Fault Lines

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Shane Stranahan and Jamarl Thomas discussed several topics, including the recent negotiations over EU finances breaking down, President Trump's reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak, the life and legacy of John Lewis, and the violent protests in Portland and other American cities.

GUESTS

Caleb Maupin - Speaker, writer, journalist, political analyst, and author of City Builders and Vandals in Our Age: Articles and Essays on Socialism | Feds Crackdown on Portland Riots

Margaret Kimberley - Senior Columnist and Editor for Black Agenda Report | Mixed Legacy of John Lewis

Tom Luongo - Geopolitical Analyst & Publisher of the Gold Goats 'n Guns Newsletter | Ghislaine Maxwell

In the first hour monologue, Jamarl decried Donald Trump's lack of leadership on the nationwide protests and coronavirus.

Then Shane and Jamarl spoke to Caleb Maupin about how the protests in cities like Portland, Oregon, and the federal pushback from the Trump administration create an opportunity to talk about the history of crackdowns on political dissent that have been going on for years in the United States. He cited examples such as the "extraordinary rendition" style program by police exposed in Chicago and in the 2010 raids on members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Caleb said that media focus on what is happening in Portland should be seen as an opportunity to bring up these other examples the people are less aware of.

In the second hour, Shane and Jamarl talked to Margaret Kimberley about the life and legacy of Civil Rights icon and Congressman John Lewis. Kimberley thought that, while his early work in the Civil Rights Movement with SNCC (the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) was heroic, it did not give him a lifetime pass from criticism. Kimberley went on to say that as a congressman, he was not only undistinguished but he also became part of the Congressional Black Caucus's work in consistently defeating truly progressive policies. She also stated she thought his support for the Clintons and against Bernie Sanders was very disappointing. Kimberley also talked about her own personal political journey, including the founding of Black Agenda Report in 2006 and her move more and more towards the left.

In the third hour, Jamarl and Shane talked to Tom Loungo about the recent arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell and what Tom sees is a connection to Brexit through a series of elitist connections and events ranging from the fall of the Soviet Union to the pillaging of Russia's assets in the 1990s to the Russiagate hoax. Tom says the information that Maxwell and her co-conspirator Jeffrey Epstein may have on world leaders goes directly into what he sees as a plot to remove Donald Trump from power.

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Shane Stranahan and Jamarl Thomas discussed topics from the federal troops being deployed in Portland to single payer healthcare to monetary theory to the relationship between Zionism and Judaism.

GUESTS

Joel Segal - Former Congressional Staffer | Pushing Single Payer Healthcare

Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro - Author, The Empty Wagon | Zionism and Judaism

Stephanie Kelton -Author and Leading Authority on Modern Monetary Theory| Is Printing Money the Answer?

In Jamarl's first hour monologue, he discussed the deployment of federal troops in Portland, Oregon, where nearly two months of violent protests have occurred almost nightly, with massive property destruction. Jamal said he opposes the use of federal troops and said he finds the government pushback frightening.

Then Shane and Jamarl were joined by Joel Segal, one of the architects of Obamacare and a congressional aide to John Conyers for years. He talked about his own pivotal role in writing the Obamacare bill, and explained why he thinks progressives need to "hold their nose closed" and vote for Biden as a way to get single payer healthcare. They also discussed the Civil Rights Movement and how he thinks Martin Luther King would've voted, as well as mentioning a new single payer bill he is writing for California.

In the second hour, Shane and Jamarl spoke to Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, who described the relationship between Orthodox Judaism and Zionism, which the rabbi says are diametrical opposites. Shapiro described the history of Zionism and how in the 1970s, it changed from a socialist style of Zionism to a more nationalistic/fascist Zionism that has been a source of much Middle Eastern strife. Rabbi Shapiro also described how anti-Semitism has been used to push Israel's agenda by making it appear to be the only safe place for Jews on Earth when it is actually the most dangerous.

In the third hour, Jamal and Shane talked to Stephanie Kelton about monetary theory and the global economy. She described what she sees as the benefits of not being on the gold standard, as it allows the government more flexibility to print money, and she said it allows governments to operate without the fear of other countries taking their gold reserves. She pointed that out in her new book, in which she argues that the government still lives in fear of using this ability to simply use this power to create policies that she says are beneficial to society. They also discussed the US dollar being used as a reserve currency.

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked about a variety of topics, including the spike in COVID-19 numbers across the country, whether Roger Stone's defenders were being unfair to Randy Credico, and the many contradictions in United States foreign policy.

GUESTS

Maram Susli - Political Commentator and Geopolitical Analyst | Syria and the US Election

Mark Sleboda - International Relations & Security Analyst | Russia's Response to COVID-19

Niko House - Political Activist and Broadcast Journalist, Founder and CEO of the MCSC Network | Protests


In Jamarl's first hour monologue, he expressed outrage over the Trump administration's plan to send American children back to school despite the coronavirus threat.

The hosts were then joined by analyst Maram Susli, and they discussed how the upcoming presidential election will affect policy on Syria. Maram was sharply critical of President Trump's policy but said his saving grace is that he is blunt and does not put a fake humanitarian face on it. She argued that Biden is more dangerous because Democrats attempt to obfuscate the real goals and pointed out that a Biden policy advisor had already talked about a more "humanitarian" approach. They also discussed the pivotal role that Israel has played in the Syrian conflict.

In the second hour, Shane and Jamarl spoke with Mark Sleboda about the Russian government's response to the COVID-19 crisis. They also discussed the discrepancy between the number and fatality rate of Russian COVID-19 cases compared to other countries and talked about speculation that the vaccine that has been popular in Eastern Europe and Russia may have been a factor. They also talked about Russia's diminished expectations in dealing with the West, particularly with the United States after a series of US-backed color revolutions around Eastern Europe. They expressed disappointment in recent presidents like Obama and Trump and discussed the recent reworking of arms control treaties.

In the third hour, they talked to activist and Florida resident Niko House. Niko was critical of the United States and especially the state of Florida for not working with Cuba on the coronavirus crisis, citing the obvious similarities in climate and other factors. He also discussed the lack of media coverage on Florida governor Ron DeSantis' defunding of many online educational programs. They also discussed the differences between the US and world response in funding COVID-19 research.

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan discussed a variety of topics including China's burgeoning alliance with Iran, the strange odyssey of Roger Stone, and a resurgence of the global pandemic affecting states like California and Arizona.

Guests:

Mark Frost - Economist, professor, consultant, drummer, Eagle Scout, Marine, libertarian’ish | Economic View of the Pandemic

Gareth Porter - Investigative Journalist, author and policy analyst specializing in U.S. national security policy | The New Cold War

David Lugo - Producer, writer, and director of the documentary Sensational | Randy Credico & Roger Stone

The hosts discussed "cancel culture" and navigating free speech in a world of rapidly changing wokeness.

Mark Frost explored his libertarian view that the government should never be in a position to shut down businesses over masks but admitted there is not enough data in right now to determine whether the shut downs are the best choice economically or whether other options would have caused less damage in the long run. Mark and the hosts also discussed whether the pandemic was a motivator behind the protests, with Mark saying he thinks it's the sense of many Americans that there are "two Americas."

In the second hour, the hosts talked to guest Gareth Porter, who discussed the unproven allegations pushed by the New York Times that Russia was paying "bounties" for the Taliban to kill US troops in Afghanistan. Porter pointed out that the initial allegations were given almost no credibility by the intelligence agencies involved, yet the story has continued to be pushed, even though it makes no sense from a Russian perspective, whose main concern in Afghanistan was fighting Islamic terrorism. Gareth also discussed the new Cold War being pushed against China, especially given their alliance with Iran.

In the third hour, Shane and Jamarl spoke with filmmaker David Lugo about his personal experience with both Roger Stone and Randy Credico. Accusations against Stone for allegedly threatening Credico as a witness were discussed in the context of David Lugo's personal experience being harassed by Credico repeatedly. They also discussed the role of ideology and pushing various negatives that affect American society.

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Shane Stranahan and Jamarl Thomas discussed the recent decision by President Trump to commute the sentence of his longtime advisor Roger Stone, the systemic problems with American media, and the upcoming election.

