In part one of this two part series, we provide a comprehensive overview of the state of free speech, the free press and social media censorship in the West. We examine cases of journalists who are persecuted for their on-the-ground reporting and online speech. Additionally, we cover the latest developments on the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the banning of X in Brazil and efforts in the UnitedStates to block the popular video sharing app, TikTok.

ABOUT TAYLOR HUDAK: Taylor Hudak is an American-Hungarian journalist and covers issues focused on human rights, free speech, press freedom, US foreign policy and corruption. She researches, writes and produces video reports and interviews for acTVism Munich. Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Kent State University.

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In this episode of The Source, we speak with author, history professor, and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, Peter Kuznick, about the latest developments surrounding Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, including the conflict with Iran. We also explore why the U.S. government under President Joe Biden is unable to put pressure on Israel, despite the disastrous humanitarian situation in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip and the fact that inaction could cost the Democrats under presidential candidate Kamala Harris the upcoming election. Finally, we take a look at the latest developments related to the war in Ukraine, particularly the victory plan presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

ABOUT PETER KUZNICK: Peter Kuznick is Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University in Washington, D.C. He’s the co-author of the book The Untold History of the United States, written together with Hollywood film director and producer Oliver Stone. He was active in the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements and remains active in antiwar and nuclear abolition efforts.

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In this episode of The Source, we speak with Lawrence Wilkerson, a retired Army colonel and former chief of staff to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, about Israel's new war with Iran and Hezbollah. We explore the geopolitical implications of this war and whether Israel can emerge militarily and strategically victorious now that it has opened up a new front with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Finally, we examine the latest news on the war in Ukraine, particularly Russia's success in capturing the strategically important city of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine.

ABOUT LAWRENCE WILKERSON: Lawrence Wilkerson is currently a Senior Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and formerly a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of Williams and Mary. Lawrence Wilkerson’s last positions in government were as Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Chief of Staff (2002-05), Associate Director of the State Department’s Policy Planning staff under the directorship of Ambassador Richard N. Haass, and member of that staff responsible for East Asia and the Pacific, political-military and legislative affairs (2001-02). Before serving at the State Department, Wilkerson served 31 years in the U.S. Army. During that time, he was a member of the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College (1987 to 1989), Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-93), and Director and Deputy Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Virginia (1993-97). Wilkerson retired from active service in 1997 as a colonel, and began work as an advisor to General Powell. He has also taught national security affairs in the Honors Program at the George Washington University. He is currently working on a book about the first George W. Bush administration.

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In this episode of The Source, we interview author and independent journalist Fabian Scheidler and examine the latest news on the Nord Stream pipeline bombing. We then discuss the war in Ukraine and whether NATO's delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine would give it the edge it needs over Russia. Finally, we discuss the Israeli pager attack in Lebanon and Syria, which, according to Israel, targeted Hezbollah militants. The pager attack injured 2800 people and killed 12, including two children and a health care worker.

ABOUT FABIAN SCHEIDLER: Fabian Scheidler, born in 1968, studied history and philosophy at the Free University of Berlin and theater directing at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt/M. Since 2001, he has worked as a freelance writer for print media, television, theater and opera. In 2009, he founded the independent television magazine Kontext TV with David Goeßmann. Otto Brenner Media Prize for critical journalism (2009). As a dramaturge and playwright, he worked for many years for the Grips Theater in Berlin. In 2013, his opera “Death of a Banker” (music: Andreas Kersting) premiered at the Gerhart Hauptmann Theater in Görlitz. In 2015, Fabian Scheidler’s book “Das Ende der Megamaschine. Geschichte einer scheiternden Zivilisation” by Promedia Verlag (Vienna). The Robert Jungk Library for Future Studies selected it as one of the “TOP 10 Future Literature 2015”. Visit his website here: https://www.megamaschine.org/en/

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In this episode of The Source, we interview independent journalist and economist Dr. Shir Hever on the latest developments in Israel and Gaza. We begin the interview by examining the motivations behind the expansion of the Israeli military operation into the West Bank in Jenin and Tulkarem. We then talk about the domestic political situation in Israel, which includes the large-scale protests demanding a hostage deal as well as the internal tensions and pressures developing within the state that could lead to its collapse. Finally, we examine the state of German arms exports to Israel, in particular why they have declined since the start of Israel's war.

ABOUT DR. SHIR HEVER: Dr. Shir Hever is an independent economic researcher and journalist. He writes articles and research for various venues and gives lectures in political and academic venues. He is the author of The Privatisation of Israeli Security (Pluto, 2017) and The Political Economy of Israel’s Occupation (Pluto, 2010). He is currently the military embargo coordinator of the BNC (Boycott National Committee) of the BDS movement.

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In this episode of The Source, we interview journalist and international law and human rights lawyer Dimitri Lascaris about his recent visit to southern Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah exchange rockets on an hourly basis. Lascaris gives us an insight into the escalating situation on the ground and into Hezbollah. We also discuss US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to Israel and whether the ceasefire agreement he is seeking will become a reality. We look at the latest news on the Nord Stream Pipeline, in which the German prosecutor’s office recently issued arrest warrants for a Ukrainian diver and two other accomplices. Finally, we take a look at Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region and whether it has gained the upper hand in the war as a result.

ABOUT DIMITRI LASCARIS: Dimitri Lascaris is a journalist and lawyer. As a lawyer, he specializes in class action litigation, international law and human rights. He was a member of the shadow cabinets of the Green Parties of Canada and Quebec. In 2020, he ran for the leadership of the Green Party of Canada and came in second.

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In this episode of The Source, we speak with historian, journalist and author Vijay Prashad about the recent escalation between Israel and Iran. We then discuss the context of the recent elections in Venezuela by shedding light on the history of US intervention. We discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, including the US decision to deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany by 2026, and which of the two US presidential candidates, Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, would be more favorable to peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

ABOUT VIJAY PRASHAD: Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian and journalist. Prashad is the author of forty books, including Washington Bullets, Red Star Over the Third World, The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World and The Poorer Nations: A Possible History of the Global South. His latest book The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power (2022) was written with Noam Chomsky. He is Executive Director of The Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and Chief Correspondent for Globetrotter. He is also the Chief Editor of LeftWord Books (New Delhi) and a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has appeared in two films – Shadow World (2016) and Two Meetings (2017)

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In this episode of The Source, we speak with author, history professor and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, Peter Kuznick, about recent developments in US politics, including the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump and the withdrawal of current US President Joe Biden from the upcoming US presidential election. We also examine the significance of the US decision to deploy Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles in Germany by 2026.

ABOUT PETER KUZNICK: Peter Kuznick is Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University in Washington, D.C. He’s the co-author of the book The Untold History of the United States, written together with Hollywood film director and producer Oliver Stone. He was active in the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements and remains active in antiwar and nuclear abolition efforts.

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In this episode of The Source, our senior editor Zain Raza speaks with journalist and international law and human rights lawyer Dimitri Lascaris about Israel's Hannibal Directive, which, according to an investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, was used by Israel during the Hamas attack on October 7. The Hannibal Directive allows the Israeli military to use all necessary force to prevent the capture of soldiers. They also discuss the background to the escalating situation between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israeli-Lebanese border. They examine the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, including the question of who perpetrated the recent attack on a children's hospital in Kiev.

ABOUT DIMITRI LASCARIS: Dimitri Lascaris is a journalist and lawyer. As a lawyer, he specializes in class action litigation, international law and human rights. He was a member of the shadow cabinets of the Green Parties of Canada and Quebec. In 2020, he ran for the leadership of the Green Party of Canada and came in second.

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In our final Julian Assange case update, we report on what led up to the conclusion of the extradition proceedings of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. After several months of intense negotiations between Assange’s legal team and the United States Department of Justice, a plea agreement was reached. Assange plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information and was sentenced to time served. He now lives as a free man in his home country of Australia with his family.

ABOUT TAYOR HUDAK: Taylor Hudak is an American-Hungarian journalist and covers issues focused on human rights, free speech, press freedom, US foreign policy and corruption. She researches, writes and produces video reports and interviews for acTVism Munich. Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Kent State University.

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