Fault Lines

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss the upcoming "vote of no-confidence" facing Theresa May after her Brexit deal was rejected yesterday in the House of Commons. How much longer will May hold on as Prime Minister, and how will the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union evolve moving forward?



Guests:

Ted Rall - Political Cartoonist & Syndicated Columnist | Are DC Democrats and Republicans Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Austin Petersen - Business Owner and Former Candidate for US Senate in Missouri | The Unending Shutdown and Which Democrat(s) CAN Win in 2020

Ben Garrison - Independent Political Cartoonist | Political Cartoonist Takes on Democrats and the Government Shutdown



While Republicans and Democrats are constantly rebuking each other in public, reality suggests that the two major parties actually agree on many major issues including foreign policy and defense spending. Political cartoonist and syndicated columnist Ted Rall joins the show to discuss what Washington DC-based Democrats and Republicans have in common, and why they oftentimes appear to lack ideological commitment on issues that the public finds important.

As the government shutdown continues to endure, the question lingers of whether President Trump or Congressional Democrats will blink first to end the current standoff. Former Senate candidate Austin Petersen returns to the program to talk about how he sees the shutdown coming to a close and to get his early thoughts on the 2020 Presidential race. Will "progressive" Democrats get a candidate they like or will an establishment moderate like Joe Biden rise to the top in a crowded field?

For the final segment, Garland and Lee are joined by independent political cartoonist Ben Garrison to hear his take on the government shutdown and current turmoil in Washington DC. Ben will also discuss some of the inspiration for his art and why he regularly loads his cartoons with a great deal of content and subtle references to separate his work from the pack.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's announcement to run for President and how her decision is being received thus far. While the DNC and Democratic establishment may view this as a potential headache, could public grassroots support turn Gabbard into a legitimate contender?



Guests:

Stephen Lendman - Writer and Geopolitical Analyst | Foreign Policy Round-Up & Early Thoughts on the 2020 Election

Niko House - Political Activist & Broadcast Journalist | Will the DNC Successfully Torpedo Tulsi Gabbard's Presidential Campaign?

DC McAllister - Cultural and Political Commentator | What's More Harmful: TOXIC Masculinity or a LACK of Masculinity?

Danny Sjursen - U.S. Army Officer and Former History Instructor at West Point | Will Trump Follow His Gut on Foreign Policy?



While the ongoing government shutdown remains the main focus of the American mainstream media, the Trump administration continues to have its hands full with foreign policy challenges. Geopolitical analyst Stephen Lendman returns to Fault Lines to discuss Venezuela, Iran, and Syria as well as to give his early thoughts on the current field of Democrats running for President in 2020.

Tulsi Gabbard jeopardized her political future with the Democratic Party when she endorsed Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic Primary. Political activist & broadcast journalist Niko House joins Garland and Lee to talk about Gabbard's prospects as a Presidential candidate in 2020 and the treatment she can expect to receive from the DNC given their tense relationship.

The American Psychological Association recently released a document entitled: GUIDELINES for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. These standards are critical of certain masculine traits in boys suggesting that these traits are often harmful to society and should be dealt with clinically. Cultural commentator DC McAllister finds these standards to be both counterproductive and dangerous, and she will detail her views on this topic to the hosts on today's program.

For the final segment, Garland and Lee are joined by US Army Officer Danny Sjursen to discuss the overall sustainability of America's current foreign policy and the Washington DC establishment's appetite for perpetual war. Will President Trump draw back forces around the globe as he has shown a desire to do, or will John Bolton and others continue to lead the administration down the road of a hawkish global agenda?

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss the ongoing efforts to enforce censorship standards and reduce the influence of alternative media on the internet. Is the future of high-quality journalism in jeopardy, and will non-traditional media outlets continue to be squeezed out of the market moving forward?



Guests:

Andrei Nekrasov - Writer and Director of the film, 'The Magnitsky Act. Behind the Scenes' | Continuing to Analyze the Bill Browder & Magnitsky Saga

Whitney Webb - Staff Writer at Mint Press News | How a NeoCon-Backed “Fact Checker” Plans to Wage War on Independent Media

Tom Luongo - Geopolitical Analyst and Publisher of the Gold Goats 'n Guns Newsletter | Is a "Yellow Vest" Debt Crisis Coming in France?



Both Alex Krainer and Lucy Komisar joined Garland and Lee on yesterday's show to discuss the details of the Magnitsky Act and Bill Browder's successful manipulation of the western media. Film director Andrei Nekrasov joins today's program to expand on the segments with Krainer/Komisar and to provide his personal expertise about the Magnitsky saga.

