Loud & Clear

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker is joined by activist Kani Xulam, director of the Kurdish American Information Network, to discuss Turkey’s Parliament holding the second round of voting today on a bill that would strip its members of immunity. The bill was proposed by President Erdogan’s AK Party, but is it simply a way to crack down on independent parties and Kurdish members of the Parliament?President Obama touches down in Vietnam on Sunday. Millions of Vietnamese died in the war with the United States that ended forty years ago. But now the US wants to sell arms to Vietnam. Is the main motivation for Obama’s visit to boost cooperation with Vietnam against China? And will that work? Political analyst Eric Draitser joins Becker to discuss Obama's upcoming visit.The Pentagon says that Chinese jets intercepted a U.S. spy plane this week over the South China Sea. This came as a Pentagon report about the development of the Chinese military has been slammed by Beijing as based on an “outdated Cold War mentality.” What’s in the report, and will the South China Sea Dispute intensify? Becker is joined by journalist Mark Sleboda.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker analyzes the oil war between the United States and Saudi Arabia with author Marin Katusa. As oil dropped dramatically during the past two years the question of widespread bankruptcies looms for debt-laden US companies that drove the oil boom. Adopting a strategy to drive US companies into near bankruptcy, Saudi interests are now buying up these same companies for a song in an oil price war to bankrupt and then takeover US Oil companies? France has been hit by a week of strikes in the aftermath of the government passing anti-labor legislation making it easier to hire and fire workers, and stripping workers of other basic rights. But despite protests already raging for two months, President Francois Hollande vows he will not give in. Alex Gordon, the former President President of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Union in Britain, joins Becker to discuss this recent wave of labor unrest in France.Today is Malcolm X Day, commemorating the 91st birthday of one of the most prominent figures in the Black liberation movement in the United States. Professor Jared Ball, the co-editor of Reinvention of a Lie: Correcting Manning Marable's Malcolm X joins Becker from Baltimore to discuss Malcolm X’s legacy and its importance in today's struggles for racial justice and equality.

Russia and the United States chaired a meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Vienna yesterday but is the US planning the permanent division of Syria as part of it's so-called Plan B. Becker is joined from by Massoud Shadjareh, the founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission.NATO military exercises kicked off in Poland yesterday involving more than 1,500 troops. This comes as the Polish Defense Minister has insisted on a permanent military presence along NATO’s eastern flank that the country will reportedly call for during July’s NATO Summit in Warsaw. Daniel McAdams of the Ron Paul Institute For Peace and Prosperity joins Becker to discuss the importance of these war exercises. It could be Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump going head to head in November’s presidential election, but scandals continue to chase both of them.What does the fact that the two presumptive presidential nominees for both major parties are plagued by corruption allegations, a shared corporate address to avoid taxes and possible criminal charges say about the American political system? Kevin Akin, Secretary of California's Peace & Freedom Party, and author Eugene Puryear join Becker to discuss corruption in high places.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker speaks with legendary British politician George Galloway about the readiness of the United States and western powers to arm Libya’s new so-called unity government. ISIS is in the rise as rumors point to more British troops entering the country. Possessing the largest oil-reserves in Africa what are the plans and designs of the NATO powers.The right wing is on the attack in Latin America. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has declared a state of emergency as the opposition ramps up efforts to remove him from office. Meanwhile in Brazil, rumors spread about the government selling off state assets just days after Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment. Is Latin America heading toward a cintinet wide political and class showdown? Becker is joined by Professor Frederick Mills and Venezuela Solidarity Campaign UK's secretary Dr. Francisco Dominguez. Will a 6,700 Senate report detailing how and who the CIA tortured simply disappear? The CIA’s internal watchdog has said it “mistakenly” destroyed its only copy and backup computer file of the report. Was the incident really an accident, and will the officials responsible for torture ever be held accountable? Former CIA analyst John Kiriakou, who went to prison for revealing the existence of the torture joins Becker to talk about whether this report will ever surface.

