Fault Lines

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked with guests about Biden's recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar, unions saying they're ready to play hardball with Democrats, and the consequences of the anti-tobacco PACT Act.

Guests:

Yusuf Erim – Editor-At-Large at TRT World | Biden Recognizes the Armenian Genocide, The History of Atrocities

Carl Zha – Host of the Silk and Steel Podcast | Myanmar Update, China's Cultural Policies

John Logan – Professor and Director of Labor and Employment Studies at SFSU | Unions Pushing Democrats to Pass the PRO Act

Mark Frost – Economics Professor and Entrepreneur | PACT Act Hits Cannabis Vape Market

In our first hour we were joined by Yusuf Erim for a fiery conversation on the Armenian Genocide, getting into the history of atrocities perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire during its last days and looking critically at the portrayal of the genocide in modern Turkey.

In our second hour we were joined by Carl Zha to talk about ongoing activist pushback in Myanmar and the military coup government's talks during the ASEAN meetings. We moved to a conversation on Chinese culture and some locally unpopular attempts by the PRC government to shift media coverage and increase masculinity in young men.

In our third hour we were joined by John Logan for a discussion on the PRO Act as unions push hard on Democrats to pass the bill, which would remove states' abilities to pass right-to-work laws alongside other pro-union provisions. After that we were joined by Mark Frost by a conversation on the PACT Act, a law designed to limit the use of tobacco products which has had wider consequences on the vape industry, with multiple cannabis vape cartridge companies shuttering after their businesses were hit by the provisions in the bill.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked about the failed European Super League, the future of Nord Stream 2, Israel's nuclear weapons program, how BLM affected homicides, and YouTube betraying its origins by favoring mainstream news over citizen coverage.

Guests:

Peter Oliver – EU Correspondent for RT International | Greed and the Super League, Nord Stream 2, Poland, and Ukraine

Scott Ritter – Former U.N. Weapons Inspector & WMD Whistleblower | Syrian Attack Near Israeli Nuclear Facility, Have American Leaders Lost the Plot on the Global Nuclear Threat?

Kim Iversen – Independent Journalist and Host of the Kim Iversen Show | Derek Chauvin Trial & YouTube's Establishment News Filter

In our first hour we were joined by Peter Oliver to talk about the failed push for a European Super League for football before turning to the future of Nord Stream 2 and German politics, looking at comments by former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried putting forward the idea that a war with Ukraine could help the United States to keep Germany from going forward with its second undersea pipeline for importing natural gas from Russia, Nord Stream 2.

In our second hour we were joined by Scott Ritter to talk about the media's portrayal of Israel's nuclear weapons program and the open secret of its possession of nuclear weapons, spurred by the reported interception of a ground-to-air missile attack by Syria near the site of an Israeli nuclear facility. We moved in our second segment to a conversation about Biden's vituperative comments towards and about Putin and what they reveal about the American perspective on the threat of globalized, catastrophic conflict.

In our third hour we were joined by Kim Iversen to talk about what the Derek Chauvin trial will change in American culture, politics, and policing, looking at a February study showing that while Black Lives Matter protests reduced police homicides in cities, they led to a significant increase in the overall rate of homicides. We turned to comments made by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, who made clear that her platform does and will continue to prioritize establishment news coverage of 'sensitive topics' over coverage by, well... You.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked with guests about whether the guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial changed anything fundamental in our country and reviewed media coverage of Putin's State of the Nation address, in Russia and the Western press.

Guests:

Bryan MacDonald – Head of the Russia Desk at RT Online | Putin's State of the Nation: Media Coverage in Russia and the West

Dr. Wilmer Leon – Political Scientist, Columnist and Host of The Critical Hour | What Does the Derek Chauvin Trial Change in America?

Joel Segal – Former Congressional Staffer & Political Activist | Fixing The Problems That Led to the Murder of George Floyd

In our first hour we were joined for the first time by Bryan MacDonald to talk about how Russian President Vladimir Putin's State of the Nation addressed yesterday was treated by the Western press compared to its reception in Russian media, and turned to look at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's actions abroad and specifically in Ukraine

In our second hour we were joined by Dr. Wilmer Leon to talk about what the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin will do for America's culture and politics -- the consensus: not much -- before moving on to a fiery conversation on the causes of police violence in the United States.