A little known organization named 'NewsGuard' appears to be headed to the forefront of efforts to silence alternative media and enforce censorship standards online. MintPressNews staff writer Whitney Webb recently wrote a detailed article about this story and the purpose of 'NewsGuard' which she will discuss with the hosts on today's show.

The 'Yellow Vest' movement in France has been a major headache for French President Emmanuel Marcon which he is still attempting to manage. Geopolitical analyst Tom Luongo returns to the program to discuss the political turmoil in France and the likelihood that Macron's actions could bring about a debt crisis.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan take an in-depth look at the genesis of the Magnitsky Act and how it has been subsequently covered by various media entities. Experts Alex Krainer and Lucy Komisar both join today's show to add their knowledge and understanding about the Magnitsky affair to this conversation.



Guests:

Alex Krainer - Author of "Grand Deception: The Browder Hoax" | Understanding the Genesis and Purpose of the Magnitsky Act

Lucy Komisar - Investigative Journalist who Focuses on Corporate and Financial Corruption | Discussing the Bill Browder/Magnitsky Saga

Annette Bosworth M.D. - Internal Medicine Physician & Author | What Happened to those New Year's Resolutions... Dr. Boz's Top Tips for 2019!

John F O’Donnell - Political Corespondent on 'Redacted Tonight' | Political Comedy and Modern Outrage Culture



The recent indictment of Natalia Veselnitskaya has brought reporting about the Magnitsky Act back into the mainstream media news cycle. Hedge fund manager and author Alex Krainer has written one of the definitive books about the Magnitsky Act and the narrative that has been sold by Bill Browder. Krainer joins Garland and Lee on today's show to discuss the ultimate purpose of the Magnitsky Act and why Browder has been successful in manipulating how western media reports on this story.

Following up on their conversation with Alex Krainer, the hosts are joined by investigative journalist Lucy Komisar to talk more about the facts of the Magnitsky affair and what she has learned during her time investigating the story and the words/actions of Bill Browder. Who actually uncovered fraud in the Magnitsky case, and why haven't more journalists gone to the original documents to understand the truth of the Magnitsky case?

We are now over a week into 2019, and many people have already slipped up with their New Years Resolutions. Annette Bosworth aka Dr. Boz returns to Fault Lines to give her top tips for starting the New Year off right which includes taking small incremental steps towards improvement rather than trying to do too much at a time.

For the final segment, John F. O'Donnell, a political correspondent with the show Redacted Tonight, joins Garland and Lee to discuss the state of comedy and how the industry has changed in recent years. Has outrage culture altered comedy for the worse, and is there a potential whiplash effect coming due to frustration with political correctness targeting comedians?

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss the circumstances behind the "obstruction of justice" charge recently filed against Natalia Veselnitskaya in US Federal Court. What are the details surrounding this charge, and is this a politically motivated indictment related to the "Russiagate" probe?



Guests:

Susan Pai - Immigration Attorney | What did Trump ACTUALLY Say in his Oval Office Address?

Jim Kunstler - Author, Public Speaker, and Social Critic | The Evolving US Economy & The Circus on Capitol Hill

Kani Xulam - Commentator on the History and Politics of Kurdistan | What do the Kurds REALLY Think About a US Pullout from Syria?



Last night, President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office about the ongoing government shutdown and his hopes for the construction of a wall on America's southern border. Immigration attorney Susan Pai joins Garland and Lee on today's show to break down Trump's remarks and how it will impact the shutdown battle in Washington DC moving forward.

The US economy is constantly evolving, and this has brought financial hardship to several industries and communities across the country. Author and social critic Jim Kunstler joins Fault Lines to discuss how this process will continue to reshape the American economy in the coming years and to talk about why he refers to the current situation in DC as a circus where things are regularly done just for show and political purposes.

For the final segment, Garland and Lee are joined by Kani Xulam, a commentator about Kurdish politics, for a conversation about the US withdrawal of forces from Syria and the impact it will have on the Middle East. What are the Kurdish people looking for from the US government, and how will this complicated situation play out as American influence lessens in the region?

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss the ongoing government shutdown and their expectations for tonight's Oval Office address by President Trump. Will the President announce major unilateral action regarding the Southern Border, and could this lead to the lengthy shutdown soon coming to its conclusion?



Guests:

John Hoge - Author & Blogger at Hogewash.com | Alabama Election Interference: Links to Brett Kimberlin

Elbert Guillory - Former State Senator from Louisiana | Border WALL Showdown: Who in DC Blinks First?

Jim Jatras - Government and Media Relations Specialist | Ukranian Orthodox Church Moves to Separate from Russia

William Craddick - Founder of Disobedient Media | British Intelligence Infiltrates 'Voice of Europe'



Recent reporting has revealed that there were Democratic political operatives engaged in deceptive activities during the 2017 Alabama Senate Special Election between Doug Jones and Roy Moore. Author John Hoge has been following this story and made a connection to Brett Kimberlin aka "The Speedway Bomber" which he will explore further with Garland and Lee on today's program.

The government shutdown has reached its 18th day, and President Trump will address the nation tonight from the Oval Office about the status of the shutdown and funding for his proposed southern border wall. Elbert Guillory, a former State Senator from Louisiana, joins today's show to talk about both the current gridlock in Washington DC and his expectations for President Trump's upcoming address.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has moved to separate itself from Russia furthering the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine. Government and Media Relations Specialist Jim Jatras joins Garland and Lee to discuss this story and the influence that the US government may have had throughout this process.

For the final segment, the hosts are joined by William Craddick, founder of DisobedientMedia.com, to discuss his recent article about intelligence officials infiltrating the 'Voice of Europe' media outlet. How pervasive has the infiltration of media organizations by security services and intel agencies become, and why has independent media been slow to cover this important story?

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss how President Trump's desire to bring troops home from around the world faces major resistance from the political establishment. Will Trump actually withdraw from Syria and elsewhere, or is the DC foreign policy apparatus too powerful even for the sitting President?



Guests:

Medea Benjamin - Co-Founder of Code Pink | The US-Egypt Partnership & 18-Year-Old Saudi Woman Refuses to Return to the Kingdom...

Kit Klarenberg - Investigative Journalist w/ Sputnik News | The Integrity Initiative: The Spread of Propaganda & A Look Back at the Skripal Saga

Ali Alexander - Conservative Strategist and Philosopher | Censorship Watch: Prominent Republican Political Influencer BANNED from Twitter

James Carey - Editor at GeoPolitics Alert | Will Erdogan/Turkey Get More Aggressive in Syria?

Patrick Henningsen - Journalist & Founder of: 21stCenturyWire.com | Is Trump Prepared to Take on the #DeepState Foreign Policy Hawks?



An 18-year-old Saudi woman has caused an international stir by barricading herself in a hotel room in Thailand while seeking asylum from what she has referred to as family abuse. Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin returns to Fault Lines to discuss both the details surrounding this story and the complicated strategic relationship between the United States and Egypt which is currently under the leadership of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Modern-day propaganda and information warfare is often conducted in a covert and non-transparent manner, and the story surrounding the UK's Integrity Initiative is a prime example of this in action. Kit Klarenberg, an investigative journalist with Sputnik News returns to the program to talk more about the Integrity Initiative and its methods for promoting specific narratives and takes on world events.

Concerns about censorship on social media continue to rise as several prominent individuals have now been banned from various platforms. Conservative strategist Ali Alexander is the most recent figure to be targeted as he was recently hit with a 'Permanent Ban' from Twitter. Alexander joins Garland and Lee on today's program to talk about the details of his 'Twitter Ban' and to discuss how this troubling trend of political censorship continues to gain steam inside of major Silicon Valley tech companies.

The possibility of the US removing forces from Syria could be viewed by Turkey's President Erdogan as an opportunity to increase his influence and control inside of Syria. James Carey, editor at GeoPoliticsAlert.com, joins the show to talk about the relationship between Turkey and Syria and how Erdogan can be expected to proceed in the coming months.

For the final segment, the hosts are joined by Patrick Henningsen, journalist & founder of 21stCenturyWire.com for a conversation about the direction of US foreign policy. Will Trump's Syria announcement begin to reverse course on America's war policies, or will the foreign policy hawks such as John Bolton prevent this change in strategic approach from taking serious hold?

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss the swearing-in of the 116th Congress including Nancy Pelosi's return to her former position as Speaker of the House. When will President Trump and this new Congress bring the government shutdown to a close, and will any funding for Trump's wall be included in a deal?



