CovertAction Bulletin Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:35:21 -0400 https://CovertActionBulletin.podbean.com en © 2026 CovertAction Bulletin yes Support this Podcast 2dce9a73-1508-5bf0-91a4-b0ff8c00b4aa CovertAction Magazine episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) CovertAction Magazine https://storage.buzzsprout.com/bdolozq67646xhbae21jvs9p53rg?.jpg CovertAction Bulletin https://CovertActionBulletin.podbean.com Even Soldiers Don't Want War Even Soldiers Don't Want War The 82nd Airborne Division has canceled a training exercise to keep the Division ready to deploy with just 18 hours of notification for what it calls “forcible entry parachute assaults.” Parts of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, are being moved from South Korea to the Middle East. As we are recording on Tuesday, March 10th, Pete Hegseth said it would be “yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran - the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes” with the Pentagon claiming more than 5,000 targets have been hit inside the country - including what we now know was a double-tap strike on a girl’s school in Minab last week.

While the Pentagon is playing up its use of technology and in particular AI in war, the fighting by and large still requires people flying the plains, maintaining the equipment, and filling those often-referenced “boots on the ground.” According to the Center on Conscience and War, their phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from service members and families looking for options to refuse to fight Trump’s war.

We’re joined by Mike Prysner, the Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War, which you can find online at https://centeronconscience.org.

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]]> The 82nd Airborne Division has canceled a training exercise to keep the Division ready to deploy with just 18 hours of notification for what it calls “forcible entry parachute assaults.” Parts of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, are being moved from South Korea to the Middle East. As we are recording on Tuesday, March 10th, Pete Hegseth said it would be “yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran - the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes” with the Pentagon claiming more than 5,000 targets have been hit inside the country - including what we now know was a double-tap strike on a girl’s school in Minab last week.

While the Pentagon is playing up its use of technology and in particular AI in war, the fighting by and large still requires people flying the plains, maintaining the equipment, and filling those often-referenced “boots on the ground.” According to the Center on Conscience and War, their phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from service members and families looking for options to refuse to fight Trump’s war.

We’re joined by Mike Prysner, the Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War, which you can find online at https://centeronconscience.org.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18825462 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 3133 full false The US Cannot Win a War Against Iran The US Cannot Win a War Against Iran The US/Israeli war on Iran could easily spark a greater regional conflict if it continues. Donald Trump at first said Tehran would be taken in 3-4 days, then a day later claimed the war would last no more than 4-5 weeks and threatened that the US has enough weapons to fight “forever.” Already, the bombing has killed 787 people, including 180 at a girls’ school in Minab on Saturday as Operation Epic Fury began. 

Iran is responding in self-defense with attacks on important regional bases and centers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Israel after the bombings killed the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. An Israeli strike on Tuesday then bombed the Council of Experts in the holy city of Qom as they began deliberations on appointing a new leader. The White House has outlined its goals for the war, including the complete elimination of the Iranian government - a regime change operation.

On the killing of Khamenei, Trump told ABC News “I got him before he got me,” suggesting a paranoia around supposed Iranian threats to him.

The US/Israeli attacks and the Trump administration’s frantic and sometimes contradictory messaging might seem out of the ordinary, but deeper analysis shows that this war is not uniquely Trump’s. It’s an unprovoked, imperialist war of aggression like so many others that the US has launched on the people of the Middle East and beyond in its quest for complete domination of the world. It’s the latest in a long series of US interventions in Iran, starting with the 1953 US/British coup that overthrew the secular, nationalist government of Mohammad Mosaddegh and continuing through this past summer and today.

This war is also not a war that the US can win. Will imperial hubris land the region in another deadly, expensive “forever war?”

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]]> The US/Israeli war on Iran could easily spark a greater regional conflict if it continues. Donald Trump at first said Tehran would be taken in 3-4 days, then a day later claimed the war would last no more than 4-5 weeks and threatened that the US has enough weapons to fight “forever.” Already, the bombing has killed 787 people, including 180 at a girls’ school in Minab on Saturday as Operation Epic Fury began. 

Iran is responding in self-defense with attacks on important regional bases and centers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Israel after the bombings killed the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. An Israeli strike on Tuesday then bombed the Council of Experts in the holy city of Qom as they began deliberations on appointing a new leader. The White House has outlined its goals for the war, including the complete elimination of the Iranian government - a regime change operation.

On the killing of Khamenei, Trump told ABC News “I got him before he got me,” suggesting a paranoia around supposed Iranian threats to him.

The US/Israeli attacks and the Trump administration’s frantic and sometimes contradictory messaging might seem out of the ordinary, but deeper analysis shows that this war is not uniquely Trump’s. It’s an unprovoked, imperialist war of aggression like so many others that the US has launched on the people of the Middle East and beyond in its quest for complete domination of the world. It’s the latest in a long series of US interventions in Iran, starting with the 1953 US/British coup that overthrew the secular, nationalist government of Mohammad Mosaddegh and continuing through this past summer and today.

This war is also not a war that the US can win. Will imperial hubris land the region in another deadly, expensive “forever war?”

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18785102 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3196 full false Lessons From Iraq to Stop a War Against Iran Lessons From Iraq to Stop a War Against Iran Is the U.S. government preparing to go to war with Iran? Leading up to talks set to happen towards the end of the week in Geneva, the Trump administration has also threatened Iran with war, saying the country has “10 to 15 days” as of February 20th to agree to a deal - putting Trump’s one-sided deadline somewhere in the first week of March.

In apparent preparation for military strikes, massive amounts of military equipment have been sent to the region, including dispatching the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, to the Arabian Sea near the Persian Gulf. At least 120 aircraft, including F-35 stealth strike fighters and F/A 18-E Super Hornets, have been sent to the region with the Ford, in addition to E-3 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) used for command & control operations as well as surveillance. The Ford will be joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already off the coast of Oman.

As we come up on the 23rd anniversary of the 2003 US war on Iraq as well as the 15th anniversary of the US-led NATO invasion of Libya, we’ll look back at what led up to them, the lessons learned from the anti-war movement of the period, and how we can stop the next war:

  • Stand for self-determination and against imperialist aggression
  • The primary responsibility of those in the US is to oppose their government’s actions
  • Don’t fall into the trap of tailing the Democrats, the graveyard of social movements.


Support the show

]]> Is the U.S. government preparing to go to war with Iran? Leading up to talks set to happen towards the end of the week in Geneva, the Trump administration has also threatened Iran with war, saying the country has “10 to 15 days” as of February 20th to agree to a deal - putting Trump’s one-sided deadline somewhere in the first week of March.

In apparent preparation for military strikes, massive amounts of military equipment have been sent to the region, including dispatching the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, to the Arabian Sea near the Persian Gulf. At least 120 aircraft, including F-35 stealth strike fighters and F/A 18-E Super Hornets, have been sent to the region with the Ford, in addition to E-3 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) used for command & control operations as well as surveillance. The Ford will be joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already off the coast of Oman.

As we come up on the 23rd anniversary of the 2003 US war on Iraq as well as the 15th anniversary of the US-led NATO invasion of Libya, we’ll look back at what led up to them, the lessons learned from the anti-war movement of the period, and how we can stop the next war:

  • Stand for self-determination and against imperialist aggression
  • The primary responsibility of those in the US is to oppose their government’s actions
  • Don’t fall into the trap of tailing the Democrats, the graveyard of social movements.


Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18742551 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3212 full false ICE Expands the Surveillance State ICE Expands the Surveillance State While border czar Tom Homan announced last week that the surge of federal agents in Minnesota could be winding down, he signaled that other cities could be next. “I’m hoping other sanctuary cities look at what happened,” he said, threatening cities that have various levels of protection for undocumented residents.

It’s unclear where ICE’s next moves might be, but they have also been ramping up their surveillance online. The Department of Homeland Security has sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to social media companies like Discord, Reddit, Google and Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, trying to identify users who have posted about them over the last few months. The subpoenas request identifying information about users who may be using pseudonyms online - things like real names, phone numbers, email addresses and more. Because they are administrative and not judicial warrants, the companies aren’t generally required to blindly comply with the majority of these requests - but recent reporting shows that the social media giants seem to be more than happy to hand over data on their users who are engaging in protected free speech behavior.

While trying to unmask anonymous online users, DHS is also now enabling agents to engage in what it calls “masked engagement” - creating fake accounts and identities and using sophisticated tools to keep them straight and prevent them from being caught up in spam or fraud filters. Beyond simply viewing what’s publicly available online, agents are now able to directly connect with users on platforms by friending or liking them, giving them access to information that might not be shared with the public.

We also discuss the upcoming Senate vote on the SAVE Act, a major threat to the basic right to vote in the United States.

Support the show

]]> While border czar Tom Homan announced last week that the surge of federal agents in Minnesota could be winding down, he signaled that other cities could be next. “I’m hoping other sanctuary cities look at what happened,” he said, threatening cities that have various levels of protection for undocumented residents.

It’s unclear where ICE’s next moves might be, but they have also been ramping up their surveillance online. The Department of Homeland Security has sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to social media companies like Discord, Reddit, Google and Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, trying to identify users who have posted about them over the last few months. The subpoenas request identifying information about users who may be using pseudonyms online - things like real names, phone numbers, email addresses and more. Because they are administrative and not judicial warrants, the companies aren’t generally required to blindly comply with the majority of these requests - but recent reporting shows that the social media giants seem to be more than happy to hand over data on their users who are engaging in protected free speech behavior.

While trying to unmask anonymous online users, DHS is also now enabling agents to engage in what it calls “masked engagement” - creating fake accounts and identities and using sophisticated tools to keep them straight and prevent them from being caught up in spam or fraud filters. Beyond simply viewing what’s publicly available online, agents are now able to directly connect with users on platforms by friending or liking them, giving them access to information that might not be shared with the public.

We also discuss the upcoming Senate vote on the SAVE Act, a major threat to the basic right to vote in the United States.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18702171 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3303 full false U.S. Hands Off the Caribbean: Let Cuba Live! U.S. Hands Off the Caribbean: Let Cuba Live! The situation in Cuba is dire as the Trump administration ramps up its campaign to destabilize the country and destroy its revolution. The island has not been able to import a single drop of oil all year, according to President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Tanker ships headed to Cuba from Venezuela were intercepted and seized by the U.S. military, which has been significantly building up its naval presence in the region with a blockade of both countries.

A January executive order targets the countries that supply Cuba with the majority of its oil - including Russia, Mexico and Venezuela - with significant tariffs. This would be an expansion of the sanctions regime that has tried and failed to cut off the island from the rest of the world for decades.

Without the ability to receive oil for energy, Cuban infrastructure faces a massive crisis. It produces 40% of the energy it needs and imports the rest. Without the ability to import oil, services as basic as hospitals and even water sanitation could be threatened.

These moves by the U.S. are certainly part of the so-called Donroe Doctrine of Donald Trump, but are also an extension of over 60 years of attempted regime change against the socialist nation that’s been able to provide much for its people and the world while struggling against imperialism just 90 miles off the coast of Florida.


Sign the Call to Conscience open letter at LetCubaLive.info

Get your ticket for our webinar Cuba & Venezuela in Crisis on February 24th at CovertActionMagazine.com 

Support the show

]]> The situation in Cuba is dire as the Trump administration ramps up its campaign to destabilize the country and destroy its revolution. The island has not been able to import a single drop of oil all year, according to President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Tanker ships headed to Cuba from Venezuela were intercepted and seized by the U.S. military, which has been significantly building up its naval presence in the region with a blockade of both countries.

A January executive order targets the countries that supply Cuba with the majority of its oil - including Russia, Mexico and Venezuela - with significant tariffs. This would be an expansion of the sanctions regime that has tried and failed to cut off the island from the rest of the world for decades.

Without the ability to receive oil for energy, Cuban infrastructure faces a massive crisis. It produces 40% of the energy it needs and imports the rest. Without the ability to import oil, services as basic as hospitals and even water sanitation could be threatened.

These moves by the U.S. are certainly part of the so-called Donroe Doctrine of Donald Trump, but are also an extension of over 60 years of attempted regime change against the socialist nation that’s been able to provide much for its people and the world while struggling against imperialism just 90 miles off the coast of Florida.


Sign the Call to Conscience open letter at LetCubaLive.info

Get your ticket for our webinar Cuba & Venezuela in Crisis on February 24th at CovertActionMagazine.com 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18659248 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3224 full false Power, Accountability and Justice: From Minneapolis to Epstein Power, Accountability and Justice: From Minneapolis to Epstein As we reported last week, well over 100,000 people shut down Minneapolis on January 23rd in response to the terror of ICE and CBP agents. The next Friday, in response to a call that originated with the Somali Student Association at the University of Minnesota, businesses across the country shut down and people went to the streets in hundreds of cities, continuing the protest movement nationwide.

Even the Trump administration has been forced to make moves in response, replacing Greg Bovino with Tom Hohman on the ground in Minnesota and with Kristi Noem making the weak promise that DHS officers starting in Minneapolis and then nationwide will get bodycams when funding is available. After the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good were caught on multiple cameras, the suggestion that bodycams will solve ICE brutality isn’t fooling anyone. Half-measures and anything short of getting rid of ICE simply won’t cut it. On their website nationalshutdown.org, organizers promise that “this was just the beginning” and demand “ICE out of everywhere.”

And, we get into what the release of even more Epstein files really means. With so many rich, famous and influential figures named, what will it take to really get justice for their victims?

Support the show

]]> As we reported last week, well over 100,000 people shut down Minneapolis on January 23rd in response to the terror of ICE and CBP agents. The next Friday, in response to a call that originated with the Somali Student Association at the University of Minnesota, businesses across the country shut down and people went to the streets in hundreds of cities, continuing the protest movement nationwide.

Even the Trump administration has been forced to make moves in response, replacing Greg Bovino with Tom Hohman on the ground in Minnesota and with Kristi Noem making the weak promise that DHS officers starting in Minneapolis and then nationwide will get bodycams when funding is available. After the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good were caught on multiple cameras, the suggestion that bodycams will solve ICE brutality isn’t fooling anyone. Half-measures and anything short of getting rid of ICE simply won’t cut it. On their website nationalshutdown.org, organizers promise that “this was just the beginning” and demand “ICE out of everywhere.”

And, we get into what the release of even more Epstein files really means. With so many rich, famous and influential figures named, what will it take to really get justice for their victims?

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18620634 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3129 full false Minneapolis Shows the Way Minneapolis Shows the Way Rachel was in Minneapolis last week where over 100,000 people took to the streets and reports on the mass action that happened Friday, shutting down businesses, schools and the city in response to the Trump administration’s deployment of ICE to Minneapolis and the brutal killing of Renee Nicole Good earlier this month. The next day, CBP agents killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, while he was pinned to the ground, firing 10 rounds in less than 5 seconds. Again the people of Minneapolis and beyond have risen up, with multiple mobilizations taking place over the weekend despite continued freezing cold temperatures. And a call for no business as usual on a national scale has come out of Minneapolis for this Friday, January 30th. High school students are preparing walkouts, and people all over the country are getting ready to shut it down for justice.

The ruling class is responding frantically to quell the mass sentiment. An open letter from dozens of Minnesota-based corporations like Target, 3M, Hormel and more calls for “an immediate deescalation of tensions.” The Trump administration has had calls they call productive with Democratic officials in Minneapolis and Minnesota governments. And Gregory Bovino, the “Commander-At-Large” of US Border Patrol, seems to be set to go back to California and slowly make his way to retirement. Even with rumored departures of some ICE and CBP forces from Minneapolis, these small changes and concessions are proving to not be enough for the masses of people.

Support the show

]]> Rachel was in Minneapolis last week where over 100,000 people took to the streets and reports on the mass action that happened Friday, shutting down businesses, schools and the city in response to the Trump administration’s deployment of ICE to Minneapolis and the brutal killing of Renee Nicole Good earlier this month. The next day, CBP agents killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, while he was pinned to the ground, firing 10 rounds in less than 5 seconds. Again the people of Minneapolis and beyond have risen up, with multiple mobilizations taking place over the weekend despite continued freezing cold temperatures. And a call for no business as usual on a national scale has come out of Minneapolis for this Friday, January 30th. High school students are preparing walkouts, and people all over the country are getting ready to shut it down for justice.

The ruling class is responding frantically to quell the mass sentiment. An open letter from dozens of Minnesota-based corporations like Target, 3M, Hormel and more calls for “an immediate deescalation of tensions.” The Trump administration has had calls they call productive with Democratic officials in Minneapolis and Minnesota governments. And Gregory Bovino, the “Commander-At-Large” of US Border Patrol, seems to be set to go back to California and slowly make his way to retirement. Even with rumored departures of some ICE and CBP forces from Minneapolis, these small changes and concessions are proving to not be enough for the masses of people.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18580548 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3077 full false Stop ICE Terror: Minneapolis Calls De Facto General Strike Stop ICE Terror: Minneapolis Calls De Facto General Strike Mass protests have taken place across the country after an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis, executing her in her car as she tried to drive away. The shooting has ignited an extraordinary wave of resistance. In the Twin Cities and beyond, students walked out of school on Monday in protest, refusing to sit in silence while federal immigration officers operate with impunity in their cities and refusing to accept state violence in their neighborhoods as normal.

People across the United States have taken to the streets demanding accountability and justice, that ICE agent Jonathan Ross be arrested and charged and that ICE terror be stopped immediately. As we’ve seen in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, this mass resistance has the power to effect great change. In response, Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed a “day of reckoning & retribution is coming” to Minnesota. Unions, faith groups, community organizations and more in Minnesota have called for a “day of truth and freedom” on Friday, January 23rd, asking people to refuse to work, to shop and to go to school - effectively calling for a general strike. “We are going to prove that people care for each other. That people love on one another. That community stands with and for each other,” said JaNaé Bates Imari, Auxiliary Minister of St. Paul's Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church. She went on, “Freedom is not just the freedom from constraints. It is the freedom to have safety, it is the freedom to have joy, it is the freedom to be able to thrive.”

ICE isn’t just going door-to-door terrorizing communities. It’s spying on entire neighborhoods and cities. Its operations are powered by data from multiple government sources including the IRS, Medicaid, the TSA as well as commercial location data, and the agency has contracted with surveillance company Palantir to build the so-called ImmigrationOS to target and prioritize immigration raids. Palantir has secured more than $900 million in federal contracts under the Trump administration.

Support the show

]]> Mass protests have taken place across the country after an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis, executing her in her car as she tried to drive away. The shooting has ignited an extraordinary wave of resistance. In the Twin Cities and beyond, students walked out of school on Monday in protest, refusing to sit in silence while federal immigration officers operate with impunity in their cities and refusing to accept state violence in their neighborhoods as normal.

People across the United States have taken to the streets demanding accountability and justice, that ICE agent Jonathan Ross be arrested and charged and that ICE terror be stopped immediately. As we’ve seen in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, this mass resistance has the power to effect great change. In response, Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed a “day of reckoning & retribution is coming” to Minnesota. Unions, faith groups, community organizations and more in Minnesota have called for a “day of truth and freedom” on Friday, January 23rd, asking people to refuse to work, to shop and to go to school - effectively calling for a general strike. “We are going to prove that people care for each other. That people love on one another. That community stands with and for each other,” said JaNaé Bates Imari, Auxiliary Minister of St. Paul's Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church. She went on, “Freedom is not just the freedom from constraints. It is the freedom to have safety, it is the freedom to have joy, it is the freedom to be able to thrive.”

ICE isn’t just going door-to-door terrorizing communities. It’s spying on entire neighborhoods and cities. Its operations are powered by data from multiple government sources including the IRS, Medicaid, the TSA as well as commercial location data, and the agency has contracted with surveillance company Palantir to build the so-called ImmigrationOS to target and prioritize immigration raids. Palantir has secured more than $900 million in federal contracts under the Trump administration.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18503827 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3212 full false Kidnapping Maduro is Gangster Imperialism Kidnapping Maduro is Gangster Imperialism At his first court appearance in New York along with his wife Cilia Flores, Nicolás Maduro told the judge, “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country.” He declared himself a prisoner of war and a political prisoner, and along with Flores pleaded not guilty to all of the ridiculous counts of narcoterrorism and gun charges against him. Outside the court on January 5th, supporters rallied and chanted, “no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere.”

The attack on Venezuela that killed at least 80 people, the kidnapping of Maduro and Flores and the threats against Colombia, Mexico and Cuba are the implementation of the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, laid out in the 2025 National Security Strategy. As the State Department simply and grotesquely put it in an X post, “This is our hemisphere” is the renewed focus of the U.S. empire.

It’s a very dynamic situation that calls for urgent action. Within hours of the news of the attack on Saturday, tens of thousands of people in over 100 cities in the United States took to the streets to condemn it and the further threats made by Trump and his administration. Many more in Venezuela and around the world have mobilized against this raw act of gangster imperialism.

This is a war on multiple fronts: military, economic, political and information - and disinformation intended to sow distrust and chaos has been spreading wildly.

PLUS: We bring you an interview with Jessica Plichta, who was arrested by Grand Rapids Police Department for speaking out against U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Read the article we mentioned in Peoples Dispatch: Venezuela’s Revolution still stands: debunking Trump’s psyop

Read more coverage in CovertAction Magazine:
CIA Played Instrumental Role in Maduro Kidnapping
On The Ground in Caracas: Venezuelans Rally to Support Government in Face of Illegal Kidnapping of President 

Support the show

]]> At his first court appearance in New York along with his wife Cilia Flores, Nicolás Maduro told the judge, “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country.” He declared himself a prisoner of war and a political prisoner, and along with Flores pleaded not guilty to all of the ridiculous counts of narcoterrorism and gun charges against him. Outside the court on January 5th, supporters rallied and chanted, “no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere.”

The attack on Venezuela that killed at least 80 people, the kidnapping of Maduro and Flores and the threats against Colombia, Mexico and Cuba are the implementation of the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, laid out in the 2025 National Security Strategy. As the State Department simply and grotesquely put it in an X post, “This is our hemisphere” is the renewed focus of the U.S. empire.

It’s a very dynamic situation that calls for urgent action. Within hours of the news of the attack on Saturday, tens of thousands of people in over 100 cities in the United States took to the streets to condemn it and the further threats made by Trump and his administration. Many more in Venezuela and around the world have mobilized against this raw act of gangster imperialism.

This is a war on multiple fronts: military, economic, political and information - and disinformation intended to sow distrust and chaos has been spreading wildly.

PLUS: We bring you an interview with Jessica Plichta, who was arrested by Grand Rapids Police Department for speaking out against U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Read the article we mentioned in Peoples Dispatch: Venezuela’s Revolution still stands: debunking Trump’s psyop

Read more coverage in CovertAction Magazine:
CIA Played Instrumental Role in Maduro Kidnapping
On The Ground in Caracas: Venezuelans Rally to Support Government in Face of Illegal Kidnapping of President 

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-18464943 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500 3308 full false 2025 In Review: Fighting Back Against Trump & the Right-Wing Agenda 2025 In Review: Fighting Back Against Trump & the Right-Wing Agenda As 2025 comes to an end and we enter a new year, we’re looking back on the past 12 months that sometimes feel like a never-ending cycle of bad news.

The year began with Trump’s inauguration,kicking off massive protests in cities and towns across the country that have continued throughout the year, spawning the No Kings movement as well as other national and local resistance. Instead of quietly letting the Trump administration implement Project 2025 and worse, peoples’ movements have taken action to defend education, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights and more. 

It’s also been a year of fightback against war and imperialism. As Trump has had meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the last weekend of 2025, the U.S. is ramping up its attacks on Venezuela, including a possible CIA-run drone bombing earlier in December of a port facility. Even with a ceasefire agreement in place, Israel continues to bomb and displace Palestinians, and the solidarity movement continues to organize for an end to U.S. support for Israel and its genocide, connecting Palestine with Venezuela, Nigeria, Yemen, Syria and the many other countries the U.S. has bombed this year.

Going into 2026, we’re not just reviewing what happened over the last year but looking at the lessons that movements need to learn for another year of oppression - and struggle.

Support the show

]]> As 2025 comes to an end and we enter a new year, we’re looking back on the past 12 months that sometimes feel like a never-ending cycle of bad news.

The year began with Trump’s inauguration,kicking off massive protests in cities and towns across the country that have continued throughout the year, spawning the No Kings movement as well as other national and local resistance. Instead of quietly letting the Trump administration implement Project 2025 and worse, peoples’ movements have taken action to defend education, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights and more. 

It’s also been a year of fightback against war and imperialism. As Trump has had meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the last weekend of 2025, the U.S. is ramping up its attacks on Venezuela, including a possible CIA-run drone bombing earlier in December of a port facility. Even with a ceasefire agreement in place, Israel continues to bomb and displace Palestinians, and the solidarity movement continues to organize for an end to U.S. support for Israel and its genocide, connecting Palestine with Venezuela, Nigeria, Yemen, Syria and the many other countries the U.S. has bombed this year.

Going into 2026, we’re not just reviewing what happened over the last year but looking at the lessons that movements need to learn for another year of oppression - and struggle.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18433758 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3168 full false Capitalism is the Real AI Slop Capitalism is the Real AI Slop To protect the huge profits of unregulated AI companies, the Trump administration is trying to bring back a punishment that was stripped from this year’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill. In a December 11th Executive Order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence,” individual states will lose access to the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program if they establish their own regulations around the use and development of Artificial Intelligence in many circumstances. BEAD provides $42.45 billion in federal grants to U.S. states and territories to build and enable access to critical high-speed Internet connections that many people still lack.

A national set of policy and legislation for artificial intelligence would make much more sense than dozens of competing policies at the state level, but such a development doesn’t seem likely. The Executive Order also makes it clear that “It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI” and, harkening back to the Cold War and the race to space, lays out that the United States must win “the AI race.”

Trillions of dollars are being spent in the AI economy from NVIDIA’s advanced chips to massive datacenters, the salaries of engineers who build and train new models, and AI services being forced into seemingly every product we consume. But the huge expenditures of tech and AI giants are making investors nervous about an impending bursting of the AI bubble. OpenAI alone is going to spend $1.4 trillion in the next 8 years on AI infrastructure for the government, a move that could be seen as the government bailing out a giant company yet again.

Support the show

]]> To protect the huge profits of unregulated AI companies, the Trump administration is trying to bring back a punishment that was stripped from this year’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill. In a December 11th Executive Order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence,” individual states will lose access to the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program if they establish their own regulations around the use and development of Artificial Intelligence in many circumstances. BEAD provides $42.45 billion in federal grants to U.S. states and territories to build and enable access to critical high-speed Internet connections that many people still lack.

A national set of policy and legislation for artificial intelligence would make much more sense than dozens of competing policies at the state level, but such a development doesn’t seem likely. The Executive Order also makes it clear that “It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI” and, harkening back to the Cold War and the race to space, lays out that the United States must win “the AI race.”

Trillions of dollars are being spent in the AI economy from NVIDIA’s advanced chips to massive datacenters, the salaries of engineers who build and train new models, and AI services being forced into seemingly every product we consume. But the huge expenditures of tech and AI giants are making investors nervous about an impending bursting of the AI bubble. OpenAI alone is going to spend $1.4 trillion in the next 8 years on AI infrastructure for the government, a move that could be seen as the government bailing out a giant company yet again.

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]]> Buzzsprout-18367186 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3165 full false NYT Shows Its Imperialist Hand NYT Shows Its Imperialist Hand A recent op-ed by the New York Times Editorial Board calls for the U.S. military to reinvent itself and rearm itself in new ways in the face of the Western capitalist order losing its hegemony to rising powers across the world. The very idea of returning to a multipolar arrangement without the United States at the forefront terrifies the ruling class - including those elements who are at odds with the Trump administration on specific policies, tactics or details of how things are implemented.

The Times piece reinforces the newspaper’s long role as a mouthpiece for the capitalist class and for imperialism. The op-ed isn’t aimed at the average American, though it contains plenty of fearmongering about supposed threats from its favorite boogeymen China and Russia. It’s really aimed at restoring some sense of unity with those isolationist, so-called “America First” sectors. As the neoliberal order continues its collapse, the language - and urgency - actually help expose the mislogic of imperialism itself.

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]]> A recent op-ed by the New York Times Editorial Board calls for the U.S. military to reinvent itself and rearm itself in new ways in the face of the Western capitalist order losing its hegemony to rising powers across the world. The very idea of returning to a multipolar arrangement without the United States at the forefront terrifies the ruling class - including those elements who are at odds with the Trump administration on specific policies, tactics or details of how things are implemented.

The Times piece reinforces the newspaper’s long role as a mouthpiece for the capitalist class and for imperialism. The op-ed isn’t aimed at the average American, though it contains plenty of fearmongering about supposed threats from its favorite boogeymen China and Russia. It’s really aimed at restoring some sense of unity with those isolationist, so-called “America First” sectors. As the neoliberal order continues its collapse, the language - and urgency - actually help expose the mislogic of imperialism itself.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18327438 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3058 full false Trump Calls For Land War: U.S. Hands Off Venezuela Trump Calls For Land War: U.S. Hands Off Venezuela At the final Cabinet meeting of 2025, Donald Trump said that the strikes on fishing boats in the Caribbean would continue, and that “We're going to start doing those strikes on land, too” - signaling that a ground invasion of Venezuela and possibly other countries may be imminent.

On this episode, we review the lies the U.S. government has been putting forward about where drugs are coming from and why the U.S. has wanted to overthrow the Venezuelan government for decades - for access to its rich oil resources, to open up new markets for U.S. goods, and to send a message to other countries charting their own independent and socialist paths that imperialist hegemony can’t be challenged.

The time for a united movement against this war, which could also spread to Colombia and beyond, is now. And that movement must be independent of both major parties so it doesn’t repeat the mistakes of some in the 2000s by quieting down or compromising itself to appease the Democrats, and so it doesn’t get sidetracked into “America First” isolationism on the right. We also discuss some of the overt - and covert - ways that mouthpieces of imperialism will try to dissuade people from taking part in such a movement.

December 6th will be a national day of action against war in Venezuela. Find a demonstration near you at https://www.answercoalition.org/venezuela, or add yours to the list.

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]]> At the final Cabinet meeting of 2025, Donald Trump said that the strikes on fishing boats in the Caribbean would continue, and that “We're going to start doing those strikes on land, too” - signaling that a ground invasion of Venezuela and possibly other countries may be imminent.

On this episode, we review the lies the U.S. government has been putting forward about where drugs are coming from and why the U.S. has wanted to overthrow the Venezuelan government for decades - for access to its rich oil resources, to open up new markets for U.S. goods, and to send a message to other countries charting their own independent and socialist paths that imperialist hegemony can’t be challenged.

The time for a united movement against this war, which could also spread to Colombia and beyond, is now. And that movement must be independent of both major parties so it doesn’t repeat the mistakes of some in the 2000s by quieting down or compromising itself to appease the Democrats, and so it doesn’t get sidetracked into “America First” isolationism on the right. We also discuss some of the overt - and covert - ways that mouthpieces of imperialism will try to dissuade people from taking part in such a movement.

December 6th will be a national day of action against war in Venezuela. Find a demonstration near you at https://www.answercoalition.org/venezuela, or add yours to the list.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18288939 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3297 full false Trump Calls for Lawmakers to be Hanged Trump Calls for Lawmakers to be Hanged On November 20th, a group of six Democratic Senators and Representatives released a video addressing American servicemembers, reminding them that they can and must refuse illegal orders that are given to them. The video comes as the Trump administration continues deploying the National Guard to cities around the country - and a day before a judge ruled that the National Guard deployment in Washington, DC was illegal. In the video, Representatives Chris Deluzio, Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan along with Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin say in part, “the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”

Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth have labeled them the “Seditious Six” and called for them to be hanged. Now, the Pentagon has opened an investigation into Mark Kelly because of the video, creating the possibility that the retired Navy Captain could be recalled and face charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Elissa Slotkin is a former CIA analyst, and the rest have military backgrounds. Kelly is the only one who served long enough to retire, receive a pension and continue to be subject to the UCMJ. The FBI has also announced an investigation into all six.

The video and the responses of criminal investigation and even death threats reflect a severe disagreement within the ruling class on how to go forward as basic parts of the social contract are destroyed and trust in social institutions withers.

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]]> On November 20th, a group of six Democratic Senators and Representatives released a video addressing American servicemembers, reminding them that they can and must refuse illegal orders that are given to them. The video comes as the Trump administration continues deploying the National Guard to cities around the country - and a day before a judge ruled that the National Guard deployment in Washington, DC was illegal. In the video, Representatives Chris Deluzio, Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan along with Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin say in part, “the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”

Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth have labeled them the “Seditious Six” and called for them to be hanged. Now, the Pentagon has opened an investigation into Mark Kelly because of the video, creating the possibility that the retired Navy Captain could be recalled and face charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Elissa Slotkin is a former CIA analyst, and the rest have military backgrounds. Kelly is the only one who served long enough to retire, receive a pension and continue to be subject to the UCMJ. The FBI has also announced an investigation into all six.

The video and the responses of criminal investigation and even death threats reflect a severe disagreement within the ruling class on how to go forward as basic parts of the social contract are destroyed and trust in social institutions withers.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18254189 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3164 full false Epstein and Empire: What Will the Files Say? Epstein and Empire: What Will the Files Say? Over 20,000 documents related to the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the House Oversight Committee, and an unknown number more may be coming as the House of Representatives voted 427-1 on Tuesday for their release.. Donald Trump has flipflopped on whether he’d sign the bill if it passes the Senate and comes across his desk. First, he called Republicans who supported the release like Marjorie Taylor Greene and bill sponsor Thomas Massie “RINOs” - Republicans in Name Only. Then on Sunday and Monday, he signaled that he’d sign the bill if it came across his desk.

Whether the full files are ever released or not, the information we already have tells us a lot about Epstein and his connections.  Worth around $600 million when he died in prison in 2019, the sex offender who made his money as a financial advisor to the elite also influenced and interacted with people at the highest levels of government and business. In his emails and texts, he discussed opportunities and prospects in Ukraine, Israel, Syria, and even in Mongolia, sharing a document calling it China’s Ukraine. His connections and friendships with many in the upper echelons of society point to a real ruling-class conspiracy where the wealthy overlook heinous crimes in favor of maintaining their status.

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]]> Over 20,000 documents related to the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the House Oversight Committee, and an unknown number more may be coming as the House of Representatives voted 427-1 on Tuesday for their release.. Donald Trump has flipflopped on whether he’d sign the bill if it passes the Senate and comes across his desk. First, he called Republicans who supported the release like Marjorie Taylor Greene and bill sponsor Thomas Massie “RINOs” - Republicans in Name Only. Then on Sunday and Monday, he signaled that he’d sign the bill if it came across his desk.

Whether the full files are ever released or not, the information we already have tells us a lot about Epstein and his connections.  Worth around $600 million when he died in prison in 2019, the sex offender who made his money as a financial advisor to the elite also influenced and interacted with people at the highest levels of government and business. In his emails and texts, he discussed opportunities and prospects in Ukraine, Israel, Syria, and even in Mongolia, sharing a document calling it China’s Ukraine. His connections and friendships with many in the upper echelons of society point to a real ruling-class conspiracy where the wealthy overlook heinous crimes in favor of maintaining their status.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-18214253 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3195 full false Mamdani’s Win and the Movement’s Next Steps Mamdani’s Win and the Movement’s Next Steps Over two million New Yorkers voted in the mayoral elections, which saw Zohran Mamdani win with more than one million votes himself. It’s the highest voter turnout seen in the race since 1969, when John Lindsay won re-election after switching from the Republican to Liberal Party. In 2025, the popularity of Mamdani’s campaign and the mass voter turnout was a clear result of widespread disillusionment with the entirety of the political and economic system.

The Mamdani campaign spoke to what New Yorkers - and workers across the country - need, and that’s what made it immensely popular. Free buses, city-run grocery stores with price controls, and being able to afford your rent aren’t radical demands, especially in the wealthiest city in the country. New York politicians were unwilling and unable to meet basic needs and demands, but continued funding the NYPD’s nearly $11 billion budget.

The right wing - including establishment Democrats like his opponent Andrew Cuomo, who was endorsed by the likes of Elon Musk and Donald Trump - and the far right have been whipped into a frenzy. Trump himself claims it’s a choice between “communism and common sense.” The Washington Post claims Mamdani won because “supporters of the free market” just haven’t convinced working people about the benefits of capitalism.

Now Mamdani is starting his transition plan, and soon will be a democratic socialist in charge of the municipal government at the heart of Western capitalism. From the influence of Wall Street money to the gentrification of property owners to the brutality of the NYPD itself, he will face a mountain of contradictions that only a mass movement can truly address.

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]]> Over two million New Yorkers voted in the mayoral elections, which saw Zohran Mamdani win with more than one million votes himself. It’s the highest voter turnout seen in the race since 1969, when John Lindsay won re-election after switching from the Republican to Liberal Party. In 2025, the popularity of Mamdani’s campaign and the mass voter turnout was a clear result of widespread disillusionment with the entirety of the political and economic system.

The Mamdani campaign spoke to what New Yorkers - and workers across the country - need, and that’s what made it immensely popular. Free buses, city-run grocery stores with price controls, and being able to afford your rent aren’t radical demands, especially in the wealthiest city in the country. New York politicians were unwilling and unable to meet basic needs and demands, but continued funding the NYPD’s nearly $11 billion budget.

The right wing - including establishment Democrats like his opponent Andrew Cuomo, who was endorsed by the likes of Elon Musk and Donald Trump - and the far right have been whipped into a frenzy. Trump himself claims it’s a choice between “communism and common sense.” The Washington Post claims Mamdani won because “supporters of the free market” just haven’t convinced working people about the benefits of capitalism.

Now Mamdani is starting his transition plan, and soon will be a democratic socialist in charge of the municipal government at the heart of Western capitalism. From the influence of Wall Street money to the gentrification of property owners to the brutality of the NYPD itself, he will face a mountain of contradictions that only a mass movement can truly address.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-18171734 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3093 full false Tariffs and Tensions: Is Trump Really Shifting on China? Tariffs and Tensions: Is Trump Really Shifting on China? After almost a year of an escalating trade war, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea last week. While official statements from both sides framed the summit as a positive move forward in a period of growing political, economic and military tensions on the international scale, it may also mark a distinct change in the U.S. approach. The Trump administration had imposed extremely high tariffs on Chinese exports to the US this year. China then imposed its own retaliatory tariffs.

But despite Trump’s triumphalist language around the meeting, the U.S. continues to place economic restrictions on China. It will restrict China’s access to NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell generation of chips, despite CEO Jensen Huang saying last week he hoped to be able to sell the chips in China. And the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this week about Trump’s tariffs against Chinese and other international goods, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington ruled over two months ago, on August 29th, that the President overreached his executive power in imposing the tariffs by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Ultimately - and despite a perhaps temporary lowering of temperatures - the trade war is far from over and may spill into other significant geopolitical areas.

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]]> After almost a year of an escalating trade war, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea last week. While official statements from both sides framed the summit as a positive move forward in a period of growing political, economic and military tensions on the international scale, it may also mark a distinct change in the U.S. approach. The Trump administration had imposed extremely high tariffs on Chinese exports to the US this year. China then imposed its own retaliatory tariffs.

But despite Trump’s triumphalist language around the meeting, the U.S. continues to place economic restrictions on China. It will restrict China’s access to NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell generation of chips, despite CEO Jensen Huang saying last week he hoped to be able to sell the chips in China. And the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this week about Trump’s tariffs against Chinese and other international goods, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington ruled over two months ago, on August 29th, that the President overreached his executive power in imposing the tariffs by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Ultimately - and despite a perhaps temporary lowering of temperatures - the trade war is far from over and may spill into other significant geopolitical areas.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-18134602 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3154 full false Feeding the Crisis: SNAP Under Siege in the Shutdown Feeding the Crisis: SNAP Under Siege in the Shutdown Funding for SNAP, the federal Supplemental Food Assistance Program, is set to expire on November 1st due to the ongoing government shutdown that’s about to hit the one-month mark. A banner on the Department of Agriculture’s website blames Senate Democrats, immigrants and trans people for the crisis, but also says, “Bottom line, the well has run dry.” At the same time, the USDA said last week that it would not use contingency funds already allocated for such an emergency.

The bottom line is that 42 million people in 22 million households across the country - about 12% of the U.S. population - will lose some or all of their access to food over the weekend. Food banks and pantries as well as neighborhood mutual aid groups already struggling with the cutbacks of the shutdown and Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill are in deep crisis mode finding ways to keep their neighbors, towns and cities fed.

An additional 6.7 million women and children who rely on WIC, the Women Infants and Children nutrition program, could find that additional support cut off as well. And the possible shutdown of Head Start programs could drive tens of thousands of families further into crisis and despair as 140 of those programs that were relying on funding in November won’t get it.

This is straight out of the Project 2025 playbook, further highlighted by the fact that Donald Trump has gone out of his way to get ICE agents and other federal law enforcement paid during the shutdown. 

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]]> Funding for SNAP, the federal Supplemental Food Assistance Program, is set to expire on November 1st due to the ongoing government shutdown that’s about to hit the one-month mark. A banner on the Department of Agriculture’s website blames Senate Democrats, immigrants and trans people for the crisis, but also says, “Bottom line, the well has run dry.” At the same time, the USDA said last week that it would not use contingency funds already allocated for such an emergency.

The bottom line is that 42 million people in 22 million households across the country - about 12% of the U.S. population - will lose some or all of their access to food over the weekend. Food banks and pantries as well as neighborhood mutual aid groups already struggling with the cutbacks of the shutdown and Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill are in deep crisis mode finding ways to keep their neighbors, towns and cities fed.

An additional 6.7 million women and children who rely on WIC, the Women Infants and Children nutrition program, could find that additional support cut off as well. And the possible shutdown of Head Start programs could drive tens of thousands of families further into crisis and despair as 140 of those programs that were relying on funding in November won’t get it.

This is straight out of the Project 2025 playbook, further highlighted by the fact that Donald Trump has gone out of his way to get ICE agents and other federal law enforcement paid during the shutdown. 

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-18092579 Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3162 full false A General Strike Can Change Everything A General Strike Can Change Everything Millions of people in over 2,700 cities and towns took part in No Kings Day protests across the country on October 18th. Organizers estimate that seven million took part, two million more than the same actions in June. From the streets of big cities to the squares and streetcorners of smaller towns, this was one of the biggest days of protest in U.S. history and highlights the vast unpopularity of the Trump administration’s pro-billionaire and anti-worker policies as the government remains shut down and social programs continue to be cut but ICE raids won’t stop terrorizing our communities.

Signs, banners, chants and speeches on Saturday brought forward the call for a general strike as a way to defeat the ultra-right’s agenda and to do more - to win back the rights we’ve lost and win rights we desperately need. Even Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson said at a rally, “If my ancestors, as slaves, can lead the greatest general strike in the history of this country, taking it to the ultra-rich and big corporations, we can the same today!”

A general strike involving workers, students and all people from across society could change the course of events, directly challenge the Trump regime’s ruthless and racist attacks, and even set the stage for a revolution. What would it look like and how would we get there? We’ll talk about all that today.

But first, last week we talked about how the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was opening the door for renewed US military action against the Venezuelan revolution and government of Nicolás Maduro. Just a few days later, the Trump administration then said that it had authorized additional strikes on Venezuela, including on land, after it had already attacked six Venezuelan boats in international waters. Trump also announced that he has approved CIA covert actions in the country. While it’s long been known that the CIA has been a tool in attempting to overthrow Venezuela’s revolution under both Chávez and Maduro, the announcement of the use of CIA operations for regime change is unprecedented.

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]]> Millions of people in over 2,700 cities and towns took part in No Kings Day protests across the country on October 18th. Organizers estimate that seven million took part, two million more than the same actions in June. From the streets of big cities to the squares and streetcorners of smaller towns, this was one of the biggest days of protest in U.S. history and highlights the vast unpopularity of the Trump administration’s pro-billionaire and anti-worker policies as the government remains shut down and social programs continue to be cut but ICE raids won’t stop terrorizing our communities.

Signs, banners, chants and speeches on Saturday brought forward the call for a general strike as a way to defeat the ultra-right’s agenda and to do more - to win back the rights we’ve lost and win rights we desperately need. Even Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson said at a rally, “If my ancestors, as slaves, can lead the greatest general strike in the history of this country, taking it to the ultra-rich and big corporations, we can the same today!”

A general strike involving workers, students and all people from across society could change the course of events, directly challenge the Trump regime’s ruthless and racist attacks, and even set the stage for a revolution. What would it look like and how would we get there? We’ll talk about all that today.

But first, last week we talked about how the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was opening the door for renewed US military action against the Venezuelan revolution and government of Nicolás Maduro. Just a few days later, the Trump administration then said that it had authorized additional strikes on Venezuela, including on land, after it had already attacked six Venezuelan boats in international waters. Trump also announced that he has approved CIA covert actions in the country. While it’s long been known that the CIA has been a tool in attempting to overthrow Venezuela’s revolution under both Chávez and Maduro, the announcement of the use of CIA operations for regime change is unprecedented.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-18052890 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3172 full false Nobel Peace Prize Paves Way for War With Venezuela Nobel Peace Prize Paves Way for War With Venezuela Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, as he boasted he should for supposedly being the “peace President” - a claim we’ve debunked numerous times on this show. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said that the Nobel Committee “places politics over peace” - which actually does have some truth to it, like a broken clock does twice a day. The award was instead given to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan “opposition” leader hell-bent on overthrowing the government of Nicolás Maduro. Her party, Vente Venezuela, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Israeli Likud party, and in 2019 she posted on X that “The struggle of Venezuela is the struggle of Israel.”