GUESTS

Rick Sanchez - Internationally Recognized, Award-winning Broadcast Journalist, reporter, news presenter, and host of the nightly news show News with Rick Sanchez on RT America | The 2020 Election and the State of Modern Journalism

Tyler P. Nixon - Archivist, activist, technologist, legal counsel to Roger Stone | Roger Stone's Commutation

Danny Sjursen - Retired U.S. Army Officer and Former History Instructor at West Point | What Went Wrong with the United States' View of War

In the first hour, Jamarl's monologue looked at President Trump's decision Friday to commute the sentence of longtime advisor Roger Stone, and while criticizing Stone, called out the Democrat hypocrisy on the issue of lying to Congress.

Then Shane and Jamarl spoke to veteran TV journalist Ricky Sanchez about the upcoming national election. Rick said that he sees very little difference between Donald Trump and Joe Biden on issues of foreign policy, but Biden scares him less on a personal level and Donald Trump is not someone that he would hire. Rick also talked about how CNN censored material from a book he had written when he worked for that network and decided the impact of careerism on truth-telling.

In the second hour, Shane and Jamal talked to Roger Stone advocate Tyler Nixon about the recent decision by President Trump to commute Stone's sentence. Tyler pushed back on the idea that Roger Stone did anything wrong and went into detail about Stone's contentious relationship with witness Randy Credico. Nixon also described the intense questioning that he says Roger Stone was assailed with in an attempt to charge Stone with a process crime.

In the third hour, Jamarl and Shane spoke with Danny Sjursen about the government and the media's shifting narrative about the US involvement in Afghanistan and the uncorroborated story that Russia was paying bounties. Danny said he believes the media coverage of foreign policy has gotten worse in recent times. They also discussed whether America learned the wrong lesson after the world wars and moved away from the model of citizen soldiers to one of "warriors."

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan discussed the recent decisions by the Supreme Court, the teetering economy as COVID-19 cases spike, and the international impact of the war drums beating on China.

GUESTS

Stephen Lendman - Author and Geopolitical Analyst | US/Russia/China Relationship

Daniel Lazare - Journalist, author of several books about the US Constitution and American urban policy | US' Disastrous International Response to COVID-19

Ben Swann - Award Winning Television News Anchor, investigative journalist, and a host on the program Boom Bust airing weekdays on RT America | Protests Demand Justice Amid COVID-19 & Big Pharma's Race To A Vaccine

In the first hour, Jamarl, in his monologue, traced the roots of the drug war back to the Nixon administration. Then the hosts talked to Steven Lendman and discussed the massive changes taking place in society in the past 10 years and whether they will lead to major changes in policy, such as reparations. They also discussed the possibility of war across the world as the United States is no longer a unipolar power.

In the second hour, Jamarl and Shane spoke to Daniel Lazare, who said that the historic legacy of racism doesn't just impact black people in America, but white people as well. They also discussed whether the Black Lives Matter movement has made a tactical mistake by exclusively focusing on black lives.

In the third hour, Jamarl and Shane talked to Ben Swann, who said he thinks Joe Biden may become the first person to run for president by simply hiding out, as President Trump seems to have lost touch with the disaffected American workers who were his base in 2016. They also discussed the danger to US industries due to America's debt load and the ramping up of tensions with China.

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked about a range of subjects, including the new revelations in the lawsuit brought against Christopher Steele, education, how the US economy will fare in a post-COVID-19 world, and the upcoming election.

Guests:

Ted Rall - Political Cartoonist & Syndicated Columnist | Sanders and the Trump Task Force

Alexander Mercouris - Editor-in-Chief at TheDuran.com | Steele Dossier Ruling

Marshall Auerback - Market Analyst and Writer for the Independent Media Institute | Offshoring and the Covid-19 Economy

Kim Iversen - Independent Journalist and Host of the Kim Iversen Show on YouTube | COVID-19 Lethality and Asymptomatic Spread

In the first hour, Jamarl's monologue touched on COVID-19, education, and media spin.

Then Jamarl and Shane were joined by Ted Rell, who said that he has concerns that the Trump task force is an attempt by Senators including Bernie Sanders to "sheepdog" progressive Democrats into voting for Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Ted said he agrees with many of Sanders' policies but that he sees this as a valid concern for progressives. They also discussed the possibility the economic collapse could cause the federal government to go bust.

In the second hour, the hosts spoke with Alexander Mercouris, who found several points in the UK High Court's ruling against ex-British spy Christoher Steele worthy of note, including the fact that Steele admitted to details concerning Vladimir Putin's dealings with Alfa Bank and that Steele admitted that he was aware he was working for the Democratic Party and specifically people connected to Hillary Clinton.

In the second hour, Marshall Auerback joined Jamarl and Shane to discuss how the US corporate practice of "offshoring" has led to a number of displacements in the United States economy. Citing Boeing as an example, Auerback pointed out the international consequences of the United States' trade policy and discussed with the hosts how this impacts the United States R&D capacity. Auerback also discussed why he thinks President Trump should propose locally-based public works programs.

In the third hour, the hosts talked to Kim Iversen about why she thinks it's vital for children to go back to school. Kim also discussed her addiction to Twitter, why she's left the platform, and the lack of media fact checking in the "Russian Bounties" story.

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Shane Stranahan talked about a variety of topics from the current spike in COVID-19 cases to innovative ways to fight climate change to game theory as it applies to our economy.

Guests:

Dr. Mikhail Kogan - Medical Director at the George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine | COVID Spike

Dr. Guy McPherson - Internationally Recognized Speaker, award-winning scientist, world’s leading authority on abrupt climate change | Dealing With Extreme Climate Change.

Scott Santens - Writer, full-time advocate for UNCONDITIONAL Basic Income (UBI) | Action to Save the Economy

In the first hour monologue, Jamarl Sounded alarm bells over President Trump's incorrect predictions on the COVID-19 pandemic and said he was putting economic interests over health.

Also in the first hour, Jamarl and Shane spoke with Dr. Mikhail Kogan, who said that a lot of people not only don't seem to take the virus seriously, but also are not implementing the recommended policies. He also said that summer heat doesn't seem to have continued to flatten the curve and predicted more restrictive measures will be put into place.

In the second hour, the hosts talked to leading climate change expert Dr. Guy McPherson, who discussed his long-term work as a climate scientist and said that it's been met largely with derision, plagiarism, and contempt. He also discussed a new project he's working on with a colleague from Harvard that involves using mirrors to reflect the sun's energy back and said he hoped the project would find funding.

In the third hour, the hosts talked to Unconditional Basic Income advocate Scott Santens, who discussed the need to stimulate spending as a way to combat the economic troubles created by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discussed the history of the game Monopoly, and Scott pointed out there is an alternative version called Prosperity that allowed everyone to win, something he said is a very different model then we use in our current economy.

On today's episode of Fault Lines, hosts Shane Stranahan and Jamarl Thomas talked about a variety of topics, including the latest news of UK sanctions on Russia, new annexations by Israel, and radicalism in West Virginia.

GUESTS

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 | Israeli Annexations and Sanctions

Alex Krainer - Author of The Grand Deception and Hedge Fund Manager | The Magnitsky Act & the Browder Hoax

Margaret Kimberley - Senior Columnist and Editor for Black Agenda Report | Big Media and Big War

Eleanor Goldfield - Award-winning Documentary Filmmaker, activist, journalist, and co-host of the podcast Common Censored | Radicalism and West Virginia

In his monologue, Jamarl grieved for Bernie Sanders' defeat and highlighted Sanders' comments on race.

Then Jamarl and Shane spoke to Miko Peled about Israel's history of annexation, including the Golan Heights, parts of Syria, and now areas of Jerusalem. They also talked about the effect this has on the day-to-day life of Palestinians and how the US could use financial leverage to end it if they chose to, but Milo described how the power of the Israeli lobby even extends to school books.

In the second hour, author Alex Krainer talked to Shane and Jamarl about the Magnitsky Act and how it works to provide an extrajudicial process that is helping to cover for powerful interests in the United States and the United Kingdom that were taking assets from Russia after the fall of Communism. Krainer said the latest sanctions from the UK are another example of using these sanctions to stop justice.

In the second hour, they talked to guest Margaret Kimberly, who explained how media consolidation under Bill Clinton has led to the promotion of narratives that are keeping Donald Trump engaged in endless war. She pointed out that Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, owns the Washington Post, which has been used to push CIA and other political establishment stories. She gave examples of how the Russiagate narrative, including the involvement of cyber security company Crowdstrike, has been pushed by the media outlets.

In the third hour, Shane and Jamarl spoke to Eleanor Goldfield about her documentary, Hard Road of Hope, a film about past and present radicalism in the resource colony of West Virginia. They also discussed race, radicals, and the recent protests across the country, as well as the environmental impact of energy production.