Guests:

Danny Max - Morning News Anchor in Santa Barbara | Gavin Newsom's Vision for California & Pelosi/McCarthy's Power in DC

Jamie Lovegrove [In-Studio] - Political Reporter for the Post and Courier | Yesterday's Scene on Capitol Hill & The Major Players in South Carolina Politics

Mark Sleboda - Moscow-Based International Relations & Security Analyst | Espionage in Russia? - What We Know So Far



California's incoming governor, Gavin Newsom, is expected to put forth an extremely progressive agenda which will further cement the state as a major hub for leftwing politics inside of the United States. Additionally, Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy will be leading their respective caucuses in the House of Representatives which gives California two major Congressional leaders in Washington DC. Santa Barbara-based news anchor Danny Max joins the show to discuss these stories and the state of California politics as we kick off 2019.

Yesterday, South Carolina-based political reporter Jamie Lovegrove was on Capitol Hill to cover the events surrounding the swearing-ins for members of the 116th Congress. Today, Jamie joins Garland and Lee in-studio to recap what he observed yesterday on The Hill and to talk about the importance of South Carolina's main political figures such as Mick Mulvaney, Lindsey Graham, and Nikki Haley.

For the final segment, security analyst Mark Sleboda returns to the show to discuss the story of Paul Whelan, who was recently arrested and accused of engaging in espionage inside of Russia. What are the major details surrounding Whelan's circumstances, and how is this situation being reported on by both American and Russian media outlets?

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss their hopes and expectations for the incoming Congress which will be sworn-in to office later today. How will Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats maneuver, and what decisions will take priority for their party as they seek to impact the agenda in Washington DC?



Guests:

Dr. Bosworth - Internal Medicine Physician & Author | Dr. Boz's Canada Trip - How to Survive in the Freezing Cold!

Jim Hoft - Founder of the Gateway Pundit | Censorship and Political Bias from Google News

Dave Collum - Professor of Organic Chemistry at Cornell | 2018 - The Year EVERYTHING Changed...

Dr. Bill Honigman - Emergency Room Doctor & Progressive Healthcare Activist | New Freshman Class Set to Shake Up Congress



Regular Fault Lines guest Dr. Bosworth recently travelled far up north into Canada to view the 'Northern Lights' and experienced dangerously cold temperatures in the process. She joins Garland and Lee on today's show to discuss the health risks associated with extremely cold temperatures and the keys to keeping one's body functioning properly while spending extended time in these conditions.

'Google News' has rejected an application from the conservative website, TheGatewayPundit.com, to be included in its aggregated news search results. Jim Hoft, the website's founder, joins the hosts on today's show to discuss this decision by Google, Hoft's efforts to increase traffic to his site, and the growing problem of political censorship coming from Silicon Valley.

Overall, 2018 was a tumultuous year for the American political system as President Trump regularly clashed with both Congress and the mainstream media. Cornell professor Dave Collum returns to the show to discuss his extensive 'Year-End Review' document which includes topics such as the global debt bubble and job prospects for young adults and future generations.

For the final segment, Garland and Lee are joined by former emergency room physician Dr. Bill Honigman for a conversation about their expectations for the new Congress and the likelihood that they will pursue impeachment against President Trump. Additionally, they will discuss healthcare and how they expect the issue to be debated and dealt with in the coming months.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan begin the new year by taking an early look at the 2020 Presidential race as the federal government remains shutdown. Senator Elizabeth Warren put forth her presidential ambitions and Mitt Romney launched an attack on President Trump as the political season again kicks into action.



Guests:

Piers Robinson - Chair in Politics, Society and Political Journalism at The University of Sheffield | The Integrity Initiative: Disinformation & Propaganda In-Action

Niko House - Political Activist & Broadcast Journalist | 2020 Presidential Politics: Off and Running with... Elizabeth Warren...

Ryan Cristián - Founder and Editor of The Last American Vagabond | Syria and American Foreign Policy at the Start of 2019




More details continue to be revealed about the shadowy organization known as the Integrity Initiative and some of the media personnel with which they associate. University of Sheffield professor Piers Robinson joins Garland and Lee to discuss some of the latest revelations in this story about covert disinformation and propaganda being promoted by powerful, politically connected entities.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren announced that she is forming an exploratory committee for the 2020 Presidential Election which effectively makes her the first major candidate to take this step on the Democratic side of the aisle. Political activist & broadcast journalist Niko House returns to Fault Lines to give his take on Warren's early move and if she will be a serious contender in the coming primary battle facing Democrats.

To close out the show, the hosts are joined by Ryan Cristián, founder and editor of The Last American Vagabond for a conversation about the direction of American foreign policy at the beginning of 2019. How will Trump's decisions for Syria change the situation in the Middle East and could Israel take major military action which would further alter the calculus of the Trump administration in the region?