Gareth Porter rejoins the show for an update on the Russian election hacking allegations. He reviews the evidence as presented by various media outlets and intelligence agencies, explaining why each story doesn’t amount to much of anything on its own, and thus we shouldn’t conclude, simply because there are a lot of different stories, that there’s something to the overall narrative of Russian meddling. If anything, in fact, it’s the intelligence community itself that is trying to call the 2016...

Daniel Ellsberg is on the show to talk about his book The Doomsday Machine and his experiences working in the RAND corporation in the early 1960s, specifically on the casualties numbers estimated from a nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union and China. Ellsberg talks about how the casualties were underestimated by billions, and this wasn’t known until the 1980s. Ellsberg also explains how, during the original atomic bomb testing, nuclear scientists weren’t 100% certain that the test wouldn’t...

Sheldon Richman comes back on the show to discuss the latest in his article series on anti-semitism in America. He explains the ways in which pro-Israel groups conflate any criticism of Israel’s policies with genuine anti-semitism in order to make those views unpopular. Although often led by conservative groups, this attitude enjoys support from the left both in politics and on college campuses. Discussed on the show: “TGIF: Anti-Israelism and Anti-Semitism: The Invidious Conflation”...

Jon Queally talks about the war in Yemen and the seemingly futile efforts from a few to stop it. Scott and Queally discuss how perpetual war numbs the public to each new conflict, preventing most from feeling outraged—or in many cases even knowing—about a situation like Yemen. Discussed on the show: “Less Than 24 Hours After Senate Rejected Effort to Curb Slaughter, 26 More Children Killed by US-Backed Bombing in Yemen” (Common Dreams) National Defense Authorization Act “8/22/18 Bruce Fein on...

Eric Margolis, the veteran journalist, is interviewed on his obituary of the brilliant Uri Avnery, “The Lion of Judah’s Last Roar“. The life of Uri Avnery. Topics discussed range from Avnery’s efforts in the Middle East peace process, the Iraq Wars, Afghanistan, Syria, and Trump. Avnery’s legacy as a left wing journalist, politician, and peacenick is explored in a wide ranging interview. Eric Margolis is a foreign affairs correspondent and author of “War at the Top of the World” and “American...

Sheldon Richman joins the show to talk about his new article for the Libertarian Institute, ‘TGIF: Defining Anti-Semitism, Threatening Free Speech.‘ The nature of Anti-Semitism is explored, and how Israel and Israelis use it to deflect criticism. Additionally, Scott and Sheldon discuss how Israel claims to speak for all Jews, and the threats to Jewish identity according to Israel. Sheldon Richman is the executive editor of the Libertarian Institute and the author of America’s...

Mason Tvert from the Marijuana Policy Project is on the show to update Scott about all the topics surrounding the Marijuana Policy Project's efforts to get marijuana legalized in Colorado. Tvert talks about how they tried to re-educate Coloradans about the true nature of the harms of marijuana, and the publicity fueled efforts around the ballot initiative to legalize pot in Colorado. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash; The War State, by Mike...

Journalist and documentary filmmaker Max Blumenthal joins the show to talk about the National Endowment for Democracy and other NGOs that supposedly fight for freedom abroad, but in practice promote American corporate interests, regime change, and dependence on U.S. foreign aid. Supporters of these organizations believe that sanctions and bellicose rhetoric lead to diplomacy, when in reality, Blumenthal argues, they do precisely the opposite. Discussed on the show: “Inside America’s Meddling...

Gilbert Doctorow makes the case that President Trump’s seemingly clumsy diplomacy has actually had a positive effect on the international order, sometimes by accident, but largely through Trump’s own efforts to disguise his machinations as ham-handedness. Doctorow explains that had President Trump openly moved for a disruption of our alliances and a greater focus on his “America first” policies, he would have been met with greater opposition and perhaps even “removal”. As it stands, however,...

Bruce Fein joins Scott to talk about U.S. complicity in war crimes by supporting brutal regimes oversees. He points out that according to international law, if the United States supports a country that’s at war, it becomes a co-belligerent and can legitimately be attacked, just like the original country. Unfortunately, despite some rhetoric to the contrary, President Trump seems just as willing as his predecessors to engage in unconstitutional wars and executive overreach. Discussed on the...

Danny Sjursen is interviewed on his service in the Terror Wars, how he became antiwar, and how he wants his service and the service of others to be honored. Sjursen is a major in the U.S. army and former history instructor at West Point. He writes regularly for TomDispatch.com and he’s the author of “Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge.” Follow him on Twitter @SkepticalVet. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by...

Mark Thornton, Senior Fellow of the Ludwig von Mises institute and Book Review Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, is interviewed on the so called “Skyscraper Theory”, and his new book “The Skyscraper Curse“, about the correlation of new tall Skyscrapers being built around the time of economic downturns. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; NoDev NoOps NoIT,...

Korea analyst Simone Chun comes on the show for an update on the Korean peace process. As usual, bipartisan opposition to Trump looms large, even with respect to policies that should have universal popularity, like peace on the Korean Peninsula. Chun explains how the media continue to ignore the fact that the negotiations are really led by Korean leaders, and the Trump mostly just refuses to put the kibosh on the talks, the way previous American presidents have. They probably want to do this...

Reese Erlich is interviewed on the latest Taliban offensive in Afghanistan in Ghanzi city. The city was taken and the Taliban then withdrew, after killing many policeman and accepting the surrender of many Afghan forces. Also discussed is the history of the conflict, and whether or not the US will finally withdraw. Reese Erlich is a freelance journalist who has reported from the Middle East for decades. His nationally distributed column, Foreign Correspondent, appears every two weeks. His book...

Eric Eikenberry comes on the show to give an update on the war in Yemen. Thanks in part to a campaign of letters and phone calls to congressmen, political will for the war is fading somewhat, and Eric is hopeful that we may see an end to U.S. support for the war. Discussed on the show: “Congress, White House Reaching Breaking Point On Yemen?” (Lobelog) “US supplied bomb that killed 40 children on Yemen school bus” (The Guardian) War Powers Resolution Eric Eikenberry is the Director of Policy...