On today's special episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker is joined by journalist and political analyst Hafsa Kara-Mustapha and author Richard Becker to discuss the 100th anniversary of the signing of the secret Sykes-Picot agreement that carved up huge parts of the Middle East between France and Britain.A century later the colonial agreement’s ramifications are still felt across the region. The current wars in Iraq, in Syria, the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, the divisions in Lebanon, not to mention Iran’s long and tortured path toward independence -- cannot be separated from the very concrete, specific and devastating policies and decisions by western imperialist powers one hundred years ago. And it is these these same powers that have engaged in a series of endless wars, invasions, bombings and occupations of Middle eastern countries in the last two decades.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker is joined by professor Dr. Francisco Dominguez to discuss the vote in Brazil’s Senate to move ahead with impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff, days after the acting speaker of the Lower House had annulled the process. Dilma now has to step aside for six months during a trial process. What does it mean for the country's poor and working-class population that makes up the base of Dilma's supporters?The U.S. military budget and plan for 2017, otherwise known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), has been under review this week by the Senate Armed Services Committee. What can we expect next year in the budget of the country that spends by far the most on its military of any state in the world? Becker is joined by political analyst Eric Draitser to unpack the NDAA.Protests are taking place around the world against fossil fuels. The two-week global wave of action reaches its high point this weekend with several events organized by environmental activists in the United States. Lindsay Meimar, communications director for environmental organization 350.org, joins Becker to explain the importance of the movement against fossil fuels and whether the recent climate change agreement that was signed at the United Nations has meaningful implications.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker discusses the anti-corruption summit that is being hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron in London today. John Hilary, the executive director of War on Want, speaks with Becker about the irony in the decision of Cameron to host the event that comes in the aftermath of the Panama Papers revelations that he was implicated in.A U.S. missile defence system in Romania becomes becomes operational today. NATO and the United States say it is to protect from Europe from the threat of long-range missiles, but how does Russia view the existence of such systems right on its doorstep? With Poland getting ready to host missile defence systems as well, what are the limits to NATO growth and expansion? Journalist Mark Sleboda joins Becker to discuss these issues.A Pentagon report reveals confusion among U.S. special forces in Afghanistan over the rules of engagement. The report shows that troops received no answers from their commanders last year over how far they were allowed to go to retake the city of Kunduz. Brian Terrell, the co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, joins Becker to discuss what the U.S. role in Afghanistan is 15 years after the invasion.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker is joined by Zafar Bangash of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought to discuss the announcement by the U.S. and Russia that they are “re-doubling” their efforts to achieve peace in Syria, as well as the pledge to reinstate a country-wide ceasefire. This comes as fighting rages on in Syria’s largest city of Aleppo, even as the local ceasefire has been extended for 48 hours.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker is joined by Zafar Bangash of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought to discuss the announcement by the U.S. and Russia that they are “re-doubling” their efforts to achieve peace in Syria, as well as the pledge to reinstate a country-wide ceasefire. This comes as fighting rages on in Syria’s largest city of Aleppo, even as the local ceasefire has been extended for 48 hours. Brazil’s Parliament is in chaos. The Senate’s upper house looks set to move forward today with a vote on impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff. Two days ago the speaker of the Lower House annulled the impeachment, but reversed his decision a day later. Journalist Pepe Escobar joins Becker to analyze what's next in Brazil.Hillary Clinton is already being labeled the presumed nominee of the Democratic Party,even though Sanders has won so many open primaries and caucuses. Many in the Sanders movement many are saying it should be “Bernie or Bust” -- in other words, that they won’t cast their ballot for Hillary. Where is this new movement headed? Author and editorial cartoonist Ted Rall speaks with Becker.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker discusses if Dilma Rousseff survived the slow motion coup against her government after the impeachment process against her was annulled by the lower House of the Senate. He is joined by Brazilian-British journalist and activist Victor Fraga to discuss what comes next for Dilma, the Workers Party, and a polarized country?Greece’s Parliament passed its harshest austerity measures yet yesterday as Eurozone finance ministers gathered to finally take up the issue of debt relief for Greece. But will Greece’s creditors demand even more cuts from the country’s government? Becker is joined by by economist and investment analyst Patrick Young.Journalist and author Greg Palast joins us to discuss how the Obama administration created an “echo chamber” in the mainstream, alternative and social media? According to the New York Times, Ben Rhodes, Obama's chief communications adviser admits that he was responsible for creating that echo chamber and getting the media in line with Obama’s foreign policy.

