Scott interviews novelist Barry Eisler about his background at the CIA, how he woke up to the realities of the American empire, the insanity of Washington even considering a war with Venezuela, how he writes his novels and more.

Discussed on the show:

Barry Eisler is a novelist and Substack writer. He formerly worked for the CIA but grew disillusioned and left to work as a lawyer and write thriller novels. Check out his books and story at his website BarryEisler.com

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12/30/21 Ray McGovern on the Dumb but Dangerous Tension With Russia Over Ukraine

Scott interviews Ray McGovern in this extended version of Antiwar Radio. They discuss the recent tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine. Both Scott and McGovern agree that there is no impending Russian invasion, despite how hard the American media are trying to push that narrative. McGovern gives a thorough explanation of post-Cold War U.S. Russia relations to provide important context often omitted.

Discussed on the show:

“What! No Russian Invasion of Ukraine?” (Antiwar.com)
Shock and Awe (IMDb)

Ray McGovern is the co-creator of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity and the former chief of the CIA’s Soviet analysts division. Read all of his work at his website: raymcgovern.com.

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; EasyShip; Free Range Feeder; Thc Hemp Spot; Green Mill Supercritical; and Listen and Think Audio.

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12/30/21 Grant F. Smith on Israel’s Evolving Strategy to Sway American Politics

Scott is joined by Grant F. Smith to talk about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) new strategy for reaching U.S. politicians. AIPAC has largely operated as a lobbying group on behalf of the State of Israel. But, as Smith explains, they are now working to set up a network of Political Action Committees. This will give them more freedom to fund candidates they like, and support the opponents of candidates they don’t. Scott and Smith give possible reasons for the evolving methods.

Discussed on the show:

“AIPAC forming political action committees to tighten grip on U.S. elections” (Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs)
“Joe Biden should end the US pretence over Israel’s ‘secret’ nuclear weapons” (The Guardian)

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.

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12/30/21 Darren Beattie on the Mysterious Men Who Breached the Capitol

Scott interviews Darren J. Beattie of Revolver News about the in-depth articles he’s written about the riot at the Capitol last January. Beattie’s reporting uses video and photo evidence to highlight a number of individuals who were instrumental in breaching the Capitol grounds and in directing rally-goers towards the building. But while hundreds of attendees have been charged for their actions that day, this group of instigators has remained virtually untouched by federal investigators. Scott and Beattie discuss possible explanations and look at the broader context beyond the riot.

Discussed on the show:

Tucker Carlson’s Patriot Purge (IMDb)
“Meet Ray Epps” (Revolver)
“Meet Ray Epps, Part 2” (Revolver)
The Secret Life of Bill Clinton by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
The Terror Factory by Trevor Aaronson

Darren J. Beattie is a former White House official and the founder and editor of Revolver. Follow him on Twitter @DarrenJBeattie

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12/30/21 Basir Bita on the Economic Crisis in Afghanistan

Scott interviews activist Basir Bita about the economic calamity that’s hit Afghanistan since the U.S. withdrawal this past summer. With the U.S. and IMF freezing Afghan government funds as well as widespread market corrections after the fall of the previous regime, Afghanistan has been thrown into turmoil. Food prices have tripled since the summer and many Afghans face issues with food security. Bita argues that the Biden Administration and others should get over their hesitation to work with the new government of Afghanistan. And that a refusal to do so reveals how little they truly care for the Afghan people, despite their rhetoric.

Basir Bita is a civil society activist now based out of Canada. He is an advisor for Afghan Peace Volunteers, a youth group in Kabul, Afghanistan that advocates for nonviolent conflict resolution. Follow him on Twitter @BasirBita

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12/30/21 Daniel Larison: US Militarism Should Have Died With the Soviet Union

Scott is joined by Antiwar.com contributing editor Daniel Larison to discuss his most recent piece. Larison argues that the period following the peaceful breakup of the USSR was the best moment for the U.S. to shed the militaristic blob it had built up in the name of fighting communism. Instead, the military-industrial-congressional complex scrambled to find a new enemy. And the next thirty years of meddling in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have resulted in today’s messy geopolitical status quo.