In Gaza, Palestinians celebrated in the streets upon hearing the news of the ceasefire, and are beginning to return to the north. While they are finding their homes largely reduced to rubble, they are vowing to rebuild and reestablish their lives in their homeland. As the remaining Israeli captives are being traded for thousands of Palestinian political prisoners, hundreds of whom were held in Israel for much longer than two years, the ceasefire deal also calls for Israel to allow hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza daily.

The ceasefire was won first and foremost by the resistance and resilience of the Palestinian people, and by the solidarity movement across the world that did not let Palestine out of the spotlight for the past two years. But Israel is already going back on some of the terms, killing at least five Palestinians in Shujaiya on Tuesday who were going to check on their homes. The occupying forces also announced they will not actually allow for the aid that it agreed to as part of the ceasefire to be let into Gaza.

This situation is quickly developing, and what happens next may also open a new phase in the solidarity movement, and we’ll get into many of the questions about how the movement should go forward and what these changes mean.

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]]> Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, as he boasted he should for supposedly being the “peace President” - a claim we’ve debunked numerous times on this show. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said that the Nobel Committee “places politics over peace” - which actually does have some truth to it, like a broken clock does twice a day. The award was instead given to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan “opposition” leader hell-bent on overthrowing the government of Nicolás Maduro. Her party, Vente Venezuela, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Israeli Likud party, and in 2019 she posted on X that “The struggle of Venezuela is the struggle of Israel.”

In Gaza, Palestinians celebrated in the streets upon hearing the news of the ceasefire, and are beginning to return to the north. While they are finding their homes largely reduced to rubble, they are vowing to rebuild and reestablish their lives in their homeland. As the remaining Israeli captives are being traded for thousands of Palestinian political prisoners, hundreds of whom were held in Israel for much longer than two years, the ceasefire deal also calls for Israel to allow hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza daily.

The ceasefire was won first and foremost by the resistance and resilience of the Palestinian people, and by the solidarity movement across the world that did not let Palestine out of the spotlight for the past two years. But Israel is already going back on some of the terms, killing at least five Palestinians in Shujaiya on Tuesday who were going to check on their homes. The occupying forces also announced they will not actually allow for the aid that it agreed to as part of the ceasefire to be let into Gaza.

This situation is quickly developing, and what happens next may also open a new phase in the solidarity movement, and we’ll get into many of the questions about how the movement should go forward and what these changes mean.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-18012410 Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3248 full false Gaza to Portland: A System in Crisis Gaza to Portland: A System in Crisis The Israeli government has waged the latest campaign of its effort to wipe out and destroy the Palestinian people entirely for over two years now, with the full financial, diplomatic and military backing of the United States government. Using a conservative estimate of 66,600 deaths, the toll from Gaza since October 7, 2023, represents 14% of all conflicts worldwide in that time period according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. As the Trump administration puts forward a supposed deal and applies massive pressure to the Palestinian resistance to accept it, protests around the world have taken the streets in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack Lebanon as members of the Israeli cabinet urge Netanyahu to increase the terror even further.

And in the United States, the Trump administration renewed its consideration of using the Insurrection Act after multiple judges have issued rulings fully or temporarily blocking his deployments of National Guard troops to cities like Portland. Over the past two weeks, the Trump administration has intensified its domestic deployment of military and federal forces, waging what many are calling Trump’s “war from within.”

In Portland, the White House sought to federalize the Oregon National Guard under the pretext of protecting federal property. That move was blocked by a Trump-appointed federal judge, who declared, “This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law,” warning that the administration’s arguments risk “blurring the line between civil and military federal power—to the detriment of this nation.” In response, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller accused Judge Immergut of staging a “legal insurrection,” and Trump has since pressed ahead with alternative avenues to deploy the National Guard to Portland.

The multiple global crises all point to a system in crisis, where social constructs and agreements that have held the the national and global order together have been so fractured that they cannot hold.

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]]> The Israeli government has waged the latest campaign of its effort to wipe out and destroy the Palestinian people entirely for over two years now, with the full financial, diplomatic and military backing of the United States government. Using a conservative estimate of 66,600 deaths, the toll from Gaza since October 7, 2023, represents 14% of all conflicts worldwide in that time period according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. As the Trump administration puts forward a supposed deal and applies massive pressure to the Palestinian resistance to accept it, protests around the world have taken the streets in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack Lebanon as members of the Israeli cabinet urge Netanyahu to increase the terror even further.

And in the United States, the Trump administration renewed its consideration of using the Insurrection Act after multiple judges have issued rulings fully or temporarily blocking his deployments of National Guard troops to cities like Portland. Over the past two weeks, the Trump administration has intensified its domestic deployment of military and federal forces, waging what many are calling Trump’s “war from within.”

In Portland, the White House sought to federalize the Oregon National Guard under the pretext of protecting federal property. That move was blocked by a Trump-appointed federal judge, who declared, “This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law,” warning that the administration’s arguments risk “blurring the line between civil and military federal power—to the detriment of this nation.” In response, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller accused Judge Immergut of staging a “legal insurrection,” and Trump has since pressed ahead with alternative avenues to deploy the National Guard to Portland.

The multiple global crises all point to a system in crisis, where social constructs and agreements that have held the the national and global order together have been so fractured that they cannot hold.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17974201 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3091 full false U.S. on Edge: Trump Prepares Domestic Military Crackdown U.S. on Edge: Trump Prepares Domestic Military Crackdown At a gathering of senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Tuesday, Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signaled that they’re preparing to imminently expand the scope and size of the U.S. military, both inside and outside the United States. Trump made it clear that he knows sentiment against not only him but the entire capitalist system is growing - as are the movements of organized people in resistance. He said Tuesday, “Last month, I signed an executive order to provide training for a quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is gonna be a big thing for the people in this room, because it’s the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control.”

That August Executive Order, combined with another in September declaring “Antifa” a domestic terrorist organization and a National Security Directive that targets those anti-capitalist and progressive views all come as ICE is ramping up its own militarized terror in Chicago, the National Guard is set to deploy to Portland, OR, and Trump threatens to cut funding from New York City if Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral election.

Trump also said Tuesday that the government should deploy the military and National Guard into American cities for training: “we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military, National Guard, but military, because we’re going into Chicago very soon, that’s a big city with an incompetent governor.” Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois has called on Trump to stop, but not put forward any plan on how to make that happen outside of asking Illinois residents to post what they see on social media. A New York Times / Siena College poll released Tuesday shows that 53% of registered voters think Trump has gone too far by sending the National Guard into U.S. cities.

The fast-moving rise of authoritarianism in the United States is a sign of a system in crisis. If it wasn’t clear before, it should be now that the Trump administration has declared an open war on workers and oppressed people across the country and the world.

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]]> At a gathering of senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Tuesday, Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signaled that they’re preparing to imminently expand the scope and size of the U.S. military, both inside and outside the United States. Trump made it clear that he knows sentiment against not only him but the entire capitalist system is growing - as are the movements of organized people in resistance. He said Tuesday, “Last month, I signed an executive order to provide training for a quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is gonna be a big thing for the people in this room, because it’s the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control.”

That August Executive Order, combined with another in September declaring “Antifa” a domestic terrorist organization and a National Security Directive that targets those anti-capitalist and progressive views all come as ICE is ramping up its own militarized terror in Chicago, the National Guard is set to deploy to Portland, OR, and Trump threatens to cut funding from New York City if Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral election.

Trump also said Tuesday that the government should deploy the military and National Guard into American cities for training: “we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military, National Guard, but military, because we’re going into Chicago very soon, that’s a big city with an incompetent governor.” Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois has called on Trump to stop, but not put forward any plan on how to make that happen outside of asking Illinois residents to post what they see on social media. A New York Times / Siena College poll released Tuesday shows that 53% of registered voters think Trump has gone too far by sending the National Guard into U.S. cities.

The fast-moving rise of authoritarianism in the United States is a sign of a system in crisis. If it wasn’t clear before, it should be now that the Trump administration has declared an open war on workers and oppressed people across the country and the world.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17935066 Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3055 full false Trump at the U.N.: Rambling, Racist, and Out of Touch Trump at the U.N.: Rambling, Racist, and Out of Touch In a rambling speech that lasted nearly an hour at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Donald Trump spent a significant amount of time condemning immigration in the west as well as the use and development of clean energy alternatives to coal and oil. In typical Trump fashion, he talked up his supposed accomplishments both in the U.S. and internationally, claiming he has ended seven wars and fixed the U.S. economy. But a new Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows that 53% of Americans oppose Trump’s actions in the first eight months of his presidency, while only 41% support them.

His speech was littered with racist and white supremacist language, telling European nations to close their borders and that immigration was destroying their heritage, and comparing “their countries” to “our countries” when speaking about non-white immigration to Western countries. He also claimed that Christianity is the most persecuted religion around the world. While other world leaders including those from Qatar, Brazil and beyond railed against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Trump’s call to “stop the war immediately” rang hollow as he only condemned Hamas and did not mention the terror that Israel has been waging against the Palestinian people.

As the 80th session of the General Assembly begins, 157 U.N. member states now recognize Palestine, after moves from a number of Western nations over the past few days including Canada, the UK, Australia, France, Belgium and more. As Trump and his few allies continue to play themselves up on the world stage, the reality is that the U.S. and Israel are both extremely isolated on the global stage.

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]]> In a rambling speech that lasted nearly an hour at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Donald Trump spent a significant amount of time condemning immigration in the west as well as the use and development of clean energy alternatives to coal and oil. In typical Trump fashion, he talked up his supposed accomplishments both in the U.S. and internationally, claiming he has ended seven wars and fixed the U.S. economy. But a new Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows that 53% of Americans oppose Trump’s actions in the first eight months of his presidency, while only 41% support them.

His speech was littered with racist and white supremacist language, telling European nations to close their borders and that immigration was destroying their heritage, and comparing “their countries” to “our countries” when speaking about non-white immigration to Western countries. He also claimed that Christianity is the most persecuted religion around the world. While other world leaders including those from Qatar, Brazil and beyond railed against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Trump’s call to “stop the war immediately” rang hollow as he only condemned Hamas and did not mention the terror that Israel has been waging against the Palestinian people.

As the 80th session of the General Assembly begins, 157 U.N. member states now recognize Palestine, after moves from a number of Western nations over the past few days including Canada, the UK, Australia, France, Belgium and more. As Trump and his few allies continue to play themselves up on the world stage, the reality is that the U.S. and Israel are both extremely isolated on the global stage.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17894905 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3109 full false Passport Revocations: Trump’s Repression and the New McCarthyism Passport Revocations: Trump’s Repression and the New McCarthyism Gaza is burning. Anyone who’s watched the livestreamed genocide of the Palestinian people over the last 23 months knows that this is true. But the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was boasting when he posted those words on X early Tuesday, also saying “The IDF strikes with an iron fist” and “We will not relent and we will not go back - until the completion of the mission.” His post came as two divisions of the IDF entered Gaza City and with additional reinforcements soon to be joining them. Gaza City has also seen an increase in bombings from the air over recent nights.

Israel’s latest proof to the world that it’s not interested in peace come when pro-Palestinian sentiment is at record highs. At the Emmys the other night, Hannah Einbinder shouted “F- ICE, Free Palestine” and Javier Bardem wore a keffiyeh on the red carpet while saying he “cannot work with someone who justifies or supports the genocide.” 3,900 people signed the Film Workers for Palestine pledge to not “screen films, appear at or otherwise work with Israeli film institutions… that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”

And as people around the country and world prepare mobilizations to mark two years of the genocide with a day of action on October 4th, Florida Congressman Brian Mast has introduced a bill in Congress that would let the Secretary of State revoke passports of U.S. citizens who support the Palestinian people and their liberation struggle.

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]]> Gaza is burning. Anyone who’s watched the livestreamed genocide of the Palestinian people over the last 23 months knows that this is true. But the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was boasting when he posted those words on X early Tuesday, also saying “The IDF strikes with an iron fist” and “We will not relent and we will not go back - until the completion of the mission.” His post came as two divisions of the IDF entered Gaza City and with additional reinforcements soon to be joining them. Gaza City has also seen an increase in bombings from the air over recent nights.

Israel’s latest proof to the world that it’s not interested in peace come when pro-Palestinian sentiment is at record highs. At the Emmys the other night, Hannah Einbinder shouted “F- ICE, Free Palestine” and Javier Bardem wore a keffiyeh on the red carpet while saying he “cannot work with someone who justifies or supports the genocide.” 3,900 people signed the Film Workers for Palestine pledge to not “screen films, appear at or otherwise work with Israeli film institutions… that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”

And as people around the country and world prepare mobilizations to mark two years of the genocide with a day of action on October 4th, Florida Congressman Brian Mast has introduced a bill in Congress that would let the Secretary of State revoke passports of U.S. citizens who support the Palestinian people and their liberation struggle.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17857095 Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3170 full false Dems Pay Influencers to Pretend They’re Grassroots Dems Pay Influencers to Pretend They’re Grassroots According to recent reporting by Taylor Lorenz in Wired, a secretive dark money group is funding influencers to post pro-Democratic Party messaging on social media services - paying them up to $8,000 per month to do so and holding them to a secretive contract that prevents them from even revealing their relationship to the organization Chorus, backed by the Sixteen Thirty Fund.

Some of those named as affiliated with the program including Brian Tyler Cohen, Olivia Julianna, David Pakman and Pod Save America’s Jon Favreau have posted uncannily similar response statements and videos attacking everything except the facts of the article. Kenneth Walden, behind the account 2RawTooReal, wasn’t even listed in the article but posted an attack video saying “Apparently, we’re not allowed to bash Democrats or actually give them any type of constructive criticism. However, I swear I be on damn Bernie Sanders’ ass like flies on —.” The ironies abound, and the dismissals of the story have fallen flat.

Democrats fully recognize that they need to appeal to young voters, those who are most influenced by social media.  According to Berkeley Political Review, “Biden won youth (ages 18 to 29) voters by 24 points [in 2020], but Harris only led Trump by 11 points [in 2024].” The damning statistics don’t necessarily reflect that young people are actually getting more conservative, but likely that they’re more aware of a corrupt system in which both parties promote more cops, defend genocide and send ICE after innocent people.

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]]> According to recent reporting by Taylor Lorenz in Wired, a secretive dark money group is funding influencers to post pro-Democratic Party messaging on social media services - paying them up to $8,000 per month to do so and holding them to a secretive contract that prevents them from even revealing their relationship to the organization Chorus, backed by the Sixteen Thirty Fund.

Some of those named as affiliated with the program including Brian Tyler Cohen, Olivia Julianna, David Pakman and Pod Save America’s Jon Favreau have posted uncannily similar response statements and videos attacking everything except the facts of the article. Kenneth Walden, behind the account 2RawTooReal, wasn’t even listed in the article but posted an attack video saying “Apparently, we’re not allowed to bash Democrats or actually give them any type of constructive criticism. However, I swear I be on damn Bernie Sanders’ ass like flies on —.” The ironies abound, and the dismissals of the story have fallen flat.

Democrats fully recognize that they need to appeal to young voters, those who are most influenced by social media.  According to Berkeley Political Review, “Biden won youth (ages 18 to 29) voters by 24 points [in 2020], but Harris only led Trump by 11 points [in 2024].” The damning statistics don’t necessarily reflect that young people are actually getting more conservative, but likely that they’re more aware of a corrupt system in which both parties promote more cops, defend genocide and send ICE after innocent people.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-17776646 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3436 full false D.C. Was Just the Start: Trump Targets Cities Nationwide D.C. Was Just the Start: Trump Targets Cities Nationwide In a stark escalation, Donald Trump has armed the National Guard members on the streets of Washington, DC. He’s also signed an executive order getting rid of cashless bail - putting poor people who are arrested at significant risk of being stuck in jail waiting months or longer for trials if they can’t afford outrageous cash bails. He then signed an executive order suggesting a one-year prison sentence for anyone who burns an American flag - in complete contradiction to the 1989 Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson that determined flag burning is protected First Amendment speech.

And on Monday the 25th in the Oval Office, Trump said “A lot of people are saying, ‘maybe we need a dictator’... you send in troops, and instead of being praised they’re saying you’re trying to take over the republic. These people are sick.” The remarks also come as Trump looks to send federal troops to cities like Chicago, Baltimore, LA and elsewhere. We all have to take these expansions of the police state and attacks on civil liberties extremely seriously as he talks about dictatorship and crackdowns.

While these developments feel unprecedented, we have a lot to learn from anti-fascist, anti-dictatorship and civil rights struggles throughout U.S. and world history.

We also start this episode with a continuation of last week’s discussion on the inspiring things Rachel saw in China on her recent trip.

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]]> In a stark escalation, Donald Trump has armed the National Guard members on the streets of Washington, DC. He’s also signed an executive order getting rid of cashless bail - putting poor people who are arrested at significant risk of being stuck in jail waiting months or longer for trials if they can’t afford outrageous cash bails. He then signed an executive order suggesting a one-year prison sentence for anyone who burns an American flag - in complete contradiction to the 1989 Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson that determined flag burning is protected First Amendment speech.

And on Monday the 25th in the Oval Office, Trump said “A lot of people are saying, ‘maybe we need a dictator’... you send in troops, and instead of being praised they’re saying you’re trying to take over the republic. These people are sick.” The remarks also come as Trump looks to send federal troops to cities like Chicago, Baltimore, LA and elsewhere. We all have to take these expansions of the police state and attacks on civil liberties extremely seriously as he talks about dictatorship and crackdowns.

While these developments feel unprecedented, we have a lot to learn from anti-fascist, anti-dictatorship and civil rights struggles throughout U.S. and world history.

We also start this episode with a continuation of last week’s discussion on the inspiring things Rachel saw in China on her recent trip.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17739250 Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3220 full false U.S. Makes Threats While China Plans Its Infrastructure U.S. Makes Threats While China Plans Its Infrastructure The founder of Tech Buzz China, Rui Ma, posted on X after a recent trip to China about her observations on energy there. “Energy is considered a solved problem. The Chinese government’s investment in sustainable energy – from advanced hydropower to next-generation nuclear – means that, relative to many other markets, electricity supply is secure and inexpensive. Everywhere we went, people treated energy availability as a given. This is a stark contrast to the U.S., where AI growth is increasingly tied to debates over data center power consumption and grid limitations.” reads part of Ma’s tweet thread. In fact, in Texas, the anarchy of capitalism has let the state position itself as a haven for energy-sucking datacenters and cryptominers, but a new law in Texas gives utility company ERCOT the ability to cut power to datacenters in times of drastic shortages - which could impact other important or crucial services.

A recent Fortune article also quotes Chinese electricity expert David Fishman as saying, “They’re set up to hit grand slams… The U.S., at best, can get on base.” This disparity between the U.S. and China has AI and tech experts in the U.S. worried about the country falling behind in AI and other key areas, because they see China as a competitor and adversary that has to be beaten.  Fishman goes on to explain that “Capital is really biased toward shorter-term returns,” while in China the state is able to set priorities for national investment.

Rachel was recently in China, and this is part 1 of our discussion about the differences between the Chinese planned system and the US for-profit mess. 

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]]> The founder of Tech Buzz China, Rui Ma, posted on X after a recent trip to China about her observations on energy there. “Energy is considered a solved problem. The Chinese government’s investment in sustainable energy – from advanced hydropower to next-generation nuclear – means that, relative to many other markets, electricity supply is secure and inexpensive. Everywhere we went, people treated energy availability as a given. This is a stark contrast to the U.S., where AI growth is increasingly tied to debates over data center power consumption and grid limitations.” reads part of Ma’s tweet thread. In fact, in Texas, the anarchy of capitalism has let the state position itself as a haven for energy-sucking datacenters and cryptominers, but a new law in Texas gives utility company ERCOT the ability to cut power to datacenters in times of drastic shortages - which could impact other important or crucial services.

A recent Fortune article also quotes Chinese electricity expert David Fishman as saying, “They’re set up to hit grand slams… The U.S., at best, can get on base.” This disparity between the U.S. and China has AI and tech experts in the U.S. worried about the country falling behind in AI and other key areas, because they see China as a competitor and adversary that has to be beaten.  Fishman goes on to explain that “Capital is really biased toward shorter-term returns,” while in China the state is able to set priorities for national investment.

Rachel was recently in China, and this is part 1 of our discussion about the differences between the Chinese planned system and the US for-profit mess. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17700957 Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 1531 full false Why Trump is Targeting D.C. Why Trump is Targeting D.C. Donald Trump has taken yet another step in the ruling class’ quest to trash civil liberties, expand the brutal role of cops and other agents of the state and wage an all-out assault on Black people across the country. On Monday the 11th, he announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi would be in control of the DC police, and that Secret Service, DEA, FBI and National Guard troops would be deployed around the District.

Trump and Bondi’s claims about crime in DC are just an excuse to launch an attack on Black residents in the city, along with the city’s homeless population - about whom Trump said “We’re getting rid of the slums where they live.” Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller even tweeted that DC will be safe, clean, beautiful and that “DC will be set free” - a chilling fascist dogwhistle.

Resistance has already sprung up in DC with protests outside the White House itself, at Dupont Circle and elsewhere, with calls to restore what’s known as home rule and for real statehood for the District to be enacted. On his side, Trump has threatened other cities including Oakland, California; Baltimore; New York; Chicago; and Los Angeles - where he had already deployed militarized troops to counter the rebellion against ICE.

We’re also joined by Walter Smolarek, Editor at LiberationNews.org, to discuss the upcoming Trump/Putin summit in Alaska.

Support the show

]]> Donald Trump has taken yet another step in the ruling class’ quest to trash civil liberties, expand the brutal role of cops and other agents of the state and wage an all-out assault on Black people across the country. On Monday the 11th, he announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi would be in control of the DC police, and that Secret Service, DEA, FBI and National Guard troops would be deployed around the District.

Trump and Bondi’s claims about crime in DC are just an excuse to launch an attack on Black residents in the city, along with the city’s homeless population - about whom Trump said “We’re getting rid of the slums where they live.” Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller even tweeted that DC will be safe, clean, beautiful and that “DC will be set free” - a chilling fascist dogwhistle.

Resistance has already sprung up in DC with protests outside the White House itself, at Dupont Circle and elsewhere, with calls to restore what’s known as home rule and for real statehood for the District to be enacted. On his side, Trump has threatened other cities including Oakland, California; Baltimore; New York; Chicago; and Los Angeles - where he had already deployed militarized troops to counter the rebellion against ICE.

We’re also joined by Walter Smolarek, Editor at LiberationNews.org, to discuss the upcoming Trump/Putin summit in Alaska.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-17661939 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3222 full false Ventura County Organizes Against ICE Ventura County Organizes Against ICE Militarized ICE and Homeland Security raids targeted farms in California’s Central Coast on July 10th, with 200 farm workers ending up arrested, some being critically injured and one tragically losing his life. Masked and heavily armed ICE agents used tear gas and rubber bullets to target workers and those who came to their defense.

As soon as community members got word of the possible raids, they sprung into action, tracking the ICE caravan and sharing notifications through community networks that have been built up to keep residents safe from ICE. Organizations like VC Defensa mobilized to the Glass House Farms in Camarillo, staying for hours. To talk more about what happened in Ventura County, we’re joined by Ryan Drury and Lainy Yompian of the organization VC Defensa.

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]]> Militarized ICE and Homeland Security raids targeted farms in California’s Central Coast on July 10th, with 200 farm workers ending up arrested, some being critically injured and one tragically losing his life. Masked and heavily armed ICE agents used tear gas and rubber bullets to target workers and those who came to their defense.

As soon as community members got word of the possible raids, they sprung into action, tracking the ICE caravan and sharing notifications through community networks that have been built up to keep residents safe from ICE. Organizations like VC Defensa mobilized to the Glass House Farms in Camarillo, staying for hours. To talk more about what happened in Ventura County, we’re joined by Ryan Drury and Lainy Yompian of the organization VC Defensa.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17570352 Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2250 full false Is Epstein the Final Straw for Trump’s Base? Is Epstein the Final Straw for Trump’s Base? In 2024, Donald Trump said he’d declassify and release the files the U.S. government has on notorious child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But recently, responding to disappointment and growing demands from his base to actually release the full files, he told a crowd of reporters in Pennsylvania that “I don’t understand why the Epstein files would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring. And I don’t understand why it keeps going.”

Even among the MAGA faithful, few minds have been changed and calls to release information continue to grow.

Investigation into Epstein’s life and sudden death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City often raises more questions than it answers. How did he go from teaching at the elite Dalton School to being a billionaire financier? Even his connections to Bear Stearns and former Limited Brands chairman Leslie Wexner don’t fully explain it, his friendships with royalty and the elite around the world, or the Austrian passport with a fake name and a Saudi Arabian address found in his home.

When he pleaded guilty to soliciting underage prostitutes, Epstein got a 13 month sentence - and was allowed to leave the jail for 12 hours every day so that he could continue working his home office. And in 2007, he entered into an agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida that he would not be prosecuted as part of another investigation. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alexander Acosta, later said that he was told Epstein “belonged to intelligence” and to “leave it alone.” 

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]]> In 2024, Donald Trump said he’d declassify and release the files the U.S. government has on notorious child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But recently, responding to disappointment and growing demands from his base to actually release the full files, he told a crowd of reporters in Pennsylvania that “I don’t understand why the Epstein files would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring. And I don’t understand why it keeps going.”

Even among the MAGA faithful, few minds have been changed and calls to release information continue to grow.

Investigation into Epstein’s life and sudden death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City often raises more questions than it answers. How did he go from teaching at the elite Dalton School to being a billionaire financier? Even his connections to Bear Stearns and former Limited Brands chairman Leslie Wexner don’t fully explain it, his friendships with royalty and the elite around the world, or the Austrian passport with a fake name and a Saudi Arabian address found in his home.

When he pleaded guilty to soliciting underage prostitutes, Epstein got a 13 month sentence - and was allowed to leave the jail for 12 hours every day so that he could continue working his home office. And in 2007, he entered into an agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida that he would not be prosecuted as part of another investigation. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alexander Acosta, later said that he was told Epstein “belonged to intelligence” and to “leave it alone.” 

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-17548258 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3026 full false Texas Flooding: The Real Culprit Is Capitalism Texas Flooding: The Real Culprit Is Capitalism 134 people have died and 101 remain missing after the Guadalupe River in central Texas overflowed as a result of 6.5 inches of rain falling over the course of three hours on the morning of July 4th. Though the floods are being called just a natural disaster, mounting evidence shows that climate change, budget cuts, crumbling infrastructure and political infighting contributed not just to the flooding but the resulting destruction and loss of life. Even in a real freak incident, a true once-in-a-century occurrence,  proper precautions and warnings could have been implemented. Plainly, no one had to die and the blame has to be not just on individual decision-makers but the entire capitalist system that neglects the basic needs of people in favor of profits.

We’re joined by Corrie Rosen, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in San Antonio who’s been helping with the recovery efforts.

Support local volunteer efforts here and read more about it at Peoples Dispatch. 


Then, we discuss the $200 million contracts given by the Department of Defense to Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and xAI - in the wake of xAI’s Grok going full-on antisemitic.

Support the show

]]> 134 people have died and 101 remain missing after the Guadalupe River in central Texas overflowed as a result of 6.5 inches of rain falling over the course of three hours on the morning of July 4th. Though the floods are being called just a natural disaster, mounting evidence shows that climate change, budget cuts, crumbling infrastructure and political infighting contributed not just to the flooding but the resulting destruction and loss of life. Even in a real freak incident, a true once-in-a-century occurrence,  proper precautions and warnings could have been implemented. Plainly, no one had to die and the blame has to be not just on individual decision-makers but the entire capitalist system that neglects the basic needs of people in favor of profits.

We’re joined by Corrie Rosen, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in San Antonio who’s been helping with the recovery efforts.

Support local volunteer efforts here and read more about it at Peoples Dispatch. 


Then, we discuss the $200 million contracts given by the Department of Defense to Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and xAI - in the wake of xAI’s Grok going full-on antisemitic.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-17511945 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3108 full false Who Is Musk’s “America Party” A Threat To? Who Is Musk’s “America Party” A Threat To? Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill has passed and been signed into law. What the White House has deemed an “historic” is actually the biggest transfer of wealth in the history of the United States, benefiting the already-wealthy with massive tax breaks and devastating cuts to social programs. The bill also accelerates militarization at home and abroad, with millions more in funding for ICE to terrorize immigrants in the country and the military to terrorize others outside its borders.

The bill is simply an act of class warfare against working-class and oppressed people who are already struggling against capitalism and imperialism, paving the way for even more devastation. But is Elon Musk’s new “America Party” announced on July 4th a threat to Trump or any part of the ruling-class establishment? Or is it a billionaire’s way of getting what he wants by throwing an electoral tantrum and backing a few candidates in races that may have little impact?

Support the show

]]> Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill has passed and been signed into law. What the White House has deemed an “historic” is actually the biggest transfer of wealth in the history of the United States, benefiting the already-wealthy with massive tax breaks and devastating cuts to social programs. The bill also accelerates militarization at home and abroad, with millions more in funding for ICE to terrorize immigrants in the country and the military to terrorize others outside its borders.

The bill is simply an act of class warfare against working-class and oppressed people who are already struggling against capitalism and imperialism, paving the way for even more devastation. But is Elon Musk’s new “America Party” announced on July 4th a threat to Trump or any part of the ruling-class establishment? Or is it a billionaire’s way of getting what he wants by throwing an electoral tantrum and backing a few candidates in races that may have little impact?

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-17433755 Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3130 full false Billionaires Try To Buy Out Democracy Billionaires Try To Buy Out Democracy What do Palantir, DoorDash, Bill Clinton and Michael Bloomberg have in common? They all joined the campaign against candidate Zohran Mamdani, the state Assemblymember who exceeded expectations and effectively won the Democratic NYC mayoral primary when Andrew Cuomo conceded around 11PM on election night. As of July 1st, with ranked choice calculations completed, Mamdani has officially won the primary.

A Cuomo-aligned super PAC, Fix the City, raised $20 million, much of which came through billionaire former mayor Michael Bloomberg. Food delivery service DoorDash donated a million dollars against Mamdani, who got the support of driver group Los Deliveristas Unidos, which organizes app-based delivery drivers.

But in the face of massive corporate backing against him and wild accusations of antisemitism and more, Mamdani will challenge current mayor Eric Adams who is running as an independent. The configuration of the race could drastically change before November as the ruling class tries to  consolidate around a candidate in order to oppose Mamdani’s popular message.

We also discuss the so-called Big Beautiful Bill - which should be called the Big Billionaires’ Bill as it provides significant benefits for the top while attacking poor and working people. As of recording on Tuesday, July 1st, the bill has passed the Senate and is on the way to the House of Representatives.

Support the show

]]> What do Palantir, DoorDash, Bill Clinton and Michael Bloomberg have in common? They all joined the campaign against candidate Zohran Mamdani, the state Assemblymember who exceeded expectations and effectively won the Democratic NYC mayoral primary when Andrew Cuomo conceded around 11PM on election night. As of July 1st, with ranked choice calculations completed, Mamdani has officially won the primary.

A Cuomo-aligned super PAC, Fix the City, raised $20 million, much of which came through billionaire former mayor Michael Bloomberg. Food delivery service DoorDash donated a million dollars against Mamdani, who got the support of driver group Los Deliveristas Unidos, which organizes app-based delivery drivers.

But in the face of massive corporate backing against him and wild accusations of antisemitism and more, Mamdani will challenge current mayor Eric Adams who is running as an independent. The configuration of the race could drastically change before November as the ruling class tries to  consolidate around a candidate in order to oppose Mamdani’s popular message.

We also discuss the so-called Big Beautiful Bill - which should be called the Big Billionaires’ Bill as it provides significant benefits for the top while attacking poor and working people. As of recording on Tuesday, July 1st, the bill has passed the Senate and is on the way to the House of Representatives.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17433781 Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3200 full false Mahmoud Khalil Freed as Anti-War Movement in U.S. Celebrates and Grows Mahmoud Khalil Freed as Anti-War Movement in U.S. Celebrates and Grows Mahmoud Khalil is free! After spending 104 days unjustly held in an ICE detention center in Jena, Louisiana, he was reunited with his wife Noor, newborn son Deen and community over the weekend. At a press conference and rally at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine near Columbia University on Sunday, he said “I must call the hypocrisy of Columbia University, a university that just two weeks ago said that they want to protect their international students. Why? While over 100 [days] later, I haven’t received a single call from this university,” as he promised to continue his work in the movement for Palestine.

His release came after District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz ordered for him to be freed on Friday, the latest move in a long legal battle during which the Trump administration has tried to have him held indefinitely or just deported. The government has already appealed the decision, but the fact that Mahmoud Khalil is free is a legal and political victory that cannot be understated. 

On this episode, we also discuss developments in the quickly-unfolding situation between the U.S. and its imperialist outpost Israel on the one hand and Iran, after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

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]]> Mahmoud Khalil is free! After spending 104 days unjustly held in an ICE detention center in Jena, Louisiana, he was reunited with his wife Noor, newborn son Deen and community over the weekend. At a press conference and rally at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine near Columbia University on Sunday, he said “I must call the hypocrisy of Columbia University, a university that just two weeks ago said that they want to protect their international students. Why? While over 100 [days] later, I haven’t received a single call from this university,” as he promised to continue his work in the movement for Palestine.

His release came after District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz ordered for him to be freed on Friday, the latest move in a long legal battle during which the Trump administration has tried to have him held indefinitely or just deported. The government has already appealed the decision, but the fact that Mahmoud Khalil is free is a legal and political victory that cannot be understated. 

On this episode, we also discuss developments in the quickly-unfolding situation between the U.S. and its imperialist outpost Israel on the one hand and Iran, after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

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]]> Buzzsprout-17392929 Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3163 full false Make No Mistake: The U.S. Wants War with Iran Make No Mistake: The U.S. Wants War with Iran Donald Trump posted to his social media site Truth Social on Monday evening that “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” as he made an early departure from the G7 summit in Canada to “attend to many important matters,” according to the White House. The U.S. government is also moving the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz away from the South China Sea canceling a planned port call in Da Nang City, Vietnam scheduled for this week as the ship continues to move West towards the Arabian Sea where it could join the USS Carl Vinson carrier striker group. At least three Navy destroyers have been moved to the Mediterranean Sea over the past week, including the USS Thomas Hudner.

This happens at the same time that the U.S. is claiming it won’t directly join Israel’s war on Iran, reignited last Thursday when Israel bombed the country, but the military moves both signify that Israel is unable to defend itself militarily, and that the U.S. is preparing for its own offensive role in the conflict.

It’s also increasingly clear that despite initial claims to the contrary, the U.S. government knew and approved of Israel’s plans, really making this a US-Israeli war. In fact, Donald Trump himself said to the Wall Street Journal a few days ago, “It wasn’t a head up. It was – we know what’s going on.”

The war against Iran isn’t just Trump’s and Netanyahu’s war. It’s part of a long offensive against the country for maintaining independence from the imperialist world system, and for being a stalwart supporter of the Palestinian people.

Are we yet again on the verge of yet another regime change attempt by the United States in Iran as Trump threatens Ayatollah Ali Khamenhei? Have Israel and the US put the world on the verge of a new World War by igniting a regional conflict that could spread like wildfire? 

Find an action against the war in Iran at answercoalition.org/iran. 

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]]> Donald Trump posted to his social media site Truth Social on Monday evening that “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” as he made an early departure from the G7 summit in Canada to “attend to many important matters,” according to the White House. The U.S. government is also moving the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz away from the South China Sea canceling a planned port call in Da Nang City, Vietnam scheduled for this week as the ship continues to move West towards the Arabian Sea where it could join the USS Carl Vinson carrier striker group. At least three Navy destroyers have been moved to the Mediterranean Sea over the past week, including the USS Thomas Hudner.

This happens at the same time that the U.S. is claiming it won’t directly join Israel’s war on Iran, reignited last Thursday when Israel bombed the country, but the military moves both signify that Israel is unable to defend itself militarily, and that the U.S. is preparing for its own offensive role in the conflict.

It’s also increasingly clear that despite initial claims to the contrary, the U.S. government knew and approved of Israel’s plans, really making this a US-Israeli war. In fact, Donald Trump himself said to the Wall Street Journal a few days ago, “It wasn’t a head up. It was – we know what’s going on.”

The war against Iran isn’t just Trump’s and Netanyahu’s war. It’s part of a long offensive against the country for maintaining independence from the imperialist world system, and for being a stalwart supporter of the Palestinian people.

Are we yet again on the verge of yet another regime change attempt by the United States in Iran as Trump threatens Ayatollah Ali Khamenhei? Have Israel and the US put the world on the verge of a new World War by igniting a regional conflict that could spread like wildfire? 

Find an action against the war in Iran at answercoalition.org/iran. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17355070 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3159 full false The LA Uprising and Trump’s Authoritarian Agenda The LA Uprising and Trump’s Authoritarian Agenda Over the weekend, ICE agents invaded Los Angeles and its suburbs, kidnapping dozens of people on Friday and threatening more near a Home Depot on Saturday. These masked and heavily-armed forces are part of Trump’s promised 30-day surge in anti-immigrant attacks in the LA area. But wherever there is repression, there is resistance - and the people of LA are fighting back. The community in LA and the suburbs continues its anti-deportation mobilization as we record this episode.

Donald Trump has sent thousands of federalized California National Guard troops to the area against the wishes of Governor Newsom, and under seemingly murky legal authority. US Northern Command announced Monday that at Trump’s order it sent 700 Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division from the base at Twentynine Palms, about 2 and a half hours from LA. Trump. The resulting legal and political battle happening at the same time as the pitched street battles and the solidarity and community defense mobilizations that are spreading across the country all but guarantee a larger crisis should Trump not back down.

We also react to the breaking news that the government is planning to send 8,000 people to “free up bed space at detention facilities on domestic American soil,” according to Politico.

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]]> Over the weekend, ICE agents invaded Los Angeles and its suburbs, kidnapping dozens of people on Friday and threatening more near a Home Depot on Saturday. These masked and heavily-armed forces are part of Trump’s promised 30-day surge in anti-immigrant attacks in the LA area. But wherever there is repression, there is resistance - and the people of LA are fighting back. The community in LA and the suburbs continues its anti-deportation mobilization as we record this episode.

Donald Trump has sent thousands of federalized California National Guard troops to the area against the wishes of Governor Newsom, and under seemingly murky legal authority. US Northern Command announced Monday that at Trump’s order it sent 700 Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division from the base at Twentynine Palms, about 2 and a half hours from LA. Trump. The resulting legal and political battle happening at the same time as the pitched street battles and the solidarity and community defense mobilizations that are spreading across the country all but guarantee a larger crisis should Trump not back down.

We also react to the breaking news that the government is planning to send 8,000 people to “free up bed space at detention facilities on domestic American soil,” according to Politico.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17315892 Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3145 full false Palantir, Surveillance and Technofascism Palantir, Surveillance and Technofascism Big data and surveillance tech firm Palantir is working with the U.S. government to bring its software into multiple government agencies under the Trump administration. In April, Wired reported that the company had a $30-million contract with ICE to provide “near real-time visibility” on immigrants in the country. Late in May, the New York Times revealed that the company is expanding its government work across agencies including the Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and more in $113 million in new contracts - on top of the $795 million they were just awarded by the Pentagon.

CIA-connected Palantir counts the Agency’s investment firm In-Q-Tel as an early backer, and was founded in 2003 by hardcore conservative libertarian Peter Thiel along with current CEO Alex Karp and two others. It’s worked with the U.S. government as well as allies in Ukraine, Israel, Australia and many private companies. Its growth as a private partner in the extension of U.S. government surveillance and data collection in the age of AI should be a cause of concern for all people no matter which party is in the White House.

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]]> Big data and surveillance tech firm Palantir is working with the U.S. government to bring its software into multiple government agencies under the Trump administration. In April, Wired reported that the company had a $30-million contract with ICE to provide “near real-time visibility” on immigrants in the country. Late in May, the New York Times revealed that the company is expanding its government work across agencies including the Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and more in $113 million in new contracts - on top of the $795 million they were just awarded by the Pentagon.

CIA-connected Palantir counts the Agency’s investment firm In-Q-Tel as an early backer, and was founded in 2003 by hardcore conservative libertarian Peter Thiel along with current CEO Alex Karp and two others. It’s worked with the U.S. government as well as allies in Ukraine, Israel, Australia and many private companies. Its growth as a private partner in the extension of U.S. government surveillance and data collection in the age of AI should be a cause of concern for all people no matter which party is in the White House.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17277278 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3064 full false NATO Dayton Assembly Exposes Outrageous War Spending NATO Dayton Assembly Exposes Outrageous War Spending NATO held its 2025 Parliamentary Assembly in Dayton, Ohio between May 22 and 26. Though it promotes itself as a force in defense of peace and security, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s history exposes its true purpose: propping up Western imperialism and hegemony. It’s an international body started with the goal of containing and threatening the Soviet Union, and since the fall of the USSR has expanded well out of its target areas of North America and the Northern Atlantic, causing death and destruction from Ukraine and Yugoslavia to Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and beyond

NATO is an existential threat to countries that seek to challenge the U.S.-centered status quo and manage their own path of development that doesn’t include subservience to the capitalist global order.

People from Dayton and around the area recognized the severity of this threat and called for protests outside the Parliamentary Assembly. CovertAction’s Rachel Hu was there to cover the events and reports on how the city spent millions of dollars on security, keeping residents away from the summit and holding extravagant fireworks events while people go hungry and don’t have their basic needs met on the ground.

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]]> NATO held its 2025 Parliamentary Assembly in Dayton, Ohio between May 22 and 26. Though it promotes itself as a force in defense of peace and security, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s history exposes its true purpose: propping up Western imperialism and hegemony. It’s an international body started with the goal of containing and threatening the Soviet Union, and since the fall of the USSR has expanded well out of its target areas of North America and the Northern Atlantic, causing death and destruction from Ukraine and Yugoslavia to Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and beyond

NATO is an existential threat to countries that seek to challenge the U.S.-centered status quo and manage their own path of development that doesn’t include subservience to the capitalist global order.

People from Dayton and around the area recognized the severity of this threat and called for protests outside the Parliamentary Assembly. CovertAction’s Rachel Hu was there to cover the events and reports on how the city spent millions of dollars on security, keeping residents away from the summit and holding extravagant fireworks events while people go hungry and don’t have their basic needs met on the ground.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17236728 Wed, 28 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3230 full false Does Trump Really Want Peace in Ukraine? Does Trump Really Want Peace in Ukraine? Donald Trump held phone calls with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, then announced that the two countries will “immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire” in the 3-year-long conflict between the two. His announcement also touted a goal of increased trade and economic ties with Russia. It also comes weeks after the U.S. and Ukraine signed what’s been called a “mineral for muscle” deal, giving the United States the ability to profit from Ukraine’s natural resources. While an end to the conflict that’s gone on for over 3 years now, and has its origins further back in recent history, is more than welcome, it’s important to understand how we got here and how the “peace” process is playing out. The way the Trump administration is going about this ceasefire isn’t really from a desire for peace, but a desire for greater control in the region overall - over both Russia and Ukraine - and the ability to focus the U.S. military on China.

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]]> Donald Trump held phone calls with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, then announced that the two countries will “immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire” in the 3-year-long conflict between the two. His announcement also touted a goal of increased trade and economic ties with Russia. It also comes weeks after the U.S. and Ukraine signed what’s been called a “mineral for muscle” deal, giving the United States the ability to profit from Ukraine’s natural resources. While an end to the conflict that’s gone on for over 3 years now, and has its origins further back in recent history, is more than welcome, it’s important to understand how we got here and how the “peace” process is playing out. The way the Trump administration is going about this ceasefire isn’t really from a desire for peace, but a desire for greater control in the region overall - over both Russia and Ukraine - and the ability to focus the U.S. military on China.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17192259 Wed, 21 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3065 full false Trump Advances Right-Wing Agenda At Home and Abroad Trump Advances Right-Wing Agenda At Home and Abroad On Tuesday, UnitedHealth Group announced that CEO Andrew Witty was stepping down. The announcement came from Witty as the company suspended its full-year financial outlook - because it believes that medical costs will be higher than forecast. UnitedHealth’s revenue was over $400 billion. The year before Witty became CEO in 2021, its revenue was $257 billion - that’s a 55% increase.

At the same time, the Trump administration’s 2026 budget will slash $880 billion in cuts to the critical programs of Medicare and Medicaid, while funding the military to an even higher level than requested by the Pentagon. Some of the cuts will come in the form of privatization, pushing recipients to private plans with Medicare Advantage - described by former Cigna executive Wendell Potter as “one of the biggest scams that we’ve seen in this country” because of significant fraud by the private companies that administer the plans.

From cuts to healthcare and other social services padding the pockets of the wealthy, to threats to eliminate habeas corpus and other key democratic rights, and into new moves on the international stage, the Trump administration is showing us an entire system in crisis and moving far to the right.

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]]> On Tuesday, UnitedHealth Group announced that CEO Andrew Witty was stepping down. The announcement came from Witty as the company suspended its full-year financial outlook - because it believes that medical costs will be higher than forecast. UnitedHealth’s revenue was over $400 billion. The year before Witty became CEO in 2021, its revenue was $257 billion - that’s a 55% increase.

At the same time, the Trump administration’s 2026 budget will slash $880 billion in cuts to the critical programs of Medicare and Medicaid, while funding the military to an even higher level than requested by the Pentagon. Some of the cuts will come in the form of privatization, pushing recipients to private plans with Medicare Advantage - described by former Cigna executive Wendell Potter as “one of the biggest scams that we’ve seen in this country” because of significant fraud by the private companies that administer the plans.