On today's special episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined for the full hour by historian Peter Kuznick, the co-collaborator with filmmaker Oliver Stone in the Untold History of the United States: a ten-part video series and companion book of the same name.Today, Russia celebrates the surrender of Germany seventy one years ago. Historian Peter Kuznick examines why the dominant western narrative obscures the reality that the Soviet Union, its army and people, did the bulk of the fighting and dying in the eventual victory over fascism. Twenty seven million Soviet citizens died. He examines why Roosevelt and Churchill waited until 1944 to open up a western front against Nazi Germany. In this in-depth interview Peter Kuznick explains the real reason that the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. He argues that Japan was ready to surrender and that the dropping of the atomic bombs was really designed as the United States first shot in the Cold War, a global confrontation and nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union that dominated world politics for the next 45 years. The interview discusses the contrasting impact of the arms race on the Soviet and U.S. economies.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker discusses Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu resigning under pressure from President Erdogan. Becker speaks to RT journalist William Whiteman about how their feud developed, what it means for the ruling AK Party, Erdogan’s accumulation of power, and the future of Turkey.Britain has voted in regional elections, with polls showing a possible national decline in support for the Labour Party of Jeremy Corbyn. But do the polls actually reflect voters turning away from Labour now that a socialist is leader of the Party? Becker talks to Pablo Navarrete, a member of the Labour Party's Momentum grassroots campaign that was formed to support Corbyn's quest to transform the Party. Brazil’s special Senate committee is set to vote today on whether to proceed with impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff. But her main accuser has been forced out by the Supreme Court because of his own personal corruption trial. Will the right-wing coup against Dilma succeed? Joining Becker to discuss developments in Brazil is journalist and activist Victor Fraga.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker discusses the meaning of "boots on the ground" as a U.S. Navy Seal was killed. There are now 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and it will expand. How can this be happening seven years after Obama promised an end to the US war and occupation? He is joined by Iraqi-American journalist Raed Jarrar and Iraq war veteran Michael Prysner to discuss Iraq today and why there may well be will be a U.S. troop surge in Iraq and Syria.Elections take place across Scotland today for Parliament, with the Scottish National Party expecting to dominate. Will a resounding SNP victory or an English vote to leave the European Union while Scotland votes to stay in clear the way for another possible referendum on Scotland’s independence from the UK? Becker is joined from Glasgow by journalist Liam O'Hare.Will the U.S. succeed in getting Caribbean countries to turn away from Venezuela for their discounted oil supply? An energy summit held in Washington DC wrapped up yesterday that was attended by several Caribbean countries in an attempt to counter the the Petrocaribe oil alliance between Venezuela and the Caribbean. Joining Becker to discuss the important of Petrocaribe is Dr. Francisco Dominguez of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign UK.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker is joined by journalist and political analyst Sam Sacks to discuss the victory of Donald Trump and Bernie sanders in the Indiana primaries. Now that Ted Cruz has dropped out is it a lock for Trump? Is there a path to victory left for Bernie Sanders? A new poll shows that over half of Americans think the primary system is rigged, and over two thirds believe it should be done away with all together. Just how undemocratic is the electoral system in the United States? Becker is joined by journalist and political activist Richard Winger of Ballot Access News to talk about what these new poll numbers mean. Could a former CIA spy be going to prison in Italy? One of the Agency’s former operatives is due to be handed over by Portugal to Italy, where she was convicted of participating in the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. But is the convicted agent merely a scapegoat? Will U.S. officials who ordered the program ever be held accountable? Former CIA analyst John Kiriakou, who went to prison for exposing the CIA torture program, joins Becker to talk about the extradition.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker looks at the release by environmental campaigner GreenPeace of significant sections of a document detailing the ongoing negotiations around the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Becker is joined by Margaret Flowers, co-founder of Popular Resistance, and Eugene Puryear, Sputnik News analyst to discuss whether the revelations can sink the world's largest free-trade deal. Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the massacre in Odessa, Ukraine of anti-fascist activists who were burned alive in the trade union headquarters building. Familiy members of those killed were joined by international activists for a memorial that included thousands of people who braved threats from extreme right wing organizations. Joining Becker to discuss the massacre and if those responsible will ever be held to account is Phil Wilayto of the United National Anti-War Coalition (UNAC) delegation in Odessa.A poll shows that opponents of Britain’s European Union membership have moved ahead, with the Leave vote now up by two percent. The poll was conducted days after President Obama visited the UK and strongly urged the country to remain in the EU. Did Obama’s words backfire? Becker is joined by Alex Gordon, the former President of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union and member of Left Leave, to discuss why he feels Britain's workers would be better outside of the EU.