In our third hour we were joined by Joel Segal to talk what we'd have to change in the American political system and economy to prevent unjustified abuses of police power in the future.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan covered Putin's State of the Nation address, talking about Russia's policies foreign and domestic, looking at Ukraine, Belarus, and Putin's recommendations on the economy, healthcare, infrastructure, and other domestic topics.

Guests:

Michael Maloof – | Russia's Foreign Policy: Brewing War in Ukraine, Attempted Assassination and Coup in Belarus

Lee Stranahan – | Russia's Foreign Policy: Brewing War in Ukraine, Attempted Assassination and Coup in Belarus

Mark Sleboda – International Relations and Security Analyst | The Domestic Side of Putin's Address

After playing Putin's State of the Nation address in full in our first hour, we were joined in our second hour by Michael Maloof and Lee Stranahan to discuss Putin's statements on foreign policy, looking at the prospect of war in Ukraine and the origins and acceleration of that conflict, as well as the attempted assassination and coup plot against Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus.

In our last hour we were joined by Mark Sleboda to talk about Putin's statements on healthcare, the economy, infrastructure, education, and the other domestic topics that the Russian president focused on for the majority of his speech. We went over Russia's COVID response and the state of the country's economy, and looked at how this address will affect the upcoming elections later this year for seats in the State Duma, Russia's federal legislative body.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked with guests about Turkey's foreign policy and the future of NATO, the Derek Chauvin trial and the increasingly corrupted legacy of BLM, the state of Syrian human rights, and this week's transfer of power in Cuba.

Guests:

Yusuf Erim – Editor-At-Large at TRT World | US Sanctions on Turkey, Turkey's Role in NATO and Pursuit of Independent Foreign Policy

Ted Rall – Political Cartoonist & Syndicated Columnist | Chauvin Trial & Policing in America

Hadi Nasrallah – Journalist, Commentor and Researcher | State of Syrian Civil War

Camila Escalante – TV News Producer and Presenter at teleSUR English | Transfer of Leadership from Raul Castro to Miguel Díaz-Canel

In our first hour we were joined by Yusuf Erim to talk about Turkey's foreign policy and future agenda from a Turkish perspective. Looking at the United States' sanctions on the country, where Erdogan falls on Ukraine and Russia, and the future of the NATO military alliance as more of its member countries seek autonomous foreign policy.

In our second hour we were joined by Ted Rall and Hadi Nasrallah. With Ted we talked about the role of the Black Lives Matter protests and whether the public's attention on police violence is justified by the facts. With Hadi we talked about the state of the conflict in Syria, looking at the brutal impact of American sanctions on the country, the deadly consequences of American occupation of Syria's wheat fields, and the state of the armed conflict.

In our last hour we were joined by Camila Escalante to talk about the transfer of power of Cuba from Raul Castro to Miguel Diaz-Canel, ending the era of Castro's Cuba and going into whether or not this will change the policies pursued by Cuba's government.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked with guests about the USA's policy on China, what BLM accomplished as Chauvin's trial goes to closing arguments today, what Biden's thinking on Iran and Israel, and the Bolsonaro presidency as COVID kills in Brazil.

Guests:

Ian Goodrum – Senior Editor and Columnist at China Daily | Kerry in China on Climate, Biden's Joint Address with Suga and the US's Attempts to Contest China's Economic Expansion

Garland Nixon – Sputnik Political Analyst, Host of The Critical Hour | Shooting of Adam Toledo,

John Kiriakou – Former CIA Officer, Co-Host of 'The Backstory' on Radio Sputnik | What's Biden's Thinking On Iran?

Shobhan Saxena – Journalist Covering Brazil and India | Bolsonaro's Government Failing on COVID, Food Insecurity Growing

In our first hour we were joined by Ian Goodrum to talk about the outcome of climate envoy John Kerry's visit to China this weekend to talk about reducing carbon emissions, this as President Biden jointly addressed the press with Japan's Prime Minister Suga on Saturday, talking about containing China's influence internationally and criticizing its internal policies in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

In our second hour we were joined by Garland Nixon to talk about the state of policing in America and to question the effects of the Black Lives Matter movement after last summer, looking at how the American public's opinions have shifted, whether we've addressed the root causes of rising crime and deadly punishment, and whether anything has fundamentally changed in policing since the rise of BLM in 2014.

Following this we spoke with John Kiriakou about Iran's decision to increase its uranium enrichment above 60%, pushing closer to the 90% threshold required for creating nuclear weapons, as well as why they did that, the United States' relationship with Israel, and where the US is headed as it restarts indirect negotiations on the JCPOA.

In our last hour we were joined by Shobhan Saxena to talk Brazilian politics as Bolsonaro's government is in a state of crisis, with numerous officials resigning in recent weeks over Bolsonaro's response to COVID. We talked about food insecurity, lockdowns, and the feasibility of economic relief in the country, as well as Lula's potential return to power in the 2022 presidential elections in Brazil.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked with guests about recent protests in Berlin, German politics and Nord Stream 2, new legislation and executive actions aimed at reforming the Supreme Court, yesterday's sanctions on Russia, and the history of peace talks over the thawing war in Donbass.

Guests:

Peter Oliver – EU Correspondent for RT International | Berlin Protests, German Politics and Nord Stream 2, EU Vaccine Procurement and Sputnik V Side-Deals

Manila Chan – Host of In Question on RT America | OPCW Coming Under Scrutiny, Cultures of Violence, Supreme Court Reforms

Mark Sleboda – International Relations and Security Analyst | Biden's Sanctions on Russia, Allegations of Russian Cyberespionage, the Background on Peace Talks in Ukraine

In our first hour we were joined by Peter Oliver to talk about last night's protests in Berlin over a decision from the German constitutional court annulling Berlin's rent caps, first placed last February. We turned to German parliamentary politics as the Greens look to be making gains in the Bundestag, talking about how this might affect Nord Stream 2 and Germany's relationships with the EU, Russia, and the United States. We finished with a quick question about vaccine procurement and restrictions in the EU, with Peter telling us about EU member countries' deals with the Russians to procure the Sputnik V COVID vaccine.

In our second hour we were joined by Manila Chan to talk about the OPCW, cultural violence in America inherited from our wars overseas, and the recent legislation introduced by Rep. Mondaire Robinson to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court from 9 to 13. We talked about how the Supreme Court has become the conduit for more and more legislative decision-making as the Senate seems perpetually stalled by filibusters.

In our last hour we were joined by Mark Sleboda to look at the latest set of sanctions announced by the Biden administration and imposed by the Treasury Department. We got into the facts on the allegations of a Russian cyberespionage attack on SolarWinds last year, and talked about how these latest sanctions don't hit as hard as the Western press is reporting. Next we turned to Ukraine and the Donbass, looking at the history of the Minsk Agreements, Ukraine's fractured political system and rock-bottom economy, before talking about how the US plays into Kiev's decisions.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked about the Supreme Court as a political tool, H.R. 40 and the case for reparations, the migrant crisis and Kamala's relative silence, today's sanctions against Russia, Bernie Madoff's legacy, and crypto as 'currency.'

Guests:

Joel Segal – Congressional Staffer and Founder of JAMN | Supreme Court Politics and the Reparations Bill in the House

Ted Rall – Political Cartoonist & Syndicated Columnist | Kamala's Crocheting: Soft Treatment from WaPo, and the United States Sanctions Today on Russia

Steve Grumbine – Political, Economic and Social Justice Activist | Madoff's Crimes and Wall Street's Negligence, Coinbase Listed On the NASDAQ

In our first hour we were joined by Joel Segal to talk about the politicization of the Supreme Court after President Biden signed an executive order to create a Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court, bringing about allegations that he's pushing to pack the court after Trump used his term to fill three of the Supreme Court's seats. We turned to H.R. 40, a bill under consideration in the House after being passed by committee for the first time in its 30-plus year history since being introduced by Joel's late friend and colleague John Conyers in 1989.