From cuts to healthcare and other social services padding the pockets of the wealthy, to threats to eliminate habeas corpus and other key democratic rights, and into new moves on the international stage, the Trump administration is showing us an entire system in crisis and moving far to the right.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17154891 Wed, 14 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3207 full false Genocidal Ben-Gvir Faces Resistance on U.S. Trip Genocidal Ben-Gvir Faces Resistance on U.S. Trip Israeli Minister of National Security and supporter of extremist, far-right policies Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the United States in late April. From the time he got off his plane in Florida and throughout events in New Haven, CT, New York City and Washington, DC, he was met with opposition, protest and resistance. Even some Zionist groups opposed his visit, which included stops at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago, a Jewish society tied to Yale university, the halls of Congress, and a fundraiser in New York. Ben-Gvir is a Kahanist, a follower of the rabbi Meir Kahane who supported and encouraged and was convicted of acts of terrorism in both Israel and the United States. He famously has a portrait of Baruch Goldstein in his living room, who killed 29 Palestinians in Hebron in 1994, and he repeats the calls of Goldstein and Kahane to expel all Palestinians from their homeland.

And following in those ideological footsteps, Israel’s government announced this week that it plans to seize Gaza entirely for the first time since it was forced to withdraw in 2005.

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]]> Israeli Minister of National Security and supporter of extremist, far-right policies Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the United States in late April. From the time he got off his plane in Florida and throughout events in New Haven, CT, New York City and Washington, DC, he was met with opposition, protest and resistance. Even some Zionist groups opposed his visit, which included stops at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago, a Jewish society tied to Yale university, the halls of Congress, and a fundraiser in New York. Ben-Gvir is a Kahanist, a follower of the rabbi Meir Kahane who supported and encouraged and was convicted of acts of terrorism in both Israel and the United States. He famously has a portrait of Baruch Goldstein in his living room, who killed 29 Palestinians in Hebron in 1994, and he repeats the calls of Goldstein and Kahane to expel all Palestinians from their homeland.

And following in those ideological footsteps, Israel’s government announced this week that it plans to seize Gaza entirely for the first time since it was forced to withdraw in 2005.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17111978 Wed, 07 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3172 full false Earth Day: War and Climate Change Threaten The Planet Earth Day: War and Climate Change Threaten The Planet April 20th marked the fifteenth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest oil spill in U.S. history, which killed 11 workers and spilled 134 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. For those who rely on fishing and related industries off the Gulf Coast, as well as for those who were involved in the recovery and cleanup efforts, real relief is still yet to come. The AP reports that “all but a handful of roughly 4,800 lawsuits seeking compensation for health problems linked to the spill have been dismissed and only one has been settled,” noting that in 2012 BP paid $67 million - about $1,300 each for nearly 80% of those seeking compensation. BP has since been forced to pay billions of dollars in fines.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to extend fossil fuel drilling and fracking even more than the Biden administration did. The nearly $1-trillion Pentagon budget is also a hotbed of climate- and life-destroying wastes of money, as the US prepares for great-power conflict with China.

This episode was recorded on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22nd, and we get into the lasting legacy of the Deepwater Horizon spill and much more.

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]]> April 20th marked the fifteenth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest oil spill in U.S. history, which killed 11 workers and spilled 134 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. For those who rely on fishing and related industries off the Gulf Coast, as well as for those who were involved in the recovery and cleanup efforts, real relief is still yet to come. The AP reports that “all but a handful of roughly 4,800 lawsuits seeking compensation for health problems linked to the spill have been dismissed and only one has been settled,” noting that in 2012 BP paid $67 million - about $1,300 each for nearly 80% of those seeking compensation. BP has since been forced to pay billions of dollars in fines.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to extend fossil fuel drilling and fracking even more than the Biden administration did. The nearly $1-trillion Pentagon budget is also a hotbed of climate- and life-destroying wastes of money, as the US prepares for great-power conflict with China.

This episode was recorded on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22nd, and we get into the lasting legacy of the Deepwater Horizon spill and much more.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-17024349 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3417 full false Kilmar Garcia Disappearance Triggers Constitutional Crisis Kilmar Garcia Disappearance Triggers Constitutional Crisis Mahmoud Khalil, likely days away from the birth of his first child, is still being held in Louisiana as his lawyers fight for his freedom after a judge ordered that he can be deported. Just Monday, Columbia student Moshen Mahdawi was detained by ICE during a regular interview as part of the citizenship process. Hundreds of students from more than 90 institutions across the country have had their student visas revoked.

And the Trump Administration is doubling down on the disappearance of hundreds to CECOT, the maximum-security prison in El Salvador. With Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele by his side on Monday in the White House, Trump suggested that US citizens could be sent to the notorious prison, saying “Homegrowns are next. The homegrowns. You gotta build about five more places. It’s not big enough.”

At the same meeting, Bukele said he would not return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who fled his home 14 years ago to escape gang violence and had an order granting him the right to stay in the United States. Garcia is married with three children and works as a first-year apprentice with SMART Local 100, the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union. The Trump administration is ignoring multiple courts who have said the deportation of Garcia must be overturned, including the Supreme Court.

Is a Constitutional crisis around the corner? Is it here? And what should we make of the threats to continue these deportations and disappearances and expand them to US citizens? 

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]]> Mahmoud Khalil, likely days away from the birth of his first child, is still being held in Louisiana as his lawyers fight for his freedom after a judge ordered that he can be deported. Just Monday, Columbia student Moshen Mahdawi was detained by ICE during a regular interview as part of the citizenship process. Hundreds of students from more than 90 institutions across the country have had their student visas revoked.

And the Trump Administration is doubling down on the disappearance of hundreds to CECOT, the maximum-security prison in El Salvador. With Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele by his side on Monday in the White House, Trump suggested that US citizens could be sent to the notorious prison, saying “Homegrowns are next. The homegrowns. You gotta build about five more places. It’s not big enough.”

At the same meeting, Bukele said he would not return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who fled his home 14 years ago to escape gang violence and had an order granting him the right to stay in the United States. Garcia is married with three children and works as a first-year apprentice with SMART Local 100, the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union. The Trump administration is ignoring multiple courts who have said the deportation of Garcia must be overturned, including the Supreme Court.

Is a Constitutional crisis around the corner? Is it here? And what should we make of the threats to continue these deportations and disappearances and expand them to US citizens? 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16985905 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3126 full false Negotiations Set: What do Trump & Netanyahu want with Iran? Negotiations Set: What do Trump & Netanyahu want with Iran? Talks are set to begin on April 12th in Oman between the United States and Iran about Iran’s nuclear program. The announcement was made as Benjamin Netanyahu left the White House after his second visit to DC in as many months. In a short video posted after the meeting in Hebrew with English subtitles, Netanyahu praised Donald Trump and said, “We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” adding that any such agreement coming out of these meetings would need to be “Libyan style” - where Iran destroys its nuclear program and submits to a foreign verification regime run by the United States.

The announcement of talks comes after diplomatic letters were exchanged between Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the US sent multiple B-2 bombers to the Diego Garcia base located in the Indian Ocean, within clear striking distance of Iran.

What do Netanyahu and Trump seek to get out of these talks? We get into how their approaches may differ, but they have the same goal. And then, we discuss mass protests that happened over the weekend in DC and across the country.

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]]> Talks are set to begin on April 12th in Oman between the United States and Iran about Iran’s nuclear program. The announcement was made as Benjamin Netanyahu left the White House after his second visit to DC in as many months. In a short video posted after the meeting in Hebrew with English subtitles, Netanyahu praised Donald Trump and said, “We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” adding that any such agreement coming out of these meetings would need to be “Libyan style” - where Iran destroys its nuclear program and submits to a foreign verification regime run by the United States.

The announcement of talks comes after diplomatic letters were exchanged between Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the US sent multiple B-2 bombers to the Diego Garcia base located in the Indian Ocean, within clear striking distance of Iran.

What do Netanyahu and Trump seek to get out of these talks? We get into how their approaches may differ, but they have the same goal. And then, we discuss mass protests that happened over the weekend in DC and across the country.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16941868 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3127 full false Movement at a Turning Point: All Out for Palestine! Movement at a Turning Point: All Out for Palestine! After breaking the ceasefire deal, Israel is continuing its ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and beyond, and threatening to further ignite wider conflict by bombing Syria and Lebanon. In just one 48-hour period after the end of the ceasefire, a combination of bombings from the air and a ground invasion killed over 500 Palestinians in just 48 hours. Though both countries are increasingly isolated in public opinion and on the world stage, the U.S. government continues to provide full financial, political, diplomatic, material and military support to its genocidal client regime.

The movement in the United States against genocide has been met first with contempt, mockery and dismissal, and then with outright attacks. The disappearances and government kidnappings of student leaders like Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Badar Khan Suri, and too many others come with promises of more from the Trump administration, which has revoked the student visas of at least 300 international students for exercising the right to free speech and for taking a stand against genocide. Rather than be silenced and deterred, the movement is continuing on and strengthening. A Gallup poll released last month shows that support among Americans for Israel is at its lowest point in 25 years, with just 46% saying their “sympathies in the Middle East situation” are with Israelis rather than Palestinians. That poll was taken in early February, before Israel broke the ceasefire and before Mahmoud Khalil was taken by the government.

The work of the Palestine solidarity movement has taken on many flavors. From rallies and protests to blockades and disruptions of politicians, art shows and benefit concerts to boycotts and encampments and so much more, we are at an historic point in the struggle for justice, against genocide and for Palestinian liberation. Last week, the film The Encampments opened in New York City to packed theaters and rave reviews. Featuring Mahmoud Khalil and others, The Encampments blows away the mainstream narratives of what started on Columbia’s campus in April 2024 and spread across the country and the world. It exposes the University administration and New York government for their treatment of people calling for an end to genocide, showing exclusive footage taken in the encampment. The film is currently or soon will be showing in about a dozen states across the country, with more to come.

And on Saturday, April 5th, a mass march on Washington will demand a permanent ceasefire, an arms embargo against Israel and an end to repression of anti-genocide activists. Buses are headed to DC from as far away as New Hampshire, Michigan and Tampa, Florida for the event organized by a broad coalition that includes the Palestinian Youth Movement, The People’s Forum, ANSWER Coalition, DSA, Jewish Voice for Peace, American Muslims for Palestine and many more.

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]]> After breaking the ceasefire deal, Israel is continuing its ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and beyond, and threatening to further ignite wider conflict by bombing Syria and Lebanon. In just one 48-hour period after the end of the ceasefire, a combination of bombings from the air and a ground invasion killed over 500 Palestinians in just 48 hours. Though both countries are increasingly isolated in public opinion and on the world stage, the U.S. government continues to provide full financial, political, diplomatic, material and military support to its genocidal client regime.

The movement in the United States against genocide has been met first with contempt, mockery and dismissal, and then with outright attacks. The disappearances and government kidnappings of student leaders like Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Badar Khan Suri, and too many others come with promises of more from the Trump administration, which has revoked the student visas of at least 300 international students for exercising the right to free speech and for taking a stand against genocide. Rather than be silenced and deterred, the movement is continuing on and strengthening. A Gallup poll released last month shows that support among Americans for Israel is at its lowest point in 25 years, with just 46% saying their “sympathies in the Middle East situation” are with Israelis rather than Palestinians. That poll was taken in early February, before Israel broke the ceasefire and before Mahmoud Khalil was taken by the government.

The work of the Palestine solidarity movement has taken on many flavors. From rallies and protests to blockades and disruptions of politicians, art shows and benefit concerts to boycotts and encampments and so much more, we are at an historic point in the struggle for justice, against genocide and for Palestinian liberation. Last week, the film The Encampments opened in New York City to packed theaters and rave reviews. Featuring Mahmoud Khalil and others, The Encampments blows away the mainstream narratives of what started on Columbia’s campus in April 2024 and spread across the country and the world. It exposes the University administration and New York government for their treatment of people calling for an end to genocide, showing exclusive footage taken in the encampment. The film is currently or soon will be showing in about a dozen states across the country, with more to come.

And on Saturday, April 5th, a mass march on Washington will demand a permanent ceasefire, an arms embargo against Israel and an end to repression of anti-genocide activists. Buses are headed to DC from as far away as New Hampshire, Michigan and Tampa, Florida for the event organized by a broad coalition that includes the Palestinian Youth Movement, The People’s Forum, ANSWER Coalition, DSA, Jewish Voice for Peace, American Muslims for Palestine and many more.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16900830 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3289 full false Signal Leaks & JFK Files: What’s Happening Behind Closed Doors Signal Leaks & JFK Files: What’s Happening Behind Closed Doors Tens of thousands of new and newly-unredacted documents related to the killings of JFK Jr, his brother RFK and Martin Luther King Jr have been released over the past week. While historians and journalists are still pouring over the files to see what new historical information can be learned from them it’s becoming clear that there’s no smoking gun - no document changing the official narrative of the JFK assassination. But we are learning more about CIA tradecraft as well as a number of clandestine US operations against Cuba and the USSR.

We also discuss Monday’s revelation that the Trump White House was using Signal group chats with disappearing messages to plan the March 15 bombing of Yemen.

Finally, Rachel speaks about a new documentary film premiering this week at the Angelika Theater in New York about the student movement against the genocide in Gaza - The Encampments.

Support the show

]]> Tens of thousands of new and newly-unredacted documents related to the killings of JFK Jr, his brother RFK and Martin Luther King Jr have been released over the past week. While historians and journalists are still pouring over the files to see what new historical information can be learned from them it’s becoming clear that there’s no smoking gun - no document changing the official narrative of the JFK assassination. But we are learning more about CIA tradecraft as well as a number of clandestine US operations against Cuba and the USSR.

We also discuss Monday’s revelation that the Trump White House was using Signal group chats with disappearing messages to plan the March 15 bombing of Yemen.

Finally, Rachel speaks about a new documentary film premiering this week at the Angelika Theater in New York about the student movement against the genocide in Gaza - The Encampments.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16860389 Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3114 full false Israel and U.S. Resume Genocide of Palestinians Israel and U.S. Resume Genocide of Palestinians The Israeli government, with the full backing of the White House, has completely thrown out the January ceasefire and negotiations and resumed the genocidal bombing campaign against Palestinians in Gaza, which may be followed up by a full-scale ground invasion. Over 400 people were killed, including over 170 children, in Israeli air strikes on Monday night. It was the deadliest nights of the last 15 months in Gaza, since November 7, 2023, and the death toll may end up being significantly higher.

Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened that “this is only the beginning,” and the Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that the attacks are “not a one-day operation” of its war to exterminate or expel the Palestinian people, Protests across the country and the world are responding to the latest Israeli attack, which could not have been carried out with political and military support from the United States - including the F-16 and F-35 planes that are continuing to drop bombs as we record.

On this episode, we discuss how Israel destroyed the ceasefire, how the ruling class wants the detention of Mahmoud Khalil and attacks on other Palestine solidarity activists to have a chilling effect on protests, the use of the Alien Enemies Act against Venezuelan immigrants, and we honor AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein.

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]]> The Israeli government, with the full backing of the White House, has completely thrown out the January ceasefire and negotiations and resumed the genocidal bombing campaign against Palestinians in Gaza, which may be followed up by a full-scale ground invasion. Over 400 people were killed, including over 170 children, in Israeli air strikes on Monday night. It was the deadliest nights of the last 15 months in Gaza, since November 7, 2023, and the death toll may end up being significantly higher.

Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened that “this is only the beginning,” and the Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that the attacks are “not a one-day operation” of its war to exterminate or expel the Palestinian people, Protests across the country and the world are responding to the latest Israeli attack, which could not have been carried out with political and military support from the United States - including the F-16 and F-35 planes that are continuing to drop bombs as we record.

On this episode, we discuss how Israel destroyed the ceasefire, how the ruling class wants the detention of Mahmoud Khalil and attacks on other Palestine solidarity activists to have a chilling effect on protests, the use of the Alien Enemies Act against Venezuelan immigrants, and we honor AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16818929 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3235 full false Free Mahmoud Khalil! Free Mahmoud Khalil! Over the weekend, federal agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent legal resident of the United States, and said they were stripping him of his permanent resident status and going to deport him back to Palestine. During the student encampments and protests at Columbia University last year, Khalil was a public figure involved in negotiating with the University’s administration on behalf of Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

Though the Trump administration is promising more arrests and deportations of those in the Palestine solidarity movement and beyond, the move has been met with action and resistance inside the courts and in the streets. A federal judge has temporarily halted the deportation, and over two and a half million people have signed a petition demanding Khalil’s immediate release. Protests, rallies, teach-ins and walk-outs are scheduled to happen all week.

Click here to sign the petition demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil.

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]]> Over the weekend, federal agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent legal resident of the United States, and said they were stripping him of his permanent resident status and going to deport him back to Palestine. During the student encampments and protests at Columbia University last year, Khalil was a public figure involved in negotiating with the University’s administration on behalf of Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

Though the Trump administration is promising more arrests and deportations of those in the Palestine solidarity movement and beyond, the move has been met with action and resistance inside the courts and in the streets. A federal judge has temporarily halted the deportation, and over two and a half million people have signed a petition demanding Khalil’s immediate release. Protests, rallies, teach-ins and walk-outs are scheduled to happen all week.

Click here to sign the petition demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16776067 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3160 full false Trump’s “Peace” in Ukraine Prepares US for War with China Trump’s “Peace” in Ukraine Prepares US for War with China Following up on last week's show where we discussed the quickly-changing dynamics of U.S.-European relationships under Donald Trump, we look at the “peace deal” Trump has penned with Ukraine that reportedly includes significant mineral rights for the U.S. we focus on how the Ukraine conflict and its possible end reflect the shifting focus of U.S. imperialism. Ukrainians have been used as pawns in this war and in the conflicts that precipitated it, and as we’ll get into, the U.S. government is ready to move on - not to peace, but in fact to another war, this time with China.

We’re joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of LiberationNews.org.

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]]> Following up on last week's show where we discussed the quickly-changing dynamics of U.S.-European relationships under Donald Trump, we look at the “peace deal” Trump has penned with Ukraine that reportedly includes significant mineral rights for the U.S. we focus on how the Ukraine conflict and its possible end reflect the shifting focus of U.S. imperialism. Ukrainians have been used as pawns in this war and in the conflicts that precipitated it, and as we’ll get into, the U.S. government is ready to move on - not to peace, but in fact to another war, this time with China.

We’re joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of LiberationNews.org.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16735042 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500 1582 full false The U.S., Europe and the Growing Right-Wing Threat The U.S., Europe and the Growing Right-Wing Threat As the Trump administration openly threatens historic American allies in Europe, weighs in on German elections in favor of the far-right, and pushes the idea of MEGA - Make Europe Great Again - it’s becoming increasingly clear that the relationships and dynamic between the US and Western Europe is changing at a scale we haven’t seen in almost a century. The uneasy transatlantic alliance could be at risk of unraveling, and these tensions could reshape geopolitics for years. But what exactly is the Western US/European-based order, and how did it come to be in such a fragile state?

We also discuss the history of Futurism, the fascist movement that inspires billionaires like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and others, as well as Apple capitulating to the UK government’s war against encryption.

And finally, we honor the memory of Aaron Bushnell on the one year anniversary of his self-immolation in protest of the US-Israeli genocide in Palestine.

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]]> As the Trump administration openly threatens historic American allies in Europe, weighs in on German elections in favor of the far-right, and pushes the idea of MEGA - Make Europe Great Again - it’s becoming increasingly clear that the relationships and dynamic between the US and Western Europe is changing at a scale we haven’t seen in almost a century. The uneasy transatlantic alliance could be at risk of unraveling, and these tensions could reshape geopolitics for years. But what exactly is the Western US/European-based order, and how did it come to be in such a fragile state?

We also discuss the history of Futurism, the fascist movement that inspires billionaires like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and others, as well as Apple capitulating to the UK government’s war against encryption.

And finally, we honor the memory of Aaron Bushnell on the one year anniversary of his self-immolation in protest of the US-Israeli genocide in Palestine.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16693525 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3100 full false Will Trump and McMahon Dismantle Public Education? Will Trump and McMahon Dismantle Public Education? Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, a former executive with World Wrestling Entertainment and twice-failed Senate candidate as well as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration under his first term, to lead the Department of Education. Speaking about her nomination in early February, Trump said he wants her to put herself out of a job - to shutter the US Department of Education.

McMahon is wholly unqualified to run the Department. The nomination of this multi-billionaire serves the interests of those who want to roll back the basic right to an education for all people, a right that is steeped in working-class and especially Black history in this country.

We’re joined today by Nathalie Hrizi. Vice President of Substitutes for United Educators of SF and long-time public school teacher.

Later in the show, we discuss the threats posed by the CIA flying Reaper drones over Mexico, and we celebrate the release of political prisoner Leonard Peltier.

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]]> Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, a former executive with World Wrestling Entertainment and twice-failed Senate candidate as well as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration under his first term, to lead the Department of Education. Speaking about her nomination in early February, Trump said he wants her to put herself out of a job - to shutter the US Department of Education.

McMahon is wholly unqualified to run the Department. The nomination of this multi-billionaire serves the interests of those who want to roll back the basic right to an education for all people, a right that is steeped in working-class and especially Black history in this country.

We’re joined today by Nathalie Hrizi. Vice President of Substitutes for United Educators of SF and long-time public school teacher.

Later in the show, we discuss the threats posed by the CIA flying Reaper drones over Mexico, and we celebrate the release of political prisoner Leonard Peltier.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16649983 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3075 full false Trump, Netanyahu Threaten Gaza Trump, Netanyahu Threaten Gaza After Hamas submitted a two-page report documenting multiple violations of the tense ceasefire in place since January 19, and said it would on its end delay the release of some hostages until the issues are resolved, the Israeli government is now ramping up for another phase of all-out war against the Palestinian people. Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that if all Israeli hostages are not released by Saturday the 15th, he would “let all hell break loose.”

The developments also come days after Donald Trump claims that there is no right of return for Palestinians, who have been fighting for their homeland since even before the Nakba, or catastrophe, in 1948. He boasted of creating a “riviera of the Middle East” in Gaza, along with American and Israeli real estate developers. Some versions of the proposed plan being pushed by hardcore Zionists would force Gazans in particular to the island of Soctra, southwest of Yemen, eerily reminiscent of the Nazi plans to deport German Jews to Madagascar drawn up by Adolf Eichmann in 1940.

As imperialism brings the world closer to regional and possibly global conflict once again, we’re going to get into what’s happening in the Middle East, the White House and beyond.

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]]> After Hamas submitted a two-page report documenting multiple violations of the tense ceasefire in place since January 19, and said it would on its end delay the release of some hostages until the issues are resolved, the Israeli government is now ramping up for another phase of all-out war against the Palestinian people. Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that if all Israeli hostages are not released by Saturday the 15th, he would “let all hell break loose.”

The developments also come days after Donald Trump claims that there is no right of return for Palestinians, who have been fighting for their homeland since even before the Nakba, or catastrophe, in 1948. He boasted of creating a “riviera of the Middle East” in Gaza, along with American and Israeli real estate developers. Some versions of the proposed plan being pushed by hardcore Zionists would force Gazans in particular to the island of Soctra, southwest of Yemen, eerily reminiscent of the Nazi plans to deport German Jews to Madagascar drawn up by Adolf Eichmann in 1940.

As imperialism brings the world closer to regional and possibly global conflict once again, we’re going to get into what’s happening in the Middle East, the White House and beyond.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16606045 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3192 full false USAID Should Be Shut Down - For Real USAID Should Be Shut Down - For Real Over the weekend and early into this week, Elon Musk’s so-called DOGE, Department of Government Efficiency, effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development on a temporary basis. Musk, Donald Trump and their lackeys attacked USAID because they claim it’s a “viper’s nest of radical-left [m]arxists who hate America,” to quote a Musk post on X, saying it’s a corrupt organization that promotes so-called DEI across the world and is used to waste money.

But behind the scenes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now the Acting Director of USAID, which is to be reconstituted under his State Department. Rubio, a fierce hawk when it comes to Cuba, Venezuela, China and beyond, will now be in charge of whatever comes up from the rubble.

USAID absolutely should be shut down, for real and for good, not just moved from one spot on the government org chart to another. It’s an arm of US soft power, often operating as a front for funding counter-revolutionary activity under the guise of aid or democracy programs.

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]]> Over the weekend and early into this week, Elon Musk’s so-called DOGE, Department of Government Efficiency, effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development on a temporary basis. Musk, Donald Trump and their lackeys attacked USAID because they claim it’s a “viper’s nest of radical-left [m]arxists who hate America,” to quote a Musk post on X, saying it’s a corrupt organization that promotes so-called DEI across the world and is used to waste money.

But behind the scenes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now the Acting Director of USAID, which is to be reconstituted under his State Department. Rubio, a fierce hawk when it comes to Cuba, Venezuela, China and beyond, will now be in charge of whatever comes up from the rubble.

USAID absolutely should be shut down, for real and for good, not just moved from one spot on the government org chart to another. It’s an arm of US soft power, often operating as a front for funding counter-revolutionary activity under the guise of aid or democracy programs.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16565330 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3123 full false LA Fires: Natural Disaster Made Worse By Capitalism LA Fires: Natural Disaster Made Worse By Capitalism After getting rain over the weekend, three of the main fires devastating the Los Angeles area are nearly 100% contained, meaning that firefighters have been able to create barriers around the fires. But the Palisades Fire, the Eaton fire and the Hughes fire continue to burn a combined nearly 48,000 acres of land. And to the south, just a few miles north of Tijuana Mexico, the Border 2 Fire has burned over 6,600 acres and is only 74% contained.

More than two dozen people have been killed as a result of the fires since they started in early January. Over 200,000 have been forced to evacuate, and tens of thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed.

Rachel was in Los Angeles recently reporting on the fires, their causes, and the response of both the government and the people on the ground. While wildfires are often covered as only natural disasters and the victims of the fires are portrayed as helpless figures, the reality is much more damning for the capitalist system that refuses to take public safety, climate change and disaster recovery for working people seriously. 

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]]> After getting rain over the weekend, three of the main fires devastating the Los Angeles area are nearly 100% contained, meaning that firefighters have been able to create barriers around the fires. But the Palisades Fire, the Eaton fire and the Hughes fire continue to burn a combined nearly 48,000 acres of land. And to the south, just a few miles north of Tijuana Mexico, the Border 2 Fire has burned over 6,600 acres and is only 74% contained.

More than two dozen people have been killed as a result of the fires since they started in early January. Over 200,000 have been forced to evacuate, and tens of thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed.

Rachel was in Los Angeles recently reporting on the fires, their causes, and the response of both the government and the people on the ground. While wildfires are often covered as only natural disasters and the victims of the fires are portrayed as helpless figures, the reality is much more damning for the capitalist system that refuses to take public safety, climate change and disaster recovery for working people seriously. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16523275 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3302 full false Trump Inauguration Met With Nationwide Protest Trump Inauguration Met With Nationwide Protest Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday was met with protests around the country. As he immediately launched attacks on immigrants, the environment, LGBTQ people, labor and beyond, people took to the streets in opposition, pledging to continue organizing to defend the oppressed against the onslaught of attacks from Trump and the billionaires.

On this episode, we get into some of the many executive orders that Trump put out on his first day in office. We also analyze the foreign leaders he did - and didn’t - invite to his inauguration, highlighting the presence of the European far right in the form of parties like the German AfD. And we talk about the protests connecting struggles from coast to coast and across the world.

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]]> Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday was met with protests around the country. As he immediately launched attacks on immigrants, the environment, LGBTQ people, labor and beyond, people took to the streets in opposition, pledging to continue organizing to defend the oppressed against the onslaught of attacks from Trump and the billionaires.

On this episode, we get into some of the many executive orders that Trump put out on his first day in office. We also analyze the foreign leaders he did - and didn’t - invite to his inauguration, highlighting the presence of the European far right in the form of parties like the German AfD. And we talk about the protests connecting struggles from coast to coast and across the world.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16480030 Wed, 22 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3066 full false Whistleblowers And Activists Speak: What Can We Expect from Intelligence Agencies Under Trump? Whistleblowers And Activists Speak: What Can We Expect from Intelligence Agencies Under Trump? On January 13th, CovertAction Magazine held a webinar featuring whistleblowers and activists who formerly have served in various U.S intelligence agencies to discuss their perspectives on what to expect from those agencies and beyond under Donald Trump. On today’s show, we bring you part of the webinar, which featured John Kiriakou, Coleen Rowley, Ray McGovern and Larry Johnson, and was moderated by Jeremy Kuzmarov.

To watch the full panel, including Kuzmarov’s introduction, Johnson’s presentation and the Q&A we couldn’t fit on an episode, visit CovertAction Magazine on YouTube. 

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]]> On January 13th, CovertAction Magazine held a webinar featuring whistleblowers and activists who formerly have served in various U.S intelligence agencies to discuss their perspectives on what to expect from those agencies and beyond under Donald Trump. On today’s show, we bring you part of the webinar, which featured John Kiriakou, Coleen Rowley, Ray McGovern and Larry Johnson, and was moderated by Jeremy Kuzmarov.

To watch the full panel, including Kuzmarov’s introduction, Johnson’s presentation and the Q&A we couldn’t fit on an episode, visit CovertAction Magazine on YouTube. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16438611 Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3268 full false The Media’s Real Agenda On The Alleged ISIS Attack The Media’s Real Agenda On The Alleged ISIS Attack Early on New Year’s Day, a truck drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, resulting in dozens of injuries and at least 14 deaths. The alleged attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police. Immediately, the media and government seized on supposed and self-described connections with ISIS with no critical thought towards what they’re calling a terrorist attack.

On this episode, we interrogate who benefits from this framing, what else is behind this story and how it’s being used by the system to prop up the war drive as well as Islamophobia and anti-immigrant hate in the context of the Biden-Trump transition and beyond. We’re joined for the conversation by Syed, a human rights activist and local organizer with Al-Awda in Houston.

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]]> Early on New Year’s Day, a truck drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, resulting in dozens of injuries and at least 14 deaths. The alleged attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police. Immediately, the media and government seized on supposed and self-described connections with ISIS with no critical thought towards what they’re calling a terrorist attack.

On this episode, we interrogate who benefits from this framing, what else is behind this story and how it’s being used by the system to prop up the war drive as well as Islamophobia and anti-immigrant hate in the context of the Biden-Trump transition and beyond. We’re joined for the conversation by Syed, a human rights activist and local organizer with Al-Awda in Houston.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16393574 Wed, 08 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500 3203 full false Deny, Delay, Depose: The Tragedy of Health Insurance in the U.S. Deny, Delay, Depose: The Tragedy of Health Insurance in the U.S. When UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed on December 4th in New York, the casings of the bullets used to kill him had “deny”, “delay” and “depose” written on them. These so-called “three Ds” of the insurance industry describe how companies go out of their way to get out of paying claims.

Even before a suspect was identified and arrested, popular sentiment was broadly with the shooter. The health insurance industry in the United States is so hated that people sympathized with the motives they ascribed to the shooter. Defying the traditional left-right political poles, the real division came through: working-class people all over the political spectrum who have experience with the health insurance industry could at least understand why someone would commit this act.

To look more at what the shooting tells us about society, we’re joined today by Jacquie Luqman, host of Darker than Blue on WPFW radio.

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]]> When UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed on December 4th in New York, the casings of the bullets used to kill him had “deny”, “delay” and “depose” written on them. These so-called “three Ds” of the insurance industry describe how companies go out of their way to get out of paying claims.

Even before a suspect was identified and arrested, popular sentiment was broadly with the shooter. The health insurance industry in the United States is so hated that people sympathized with the motives they ascribed to the shooter. Defying the traditional left-right political poles, the real division came through: working-class people all over the political spectrum who have experience with the health insurance industry could at least understand why someone would commit this act.

To look more at what the shooting tells us about society, we’re joined today by Jacquie Luqman, host of Darker than Blue on WPFW radio.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16291496 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3132 full false South Korea Fights Back Martial Law South Korea Fights Back Martial Law Calls for the resignation of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have rung out from civil society and beyond after Yoon declared martial law on December 3rd. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) called for strikes until Yoon steps down, and groups under and beyond that organization are heeding the call.

Yoon’s brief and apparently sudden declaration of martial law caused many to protest outside of the National Assembly chanting “Abolish Martial Law! Down with Dictatorship!” The members of that body who were able to get into the building without being blocked by troops voted unanimously against the decree, with the chair declaring it to be “invalid” after their vote.

Yoon claimed that the measure was necessary “as an act of national resolve against the anti-state forces” and that he would target “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces.” Now, an arrest warrant has been filed against the former Defense Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, alleging that he collaborated with Yoon and intended to cause an insurrection.

To talk about this still-developing story and help us understand the history, Yoon’s relationship with the U.S., what these events mean for popular movements in South Korea and the prospects for Korean reunification, we’re joined by Jia Hong, a member of Nodutdol. Learn more about Nodutdol’s US Out of Korea campaign here.

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]]> Calls for the resignation of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have rung out from civil society and beyond after Yoon declared martial law on December 3rd. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) called for strikes until Yoon steps down, and groups under and beyond that organization are heeding the call.

Yoon’s brief and apparently sudden declaration of martial law caused many to protest outside of the National Assembly chanting “Abolish Martial Law! Down with Dictatorship!” The members of that body who were able to get into the building without being blocked by troops voted unanimously against the decree, with the chair declaring it to be “invalid” after their vote.

Yoon claimed that the measure was necessary “as an act of national resolve against the anti-state forces” and that he would target “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces.” Now, an arrest warrant has been filed against the former Defense Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, alleging that he collaborated with Yoon and intended to cause an insurrection.

To talk about this still-developing story and help us understand the history, Yoon’s relationship with the U.S., what these events mean for popular movements in South Korea and the prospects for Korean reunification, we’re joined by Jia Hong, a member of Nodutdol. Learn more about Nodutdol’s US Out of Korea campaign here.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16257653 Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1955 full false Syria: A History of Proxy Wars & US Imperialism Syria: A History of Proxy Wars & US Imperialism At the end of November, groups aligned with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) or the “Levant Liberation Committee” and previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, launched significant attacks on the Syrian government in the Idlib and Aleppo regions, taking part of the city of Aleppo. The Syrian Arab Army has mobilized to push back against HTS.

The offensive of course comes within days of the ceasefire in Lebanon that we discussed in our last episode, but also after more than a decade of US-backed insurgent groups attempting to overthrow the Syrian government. Syria has long been a target of attempted coups, assassination attempts, regime change operations, sanctions and war. This legacy and the current Western-backed attempts to overthrow the Syrian government show us why there is a critical need for anti-imperialist politics in the anti-war movement in the United States.

To dive into this history and what's happening today, we’re joined by Taylor Gol, an anti-war organizer who is originally from Türkiye.

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]]> At the end of November, groups aligned with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) or the “Levant Liberation Committee” and previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, launched significant attacks on the Syrian government in the Idlib and Aleppo regions, taking part of the city of Aleppo. The Syrian Arab Army has mobilized to push back against HTS.

The offensive of course comes within days of the ceasefire in Lebanon that we discussed in our last episode, but also after more than a decade of US-backed insurgent groups attempting to overthrow the Syrian government. Syria has long been a target of attempted coups, assassination attempts, regime change operations, sanctions and war. This legacy and the current Western-backed attempts to overthrow the Syrian government show us why there is a critical need for anti-imperialist politics in the anti-war movement in the United States.

To dive into this history and what's happening today, we’re joined by Taylor Gol, an anti-war organizer who is originally from Türkiye.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16218181 Wed, 04 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3114 full false What does the Lebanon ceasefire mean? What does the Lebanon ceasefire mean? On Tuesday afternoon, the Israeli security cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the cabinet and then with a pre-recorded video addressed the Israeli public, expressing his support for the deal. But in the leadup to the security cabinet vote, and while Netanyahu was making his case in support of the deal, Israel has been engaging in some of its heaviest bombardment of southern Lebanon since mid-September. On Monday the 26th, attacks killed 55 people and injured 160 in Lebanon. And on Tuesday, the IDF launched an intense blitz of 20 bombings in just 2 minutes, then later in the day bombed an apartment building in Hamra, a commercial area of Beirut.

Over 3,800 people have been killed in Lebanon and nearly 16,000 wounded by the IDF since October 7, 2023.

In making his public case for the ceasefire, which is a much-needed development to give reprieve to the people of Southern Lebanon, Netanyahu gave three reasons: First, to “focus on the Iranian threat.” Second, to “give our forces a breather and replenish stocks,” referring to the IDF. And third, to “separate the fronts” in the war.

To make sense of these breaking developments and put them into an appropriate historical context, we’re joined by Richard Becker. He’s an anti-imperialist activist and organizer and the author of Palestine, Israel and the US Empire, which you can find at 1804 Books.

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]]> On Tuesday afternoon, the Israeli security cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the cabinet and then with a pre-recorded video addressed the Israeli public, expressing his support for the deal. But in the leadup to the security cabinet vote, and while Netanyahu was making his case in support of the deal, Israel has been engaging in some of its heaviest bombardment of southern Lebanon since mid-September. On Monday the 26th, attacks killed 55 people and injured 160 in Lebanon. And on Tuesday, the IDF launched an intense blitz of 20 bombings in just 2 minutes, then later in the day bombed an apartment building in Hamra, a commercial area of Beirut.

Over 3,800 people have been killed in Lebanon and nearly 16,000 wounded by the IDF since October 7, 2023.

In making his public case for the ceasefire, which is a much-needed development to give reprieve to the people of Southern Lebanon, Netanyahu gave three reasons: First, to “focus on the Iranian threat.” Second, to “give our forces a breather and replenish stocks,” referring to the IDF. And third, to “separate the fronts” in the war.

To make sense of these breaking developments and put them into an appropriate historical context, we’re joined by Richard Becker. He’s an anti-imperialist activist and organizer and the author of Palestine, Israel and the US Empire, which you can find at 1804 Books.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16180044 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3054 full false Movement Repression and the HR 9495 Bill Movement Repression and the HR 9495 Bill Shortly after we recorded our last episode and mentioned the bill, the House of Representatives tried and failed to vote on HR 9495, the “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act” bill. House Republicans tried to suspend the rules and push a vote through, and got 52 Democrats to vote with them, but weren’t able to get the ⅔ majority they needed under House procedural rules.

But HR 9495, also called the “nonprofit killer” bill, isn’t dead yet. If passed, it would allow the Trump administration to revoke an organization’s nonprofit status by simply saying the organization is connected to or supports terrorism. It’s another weapon the US government would have to attempt to crush dissent, targeting organizations standing up against the genocide in Gaza and many more. Civil society, activist, nonprofit and legal organizations from the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund to the National Council of Nonprofits, CAIR, ACLU and beyond have called for the bill to be rejected.

To understand where this bill comes from and what its impact would be, we’re joined today by Wassim Kanaan, a grass-roots-oriented advocate, focusing on direct advocacy and working with the community on high impact projects.

Wassim currently serves as the Chair-person for the New Jersey Chapter of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).

Support the show

]]> Shortly after we recorded our last episode and mentioned the bill, the House of Representatives tried and failed to vote on HR 9495, the “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act” bill. House Republicans tried to suspend the rules and push a vote through, and got 52 Democrats to vote with them, but weren’t able to get the ⅔ majority they needed under House procedural rules.

But HR 9495, also called the “nonprofit killer” bill, isn’t dead yet. If passed, it would allow the Trump administration to revoke an organization’s nonprofit status by simply saying the organization is connected to or supports terrorism. It’s another weapon the US government would have to attempt to crush dissent, targeting organizations standing up against the genocide in Gaza and many more. Civil society, activist, nonprofit and legal organizations from the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund to the National Council of Nonprofits, CAIR, ACLU and beyond have called for the bill to be rejected.

To understand where this bill comes from and what its impact would be, we’re joined today by Wassim Kanaan, a grass-roots-oriented advocate, focusing on direct advocacy and working with the community on high impact projects.

Wassim currently serves as the Chair-person for the New Jersey Chapter of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16137635 Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1817 full false Struggle Continues Under Trump Struggle Continues Under Trump Within days of winning the election, Donald Trump is already making announcements about who will - and won’t - be in his cabinet and influencing his administration. On today’s show, we’re going to take a look at what a second Trump term is going to look like. From Elon Musk being on calls with Trump and Zelenskyy to RFK having influence over health policy and beyond, workers in the US and around the world will be under attack on many fronts.

We’re joined later in the show by Walter Smolarek, producer of The Socialist Program, to talk about Trump’s foreign policy and in particular what his election means for the genocide in Gaza, conflict with China, and the war in Ukraine.

Support the show

]]> Within days of winning the election, Donald Trump is already making announcements about who will - and won’t - be in his cabinet and influencing his administration. On today’s show, we’re going to take a look at what a second Trump term is going to look like. From Elon Musk being on calls with Trump and Zelenskyy to RFK having influence over health policy and beyond, workers in the US and around the world will be under attack on many fronts.

We’re joined later in the show by Walter Smolarek, producer of The Socialist Program, to talk about Trump’s foreign policy and in particular what his election means for the genocide in Gaza, conflict with China, and the war in Ukraine.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16095538 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3130 full false Activists Take on Elections: No Votes for Genocide Activists Take on Elections: No Votes for Genocide We’re just days out from the US presidential elections. With many polls putting Trump and Harris within just a few points of each other, it’s easy to get caught up in the fear and uncertainty of the race as we continue to see horror after horror unfolding in Gaza and Lebanon as well as critical domestic crises like housing and infrastructure going unaddressed.

On this show, we’re focusing on the work of activists looking past the mainstream. They’ve been in the streets, they’ve pushed local resolutions, called for ceasefires and weapons embargoes, they’ve voted Uncommitted and called to abandon Biden and Harris and any candidate who won’t speak out against genocide. We talk with some organizers who have been building peoples’ movements for power and solidarity about how they view the elections, what they’ve been doing in the lead-up, and most importantly, we’ll hear what they’ll be doing on November 6 after all the ballots have been counted. 

We’re joined by Dr. Hassan Abdel Salam - co-founder of Abandon Biden, which is now Abandon Harris.

Later in the show, we discuss the No Votes for Genocide campaign with Francesca Maria, an organizer with the CT Palestine Solidarity Coalition and co-chair of Connecticut DSA.

Support the show

]]> We’re just days out from the US presidential elections. With many polls putting Trump and Harris within just a few points of each other, it’s easy to get caught up in the fear and uncertainty of the race as we continue to see horror after horror unfolding in Gaza and Lebanon as well as critical domestic crises like housing and infrastructure going unaddressed.

On this show, we’re focusing on the work of activists looking past the mainstream. They’ve been in the streets, they’ve pushed local resolutions, called for ceasefires and weapons embargoes, they’ve voted Uncommitted and called to abandon Biden and Harris and any candidate who won’t speak out against genocide. We talk with some organizers who have been building peoples’ movements for power and solidarity about how they view the elections, what they’ve been doing in the lead-up, and most importantly, we’ll hear what they’ll be doing on November 6 after all the ballots have been counted. 

We’re joined by Dr. Hassan Abdel Salam - co-founder of Abandon Biden, which is now Abandon Harris.

Later in the show, we discuss the No Votes for Genocide campaign with Francesca Maria, an organizer with the CT Palestine Solidarity Coalition and co-chair of Connecticut DSA.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-16014944 Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3278 full false U.S. Blockade Threatens Cuba’s Electric Grid U.S. Blockade Threatens Cuba’s Electric Grid The devastation of Hurricane Oscar, which hit Cuba on October 18th, has significantly worsened the deep crisis of the island’s electric grid. The U.S. government and its media lackeys are trying to blame the socialist government for supposed mismanagement of the country’s power system, but the reality is that the biggest contributor to the situation is the US blockade of Cuba.

On October 22nd, The People’s Forum published an open letter in the New York Times calling on President Biden to overturn the Trump administration’s anti-Cuba policies. Biden has 90 days left in his term to restore the Obama-era reforms and steps towards normalization that are desperately needed.

We talk more about the history of the criminal blockade and its impact on Cuba.

Support the show

]]> The devastation of Hurricane Oscar, which hit Cuba on October 18th, has significantly worsened the deep crisis of the island’s electric grid. The U.S. government and its media lackeys are trying to blame the socialist government for supposed mismanagement of the country’s power system, but the reality is that the biggest contributor to the situation is the US blockade of Cuba.

On October 22nd, The People’s Forum published an open letter in the New York Times calling on President Biden to overturn the Trump administration’s anti-Cuba policies. Biden has 90 days left in his term to restore the Obama-era reforms and steps towards normalization that are desperately needed.

We talk more about the history of the criminal blockade and its impact on Cuba.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15972647 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3264 full false A Handful of Billionaires are Causing Climate Chaos for the World A Handful of Billionaires are Causing Climate Chaos for the World Hurricane Milton approached the physical limits of what a hurricane can be before it made landfall, and this was driven in part by the fact that 13 major Western corporations are responsible for the deforestation of 17% of the Amazon rainforest over the last few decades.

The drastic effects of climate change are causing havoc across the globe. In the southeastern US and into Appalachia, hurricanes Helene and Milton have killed hundreds, left thousands without shelter and caused untold billions in damage. On the other side of the planet, parts of the Sahara desert flooded for the first time in nearly 50 years after intense rainstorms dropped 8 inches of rain in 2 days on parts of Morocco that don’t get more than an inch or so yearly. These storms and many other examples  are showing that no one is safe from so-called storms of the century that seem to be happening weekly.

Meanwhile, insurance companies in Florida have been denying claims even from people who have been paying for hurricane-specific policies, and big landlords and investors are looking to profit from these disasters by buying up more land - all while doing nothing to address the climate crisis.

