Loud & Clear

Brian talks with Dr. Robert Epstein, an author and research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, to bring you a very special edition of Loud & Clear with an exclusive, breaking story. Google’ manipulation of search suggestions could pose a serious threat to democracy. A Sputnik exclusive reveals that a team of psychological researchers, led by by Dr. Epstein, found that this may be the case. Previously, Dr. Epstein unmasked that Google has the power to influence an election or even determine the winner - the search engine manipulation effect (SEME). Now Dr. Epstein has published new research pointing to the existence of a new phenomenon - search suggestion effect.

Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 that ushered in George W. Bush’s war on terror. Fifteen years later, have any U.S. goals been achieved as this endless war continues to inflict unimaginable suffering on people around the world?

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Margaret Stevens, history professor at Essex County College and a member of the advisory board of Veterans for Peace, Mazda Majidi, a contributor to LiberationNews.org and co-author of the book “Socialists and War: Two Opposing Trends”, and by Walter Smolarek, a producer of Loud & Clear and co-author of a forthcoming book about Hillary Clinton’s foreign and domestic policy.Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have outlined their foreign policy views in a nationally televised “Commander-In-Chief” forum, with each trying to out maneuver the other to appear more militaristic. How would Clinton and Trump handle the war in Syria? Are both ready and willing to break international law to assert U.S. dominance around the globe? Is it true that Trump wants a better relationship with Russia? And what do the candidates have to say on veterans issues, including the extremely high suicide rate, PTSD and depression faced by returning soldiers?

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by political analysts Alexander Mercouris and Mark Sleboda to analyze why Russia and the United States failed to come to an agreement on Syria at the G20 Summit.Obama and Putin met for about 90 minutes on the sidelines of the summit, in addition to a meeting between Secretary of State Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov. President Obama says that “gaps of trust” exist between the U.S. and Russia and that has hampered any kind of agreement on Syria. What really happened at the G20? Is it just a trust issue?Obama has become the first U.S. President to visit Laos where he will attend the ASEAN Summit. Is Obama trying to lure Laos into a closer relationship to counter China? Becker is joined by writer and columnist Patrick Lawrence, whose latest book is “Time No Longer: Americans After the American Century”, to discuss the meaning of Obama's historic visit.Could the U.S pivot to Asia be undermined by tension with the Philippines? Obama has scrapped a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, but does the real problem lay in the Philippines wanting an independent foreign policy? Bernadette Ellorin, chairperson of BAYAN-USA, talks about what the rise of Duterte means for the future of U.S.-Philippines relations.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Steve Keen, author and economist as well as professor of economics at Kingston University, as well as by international security and affairs analyst Mark Sleboda. The annual G20 Summit starts wrapped up yesterday. It was the first of the meetings of the world’s twenty largest economies to be held in China, showcasing the country’s rapid growth in recent years. But as world leaders and central bank governors converged on China, where is the global economy heading? Can global discontent with free trade agreements be curbed? Are the largest proposed free trade deals -- the TPP and TTIP -- already dead? Can summits like the G20 do much to alleviate political tensions, from NATO's conflict with Russia to the war in Syria?

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by former CIA analyst and activist Ray McGovern to analyze Hillary Clinton's speech to the American Legion. Clinton addressed the Legion’s National Convention in Cincinnati on Wednesday, threatening China, Russia and Iran in a chest-thumping and highly militaristic speech. Is she the second coming of George W. Bush?Also on Wednesday, in a surreal scene, Donald Trump spoke alongside Mexico’s President Enrique Nieto in Mexico City. But his softer tone there quickly vanished when he gave his major immigration speech saying that Mexico would 100 percent pay for a wall and promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Becker is joined by Juan Jose Gutierrez of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition and Gloria La Riva, 2016 Presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The integrity of U.S. elections has been making headlines recently as the Clinton camp throws accusations about Russian hacking and the Trump campaign speaks vaguely about voting in key states being “rigged” and “cheating going on”. But is it actually companies such as Google that have the biggest chance of swaying the results of the upcoming election? Joining Becker to decipher the truth behind the manipulation of elections is Dr. Robert Epstein, author and Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology.

On today's special episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker reacts to the news that Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has been removed from office after her impeachment trial came to a close Wednesday afternoon. Becker is joined for the full hour by geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar and Brazilian-British activist Victor Fraga of Democracy for Brazil UK. Dilma Rousseff has been removed from office following her impeachment trial as more than two thirds of the Upper House votes for her ouster. Michel Temer takes the reigns of the Presidency, but will his government have any legitimacy in the eyes of the people? Is the end of progressive rule in Brazil, or merely the beginning of a protracted struggle? And how will the new political situation in the country affect both the continent and global geopolitics?

