Police-reform activist Michael Bell returns to the show to discuss his efforts to reform police conduct and receive justice for his son's killing. Bell details the tragic events that led to his son's shooting in 2004 and the subsequent cover up and political masquerade. Ultimately the Bell family was awarded with a record civil rights settlement—which they used to fund their mission to change the law. In April 2014, thanks to Bell's efforts and on the back of immense public pressure, the state...
2/9/18 Brian Saady on NSA spying on Americans under 2017 FISA reauthorization
Author Brian Saady returns to the show to discuss his article "With the Shutdown Over, the Government Can Go Back to Suppressing Your Rights." Saady explains in laymen's terms FISA 702, which allows the NSA to monitor any American in communication with foreign targets concerning any foreign intelligence. Saady then turns back the clock and recalls how the history of the national security state has led to the current mass surveillance programs. Brian Saady is the author of the three-part series...
2/6/18 Eric Margolis on America’s permanent presence in Syria
Veteran journalist Eric Margolis returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "The Syrian Madhouse Gets Even Crazier." Margolis explains why Rex Tillerson's recent decision to maintain a long-term presence in eastern Syria has created an even bigger mess and how the Turkish-Kurdish conflict has come to a head. Scott then details the long history of U.S. support for and betrayal of the Kurds. Eric Margolis is a foreign affairs correspondent and author of “War at the Top of the World” and...
2/6/18 Elijah Magnier on Iran’s waning influence in Iraq
Veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "Iran is Losing Influence in Iraq: Is Qassem Soleimani the Right Person?" Magnier breaks down the degree to which Iraq and Iran see eye to eye about policy, the political climate in the lead up to elections in Iraq, and explains how it came to be that the Iraqis rejected the aid of their long-term ally Soleimani. Magnier then returns to the Sunni insurgency in Iraq over a decade ago and describes the...
2/6/18 Tom Cooper on the war in Yemen from above
Author and illustrator Tom Cooper joins Scott to discuss his article for War is Boring, “A New State is Emerging in Yemen.” Cooper outlines how North and South Yemen were united under Ali Abdullah Saleh, the surprising nuances in the political alliances within Yemen, and the similarities and differences between the situation in Yemen and Syria. Cooper also details the many varied fighting forces in Yemen and the general consensus among them all against Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Tom Cooper is a writer...
2/5/18 Gilbert Doctorow on Bob Parry and Russia-Ukraine tensions
Consortium News' Gilbert Doctorow returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "A Coming Russia-Ukraine War?" Doctorow also shares his memories of legendary journalist Bob Parry who died this week, explains why understanding Russian political goals is essential to good diplomacy, and describes the rising tensions between Russia and the Ukraine. Doctorow then details the many different sanctions placed on Russians by the United States, and makes the case why sanctions constitute an act of...
2/5/18 Mark Perry on Donald Trump’s new Nuclear Arms Plan
Reporter Mark Perry returns to the show to talk about his latest piece for the American Conservative Magazine on Donald Trump's nuclear posture review, "Trump’s Nuke Plan Raising Alarms Among Military Brass." According to Perry there's considerable skepticism within the military about the new Trump plan. Perry then details the U.S.-Russia nuclear relations and the extreme danger of any kind of nuclear escalation. Finally Perry discusses what Trump could do to ameliorate the situation with...
2/2/18 Major Danny Sjursen on the Vietnam War’s legacy in Iraq and Afghanistan
U.S. army major Daniel A. Sjursen joins Scott to talk about his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, the supposed military tactics of "The Surge," and his latest piece on the legacy of the Vietnam War, "The War That Never Ends (for the U.S. Military High Command)." Sjursen draws parallels between the Vietnam War and the Iraq and Afghan Wars and makes the case that misconceptions about the Vietnam War have persisted into the tactical approach to the forever wars of the present. Finally Sjursen...
2/2/18 May Jeong on the latest murderous U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan
May Jeong returns to the show to discuss her article for The Intercept, "Losing Sight" about a four-year-old Afghan girl, Aisha Rashid, who was the sole survivor of a drone strike in a remote village in Afghanistan. Aisha miraculously survived. Then she disappeared. Jeong goes in depth into her reporting, the horrors of drone warfare, and details the ISIS presence in Afghanistan. Scott and Jeong then talk about the paradox of humanitarian aid and the satellite charity organizations. May Jeong...
1/31/18 MSF’s Ghassan Abou Chaar updates the situation in Yemen
Ghassan Abou Chaar, Doctors Without Borders' head of missions in Yemen, joins Scott to discuss the situation in Yemen. Chaar says that the cholera outbreak has improved as the dry season has limited the spread of the infection, but that cases of diarrhea remain prevalent. Chaar explains that while seasonal changes have helped, many of the awful conditions that led to the cholera outbreak in the first place remain in place. Chaar then updates the water situation in Yemen and the degree to which...
1/26/18 Joey Lawrence on the Turkish assault on Syrian Kurdistan
Joey Lawrence returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in northeast Syria, where the Kurds and Turks are facing off—with the U.S. potentially caught in the middle. Lawrence breaks down the Turkish strategy in the battle against the Kurds, gives his thoughts on the new American bases in Syria, and explains how the Kurds negotiate their relationship with the U.S. and what their longterm goals are. Lawrence then details the Turkish bombing of Syrian Kurdistan. Finally Scott asks...
1/26/18 Peter Lee on how Douglas MacArthur conspired to start a war with China
Peter Lee, aka @chinahand, returns to the show to discuss his new documentary General Douglas MacArthur's Conspiracy To Start A War With China. Lee describes the history of U.S.-China tensions dating back to the 1950s, MacArthur's trigger happy attitude toward nuclear weapons, and how MacArthur and the military almost provoked full-fledged war with China. Lee then details the looming tensions between the U.S. and China that may boil over into conflict and explains why, even with China, blame...
1/26/18 Daniel McAdams on Syria, Trump, and Twitter’s investigation into Russia-gate
Co-host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report Daniel McAdams returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in Syria where the Turkish government is threatening to confront American forces in eastern Syria. McAdams and Scott talk about Donald Trump's disappointing presidency (to put it mildly), how Ron Paul's anti-war views have become even more radical, and Twitter's latest policy of alerting its users who follow supposed Russian bots. Daniel McAdams is the executive director of the Ron Paul...
1/26/18 Andrew Bacevich on U.S. diplomacy under Trump and the rise of China
Retired army colonel Andrew Bacevich returns to the show to discuss the state of American diplomacy under Trump. Bacevich opens with a general background of his work and explains why he dissents frequently with the top brass of the U.S. military. Bacevich then discusses his latest article for The American Conservative, "Trump's National Defense Strategy Has The Pentagon Popping Champagne." According to Bacevich American concern with Russia is misplaced—especially in relation to the rise of...
1/24/18 Greg Shupak on the arrest of Palestinian 16-year-old Ahed Tahimi
University of Toronto professor Greg Shupak joins Scott to discuss his article "Slapping An Israeli Soldier More Newsworthy Than Shooting A Palestinian Child In The Face." Shupak details the events that led up to Ahed Tamimi's arrest after her cousin was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by an Israeli soldier. Shupak then describes the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli military prisons, where torture of children is well-documented and 16-year-olds are tried as adults. Shupak then...