We’re joined today Ali by Abdel-Qader, a Palestinian organizer and Tampa-based activist who’s involved in relief efforts on the ground, and Tina Landis, author of Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism.

Support the relief work in Florida by clicking here.
Find Tina’s book at 1804 books here.

Support the show

]]> Hurricane Milton approached the physical limits of what a hurricane can be before it made landfall, and this was driven in part by the fact that 13 major Western corporations are responsible for the deforestation of 17% of the Amazon rainforest over the last few decades.

The drastic effects of climate change are causing havoc across the globe. In the southeastern US and into Appalachia, hurricanes Helene and Milton have killed hundreds, left thousands without shelter and caused untold billions in damage. On the other side of the planet, parts of the Sahara desert flooded for the first time in nearly 50 years after intense rainstorms dropped 8 inches of rain in 2 days on parts of Morocco that don’t get more than an inch or so yearly. These storms and many other examples  are showing that no one is safe from so-called storms of the century that seem to be happening weekly.

Meanwhile, insurance companies in Florida have been denying claims even from people who have been paying for hurricane-specific policies, and big landlords and investors are looking to profit from these disasters by buying up more land - all while doing nothing to address the climate crisis.

We’re joined today Ali by Abdel-Qader, a Palestinian organizer and Tampa-based activist who’s involved in relief efforts on the ground, and Tina Landis, author of Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism.

Support the relief work in Florida by clicking here.
Find Tina’s book at 1804 books here.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15933736 Wed, 16 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3050 full false Will there be a draft? Active-duty resistance and the anti-war movement Will there be a draft? Active-duty resistance and the anti-war movement As the U.S. & Israeli war in the Middle East continues to expand with new threats of a significant Israeli attack on Iran, the Pentagon last week sent thousands of additional troops to the region. The USS Harry S Truman has been preparing for much of 2024 for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and departed on September 20th. Squadrons of F-15E, F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, along with A-10 attack aircraft, will not replace the American troops and equipment already in the region, but instead will now supplement them.

The history of resistance and refusal within the ranks of active-duty servicemembers is usually hidden or when it is mentioned, it’s maligned by the mainstream media and politicians. To dig into some of that history, the lessons for the anti-war movement, and what you should know if you yourself are going to be deployed or know someone who’s going to be deployed, we’re joined today by Mike Prysner. He’s an Iraq war veteran turned anti-war organizer, a producer of The Empire Files, co-host of the podcast Eyes Left and much more.

Support the show

]]> As the U.S. & Israeli war in the Middle East continues to expand with new threats of a significant Israeli attack on Iran, the Pentagon last week sent thousands of additional troops to the region. The USS Harry S Truman has been preparing for much of 2024 for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and departed on September 20th. Squadrons of F-15E, F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, along with A-10 attack aircraft, will not replace the American troops and equipment already in the region, but instead will now supplement them.

The history of resistance and refusal within the ranks of active-duty servicemembers is usually hidden or when it is mentioned, it’s maligned by the mainstream media and politicians. To dig into some of that history, the lessons for the anti-war movement, and what you should know if you yourself are going to be deployed or know someone who’s going to be deployed, we’re joined today by Mike Prysner. He’s an Iraq war veteran turned anti-war organizer, a producer of The Empire Files, co-host of the podcast Eyes Left and much more.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15896612 Wed, 09 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400 1391 full false Tribute to Palestinian Journalist Wafa Al-Udaini Tribute to Palestinian Journalist Wafa Al-Udaini On Monday, September 30th, an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah killed Wafa al-Udaini, her husband and two of her children. Wafa was a founder of the October 16 group, a mentor to young journalists and media professionals in Gaza and especially worked to highlight the voices of women impacted by the Israeli occupation. Wafa was the 174th journalist to be killed by Israel in Gaza since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza just under a year ago.

Romana Rubeo wrote at the Palestine Chronicle, “Wafa’s writing captured the essence of why we do what we do on a daily basis for years: amplifying Palestinian voices, and not any voices, but those that reflect the spirit of the Palestinian people, their defiance of injustice, their quest for freedom, and their courage in word and action.”

Long-time listeners of this show may remember that we had Wafa on twice. First, in April 2023, she joined us to explain how the mass protests happening in Israel against Benjamin Netanyahu were about internal Israeli matters, and not concerned with the liberation of Palestinians. “So for us as Palestinians, we see that the occupation has one face, they are all the same, even if it is a far right government or a left-right government or any, it is occupation at the end.” she told us.

She then came on the show a few months later for our October 11th 2023 episode, immediately after the resistance movement launched Al Aqsa Flood, to give an on-the-ground report on the Israeli bombardment, its use of white phosphorus and how people viewed the resistance.

For today’s episode, we’ll be revisiting our past conversations with Wafa as we discuss the current and rapidly-escalating situation. We dedicate this episode to Wafa al-Udaini and her family.

Support the show

]]> On Monday, September 30th, an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah killed Wafa al-Udaini, her husband and two of her children. Wafa was a founder of the October 16 group, a mentor to young journalists and media professionals in Gaza and especially worked to highlight the voices of women impacted by the Israeli occupation. Wafa was the 174th journalist to be killed by Israel in Gaza since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza just under a year ago.

Romana Rubeo wrote at the Palestine Chronicle, “Wafa’s writing captured the essence of why we do what we do on a daily basis for years: amplifying Palestinian voices, and not any voices, but those that reflect the spirit of the Palestinian people, their defiance of injustice, their quest for freedom, and their courage in word and action.”

Long-time listeners of this show may remember that we had Wafa on twice. First, in April 2023, she joined us to explain how the mass protests happening in Israel against Benjamin Netanyahu were about internal Israeli matters, and not concerned with the liberation of Palestinians. “So for us as Palestinians, we see that the occupation has one face, they are all the same, even if it is a far right government or a left-right government or any, it is occupation at the end.” she told us.

She then came on the show a few months later for our October 11th 2023 episode, immediately after the resistance movement launched Al Aqsa Flood, to give an on-the-ground report on the Israeli bombardment, its use of white phosphorus and how people viewed the resistance.

For today’s episode, we’ll be revisiting our past conversations with Wafa as we discuss the current and rapidly-escalating situation. We dedicate this episode to Wafa al-Udaini and her family.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15852937 Wed, 02 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3367 full false Israel ignites Middle East as UN General Assembly meets Israel ignites Middle East as UN General Assembly meets As the United Nations General Assembly meets this week, world leaders have adopted a Pact for the Future to build towards a multilateral world. But the meeting is happening as regional conflicts could flare up and ignite across many parts of the globe. The US & NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine rages on with few serious efforts being made towards a peaceful resolution. And it comes just days after Israel killed dozens and injured thousands in Lebanon with a long-term coordinated plan to explode pagers and handheld radios, following up with a devastating bombing campaign. The U.S. is now sending more troops, an aircraft carrier, two destroyers and a cruiser to the Middle East. The attacks have caused Lebanese acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati to skip his own scheduled trip to the UN this week.

To help us wade through the various threads of the growing threat of all-out war around the globe, we’re joined today by Ben Norton. Ben is the founder and editor of Geopolitical Economy Report, which you can find at geopoliticaleconomy.com.

Support the show

]]> As the United Nations General Assembly meets this week, world leaders have adopted a Pact for the Future to build towards a multilateral world. But the meeting is happening as regional conflicts could flare up and ignite across many parts of the globe. The US & NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine rages on with few serious efforts being made towards a peaceful resolution. And it comes just days after Israel killed dozens and injured thousands in Lebanon with a long-term coordinated plan to explode pagers and handheld radios, following up with a devastating bombing campaign. The U.S. is now sending more troops, an aircraft carrier, two destroyers and a cruiser to the Middle East. The attacks have caused Lebanese acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati to skip his own scheduled trip to the UN this week.

To help us wade through the various threads of the growing threat of all-out war around the globe, we’re joined today by Ben Norton. Ben is the founder and editor of Geopolitical Economy Report, which you can find at geopoliticaleconomy.com.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15810846 Wed, 25 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2470 full false Debate shows Harris and Trump are two sides of the same coin Debate shows Harris and Trump are two sides of the same coin The first and maybe only debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris happened just after we recorded our last show on Tuesday, September 10th. Over nearly two hours, the candidates attempted to talk over and through each other, regurgitating some of the same old talking points of each of their campaigns. It was light on policy and heavy on racism, bigotry and threats of war. Ultimately, what the debate showed us is that this contest is not about actually improving the lives of working-class people, but who will be better for the American empire and police state.

We’re joined today by Jacquie Luqman, host of Darker than Blue, as we take apart some of the key moments from the debate.

Support the show

]]> The first and maybe only debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris happened just after we recorded our last show on Tuesday, September 10th. Over nearly two hours, the candidates attempted to talk over and through each other, regurgitating some of the same old talking points of each of their campaigns. It was light on policy and heavy on racism, bigotry and threats of war. Ultimately, what the debate showed us is that this contest is not about actually improving the lives of working-class people, but who will be better for the American empire and police state.

We’re joined today by Jacquie Luqman, host of Darker than Blue, as we take apart some of the key moments from the debate.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15764375 Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3283 full false The Other 9/11: US Involvement in the 1973 Chile Coup The Other 9/11: US Involvement in the 1973 Chile Coup Fifty-one years ago, a bloody coup in Chile overthrew the democratically-elected president Salvadore Allende, leaving him dead. Sometimes now called “the other 9/11,” it ushered in the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which lasted for 17 years. Over 3,000 people were killed or disappeared in that period, and nearly 40,000 people were targeted for political repression and tortured because they were leftists or suspected of being leftists.

The US government played a significant role in both creating the destabilizing conditions for the coup and in its support for Pinochet. We’re joined now by Abraham Márquez of Kawsachun News to discuss the legacy of the coup, the CIA’s involvement, and what lessons we can learn today.

Then, Rachel and Chris discuss the disastrous War on Terror that was launched in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and the rehabilitation of George W Bush, Dick Cheney and others in the current political climate.

Support the show

]]> Fifty-one years ago, a bloody coup in Chile overthrew the democratically-elected president Salvadore Allende, leaving him dead. Sometimes now called “the other 9/11,” it ushered in the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which lasted for 17 years. Over 3,000 people were killed or disappeared in that period, and nearly 40,000 people were targeted for political repression and tortured because they were leftists or suspected of being leftists.

The US government played a significant role in both creating the destabilizing conditions for the coup and in its support for Pinochet. We’re joined now by Abraham Márquez of Kawsachun News to discuss the legacy of the coup, the CIA’s involvement, and what lessons we can learn today.

Then, Rachel and Chris discuss the disastrous War on Terror that was launched in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and the rehabilitation of George W Bush, Dick Cheney and others in the current political climate.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15730752 Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3110 full false CIA Whistleblower John Stockwell Spills the Beans CIA Whistleblower John Stockwell Spills the Beans John Stockwell is a former CIA officer who became a whistleblower and outspoken critic of the Agency, the US intelligence community and the imperialist policies of the US government. He left the CIA in 1976 after serving there for 12 years following service in the US Marine Corps. During that time, he was told to fabricate intelligence reports on the situations in Vietnam and Angola, and eventually exposed a significant amount of information through his books and public talks. He was an early supporter and contributor to what was then Covert Action Information Bulletin, now CovertAction Magazine.

In an interview with the Burton Michigan Voice in 1985, he said “I went into the CIA thinking I was doing the best thing I could with my life, the contradiction being that I was a humanist at heart. But of course, their propaganda line is that you’re serving humanity by struggling to keep the world free from communism. It ook a lot of years making my way up the chain of command until I became convinced just the opposite was true. I saw it in Africa, but in Africa I was working out of embassies. I did not have Phil Agee’s experience from Latin America where there was more bombing and torture and terrorism, and the issues were clearer. The inhumanity was clearer. Then I saw it in Vietnam, there was no doubt.”

CovertAction Magazine has recently republished a three-hour video of Stockwell speaking in 1989 at American University, starting with an hour lecture and then answering student questions for the remainder of the time.

Watch the video on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Though the names of politicians and places have changed, the things he brings up hit at the heart of issues we are still fighting against, and exposing some 35 years later.

Support the show

]]> John Stockwell is a former CIA officer who became a whistleblower and outspoken critic of the Agency, the US intelligence community and the imperialist policies of the US government. He left the CIA in 1976 after serving there for 12 years following service in the US Marine Corps. During that time, he was told to fabricate intelligence reports on the situations in Vietnam and Angola, and eventually exposed a significant amount of information through his books and public talks. He was an early supporter and contributor to what was then Covert Action Information Bulletin, now CovertAction Magazine.

In an interview with the Burton Michigan Voice in 1985, he said “I went into the CIA thinking I was doing the best thing I could with my life, the contradiction being that I was a humanist at heart. But of course, their propaganda line is that you’re serving humanity by struggling to keep the world free from communism. It ook a lot of years making my way up the chain of command until I became convinced just the opposite was true. I saw it in Africa, but in Africa I was working out of embassies. I did not have Phil Agee’s experience from Latin America where there was more bombing and torture and terrorism, and the issues were clearer. The inhumanity was clearer. Then I saw it in Vietnam, there was no doubt.”

CovertAction Magazine has recently republished a three-hour video of Stockwell speaking in 1989 at American University, starting with an hour lecture and then answering student questions for the remainder of the time.

Watch the video on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Though the names of politicians and places have changed, the things he brings up hit at the heart of issues we are still fighting against, and exposing some 35 years later.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15692256 Wed, 04 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3252 full false Media Blasts Telegram As Russian Tool As CEO Arrested Media Blasts Telegram As Russian Tool As CEO Arrested The founder and CEO of social media and communications app Telegram, Pavel Durov was arrested in France on August 24th. The country, one of the Nine Eyes intelligence partners along with the US, UK, Australia and others, claims that the social media app is a hotbed for illegal activity, and Western media coverage blasts it as a tool of the Russian government. But the attack on Telegram is actually a testing ground for future attacks on encrypted messaging platforms and alternative news sources.


Then later in the show, we discuss the invasion by Ukrainian forces funded with US dollars and using British tanks into the Russian territory of Kursk. The incursion marked the first significant breach of the Russian border by Ukrainian ground forces in the nearly two-and-a-half years since the immediate conflict began and follows a pattern of missile strikes and minor raids into Kursk and neighboring Belgorod since February 2022. Is this the sequel to the Ukrainian counteroffensive of 2023 that was hyped up by Western media and governments but ultimately failed to make a significant difference?  How do these developments figure into the longer history of the conflict, going back to 2014 and even further into history? And what prospects are there for peace rather than further escalation into a global conflict?


We’re joined by investigative journalist Kit Klarenberg to talk about all that and more.


Read Kit’s article Britain’s Kursk Invasion Backfires? 

Support the show

]]> The founder and CEO of social media and communications app Telegram, Pavel Durov was arrested in France on August 24th. The country, one of the Nine Eyes intelligence partners along with the US, UK, Australia and others, claims that the social media app is a hotbed for illegal activity, and Western media coverage blasts it as a tool of the Russian government. But the attack on Telegram is actually a testing ground for future attacks on encrypted messaging platforms and alternative news sources.


Then later in the show, we discuss the invasion by Ukrainian forces funded with US dollars and using British tanks into the Russian territory of Kursk. The incursion marked the first significant breach of the Russian border by Ukrainian ground forces in the nearly two-and-a-half years since the immediate conflict began and follows a pattern of missile strikes and minor raids into Kursk and neighboring Belgorod since February 2022. Is this the sequel to the Ukrainian counteroffensive of 2023 that was hyped up by Western media and governments but ultimately failed to make a significant difference?  How do these developments figure into the longer history of the conflict, going back to 2014 and even further into history? And what prospects are there for peace rather than further escalation into a global conflict?


We’re joined by investigative journalist Kit Klarenberg to talk about all that and more.


Read Kit’s article Britain’s Kursk Invasion Backfires? 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15647870 Wed, 28 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2685 full false Eyewitness DNC: Democracy in the Streets Eyewitness DNC: Democracy in the Streets The Democratic National Convention is taking place in Chicago this week. Amidst the fanfare and extravagance, there’s very little actual democracy inside as big-name politicians and those trying to make a name for themselves attempt to make the case for Kamala Harris to be the next president. Hillary Clinton, AOC, Jill and Joe Biden and Barack Obama have taken the stage among others. But with Joe Biden out of the race, the DNC has made it a foregone conclusion that Kamala Harris will be the next Democratic nominee, preventing a floor fight or nominations.

Meanwhile, mass protests began over the weekend and will continue throughout the week, demanding a ceasefire and arms embargo against Israel, healthcare for all, and much more. As Joe Biden was speaking, activists unrolled a giant banner inside the convention center that said “Stop Arming Israel.” In response to this demand for an end to genocide, the crowd started chanting “We love Joe” and the lights were dimmed. On Tuesday, activists with CODEPINK interrupted Tim Walz, chanting “Stop killing women in Gaza” and they were immediately met with a response of “USA, USA.”

We’re joined by Saja Bilasan, founder of Falasteen Favorites and organizer of Chicago Artists Against Apartheid to discuss what’s happening both inside and outside the United Center in Chicago.

Support the show

]]> The Democratic National Convention is taking place in Chicago this week. Amidst the fanfare and extravagance, there’s very little actual democracy inside as big-name politicians and those trying to make a name for themselves attempt to make the case for Kamala Harris to be the next president. Hillary Clinton, AOC, Jill and Joe Biden and Barack Obama have taken the stage among others. But with Joe Biden out of the race, the DNC has made it a foregone conclusion that Kamala Harris will be the next Democratic nominee, preventing a floor fight or nominations.

Meanwhile, mass protests began over the weekend and will continue throughout the week, demanding a ceasefire and arms embargo against Israel, healthcare for all, and much more. As Joe Biden was speaking, activists unrolled a giant banner inside the convention center that said “Stop Arming Israel.” In response to this demand for an end to genocide, the crowd started chanting “We love Joe” and the lights were dimmed. On Tuesday, activists with CODEPINK interrupted Tim Walz, chanting “Stop killing women in Gaza” and they were immediately met with a response of “USA, USA.”

We’re joined by Saja Bilasan, founder of Falasteen Favorites and organizer of Chicago Artists Against Apartheid to discuss what’s happening both inside and outside the United Center in Chicago.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15615491 Wed, 21 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400 3115 full false Eyewitness: Venezuela’s Election Eyewitness: Venezuela’s Election Venezuela’s elections took place on July 28th. Nicolás Maudro defeated the right-wing candidate Edmundo González Urrutia by over a million votes. The imperialist machine immediately jumped into action to denounce the elections, condemning Maduro as a dictator and calling the results undemocratic. Over 1,000 international observers from 100 countries were in Venezuela for the election, and with few exceptions of those who are against the Bolivarian Revolution, they’ve stated that the electoral process was fair and free. That hasn’t stopped the US government, its media mouthpieces, regional allies and even Elon Musk from calling for the overthrow of the Maduro government.

Following the election, waves of fascist violence took the streets of Caracas and other cities, but supporters of the Bolivarian Revolution have themselves mobilized in its defense. We’re joined today by Gloria La Riva of the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee.

Support the show

]]> Venezuela’s elections took place on July 28th. Nicolás Maudro defeated the right-wing candidate Edmundo González Urrutia by over a million votes. The imperialist machine immediately jumped into action to denounce the elections, condemning Maduro as a dictator and calling the results undemocratic. Over 1,000 international observers from 100 countries were in Venezuela for the election, and with few exceptions of those who are against the Bolivarian Revolution, they’ve stated that the electoral process was fair and free. That hasn’t stopped the US government, its media mouthpieces, regional allies and even Elon Musk from calling for the overthrow of the Maduro government.

Following the election, waves of fascist violence took the streets of Caracas and other cities, but supporters of the Bolivarian Revolution have themselves mobilized in its defense. We’re joined today by Gloria La Riva of the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15580074 Tue, 13 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3206 full false ICJ ruling lays out case against Israeli occupation ICJ ruling lays out case against Israeli occupation In a ruling on July 19, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion that confirmed what Palestinians have been saying for over 7 decades: That the Israeli occupation is illegal, that the way Palestinians are treated by Israel is a form of apartheid, and that the occupation must end.

This ruling includes the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which have grown especially since the Israeli military withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

As we are approaching 300 days of the genocide in Gaza and over 40,000 deaths at the hands of the US-funded and armed Israeli military, we wanted to talk more about the ICJ and this ruling. An ICJ advisory opinion cannot force a country to act, but can have a real impact on how the rest of the world approaches policy towards Israel.

We’re joined by Laith Aqel, human rights lawyer, a lecturer in the Human Rights Clinic at Yale and an organizer with the CT Palestine Solidarity Coalition.

And later in the show, just days after the ICJ ruling Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in front of the US Congress as over 10,000 people rallied outside the Capitol. We’ll bring you some of the speeches from that rally as well.

Support the show

]]> In a ruling on July 19, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion that confirmed what Palestinians have been saying for over 7 decades: That the Israeli occupation is illegal, that the way Palestinians are treated by Israel is a form of apartheid, and that the occupation must end.

This ruling includes the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which have grown especially since the Israeli military withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

As we are approaching 300 days of the genocide in Gaza and over 40,000 deaths at the hands of the US-funded and armed Israeli military, we wanted to talk more about the ICJ and this ruling. An ICJ advisory opinion cannot force a country to act, but can have a real impact on how the rest of the world approaches policy towards Israel.

We’re joined by Laith Aqel, human rights lawyer, a lecturer in the Human Rights Clinic at Yale and an organizer with the CT Palestine Solidarity Coalition.

And later in the show, just days after the ICJ ruling Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in front of the US Congress as over 10,000 people rallied outside the Capitol. We’ll bring you some of the speeches from that rally as well.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15505528 Wed, 31 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3273 full false Will Kamala Harris Really Save Democracy? Will Kamala Harris Really Save Democracy? Just over 100 days away from the 2024 election, Joe Biden has dropped out of the race and endorsed Kamala Harris, signaling to the Democratic Party that there should be no debate, no other nominations and certainly no floor fight over delegates at the upcoming Democratic National Convention next month. This of course comes after a period where there were no real primaries for the Democratic Party. That’s not unusual when a sitting President is running for reelection, but questions about Biden’s ability to beat Donald Trump this year have lingered for quite some time.

Today, we want to get into who Kamala Harris is, what interests she represents and what the absolute lack of democracy in the so-called Democratic Party means for social movements and real change through November and beyond.

We’re joined by activist, author and journalist Eugene Puryear, host of The Freedom Side Live on Breakthrough News.

Support the show

]]> Just over 100 days away from the 2024 election, Joe Biden has dropped out of the race and endorsed Kamala Harris, signaling to the Democratic Party that there should be no debate, no other nominations and certainly no floor fight over delegates at the upcoming Democratic National Convention next month. This of course comes after a period where there were no real primaries for the Democratic Party. That’s not unusual when a sitting President is running for reelection, but questions about Biden’s ability to beat Donald Trump this year have lingered for quite some time.

Today, we want to get into who Kamala Harris is, what interests she represents and what the absolute lack of democracy in the so-called Democratic Party means for social movements and real change through November and beyond.

We’re joined by activist, author and journalist Eugene Puryear, host of The Freedom Side Live on Breakthrough News.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15464179 Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 1882 full false The Trump Assassination Attempt & the Legacy of Political Violence in the US The Trump Assassination Attempt & the Legacy of Political Violence in the US The attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13th changed the political situation in the United States and especially surrounding the 2024 election in an instant. The Biden campaign canceled events and advertisements, while the Trump campaign began preparing for the Republican National Convention happening this week.

Within minutes of the shooting, the chorus from mainstream commentators and politicians effectively had one voice. Republicans and Democrats alike condemned “political violence” in the United States and for Americans to come together despite our political differences. But who is their solidarity with? Political violence continues in this country and across the world in the forms of hunger, homelessness, skyrocketing medical debt, famine, sanctions and war waged from what MLK called the “greatest purveyor of violence in the world today”

To help us make sense of this quickly shifting situation, a review of the history of political violence in the United States and how the ruling class is attempting to take advantage of it, we’re joined today by Brian Becker, host of The Socialist Program.

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]]> The attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13th changed the political situation in the United States and especially surrounding the 2024 election in an instant. The Biden campaign canceled events and advertisements, while the Trump campaign began preparing for the Republican National Convention happening this week.

Within minutes of the shooting, the chorus from mainstream commentators and politicians effectively had one voice. Republicans and Democrats alike condemned “political violence” in the United States and for Americans to come together despite our political differences. But who is their solidarity with? Political violence continues in this country and across the world in the forms of hunger, homelessness, skyrocketing medical debt, famine, sanctions and war waged from what MLK called the “greatest purveyor of violence in the world today”

To help us make sense of this quickly shifting situation, a review of the history of political violence in the United States and how the ruling class is attempting to take advantage of it, we’re joined today by Brian Becker, host of The Socialist Program.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15425833 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 1675 full false Project 2025 and The Far Right’s Agenda Project 2025 and The Far Right’s Agenda Project 2025 bills itself as a comprehensive plan to undo decades of social progress - in its own words, to “dismantle the administrative state” and “return self-governance to the American people.” Democrats have jumped into using it and its connections to the Trump agenda and former staff as a reason to rally behind Joe Biden.

Among its 922-page Mandate for Leadership, Project 2025 suggests eliminating the Department of Education, increasing the US nuclear weapon arsenal, harshly limiting access to reproductive care, rolling back LGBTQ rights and much more.

We’re joined by political strategist and movement journalist Anoa Changa to understand who’s behind Project 2025 and where it comes from.

Support the show

]]> Project 2025 bills itself as a comprehensive plan to undo decades of social progress - in its own words, to “dismantle the administrative state” and “return self-governance to the American people.” Democrats have jumped into using it and its connections to the Trump agenda and former staff as a reason to rally behind Joe Biden.

Among its 922-page Mandate for Leadership, Project 2025 suggests eliminating the Department of Education, increasing the US nuclear weapon arsenal, harshly limiting access to reproductive care, rolling back LGBTQ rights and much more.

We’re joined by political strategist and movement journalist Anoa Changa to understand who’s behind Project 2025 and where it comes from.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15388714 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2614 full false The U.S. government is spying on your mail The U.S. government is spying on your mail The U.S. government is spying on you through your mail. The little-known program called mail covers lets law enforcement request that an investigative bureau inside the Postal Service track and report on all the mail you’re getting. And it’s done without a warrant, without any real oversight or transparency, and at the request of agencies like the IRS, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and ICE. While the USPS Office of the Inspector General hasn’t provided updates on the program in a decade, recent reporting in The Washington Post exposed more about the mail covers program.

We’re joined for this show by John Kiriakou. He’s a former CIA counterterrorism officer, a whistleblower who exposed the CIA’s torture program, and a member of the Editorial Board of CovertAction Magazine. He also has personal experience with mail covers.

Read John's article on the mail covers program and his experience at Consortium News.

Read Chris' article on the mail covers program at Liberation News.

Support the show

]]> The U.S. government is spying on you through your mail. The little-known program called mail covers lets law enforcement request that an investigative bureau inside the Postal Service track and report on all the mail you’re getting. And it’s done without a warrant, without any real oversight or transparency, and at the request of agencies like the IRS, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and ICE. While the USPS Office of the Inspector General hasn’t provided updates on the program in a decade, recent reporting in The Washington Post exposed more about the mail covers program.

We’re joined for this show by John Kiriakou. He’s a former CIA counterterrorism officer, a whistleblower who exposed the CIA’s torture program, and a member of the Editorial Board of CovertAction Magazine. He also has personal experience with mail covers.

Read John's article on the mail covers program and his experience at Consortium News.

Read Chris' article on the mail covers program at Liberation News.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15352824 Wed, 03 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2309 full false Global Movement Frees Julian Assange Global Movement Frees Julian Assange After 1,901 days in Belmarsh Prison, and many more years fighting for his freedom, Julian Assange has agreed to a plea deal with the United States and is back in Australia. There, he’ll reunite with his wife, Stella, and his children who have only seen him in jail.

The official Wikileaks account on Twitter posted: “Julian's freedom is our freedom.” 

The struggle for Julian Assange’s freedom has been a global one, involving many sectors of society - advocates, activists, whistleblowers, artists, human rights workers, doctors and so many more, and of course a brilliant team of lawyers, all working tirelessly for him.

To discuss, we’re joined by Kevin Gosztola, the editor of The Dissenter, the author of the book Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange, co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure and more.

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]]> After 1,901 days in Belmarsh Prison, and many more years fighting for his freedom, Julian Assange has agreed to a plea deal with the United States and is back in Australia. There, he’ll reunite with his wife, Stella, and his children who have only seen him in jail.

The official Wikileaks account on Twitter posted: “Julian's freedom is our freedom.” 

The struggle for Julian Assange’s freedom has been a global one, involving many sectors of society - advocates, activists, whistleblowers, artists, human rights workers, doctors and so many more, and of course a brilliant team of lawyers, all working tirelessly for him.

To discuss, we’re joined by Kevin Gosztola, the editor of The Dissenter, the author of the book Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange, co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure and more.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15312864 Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2978 full false Pentagon Anti-Vax Propaganda Targets Philippines Pentagon Anti-Vax Propaganda Targets Philippines In 2020 and 2021, a secret Pentagon program deployed fake social media accounts to sow distrust among people in Southeast Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, around China’s Sinovac vaccination for COVID-19. Clusters of accounts identified as having ties to US Central Command (CENTCOM) made posts with the hashtag #ChinaAngVirus - or “China is the virus” in Tagalog suggested that the coronavirus is real, but China’s vaccinations were not to be trusted. 

Posts in Arabic and Russian also targeted audiences in the Middle East and Central Asia.

In an article published on June 14 by Reuters, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine said of the propaganda campaign, “I don’t think it’s defensible.”

Dr. Nina Castillo-Carandang, a former adviser to the World Health Organization and Philippines government said “Why did you do it when people were dying? We were desperate”

We’re joined by Chris Bing, an investigative reporter with Reuters who worked on the June 14th article.

Read the full article here: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/

Read the Stanford Internet Observatory’s “Unheard Voice” report mentioned in our conversation: https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/io/news/sio-aug-22-takedowns

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]]> In 2020 and 2021, a secret Pentagon program deployed fake social media accounts to sow distrust among people in Southeast Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, around China’s Sinovac vaccination for COVID-19. Clusters of accounts identified as having ties to US Central Command (CENTCOM) made posts with the hashtag #ChinaAngVirus - or “China is the virus” in Tagalog suggested that the coronavirus is real, but China’s vaccinations were not to be trusted. 

Posts in Arabic and Russian also targeted audiences in the Middle East and Central Asia.

In an article published on June 14 by Reuters, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine said of the propaganda campaign, “I don’t think it’s defensible.”

Dr. Nina Castillo-Carandang, a former adviser to the World Health Organization and Philippines government said “Why did you do it when people were dying? We were desperate”

We’re joined by Chris Bing, an investigative reporter with Reuters who worked on the June 14th article.

Read the full article here: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/

Read the Stanford Internet Observatory’s “Unheard Voice” report mentioned in our conversation: https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/io/news/sio-aug-22-takedowns

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15273846 Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2363 full false When Biden Won’t Draw a Red Line, The People Will When Biden Won’t Draw a Red Line, The People Will Over 100,000 people surrounded the White House on Saturday, June 8th, wearing red and carrying a 2-mile long banner with the names of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have died since the renewed Israeli assault began eight months to the day before. Through a rally, march and followed by a People’s Court of Justice on the Ellipse, the message was clear: the People’s Red Line rejected Biden’s lie that an Israeli attack on Rafah would be a so-called “red line” for him.

Though most mainstream media represented it with fearmongering reporting, both Rachel and Chris were there to bring you real on-the-ground info about what it was actually like and what June 8th means for the movement. We also discuss some of the latest developments in the situation, including June 11th’s ceasefire resolution in the United Nations Security Council, details of what actually happened during the Israeli assault on the Nuseirat refugee camp, and more.

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]]> Over 100,000 people surrounded the White House on Saturday, June 8th, wearing red and carrying a 2-mile long banner with the names of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have died since the renewed Israeli assault began eight months to the day before. Through a rally, march and followed by a People’s Court of Justice on the Ellipse, the message was clear: the People’s Red Line rejected Biden’s lie that an Israeli attack on Rafah would be a so-called “red line” for him.

Though most mainstream media represented it with fearmongering reporting, both Rachel and Chris were there to bring you real on-the-ground info about what it was actually like and what June 8th means for the movement. We also discuss some of the latest developments in the situation, including June 11th’s ceasefire resolution in the United Nations Security Council, details of what actually happened during the Israeli assault on the Nuseirat refugee camp, and more.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15234758 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2537 full false Congo “Coup”? What’s Imperialism Got To Do With It Congo “Coup”? What’s Imperialism Got To Do With It On May 19, forces calling themselves the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo launched what appears to be a failed coup attempt, attacking the home of the Deputy Prime Minister of Economy Vital Kamerhe, as well as the Congo’s presidential palace, Palais de la Nation. The country’s Republican Guard forces were able to put down the attack within hours. Three of the 50 people arrested were U.S. citizens, and another U.S. citizen who reportedly led the operation was killed during the attack. Christian Malanga was the founder of the DC-based United Congolese Party, which has deep ties to the west and the United States.

We talk with Maurice Carney, co-founder and Executive Director of Friends of the Congo, about the events of May 19, the history of the deadliest conflict since World War II, the role that the US and Israel play in the 3Ds: Displacement, Death and Destruction, and the resurgence of the anti-imperialist movement.

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]]> On May 19, forces calling themselves the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo launched what appears to be a failed coup attempt, attacking the home of the Deputy Prime Minister of Economy Vital Kamerhe, as well as the Congo’s presidential palace, Palais de la Nation. The country’s Republican Guard forces were able to put down the attack within hours. Three of the 50 people arrested were U.S. citizens, and another U.S. citizen who reportedly led the operation was killed during the attack. Christian Malanga was the founder of the DC-based United Congolese Party, which has deep ties to the west and the United States.

We talk with Maurice Carney, co-founder and Executive Director of Friends of the Congo, about the events of May 19, the history of the deadliest conflict since World War II, the role that the US and Israel play in the 3Ds: Displacement, Death and Destruction, and the resurgence of the anti-imperialist movement.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15194508 Wed, 05 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2251 full false Thousands in Detroit Open Next Phase of Palestine Struggle Thousands in Detroit Open Next Phase of Palestine Struggle Over 3,500 people gathered in Detroit, Michigan for a three-day People’s Conference for Palestine on May 24, 25 and 26. Led by the Palestinian Youth Movement, the conference highlighted the work that has already been done over the last 8 months but also the historical work done over years and decades in the struggle to end Zionist occupation. Participants heard about how education, art, music, literature, labor and much more play a role in this evolving struggle. The conference celebrated and uplifted the martyrs, political prisoners and fighters in Palestine. Perhaps most importantly, it laid the groundwork for the next steps for the movement to go forward. Rachel and I were both there, and today on this special episode, we’ll be listening to a few clips from the conference and reflecting on what this historic convening means for the struggle. We want to thank our friends at BreakThrough News for livestreaming the plenary sessions, keynotes and many of the workshops, and for letting us use their audio on our program. You can check out the full video playlist from the conference on their YouTube page.

Support the show

]]> Over 3,500 people gathered in Detroit, Michigan for a three-day People’s Conference for Palestine on May 24, 25 and 26. Led by the Palestinian Youth Movement, the conference highlighted the work that has already been done over the last 8 months but also the historical work done over years and decades in the struggle to end Zionist occupation. Participants heard about how education, art, music, literature, labor and much more play a role in this evolving struggle. The conference celebrated and uplifted the martyrs, political prisoners and fighters in Palestine. Perhaps most importantly, it laid the groundwork for the next steps for the movement to go forward. Rachel and I were both there, and today on this special episode, we’ll be listening to a few clips from the conference and reflecting on what this historic convening means for the struggle. We want to thank our friends at BreakThrough News for livestreaming the plenary sessions, keynotes and many of the workshops, and for letting us use their audio on our program. You can check out the full video playlist from the conference on their YouTube page.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15153505 Wed, 29 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2528 full false Eyewitness: Police Repression of Students for Gaza Eyewitness: Police Repression of Students for Gaza Student encampments and street protests for Palestine have been hit with a heavy wave of police violence and repression from coast-to-coast. In some cases, it’s the same police departments whose staff and leaders get training from the Israeli Defense Forces that are attacking peaceful events calling for divestment and justice. In Salt Lake City, police viciously attacked students at the University of Utah on April 29th, and then arrested student organizers the next day before a demonstration at the President’s Circle. Some of those arrested were held for hours or days before being released, even after bail was paid. Students and community have responded in force, mobilizing multiple times, demanding the charges be dropped, all the while keeping Palestine front and center.

We’re joined by Devin Martinez, a local organizer in Salt Lake City and Deja Gaston, an alumna of the University of Utah.

Support the show

]]> Student encampments and street protests for Palestine have been hit with a heavy wave of police violence and repression from coast-to-coast. In some cases, it’s the same police departments whose staff and leaders get training from the Israeli Defense Forces that are attacking peaceful events calling for divestment and justice. In Salt Lake City, police viciously attacked students at the University of Utah on April 29th, and then arrested student organizers the next day before a demonstration at the President’s Circle. Some of those arrested were held for hours or days before being released, even after bail was paid. Students and community have responded in force, mobilizing multiple times, demanding the charges be dropped, all the while keeping Palestine front and center.

We’re joined by Devin Martinez, a local organizer in Salt Lake City and Deja Gaston, an alumna of the University of Utah.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15071199 Wed, 15 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2354 full false As Rafah Invasion Looms, Students and Workers Boost Solidarity & Resistance As Rafah Invasion Looms, Students and Workers Boost Solidarity & Resistance Hamas on Monday accepted a ceasefire deal that Israel has effectively rejected, instead moving forward with their invasion plans for Rafah, taking control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah gate that separates Palestine from Egypt, and making incursions into Rafah with tanks and shelling from the air. Over 100,000 Palestinians have been told to evacuate from Rafah, but are left with very few places to go.

Student encampments and protests in the US continue, and have been recognized by Palestinian resistance groups and civil society members. Videos of Palestinian school children holding up signs thanking university students across the US have gone viral online, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has put out a statement supporting the student movement. Despite it being the end of the semester for many, and in the face of heavy police repression from UCONN to the University of California, that movement is growing, with highschool students initiating walkouts and solidarity events.

Meanwhile, the US elections are just 6 months away. The Biden administration is reportedly cautioning Netanyahu about a full-scale invasion of Rafah, and has canceled one ammunition transfer to Israel - but on the whole, US empire’s diehard support for Zionism is on full display. We’ll talk about all this and more.

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]]> Hamas on Monday accepted a ceasefire deal that Israel has effectively rejected, instead moving forward with their invasion plans for Rafah, taking control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah gate that separates Palestine from Egypt, and making incursions into Rafah with tanks and shelling from the air. Over 100,000 Palestinians have been told to evacuate from Rafah, but are left with very few places to go.

Student encampments and protests in the US continue, and have been recognized by Palestinian resistance groups and civil society members. Videos of Palestinian school children holding up signs thanking university students across the US have gone viral online, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has put out a statement supporting the student movement. Despite it being the end of the semester for many, and in the face of heavy police repression from UCONN to the University of California, that movement is growing, with highschool students initiating walkouts and solidarity events.

Meanwhile, the US elections are just 6 months away. The Biden administration is reportedly cautioning Netanyahu about a full-scale invasion of Rafah, and has canceled one ammunition transfer to Israel - but on the whole, US empire’s diehard support for Zionism is on full display. We’ll talk about all this and more.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-15030118 Wed, 08 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2010 full false Student Encampments Resist for Palestine Student Encampments Resist for Palestine Student protests in solidarity with Palestine have set up protests and encampments on campuses across the country from Columbia, NYU and the New School in New York to Berkeley, Stanford and Cal Poly Humboldt in California. Students are demanding that their universities - many of them among the most elite in the country with giant endowments - divest from weapons manufacturers and Israeli companies. They’re being met with fierce repression by police, but along with solidarity from faculty and supporters in their cities, the movement is continuing and growing.

Chris and Rachel have been on the ground at Yale and Columbia and talk about their experiences and what this means for the movement.

Support the show

]]> Student protests in solidarity with Palestine have set up protests and encampments on campuses across the country from Columbia, NYU and the New School in New York to Berkeley, Stanford and Cal Poly Humboldt in California. Students are demanding that their universities - many of them among the most elite in the country with giant endowments - divest from weapons manufacturers and Israeli companies. They’re being met with fierce repression by police, but along with solidarity from faculty and supporters in their cities, the movement is continuing and growing.

Chris and Rachel have been on the ground at Yale and Columbia and talk about their experiences and what this means for the movement.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14944800 Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400 1862 full false Iran and Israel: Is A Regional War Imminent? Iran and Israel: Is A Regional War Imminent? Iran carried out a strike over the weekend of April 13 and 14 in retaliation for the Israeli bombing on April 1 of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria. Embassies are the sovereign territory of the country represented, effectively making it an Israeli attack on Iran.

In the West, the Iranian response, which was announced in advance and targeted only a military base, has received significantly more attention. Pundits and politicians called it a grave escalation, the opposite of reality.

And of course this is all happening while Israel continues its genocide of the Palestinian people, with the diplomatic, political and economic support of the United States government. Will the strikes inflame tensions in the region past the point of no return? We’re joined by Mazda Majidi, an Iranian author, journalist and anti-war activist to discuss the possibility of escalation and who the regional players are.

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]]> Iran carried out a strike over the weekend of April 13 and 14 in retaliation for the Israeli bombing on April 1 of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria. Embassies are the sovereign territory of the country represented, effectively making it an Israeli attack on Iran.

In the West, the Iranian response, which was announced in advance and targeted only a military base, has received significantly more attention. Pundits and politicians called it a grave escalation, the opposite of reality.

And of course this is all happening while Israel continues its genocide of the Palestinian people, with the diplomatic, political and economic support of the United States government. Will the strikes inflame tensions in the region past the point of no return? We’re joined by Mazda Majidi, an Iranian author, journalist and anti-war activist to discuss the possibility of escalation and who the regional players are.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14905788 Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0400 3134 full false Why were there protests in Cuba on March 17? Why were there protests in Cuba on March 17? The Biden Administration is pursuing a policy of “energy chasing,” where U.S. regulators put pressure on foreign-owned fuel supply companies, shippers and even financial insurers so that they back out of deals to bring “fuel to our ports.”

On March 17, there were significant protests in eastern Cuba against the blackouts. The president says the authorities have gone to dialogue with them and explain the country’s energy problems. 

“Two or three [protest] events that were fundamentally peaceful” in Cuba and the Western media creates a narrative of serious instability, says President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Meanwhile “in the world there are more severe protests” and in the U.S. there are protests violently repressed, but these get ignored.

 We are joined by Gloria La Riva, organizer with the Hatuey Project  to discuss the recent protests in Cuba and the ongoing crisis caused by the economic blockade. 


Then, with the possibility of a new invasion and occupation, we’re hearing the same story emerge from Western media and politicians about Haiti: something really bad is happening in Haiti and an invasion is necessary. We are being told that this is the worst ever humanitarian situation in Haiti. As the U.S. Canadian and French governments gathered recently to discuss Haiti’s political transition, Haitians get no say over this. When it comes to Haiti, it seems like everyone else gets to decide.


We’re joined by Kerbie Joseph, a Haitian organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, to talk about how Western colonialism and imperialism are the historical root of and current cause of the problems in Haiti, and what the resistance looks like.

Support the show

]]> The Biden Administration is pursuing a policy of “energy chasing,” where U.S. regulators put pressure on foreign-owned fuel supply companies, shippers and even financial insurers so that they back out of deals to bring “fuel to our ports.”

On March 17, there were significant protests in eastern Cuba against the blackouts. The president says the authorities have gone to dialogue with them and explain the country’s energy problems. 

“Two or three [protest] events that were fundamentally peaceful” in Cuba and the Western media creates a narrative of serious instability, says President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Meanwhile “in the world there are more severe protests” and in the U.S. there are protests violently repressed, but these get ignored.

 We are joined by Gloria La Riva, organizer with the Hatuey Project  to discuss the recent protests in Cuba and the ongoing crisis caused by the economic blockade. 


Then, with the possibility of a new invasion and occupation, we’re hearing the same story emerge from Western media and politicians about Haiti: something really bad is happening in Haiti and an invasion is necessary. We are being told that this is the worst ever humanitarian situation in Haiti. As the U.S. Canadian and French governments gathered recently to discuss Haiti’s political transition, Haitians get no say over this. When it comes to Haiti, it seems like everyone else gets to decide.


We’re joined by Kerbie Joseph, a Haitian organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, to talk about how Western colonialism and imperialism are the historical root of and current cause of the problems in Haiti, and what the resistance looks like.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14844656 Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3947 full false Seven Decades of War and Occupation: End the Korean War! Seven Decades of War and Occupation: End the Korean War! The Korean War has never ended - despite the US government’s attempts to portray it as a long-ago victory, it has never signed a peace agreement with North Korea. Tens of thousands of US troops continue to be stationed on the Korean peninsula, first part of the Cold War and now part of the New Cold War encirclement of China. The devastating war killed 4 million Koreans and left much of the North absolutely devastated. Peace activists continue to fight for a true and just end to the conflict.

We’re joined by Monica Kim and Christine Hong of the Ending the Korean War Teaching Collective to talk more about the Korean War and the day of action that will take place in Washington, DC on April 5th, starting at Noon on the National Mall.