With Hillary Clinton well ahead of Trump in the polls, there has been talk of the Trump campaign modifying its views on immigration, with Trump himself speaking of "softening" his position. But does this make Trump any less of a bigot? France has called on an end to talks on the TTIP - which has been strongly criticized by labor and consumer groups - days after Germany’s economy minister said the deal had failed. Political leaders in Germany and France are blaming the U.S. Becker is joined by Nick Dearden, the director of Global Justice Now to discuss if TTIP is really dead. Today marks six years since the United States combat mission in Iraq officially ended. Becker talks to legendary British parliamentarian and anti-war fighter George Galloway about the policy of endless war in Iraq.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Brazilian journalist Pepe Escobar to discuss the speech of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff at her impeachment trial. Dilma struck a combative tone as she addressed the Senate, speaking of proceedings against her as a coup and questioning the rationale for putting her on trial when so many members of the House are implicated in a corruption scandal. Was her speech her last address as President, or can she overcome the slow motion coup against her government?The former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee faces a primary challenge today, but will the DNC email scandal continue to follow Debbie Wasserman Schultz whether she wins or loses? Becker is joined by YahNe Ndgo of Revolt Against Plutocracy to talk about the struggle within the Democratic Party and if the progressive spirit of the Bernie Sanders campaign is to be found in Schutz's challenger Tim Canova. John McCain is embroiled in a bitter primary fight as voters go to the polls in the Republican primary in Arizona today. McCain is hailed in the mainstream press as a moderate, but his record as an extreme war monger suggests otherwise. Becker is joined by Margaret Stevens, who is on the advisory board of Veterans for Peace and a history professor at Essex County College, and by Ben Becker, co-editor of Liberation News.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker talks with CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, the only man who went to prison for the U.S. government's torture program -- not for participating in it, but for exposing it.Abu Zabaydah, one of the Guantanamo prisoners that the United States has admitted to waterboarding, has made his case for release in his first appearance in 14 years of imprisonment. Kiriakou discusses his role in Zubaydah's capture, the extent of the torture that was inflicted on him, and whether the Guantanamo prison camp will ever close. A new investigation shows that the U.S. downplayed the extent of Shia militias’ torture and abuse of Sunni civilians after the recent liberation of Fallujah from ISIL. But this sectarianism was purposely fomented by the murderous U.S. occupation following the 2003 invasion. Becker is joined by Iraqi-American journalist Raed Jarrar.A Sputnik News poll found that the majority of people over 35 in almost every former Soviet republic believed that life was better before the disintegration of the USSR. Public intellectual and Michael Parenti, author of Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism, and Loud & Clear producer Walter Smolarek speak with Becker about the significance of the dissolution of the Soviet Union nearly a quarter of a century later.

After 52 years, the civil war looks as if it has finally come to an end after negotiations in Havana proved successful. What were the factors that allowed peace to prevail, and where does the country go from here?The impeachment trial against Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has started with Dilma herself expected to take the stand on Monday. The political forces hoping to oust her are confident in victory, but would such a result create an explosive situation in the country? Becker is joined by Dr. Francisco Dominguez, head of the Latin American Studies department at Middlesex University. After an earthquake killed hundreds in Italy earlier this week, the possibility of an even worse disaster along the powerful San Andreas fault in California looms on the minds of many. Is southern California prepared for such a disaster? Joining Becker to discuss the issue is Mark Benthien, director for communication, education and outreach for the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC).

Turkey's military has directly intervened in Syria without the invitation of the Syrian government to retake the town of Jarablus from the so-called Islamic State with U.S. cooperation. Clashes have also erupted in recent days between the Kurdish YPG and Syrian Army. Alliances are shifting fast in Syria’s ever-deepening five year war.Vice President Joe Biden has met with Turkish President Erdogan, but was their meeting enough to mend the relationship that was terribly damaged after last month’s coup attempt? Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government claimed is the coup mastermind, is safe in the United States - for now. Becker is joined from Ankara by professor and journalist Dr. Bilal Sambur.Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia where he is discussing the war in Yemen. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 Yeminis staged a mass protest against the Saudi bombing campaign. Massoud Shadjareh, founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, joins Becker to talk about the role of the west in the Saudi-led war.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by Julie Hurwitz, an attorney who was a Sanders delegate to the DNC rules committee, and Anoa Changa, digital organizers with African Americans for Bernie, to discuss the launch of the organization Our Revolution. Sanders launches the organization today at the same time that the Democratic Party is moving to the right rather than to the left. Although Bernie Sanders may have endorsed Hillary Clinton for President, will his progressive vision and movement live on through his new organization? The pay to play scandals keep piling up for the Clintons and their foundation as the FBI has announced it found nearly 15,000 new emails in the its investigation of Hillary. Is the Clinton Foundation likely to be prosecuted for corruption? Becker is joined by Doctor and columnist Steven Jonas. Diplomats from Japan, South Korea and China are meeting today in Tokyo in an attempt to smooth over tensions. The meeting comes after it was revealed that Beijing warned Japan that sailing U.S. warships near disputed waters would be crossing a “red line”. Author Patrick Lawrence talks to Becker about developments in the region and their global implications.

Turkey’s Prime Minister says the U.S. is destroying ties between the two countries. Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Ankara tomorrow to attempt to smooth things over, but the Turkish government is still furious that the U.S. refuses to extradite the man they claim masterminded the failed coup.Italy hosted the leaders of Germany and France as part of increasingly desperate efforts to relaunch the European project and chart a way forward after the stinging blow from the Brexit vote, but is the writing already on the wall for the EU? Becker is joined by filmmaker and journalist John Pilger to talk about if there's a path forward for Europe's 27-member bloc. Peace talks have kicked off between the government of the Philippines and the communist rebels who have been at war for nearly five decades. As key rebel leaders have walked free in recent days and a ceasefire has taken effect, is peace more realistic than ever before? Bernadette Ellorin, chairperson of BAYAN-USA, joins Becker to discuss the talks.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by journalist with the Real News and former political prisoner Eddie Conway.Saturday marked the 45th anniversary of the death of Black Panther leader George Jackson at San Quentin Prison. Nearly half a century later, his life and legacy are commemorated by many as part of a month of fasting and resistance called Black August. The United Nations has admitted its role in causing the outbreak, the worst in recent history that has killed almost 10,000 people to date. But why was a report on the outbreak suppressed for almost a year, and does it only scratch the surface of UN abuses in Haiti? Writer Kim Ives and Sienne Merope-Synge, Be Just Fellow at the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, assess the role played by the United Nations in the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti.Almost fifteen years after the brutal U.S. invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, the Taliban are now active in more of the country than they were in 2001. The coalition cobbled together after the disputed 2014 Afghan election may be falling apart as a power struggle deepens between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah. Joining Becker to talk about the situation is Zafar Bangash, director of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought.