By Any Means Necessary

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Kameron Hurt, organizer with the Coalition to Free Ruchell Magee and the Party for Socialism and Liberation to discuss the release of Ruchell “Cinque” Magee after decades spent in prison over his involvement in the Marin County Courthouse incident, the history of Magee’s life spent in incarceration and how he became committed to Black liberation activism while incarcerated, and why fighting to release political prisoners and maintain their legacies is important as a new generation of activists rises.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Clau O’Brien Moscoso, member of the Black Alliance for Peace Haiti/Americas Team to discuss recent protests in Peru against the government of Dina Boluarte, complaints issued by social leaders from the Cusco and Puno regions over the government’s response to protests there, the condition of former President Pedro Castillo and why many protesters are seeking his return to the presidency, and how movements opposed to the Boluarte government will move forward following these protests.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Jim Goodman, retired Wisconsin organic dairy farmer and board member of Family Farm Defenders to discuss the coming congressional negotiations over the farm bill, why the farm bill is so important for the US food system and how it interacts with the environment, how the bill could optimize the food system and minimize the amount of distance that food needs to be transported, and how large corporations have used neoliberalism to consolidate their control of the food market and squeeze small farmers and consumers alike.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie discuss the Biden administration’s reported attempts to go to great lengths to hide Joe Biden’s age as questions concerning his health continue to mount, the growing trend of children working in dangerous conditions as the US experiences a rollback of protections against child labor, and the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passing a resolution declaring that Israel is not a racist state.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Daryle Lamont Jenkins, Executive Director of One People’s Project to discuss convictions on five members of the Patriot Front hate group on charges of conspiracy to riot stemming from their attempt to disrupt a LGBTQ pride event in Idaho in 2022, how the controversy over country music artist Jason Aldean’s latest song “Try That In A Small Town” demonstrates the apparatus behind right-wing politics, and how Patriot Front operates in alliance with other right-wing groups.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Miko Peled, human rights activist and author of “The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine,” and “Injustice, the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five” to discuss the ongoing protests in Israel against the ruling government’s plans to implement its judicial overhaul which would challenge the independence of the country’s judicial system, how these protests should be understood in the context of Israel’s colonialism in Palestine, and why the concept of a unified Israeli society obscures the country’s treatment of non-white and non-European Jews in addition to its treatment of Palestinians.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Miguel Garcia of the ANTICONQUISTA Collective, also the host and creator of the Sports as a Weapon podcast to discuss the ongoing fallout from the reported hazing and sexual harassment in the Northwestern University football program and newer allegations of abuse in other sports programs, the NFL’s approval of the sale of the Washington Commanders and the release of the findings of the league’s investigation into former owner Dan Snyder’s conduct, and New York Giants running-back Saquon Barkley’s efforts to secure a contract and what it reveals about the valuation of running backs in the league.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Maximillian Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief of the Real News Network and and host of the podcast “Working People" to discuss the ongoing wave of labor activism across many different industries, how the legacy of the railroad workers’ threatened strike and the Biden administration’s decision to break it before it even began looms over labor activism today, and how the potential strike by UPS workers highlights how corporations exploit their workers and how workers can fight back.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Jeremy Kuzmarov, Managing editor of CovertAction Magazine and author of four books on US foreign policy, including The Russians are Coming, Again, with John Marciano and Obama's Unending Wars to discuss the history of US intervention in the Arctic circle as part of the Cold War and why the Arctic region continues to matter in geopolitics today, how the cover of scientific research in the Arctic was used to disguise the military aims of the US, and how the Arctic could be used as an area of cooperation rather than an arena for warfare.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Berna Ellorin, national spokesperson for Bayan USA to discuss the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the war on drugs in the Philippines conducted under the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, how this war on drugs constituted a war on the urban poor in the Philippines in the view of activists, how this war on drugs connects to other conflicts in the Philippines against political activists and Muslims, and how the war in drugs was used by officials to boost their images as champions of law and order.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Dr. Derek Ford, Assistant Professor of Education Studies at DePauw University, the Deputy Editor of the Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies, and an organizer with the Indianapolis Liberation Center to discuss a Washington Post report about the inconsistencies of the story told by North Korean defector Yeonmi Park, how that exposes issues with many of the stories told by North Koreans who claim to have defected, and how the western press seizes on the claims made by these defectors to create a caricature of North Korea.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Phil Wilayto, Editor of the Virginia Defender newspaper and co-founder of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality to discuss the western media’s mischaracterization of Russia ending its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, upcoming events in Virginia which will highlight the conditions of mass incarceration in the state as elections loom, and the growing repression of movements for peace and justice all over the world.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Karl Grossman, an author, TV program host and professor of journalism at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury to discuss the ongoing film “Oppenheimer” and how it connects to the ongoing threat of nuclear war, how the destruction of the last chemical weapons dating back to World War I demonstrate the capability of nations to do the same with nuclear weapons, and why the danger of nuclear weapons cannot be understated.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor emeritus and former Director of the Center for European Studies at Duke University to discuss the UK’s proposed Illegal Migration bill and why the premise on which the bill is based is questionable, why the UN has claimed that the bill’s provisions would violate the UK’s obligations according to international law, how this bill should be understood in the context of growing discontent with the Conservative Party, and the role that the UK’s foreign policy has played in forcing many migrants to go to the country.