Support the show

]]> The Korean War has never ended - despite the US government’s attempts to portray it as a long-ago victory, it has never signed a peace agreement with North Korea. Tens of thousands of US troops continue to be stationed on the Korean peninsula, first part of the Cold War and now part of the New Cold War encirclement of China. The devastating war killed 4 million Koreans and left much of the North absolutely devastated. Peace activists continue to fight for a true and just end to the conflict.

We’re joined by Monica Kim and Christine Hong of the Ending the Korean War Teaching Collective to talk more about the Korean War and the day of action that will take place in Washington, DC on April 5th, starting at Noon on the National Mall.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14801749 Wed, 03 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3005 full false US Empire, Attacks on Assange and the True Meaning of Ceasefire US Empire, Attacks on Assange and the True Meaning of Ceasefire The British High Court of Justice ruled on March 26 that the United States government has until April 16 to make “assurances” that if extradited, Julian Assange will be treated fairly by US courts and prisons. But this is hard to believe when the US government already had plans to kidnap and kill Assange, drawn up by Mike Pompeo’s CIA.

We’re joined by Sean Blackmon, host of Darker than Blue on WPFW, to talk about the latest in the Assange case. We also talk about the US government abstaining from a ceasefire vote rather than vetoing it, and the development of the ceasefire demand itself.

We’re also joined by Husayn Karimi, a labor organizer and host of the podcast On The Line, to talk about UAW workers who are about to vote for unionization at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Support the show

]]> The British High Court of Justice ruled on March 26 that the United States government has until April 16 to make “assurances” that if extradited, Julian Assange will be treated fairly by US courts and prisons. But this is hard to believe when the US government already had plans to kidnap and kill Assange, drawn up by Mike Pompeo’s CIA.

We’re joined by Sean Blackmon, host of Darker than Blue on WPFW, to talk about the latest in the Assange case. We also talk about the US government abstaining from a ceasefire vote rather than vetoing it, and the development of the ceasefire demand itself.

We’re also joined by Husayn Karimi, a labor organizer and host of the podcast On The Line, to talk about UAW workers who are about to vote for unionization at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14778408 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400 3396 full false Why the U.S. Really Wants to Ban TikTok Why the U.S. Really Wants to Ban TikTok On March 13, the House of Representatives passed HR 7521, “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.” The bill would force Beijing-based ByteDance to sell the popular social media app TikTok, or it would be banned on app stores in the U.S.

Far from being in the interests of advancing data privacy or the security of working-class people in the United States, banning TikTok would be a boon to American social media companies who routinely spy on their users and collaborate with intelligence and other government agencies. Instead, the bill is just part of the U.S. attack on China’s growing influence across the world. 

We’re joined by Amanda Yee, editor of LiberationNews.org, to talk more about the TikTok ban and the new Cold War on China.

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]]> On March 13, the House of Representatives passed HR 7521, “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.” The bill would force Beijing-based ByteDance to sell the popular social media app TikTok, or it would be banned on app stores in the U.S.

Far from being in the interests of advancing data privacy or the security of working-class people in the United States, banning TikTok would be a boon to American social media companies who routinely spy on their users and collaborate with intelligence and other government agencies. Instead, the bill is just part of the U.S. attack on China’s growing influence across the world. 

We’re joined by Amanda Yee, editor of LiberationNews.org, to talk more about the TikTok ban and the new Cold War on China.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-14725096 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3297 full false No space for other voices: U.S. “democracy” silences third parties No space for other voices: U.S. “democracy” silences third parties For the so-called “greatest democracy on Earth,” elections in the United States are a mess of regulations and laws that differ by state.

The system is controlled by the Democratic and Republican parties. Just as they seek to destroy any dissent that challenges their status quo, they do so in the electoral arena by placing onerous requirements on independent candidates and third parties, restricting the rights of people to vote and much more.

As we’ve just passed Super Tuesday and are well into the 2024 campaign season, we wanted to dive more into the stranglehold the Republicans and Democrats have on the electoral system and any real choice at the voting booth with someone who’s very familiar with this - we’re joined by Claudia de la Cruz, the Presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Support the show

]]> For the so-called “greatest democracy on Earth,” elections in the United States are a mess of regulations and laws that differ by state.

The system is controlled by the Democratic and Republican parties. Just as they seek to destroy any dissent that challenges their status quo, they do so in the electoral arena by placing onerous requirements on independent candidates and third parties, restricting the rights of people to vote and much more.

As we’ve just passed Super Tuesday and are well into the 2024 campaign season, we wanted to dive more into the stranglehold the Republicans and Democrats have on the electoral system and any real choice at the voting booth with someone who’s very familiar with this - we’re joined by Claudia de la Cruz, the Presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

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]]> Buzzsprout-14679420 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400 1705 full false Millions Mobilize for Palestine Millions Mobilize for Palestine Millions of people took to the streets around the world on March 2nd in solidarity with the people of Gaza as Israel is reportedly preparing an invasion of Rafah later this week, just before the start of Ramadan. In New York City, Havana, Albuquerque, Caracas, British Columbia, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and beyond, the massive day of mobilization shows that the movement against the Israeli genocide in Palestine will not slow down until the attacks are over.

Even the Democratic Party is being forced to shift its rhetoric in the face of mounting pressure, though it remains steadfast in its support for Israel. Biden’s recent statements about increasing aid to Gaza, and Kamala Harris’ comment that we need an “immediate cease-fire for at least six weeks” come while the US continues to veto ceasefire resolutions in the UN. But new surveys show that more than two thirds of the people in the US support the call for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence. And in a brand Center for Economic and Policy Research/YouGov study, 62 percent of respondents who voted for President Biden in 2020 agree with the statement, “The US should stop weapons shipments to Israel until Israel discontinues its attacks on the people of Gaza.” 

We’re joined by Miriam Osman, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement.

Support the show

]]> Millions of people took to the streets around the world on March 2nd in solidarity with the people of Gaza as Israel is reportedly preparing an invasion of Rafah later this week, just before the start of Ramadan. In New York City, Havana, Albuquerque, Caracas, British Columbia, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and beyond, the massive day of mobilization shows that the movement against the Israeli genocide in Palestine will not slow down until the attacks are over.

Even the Democratic Party is being forced to shift its rhetoric in the face of mounting pressure, though it remains steadfast in its support for Israel. Biden’s recent statements about increasing aid to Gaza, and Kamala Harris’ comment that we need an “immediate cease-fire for at least six weeks” come while the US continues to veto ceasefire resolutions in the UN. But new surveys show that more than two thirds of the people in the US support the call for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence. And in a brand Center for Economic and Policy Research/YouGov study, 62 percent of respondents who voted for President Biden in 2020 agree with the statement, “The US should stop weapons shipments to Israel until Israel discontinues its attacks on the people of Gaza.” 

We’re joined by Miriam Osman, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14635804 Wed, 06 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1662 full false Ukraine and the Growing Anti-War Movement: Lessons after 2 Years Ukraine and the Growing Anti-War Movement: Lessons after 2 Years February 24 marked the second anniversary of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. With tens of thousands dead and more wounded on both sides and no end in sight to the conflict, it’s important to remember that the history of this conflict did not begin on February 24, 2022, nor on February 22, 2014, when the Russian military took control of the Crimean Peninsula.

We discuss this and other lessons of the last two years, including why there cannot be “unity” between the left and fascist forces who pretend to be part of the anti-war movement, and the spread of anti-imperialist sentiment across the US as Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza.

We’re joined by Walter Smolarek, producer with The Socialist Program.

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]]> February 24 marked the second anniversary of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. With tens of thousands dead and more wounded on both sides and no end in sight to the conflict, it’s important to remember that the history of this conflict did not begin on February 24, 2022, nor on February 22, 2014, when the Russian military took control of the Crimean Peninsula.

We discuss this and other lessons of the last two years, including why there cannot be “unity” between the left and fascist forces who pretend to be part of the anti-war movement, and the spread of anti-imperialist sentiment across the US as Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza.

We’re joined by Walter Smolarek, producer with The Socialist Program.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-14589725 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1974 full false Day X: Julian Assange and Press Freedom Under Attack Day X: Julian Assange and Press Freedom Under Attack It’s Day X. Hearings are happening in the United Kingdom to determine whether Julian Assange will be extradited to the United States. His lawyers are trying to convince the UK’s High Court of Justice to permit an appeal hearing. If the court declines, it’s very likely that Assange will be extradited within days and face trial here.

The long case of Julian Assange has been a travesty of justice. While Assange spent years stuck in the Ecuadorian embassy, and now over 5 years in terrible conditions in Belmarsh Prison, known as Britain’s Guantanamo Bay, those who committed the crimes he exposed still walk free. All along the way, the UK and US governments have violated the rights of Assange and his supporters.

We’re joined by Kevin Gosztola, the editor of The Dissenter, the author of the book Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange, co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure and more

Support the show

]]> It’s Day X. Hearings are happening in the United Kingdom to determine whether Julian Assange will be extradited to the United States. His lawyers are trying to convince the UK’s High Court of Justice to permit an appeal hearing. If the court declines, it’s very likely that Assange will be extradited within days and face trial here.

The long case of Julian Assange has been a travesty of justice. While Assange spent years stuck in the Ecuadorian embassy, and now over 5 years in terrible conditions in Belmarsh Prison, known as Britain’s Guantanamo Bay, those who committed the crimes he exposed still walk free. All along the way, the UK and US governments have violated the rights of Assange and his supporters.

We’re joined by Kevin Gosztola, the editor of The Dissenter, the author of the book Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange, co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure and more

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14541898 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:00:00 -0500 2208 full false Nancy Pelosi: Funding Israel, Betraying Workers Nancy Pelosi: Funding Israel, Betraying Workers Nancy Pelosi’s been in office for 37 years. She’s an ardent supporter of capitalism and imperialism, telling a college student who asked her in 2017 that “I have to say, we’re capitalist - and that’s just the way it is” at a time when 51% of 18-29 year olds said they didn’t support capitalism. She was part of the push on Obama to bomb Syria in 2013, she’s a hawk on Iran and she’s said that US support for Israel is “ironclad.”

More recently, she’s suggested that protesters calling for a ceasefire in Palestine are plants or tools of Russia, saying “for them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin’s message” and “Make no mistakes, this is directly connected to what he would like to see.”

And in October, she told members of the peace group CODEPINK to “go back to China.”

Were joined today by Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of CODEPINK, to dig deeper into Pelosi’s politics, money and support for genocide.

Support the show

]]> Nancy Pelosi’s been in office for 37 years. She’s an ardent supporter of capitalism and imperialism, telling a college student who asked her in 2017 that “I have to say, we’re capitalist - and that’s just the way it is” at a time when 51% of 18-29 year olds said they didn’t support capitalism. She was part of the push on Obama to bomb Syria in 2013, she’s a hawk on Iran and she’s said that US support for Israel is “ironclad.”

More recently, she’s suggested that protesters calling for a ceasefire in Palestine are plants or tools of Russia, saying “for them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin’s message” and “Make no mistakes, this is directly connected to what he would like to see.”

And in October, she told members of the peace group CODEPINK to “go back to China.”

Were joined today by Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of CODEPINK, to dig deeper into Pelosi’s politics, money and support for genocide.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-14498670 Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3223 full false On the Ground in Texas: From Eagle Pass to Pro-Palestine Protest in Austin On the Ground in Texas: From Eagle Pass to Pro-Palestine Protest in Austin Thousands of people marched through the streets of Austin, TX on February 4th, calling for a ceasefire and for the state government to withdraw all state funding from Israel. According to the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Texas’ share of the annual funding the US gives Israel is $298.367,616. Austin alone pays nearly $15 million of that. Houston’s at $32 million, Dallas about $19 million, and Fort Worth $11 million. And this is while 13.9% of Texans lived below the poverty line from 2018 to 2022, and 76 of the state’s 254 counties - mostly rural with fewer than 50,000 residents - actually had increased poverty rates in that time period. That’s all according to the latest US Census as reported by the Texas Tribune.

And of course, just under 4 hours away, far-right groups including Christian Nationalists are waging a war on migrants in the border town of Eagle Pass. 

Our very own Rachel Hu was in Austin for this massive demonstration. And after we talk about what it was like on the ground in Austin, we’re going to bring you the audio of Matthew Hoh, a former US Marine Corps Captain, Iraq veteran and State Department official, speaking at CovertAction’s February 5th webinar on the genocide. In his presentation, Hoh provides an overview of the situation on the ground, and five key ways in which the US provides the support to apartheid Israel: Military, intelligence, political, diplomatic and media.

Support the show

]]> Thousands of people marched through the streets of Austin, TX on February 4th, calling for a ceasefire and for the state government to withdraw all state funding from Israel. According to the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Texas’ share of the annual funding the US gives Israel is $298.367,616. Austin alone pays nearly $15 million of that. Houston’s at $32 million, Dallas about $19 million, and Fort Worth $11 million. And this is while 13.9% of Texans lived below the poverty line from 2018 to 2022, and 76 of the state’s 254 counties - mostly rural with fewer than 50,000 residents - actually had increased poverty rates in that time period. That’s all according to the latest US Census as reported by the Texas Tribune.

And of course, just under 4 hours away, far-right groups including Christian Nationalists are waging a war on migrants in the border town of Eagle Pass. 

Our very own Rachel Hu was in Austin for this massive demonstration. And after we talk about what it was like on the ground in Austin, we’re going to bring you the audio of Matthew Hoh, a former US Marine Corps Captain, Iraq veteran and State Department official, speaking at CovertAction’s February 5th webinar on the genocide. In his presentation, Hoh provides an overview of the situation on the ground, and five key ways in which the US provides the support to apartheid Israel: Military, intelligence, political, diplomatic and media.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14453669 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3664 full false Censored: Exposing How Corporate Media Hides the Truth Censored: Exposing How Corporate Media Hides the Truth The decade between 2012 and 2021 saw the killings of 1,733 environmental activists across the globe. Corporate profits rose to record high levels in 2022 - while people were still feeling the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. Antibiotics fed to cows by beef suppliers for major supermarkets and fast food chains could create a huge public health crisis through the spread of “superbugs.” Twitter had deep relationships with the federal government when it came to content policy, and many big tech companies hired former CIA and Mossad agents.

All of these should be considered major stories in and of themselves, but they either barely got any news coverage in the mainstream media, or they were misrepresented until pressure became too big to ignore. That’s why they’re just some of the stories on Project Censored's list of the Top 25 Censored News Stories of 2022 and 2023. And there’s a massive lack in media literacy in the United States, where only four states mandate critical media literacy education in public schools. 

Project Censored has just published their State of the Free Press 2024, which you can get by clicking the Store link at projectcensored.org. We’re joined by Project Censored’s Director Mickey Huff, and Associate Director Andy Lee Roth.

Support the show

]]> The decade between 2012 and 2021 saw the killings of 1,733 environmental activists across the globe. Corporate profits rose to record high levels in 2022 - while people were still feeling the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. Antibiotics fed to cows by beef suppliers for major supermarkets and fast food chains could create a huge public health crisis through the spread of “superbugs.” Twitter had deep relationships with the federal government when it came to content policy, and many big tech companies hired former CIA and Mossad agents.

All of these should be considered major stories in and of themselves, but they either barely got any news coverage in the mainstream media, or they were misrepresented until pressure became too big to ignore. That’s why they’re just some of the stories on Project Censored's list of the Top 25 Censored News Stories of 2022 and 2023. And there’s a massive lack in media literacy in the United States, where only four states mandate critical media literacy education in public schools. 

Project Censored has just published their State of the Free Press 2024, which you can get by clicking the Store link at projectcensored.org. We’re joined by Project Censored’s Director Mickey Huff, and Associate Director Andy Lee Roth.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14373260 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 19:00:00 -0500 3218 full false On The Ground: 400,000 March for Gaza in DC On The Ground: 400,000 March for Gaza in DC 400,000 people rallied and marched in Washington, DC on Saturday the 13th, marking 100 days since the Palestinian liberation movement and the international solidarity movement gained renewed energy. On the same day, half a million people marched in London, and other events took place across the world.

The march was called by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine, whose members include American Muslims for Palestine, CAIR, Islamic Circle of North America, Muslim American Society, MSA National, Muslim Legal Fund of America, Muslim Ummah of North America and Young Muslims, along with the task force’s National Partner for this event, the ANSWER Coalition.

Despite the record numbers and people coming from across the country, the mainstream media paid very little attention to the significance - as they did with the massive November 4th protest in DC. But despite the Washington Post, MSNBC and much of the rest of the media trying to downplay or outright ignore this movement, we’re here to uplift this critical mobilization. At the end of the show, we also bring you recordings of some of the speakers at the event. Find the full stream on BreakThrough News’ YouTube page.

Support the show

]]> 400,000 people rallied and marched in Washington, DC on Saturday the 13th, marking 100 days since the Palestinian liberation movement and the international solidarity movement gained renewed energy. On the same day, half a million people marched in London, and other events took place across the world.

The march was called by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine, whose members include American Muslims for Palestine, CAIR, Islamic Circle of North America, Muslim American Society, MSA National, Muslim Legal Fund of America, Muslim Ummah of North America and Young Muslims, along with the task force’s National Partner for this event, the ANSWER Coalition.

Despite the record numbers and people coming from across the country, the mainstream media paid very little attention to the significance - as they did with the massive November 4th protest in DC. But despite the Washington Post, MSNBC and much of the rest of the media trying to downplay or outright ignore this movement, we’re here to uplift this critical mobilization. At the end of the show, we also bring you recordings of some of the speakers at the event. Find the full stream on BreakThrough News’ YouTube page.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14323798 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3430 full false “They See it as One and the Same” - US and ISIS Attack Iran “They See it as One and the Same” - US and ISIS Attack Iran The Islamic State has taken credit for an attack that killed 84 people and left dozens wounded in Kerman, in southern Iran. The bombing was significant because it was on the anniversary of the assassination by the United States of Qasem Soleimani, who was the commander of the Iranian Quds force 1998 until he was killed on January 3rd, 2020 by a U.S. drone strike under the orders of Donald Trump. At the time, Soleimani was on his way to meet with the Prime Minister of Iraq and in fact he was killed in Iraq, near Baghdad International Airport.

Souleimani was a popular figure for leading the Quds force and the fight against the Islamic State not just in Iran, but leading Iran’s assistance against the fight in Syria.

The January 3rd attack in Kerman is not the first IS attack in Iran, but likely the deadliest.

We’re joined today by Mazda Majidi, Iranian author, journalist, and anti-war activist to talk about why the US targeted Soleimani, why IS targeted Iran and the role Iran plays in the wider region.

Mazda Majidi also joined CovertAction Bulletin in December of 2022 to discuss the protests happening in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amimi. Listen to that interview on CovertActionMagazine.com. 

Support the show

]]> The Islamic State has taken credit for an attack that killed 84 people and left dozens wounded in Kerman, in southern Iran. The bombing was significant because it was on the anniversary of the assassination by the United States of Qasem Soleimani, who was the commander of the Iranian Quds force 1998 until he was killed on January 3rd, 2020 by a U.S. drone strike under the orders of Donald Trump. At the time, Soleimani was on his way to meet with the Prime Minister of Iraq and in fact he was killed in Iraq, near Baghdad International Airport.

Souleimani was a popular figure for leading the Quds force and the fight against the Islamic State not just in Iran, but leading Iran’s assistance against the fight in Syria.

The January 3rd attack in Kerman is not the first IS attack in Iran, but likely the deadliest.

We’re joined today by Mazda Majidi, Iranian author, journalist, and anti-war activist to talk about why the US targeted Soleimani, why IS targeted Iran and the role Iran plays in the wider region.

Mazda Majidi also joined CovertAction Bulletin in December of 2022 to discuss the protests happening in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amimi. Listen to that interview on CovertActionMagazine.com. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14282282 Wed, 10 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500 3187 full false Assassinations and Bombings: Will there be regional war in the Middle East? Assassinations and Bombings: Will there be regional war in the Middle East? The U.S. and Israel are quickly escalating the conflict in the Middle East. On December 31st, the Navy sank three Yemeni boats in the Red Sea. 10 Yemenis were killed in this attack. The boats were part of the Yemeni Armed Forces grouping that have been preventing passage of Israeli ships, or those heading to Israeli ports, through the Red Sea. While the Yemeni Armed Forces have been largely successful in this mission, they have not caused any casualties on the ships that they are redirecting, making this provocation by the US even more egregious.

In Lebanon on January 2nd, the IDF attacked Beirut, killing the Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Saleh Al-Arouri. In response, Hamas has suspended its negotiations with Israel. This follows the Christmas Day killing of Commander Reza Mousavi of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Damascus, Syria.

To put all of this into context and make sense of the quickly-shifting landscape, we’re happy to welcome Nicole Roussell to the show. Nicole is a producer at The Socialist Program.

Learn more about the January 13th March for Gaza in Washington, DC at march4gaza.org

Support the show

]]> The U.S. and Israel are quickly escalating the conflict in the Middle East. On December 31st, the Navy sank three Yemeni boats in the Red Sea. 10 Yemenis were killed in this attack. The boats were part of the Yemeni Armed Forces grouping that have been preventing passage of Israeli ships, or those heading to Israeli ports, through the Red Sea. While the Yemeni Armed Forces have been largely successful in this mission, they have not caused any casualties on the ships that they are redirecting, making this provocation by the US even more egregious.

In Lebanon on January 2nd, the IDF attacked Beirut, killing the Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Saleh Al-Arouri. In response, Hamas has suspended its negotiations with Israel. This follows the Christmas Day killing of Commander Reza Mousavi of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Damascus, Syria.

To put all of this into context and make sense of the quickly-shifting landscape, we’re happy to welcome Nicole Roussell to the show. Nicole is a producer at The Socialist Program.

Learn more about the January 13th March for Gaza in Washington, DC at march4gaza.org

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14237737 Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1834 full false US Targets Venezuela on Behalf of ExxonMobil US Targets Venezuela on Behalf of ExxonMobil The United States government is inserting itself into a border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana on behalf of ExxonMobil. The oil-rich Essequibo region has the world’s biggest reserves per capita of crude oil and in May of this year, a “significant discovery” by ExxonMobil was announced in the area’s 6.6-million acre Staborek Block oil field.

In a December 3rd referendum, 10.4 million Venezuelans voted overwhelmingly to keep the US out of the disagreement and to continue to handle the dispute under the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

The US State Department is dismissing the referendum results and while spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US wants a “peaceful resolution,” Secretary of State Blinken has put forward that the US totally backs Guyana and that the region 61,600 square mile area is fully Guyanese.

To get into the history of Essequibo and help us understand what’s happening in the context of decades of US imperialist actions against Venezuela, we’re joined by Gloria La Riva of the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee.

Support the show

]]> The United States government is inserting itself into a border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana on behalf of ExxonMobil. The oil-rich Essequibo region has the world’s biggest reserves per capita of crude oil and in May of this year, a “significant discovery” by ExxonMobil was announced in the area’s 6.6-million acre Staborek Block oil field.

In a December 3rd referendum, 10.4 million Venezuelans voted overwhelmingly to keep the US out of the disagreement and to continue to handle the dispute under the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

The US State Department is dismissing the referendum results and while spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US wants a “peaceful resolution,” Secretary of State Blinken has put forward that the US totally backs Guyana and that the region 61,600 square mile area is fully Guyanese.

To get into the history of Essequibo and help us understand what’s happening in the context of decades of US imperialist actions against Venezuela, we’re joined by Gloria La Riva of the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-14137744 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3229 full false True Horror of the Israeli Assault True Horror of the Israeli Assault The US House of Representatives recently passed HR 888, reaffirming the State of Israel’s right to exist by a vote of 412-1. And HR 894, which says the House “clearly and firmly states that anti-Zionism is anti semitism” has passed by a vote of 311-14 with 92 abstentions. Imperialist media continues to make unsubstantiated claims about what the Palestinian resistance did or did not do on October 7th in a major new coordinated propaganda push. And, protests in support of Palestine, calling for a ceasefire, end of the siege of Gaza and an end to US aid to Israel don’t seem to be slowing down at all as we approach two months from Al Aqsa Flood and get into the holiday season.

We’re joined by two Palestinian organizers to talk about the impact of the war on Palestinians in Palestine as well as in the US. Fatin Jarara is a community organizer with Al Awda NY, and Rania Mustafa is Executive Director of the Palestinian American Community Center.

Support the show

]]> The US House of Representatives recently passed HR 888, reaffirming the State of Israel’s right to exist by a vote of 412-1. And HR 894, which says the House “clearly and firmly states that anti-Zionism is anti semitism” has passed by a vote of 311-14 with 92 abstentions. Imperialist media continues to make unsubstantiated claims about what the Palestinian resistance did or did not do on October 7th in a major new coordinated propaganda push. And, protests in support of Palestine, calling for a ceasefire, end of the siege of Gaza and an end to US aid to Israel don’t seem to be slowing down at all as we approach two months from Al Aqsa Flood and get into the holiday season.

We’re joined by two Palestinian organizers to talk about the impact of the war on Palestinians in Palestine as well as in the US. Fatin Jarara is a community organizer with Al Awda NY, and Rania Mustafa is Executive Director of the Palestinian American Community Center.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-14096345 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3020 full false Students Lead the Way for Palestine Students Lead the Way for Palestine On November 26, three young Palestinian men were shot in Burlington, Vermont. Hisham Awartani, a junior at Brown University, released a statement that was read at a campus vigil saying, “This hideous crime did not happen in a vacuum. As much as I appreciate the love of every single one of you here today, I am but one casualty in a much wider conflict.”

Awartani’s friends Kinnan Abdalhamaid, a student at Haverford College and Tahseen Ahmad , a student at Trinity College, also remain in the hospital as of this recording and a suspect has been arrested and charged. Awartani went on to write,

“Had I been shot in the West Bank, where I grew up, the medical services which saved my life here would have likely been withheld by the Israeli army. The soldier who would have shot me would go home and never be convicted. I understand that the pain is so much more real and immediate because many of you know me, but any attack like this is horrific, be it here or in Palestine. This is why when you say your wishes and light your candles today, your mind should not just be focused on me as an individual, but as a proud member of a people being oppressed.”

On this episode, we’re focusing on students - the attacks on the young Palestinians in Burlington, threats and harassment campaigns against college organizers, and the role that students have played in ending apartheid and war historically and today.

Joining us is Roua Daas of Palestinian Youth Movement.

Learn more about the Shut It Down for Palestine movement at ShutItDown4Palestine.org 

Support the show

]]> On November 26, three young Palestinian men were shot in Burlington, Vermont. Hisham Awartani, a junior at Brown University, released a statement that was read at a campus vigil saying, “This hideous crime did not happen in a vacuum. As much as I appreciate the love of every single one of you here today, I am but one casualty in a much wider conflict.”

Awartani’s friends Kinnan Abdalhamaid, a student at Haverford College and Tahseen Ahmad , a student at Trinity College, also remain in the hospital as of this recording and a suspect has been arrested and charged. Awartani went on to write,

“Had I been shot in the West Bank, where I grew up, the medical services which saved my life here would have likely been withheld by the Israeli army. The soldier who would have shot me would go home and never be convicted. I understand that the pain is so much more real and immediate because many of you know me, but any attack like this is horrific, be it here or in Palestine. This is why when you say your wishes and light your candles today, your mind should not just be focused on me as an individual, but as a proud member of a people being oppressed.”

On this episode, we’re focusing on students - the attacks on the young Palestinians in Burlington, threats and harassment campaigns against college organizers, and the role that students have played in ending apartheid and war historically and today.

Joining us is Roua Daas of Palestinian Youth Movement.

Learn more about the Shut It Down for Palestine movement at ShutItDown4Palestine.org 

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-14053289 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500 2578 full false Media Lies, Palestinians Die Media Lies, Palestinians Die Malcolm X might have said it best: “The press is so powerful in its image-making role, it can make the criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. This is the press, an irresponsible press. It will make the criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

In the current Israeli attacks on Palestine, we are seeing the US media play that role. From the New York Times and CNN to Fox News and NPR, despite the different places on the political spectrum that these outlets occupy, the coverage ranges from obfuscating the origins of the conflict to just being outright racist and genocidal.

To talk more about the role of the media, we’re joined by socialist and anti-imperialist blogger and media critic Steve Patt, whose work you can find on Twitter at @leftiblog. We review some of the most egregious headlines as well as three categories of media misbehavior that Steve’s identified: general bias, disinformation & misinformation, and misinformation by omission.

Support the show

]]> Malcolm X might have said it best: “The press is so powerful in its image-making role, it can make the criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. This is the press, an irresponsible press. It will make the criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

In the current Israeli attacks on Palestine, we are seeing the US media play that role. From the New York Times and CNN to Fox News and NPR, despite the different places on the political spectrum that these outlets occupy, the coverage ranges from obfuscating the origins of the conflict to just being outright racist and genocidal.

To talk more about the role of the media, we’re joined by socialist and anti-imperialist blogger and media critic Steve Patt, whose work you can find on Twitter at @leftiblog. We review some of the most egregious headlines as well as three categories of media misbehavior that Steve’s identified: general bias, disinformation & misinformation, and misinformation by omission.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13970277 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3153 full false Building Social Media Inspired by Openness & Transparency Building Social Media Inspired by Openness & Transparency While most social media platforms spy on us, manipulate our emotions with hidden algorithms, feed our data to governments on request and censor with no notice or transparency, can there be an alternative that’s friendly for everyone to use? We talk with John Kiriakou and Sean O’Brien about Pancake, a new messaging technology being built to address that question.

We also discuss the important news from November 3rd that a New York judge has declared that oral arguments in the case Kunstler v. CIA will be open to the public. The suit alleges that the Central Intelligence Agency conspired with UC Global to illegally spy on Julian Assange and his visitors - including lawyers - at the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Finally, we bring you a selection of voices from the November 4th March on Washington for Palestine. To see the entire rally, visit BreakThrough News on YouTube.



About our guests:
John Kiriakou is a journalist, former CIA counterterrorism officer, former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and former counterterrorism consultant for ABC News. In 2007, Kiriakou blew the whistle on the CIA’s torture program, that torture was official U.S. government policy, and approved by then-President George W. Bush. He became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act — a law designed to punish spies. He served 23 months in prison as a result of the revelation.

In 2012 the Ralph Nader family honored Kiriakou with the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage, he won the PEN Center USA’s prestigious First Amendment Award in 2015, the first Blueprint International Whistleblowing Prize for Bravery and Integrity in the Public Interest in 2016, and in the same year the Sam Adams Award for Integrity in Intelligence, given by retired CIA, FBI, and NSA officers. 


Sean O'Brien is a Visiting Lecturer at Yale Law School, where he teaches Cybersecurity and founded the Privacy Lab initiative. He is Chief Technology Officer at Panquake, recently launching the Panquake Me link cleaning, shortening, and archiving service. Sean developed a Web3 and Blockchain class at Yale as well as Hacking and Cybersecurity at the Lawfare Institute and was founding Head Tutor at Oxford University Cyber Security for Business Leaders. Sean’s expertise has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, Popular Science, AP News, NBC News, The Financial Times, Wired, The New Yorker, and more.
 

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]]> While most social media platforms spy on us, manipulate our emotions with hidden algorithms, feed our data to governments on request and censor with no notice or transparency, can there be an alternative that’s friendly for everyone to use? We talk with John Kiriakou and Sean O’Brien about Pancake, a new messaging technology being built to address that question.

We also discuss the important news from November 3rd that a New York judge has declared that oral arguments in the case Kunstler v. CIA will be open to the public. The suit alleges that the Central Intelligence Agency conspired with UC Global to illegally spy on Julian Assange and his visitors - including lawyers - at the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Finally, we bring you a selection of voices from the November 4th March on Washington for Palestine. To see the entire rally, visit BreakThrough News on YouTube.



About our guests:
John Kiriakou is a journalist, former CIA counterterrorism officer, former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and former counterterrorism consultant for ABC News. In 2007, Kiriakou blew the whistle on the CIA’s torture program, that torture was official U.S. government policy, and approved by then-President George W. Bush. He became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act — a law designed to punish spies. He served 23 months in prison as a result of the revelation.

In 2012 the Ralph Nader family honored Kiriakou with the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage, he won the PEN Center USA’s prestigious First Amendment Award in 2015, the first Blueprint International Whistleblowing Prize for Bravery and Integrity in the Public Interest in 2016, and in the same year the Sam Adams Award for Integrity in Intelligence, given by retired CIA, FBI, and NSA officers. 


Sean O'Brien is a Visiting Lecturer at Yale Law School, where he teaches Cybersecurity and founded the Privacy Lab initiative. He is Chief Technology Officer at Panquake, recently launching the Panquake Me link cleaning, shortening, and archiving service. Sean developed a Web3 and Blockchain class at Yale as well as Hacking and Cybersecurity at the Lawfare Institute and was founding Head Tutor at Oxford University Cyber Security for Business Leaders. Sean’s expertise has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, Popular Science, AP News, NBC News, The Financial Times, Wired, The New Yorker, and more.
 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13927155 Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3364 full false Largest Pro-Palestine Protest in US History Largest Pro-Palestine Protest in US History November 4th has been declared an International Day of Solidarity with Palestine. Over 100 demonstrations will take place that day around the world in solidarity with Palestine, from Johannesburg to São Paulo, Berlin to Kuala Lampur, Athens to Algiers. 

Meanwhile demonstrations have continued across the world every day. All of this organizing and action flies in the face of the prevailing Western narrative that the world stands with Israel.

Washington, DC will be the site of a giant demonstration as part of that International Day of Solidarity. Dozens of organizations are mobilizing people on trains, buses, in carpools and even by plane to attend from as far away as Dallas, TX and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

We’re joined by Sean Blackmon, a DC- based organizer with the ANSWER Coalition who’s mobilizing for November 4th in the city.

Support the show

]]> November 4th has been declared an International Day of Solidarity with Palestine. Over 100 demonstrations will take place that day around the world in solidarity with Palestine, from Johannesburg to São Paulo, Berlin to Kuala Lampur, Athens to Algiers. 

Meanwhile demonstrations have continued across the world every day. All of this organizing and action flies in the face of the prevailing Western narrative that the world stands with Israel.

Washington, DC will be the site of a giant demonstration as part of that International Day of Solidarity. Dozens of organizations are mobilizing people on trains, buses, in carpools and even by plane to attend from as far away as Dallas, TX and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

We’re joined by Sean Blackmon, a DC- based organizer with the ANSWER Coalition who’s mobilizing for November 4th in the city.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13885527 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3356 full false Palestinian Resistance and Censorship Palestinian Resistance and Censorship Protests across the world in solidarity with Palestine are building a support movement for the Palestinian resistance and cause, showing leaders that people from the US to the UK to Yemen and Jordan and beyond stand with the Palestinian people in their fight against the US-backed Israeli occupation. These protests are changing the shape of media coverage and influencing popular opinion and the debate over the issue.

At the same time, social media companies like Twitter and Meta have been attempting to censor pro-Palestinian content. One video listing the hospitals that Israel has bombed was taken off Instagram after gaining 12 million views. The Twitter account for Palestine Action US was not followable for many days. But information continues to spread quickly, keeping the solidarity movement going.

We’re joined by Janine Hourani of the Palestinian Youth Movement in the UK to talk about these movements and developments.

Support the show

]]> Protests across the world in solidarity with Palestine are building a support movement for the Palestinian resistance and cause, showing leaders that people from the US to the UK to Yemen and Jordan and beyond stand with the Palestinian people in their fight against the US-backed Israeli occupation. These protests are changing the shape of media coverage and influencing popular opinion and the debate over the issue.

At the same time, social media companies like Twitter and Meta have been attempting to censor pro-Palestinian content. One video listing the hospitals that Israel has bombed was taken off Instagram after gaining 12 million views. The Twitter account for Palestine Action US was not followable for many days. But information continues to spread quickly, keeping the solidarity movement going.

We’re joined by Janine Hourani of the Palestinian Youth Movement in the UK to talk about these movements and developments.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13840373 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3314 full false Zionism is racism: a history of occupation Zionism is racism: a history of occupation As the IDF continues its bombardment of Palestine and prepares for a possible ground invasion, protests across the world continue to oppose the apartheid Israeli government and those who are complicit or active in supporting it - like the United States with its $3.8 billion in aid as well as immeasurable political and media support. 

With these protests have come countless solidarity statements and other actions. They’re all calling out Zionism, the racist ideology at the basis of the Israeli state. Zionism claims to represent Jewish people around the world  but as we discuss only serves the interests of imperialism. We’re happy to welcome Morgan Artyukhina, a Jewish anti-imperialist journalist and transgender rights activist to talk about the latest moves in the war and a history of Zionism.

Read the interview we mentioned at Electronic Intifada

Support the show

]]> As the IDF continues its bombardment of Palestine and prepares for a possible ground invasion, protests across the world continue to oppose the apartheid Israeli government and those who are complicit or active in supporting it - like the United States with its $3.8 billion in aid as well as immeasurable political and media support. 

With these protests have come countless solidarity statements and other actions. They’re all calling out Zionism, the racist ideology at the basis of the Israeli state. Zionism claims to represent Jewish people around the world  but as we discuss only serves the interests of imperialism. We’re happy to welcome Morgan Artyukhina, a Jewish anti-imperialist journalist and transgender rights activist to talk about the latest moves in the war and a history of Zionism.

Read the interview we mentioned at Electronic Intifada

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-13798231 Wed, 18 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400 3278 full false Eyewitness Gaza: Why the Resistance is Justified Eyewitness Gaza: Why the Resistance is Justified On October 7th, the Palestinian resistance launched its Al-Aqsa Flood uprising against the decades-long occupation by Israel. Despite $3.8 billion every year in military aid from the US and a vast military and surveillance state, the Israeli government seemingly had no warning to this carefully-planned advance.

In response, Israel has declared a “total war” on Gaza. It’s shut down access to electricity and the Internet and more. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting animals and we act accordingly.” Israel has bombed the Rafah crossing into Egypt, leaving Gazans with no way to exit.

Within 4 days, the Israeli bombardment has left nearly 200,000 more people displaced in the Gaza strip, according to the UN, which also warns of a deepening of the already disastrous water crisis in Gaza.

Western politicians in the US and EU have been quick to condemn the Palestinian resistance and pledge their support to Israel. But across the United States and the world, protests have broken out in support of Palestine and the right of people to resist occupation and apartheid.

We’re joined by Yara Shoufani, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, which is a transnational organization with chapters across the US, Canada, and Europe, that is struggling for the liberation of Palestine. Find PYM on social media and at their website palestinianyouthmovement.com

For an on-the-ground report from Gaza, we are also joined by Wafa Aludaini, a Gaza-based journalist and activist and the 15th October Media Group’s manager. Wafa also works as an international correspondent with several international publications.

Support the show

]]> On October 7th, the Palestinian resistance launched its Al-Aqsa Flood uprising against the decades-long occupation by Israel. Despite $3.8 billion every year in military aid from the US and a vast military and surveillance state, the Israeli government seemingly had no warning to this carefully-planned advance.

In response, Israel has declared a “total war” on Gaza. It’s shut down access to electricity and the Internet and more. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting animals and we act accordingly.” Israel has bombed the Rafah crossing into Egypt, leaving Gazans with no way to exit.

Within 4 days, the Israeli bombardment has left nearly 200,000 more people displaced in the Gaza strip, according to the UN, which also warns of a deepening of the already disastrous water crisis in Gaza.

Western politicians in the US and EU have been quick to condemn the Palestinian resistance and pledge their support to Israel. But across the United States and the world, protests have broken out in support of Palestine and the right of people to resist occupation and apartheid.

We’re joined by Yara Shoufani, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, which is a transnational organization with chapters across the US, Canada, and Europe, that is struggling for the liberation of Palestine. Find PYM on social media and at their website palestinianyouthmovement.com

For an on-the-ground report from Gaza, we are also joined by Wafa Aludaini, a Gaza-based journalist and activist and the 15th October Media Group’s manager. Wafa also works as an international correspondent with several international publications.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13754420 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400 4076 full false UN Intervention in Haiti: What’s Really Happening? UN Intervention in Haiti: What’s Really Happening? The United Nations voted on October 2nd to authorize a military intervention in Haiti, led by the Kenyan government. 

But a long history of foreign intervention and occupation in Haiti has led to disastrous results for the Haitian people, whether at the hands of the United States, France or overseen by the United Nations. This intervention is being opposed by people in Haiti and by internationalists all over the world. As Camille Chalmers, a Haitian economist and coordinator of the ALBA Movimientos Haiti, said in an interview, “We believe that there is a way to end the insecurity generated by gangs by controlling arms trafficking. We know where all these weapons come from. They come from the United States and the border; and it’s not difficult, with the technological means that exist today, to control the flow of arms and ammunition.”

So what’s the real reason for this new intervention? Why is Kenya leading it up? For all that and more we’re joined by Jemima Pierre, the Haiti/Americas Co-Coordinator for the Black Alliance for Peace, editor of the Black Agenda Report newsmagazine, editor of the Black Agenda Review, and a professor in the Department of African American Studies and Department of Anthropology at UCLA.

Support the show

]]> The United Nations voted on October 2nd to authorize a military intervention in Haiti, led by the Kenyan government. 

But a long history of foreign intervention and occupation in Haiti has led to disastrous results for the Haitian people, whether at the hands of the United States, France or overseen by the United Nations. This intervention is being opposed by people in Haiti and by internationalists all over the world. As Camille Chalmers, a Haitian economist and coordinator of the ALBA Movimientos Haiti, said in an interview, “We believe that there is a way to end the insecurity generated by gangs by controlling arms trafficking. We know where all these weapons come from. They come from the United States and the border; and it’s not difficult, with the technological means that exist today, to control the flow of arms and ammunition.”

So what’s the real reason for this new intervention? Why is Kenya leading it up? For all that and more we’re joined by Jemima Pierre, the Haiti/Americas Co-Coordinator for the Black Alliance for Peace, editor of the Black Agenda Report newsmagazine, editor of the Black Agenda Review, and a professor in the Department of African American Studies and Department of Anthropology at UCLA.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13711350 Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3223 full false Will BRICS Break the US World Order? Will BRICS Break the US World Order? After their highly-watched 15th summit, the core member nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have accepted six new members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who will become members on January 1, 2024. More than a dozen other countries have applied for membership.

But what is BRICS? As the world trends from a unipolar hierarchy led by the United States, to a multipolar reality with nations like Russia and China playing key political and economic roles challenging the reach of the West’s sphere of influence, we investigate what this grouping is, perhaps more importantly what it isn’t, and how US empire is reacting.

We’re joined by Amanda Yee, host of Radio Free Amanda.

Support the show

]]> After their highly-watched 15th summit, the core member nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have accepted six new members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who will become members on January 1, 2024. More than a dozen other countries have applied for membership.

But what is BRICS? As the world trends from a unipolar hierarchy led by the United States, to a multipolar reality with nations like Russia and China playing key political and economic roles challenging the reach of the West’s sphere of influence, we investigate what this grouping is, perhaps more importantly what it isn’t, and how US empire is reacting.

We’re joined by Amanda Yee, host of Radio Free Amanda.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13494822 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3157 full false Privatization and Dollarization: Will Argentina Fall to the Right? Privatization and Dollarization: Will Argentina Fall to the Right? In Argentina, the far right-wing Libertarian candidate Javier Milei of the Liberty Advances party won 30% of the country’s presidential primary, calling for an end to “Kirchnerism” - really, a call to end the social programs fought for and won by the Argentinian people. We dive deeper into the analysis of how we got here, and what this surge in popularity of libertarianism really means. 

Meanwhile in Guatemala, Bernardo Aréavlo de León of Movimiento Semilla won the Presidential election on August 20th and will be sworn in on January 14th of 2024. His defeat of the center-right Sandra Torres, candidate of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party, by a margin of 58% to 37%, is a sign of change against the “pact of the corrupt”.

We’re joined by Zoe Pepper Cunningham, Co-Editor of People’s Dispatch to get a deeper understanding of what these results mean for their respective countries, for Latin America and more.

Support the show

]]> In Argentina, the far right-wing Libertarian candidate Javier Milei of the Liberty Advances party won 30% of the country’s presidential primary, calling for an end to “Kirchnerism” - really, a call to end the social programs fought for and won by the Argentinian people. We dive deeper into the analysis of how we got here, and what this surge in popularity of libertarianism really means. 

Meanwhile in Guatemala, Bernardo Aréavlo de León of Movimiento Semilla won the Presidential election on August 20th and will be sworn in on January 14th of 2024. His defeat of the center-right Sandra Torres, candidate of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party, by a margin of 58% to 37%, is a sign of change against the “pact of the corrupt”.

We’re joined by Zoe Pepper Cunningham, Co-Editor of People’s Dispatch to get a deeper understanding of what these results mean for their respective countries, for Latin America and more.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13456580 Wed, 23 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0400 3179 full false McCarthyism is Back: The Anti-China Red Scare McCarthyism is Back: The Anti-China Red Scare A recent article in the New York Times attacked peace groups and activists who oppose the U.S. government’s drive towards war with China. Just days later, Senator Marco Rubio sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding an investigation into Code Pink, Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, Dongsheng and others named in the article.

While they differ on tactics or on domestic social issues, both wings of the mainstream establishment in the U.S. are united in their effort to prevent China from becoming a world power and threatening the imperialist order. We’re joined by Ben Becker, the Editor-in-Chief of BreakThrough News, to investigate this New McCarthyism and review the history of the Red Scare from World War I through the Civil Rights movement.

To sign the petition we mentioned in the introduction opposing the McCarthyist attacks on those speaking out against a new Cold War with China, go to https://peoplesforum.org/sign-on

Support the show

]]> A recent article in the New York Times attacked peace groups and activists who oppose the U.S. government’s drive towards war with China. Just days later, Senator Marco Rubio sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding an investigation into Code Pink, Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, Dongsheng and others named in the article.

