Political Misfits

Former US diplomat and former senior foreign policy advisor Jim Jatras joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the failure to stop escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, whether any of Israel’s goals can be achieved by military action in Lebanon, how the conflict could continue to spread, the difficulty in getting any foreign policy iconoclasts elected or confirmed to office, the House speaker calling for Ukraine’s ambassador to the US to be fired, and Trump’s calls to lift sanctions on Russia and Iran.

Technologist and cohost of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast Chris Garaffa discusses OpenAI abandoning non-profit status, the departure of notable figures from the AI company over concerns about an erosion of safety guidelines, OpenAI’s reported proposal to build massive data centers across the US, the energy requirements of all this technology, and a new FTC report on the data collection and use practices of social media companies in general.

Editor of The Polemicist Jim Kavanagh discusses the FBI raid on the New York City mayor’s residence, the felony charges that Erid Adams faces, the passage of a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown before the November election, abortion as a campaign issue, whether GOP candidate Donald Trump is serious about ending sanctions on Russia and Iran and ending the conflict in Ukraine immediately, the defamation suit facing Newsmax, why presidential polling in Florida is so close, and how CNN and the Anti-Defamation League are attempting to walk back their accusations of anti-semitism against Representative Rashida Tlaib without actually apologizing.

The Misfits also discuss the romantic life of Tesla founder Elon Musk and an update on the case against Bad Boy Records founder Sean Combs.

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Adjunct professor and former general counsel of the NAACP Kim Keenan joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the role of Wisconsin as a bellwether deciding the presidential race, more efforts by the Republican Party to make it more difficult to vote, whether GOP candidate Donald Trump has ever been “on message,” and the sex trafficking and RICO charges against Sean Combs.

Scholar, journalist, and geopolitical analyst specializing in the Asia-Pacific KJ Noh discusses an intercontinental ballistic missile test by China, the strange Quad Summit held by US President Joe Biden at his house and former high school in Delaware, Biden's attempts to block Chinese-developed software, and the implications of a billion-dollar initiative to propagate anti-China propaganda overseas.

Author and West Coast Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition Richard Becker discusses the escalation of violence between Israel and Lebanon, whether Israel’s strategy to preventatively weaken Hezbollah can work, whether Israel can maintain a two-front war, how to understand Iran’s strategy, how to interpret Israel’s ongoing destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, reports that the secretary of state himself overrode the conclusion of two separate agencies that Israel has been illegally blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, and where the war in Ukraine is headed.

The Misfits also discuss the controversial Missouri execution of Marcellus Williams, internal polling among Teamsters members on their support for the two leading presidential candidates, and misguided advice for how the US can keep up with China in the developing world.

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Author and Co-founder of progressive media organization Status Coup Jordan Chariton joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss latest on presidential election polling in swing states, a real assessment of where Black and Latino voters prioritize as voting issues, whether former President Donald Trump’s political instincts are misfiring, what efforts to pressure individual states on their electoral college systems say about US democracy as a whole, California’s lawsuit against ExxonMobil saying the oil industry lied about plastic being recyclable, whether Vice President Kamala Harris' media strategy is failing, why environmental pollution isn’t a bigger topic in US politics, whether the extent of contamination in East Palestine is being covered up, and why CNN can get away with fabricating quotes by members of Congress.

International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda discusses Israel’s increased attacks on Lebanon, the US moving more troops to the Middle East, what to expect from Israel if Iran continues not to join in the escalation of conflict, whether the US has quietly relaxed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons, how YouTube is silencing dissent, and why the US is extending its censorship operations beyond its own borders.

Organizer for Artists Against Apartheid and guitarist of Eve6 Jon Siebels discusses the connections between corporate control in the music industry and patterns of abuse within it, how artists’ income streams have changed over the decades, the control that LiveNation monopolies wield over artists, and how this control fosters censorship and manipulation.

The Misfits also discuss the sentencing of Caroline Ellison as a key witness for the Bankman-Fried trial, a federal inquiry into the NYC mayor's foreign ties, and some strange new promises by GOP candidate Donald Trump.

