighters” (New York Times)
• “Another Failed 20-Year War: America vs. Somalia” (Antiwar.com)
• “Yemeni Civil War Unleashes a Plague of Locusts” (Antiwar.com)

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com and the host of Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp. Follow him on Twitter @decampdave

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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Scott talks with Grant F. Smith about the work he’s doing to track the ways Israel’s government tries to affect American politics. First, they talk about the return of Benjamin Netanyahu and how this could signal a disturbing shift in Israeli politics. They then move on to the fruitful effort by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, to help pro-Israel candidates win elections last week. Lastly, they talk about some of the research Smith’s organization has done into the Anti-Defamation League’s influence over the FBI.

Discussed on the show:

• site:irmep.org .pdf 
• How Israel Made AIPAC Podcast

Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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Alan MacLeod of Mintpress News is back to talk more about the alarming number of former spies working for the largest internet and social media companies. This time MacLeod dug up evidence of numerous former Israeli military intelligence officials with jobs at Google, Microsoft and Facebook. Scott and MacLeod reflect on how powerful these companies have grown and how much influence they have over what’s considered true. They also talk about how Russiagate was a huge turning point in the history of the internet. 

Discussed on the show:

• “Revealed: The Former Israeli Spies Working In Top Jobs At Google, Facebook And Microsoft” (Mintpress News)
• Scott’s interview with MacLeod back in July

Alan MacLeod is Senior Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent, as well as a number of academic articles. Follow him on Twitter @AlanRMacLeod.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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Scott talks with congressional candidate Joe Kent about his career, worldview and stances on the foreign policy issues of the day. Kent spent two decades in the army and was deployed all over the middle east. He talks Scott through his career and how his view of America’s wars evolved. Scott then presses Kent on some of his beliefs and statements about China. 

Discussed on the show:

• Joe Kent Campaign Website

Joe Kent is a retired Army Special Forces soldier who is running for Congress in Washington State’s 3rd District. Follow him on Twitter @joekent16jan19

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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