While they differ on tactics or on domestic social issues, both wings of the mainstream establishment in the U.S. are united in their effort to prevent China from becoming a world power and threatening the imperialist order. We’re joined by Ben Becker, the Editor-in-Chief of BreakThrough News, to investigate this New McCarthyism and review the history of the Red Scare from World War I through the Civil Rights movement.

To sign the petition we mentioned in the introduction opposing the McCarthyist attacks on those speaking out against a new Cold War with China, go to https://peoplesforum.org/sign-on

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13412849 Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3334 full false Niger Coup Explained: West Points to Russia, Ignores Neocolonialism Niger Coup Explained: West Points to Russia, Ignores Neocolonialism On July 26, former President Mohamad Bazoum was removed from power by a military general, Tchiani. This has set off a wave of condemnation and threats of military intervention from the US and France, for whom Bazoum proved to be a reliable ally. Thousands have rallied to support Niger’s new leadership since July 26, reportedly carrying banners reading ”Down with France” and “Foreign bases out”. The US has about 1,100 troops in Niger and France has about 1,500.

Rather than analyze the reasons behind abject poverty and anti-Western sentiment in Niger and much of the region, Western countries led by the US and France are pointing to Russian interest in the region while purposely ignoring their own neocolonial history.

To understand the situation in Niger and how it impacts the rest of the African continent, and the greater geopolitical landscape, we’re joined by Eugene Puryear, an author, activist and host of The Freedom Side on Breakthrough News.

---

To sign the petition we mentioned in the introduction opposing the McCarthyist attacks on those speaking out against a new Cold War with China, go to https://peoplesforum.org/sign-on

Support the show

]]> On July 26, former President Mohamad Bazoum was removed from power by a military general, Tchiani. This has set off a wave of condemnation and threats of military intervention from the US and France, for whom Bazoum proved to be a reliable ally. Thousands have rallied to support Niger’s new leadership since July 26, reportedly carrying banners reading ”Down with France” and “Foreign bases out”. The US has about 1,100 troops in Niger and France has about 1,500.

Rather than analyze the reasons behind abject poverty and anti-Western sentiment in Niger and much of the region, Western countries led by the US and France are pointing to Russian interest in the region while purposely ignoring their own neocolonial history.

To understand the situation in Niger and how it impacts the rest of the African continent, and the greater geopolitical landscape, we’re joined by Eugene Puryear, an author, activist and host of The Freedom Side on Breakthrough News.

---

To sign the petition we mentioned in the introduction opposing the McCarthyist attacks on those speaking out against a new Cold War with China, go to https://peoplesforum.org/sign-on

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13373646 Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3275 full false "The past is not past” - Oppenheimer and the US nuclear program today "The past is not past” - Oppenheimer and the US nuclear program today Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer film made a huge $174 million internationally on its opening weekend. The three-hour biopic of the so-called “father of the atomic bomb” dives into the personal and professional relationships of J. Robert Oppenheimer. It’s centered around the 1945 Trinity test in the Jornada del Muerto desert of New Mexico and the development of the Manhattan Project that led up to it; and second the 1954 Atomic Energy Commission hearing that led to Oppenheimer’s security clearance being withdrawn.

On this episode, we welcome Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, to talk about the film, the hidden history of the U.S. nuclear program, and the terrifying reality that the U.S. government continues to develop these weapons today, threatening the very survival of the planet.

Find the Los Alamos Study Group at lasg.org.

Support the show

]]> Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer film made a huge $174 million internationally on its opening weekend. The three-hour biopic of the so-called “father of the atomic bomb” dives into the personal and professional relationships of J. Robert Oppenheimer. It’s centered around the 1945 Trinity test in the Jornada del Muerto desert of New Mexico and the development of the Manhattan Project that led up to it; and second the 1954 Atomic Energy Commission hearing that led to Oppenheimer’s security clearance being withdrawn.

On this episode, we welcome Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, to talk about the film, the hidden history of the U.S. nuclear program, and the terrifying reality that the U.S. government continues to develop these weapons today, threatening the very survival of the planet.

Find the Los Alamos Study Group at lasg.org.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13289605 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3478 full false Breaking through US propaganda on North Korea Breaking through US propaganda on North Korea A recent Washington Post article titled “A North Korean defector captivated U.S. media. Some question her story” highlights the many appearances Yeonmi Park has made on right-wing news outlets over the past few years. Scholars and solidarity activists have been pointing out the serious holes in Park’s stories since she started getting attention. But even the Post has pushed her propaganda, running an op-ed by her in 2014 that they admit was co-written with a fellow at the Koch-founded right-wing Atlas Network, calling for a capitalist counterrevolution in the country. Park is part of a long tradition of outright US lies about North Korea, which it is still at war with.

To get deeper into the history, we’re joined by Derek Ford. He's an author, visiting professor at Korea University in Tokyo, and organizer with the Global Peace forum on Korea. He also led the last delegation of US citizens to the DPRK before the travel ban. 

Support the show

]]> A recent Washington Post article titled “A North Korean defector captivated U.S. media. Some question her story” highlights the many appearances Yeonmi Park has made on right-wing news outlets over the past few years. Scholars and solidarity activists have been pointing out the serious holes in Park’s stories since she started getting attention. But even the Post has pushed her propaganda, running an op-ed by her in 2014 that they admit was co-written with a fellow at the Koch-founded right-wing Atlas Network, calling for a capitalist counterrevolution in the country. Park is part of a long tradition of outright US lies about North Korea, which it is still at war with.

To get deeper into the history, we’re joined by Derek Ford. He's an author, visiting professor at Korea University in Tokyo, and organizer with the Global Peace forum on Korea. He also led the last delegation of US citizens to the DPRK before the travel ban. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13248115 Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3135 full false AUKUS threatens the world AUKUS threatens the world The AUKUS trilateral military and intelligence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and United States doesn't get much attention in the U.S. media. It's yet another element of the US quest for world domination. The first pillar of AUKUS focuses on getting Australia nuclear-powered submarines, and the second enhances technology and information sharing. The US government has recently said it’s open to expanding the partnership.

 

To expose the aims and dangers of AUKUS, we’re joined by Murray Horton, organizer of the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa. Read his latest for CovertAction Magazine, Military Initiative by Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) is Another Major Step in Prospective War on China.

 

Support the show

]]> The AUKUS trilateral military and intelligence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and United States doesn't get much attention in the U.S. media. It's yet another element of the US quest for world domination. The first pillar of AUKUS focuses on getting Australia nuclear-powered submarines, and the second enhances technology and information sharing. The US government has recently said it’s open to expanding the partnership.

 

To expose the aims and dangers of AUKUS, we’re joined by Murray Horton, organizer of the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa. Read his latest for CovertAction Magazine, Military Initiative by Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) is Another Major Step in Prospective War on China.

 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13161385 Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3467 full false Russia coup attempt: What happened? What does the US want? Russia coup attempt: What happened? What does the US want? The June 23 coup attempt in Russia by the Wagner Group seemed to end almost as quickly and suddenly as it started. Yevgeny Prigozhin specifically targeted the Ministry of Defense and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and within hours Wagner forces had entered the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and entered the grounds of the command of the Southern Military District headquarters in the city.

Wall-to-wall news coverage in the US wondered what a post-Putin Russia would look like, featuring so-called experts on television and the Internet declaring a coup and a new day for Russia.

Joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of LiberationNews.org, we discuss the history of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner group in the context of the fall of the Soviet Union, why Prigozhin criticized Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and more. We also talk about how the US might be looking to use this crisis to further its own goals in the region.

Support the show

]]> The June 23 coup attempt in Russia by the Wagner Group seemed to end almost as quickly and suddenly as it started. Yevgeny Prigozhin specifically targeted the Ministry of Defense and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and within hours Wagner forces had entered the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and entered the grounds of the command of the Southern Military District headquarters in the city.

Wall-to-wall news coverage in the US wondered what a post-Putin Russia would look like, featuring so-called experts on television and the Internet declaring a coup and a new day for Russia.

Joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of LiberationNews.org, we discuss the history of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner group in the context of the fall of the Soviet Union, why Prigozhin criticized Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and more. We also talk about how the US might be looking to use this crisis to further its own goals in the region.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13119946 Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3175 full false Debunking media lies: US & Blinken don’t want peace with China Debunking media lies: US & Blinken don’t want peace with China We begin today’s show with a remembrance of whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who passed on June 16 at the age of 92.

Then, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended his recent trip to China with a 35-minute meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 19th. Blinken had also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and top diplomat Wang Yi over the weekend. 

Despite the State Department and the media talking about opportunities for peace, the actions of the US show that peace is the last thing it wants.

The trip comes just a few weeks after the US military tried to stoke the flames of war against China once again by misrepresenting situations in which US and Canadian war ships came into close contact with Chinese military ships in the Taiwan Strait. And it had originally been scheduled for February, but was delayed after the Pentagon and US media claimed that Chinese weather balloons were spying on the US.

To talk more about recent developments with China, we’re joined by Mika Nhondo Erskog, researcher at TriContinental Institute for Social Research and one of the hosts of The Crane, an Africa-China podcast by the Dongsheng Collective.

Support the show

]]> We begin today’s show with a remembrance of whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who passed on June 16 at the age of 92.

Then, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended his recent trip to China with a 35-minute meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 19th. Blinken had also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and top diplomat Wang Yi over the weekend. 

Despite the State Department and the media talking about opportunities for peace, the actions of the US show that peace is the last thing it wants.

The trip comes just a few weeks after the US military tried to stoke the flames of war against China once again by misrepresenting situations in which US and Canadian war ships came into close contact with Chinese military ships in the Taiwan Strait. And it had originally been scheduled for February, but was delayed after the Pentagon and US media claimed that Chinese weather balloons were spying on the US.

To talk more about recent developments with China, we’re joined by Mika Nhondo Erskog, researcher at TriContinental Institute for Social Research and one of the hosts of The Crane, an Africa-China podcast by the Dongsheng Collective.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13078724 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3518 full false NYC on fire: How do we solve the global climate crisis? NYC on fire: How do we solve the global climate crisis? In early June, cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the US were blanketed by smoke from wildfires in Canada, some hundreds of which are still burning. Air Quality Index levels reached nearly 500 in New York City at one point, well into the “hazardous” range. In fact, New York City was briefly the world’s most polluted city during that time. New York does not normally fall in the worst 3,000 global cities for air quality. 

Incidents like the wildfire smoke bring attention to the problem of global climate change, but the proposals put forward by the private sector and major industrialized governments don’t solve the issue - and in fact they put the burden on the rest of the world. So what’s happening, and what are some real solutions?

We’re joined by Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns at ActionAid USA.

Support the show

]]> In early June, cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the US were blanketed by smoke from wildfires in Canada, some hundreds of which are still burning. Air Quality Index levels reached nearly 500 in New York City at one point, well into the “hazardous” range. In fact, New York City was briefly the world’s most polluted city during that time. New York does not normally fall in the worst 3,000 global cities for air quality. 

Incidents like the wildfire smoke bring attention to the problem of global climate change, but the proposals put forward by the private sector and major industrialized governments don’t solve the issue - and in fact they put the burden on the rest of the world. So what’s happening, and what are some real solutions?

We’re joined by Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns at ActionAid USA.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-13034757 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:00:00 -0400 3274 full false Culture Wars, U.S. Imperialism & Pride Month Culture Wars, U.S. Imperialism & Pride Month Pride month is here in the US. It’s a time for LGBTQ people to celebrate, to build community, to honor our elders, and to continue the tradition of protest for recognition, safety and equal rights. In the face of “don’t say gay” laws, book bans, street harassment, attacks on trans athletes and drag shows and laws targeting trans healthcare and even families who provide gender-affirming care for trans children, Pride has a stronger meaning and spirit behind it this year.

These renewed attacks by the right wing in the US have been joined by PR campaigns and boycotts against Target, Bud Light and more. But even though these companies might put a rainbow on their logo for a month, they can’t be the basis of resistance to these ongoing attacks against LGBTQ people.

The history of Pride in the US is one of resistance. So how have these corporations gotten involved? What is the right wing actually trying to achieve? And how does the idea of rainbow capitalism tie into all of this?

We also discuss the hidden US-based influences behind the “Kill the Gays” bill recently sign in Uganda. Far-right Christian organizations have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into evangelical operations in Africa alone over the last decade.

We’re joined by Karleigh Webb, a journalist, socialist and organizer focusing on LGBTQ liberation. She’s also a Grand Marshal of the 2023 Middletown Pride Fest in Middletown, CT.

Support the show

]]> Pride month is here in the US. It’s a time for LGBTQ people to celebrate, to build community, to honor our elders, and to continue the tradition of protest for recognition, safety and equal rights. In the face of “don’t say gay” laws, book bans, street harassment, attacks on trans athletes and drag shows and laws targeting trans healthcare and even families who provide gender-affirming care for trans children, Pride has a stronger meaning and spirit behind it this year.

These renewed attacks by the right wing in the US have been joined by PR campaigns and boycotts against Target, Bud Light and more. But even though these companies might put a rainbow on their logo for a month, they can’t be the basis of resistance to these ongoing attacks against LGBTQ people.

The history of Pride in the US is one of resistance. So how have these corporations gotten involved? What is the right wing actually trying to achieve? And how does the idea of rainbow capitalism tie into all of this?

We also discuss the hidden US-based influences behind the “Kill the Gays” bill recently sign in Uganda. Far-right Christian organizations have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into evangelical operations in Africa alone over the last decade.

We’re joined by Karleigh Webb, a journalist, socialist and organizer focusing on LGBTQ liberation. She’s also a Grand Marshal of the 2023 Middletown Pride Fest in Middletown, CT.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12949660 Tue, 30 May 2023 20:00:00 -0400 3303 full false Eyewitness: Horrors at the Border from Biden’s Policies Eyewitness: Horrors at the Border from Biden’s Policies What is the real impact of Biden’s anti-immigrant policies on the border and where is the outrage?

On May 11, the U.S. government’s Title 42 regulation expired. It had been in place for three years and prevented nearly all people who sought asylum in the United States from applying for it. 

The Biden administration continues to militarize the border with 1,500 new National Guard soldiers. The so-called “transit ban” would block anyone who comes through a third country between their own and the United States. As the U.S. places harsher sanctions on countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, the impact can be seen at the border.

To give us the real insight of the actual impact of Biden’s asylum ban, we speak with Rachell Tucker and Kaden Thaxton, grassroots journalists and activists based in San Antonio who visited the Matamoros encampment right across the border from Brownsville Texas.

Support the show

]]> What is the real impact of Biden’s anti-immigrant policies on the border and where is the outrage?

On May 11, the U.S. government’s Title 42 regulation expired. It had been in place for three years and prevented nearly all people who sought asylum in the United States from applying for it. 

The Biden administration continues to militarize the border with 1,500 new National Guard soldiers. The so-called “transit ban” would block anyone who comes through a third country between their own and the United States. As the U.S. places harsher sanctions on countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, the impact can be seen at the border.

To give us the real insight of the actual impact of Biden’s asylum ban, we speak with Rachell Tucker and Kaden Thaxton, grassroots journalists and activists based in San Antonio who visited the Matamoros encampment right across the border from Brownsville Texas.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12914249 Wed, 24 May 2023 18:00:00 -0400 3199 full false The Debt Ceiling is Political Theater The Debt Ceiling is Political Theater The “debt ceiling” crisis playing out between President Biden and Congressional Republicans is manufactured by capitalism to justify spending cuts to critical social programs while continuing to bail out big businesses and fund the Pentagon’s endless war drive.

This comes after the taxpayer-funded bailouts of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank show the willingness of the capitalist system to do everything it can to keep itself afloat. 


To talk about the debt ceiling, bank bailouts, inflation and more, we’re joined by Chris Caruso from the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights & Social Justice.

Support the show

]]> The “debt ceiling” crisis playing out between President Biden and Congressional Republicans is manufactured by capitalism to justify spending cuts to critical social programs while continuing to bail out big businesses and fund the Pentagon’s endless war drive.

This comes after the taxpayer-funded bailouts of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank show the willingness of the capitalist system to do everything it can to keep itself afloat. 


To talk about the debt ceiling, bank bailouts, inflation and more, we’re joined by Chris Caruso from the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights & Social Justice.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12863514 Tue, 16 May 2023 19:00:00 -0400 3329 full false Assange Writes Letter to King Charles Before £100 Million Coronation Assange Writes Letter to King Charles Before £100 Million Coronation To mark the occasion of the coronation of King Charles the III, Julian Assange wrote a scathing public letter to the new monarch from his cell at Belmarsh prison, where he’s been held for over four years. The coronation cost £100 million of tax-payer funds, and many across the country have been outraged that public funds are being spent on such pomp and circumstance during a cost of living crisis.

We also discuss the recent killing of Jordan Neely, 30-year-old homeless man who was choked to death by ex-marine Daniel Penny. We explore the real fear many New Yorkers feel on the subway, and how the right-wing is using this vigilante murder to justify violence against the poor.

To talk about this and more, we are joined by Natalia Marques, writer at Peoples Dispatch

Support the show

]]> To mark the occasion of the coronation of King Charles the III, Julian Assange wrote a scathing public letter to the new monarch from his cell at Belmarsh prison, where he’s been held for over four years. The coronation cost £100 million of tax-payer funds, and many across the country have been outraged that public funds are being spent on such pomp and circumstance during a cost of living crisis.

We also discuss the recent killing of Jordan Neely, 30-year-old homeless man who was choked to death by ex-marine Daniel Penny. We explore the real fear many New Yorkers feel on the subway, and how the right-wing is using this vigilante murder to justify violence against the poor.

To talk about this and more, we are joined by Natalia Marques, writer at Peoples Dispatch

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12818539 Wed, 10 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3382 full false The CIA and the 1990 Cuautitlán attack on Ford workers The CIA and the 1990 Cuautitlán attack on Ford workers In this episode, we highlight the struggle of the workers at the Ford Cuautitlán Assembly Plant, just outside Mexico City. On January 8, 1990, workers at the plant were attacked by police and private hired thugs wearing Ford jackets. This happened during a prolonged period of labor action by the workers, and kicked off an occupation of the plant. This attack didn’t happen in a vacuum and the CIA played a role in squashing labor at the plant.


We’re joined by Rob McKenzie, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) 879 from 1998-2006 and the author of El Golpe: U.S. Labor, the CIA and the Coup at Ford in Mexico.


Read Rob’s article on the topic on CovertActionMagazine.com

Support the show

]]> In this episode, we highlight the struggle of the workers at the Ford Cuautitlán Assembly Plant, just outside Mexico City. On January 8, 1990, workers at the plant were attacked by police and private hired thugs wearing Ford jackets. This happened during a prolonged period of labor action by the workers, and kicked off an occupation of the plant. This attack didn’t happen in a vacuum and the CIA played a role in squashing labor at the plant.


We’re joined by Rob McKenzie, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) 879 from 1998-2006 and the author of El Golpe: U.S. Labor, the CIA and the Coup at Ford in Mexico.


Read Rob’s article on the topic on CovertActionMagazine.com

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12772400 Tue, 02 May 2023 19:00:00 -0400 3287 full false Billionaires Won’t Save Free Speech: Elon Musk’s Fake Twitter Transparency Billionaires Won’t Save Free Speech: Elon Musk’s Fake Twitter Transparency Earlier this month, Elon Musk released a portion of Twitter’s algorithm and has since asked netizens to pat him on the back for his contribution to bringing back the old “free speech” of the early days of the internet. As the controversy on Twitter surrounding blue checks being given to dead celebrities, Musk continues to portray himself as disrupting the social media market by being a true advocate for real journalism. The hypocrisy of that is glaring. We discuss what free speech on the internet means, and what role, if any, Musk has in bringing it about.

Support the show

]]> Earlier this month, Elon Musk released a portion of Twitter’s algorithm and has since asked netizens to pat him on the back for his contribution to bringing back the old “free speech” of the early days of the internet. As the controversy on Twitter surrounding blue checks being given to dead celebrities, Musk continues to portray himself as disrupting the social media market by being a true advocate for real journalism. The hypocrisy of that is glaring. We discuss what free speech on the internet means, and what role, if any, Musk has in bringing it about.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-12724312 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3376 full false What do the Pentagon leaks really reveal? with John Kiriakou What do the Pentagon leaks really reveal? with John Kiriakou The Washington Post has published that it has reviewed over 300 leaked documents posted online allegedly from the CIA and other intelligence agencies. The documents' presence online prompted an investigation that led to the arrest on Thursday of a 21-year-old Air National guardsman, Jack Teixeira.

This leak of Pentagon documents has given us a glimpse of how the US government and some of its allies are viewing the current status of the US & NATO proxy war in Ukraine. Reports continue to come out claiming that some of the documents are Russian disinformation, but the Pentagon has confirmed the authenticity of some of the documents. Whether they’re fully authentic or not, the establishment has seized on the Pentagon leaks in order to push for more war.

Whistleblower John Kiriakou joins us for this episode.

Support the show

]]> The Washington Post has published that it has reviewed over 300 leaked documents posted online allegedly from the CIA and other intelligence agencies. The documents' presence online prompted an investigation that led to the arrest on Thursday of a 21-year-old Air National guardsman, Jack Teixeira.

This leak of Pentagon documents has given us a glimpse of how the US government and some of its allies are viewing the current status of the US & NATO proxy war in Ukraine. Reports continue to come out claiming that some of the documents are Russian disinformation, but the Pentagon has confirmed the authenticity of some of the documents. Whether they’re fully authentic or not, the establishment has seized on the Pentagon leaks in order to push for more war.

Whistleblower John Kiriakou joins us for this episode.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12678885 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3161 full false The Racist Attack on Democracy in Tennessee The Racist Attack on Democracy in Tennessee The expulsion of two Black elected Representatives from Tennessee’s state government continues a long, racist tradition of the removal of Black people in political power in the United States. From the founding of the country through the Reconstruction era and to the modern day,  white supremacy and capitalism have used every weapon at their disposal to disenfranchise Black voters and legislators.

Also being ignored in media conversation around Tennessee is the reason behind the expulsion: that Representatives Jones, Pearson and Johnson were part of a march of 7,000 young people after the shooting at The Covenant School.

We discuss ongoing attacks on basic democratic rights like voting, building movements and more with political strategist Anoa Changa.

Support the show

]]> The expulsion of two Black elected Representatives from Tennessee’s state government continues a long, racist tradition of the removal of Black people in political power in the United States. From the founding of the country through the Reconstruction era and to the modern day,  white supremacy and capitalism have used every weapon at their disposal to disenfranchise Black voters and legislators.

Also being ignored in media conversation around Tennessee is the reason behind the expulsion: that Representatives Jones, Pearson and Johnson were part of a march of 7,000 young people after the shooting at The Covenant School.

We discuss ongoing attacks on basic democratic rights like voting, building movements and more with political strategist Anoa Changa.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12633108 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3224 full false The Occupation Has One Face: Palestinian Reaction to Israeli Protests The Occupation Has One Face: Palestinian Reaction to Israeli Protests Mass protests in Israel broke out after Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against Netanyahu’s planned judicial reform - really, a legislative coup. But nowhere in the media coverage was any discussion of how the protests or the judicial reform itself would impact the Palestinian people who continue to live under Israeli occupation and terror.

 At the same time, Zionists have attacked Al Aqsa mosque and other holy sites during Ramadan.

To bring out this important perspective, we spoke with Wafa Aludaini, a Gaza-based journalist and activist.

Support the show

]]> Mass protests in Israel broke out after Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against Netanyahu’s planned judicial reform - really, a legislative coup. But nowhere in the media coverage was any discussion of how the protests or the judicial reform itself would impact the Palestinian people who continue to live under Israeli occupation and terror.

 At the same time, Zionists have attacked Al Aqsa mosque and other holy sites during Ramadan.

To bring out this important perspective, we spoke with Wafa Aludaini, a Gaza-based journalist and activist.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12589371 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400 1487 full false Fund People’s Needs, Not the War Machine: Voices from the streets of D.C. on March 18 Fund People’s Needs, Not the War Machine: Voices from the streets of D.C. on March 18 On March 18, thousands of people from across the country and the world gathered in Lafayette Park, just outside the White House, demanding an end to the endless US wars of the past 20 years and in particular the proxy conflict in Ukraine.

Almost 300 groups endorsed the event from a wide variety of struggles, including the environmental organizations , antiwar veterans organizations, Black liberation fighters, African solitary groups, and many more. Rachel and I were both thrilled to have been there to experience this resurgence in the peace movement in the United States, coming such a critical time when the US is waging a deadly and costly proxy war with Russia in Ukraine with no end in sight, and aiming its guns at China at the same time.

From its start at Lafayette Park, the event marched to the White House, and then to the warmongering Washington Post, carrying caskets draped in flags of nations impacted by the US war machine. The event ended at the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church with an indoor rally.

For today’s episode, we’re going to bring you a selection of speakers from this historic event. Some you may have heard of - like Jill Stein and Noam Chomsky. Others are voices that everyone needs to hear more of, shining light on the crimes of imperialism from Eritrea to Guam.

Support the show

]]> On March 18, thousands of people from across the country and the world gathered in Lafayette Park, just outside the White House, demanding an end to the endless US wars of the past 20 years and in particular the proxy conflict in Ukraine.

Almost 300 groups endorsed the event from a wide variety of struggles, including the environmental organizations , antiwar veterans organizations, Black liberation fighters, African solitary groups, and many more. Rachel and I were both thrilled to have been there to experience this resurgence in the peace movement in the United States, coming such a critical time when the US is waging a deadly and costly proxy war with Russia in Ukraine with no end in sight, and aiming its guns at China at the same time.

From its start at Lafayette Park, the event marched to the White House, and then to the warmongering Washington Post, carrying caskets draped in flags of nations impacted by the US war machine. The event ended at the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church with an indoor rally.

For today’s episode, we’re going to bring you a selection of speakers from this historic event. Some you may have heard of - like Jill Stein and Noam Chomsky. Others are voices that everyone needs to hear more of, shining light on the crimes of imperialism from Eritrea to Guam.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12524498 Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3263 full false Islamophobia and Imperialism: 20 years after the invasion of Iraq with Dr. Nazia Kazi Islamophobia and Imperialism: 20 years after the invasion of Iraq with Dr. Nazia Kazi In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Islamophobia became a sort of unofficial religion in the United States. Vigilante street attacks on Muslim people became common. The government surveilled mosques and community centers. Over two decades later, the situation doesn’t seem much different. Resistance to bringing refugees from Syria into the US based entirely in racism and Islamophobia. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq in March 2023, the New York Times’ major retrospective piece barely mentions the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians who died, and says nothing about its own role in the war or the toll on Muslim people in the US.

But Islamophobia as a weapon of imperialism goes deeper: The US has a long history of funding right-wing political Islamist forces from Afghanistan to Syria and Indonesia. In this episode, we investigate the role that Islamophobia plays in US foreign and domestic policy. It’s a tool used by those in power to justify its wars and surveillance operations in its quest for continued global hegemony.

We’re joined by Dr. Nazia Kazi, author of Islamophobia, Race and Global Politics, and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Stockton University in New Jersey.

Support the show

]]> In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Islamophobia became a sort of unofficial religion in the United States. Vigilante street attacks on Muslim people became common. The government surveilled mosques and community centers. Over two decades later, the situation doesn’t seem much different. Resistance to bringing refugees from Syria into the US based entirely in racism and Islamophobia. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq in March 2023, the New York Times’ major retrospective piece barely mentions the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians who died, and says nothing about its own role in the war or the toll on Muslim people in the US.

But Islamophobia as a weapon of imperialism goes deeper: The US has a long history of funding right-wing political Islamist forces from Afghanistan to Syria and Indonesia. In this episode, we investigate the role that Islamophobia plays in US foreign and domestic policy. It’s a tool used by those in power to justify its wars and surveillance operations in its quest for continued global hegemony.

We’re joined by Dr. Nazia Kazi, author of Islamophobia, Race and Global Politics, and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Stockton University in New Jersey.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12489948 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 20:00:00 -0400 3187 full false Great Power Conflict: US Puts China in Crosshairs Great Power Conflict: US Puts China in Crosshairs The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has released its 2023 Annual Threat Assessment, putting China, Russia, Iran and North Korea directly in the crosshairs of US imperialism and regime change operations. The report is very clear on the motives of the entire establishment: to prevent any other state from challenging US hegemony, the “rules-based global order.” We discuss the lengthy portion of the report dedicated to China and dive into the clear projection of the U.S. empire.

We’re joined today to talk about this and a number of other topics by Amanda Yee, host of the podcast Radio Free Amanda. 

Support the show

]]> The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has released its 2023 Annual Threat Assessment, putting China, Russia, Iran and North Korea directly in the crosshairs of US imperialism and regime change operations. The report is very clear on the motives of the entire establishment: to prevent any other state from challenging US hegemony, the “rules-based global order.” We discuss the lengthy portion of the report dedicated to China and dive into the clear projection of the U.S. empire.

We’re joined today to talk about this and a number of other topics by Amanda Yee, host of the podcast Radio Free Amanda. 

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-12442678 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400 3318 full false Who are the Real Terrorists? Stop Cop City and Jim Crow Legislation in Mississippi Who are the Real Terrorists? Stop Cop City and Jim Crow Legislation in Mississippi 35 people were arrested and 23 charged with domestic terrorism at a music festival gathering that was part of the a week of action to stop Cop City. Cop City, as it is known by activists, is a $90 million dollar police militarization facility in Atlanta, and activists for the past two years have been occupying the forest where it is being built. We discuss how police militarization and the aftermath of 2020 play out in cities across the country, also including the most recent Jim Crow legislative coup in Mississippi. We discuss the state repression, surveillance, and escalation with Kamau Franklin, founder of Community Movement Builders. 

Support the show

]]> 35 people were arrested and 23 charged with domestic terrorism at a music festival gathering that was part of the a week of action to stop Cop City. Cop City, as it is known by activists, is a $90 million dollar police militarization facility in Atlanta, and activists for the past two years have been occupying the forest where it is being built. We discuss how police militarization and the aftermath of 2020 play out in cities across the country, also including the most recent Jim Crow legislative coup in Mississippi. We discuss the state repression, surveillance, and escalation with Kamau Franklin, founder of Community Movement Builders. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12397074 Wed, 08 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3275 full false Is Left Right Unity Possible in the Anti-War Movement? Is Left Right Unity Possible in the Anti-War Movement? Just before the one-year anniversary of the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine, President Biden made a surprise visit to Kiev over President’s Day weekend. According to the AP, the plan was approved just two days before, but discussion began a month prior. Air Force One flew to Germany, then turned its transponders off for a flight to Poland. Only two US journalists accompanied Biden - and they had to surrender their devices to the White House for the trip. The Russian government was notified hours before.

Biden’s trip also brought along surveillance planes - including E-3 Sentry airborne radar and an electronic RC-135W Rivet Joint - which reportedly monitored the situation from Poland, and another $500 million for military equipment on top of the $50 billion already given to the country.

Perhaps more notable were Biden’s comments, which push for more war and more destruction under the guise of defending so-called democracy in Ukraine. He signed the guest book in the Ukrainian Presidential Palace, ending with the phrase “Slava Ukraini.” Zelinsky said that he and Biden also discussed “long-range weapons.”

We'll talk about one-year anniversary of the invasion, the prospects for peace, and building a popular and mass anti-imperialist movement to achieve it. Joining us today is Jacquie Luqman, DC-based activist and co-host of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik.

Support the show

]]> Just before the one-year anniversary of the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine, President Biden made a surprise visit to Kiev over President’s Day weekend. According to the AP, the plan was approved just two days before, but discussion began a month prior. Air Force One flew to Germany, then turned its transponders off for a flight to Poland. Only two US journalists accompanied Biden - and they had to surrender their devices to the White House for the trip. The Russian government was notified hours before.

Biden’s trip also brought along surveillance planes - including E-3 Sentry airborne radar and an electronic RC-135W Rivet Joint - which reportedly monitored the situation from Poland, and another $500 million for military equipment on top of the $50 billion already given to the country.

Perhaps more notable were Biden’s comments, which push for more war and more destruction under the guise of defending so-called democracy in Ukraine. He signed the guest book in the Ukrainian Presidential Palace, ending with the phrase “Slava Ukraini.” Zelinsky said that he and Biden also discussed “long-range weapons.”

We'll talk about one-year anniversary of the invasion, the prospects for peace, and building a popular and mass anti-imperialist movement to achieve it. Joining us today is Jacquie Luqman, DC-based activist and co-host of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12304498 Wed, 22 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0500 4844 full false On the Ground Report from East Palestine Train Derailment On the Ground Report from East Palestine Train Derailment On February 3rd, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Days later, officials released some of these chemicals into the air, fearing a larger explosion. Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern railroad - the company responsible - has offered no more than a pittance of meaningful help to people from the area. We discuss how corporate greed is the underlying cause of this crash, and the potential long-term impacts. 

We’re joined by John Russell, editor of the newsletter, The Holler to hear more about the situation. John also grew up in Columbiana County, where East Palestine is located.

Follow John's Substack at TheHoller.co, and on TikTok at @heyjohnrussell

Support the show

]]> On February 3rd, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Days later, officials released some of these chemicals into the air, fearing a larger explosion. Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern railroad - the company responsible - has offered no more than a pittance of meaningful help to people from the area. We discuss how corporate greed is the underlying cause of this crash, and the potential long-term impacts. 

We’re joined by John Russell, editor of the newsletter, The Holler to hear more about the situation. John also grew up in Columbiana County, where East Palestine is located.

Follow John's Substack at TheHoller.co, and on TikTok at @heyjohnrussell

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12255140 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3207 full false NLRB Rules in Favor of Apple Whistleblower NLRB Rules in Favor of Apple Whistleblower The National Labor Relations Board has announced its findings that corporate rules and policies at tech giant Apple “tend to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees” from exercising their rights to collective action. In 2021, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent an email to staff that “people who leak confidential information do not belong here,” that Apple was “doing everything in our power to identify those who leaked” and that it didn’t “tolerate disclosures of confidential information, whether it’s product IP or the details of a confidential meeting.”

We are joined by the whistleblower who took this case to the NLRB, Ashley Gjøvik, who worked at Apple from 2015 to 2021. 

Ashley's Petition: https://www.change.org/p/stop-us-dol-osha-corruption-now

Support the show

]]> The National Labor Relations Board has announced its findings that corporate rules and policies at tech giant Apple “tend to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees” from exercising their rights to collective action. In 2021, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent an email to staff that “people who leak confidential information do not belong here,” that Apple was “doing everything in our power to identify those who leaked” and that it didn’t “tolerate disclosures of confidential information, whether it’s product IP or the details of a confidential meeting.”

We are joined by the whistleblower who took this case to the NLRB, Ashley Gjøvik, who worked at Apple from 2015 to 2021. 

Ashley's Petition: https://www.change.org/p/stop-us-dol-osha-corruption-now

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12208985 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3300 full false Eyewitness: On the Ground in Memphis for Tyre Nichols Eyewitness: On the Ground in Memphis for Tyre Nichols Over the weekend, protests across the country have taken place as the video of the brutal police murder of Tyre Nichols was released on January 27. The Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit has been disbanded, 5 officers have been charged, and in the few days since the release of the videos, at least two more officers have been removed from the police force. In the second half of our show we analyze the police actions on this case, and we hear eyewitness reports from the protests.

But first, The city of Atlanta is set to move forward with a $90 million training center, but the developments have been met with resistance. One protester has been killed by police and at least 7 have been charged with domestic terrorism for resisting the Cop City development.

We’re joined for this show by Monica Johnson, local police brutality activist and organizer who’s been involved with the Defend the Forest Campaign to stop cop city in Atlanta to discuss her work in Atlanta as well as her eyewitness report from Memphis.

Support the show

]]> Over the weekend, protests across the country have taken place as the video of the brutal police murder of Tyre Nichols was released on January 27. The Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit has been disbanded, 5 officers have been charged, and in the few days since the release of the videos, at least two more officers have been removed from the police force. In the second half of our show we analyze the police actions on this case, and we hear eyewitness reports from the protests.

But first, The city of Atlanta is set to move forward with a $90 million training center, but the developments have been met with resistance. One protester has been killed by police and at least 7 have been charged with domestic terrorism for resisting the Cop City development.

We’re joined for this show by Monica Johnson, local police brutality activist and organizer who’s been involved with the Defend the Forest Campaign to stop cop city in Atlanta to discuss her work in Atlanta as well as her eyewitness report from Memphis.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12159070 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3170 full false What’s Assange Charged With? Telling the Truth! What’s Assange Charged With? Telling the Truth! On Jan 20, the Belmarsh Tribunal packed a room at the National Press Club in Washington, DC as thousands also watched online. Co-host Chris Garaffa was there to cover this historic event for CovertAction. To discuss the legacy of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, the US government’s attacks on them and why everyone should be concerned about attacks on press freedom, we’re joined by Esther Iverem, an author, multidisciplinary artist and independent journalist. Esther produces and hosts ‘On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capital,” available as a podcast and on 25 stations on the Pacifica network. Throughout the episode, we revisit some of what put WikiLeaks on the map - including Vault 7, Collateral Murder, CableGate and more - and discuss why we need truthtellers today more than ever.

The entire Tribunal is available to watch on YouTube.

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]]> On Jan 20, the Belmarsh Tribunal packed a room at the National Press Club in Washington, DC as thousands also watched online. Co-host Chris Garaffa was there to cover this historic event for CovertAction. To discuss the legacy of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, the US government’s attacks on them and why everyone should be concerned about attacks on press freedom, we’re joined by Esther Iverem, an author, multidisciplinary artist and independent journalist. Esther produces and hosts ‘On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capital,” available as a podcast and on 25 stations on the Pacifica network. Throughout the episode, we revisit some of what put WikiLeaks on the map - including Vault 7, Collateral Murder, CableGate and more - and discuss why we need truthtellers today more than ever.

The entire Tribunal is available to watch on YouTube.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12112395 Wed, 25 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3301 full false Who's Behind the Far-Right Riots in Brazil? Who's Behind the Far-Right Riots in Brazil? On January 8th, right-wing Brazilians stormed the federal building and Supreme Court in the capital of Brasília. Inspired by baseless accusations by former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that the October elections were stolen, the rioters broke windows, smashed art, destroyed paintings, stole computers and more.

The incident is reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Congress and Capitol building by supporters of Donald Trump: claims of stolen elections, far right violence aimed at intimidating democratic processes, and even the involvement of Steve Bannon, who called the Brazilians involved “freedom fighters.” But the new Brazilian government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is acting swiftly to hold those involved accountable, including Bolsonaro and allies who fled to Florida before Lula’s inauguration.

We discuss with Zoe Pepper Cunningham, Co-Editor of People’s Dispatch.

Support the show

]]> On January 8th, right-wing Brazilians stormed the federal building and Supreme Court in the capital of Brasília. Inspired by baseless accusations by former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that the October elections were stolen, the rioters broke windows, smashed art, destroyed paintings, stole computers and more.

The incident is reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Congress and Capitol building by supporters of Donald Trump: claims of stolen elections, far right violence aimed at intimidating democratic processes, and even the involvement of Steve Bannon, who called the Brazilians involved “freedom fighters.” But the new Brazilian government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is acting swiftly to hold those involved accountable, including Bolsonaro and allies who fled to Florida before Lula’s inauguration.

We discuss with Zoe Pepper Cunningham, Co-Editor of People’s Dispatch.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-12064643 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3142 full false Protesters Massacred in Peru After Far-Right Legislative Coup Protesters Massacred in Peru After Far-Right Legislative Coup Peru has been in a period of crisis since December 7, when the Peruvian far right used their position in the country’s Parliament to illegally dismiss the government of President Pedro Castillo. Since then, tens of thousands of people from indigenous and peasant communities have taken to the streets to reject the new government of Dina Boluarte and demand the democratically elected Castillo be reinstated. 

On Monday, January 9, at least 17 protesters were killed by Peruvian security forces while they brutally repressed an anti-government protest in Juliaca, and at least 68 others were severely injured. The massacres have continued into Tuesday, January 10th, now reaching a total of 46 dead.


To discuss the growing violence and resistance in the streets we are joined by Tatiana Bejar of Peru Libre.

Support the show

]]> Peru has been in a period of crisis since December 7, when the Peruvian far right used their position in the country’s Parliament to illegally dismiss the government of President Pedro Castillo. Since then, tens of thousands of people from indigenous and peasant communities have taken to the streets to reject the new government of Dina Boluarte and demand the democratically elected Castillo be reinstated. 

On Monday, January 9, at least 17 protesters were killed by Peruvian security forces while they brutally repressed an anti-government protest in Juliaca, and at least 68 others were severely injured. The massacres have continued into Tuesday, January 10th, now reaching a total of 46 dead.


To discuss the growing violence and resistance in the streets we are joined by Tatiana Bejar of Peru Libre.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-12018504 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500 3022 full false China’s COVID Outbreak and Protests: Myths and Facts China’s COVID Outbreak and Protests: Myths and Facts Western media described recent protests in China as “mark[ing] a new awakening” and a significant challenge to Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China. After years of leading the world in addressing COVID-19, the Chinese government is relaxing some of the lockdown regulations, but the situation is far more involved than the media would share.

To explore the reality and intricacies of the situation as well as US posturing against China, we’re joined by Carl Zha, host of Silk and Steel Podcast.

Support the show

]]> Western media described recent protests in China as “mark[ing] a new awakening” and a significant challenge to Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China. After years of leading the world in addressing COVID-19, the Chinese government is relaxing some of the lockdown regulations, but the situation is far more involved than the media would share.

To explore the reality and intricacies of the situation as well as US posturing against China, we’re joined by Carl Zha, host of Silk and Steel Podcast.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11908797 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500 2993 full false Eyewitness Report Iran Protests: Truth or Media Distortion? Eyewitness Report Iran Protests: Truth or Media Distortion? In the last few months, the western media has been reporting on large scale protests sweeping Iran against the hijab in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amimi. The protests were described by some journalists as a revolution against the Islamic Republic, and have been highlighted as a movement led by young women. Is this true? Is there a revolution? How much of this is part of a major media disinformation campaign? 

We are joined by Mazda Majidi, Iranian author, journalist, and anti-war activist who has recently returned from Iran.

Support the show

]]> In the last few months, the western media has been reporting on large scale protests sweeping Iran against the hijab in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amimi. The protests were described by some journalists as a revolution against the Islamic Republic, and have been highlighted as a movement led by young women. Is this true? Is there a revolution? How much of this is part of a major media disinformation campaign? 

We are joined by Mazda Majidi, Iranian author, journalist, and anti-war activist who has recently returned from Iran.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11866747 Wed, 14 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500 3892 full false Pushback Against Empire Pushback Against Empire In this special episode, we bring you voices from CovertAction Magazine’s December 1st fundraiser event in New York City. Featuring guests like Eva Bartlett, Ben Norton, Katie Halper, Randy Credico  and many more, Pushback Against Empire brought together a wide perspective of voices to celebrate the 44th year of CovertAction and to help us build for the next 44 years. We want to thank everyone who joined us to speak, and everyone who came in-person or watched the video online in support of defending whistleblowers and exposing the covert action of the US government and plutocrats worldwide.
To watch the full event including many more speakers, visit our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9j6HyTnGCs 

Support the show

]]> In this special episode, we bring you voices from CovertAction Magazine’s December 1st fundraiser event in New York City. Featuring guests like Eva Bartlett, Ben Norton, Katie Halper, Randy Credico  and many more, Pushback Against Empire brought together a wide perspective of voices to celebrate the 44th year of CovertAction and to help us build for the next 44 years. We want to thank everyone who joined us to speak, and everyone who came in-person or watched the video online in support of defending whistleblowers and exposing the covert action of the US government and plutocrats worldwide.
To watch the full event including many more speakers, visit our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9j6HyTnGCs 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11826165 Tue, 06 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500 3295 full false What is the Real Path to Peace in Ukraine? What is the Real Path to Peace in Ukraine? On November 19th anti-war activists across the United States and across the world launched a new multi-national grassroots movement to demand the end to the current war in Ukraine and an end to NATO expansion. With the recent bombing of Poland, the serious threat of nuclear war looms larger around the globe and U.S. imperialism continues to wage it’s own proxy war in Ukraine against Russia. 

On this episode we bring you a highlight of the remarks by anti-war activists such as Vijay Prashad of the Tricontinental Institute, Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink Women for Peace, and Eugene Puryear of BreakThrough News. 

To view the full event, visit @PeoplesForum on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asndac1ETFk

Support the show

]]> On November 19th anti-war activists across the United States and across the world launched a new multi-national grassroots movement to demand the end to the current war in Ukraine and an end to NATO expansion. With the recent bombing of Poland, the serious threat of nuclear war looms larger around the globe and U.S. imperialism continues to wage it’s own proxy war in Ukraine against Russia. 

On this episode we bring you a highlight of the remarks by anti-war activists such as Vijay Prashad of the Tricontinental Institute, Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink Women for Peace, and Eugene Puryear of BreakThrough News. 

To view the full event, visit @PeoplesForum on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asndac1ETFk

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-11746687 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500 3287 full false Trump 2024? It's up to us to fight! with Sean Blackmon Trump 2024? It's up to us to fight! with Sean Blackmon While we are still waiting for some election outcome, the results of the midterm show that the anti-democratic movement of the far right has been rejected by the majority of voters. Sean Blackmon, co-host of the daily radio show By Any Means Necessary, joins to talk about how he analyzes the results of last week’s elections and referendums. Sean shares his thoughts on how the GA Senate race got so close, the failures of the Democratic Party to excite voters, and impending threats to democracy.