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Barbara Larcom, chair of Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition to discuss the anniversary of the 1979 revolution in Nicaragua by the Sandinistas, the long history of US intervention in Nicaragua and why the US is interested in dominating the country, the achievements of the Nicaragua under the Sandinistas in areas such as gender equality and education, and how the US is continuing its attempts to undermine the government of Nicaragua.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Rachel Hu, organizer and co-host of the CovertAction Bulletin Podcast to discuss Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to the US Congress and the show of bipartisan unity in the defense of Israel’s actions against Palestinians, the looming strike by UPS workers and how it connects to other strikes by SAG-AFTRA and WGA members, and how the expansion of the gig economy has highlighted the connections among all workers.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda to discuss why Russia ended its participation in the Black Sea grain initiative and why western claims that this endangers people in the global south conflict with the reality of the deal, how the recent attacks on the Crimean Bridge differ from the earlier bombing, the stalled progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, and the continued harm that this proxy conflict is having on EU nations.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Ricardo Vaz, political analyst & editor at Venezuelanalysis.com to discuss how sanctions on Venezuela are being used to undermine Venezuelan sovereignty over its oil production, how secondary sanctions allow the US to control what deals Venezuela makes with companies around the world, and how the architecture of US sanctions will continue to undermine Venezuelan sovereignty regardless of the success of Washington’s attempts to overthrow the country’s government.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by technologist Chris Garaffa, co-host of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast to discuss the ongoing strike by members of SAG-AFTRA and how the strike was in part motivated by concerns of studio use of artificial intelligence and streaming, how police departments in the US are using “real-time crime centers” to increase surveillance and why the centers haven’t decreased violent crime, and how the latest scandal involving Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ dealings demonstrate why transactions on apps like Venmo should be made private.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Eleanor Goldfield, a creative activist, journalist, co-host of Project Censored, and the filmmaker behind the documentary “Hard Road of Hope” to discuss Sweden’s expected accession to NATO after a deal with Turkey was reached, recent reports about orders allegedly carried out against migrants attempting to enter the US on the Texas border, and a House resolution rejecting the claim that Israel is a racist state proposed in response to Representative Pramila Jayapal’s comments.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Natalia Marques, writer and organizer from New York City to discuss the strike by SAG-AFTRA members which will bring Hollywood to a halt as they join WGA members on strike, why this strike is not about the celebrities who make millions of dollars but are instead about the average members who are trying to get by, and how the struggles of SAG-AFTRA members are connected to the struggles of all workers.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by journalist Waqas Ahmed to discuss the IMF’s approval of a $3 billion bailout for Pakistan as the country continues to struggle with an economic crisis, what this bailout will mean for the Pakistani people, and how this may affect the political situation as protests in support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan continue.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Martín Varese, social media manager with People’s Dispatch and sociologist to discuss the ongoing political crisis in Guatemala involving the brief suspension of the Seed Movement party as the country faces a presidential runoff election, why the Seed Movement is being targeted and why the establishment is generally opposed to movements outside their control, and how this crisis fits into the history of US intervention in Guatemala and its legacy.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by James Early, Former Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and board member of the Institute for Policy Studies to discuss the 2024 presidential election and recent comments by former President Barack Obama calling the Democratic Party unified behind Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, the ongoing EU-CELAC summit and how the EU is attempting to change Latin America’s orientation toward Cuba, Venezuela, and the shifting political reality, and John Kerry declaring that the US will not pay climate reparations.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Dr. Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law at Cornell University and Senior Counsel for Westwood Capital to discuss Bank of America being fined $250 million for illegal banking practices and how this is just the latest such case in recent years, why this fine falls short as a punishment for these practices and whether we will see anyone go to jail for them, and why these patterns of fraud by banks are allowed to continue largely without regulation or proper punishment.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Salifu Mack, an editor at Hood Communist and a member of the Lowcountry Action Committee and the Black Alliance for Peace to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris’ role in enforcing imperialism and how the emphasis on her significance as representation distracts from that, how the Caribbean aid plan recently announced by Harris demonstrates this role, and how the PR tours that Harris goes on serve to repackage her image.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Miguel Garcia of the ANTICONQUISTA Collective, also the host and creator of the Sports as a Weapon podcast to discuss allegations of hazing among college football players at Northwestern University and head coach Pat Fitzgerald complicity in it, how football culture facilitates this type of hazing and what needs to be done about it, the New York Times closing its sports desk and relying in The Athletic to provide its sports coverage, and how this fits into the ongoing shifts in sports media and how that will change how people consume sports news.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Kristine Hendrix, President to the University City School Board, Junior Bayard Rustin Fellow with the Fellowship for Reconciliation and contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast to discuss the Screen Actors Guild going on strike as the Writer’s Guild of America continues its monthslong strike, revelations about the presence of radioactive waste related to the Manhattan Project in the St. Louis area and how it has impacted communities in the city, and how the Biden administration’s latest student loan forgiveness program still does not make up for its failure to deliver on the promise of broad student loan forgiveness.