Discussed on the show:

“US Militarism Should Have Died With the Soviet Union” (Antiwar.com)
“The Looming Threat of a Nuclear Crisis with Iran” (The New Yorker)

Daniel Larison is a contributing editor at Antiwar.com, contributor at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and former senior editor at The American Conservative magazine. Follow him on Twitter @DanielLarison or on his blog, Eunomia.

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12/22/21 Gareth Porter on Iran and Afghanistan

Scott celebrates eleven years on the radio by interviewing Gareth Porter about Biden’s first year in office. They discuss the negotiations between the Administration and Iran over a return to the JCPOA. Despite many crossovers with the team that reached an agreement with Iran back in the Obama years, Biden’s people appear set on squeezing more concessions out of the Iranians. But Porter points out that, as he had predicted, the U.S. reluctance to return to the deal led to hardliner victories in Iran’s last elections. But even with a more anti-American regime, Porter sees no evidence they’d actually produce a nuclear bomb. Scott and Porter also talk about Afghanistan and the humanitarian crisis the so-called champions of Afghan freedom seem completely uninterested in helping to relieve.

Discussed on the show:

“When the Ayatollah Said No to Nukes” (Foreign Policy)
“The Civilian Casualty Files” (New York Times)

Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist on the national security state. He is the author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare and, with John Kiriakou, The CIA Insider’s Guide to the Iran Crisis. Follow him on Twitter @GarethPorter and listen to Gareth’s previous appearances on the Scott Horton Show.

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12/10/21 Dave DeCamp on Iran, Russia, China and Yemen

Dave DeCamp is back on the show for another rapid-fire episode of some of the biggest foreign policy news. He starts out with an update on the recently resumed indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Next, he discusses the developments between Russia and Ukraine where it appears the Biden Administration is backing down from early statements that hinted at a willingness to defend Ukraine against a Russian invasion. Next DeCamp and Scott talk about China and the prospects for tension over Taiwan. Lastly, DeCamp gives a quick update on Yemen where the battle for Marib continues to rage on

Discussed on the show:

“Biden Orders to Prepare for ‘Other Options’ If Iran Nuclear Talks Fail” (Antiwar.com)
“Taiwan Is Not About China” (The American Conservative)
“Taiwan Means War Only If We Want It To” (The American Conservative)
news.antiwar.com

Dave DeCamp is the assistant news editor of Antiwar.com. Follow him on Twitter @decampdave.

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12/10/21 Kevin Gosztola on Assange’s Future After the High Court Ruling

Scott is joined by journalist Kevin Gosztola to discuss the evolving situation Julian Assange finds himself in. The UK’s High Court recently overturned a decision blocking Assange from extradition to the United States. This plunges the case into further rounds of litigation. Gosztola explains these next steps and discusses what is needed for Assange to walk free.

Discussed on the show:

“Assange Plans to Appeal High Court Decision Backing Extradition to the United States” (Shadowproof)
“Inside the CIA’s secret war plans against WikiLeaks” (Yahoo! News)

Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof. He also produces and co-hosts the weekly podcast, “Unauthorized Disclosure.” Follow him on Twitter @kgosztola.

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Recent Episodes of the Scott Horton Show

11/18/25 Barry Eisler on the CIA, Venezuela and Using Novels to Wake People Up

Recommended reading

12/30/21 Ray McGovern on the Dumb but Dangerous Tension With Russia Over Ukraine

12/30/21 Grant F. Smith on Israel’s Evolving Strategy to Sway American Politics

12/30/21 Darren Beattie on the Mysterious Men Who Breached the Capitol

12/30/21 Basir Bita on the Economic Crisis in Afghanistan

12/30/21 Daniel Larison: US Militarism Should Have Died With the Soviet Union

12/22/21 Gareth Porter on Iran and Afghanistan

12/10/21 Dave DeCamp on Iran, Russia, China and Yemen

12/10/21 Kevin Gosztola on Assange’s Future After the High Court Ruling

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