This episode was recorded shortly before Trump’s November 15th announcement, so we also discuss what a Trump 2024 campaign could look like for the world and for social & people’s movements for justice.

Support the show

]]> While we are still waiting for some election outcome, the results of the midterm show that the anti-democratic movement of the far right has been rejected by the majority of voters. Sean Blackmon, co-host of the daily radio show By Any Means Necessary, joins to talk about how he analyzes the results of last week’s elections and referendums. Sean shares his thoughts on how the GA Senate race got so close, the failures of the Democratic Party to excite voters, and impending threats to democracy.

This episode was recorded shortly before Trump’s November 15th announcement, so we also discuss what a Trump 2024 campaign could look like for the world and for social & people’s movements for justice.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-11704215 Wed, 16 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500 3261 full false U.S. Information War Against China Heats With Increasing Attacks On Chinese American Researchers - with Carl Zha U.S. Information War Against China Heats With Increasing Attacks On Chinese American Researchers - with Carl Zha Carl Zha, host of Silk and Steel Podcast, joins us to discuss the continued escalation of U.S. Cold War on China. The U.S. information war on China heats up with Attorney General Merrick Garland’s recent statement about the U.S. government’s prosecution of Chinese officials for alleged “attempts” to undermine U.S. democracy. What exactly does the U.S. hope to accomplish by indicating an official who will never stand trial?

We dive deeper into the information and tech war being waged on China, and how the lives of Chinese Americans, in particular Chinese American researchers, are being upended by surveillance and racist witch hunts.

Support the show

]]> Carl Zha, host of Silk and Steel Podcast, joins us to discuss the continued escalation of U.S. Cold War on China. The U.S. information war on China heats up with Attorney General Merrick Garland’s recent statement about the U.S. government’s prosecution of Chinese officials for alleged “attempts” to undermine U.S. democracy. What exactly does the U.S. hope to accomplish by indicating an official who will never stand trial?

We dive deeper into the information and tech war being waged on China, and how the lives of Chinese Americans, in particular Chinese American researchers, are being upended by surveillance and racist witch hunts.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-11650125 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500 3241 full false The U.S. State Department in the Metaverse: How the CIA Infiltrated Facebook With Alan MacLeod The U.S. State Department in the Metaverse: How the CIA Infiltrated Facebook With Alan MacLeod Why is Facebook so desperate to make the Metaverse happen? Are the techno feudalists right when they say Facebook is too big to fail? 

With the decline of Meta, it seems a new era may be dawning in Silicon Valley as Facebook’s failed projects continue to pile up. 

A new reporting in The Intercept outlines how the Department of Homeland Security is looking to increase the US government’s influence on social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and more. We examine Meta’s expansion strategy and the role that U.S. intelligence has played in the last few years within the social media giant’s ranks. 

To talk about all of this and in particular how the US state inserts itself into these networks, we’re joined by Alan MacLeod, Senior Staff Writer/Podcast Producer, @MintPressNews. Alan has written about the many ex-CIA employees who now work at Facebook, and overall the government’s efforts to influence social media.



Support the show

]]> Why is Facebook so desperate to make the Metaverse happen? Are the techno feudalists right when they say Facebook is too big to fail? 

With the decline of Meta, it seems a new era may be dawning in Silicon Valley as Facebook’s failed projects continue to pile up. 

A new reporting in The Intercept outlines how the Department of Homeland Security is looking to increase the US government’s influence on social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and more. We examine Meta’s expansion strategy and the role that U.S. intelligence has played in the last few years within the social media giant’s ranks. 

To talk about all of this and in particular how the US state inserts itself into these networks, we’re joined by Alan MacLeod, Senior Staff Writer/Podcast Producer, @MintPressNews. Alan has written about the many ex-CIA employees who now work at Facebook, and overall the government’s efforts to influence social media.



Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11614447 Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0400 2770 full false What is the Deep State? - With Brian Becker What is the Deep State? - With Brian Becker In this episode, we dig into the idea of the “deep state,” the supposed shadowy cabal of clandestine organizations and individuals who run the show behind the scenes, controlling the US and other governments. The QAnon movement and Donald Trump himself repopularized the idea around the 2016 election, claiming that Trump was a victim of forces attempting to prevent him from “draining the swamp.” In August 2022, he said at an event “to remove rogue bureaucrats and root out the deep state, Congress should pass groundbreaking reform empowering the President to ensure that any federal employee who is corrupt, incompetent, or unnecessary for the job can be told ‘you’re fired’”

Early on in his first campaign, Trump referred to “draining the swamp.” And the QAnon movement seized on the idea, claiming that Trump was fighting a powerful cabal of child traffickers who controlled everything about the government - except him.

The idea of the deep state isn’t new and isn’t the exclusive territory of the far right. Today, we’ll dive deep into the idea of the deep state and look at what the reality is - yes, there is a conspiracy, but it’s not a shadowy underground second government - it’s right in front of us. For that discussion, we’re joined by Brian Becker, host of the podcast The Socialist Program, a long-time socialist organizer, and the national coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, we dig into the idea of the “deep state,” the supposed shadowy cabal of clandestine organizations and individuals who run the show behind the scenes, controlling the US and other governments. The QAnon movement and Donald Trump himself repopularized the idea around the 2016 election, claiming that Trump was a victim of forces attempting to prevent him from “draining the swamp.” In August 2022, he said at an event “to remove rogue bureaucrats and root out the deep state, Congress should pass groundbreaking reform empowering the President to ensure that any federal employee who is corrupt, incompetent, or unnecessary for the job can be told ‘you’re fired’”

Early on in his first campaign, Trump referred to “draining the swamp.” And the QAnon movement seized on the idea, claiming that Trump was fighting a powerful cabal of child traffickers who controlled everything about the government - except him.

The idea of the deep state isn’t new and isn’t the exclusive territory of the far right. Today, we’ll dive deep into the idea of the deep state and look at what the reality is - yes, there is a conspiracy, but it’s not a shadowy underground second government - it’s right in front of us. For that discussion, we’re joined by Brian Becker, host of the podcast The Socialist Program, a long-time socialist organizer, and the national coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11569680 Wed, 26 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3603 full false What Biden Doesn't Want You to Know About His Role in the War on Drugs What Biden Doesn't Want You to Know About His Role in the War on Drugs On October 6, Joe Biden announced changes to the administration’s handling of marijuana. While pardons are welcome, the changes don’t go far enough to address the racist and classist legacy of the US war on drugs and continuing mass incarceration, which Biden himself played a big role in supporting. We’re joined by Jason Ortiz, Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Plus, on October 8th, solidarity actions took place in London, Australia, Washington DC and other places to demand the freedom of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, whose health continues to deteriorate as he is held in disgusting conditions at Belmarsh prison, and the US government continues to seek to his extradition. CovertAction Bulletin was on the ground and brings you a selection of the speakers who addressed the crowd, including Marsha Coleman-Adebayo,  Kevin Goztola, Medea Benjamin and Esther Iverem.

Support the show

]]> On October 6, Joe Biden announced changes to the administration’s handling of marijuana. While pardons are welcome, the changes don’t go far enough to address the racist and classist legacy of the US war on drugs and continuing mass incarceration, which Biden himself played a big role in supporting. We’re joined by Jason Ortiz, Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Plus, on October 8th, solidarity actions took place in London, Australia, Washington DC and other places to demand the freedom of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, whose health continues to deteriorate as he is held in disgusting conditions at Belmarsh prison, and the US government continues to seek to his extradition. CovertAction Bulletin was on the ground and brings you a selection of the speakers who addressed the crowd, including Marsha Coleman-Adebayo,  Kevin Goztola, Medea Benjamin and Esther Iverem.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11524479 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3457 full false Lula da Silva Says ‘It’s Only a Matter of Time’ Heading Into the Second Round of Brazilian Elections Lula da Silva Says ‘It’s Only a Matter of Time’ Heading Into the Second Round of Brazilian Elections The elections in Brazil are underway with the first round of votes coming in, with leftist candidate Lula da Silva taking 48% of the votes and far-right candidate Bolsonaro behind with 43% of votes. All eyes are on Brazil as the pink tide across Latin America resurges. We speak with Zoe Alexandra of People’s Dispatch who is on the ground now in Brazil to share with us the mood on the ground and what the results of this first round of voting means for the leftist future in Brazil.

Hurricane Ian devastates cities and towns across Florida, with a significant impact on Lee County. The death toll continues to climb while the completely botched evacuation efforts by the local right-wing government continue to come to light. We are joined by Karla Correra with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Tampa who has been on the ground providing relief to areas that have still not seen a single FEMA truck. You can sign the petition here.

Support the show

]]> The elections in Brazil are underway with the first round of votes coming in, with leftist candidate Lula da Silva taking 48% of the votes and far-right candidate Bolsonaro behind with 43% of votes. All eyes are on Brazil as the pink tide across Latin America resurges. We speak with Zoe Alexandra of People’s Dispatch who is on the ground now in Brazil to share with us the mood on the ground and what the results of this first round of voting means for the leftist future in Brazil.

Hurricane Ian devastates cities and towns across Florida, with a significant impact on Lee County. The death toll continues to climb while the completely botched evacuation efforts by the local right-wing government continue to come to light. We are joined by Karla Correra with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Tampa who has been on the ground providing relief to areas that have still not seen a single FEMA truck. You can sign the petition here.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11440946 Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3205 full false Journalist Katie Halper Censored By The Hill for Pointing Out Israel Is An Apartheid State Journalist Katie Halper Censored By The Hill for Pointing Out Israel Is An Apartheid State Katie Halper, host of the Katie Halper Show and co-host of the podcast Useful idiots joins us today to share about how she was recently fired from the Hill for talking about Israel.  Katie recorded a segment for The Hill’s Rising defending Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib from attacks over calling Israel an apartheid state.  Katie joins the show to share more about the story that got her canceled.

Watch the full monologue here on BreakThrough News.

Support the show

]]> Katie Halper, host of the Katie Halper Show and co-host of the podcast Useful idiots joins us today to share about how she was recently fired from the Hill for talking about Israel.  Katie recorded a segment for The Hill’s Rising defending Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib from attacks over calling Israel an apartheid state.  Katie joins the show to share more about the story that got her canceled.

Watch the full monologue here on BreakThrough News.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11440952 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400 1949 100522 full false 75 Years of Capitalism’s Invisible Army 75 Years of Capitalism’s Invisible Army On September 18th 1947, the main provisions of the National Security Act of 1947 went into effect. One of these was the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency, perhaps the most infamous part of the US national security state. While we pay a lot of attention these days to digital surveillance and the agencies that focus on signals intelligence like the National Security Agency and National Reconnaissance office, the CIA has and continues to play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining global US hegemony via human intelligence as well as through its covert actions, including coups, terrorism and sabotage.

Now, with that global hegemony being challenged in every hemisphere as well as with significant internal political turmoil in the United States, with significant populations on many sides of the political spectrum not trusting the so-called democratic institutions that maintain that supremacy, monitoring and exposing the CIA and all three-letter agencies is as important as ever.

We are joined for this episode by two fellow members of the CovertAction Magazine Editorial Board. Lou Wolf is a co-founder of CovertAction. John Kiriakou is a former CIA analyst and whistleblower who exposed the CIA’s torture program.

Support the show

]]> On September 18th 1947, the main provisions of the National Security Act of 1947 went into effect. One of these was the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency, perhaps the most infamous part of the US national security state. While we pay a lot of attention these days to digital surveillance and the agencies that focus on signals intelligence like the National Security Agency and National Reconnaissance office, the CIA has and continues to play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining global US hegemony via human intelligence as well as through its covert actions, including coups, terrorism and sabotage.

Now, with that global hegemony being challenged in every hemisphere as well as with significant internal political turmoil in the United States, with significant populations on many sides of the political spectrum not trusting the so-called democratic institutions that maintain that supremacy, monitoring and exposing the CIA and all three-letter agencies is as important as ever.

We are joined for this episode by two fellow members of the CovertAction Magazine Editorial Board. Lou Wolf is a co-founder of CovertAction. John Kiriakou is a former CIA analyst and whistleblower who exposed the CIA’s torture program.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11396979 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3734 full false Whistleblower Exposes Apple’s Toxic Waste Cover-up, Secret Police Intimidation & Government Ties Whistleblower Exposes Apple’s Toxic Waste Cover-up, Secret Police Intimidation & Government Ties Apple, Inc. spends billions on projecting a clean, fun and progressive image, even claiming on its website that “the products you love also love the planet.” But the reality is very different. Whistleblower Ashley Gjøvik worked at Apple’s Sunnyvale, CA office. After she discovered that the office was built on top of an EPA superfund site known as the “Triple Site,” Gjøvik was silenced and attacked by the company for trying to ensure the safety of herself, her co-workers and community.

We spend our entire episode discussing the case, exposing Apple’s environmental cover-up, the internal “secret police” they use against journalists and whistleblowers and  deep links the company has with U.S. government agencies, as well as involvement in regulatory capture - influencing government agencies with revolving door policies and offers of employment and benefits.

Ashley Gjøvik can be found on Twitter at @ashleygjovik and on the web at gjovik.co.

Support the show

]]> Apple, Inc. spends billions on projecting a clean, fun and progressive image, even claiming on its website that “the products you love also love the planet.” But the reality is very different. Whistleblower Ashley Gjøvik worked at Apple’s Sunnyvale, CA office. After she discovered that the office was built on top of an EPA superfund site known as the “Triple Site,” Gjøvik was silenced and attacked by the company for trying to ensure the safety of herself, her co-workers and community.

We spend our entire episode discussing the case, exposing Apple’s environmental cover-up, the internal “secret police” they use against journalists and whistleblowers and  deep links the company has with U.S. government agencies, as well as involvement in regulatory capture - influencing government agencies with revolving door policies and offers of employment and benefits.

Ashley Gjøvik can be found on Twitter at @ashleygjovik and on the web at gjovik.co.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11355718 Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3292 full false Tech workers demand Google and Amazon end contract that fuels Israeli apartheid Tech workers demand Google and Amazon end contract that fuels Israeli apartheid Tech workers from Google and Amazon joined forces with Pro-Palestinian organizers in to hold protests last Thursday in New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Durham, NC. At issue is Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract between the two companies and the Israeli government that would have the US tech giants directly profiting off the oppression of the Palestinian people. We’re joined by Sabina Wildman, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition in the San Francisco Bay Area, to talk about the protests, the striking unity of the No Tech for Apartheid movement, organizing tech workers and more.

Sign the petition and learn more at https://www.notechforapartheid.com

Support the show

]]> Tech workers from Google and Amazon joined forces with Pro-Palestinian organizers in to hold protests last Thursday in New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Durham, NC. At issue is Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract between the two companies and the Israeli government that would have the US tech giants directly profiting off the oppression of the Palestinian people. We’re joined by Sabina Wildman, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition in the San Francisco Bay Area, to talk about the protests, the striking unity of the No Tech for Apartheid movement, organizing tech workers and more.

Sign the petition and learn more at https://www.notechforapartheid.com

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11314760 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400 2349 full false Let Cuba Live - End The Blockade! Let Cuba Live - End The Blockade! For over 60 years, the United States government has been trying to overthrow the Cuban revolution. Using assassination attempts, sabotage, bombs, spies and more, Washington has made it clear over and over that it will not rest until Cuba is returned to semi-colonial status. In the face of these attacks the Cuban people have survived, going on to defend and continue to build their revolution. The efforts of socialist Cuba to develop a society based on equality and justice where all people have rights show their resilience and determination in the face of covert action the US just 90 miles away.

In this special episode, co-host Rachel Hu talks about the 10 days she recently spent in Cuba as part of a solidarity delegation. From the July 26 celebrations marking the anniversary of the Cuban revolution to the housing developments being built and upgraded to the very real effects of the US embargo, Rachel provides a critical firsthand account. We also discuss the upcoming vote on the Family Code and continuing moves being made to codify into law human dignity and respect for people of all ages, races and genders.

Image Credit: DnTrotaMundos ☮ on Wikipedia 

Support the show

]]> For over 60 years, the United States government has been trying to overthrow the Cuban revolution. Using assassination attempts, sabotage, bombs, spies and more, Washington has made it clear over and over that it will not rest until Cuba is returned to semi-colonial status. In the face of these attacks the Cuban people have survived, going on to defend and continue to build their revolution. The efforts of socialist Cuba to develop a society based on equality and justice where all people have rights show their resilience and determination in the face of covert action the US just 90 miles away.

In this special episode, co-host Rachel Hu talks about the 10 days she recently spent in Cuba as part of a solidarity delegation. From the July 26 celebrations marking the anniversary of the Cuban revolution to the housing developments being built and upgraded to the very real effects of the US embargo, Rachel provides a critical firsthand account. We also discuss the upcoming vote on the Family Code and continuing moves being made to codify into law human dignity and respect for people of all ages, races and genders.

Image Credit: DnTrotaMundos ☮ on Wikipedia 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11272254 Wed, 07 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3825 full false The Truth Behind the Africa-China ‘Debt Trap’ Myth The Truth Behind the Africa-China ‘Debt Trap’ Myth Allegations and accusations that China is trapping Africa into unsustainable debt agreements have dominated the conversation around Africa-China relations in Western media, but what does the data tell us?

The reality is that China is canceling 23 loans to African countries amid this 'Debt Trap' debate.

We look at the international implications of this claim, what debt trap diplomacy is, and who owns most of Africa's external debts. Featuring Sri Lanka, the African Development Bank, and the “secret” lenders they don’t tell us about, with Mikaela Nhondo Erskog researcher at TriContinental Institute for Social Research and one of the hosts of the new podcast The Crane, an African China podcast by the Dongsheng Collective.

Plus: we discuss Mikhail Gorbachev’s legacy, what to make of Biden’s student loan debt moves, Lindsey Graham’s threats of “riots in the streets” if Trump is prosecuted, and more.


Dongsheng News can be found at https://dongshengnews.org/en/
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is available at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crane-an-africa-china-podcast/id1635151634 as well as on Spotify and wherever podcasts are found.
Follow Dongsheng News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DongshengNews



Support the show

]]> Allegations and accusations that China is trapping Africa into unsustainable debt agreements have dominated the conversation around Africa-China relations in Western media, but what does the data tell us?

The reality is that China is canceling 23 loans to African countries amid this 'Debt Trap' debate.

We look at the international implications of this claim, what debt trap diplomacy is, and who owns most of Africa's external debts. Featuring Sri Lanka, the African Development Bank, and the “secret” lenders they don’t tell us about, with Mikaela Nhondo Erskog researcher at TriContinental Institute for Social Research and one of the hosts of the new podcast The Crane, an African China podcast by the Dongsheng Collective.

Plus: we discuss Mikhail Gorbachev’s legacy, what to make of Biden’s student loan debt moves, Lindsey Graham’s threats of “riots in the streets” if Trump is prosecuted, and more.


Dongsheng News can be found at https://dongshengnews.org/en/
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is available at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crane-an-africa-china-podcast/id1635151634 as well as on Spotify and wherever podcasts are found.
Follow Dongsheng News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DongshengNews



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]]> Buzzsprout-11233303 Wed, 31 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400 4034 full false Ex-Head of Cybersecurity at Twitter Blows the Whistle on Cover Up of Security and Privacy Violations Ex-Head of Cybersecurity at Twitter Blows the Whistle on Cover Up of Security and Privacy Violations Twitter’s former head of security, Peiter “Mudge” Zatko has come forward blowing the whistle on the company’s internal security practices - which he says are serious national security threats. Zatko sent the complaint and supporting documents to the Justice Department and the F.T.C. and has gone public with his concerns about the platform. We dive deeper into what it’s alleged that Twitter has been hiding and its implications.

We also discuss the conclusion of the trial of Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. who were convicted this week for their attempted kidnapping plot on Michigan Governor Whitmer. We parse through the growing threat of right-wing domestic terrorism and what the role of the state in all of this has been.

Finally, we are joined by anti-imperialist journalist and transgender rights activist Morgan Artyukhina to discuss how the US government has been reacting to monkeypox as the country has recorded over 15,000 cases in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. By looking at the history of the homophobic response to the AIDS epidemic, they give us an important perspective about misinformation and prejudices to look out for when we see media coverage and government information about the disease. Read Morgan's article on the subject at CovertActionMagazine.com: https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/08/14/showing-old-prejudices-u-s-government-falsely-associates-monkeypox-outbreak-with-gays-bisexuals-and-africans/

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]]> Twitter’s former head of security, Peiter “Mudge” Zatko has come forward blowing the whistle on the company’s internal security practices - which he says are serious national security threats. Zatko sent the complaint and supporting documents to the Justice Department and the F.T.C. and has gone public with his concerns about the platform. We dive deeper into what it’s alleged that Twitter has been hiding and its implications.

We also discuss the conclusion of the trial of Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. who were convicted this week for their attempted kidnapping plot on Michigan Governor Whitmer. We parse through the growing threat of right-wing domestic terrorism and what the role of the state in all of this has been.

Finally, we are joined by anti-imperialist journalist and transgender rights activist Morgan Artyukhina to discuss how the US government has been reacting to monkeypox as the country has recorded over 15,000 cases in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. By looking at the history of the homophobic response to the AIDS epidemic, they give us an important perspective about misinformation and prejudices to look out for when we see media coverage and government information about the disease. Read Morgan's article on the subject at CovertActionMagazine.com: https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/08/14/showing-old-prejudices-u-s-government-falsely-associates-monkeypox-outbreak-with-gays-bisexuals-and-africans/

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]]> Buzzsprout-11192793 Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3887 full false Everything you need to know about the Espionage Act & Trump - with John Kiriakou Everything you need to know about the Espionage Act & Trump - with John Kiriakou This month is Black August. Begun in the 1970s, Black August is a month to commemorate political prisoners. For prisoners, it is a month of political education. It marks the anniversary of the killing of George Jackson and his brother Jonathan P. Jackson at San Quentin State Prison in 1971 and 1970, respectively.

We’re joined by Charisse Burden-Stelly, or Dr. CBS, to discuss the legacy, the lessons that liberation movements can learn today from Black August, the importance of the principles of "study, fast, train, fight" and uplifts the call to free them all - end the incarceration of and creation of new political prisoners today.

But first, after news broke of the investigation into Trump under the Espionage Act, we reached out to speak with Espionage Act expert, John Kiriakou to tell us what the act is about and who is really punished under it. John is a member of the Editorial Board of CovertAction Magazine and was himself charged and sent to prison under the Espionage Act for exposing the CIA’s torture program.

To register for the August 18 Black Agenda Report event, click here.

Support the show

]]> This month is Black August. Begun in the 1970s, Black August is a month to commemorate political prisoners. For prisoners, it is a month of political education. It marks the anniversary of the killing of George Jackson and his brother Jonathan P. Jackson at San Quentin State Prison in 1971 and 1970, respectively.

We’re joined by Charisse Burden-Stelly, or Dr. CBS, to discuss the legacy, the lessons that liberation movements can learn today from Black August, the importance of the principles of "study, fast, train, fight" and uplifts the call to free them all - end the incarceration of and creation of new political prisoners today.

But first, after news broke of the investigation into Trump under the Espionage Act, we reached out to speak with Espionage Act expert, John Kiriakou to tell us what the act is about and who is really punished under it. John is a member of the Editorial Board of CovertAction Magazine and was himself charged and sent to prison under the Espionage Act for exposing the CIA’s torture program.

To register for the August 18 Black Agenda Report event, click here.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11151858 Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3598 full false Don’t let FBI’s Trump raid fool you: they’re still enemies of the people Don’t let FBI’s Trump raid fool you: they’re still enemies of the people On Monday, the FBI raided Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago, Florida home, searching for documents that may have been classified and should not have left the White House. The right wing immediately jumped to condemning the raid, with far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posting “Defund the FBI,” while liberals hailed the bureau as defenders of democracy and justice. We discuss how the right is being disingenuous and the left ahistorical in their assessments of the Bureau, and what the raid means especially in the context of an expected 2024 run by Trump, and how the continuing January 6 hearings could be impacted by both the raid and Alex Jones’ lawyers sending his texts to the wrong person. We also talk about CNN’s blatant and intentional misrepresentation of Roger Waters’ comments about the conflict in Ukraine. The activist and musician provided a nuanced historical answer to a question about the US role in the war, but the network edited it to make Waters appear as if he’s defending war crimes. Finally, we speak with two library workers about attacks on libraries, including Jamestown MI voting to defund its library, and drag queen story hours being physically attacked across the country. It is far from the first time libraries have been at the center of conflicts around access to information. 

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]]> On Monday, the FBI raided Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago, Florida home, searching for documents that may have been classified and should not have left the White House. The right wing immediately jumped to condemning the raid, with far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posting “Defund the FBI,” while liberals hailed the bureau as defenders of democracy and justice. We discuss how the right is being disingenuous and the left ahistorical in their assessments of the Bureau, and what the raid means especially in the context of an expected 2024 run by Trump, and how the continuing January 6 hearings could be impacted by both the raid and Alex Jones’ lawyers sending his texts to the wrong person. We also talk about CNN’s blatant and intentional misrepresentation of Roger Waters’ comments about the conflict in Ukraine. The activist and musician provided a nuanced historical answer to a question about the US role in the war, but the network edited it to make Waters appear as if he’s defending war crimes. Finally, we speak with two library workers about attacks on libraries, including Jamestown MI voting to defund its library, and drag queen story hours being physically attacked across the country. It is far from the first time libraries have been at the center of conflicts around access to information. 

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-11110774 Wed, 10 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3527 full false Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan Could Be the Start of World War III Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan Could Be the Start of World War III On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan, marking a major escalation of U.S. aggression towards China. While this may not on it’s face seem alarming, the reality is that the U.S. is playing with fire. 1979 was the last time that a U.S. head of state or member of the ruling party visited Taiwan. Since the 70’s the official policy of the U.S. has been the One China policy, and this visit undermines this very policy. China’s statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “These moves, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous. Those who play with fire will perish by it.”

In order to understand the unfolding situation, we are joined by Ken Hammon, Professor of East-Asian and Global History at New Mexico State and activist with Pivot to Peace.


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]]> On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan, marking a major escalation of U.S. aggression towards China. While this may not on it’s face seem alarming, the reality is that the U.S. is playing with fire. 1979 was the last time that a U.S. head of state or member of the ruling party visited Taiwan. Since the 70’s the official policy of the U.S. has been the One China policy, and this visit undermines this very policy. China’s statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “These moves, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous. Those who play with fire will perish by it.”

In order to understand the unfolding situation, we are joined by Ken Hammon, Professor of East-Asian and Global History at New Mexico State and activist with Pivot to Peace.


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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11072683 Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3698 full false Surveillance Nation: From Amazon to the NSA Surveillance Nation: From Amazon to the NSA Amazon wants to be your retailer, educator, grocery store, security system, bank and now your healthcare provider: A few days ago, reports came out that the tech giant is looking to buy One Medical for $4 billion, its latest foray into the healthcare business. At the same time, Amazon provides law enforcement with easy access to massive amounts of data and the tools to parse it.

Of course it’s not just Amazon: Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter and every big tech company obey the basic law of capitalism: grow or perish. They all rely on one shared resource: our data. And they all cozy up to the US government when it comes to information sharing.

Meanwhile, agencies like the CIA and NSA, plus lesser-known ones like the National Reconnaissance Office, regularly spy on people across the globe with flimsy legal pretext. In the digital age, what was once led by the government is more and more relying on partnerships with private big data companies.

We’re joined by Rosa Astra, a tech worker, militant journalist and organizer to discuss the breadth and depth of the surveillance state and how to organize under it.

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]]> Amazon wants to be your retailer, educator, grocery store, security system, bank and now your healthcare provider: A few days ago, reports came out that the tech giant is looking to buy One Medical for $4 billion, its latest foray into the healthcare business. At the same time, Amazon provides law enforcement with easy access to massive amounts of data and the tools to parse it.

Of course it’s not just Amazon: Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter and every big tech company obey the basic law of capitalism: grow or perish. They all rely on one shared resource: our data. And they all cozy up to the US government when it comes to information sharing.

Meanwhile, agencies like the CIA and NSA, plus lesser-known ones like the National Reconnaissance Office, regularly spy on people across the globe with flimsy legal pretext. In the digital age, what was once led by the government is more and more relying on partnerships with private big data companies.

We’re joined by Rosa Astra, a tech worker, militant journalist and organizer to discuss the breadth and depth of the surveillance state and how to organize under it.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-11033609 Wed, 27 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3109 full false Why Were 400 Officers Not Enough to Stop the Uvalde Mass Shooter? Why Were 400 Officers Not Enough to Stop the Uvalde Mass Shooter? The chilling video released last week of the police response inside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX on May 24 exposes the police. Dressed in tactical gear, officers waited over an hour to confront the gunman who killed 21 people in a senseless act of violence.

Rather than being a local problem, this is a national issue: Over and over again, videos - many of them shot by bystanders - show police killing unarmed Black people. At the same time the police are hailed as heroes required to keep the peace and bring criminals to justice. The Uvalde response and video are the latest example of how this couldn’t be further from the truth.

We are joined by Natalia Marques, writer at Peoples Dispatch, to discuss the Uvalde response and the real role of the police: to defend property, not protect people.

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]]> The chilling video released last week of the police response inside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX on May 24 exposes the police. Dressed in tactical gear, officers waited over an hour to confront the gunman who killed 21 people in a senseless act of violence.

Rather than being a local problem, this is a national issue: Over and over again, videos - many of them shot by bystanders - show police killing unarmed Black people. At the same time the police are hailed as heroes required to keep the peace and bring criminals to justice. The Uvalde response and video are the latest example of how this couldn’t be further from the truth.

We are joined by Natalia Marques, writer at Peoples Dispatch, to discuss the Uvalde response and the real role of the police: to defend property, not protect people.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10990171 Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3392 full false Judicial Coup? The Supreme Court Case that Could End the Facade of U.S. Democracy Judicial Coup? The Supreme Court Case that Could End the Facade of U.S. Democracy On today’s show we discuss the deep implications that the Supreme Court's decision to take up Harper v Moore could have on the fundamental institution of U.S. democracy. The Supreme Court’s ruling on this case could rip the mask off of the sham of U.S. democracy and reveal the clear dictatorship of the rich. The recent overturn of Roe, the ongoing January 6th committee hearings, and now the turn towards overturning the fundamental democratic principle of 1 person 1 vote marks a new period of political struggle in the United States. 

We are joined by Anoa Changa, southern based movement journalist and editor at NewsOne.

In addition, Monday marked the 1 year anniversary of the failed U.S. backed anti-government protests in Cuba. As the crisis of inflation continues and the embargo is still crushing the Cuban people, we look at what real democracy for workers could look like.

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]]> On today’s show we discuss the deep implications that the Supreme Court's decision to take up Harper v Moore could have on the fundamental institution of U.S. democracy. The Supreme Court’s ruling on this case could rip the mask off of the sham of U.S. democracy and reveal the clear dictatorship of the rich. The recent overturn of Roe, the ongoing January 6th committee hearings, and now the turn towards overturning the fundamental democratic principle of 1 person 1 vote marks a new period of political struggle in the United States. 

We are joined by Anoa Changa, southern based movement journalist and editor at NewsOne.

In addition, Monday marked the 1 year anniversary of the failed U.S. backed anti-government protests in Cuba. As the crisis of inflation continues and the embargo is still crushing the Cuban people, we look at what real democracy for workers could look like.

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]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10952030 Wed, 13 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3918 full false Was January 6 a Ruling Class Conspiracy? Was January 6 a Ruling Class Conspiracy? The January 6 hearings and this term’s Supreme Court decisions are exposing the right-wing nature of the U.S. state and its institutions. January 6 was plotted in the open and with the apparent support of the highest levels of government, and many questions remain unanswered: why were the Capitol Police so outnumbered? Who donated the massive amounts of money required to mobilize in the days and weeks before? And more.

At the same time, the Supreme Court’s right-wing decisions overturning Roe and moving towards a removal of federal power in favor of states is being seized upon by the far right.

We are joined by anthropologist Rae Jereza, whose work focuses on social media, content moderation and the far right. 

Support the show

]]> The January 6 hearings and this term’s Supreme Court decisions are exposing the right-wing nature of the U.S. state and its institutions. January 6 was plotted in the open and with the apparent support of the highest levels of government, and many questions remain unanswered: why were the Capitol Police so outnumbered? Who donated the massive amounts of money required to mobilize in the days and weeks before? And more.

At the same time, the Supreme Court’s right-wing decisions overturning Roe and moving towards a removal of federal power in favor of states is being seized upon by the far right.

We are joined by anthropologist Rae Jereza, whose work focuses on social media, content moderation and the far right. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10911884 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3445 full false How Biden Can Step in to Protect Abortion How Biden Can Step in to Protect Abortion On today’s show, we discuss the unprecedented roll-back of women’s rights and civil liberties with the overturn of the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe V. Wade. After the decision dropped thousands upon thousands of people poured into the streets in places across the country. As of now, in 7 states the abortion trigger laws, written to go into place if Roe was overturned, have gone into effect banning abortion access for millions of women and trans people. In total there are 26 states that have already or will in the coming weeks implement bans or extreme restrictions on abortion access. 11 states have abortion bans that have no exception for rape or incest.

Those states are Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. On today’s show we ask, how did we get here? What is the legislative path forward? And most pointedly - will the Democrats actually put their money where their mouth is? 

Joining the show is Jessica Mason Pieklo, Executive Editor at Rewire News Group.

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]]> On today’s show, we discuss the unprecedented roll-back of women’s rights and civil liberties with the overturn of the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe V. Wade. After the decision dropped thousands upon thousands of people poured into the streets in places across the country. As of now, in 7 states the abortion trigger laws, written to go into place if Roe was overturned, have gone into effect banning abortion access for millions of women and trans people. In total there are 26 states that have already or will in the coming weeks implement bans or extreme restrictions on abortion access. 11 states have abortion bans that have no exception for rape or incest.

Those states are Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. On today’s show we ask, how did we get here? What is the legislative path forward? And most pointedly - will the Democrats actually put their money where their mouth is? 

Joining the show is Jessica Mason Pieklo, Executive Editor at Rewire News Group.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-10866710 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3251 full false Will Julian Assange Actually Be Extradited? Will Julian Assange Actually Be Extradited? United Kingdom Home Secretary Priti Patel approved the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States.

Assange faces 18 charges brought against him by the US Justice Department, 17 of which fall under the Espionage Act. All the charges relate to documents WikiLeaks released in 2010 and 2011, which were provided by US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

With diplomats hinting at action in Australia and a world-wide pressure campaign fighting for Assange’s freedom, there remains many different possibilities for the future of Julian Assange’s case.

We are joined by Kevin Gosztola, the managing editor of Shadowproof.com to discuss these developments. We are also joined by Randy Creidico host of Live on the Fly and Assange Countdown 2 Freedom on WBAI & PRN to discuss the grassroots fightback for Assange’s freedom and what the U.S. might do if extradition moves forward.

Our hosts also dive into the breaking news over the weekend of the major shift in tides in Latin America. Leftist candidates Gustavo Petro & Francia Marquez won the presidential election in Colombia, dealing a major blow to Washington. What does this mean for U.S. hegemony in Latin America? Listen to find out!

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]]> United Kingdom Home Secretary Priti Patel approved the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States.

Assange faces 18 charges brought against him by the US Justice Department, 17 of which fall under the Espionage Act. All the charges relate to documents WikiLeaks released in 2010 and 2011, which were provided by US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

With diplomats hinting at action in Australia and a world-wide pressure campaign fighting for Assange’s freedom, there remains many different possibilities for the future of Julian Assange’s case.

We are joined by Kevin Gosztola, the managing editor of Shadowproof.com to discuss these developments. We are also joined by Randy Creidico host of Live on the Fly and Assange Countdown 2 Freedom on WBAI & PRN to discuss the grassroots fightback for Assange’s freedom and what the U.S. might do if extradition moves forward.

Our hosts also dive into the breaking news over the weekend of the major shift in tides in Latin America. Leftist candidates Gustavo Petro & Francia Marquez won the presidential election in Colombia, dealing a major blow to Washington. What does this mean for U.S. hegemony in Latin America? Listen to find out!

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10834062 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3360 full false Activist Interrupts The Summit of the Americas, “Luis Almagro you have Blood on Your Hands!” Activist Interrupts The Summit of the Americas, “Luis Almagro you have Blood on Your Hands!” Activist and journalist Walter Smolarek interrupted General Secretary of the OAS, Luis Almagro and confronted Almagro about his role in the coup in Bolivia. We interviewed Walter the day after the interruption at the People’s Summit for Democracy which took place from June 8th through 10th in Los Angeles. 

The People’s Summit wasn’t just a protest of Biden’s so-called Summit of the Americas, which was happening at the same time also in Los Angeles, but also brought together artists, activists, journalists, and revolutionaries to uplift the voices of the people and imagine a world that puts people’s democracy first. Hosts Chris and Rachel discuss Rachel’s on the ground coverage of the People’s Summit and reflect on the significance of the event. We review together the powerful speeches made by activists like Cornel West and Oscar Lopez Rivera.

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]]> Activist and journalist Walter Smolarek interrupted General Secretary of the OAS, Luis Almagro and confronted Almagro about his role in the coup in Bolivia. We interviewed Walter the day after the interruption at the People’s Summit for Democracy which took place from June 8th through 10th in Los Angeles. 

The People’s Summit wasn’t just a protest of Biden’s so-called Summit of the Americas, which was happening at the same time also in Los Angeles, but also brought together artists, activists, journalists, and revolutionaries to uplift the voices of the people and imagine a world that puts people’s democracy first. Hosts Chris and Rachel discuss Rachel’s on the ground coverage of the People’s Summit and reflect on the significance of the event. We review together the powerful speeches made by activists like Cornel West and Oscar Lopez Rivera.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10795098 Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3684 full false Eyewitness: LA's Secret Police Spy Network With Mike Rothmiller Eyewitness: LA's Secret Police Spy Network With Mike Rothmiller On this week’s episode, we speak with Mike Rothmiller, former LAPD officer with the infamous Office of Criminal Intelligence Division (OCID), a historian and a New York Times best-selling author of many different books including the LA Secret Police: Inside the LAPD’s Elite Spy Network and Bombshell: The Night Bobby Kennedy Killed Marilyn Monroe.

Based on his own experiences and years of research, Mike shares the history and criminal behavior of the OCID, which falsified arrests, spied on politicians and and stars and sometimes acted like private intelligence for the police chief and other powerful figures throughout the late 20th century. Released in 1992, LA Secret Police provides a wealth of information on the now-defunct division.

We also discuss his more recent book, Bombshell, where Mike used the OCID files as well as years of other research and interviews, to make the case that Bobby Kennedy was responsible for the death of Marilyn Monroe nearly 60 years ago.

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]]> On this week’s episode, we speak with Mike Rothmiller, former LAPD officer with the infamous Office of Criminal Intelligence Division (OCID), a historian and a New York Times best-selling author of many different books including the LA Secret Police: Inside the LAPD’s Elite Spy Network and Bombshell: The Night Bobby Kennedy Killed Marilyn Monroe.

Based on his own experiences and years of research, Mike shares the history and criminal behavior of the OCID, which falsified arrests, spied on politicians and and stars and sometimes acted like private intelligence for the police chief and other powerful figures throughout the late 20th century. Released in 1992, LA Secret Police provides a wealth of information on the now-defunct division.

We also discuss his more recent book, Bombshell, where Mike used the OCID files as well as years of other research and interviews, to make the case that Bobby Kennedy was responsible for the death of Marilyn Monroe nearly 60 years ago.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10716244 Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400 4874 060122, full false International Solidarity Threatens Biden’s Summit of the Americas International Solidarity Threatens Biden’s Summit of the Americas On today’s episode, we are joined by Claudia de la Cruz of the People’s Forum in New York City to discuss developments around President Biden’s Summit of the Americas.

Scheduled for June 6-10 in Los Angeles, the legitimacy of the gathering and the role of the U.S. in Central & South American is being severely threatened by announcements from Mexico, Bolivia, Honduras and Antigua and Barbuda that they will not attend if the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are not invited.

Claudia gives us a history of the Summit of the Americas, and discusses the People’s Summit for Democracy, a grassroots event happening at the same time in Los Angeles, where people from across the Americas will come together for three days of art, music, speakers, debates, workshops, panel discussions, performances and mobilizations to uplift the voices of the people. The U.S. government is going as far as refusing visas to a 23-person delegation from Cuban civil society, including artists and academics, preventing them from participating.

We also discuss the dissolution of the short-lived Disinformation Governance Board of the Department of Homeland Security, following up on our story from last week. And, as Biden threatens China over Taiwan, is it really a gaffe? We review a brief history of U.S.-China relations and the real threat a war would pose to humanity and the world. Finally, we expose the New York Times’ recent multi-part series on Haiti, which serves U.S. interests not fully ignoring the recent crimes of the Clintons and others against the country.


To sign the petition demanding the Biden administration approve the visas, go to https://www.change.org/p/let-them-in-stop-the-exclusion-of-cuban-artists-academics. 



Support the show

]]> On today’s episode, we are joined by Claudia de la Cruz of the People’s Forum in New York City to discuss developments around President Biden’s Summit of the Americas.

Scheduled for June 6-10 in Los Angeles, the legitimacy of the gathering and the role of the U.S. in Central & South American is being severely threatened by announcements from Mexico, Bolivia, Honduras and Antigua and Barbuda that they will not attend if the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are not invited.

Claudia gives us a history of the Summit of the Americas, and discusses the People’s Summit for Democracy, a grassroots event happening at the same time in Los Angeles, where people from across the Americas will come together for three days of art, music, speakers, debates, workshops, panel discussions, performances and mobilizations to uplift the voices of the people. The U.S. government is going as far as refusing visas to a 23-person delegation from Cuban civil society, including artists and academics, preventing them from participating.

We also discuss the dissolution of the short-lived Disinformation Governance Board of the Department of Homeland Security, following up on our story from last week. And, as Biden threatens China over Taiwan, is it really a gaffe? We review a brief history of U.S.-China relations and the real threat a war would pose to humanity and the world. Finally, we expose the New York Times’ recent multi-part series on Haiti, which serves U.S. interests not fully ignoring the recent crimes of the Clintons and others against the country.


To sign the petition demanding the Biden administration approve the visas, go to https://www.change.org/p/let-them-in-stop-the-exclusion-of-cuban-artists-academics. 



Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10677237 Wed, 25 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3863 052422, full false Whitewashing Neo-Nazis in Ukraine & Biden’s “Disinformation Governing Board” Whitewashing Neo-Nazis in Ukraine & Biden’s “Disinformation Governing Board” Biden announced last month the assembly of a team within the Department of Homeland Security given the title Disinformation Governing Board. Supposedly this team will be working to combat Russian, Iranian, and Chinese “disinformation.” We dive deeper into the contradictory history of misinformation about Ukraine in 2014 spread by the executive director of the board, Nina Jankowicz.

We are then joined by Natalia Marques, writer with People’s Dispatch to discuss the horrific racist massacre in Buffalo NY. On Saturday, May 14, white supremacist Peyton Gendron drove 200 miles from his home in Conklin, NY, to open fire in the only supermarket in the Black neighborhood of East Buffalo. Gendron killed 10 people, injuring three. We closely examine Gendron’s manifesto detailing the racist reasons why he committed this atrocity and dive into the long history of the racist “great replacement” theory.

Support the show

]]> Biden announced last month the assembly of a team within the Department of Homeland Security given the title Disinformation Governing Board. Supposedly this team will be working to combat Russian, Iranian, and Chinese “disinformation.” We dive deeper into the contradictory history of misinformation about Ukraine in 2014 spread by the executive director of the board, Nina Jankowicz.

We are then joined by Natalia Marques, writer with People’s Dispatch to discuss the horrific racist massacre in Buffalo NY. On Saturday, May 14, white supremacist Peyton Gendron drove 200 miles from his home in Conklin, NY, to open fire in the only supermarket in the Black neighborhood of East Buffalo. Gendron killed 10 people, injuring three. We closely examine Gendron’s manifesto detailing the racist reasons why he committed this atrocity and dive into the long history of the racist “great replacement” theory.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10637059 Wed, 18 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3891 full false How Did China Eradicate Extreme Poverty? How Did China Eradicate Extreme Poverty? On today’s show, we bring you the second half of our interview with Tings Chak, Researcher and art director at Tricontinental: Institute of Social Research, and a member of the Dongsheng Collective. We focus on the Chinese government’s programs to eradicate extreme poverty in the country and further discuss her work on the study “Serve the People: The Eradication of Extreme Poverty in China” for Tricontinental.

We are also joined by Jane Cutter, editor of LiberationNews.org, to talk about the anti-war origins of Mother’s Day. Now a Hallmark Holiday, Mother’s Day began as a plea for peace in the face of the ravages of war. While motherhood is lionized, the reality in the U.S. for mothers today does not guarantee a chance at a healthy and supported life.

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]]> On today’s show, we bring you the second half of our interview with Tings Chak, Researcher and art director at Tricontinental: Institute of Social Research, and a member of the Dongsheng Collective. We focus on the Chinese government’s programs to eradicate extreme poverty in the country and further discuss her work on the study “Serve the People: The Eradication of Extreme Poverty in China” for Tricontinental.

We are also joined by Jane Cutter, editor of LiberationNews.org, to talk about the anti-war origins of Mother’s Day. Now a Hallmark Holiday, Mother’s Day began as a plea for peace in the face of the ravages of war. While motherhood is lionized, the reality in the U.S. for mothers today does not guarantee a chance at a healthy and supported life.