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In the first segment of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman feature a commentary by former political prisoner Mutulu Shakur.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Arnold August, a Montreal-based author of 3 books on US-Cuba-Latin America relations to discuss the anniversary of the July 11 protests in Cuba and how they were misrepresented by US media as opposed to the Cuban government, the real character of many of the protests as a response to issues caused by the US blockade on Cuba, and why reforms made by the Cuban government are a response to the blockade and are not an embrace of capitalism.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Jamal Abdulahi, writer and political analyst based in Minneapolis, MN to discuss how Kenya facilitates US intervention into Somalia under the guise of counter-terrorism, how Kenya’s interventions in Somalia cripple critical infrastructure and devastate communities in the Jubaland region, and how Kenya factors into US interests in the Horn of Africa.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Chuck Modiano, justice journalist and Sports writer for Deadspin to discuss Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville refusing to acknowledge the racism of white nationalism in an interview with CNN and how the media has facilitated the dissemination of nationalist ideology, why Cuba and China’s paths of development do not constitute a retreat from socialism, and how recent ESPN layoffs demonstrate the labor politics of sports that are often not talked about.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Chris Helali, political analyst, researcher and Independent investigative journalist to discuss the NATO summit and Turkiye clearing the way for Sweden to join the alliance, how the summit is likely to intensify global tensions with its focuses on the conflict in Ukraine and on China, why Turkiye relented in its opposition to Sweden’s membership in NATO and how Ankara has shifted its relationship with the west in recent weeks, and how the end result of the summit will almost certainly serve to continue the conflict in Ukraine and sacrifice Ukrainians for the benefit of NATO’s imperial supremacy.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Dr. Jemima Pierre, Haiti/Americas Coordinator for the Black Alliance for Peace to discuss CARICOM throwing its support for foreign intervention in Haiti in response to US and UN pressure, how the histories of Caribbean nations have affected the perception of Haiti in the region and how that perception continues today, and how the situation in Haiti has developed as a direct result of US and European imperialism in the country.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Tina Landis, organizer and author of the book, ‘Climate Solutions: Beyond Capitalism’ to discuss record-breaking heat waves all over the world and how they are related to the climate crisis, the danger that extreme heat poses to the human body and how working people are most exposed to heat and those dangers, and how the effects of this heat has been mitigated in China and how that demonstrates a need for a working class climate movement in the US.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Dr. Radhika Desai, a Professor at the University of Manitoba, Director of the Geopolitical Economy Research Group, and author of Capitalism, Coronavirus and War: A Geopolitical Economy to discuss the NATO summit and how it threatens to undo Joe Biden’s foreign policy ambitions, how the stagnant progress of NATO’s proxy conflict in Ukraine stands to damage the alliance as an institution, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit to China and how it fits into the US orientation toward China.

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In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Zoe Pepper-Cunningham, a journalist with People’s Dispatch to discuss upcoming protests in Peru against the government of Dina Boluarte, how the political situation in Peru has evolved since the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo, how the Peruvian government is working to prevent mass turnout for the upcoming protests, and why the government of Dina Boluarte remains deeply unpopular in Peru.

In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by John Kiriakou, co-host of Political Misfits, which you can hear from 12 to 2 PM EST right here on Radio Sputnik to discuss why the Australian government is refusing to advocate for the release of Julian Assange and how that case compares with the government’s efforts to free David Hicks, the reality behind Assange’s case and why the US is interested in prosecuting him for being a journalist, and how the struggle to free Julian Assange and prevent his extradition to the US will move forward.

In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by technologist Chris Garaffa, co-host of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast to discuss a recent ruling on US government influence over the behavior and moderation of social media platforms, a report documenting the effects of lead casing on communications cables, the NYPD collecting identification data from the cell phones of people in custody, and the surveillance of half of the world’s mobile phone users by a company which gives them a “reputation score” and sells that data to other companies.

Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Ted Rall, co-host of The Final Countdown, which you can hear from 10am to 12 PM EST right here on Radio Sputnik to discuss reports about Joe Biden’s personal behavior as a boss and as a grandparent and how that conflicts with the image that his campaign attempts to portray him in, hand-wringing over Cornel West’s presidential campaign by Democratic strategists who argue that his candidacy will enable Donald Trump to be re-elected, and how recent Supreme Court decisions may affect the 2024 presidential campaign.

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