In our second hour we were joined by Ted Rall to talk about Vice President Kamala Harris and the migrant crisis. We hit the Washington Post for publishing a puff piece on Harris's crocheting proclivities, how the VP hasn't had a press conference on the topic of the migrant crisis since being picked to head the United States response to it, before turning to the details of American sanctions against Russia coming out this morning before those sanctions are due to be issued later today.

In our last hour we were joined by Steve Grumbine to talk about the crimes and legacy of Wall Street financier and convicted Ponzi scheme fund manager Bernie Madoff, who died yesterday in prison while serving his century-plus sentence. We looked at ongoing crimes on Wall Street and the idea that the institution is guilty of presiding over its own Ponzi scheme, before turning the topic cryptocurrencies after the cryptocurrency-trading company Coinbase was listed in the NASDAQ at a nearly $100 billion valuation.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked about UAPs and UFOs, discussed the Biden administration's planned September withdrawal from Afghanistan, and talked the medical facts behind the limited statistics on a second vaccine now thought to cause blood clotting.

Guests:

Nick Pope – Journalist and Former UFO Analyst for UK's Ministry of Defence | UAPs, UFOs, and Unexplained Technological Phenomena

Scott Ritter – former U.N. Weapons Inspector & WMD Whistleblower | Biden's September Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Dr. Mikhail Kogan – Medical Doctor & Associate Professor of Medicine | J&J Shot Paused and AstraZeneca Age-Restricted Over Suspected Link to Blood Clotting

In our first hour we were joined by Nick Pope to discuss his work in the UK's Ministry of Defence investigating reports of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena and whether the global public deserves to know about the confidential findings by world governments on inexplicably advanced technology.

Later we were joined by Scott Ritter to discuss the Biden administration's announcement that it plans to pull American troops from Afghanistan by September 11th of 2021, 20 years after the 9/11 attacks and almost 20 years after the U.S. started its ill-fated war on the Taliban in the country. We also spoke about the American military's ability to wage a combined forces war as Biden seems to be pivoting from the Middle East to Eurasia.

After this we were joined by Dr. Mikhail Kogan to discuss vaccines and blood clotting as the CDC and FDA just called for a pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine, and after many countries in Europe and around the world have restricted the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, in both cases on figures showing a correlation between the shots and the clots.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked about the riots in Northern Ireland, media blackouts on the troop build-up in Ukraine, a private investigation into Tara Reade, the Derek Chauvin trial and shooting of Daunte Wright, and Biden's immigration policy.

Guests:

Alexander Mercouris – Editor-in-Chief at The Duran | Riots in Northern Ireland, Ukrainian/Russian Troop Build-up

Tara Reade – Author and Survivor | Ryan Wentz's Visit from the Cops and the Private Investigation Into Tara Reade

Carmine Sabia – Writer & Editor at Sabia Report | Police Abuse of Power with Daunte Wright & George Floyd, Biden's Imitation of Trump on Immigration

In our first hour we were joined by Alexander Mercouris to talk about the potential for the political disintegration of the United Kingdom as riots take place in Northern Ireland and the region inches closer to full political integration with the Republic of Ireland. We turned to Ukraine, looking at the media's blinders when covering the ongoing war in Ukraine and the recent build-up of Russian troops on the border -- leaving out that the Ukrainians moved their forces to the border first.

In our second hour we were joined by Tara Reade to talk about a story she just made public: that in December she received a letter from a lawyer for Twitter disclosing that they had been subpoenaed for her account records and had to fight the courts to let her know about it. We also talked about Ryan Wentz, a podcast host who got a visit from California Highway Patrol officers over an innocuous tweet making fun of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.

In our last hour we were joined by Carmine Sabia to talk about the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial and the shooting of Daunte Wright. We looked at what roles police should take in our society, and whether they should face legal repercussions for committing what would otherwise be seen as crimes while doing their jobs, before turning to Biden's immigration moves and the new deal with Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras militarizing the country's borders to stop the flow of migrants into the United States.