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-10596607 Wed, 11 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3577 full false Julian Assange & the U.S. War on Whistleblowers with John Kiriakou Julian Assange & the U.S. War on Whistleblowers with John Kiriakou In this special episode of CovertAction Bulletin, we spent the entire hour with John Kiriakou. A former CIA analyst and field agent, Kiriakou became a whistleblower when he exposed the CIA’s torture program - and became the only person jailed for it. 

We discuss how the ongoing campaign against Julian Assange should inform us about how to view and support the work of other whistleblowers. While Assange remains in prison and under threat of extradition and trial in the US, the threat to journalists, publishers and activists continues to grow. We also talk about a brief history of prosecution of whistleblowers and those who speak against injustice starting with the Espionage Act.

Kiriakou also shares his own story and the stories of other whistleblowers including drone whistleblower Daniel Hale. 

Support the show

]]> In this special episode of CovertAction Bulletin, we spent the entire hour with John Kiriakou. A former CIA analyst and field agent, Kiriakou became a whistleblower when he exposed the CIA’s torture program - and became the only person jailed for it. 

We discuss how the ongoing campaign against Julian Assange should inform us about how to view and support the work of other whistleblowers. While Assange remains in prison and under threat of extradition and trial in the US, the threat to journalists, publishers and activists continues to grow. We also talk about a brief history of prosecution of whistleblowers and those who speak against injustice starting with the Espionage Act.

Kiriakou also shares his own story and the stories of other whistleblowers including drone whistleblower Daniel Hale. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10552599 Wed, 04 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3365 full false On the Ground Report with Rania Khalek on the International Anti-Fascist Summit in Venezuela - and the Global South Perspective on Ukraine On the Ground Report with Rania Khalek on the International Anti-Fascist Summit in Venezuela - and the Global South Perspective on Ukraine On today’s show we dive into the big news that Elon Musk spent 44 billion dollars to buy twitter. He claims he will make the algorithms open source, but there’s obviously many doubts about that. What does this development mean for the platform?

We are joined by Rania Khalek, journalist and host of the show dispatches on BreakThrough News to discuss the release of Steven Donzinger after years of confinement in prison, halfway houses and on house arrest. Donzinger is a human rights attorney who was under house arrest for successfully suing Chevron on behalf of 30,000 Ecuadorian Amazonian Indigenous people. What does his case mean for environmental activists pushing back against big oil?

Rania then shares her experience at the recent 3-day meeting in Caracas gathering people across the globe in the fight back against Fascism. We dive into the various perspectives present at the conference on the Ukraine conflict and how the global south is responding to the shifting geopolitics of the moment. 

Support the show

]]> On today’s show we dive into the big news that Elon Musk spent 44 billion dollars to buy twitter. He claims he will make the algorithms open source, but there’s obviously many doubts about that. What does this development mean for the platform?

We are joined by Rania Khalek, journalist and host of the show dispatches on BreakThrough News to discuss the release of Steven Donzinger after years of confinement in prison, halfway houses and on house arrest. Donzinger is a human rights attorney who was under house arrest for successfully suing Chevron on behalf of 30,000 Ecuadorian Amazonian Indigenous people. What does his case mean for environmental activists pushing back against big oil?

Rania then shares her experience at the recent 3-day meeting in Caracas gathering people across the globe in the fight back against Fascism. We dive into the various perspectives present at the conference on the Ukraine conflict and how the global south is responding to the shifting geopolitics of the moment. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10511401 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400 4581 full false On the Ground Report from Shanghai’s COVID Lockdown. What’s Really Happening? On the Ground Report from Shanghai’s COVID Lockdown. What’s Really Happening? Is western media coverage of the COVID lockdown in Shanghai completely accurate?

The corporate media has been non-stop talking about the “dystopian” lockdown in Shanghai claiming people are starving in mass. The question “at what cost” pops up in articles across the news cycle questioning China’s lockdown policies. The logistical challenges for Shanghai’s local government to manage a lockdown in response to a mass omicron spread have been significant, but is that the full story?

We are joined by Tings Chak Researcher and art director of Tricontinental: Institute of Social Research and member of Dongsheng collective who is currently on lockdown in Shanghai. Tings shares her perspective on what lockdown has been like, and gives us an overview of scope and achievements of China’s zero COVID policy strategy to this point.

To hear more from Tings, we discussed in-depth her report “Serve the People: The Eradication of Extreme Poverty” with Tricontinental in our patrons-only video special. We dive deeper into Xi Jinping’s focus on common prosperity and take an overall look at the gains made by the Chinese socialist project. Become a patron at patreon.com/CovertActionMagazine to get this exclusive!

We also discuss the recent article published by Ars Technica claiming that Google has recently changed it’s policies and have actively given higher resolution images of Russian military bases. While this claim was later corrected - this moment exposes the potential of how private aerial surveillance can be used by U.S. intelligence. We dive deeper into this, and into the long history of the CIA’s relationship with Google and the development of this kind of tech.

Finally, we talk about CNN’s clickbait article highlighting the dissatisfaction that Millennials and Generation Z are expressing with Joe Biden’s administration. While media pundits might be left wondering why young people feel this way, we review how recent history has set up this moment.

Support the show

]]> Is western media coverage of the COVID lockdown in Shanghai completely accurate?

The corporate media has been non-stop talking about the “dystopian” lockdown in Shanghai claiming people are starving in mass. The question “at what cost” pops up in articles across the news cycle questioning China’s lockdown policies. The logistical challenges for Shanghai’s local government to manage a lockdown in response to a mass omicron spread have been significant, but is that the full story?

We are joined by Tings Chak Researcher and art director of Tricontinental: Institute of Social Research and member of Dongsheng collective who is currently on lockdown in Shanghai. Tings shares her perspective on what lockdown has been like, and gives us an overview of scope and achievements of China’s zero COVID policy strategy to this point.

To hear more from Tings, we discussed in-depth her report “Serve the People: The Eradication of Extreme Poverty” with Tricontinental in our patrons-only video special. We dive deeper into Xi Jinping’s focus on common prosperity and take an overall look at the gains made by the Chinese socialist project. Become a patron at patreon.com/CovertActionMagazine to get this exclusive!

We also discuss the recent article published by Ars Technica claiming that Google has recently changed it’s policies and have actively given higher resolution images of Russian military bases. While this claim was later corrected - this moment exposes the potential of how private aerial surveillance can be used by U.S. intelligence. We dive deeper into this, and into the long history of the CIA’s relationship with Google and the development of this kind of tech.

Finally, we talk about CNN’s clickbait article highlighting the dissatisfaction that Millennials and Generation Z are expressing with Joe Biden’s administration. While media pundits might be left wondering why young people feel this way, we review how recent history has set up this moment.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10469721 Wed, 20 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400 5142 042022, full false The Dark Money Attacking Reproductive Rights The Dark Money Attacking Reproductive Rights The recent case of Liselle Herrera, a 26 year old woman charged with murder for performing a “self-induced abortion” made national news, bringing attention again to the human rights crisis happening in Texas around reproductive rights. What people don’t know is that this crisis is fueled by dark money, corruption, and deeper right-wing capitalist agendas for deregulation. How much money is changing hands and what does this mean for women's rights and LGBTQ rights? 

We also talk about the unfolding tragedy in Sunset Park of a mass shooter on the subway. While details are still emerging at the time of recording, we discuss how politicians and the media have already begun using this tragedy to further fuel the militarization of the police. 

April 11 marks the 20th anniversary of the coup attempt of then-president Hugo Chavez in Venezuela that strengthened the resolve of the revolution. We dive into a reflection on the Venezuelan socialist project in the last 20 years, and the impact of sanctions on the nation.

In a shock to no one, the mainstream media had abysmal coverage of the Senate Budget Committee hearing on corporate greed called by Bernie Sanders. 2021 marked the highest record corporate profits reaching almost $3 trillion in U.S. history. We discuss corporate greed and the left's complicated relationship to Sanders as a figure.

Support the show

]]> The recent case of Liselle Herrera, a 26 year old woman charged with murder for performing a “self-induced abortion” made national news, bringing attention again to the human rights crisis happening in Texas around reproductive rights. What people don’t know is that this crisis is fueled by dark money, corruption, and deeper right-wing capitalist agendas for deregulation. How much money is changing hands and what does this mean for women's rights and LGBTQ rights? 

We also talk about the unfolding tragedy in Sunset Park of a mass shooter on the subway. While details are still emerging at the time of recording, we discuss how politicians and the media have already begun using this tragedy to further fuel the militarization of the police. 

April 11 marks the 20th anniversary of the coup attempt of then-president Hugo Chavez in Venezuela that strengthened the resolve of the revolution. We dive into a reflection on the Venezuelan socialist project in the last 20 years, and the impact of sanctions on the nation.

In a shock to no one, the mainstream media had abysmal coverage of the Senate Budget Committee hearing on corporate greed called by Bernie Sanders. 2021 marked the highest record corporate profits reaching almost $3 trillion in U.S. history. We discuss corporate greed and the left's complicated relationship to Sanders as a figure.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10428417 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400 4201 full false US & NATO Block Peace in Ukraine US & NATO Block Peace in Ukraine US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Monday that weapons and other equipment, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, Humvees and Puma drones, are being sent to Ukraine and NATO allies at “an unprecedented pace.” At the UN Security Council, in the White House and at NATO briefings, the military officials, politicians and the press only seem to be able to discuss sending more weapons instead of finding a lasting, diplomatic solution to the crisis.

We also highlight two speakers from CovertAction’s April 1 webinar, “The First Casualty of War is Truth.” Chris de Ploeg and Gerald Horne shared knowledge about the history of the run-up to the crisis between NATO and Ukraine.

In addition, we mark the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and what role the US government may have played in his shooting, the missing 457 minutes of Trump’s call logs on January 6, 2021, and more.

Support the show

]]> US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Monday that weapons and other equipment, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, Humvees and Puma drones, are being sent to Ukraine and NATO allies at “an unprecedented pace.” At the UN Security Council, in the White House and at NATO briefings, the military officials, politicians and the press only seem to be able to discuss sending more weapons instead of finding a lasting, diplomatic solution to the crisis.

We also highlight two speakers from CovertAction’s April 1 webinar, “The First Casualty of War is Truth.” Chris de Ploeg and Gerald Horne shared knowledge about the history of the run-up to the crisis between NATO and Ukraine.

In addition, we mark the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and what role the US government may have played in his shooting, the missing 457 minutes of Trump’s call logs on January 6, 2021, and more.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10386579 Wed, 06 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3484 040622, full false Hawaiian People Win Against The US War Machine Poisoning Their Water Hawaiian People Win Against The US War Machine Poisoning Their Water In Hawaii thousands of people have been displaced and 93,000 have had their water poisoned by the Red Hill Navy facility. This is after two fuel leaks just last year, and a major fuel leak of 27,000 gallons of fuel in 2014. The Navy sacrifices water for war by refusing to do anything about the facility, which activists demand should be closed and fuel tanks drained immediately.  We are joined by Wayne Chung Tanaka, the director of the Sierra Club of Hawai'i, which has been fighting to shut down the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility for years.

Ding Dong the witch is dead - Madeline Albright’s death prompts a reflection on her history of anti-communism and her role in the destruction of Iraq. We also discuss the unsettling surfacing of deep-fakes of Zelensky telling Ukrainian people to give up arms and the technology’s use in warfare and spycraft. Finally, we talk about the real violence in Hollywood - supported by the CIA and Pentagon.

*Thank you for your patience with our audio this week, we had some serious technical difficulties! All will be fine for next week's episode.

Support the show

]]> In Hawaii thousands of people have been displaced and 93,000 have had their water poisoned by the Red Hill Navy facility. This is after two fuel leaks just last year, and a major fuel leak of 27,000 gallons of fuel in 2014. The Navy sacrifices water for war by refusing to do anything about the facility, which activists demand should be closed and fuel tanks drained immediately.  We are joined by Wayne Chung Tanaka, the director of the Sierra Club of Hawai'i, which has been fighting to shut down the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility for years.

Ding Dong the witch is dead - Madeline Albright’s death prompts a reflection on her history of anti-communism and her role in the destruction of Iraq. We also discuss the unsettling surfacing of deep-fakes of Zelensky telling Ukrainian people to give up arms and the technology’s use in warfare and spycraft. Finally, we talk about the real violence in Hollywood - supported by the CIA and Pentagon.

*Thank you for your patience with our audio this week, we had some serious technical difficulties! All will be fine for next week's episode.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10344457 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400 3630 033022, full false U.S. Hypocrisy: CIA Trains Insurgents in Ukraine U.S. Hypocrisy: CIA Trains Insurgents in Ukraine As the US government continues to say it does not want US or NATO forces coming into direct conflict with Russian troops, a recent report in Yahoo News revealed that since 2015, the CIA has been overseeing a secret intensive training program in the U.S. for elite Ukrainian special operations forces who are trained for insurgency.

What is the real purpose of this CIA program? And what does it actually say about U.S. intentions in the region? 

We discuss the history of this decades-long CIA training program in Ukraine, and more. Joining the show is Walter Smolarek, of the podcast The Socialist Program.

We also discuss Ukranian President Voldymyr Zelensky’s speech Sunday night where he denied Ukranian involvement in the Holocaust, the recent disturbing tweet from Secretary Blinken blaming Yemeni people for the ongoing U.S.-backed Saudi war in Yemen, and the role that U.S. intelligence agencies have played in cyber attacks. 

Support the show

]]> As the US government continues to say it does not want US or NATO forces coming into direct conflict with Russian troops, a recent report in Yahoo News revealed that since 2015, the CIA has been overseeing a secret intensive training program in the U.S. for elite Ukrainian special operations forces who are trained for insurgency.

What is the real purpose of this CIA program? And what does it actually say about U.S. intentions in the region? 

We discuss the history of this decades-long CIA training program in Ukraine, and more. Joining the show is Walter Smolarek, of the podcast The Socialist Program.

We also discuss Ukranian President Voldymyr Zelensky’s speech Sunday night where he denied Ukranian involvement in the Holocaust, the recent disturbing tweet from Secretary Blinken blaming Yemeni people for the ongoing U.S.-backed Saudi war in Yemen, and the role that U.S. intelligence agencies have played in cyber attacks. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10300630 Tue, 22 Mar 2022 21:00:00 -0400 3230 032322, full false War Propaganda’s Role in Anti-Asian Violence War Propaganda’s Role in Anti-Asian Violence We are joined on today’s show by Amanda Yee, host of the podcast Radio Free Amanda to discuss the one-year anniversary of the Atlanta Spa shooting. The epidemic of anti-Asian violence has grown exponentially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Asian Americans have always been viewed as “enemy aliens” as the FBI and U.S. government had historically called it. We discuss the CIA launching of the “China Initiative” in 2018 and the new cold war on China, and what all this has to do with the tragedy of Atlanta and the rising hate crimes against Asian Americans.


We also discuss the massive spending bill that Biden signed off on Tuesday, dedicating billions of dollars in what the Pentagon is calling “aid” to Ukraine. Meanwhile sanctions deepen on Russia, pushing everyday Russian people into a deeper crisis. 


Additionally, Clearview AI has been using facial recognition technology in the crisis in Ukraine while big data and analytics company Palantir wants to expand in Europe. What does this mean? We dive deeper into that story and the threats of the surveillance state in time of war. 

Support the show

]]> We are joined on today’s show by Amanda Yee, host of the podcast Radio Free Amanda to discuss the one-year anniversary of the Atlanta Spa shooting. The epidemic of anti-Asian violence has grown exponentially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Asian Americans have always been viewed as “enemy aliens” as the FBI and U.S. government had historically called it. We discuss the CIA launching of the “China Initiative” in 2018 and the new cold war on China, and what all this has to do with the tragedy of Atlanta and the rising hate crimes against Asian Americans.


We also discuss the massive spending bill that Biden signed off on Tuesday, dedicating billions of dollars in what the Pentagon is calling “aid” to Ukraine. Meanwhile sanctions deepen on Russia, pushing everyday Russian people into a deeper crisis. 


Additionally, Clearview AI has been using facial recognition technology in the crisis in Ukraine while big data and analytics company Palantir wants to expand in Europe. What does this mean? We dive deeper into that story and the threats of the surveillance state in time of war. 

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10258704 Wed, 16 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400 4081 031622, full false Lee Camps Talks Cross-Platform Shut Down of RT America and The Censorship of Left Anti-War Media Voices Lee Camps Talks Cross-Platform Shut Down of RT America and The Censorship of Left Anti-War Media Voices The information war has heated up, this time with targets on the backs of anti-war journalists and media voices critical to NATO and the U.S. Last week, the offices of RT America were suddenly and abruptly shut down amid the war fever and Russophobia spreading across the country. In addition to banning an entire network, platforms like Twitter and Spotify have also taken steps to discredit individual journalists by removing their content. 

In the last week we’ve also seen mainstream media outlets like the Washington Post churn out hit pieces claiming that voices exposing U.S. empire, uplifting black liberation struggles, or speaking out against capitalism are nothing more than Russian propaganda. 

Joining the show is Lee Camp, the former host and head writer of the weekly comedy news show Redacted Tonight, which aired on RT America.

We are also joined by Jacquie Luqman and Sean Blackmon the hosts of “By Any Means Necessary” on Radio Sputnik.  


Support the show

]]> The information war has heated up, this time with targets on the backs of anti-war journalists and media voices critical to NATO and the U.S. Last week, the offices of RT America were suddenly and abruptly shut down amid the war fever and Russophobia spreading across the country. In addition to banning an entire network, platforms like Twitter and Spotify have also taken steps to discredit individual journalists by removing their content. 

In the last week we’ve also seen mainstream media outlets like the Washington Post churn out hit pieces claiming that voices exposing U.S. empire, uplifting black liberation struggles, or speaking out against capitalism are nothing more than Russian propaganda. 

Joining the show is Lee Camp, the former host and head writer of the weekly comedy news show Redacted Tonight, which aired on RT America.

We are also joined by Jacquie Luqman and Sean Blackmon the hosts of “By Any Means Necessary” on Radio Sputnik.  


Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10215439 Wed, 09 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500 3609 030922, full false Ukraine Crisis Fueled by Decades of Broken Promises by the U.S. and NATO Ukraine Crisis Fueled by Decades of Broken Promises by the U.S. and NATO The outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine did not come out of nowhere. Fundamental to understanding the current moment is the history of NATO expansion in Europe — which the U.S. repeatedly promised Russia would not happen. 

We are joined by Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition to discuss the events in Ukraine and Russia from 2014 leading up to the current crisis. We ask the question, what should the U.S. anti-war movement demand?

In our patrons only edition of today's episode, we are also joined by Jeremy Kuzmarov, the Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. You can get access to this patrons-only interview by becoming a patron at patreon.com/CovertActionMagazine

 Together we discuss Jeremy's article titled, “As U.S. Threatens War with Russia, Biden Administration Unveils Imperial Strategy for Indo-Pacific That Could Lead to War with China” as well as the relationship between Russia and China in this conflict and explore deeper the U.S. and NATO aggression that are the roots of this crisis.

Support the show

]]> The outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine did not come out of nowhere. Fundamental to understanding the current moment is the history of NATO expansion in Europe — which the U.S. repeatedly promised Russia would not happen. 

We are joined by Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition to discuss the events in Ukraine and Russia from 2014 leading up to the current crisis. We ask the question, what should the U.S. anti-war movement demand?

In our patrons only edition of today's episode, we are also joined by Jeremy Kuzmarov, the Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. You can get access to this patrons-only interview by becoming a patron at patreon.com/CovertActionMagazine

 Together we discuss Jeremy's article titled, “As U.S. Threatens War with Russia, Biden Administration Unveils Imperial Strategy for Indo-Pacific That Could Lead to War with China” as well as the relationship between Russia and China in this conflict and explore deeper the U.S. and NATO aggression that are the roots of this crisis.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-10171743 Wed, 02 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500 3218 030222, full false On Philip Agee and the History CovertAction Magazine: In-depth Interviews with Louis Wolf and Chris Agee On Philip Agee and the History CovertAction Magazine: In-depth Interviews with Louis Wolf and Chris Agee Today we turn to Philip Agee, ex-CIA Case Officer from 1957 to 1969. After a series of short extraordinary excerpts from interviews with Philip Agee, featured in the classic documentary history of the CIA entitled “On Company Business," David Giglio goes in-depth with Louis Wolf and Chris Agee discussing Phil and the history of CovertAction Magazine.

 

Philip Agee was stationed in various parts of Latin America including Ecuador, Uruguay and Mexico throughout the 1960s. As one of the first ex-CIA whistleblowers to go public in 1975, Agee not only exposed the covert activities of the U.S. government but provided the critical analysis including political economy to contextualize the mechanics of U.S. imperialism.

 

In addition to writing his tell-all book in 1975 entitled CIA Diary: Inside the Company, where he named all the actual names and operations, Agee started CovertAction Magazine (originally named CovertAction Information Bulletin) in 1978 with Louis Wolf, William Schaap, Ellen Ray, James and Elsie Wilcott, William Kunstler, and Michael Ratner.

 

The Magazine was created in order to carry on the work of the preceding publication called CounterSpy, which had been shut down as a result of CIA harassment. Over the years, contributors to the Magazine have included critics of U.S. foreign policy such as Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti, Philip Wheaton, Sean Gervasi and Christopher Hitchens.

 

By the printing of the second issue, eleven bookstores promoted the stapled newsletter. And by issue #3, the official library of the CIA had actually sent in its subscription request which was then posted on the cover. You can read these and all the back issues in the archives of CovertActionMagazine.com.

 

The publication became of interest to Congress in 1982 with the passage of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, which made the practice of revealing the names of undercover officers illegal under U.S. law—even if derived from public unclassified sources.

 

Over the years, the magazine worked with and supported whistleblowers like John Stockwell, Ralph McGehee, David MacMichael, Jennifer Harbrury, Ambassador/Colonel Ann Wright, Christopher Simpson, and Wayne Madsen, publishing hundreds of articles on CIA covert operations and intelligence-related disclosures including undercover NSA and FBI operations in the U.S. and around the world.

 

When you think of the more recent whistleblowers including Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, John Kiriakou, Jeffrey Sterling, and Daniel Hale, we are talking about a long history of whistleblowers going back to Philip Agee, Daniel Ellsberg, Anthony Russo and more…

 

As covered in earlier episodes, CAM played a important role in the making of Oliver Stone’s JFK in the early 1990s. Ellen Ray and Bill Schaap encouraged, edited and published Jim Garrison’s book entitled “On the Trail of the Assassins.” They then handed it to Oliver Stone in an elevator at the Havana Film Festival in the late 80s and he was quickly convinced to make the film.

In 1992, with issue #43, the magazine was renamed as CovertAction Quarterly and won awards from organizations including Project Censored for stories like "Phi Beta Capitalism", about corporate influence on universities.

 

CovertAction Quarterly ceased publication of its print magazine in 2005 with issue #78, and later relaunched online as CovertAction Magazine in 2018.

 

Numerous articles from CovertAction Quarterly were collected in two anthologies, CovertAction: The Roots of Terrorism and Bioterror: Manufacturing Wars The American Way, both by Ellen Ray and Bill Schaap and published by Ocean Press in 2003.

 

Agee and Louis Wol

Support the show

]]> Today we turn to Philip Agee, ex-CIA Case Officer from 1957 to 1969. After a series of short extraordinary excerpts from interviews with Philip Agee, featured in the classic documentary history of the CIA entitled “On Company Business," David Giglio goes in-depth with Louis Wolf and Chris Agee discussing Phil and the history of CovertAction Magazine.

 

Philip Agee was stationed in various parts of Latin America including Ecuador, Uruguay and Mexico throughout the 1960s. As one of the first ex-CIA whistleblowers to go public in 1975, Agee not only exposed the covert activities of the U.S. government but provided the critical analysis including political economy to contextualize the mechanics of U.S. imperialism.

 

In addition to writing his tell-all book in 1975 entitled CIA Diary: Inside the Company, where he named all the actual names and operations, Agee started CovertAction Magazine (originally named CovertAction Information Bulletin) in 1978 with Louis Wolf, William Schaap, Ellen Ray, James and Elsie Wilcott, William Kunstler, and Michael Ratner.

 

The Magazine was created in order to carry on the work of the preceding publication called CounterSpy, which had been shut down as a result of CIA harassment. Over the years, contributors to the Magazine have included critics of U.S. foreign policy such as Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti, Philip Wheaton, Sean Gervasi and Christopher Hitchens.

 

By the printing of the second issue, eleven bookstores promoted the stapled newsletter. And by issue #3, the official library of the CIA had actually sent in its subscription request which was then posted on the cover. You can read these and all the back issues in the archives of CovertActionMagazine.com.

 

The publication became of interest to Congress in 1982 with the passage of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, which made the practice of revealing the names of undercover officers illegal under U.S. law—even if derived from public unclassified sources.

 

Over the years, the magazine worked with and supported whistleblowers like John Stockwell, Ralph McGehee, David MacMichael, Jennifer Harbrury, Ambassador/Colonel Ann Wright, Christopher Simpson, and Wayne Madsen, publishing hundreds of articles on CIA covert operations and intelligence-related disclosures including undercover NSA and FBI operations in the U.S. and around the world.

 

When you think of the more recent whistleblowers including Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, John Kiriakou, Jeffrey Sterling, and Daniel Hale, we are talking about a long history of whistleblowers going back to Philip Agee, Daniel Ellsberg, Anthony Russo and more…

 

As covered in earlier episodes, CAM played a important role in the making of Oliver Stone’s JFK in the early 1990s. Ellen Ray and Bill Schaap encouraged, edited and published Jim Garrison’s book entitled “On the Trail of the Assassins.” They then handed it to Oliver Stone in an elevator at the Havana Film Festival in the late 80s and he was quickly convinced to make the film.

In 1992, with issue #43, the magazine was renamed as CovertAction Quarterly and won awards from organizations including Project Censored for stories like "Phi Beta Capitalism", about corporate influence on universities.

 

CovertAction Quarterly ceased publication of its print magazine in 2005 with issue #78, and later relaunched online as CovertAction Magazine in 2018.

 

Numerous articles from CovertAction Quarterly were collected in two anthologies, CovertAction: The Roots of Terrorism and Bioterror: Manufacturing Wars The American Way, both by Ellen Ray and Bill Schaap and published by Ocean Press in 2003.

 

Agee and Louis Wol

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-9804080 Wed, 29 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0500 1457 trailer false Whistleblower Bill Binney, Former Technical Director of the NSA, Goes In-Depth on the Surveillance State Whistleblower Bill Binney, Former Technical Director of the NSA, Goes In-Depth on the Surveillance State Today we turn to whistleblower Bill Binney, the former intelligence official and Technical Director of the National Security Agency, and go in-depth on the surveillance state, how 9/11 could have been avoided, Russiagate and more...

Bill resigned in the wake of 9/11 after more than 30 years with the NSA. He was a critic of his former employers during the Bush Sr. and Jr. administrations, and later criticized the NSA's data-collection policies during the Obama administration. More recently, he demonstrated with technical evidence that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 U.S. elections by hacking into the DNC servers.

After the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, Bill and his team were fast developing a program called ThinThread to monitor all communications around the world. The Nation reported that "despite ThinThread’s proven capacity to collect actionable intelligence, agency director Gen. Michael Hayden vetoed the idea of deploying the system in August 2001, just three weeks before 9/11." Hayden’s decisions, the whistleblowers told The Nation, "left the NSA without a system to analyze the trillions of bits of foreign SIGINT flowing over the Internet at warp speed, as ThinThread could do."

After discarding Bill's ThinThread program, which cost $3.2 million and used encryption to block out certain aspects of communications that might violate the U.S. constitution, among other things, Hayden implemented TrailBlazer instead, which violated numerous U.S. constitutional protections and cost 1,000 times more.

Not that we at CAM are in favor of any surveillance program, even Bill, as he tells us in this interview, celebrates the fact that he quit and never delivered an even more powerful program that would automatically produce reports on actionable intelligence.

Jeremy Kuzmarov, the Managing Editor at CAM, and Chris Agee, Executive Editor, sat down with Bill last September (2020) and discussed his work with the NSA, why he quit, and his views on the current surveillance state. Among other revelations, Bill provides evidence demonstrating that the DNC hack by the Russians was a false flag event and that the surveillance state is slipping into what he calls 'total population control toward totalitarianism.'

See the attached slides Bill uses in his talks exposing the worldwide surveillance state.

Thank you for listening to and supporting CovertAction Bulletin, the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine--an investigative journal exposing covert action since 1978. Head on over to our website where you will find hundreds of articles on the nefarious activities of U.S. imperialism and plutocrats worldwide.

Support the show

]]> Today we turn to whistleblower Bill Binney, the former intelligence official and Technical Director of the National Security Agency, and go in-depth on the surveillance state, how 9/11 could have been avoided, Russiagate and more...

Bill resigned in the wake of 9/11 after more than 30 years with the NSA. He was a critic of his former employers during the Bush Sr. and Jr. administrations, and later criticized the NSA's data-collection policies during the Obama administration. More recently, he demonstrated with technical evidence that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 U.S. elections by hacking into the DNC servers.

After the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, Bill and his team were fast developing a program called ThinThread to monitor all communications around the world. The Nation reported that "despite ThinThread’s proven capacity to collect actionable intelligence, agency director Gen. Michael Hayden vetoed the idea of deploying the system in August 2001, just three weeks before 9/11." Hayden’s decisions, the whistleblowers told The Nation, "left the NSA without a system to analyze the trillions of bits of foreign SIGINT flowing over the Internet at warp speed, as ThinThread could do."

After discarding Bill's ThinThread program, which cost $3.2 million and used encryption to block out certain aspects of communications that might violate the U.S. constitution, among other things, Hayden implemented TrailBlazer instead, which violated numerous U.S. constitutional protections and cost 1,000 times more.

Not that we at CAM are in favor of any surveillance program, even Bill, as he tells us in this interview, celebrates the fact that he quit and never delivered an even more powerful program that would automatically produce reports on actionable intelligence.

Jeremy Kuzmarov, the Managing Editor at CAM, and Chris Agee, Executive Editor, sat down with Bill last September (2020) and discussed his work with the NSA, why he quit, and his views on the current surveillance state. Among other revelations, Bill provides evidence demonstrating that the DNC hack by the Russians was a false flag event and that the surveillance state is slipping into what he calls 'total population control toward totalitarianism.'

See the attached slides Bill uses in his talks exposing the worldwide surveillance state.

Thank you for listening to and supporting CovertAction Bulletin, the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine--an investigative journal exposing covert action since 1978. Head on over to our website where you will find hundreds of articles on the nefarious activities of U.S. imperialism and plutocrats worldwide.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-9732155 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0500 746 trailer false Nicaragua’s Evidence-Based Democracy Threatens U.S. Oppression Domestically and Abroad Nicaragua’s Evidence-Based Democracy Threatens U.S. Oppression Domestically and Abroad In this episode, we turn to Nicaragua and the recent elections that just took place last month, on November 7th.

Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas won the elections with over 75% of the vote. Nicaragua’s non-partisan, independent Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) reported that over 65% of the 4.4 million eligible voters (16 years and older) participated in the election.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media—including so-called progressive media outlets like National Public Radio—regurgitated U.S. State Department talking points on the elections highlighting the jailing of opponents without providing the much-needed background to the events including the activities of the U.S.-supported coup-plotters advocating the overthrow of the Nicaraguan government.

As reported in CovertAction Magazine, The Grey Zone and other trailblazing outlets, the reality on the ground couldn't be more different.

As is typical, U.S. covert activities were in full swing using National Endowment for Democracy and U.S. Agency for International Development money to finance the opposition, destabilize the country and the elections, not to mention support worldwide propaganda campaigns to deride President Ortega as a dictator. Its no wonder that so many people are confused about recent events in Nicaragua.

Today, we take an in-depth look at the electoral process and history of U.S. intervention in Nicaragua. We find that U.S. destabilization efforts are nothing new—efforts that are quite common around the world—particularly in countries that are forging independent paths to implement universal healthcare, literacy campaigns and economies oriented toward raising the standard of living for its own people. In the view of the U.S. plutocratic elite, such efforts undermine international corporate interests and serve as an example threatening U.S. hegemony.

CAM sent globetrotting correspondent Lauren Smith to Nicaragua to report on the elections first hand. See her in-depth article published in CovertAction Magazine entitled "Nicaragua’s Evidence-Based Democracy Threatens U.S. Oppression Domestically and Abroad." She joins us today with Mark Cook who has reported on Nicaragua for the past 4 decades.

Thank you for listening to and supporting CovertAction Bulletin, the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine--an investigative journal exposing covert action since 1978. Head on over to our website where you will find hundreds of articles on the nefarious activities of U.S. imperialism and plutocrats worldwide.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, we turn to Nicaragua and the recent elections that just took place last month, on November 7th.

Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas won the elections with over 75% of the vote. Nicaragua’s non-partisan, independent Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) reported that over 65% of the 4.4 million eligible voters (16 years and older) participated in the election.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media—including so-called progressive media outlets like National Public Radio—regurgitated U.S. State Department talking points on the elections highlighting the jailing of opponents without providing the much-needed background to the events including the activities of the U.S.-supported coup-plotters advocating the overthrow of the Nicaraguan government.

As reported in CovertAction Magazine, The Grey Zone and other trailblazing outlets, the reality on the ground couldn't be more different.

As is typical, U.S. covert activities were in full swing using National Endowment for Democracy and U.S. Agency for International Development money to finance the opposition, destabilize the country and the elections, not to mention support worldwide propaganda campaigns to deride President Ortega as a dictator. Its no wonder that so many people are confused about recent events in Nicaragua.

Today, we take an in-depth look at the electoral process and history of U.S. intervention in Nicaragua. We find that U.S. destabilization efforts are nothing new—efforts that are quite common around the world—particularly in countries that are forging independent paths to implement universal healthcare, literacy campaigns and economies oriented toward raising the standard of living for its own people. In the view of the U.S. plutocratic elite, such efforts undermine international corporate interests and serve as an example threatening U.S. hegemony.

CAM sent globetrotting correspondent Lauren Smith to Nicaragua to report on the elections first hand. See her in-depth article published in CovertAction Magazine entitled "Nicaragua’s Evidence-Based Democracy Threatens U.S. Oppression Domestically and Abroad." She joins us today with Mark Cook who has reported on Nicaragua for the past 4 decades.

Thank you for listening to and supporting CovertAction Bulletin, the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine--an investigative journal exposing covert action since 1978. Head on over to our website where you will find hundreds of articles on the nefarious activities of U.S. imperialism and plutocrats worldwide.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-9731808 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0500 1258 trailer false Peter Dale Scott, Author of Deep Politics and the Death of JFK Peter Dale Scott, Author of Deep Politics and the Death of JFK In this third installment of our Destiny Betrayed series on the JFK assassination, Aaron talks with Professor Peter Dale Scott, author of Deep Politics of the Death of JFK as well as Dallas '63: The First Deep State Revolt Against the White House.  Peter Dale Scott is also known for inventing two important research approaches: parapolitics and deep politics. This is the first of two series installments with Professor Scott on the subject of the JFK assassination. This episode also features contributions from Abby Martin of The Empire Files and a postscript discussion between Aaron and pod-friend Ben Howard. Many thanks to our sound engineer Anthony Fest of Project Censored! For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> In this third installment of our Destiny Betrayed series on the JFK assassination, Aaron talks with Professor Peter Dale Scott, author of Deep Politics of the Death of JFK as well as Dallas '63: The First Deep State Revolt Against the White House.  Peter Dale Scott is also known for inventing two important research approaches: parapolitics and deep politics. This is the first of two series installments with Professor Scott on the subject of the JFK assassination. This episode also features contributions from Abby Martin of The Empire Files and a postscript discussion between Aaron and pod-friend Ben Howard. Many thanks to our sound engineer Anthony Fest of Project Censored! For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine CovertActionBulletin.podbean.com/8eea8dcf-1ddb-30d0-8fc4-6d7ed5f3ed26 Tue, 14 Dec 2021 11:56:15 -0500 316 trailer false Poetry, Terror, and Suppressed Memory--A Tribute to Peter Dale Scott Poetry, Terror, and Suppressed Memory--A Tribute to Peter Dale Scott This episode features a surprise tribute to the great poet and scholar of deep politics, Professor Peter Dale Scott. The event took place in my Peace Studies of the American Century class. The students had been studying the tragic 1965 massacre of 500,000 to 2,000,000 Indonesians. As part of their studies, the class read excerpts of Professor Scott’s poem Coming to Jakarta. The retired Berkeley professor, was scheduled to appear through Zoom, planning to give a reading and answer questions about his long form poem. Professor Scott did some of the best early work on the massacre. He graciously agreed to speak to my students about Coming to Jakarta. This was just days after his 92nd birthday, so to surprise Peter, I invited his best friend to join us—the renowned Pentagon Papers whistleblower and peace activist, Daniel Ellsberg. In addition to reading Coming to Jakarta, my students also watched The Act of Killing, Joshua Oppenheimer’s Oscar-nominated film about the 1965 massacre. On a whim, I decided to extend an invitation to Joshua as well, knowing that he had cited Peter's work as an inspiration for his films. I sent Joshua a DM on Twitter and amazingly, he got back to me. He also agreed to surprise Peter and my students. Joshua Oppenheimer’s films changed Indonesian history. In this class meeting, he finally met Peter and paid him a most heartfelt tribute.  And Daniel Ellsberg—himself the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary—also gave a wonderful tribute to Joshua’s films and to Peter’s poetry and prose. This episode also features Freeman Ng and Ben Howard. For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> This episode features a surprise tribute to the great poet and scholar of deep politics, Professor Peter Dale Scott. The event took place in my Peace Studies of the American Century class. The students had been studying the tragic 1965 massacre of 500,000 to 2,000,000 Indonesians. As part of their studies, the class read excerpts of Professor Scott’s poem Coming to Jakarta. The retired Berkeley professor, was scheduled to appear through Zoom, planning to give a reading and answer questions about his long form poem. Professor Scott did some of the best early work on the massacre. He graciously agreed to speak to my students about Coming to Jakarta. This was just days after his 92nd birthday, so to surprise Peter, I invited his best friend to join us—the renowned Pentagon Papers whistleblower and peace activist, Daniel Ellsberg. In addition to reading Coming to Jakarta, my students also watched The Act of Killing, Joshua Oppenheimer’s Oscar-nominated film about the 1965 massacre. On a whim, I decided to extend an invitation to Joshua as well, knowing that he had cited Peter's work as an inspiration for his films. I sent Joshua a DM on Twitter and amazingly, he got back to me. He also agreed to surprise Peter and my students. Joshua Oppenheimer’s films changed Indonesian history. In this class meeting, he finally met Peter and paid him a most heartfelt tribute.  And Daniel Ellsberg—himself the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary—also gave a wonderful tribute to Joshua’s films and to Peter’s poetry and prose. This episode also features Freeman Ng and Ben Howard. For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine CovertActionBulletin.podbean.com/49da68ef-a372-3b3d-a38c-f956344ed57d Mon, 13 Dec 2021 01:33:36 -0500 1113 trailer false David Talbot, Author of Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years David Talbot, Author of Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years This is the second part of our Destiny Betrayed series on the JFK assassination. In this episode, Aaron talks with David Talbot about his book, Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years.

Published in 2007, Brothers tells the story of the Kennedy presidency as experienced by many of the people who worked with and knew John and Robert Kennedy. Among other things, the book definitively established an important missing part of the era's history. Drawing from dozens of interviews with the living members of the Kennedy circle, Talbot revealed how Robert Kennedy came to learn that his brother's assassination was the result of an operation involving the CIA with help from the agency's mafia and right-wing Cuban friends. Brothers also revealed that RFK planned to reinvestigate his brother's murder once he got to the White House. Tragically, the Senator was himself assassinated before that could happen.

David Talbot also appears in the new Oliver Stone documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass. Streaming now on Showtime, the film was written by Jim DiEugenio--author of Destiny Betrayed and The JFK Assassination: The Evidence Today. This episode also features contributions from Abby Martin of The Empire Files. Abby recently returned from a trip overseas, during which she grilled Nancy Pelosi about Pentagon pollution in front of an international audience.

For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> This is the second part of our Destiny Betrayed series on the JFK assassination. In this episode, Aaron talks with David Talbot about his book, Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years.

Published in 2007, Brothers tells the story of the Kennedy presidency as experienced by many of the people who worked with and knew John and Robert Kennedy. Among other things, the book definitively established an important missing part of the era's history. Drawing from dozens of interviews with the living members of the Kennedy circle, Talbot revealed how Robert Kennedy came to learn that his brother's assassination was the result of an operation involving the CIA with help from the agency's mafia and right-wing Cuban friends. Brothers also revealed that RFK planned to reinvestigate his brother's murder once he got to the White House. Tragically, the Senator was himself assassinated before that could happen.

David Talbot also appears in the new Oliver Stone documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass. Streaming now on Showtime, the film was written by Jim DiEugenio--author of Destiny Betrayed and The JFK Assassination: The Evidence Today. This episode also features contributions from Abby Martin of The Empire Files. Abby recently returned from a trip overseas, during which she grilled Nancy Pelosi about Pentagon pollution in front of an international audience.

For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-9720793 Sun, 12 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0500 296 trailer false The 9/9/2001 Massoud Assassination The 9/9/2001 Massoud Assassination In this episode, Aaron and his illustrious CovertAction Magazine colleague, John Kiriakou, discuss the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud.  They are joined by two luminaries:  Peter Dale Scott and Pepe Escobar.  Peter is a retired UC Berkeley English professor, a renowned poet, and the legendary scholar who basically invented the study of parapolitics and deep politics. His books of poetry and prose include 'Coming to Jakarta', 'Deep Politics and the Death of JFK', 'The Road to 9/11', and 'The American Deep State'. Pepe Escobar is Editor at Large for Asia Times. For the last two decades, Escobar has been THE guy writing about the New Silk Road in China and Central Asia. He was also one of the last journalists to speak to Massoud before his death.

 

Listeners may wish to read the articles referred to in this episode:

 

"Was the Now-Forgotten Murder of One Man on September 9, 2001 a Crucial Pre-condition for 9/11?" by Peter Dale Scott and Aaron Good: https://covertactionmagazine.com/2020/12/09/was-the-now-forgotten-murder-of-one-man-on-september-9-2001-a-crucial-pre-condition-for-9-11/

 

"9/9 and 9/11, 20 Years Later" by Pepe Escobar:  https://asiatimes.com/2021/09/9-9-and-9-11-20-years-later/.

 

For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Aaron and his illustrious CovertAction Magazine colleague, John Kiriakou, discuss the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud.  They are joined by two luminaries:  Peter Dale Scott and Pepe Escobar.  Peter is a retired UC Berkeley English professor, a renowned poet, and the legendary scholar who basically invented the study of parapolitics and deep politics. His books of poetry and prose include 'Coming to Jakarta', 'Deep Politics and the Death of JFK', 'The Road to 9/11', and 'The American Deep State'. Pepe Escobar is Editor at Large for Asia Times. For the last two decades, Escobar has been THE guy writing about the New Silk Road in China and Central Asia. He was also one of the last journalists to speak to Massoud before his death.

 

Listeners may wish to read the articles referred to in this episode:

 

"Was the Now-Forgotten Murder of One Man on September 9, 2001 a Crucial Pre-condition for 9/11?" by Peter Dale Scott and Aaron Good: https://covertactionmagazine.com/2020/12/09/was-the-now-forgotten-murder-of-one-man-on-september-9-2001-a-crucial-pre-condition-for-9-11/

 

"9/9 and 9/11, 20 Years Later" by Pepe Escobar:  https://asiatimes.com/2021/09/9-9-and-9-11-20-years-later/.

 

For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-9721047 Sat, 11 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0500 559 trailer false Oliver Stone‘s JFK w/Zach Sklar & Jim DiEugenio Oliver Stone‘s JFK w/Zach Sklar & Jim DiEugenio This first episode of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast is also the first part of our Destiny Betrayed series on the JFK assassination. In this episode, Aaron talks with Zachary Sklar, the co-screenwriter of Oliver Stone's JFK. They are joined by series producer, Jim DiEugenio, the writer and  co-creator of Oliver Stone's JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, now streaming on Showtime.  

Released in 1991, JFK was based upon Jim Garrison's memoir, 'On the Trail of the Assassins.'  The book was published by CovertAction Magazine's old publishing arm, Sheridan Square Press. Zachary Sklar edited Garrison's memoir before taking on screenwriting duties after Stone purchased the book's film rights.  In this episode, we cover the origin story of the memoir and the film, the unprecedented controversy sparked by the movie, and the singular historical impact of the film. 

This episode also features the multitalented Abby Martin of The Empire Files.

For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.#

Support the show

]]> This first episode of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast is also the first part of our Destiny Betrayed series on the JFK assassination. In this episode, Aaron talks with Zachary Sklar, the co-screenwriter of Oliver Stone's JFK. They are joined by series producer, Jim DiEugenio, the writer and  co-creator of Oliver Stone's JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, now streaming on Showtime.  

Released in 1991, JFK was based upon Jim Garrison's memoir, 'On the Trail of the Assassins.'  The book was published by CovertAction Magazine's old publishing arm, Sheridan Square Press. Zachary Sklar edited Garrison's memoir before taking on screenwriting duties after Stone purchased the book's film rights.  In this episode, we cover the origin story of the memoir and the film, the unprecedented controversy sparked by the movie, and the singular historical impact of the film. 

This episode also features the multitalented Abby Martin of The Empire Files.

For full episodes go to https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin. CovertAction Bulletin is the official podcast of CovertAction Magazine.#

Support the show

]]> CovertAction Magazine Buzzsprout-9721058 Mon, 06 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0500 346 trailer false