Ted Snider returns to the show to discuss his recent article "Accusing Russia - Listening to History" about the recent history of US-Russian relations. Snider makes the case that most of the US's accusations against Russia, such as expansionary foreign policy and election meddling, accurately describe the US's own policy toward Russia since the end of the Cold War. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein...

Grant Smith returns to the show to discuss his latest articles, “Why Gallup Overstates American Sympathy for Israel” and “Israel Advocacy Groups Demand Questionable Changes to Virginia Textbooks.” Smith explains the problems with Gallup’s polling methodology and why the real sentiments of Americans are less favorable to Israel than they’re made out out to be by Gallup. Smith then touches on his second article about how a group of pro-Israel groups are trying to pressure the Department of...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

NBC News reporter William Arkin returns to the show to discuss Russia’s influence in American democracy and his article “Russians Target Texas Democratic Convention.” Arkin makes the case, based on his research, that Russia is in fact engaging in a broad ranging covert operation against American democracy. Arkin and Scott discuss the extent to which Russiagate mirrors the lead up to the Iraq War. Arkin then goes through the various scattered evidence that’s been collected and argues that the...