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Former Senior Security Policy Analyst for the US Secretary of Defense Mike Maloof joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the rapid escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, whether Israel’s stated goal of forcing Hezbollah to give up is reasonable, where Hezbollah is likely to take the fight next, whether to expect Iran’s government or Iraqi or Syrian militias to get involved, why Israel has raided the offices of Al Jazeera in the West Bank and the state of press freedom in Israe.

Immigrant activist and founder of La Resistencia Maru Mora Villalpando discusses a report claiming that hundreds of US border officers are under investigation for alleged crimes and misconduct, what these officers are accused of, whether this speaks to a greater systemic issue among border patrol staff, who is tasked with overseeing both Customs and Border Patrol and the private organizations they hire, and the impact of recent immigration restrictions put in place by President Joe Biden.

Political consultant and political organizer Donna Davis discusses the most recent polling on the president race, why Vice President Kamala Harris isn’t gaining more ground, what the Democrats would learn if they spoke to Black male voters, why the controversy surrounding right-wing North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson following the discovery of inflammatory old internet comments is likely to blow over, why Democrats can’t connect with their electorate, Congress kicking the budget question can down the road until December, and how the electoral makeup has changed in the Midwest over recent years.

Founder of Ballot Access News Richard Winger discusses the historic rate of legal challenges to minor party candidates this year, why Democrats are so much more aggressive in trying to keep minor parties off ballots, how minor parties are hobbled by more restrictions on their time and money than the Democratic and Republican parties, and why ballot access is actually more restricted for lower offices than for the presidency.

The Misfits also discuss more raids on the homes of New York City officials and why Joe Biden is holding state meetings at his Delaware home.

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Belfast-based political commentator and socialist activist Phil Kelly discusses Germany’s decision to impose new border controls within the EU’s passport-free zone, what this means for the dream of a united Europe, what to expect from this weekend’s vote in Brandenburg, why calling the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance “Putinist” isn’t working to slow down the party’s rise in Germany, French President Emmanuel Macron snatching victory from the left alliance that won Parliamentary elections this summer, the EU recognizing Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuela’s president, and how to view Western warnings about “dangerous” Chinese technology after Israel’s attack using pagers in Lebanon.

Board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist Dr. Yolandra Hancock discusses the reevaluation of shaken baby syndrome, what can be done to ensure innocent parents aren’t accused of abusing their children when they present with certain injuries, who tends to be accused of abuse and what the available data shows about abuse prevalence, and how reforming our medical system would help prevent false accusations.

International human rights activist, political analyst and National Organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace Ajamu Baraka discusses the importance of union endorsements in this presidential campaign, why the Democratic nominee isn’t sweeping up every union endorsement, whether the US insistence on maintaining the anti-democratic Electoral College means the 2024 election will end up before the Supreme Court, the impact of third parties on this year’s election, outrageous comments by Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Mark Robinson, whether Robinson’s comments will drag down former President Donald Trump, whether Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign will suffer because of its lack of transparency on policy and with the media, why there are so few gestures to working people in this campaign, anti-migrant rhetoric in the campaign, and the ongoing budget fight.

The Misfits also discuss Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s feud with Vanderbuilt Professor Michael Eric Dyson, and this week’s News of the Weird, including a near-fatal food fight.

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Cohost of The Final Countdown Ted Rall joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and Ben Zinevich to discuss the ongoing dispute between media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his family over who will helm the Murdoch empire after he passes, how wealthy families and corporations unilaterally control major newsrooms and whether there is a more democratic way of structuring mass media. They also discuss how the US created a reality in which would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh could claim to have access to desperate Afghan soldiers.

Syrian-American journalist with The Grayzone Hekmat Aboukhater discusses Israel’s "new phase" of its war in Gaza, how US politics might have influenced the shift, what to expect from Lebanon in response to the widespread electronic attacks this week, where to look in investigating a possible supply chain incursion that allowed the devices to be tampered with, why the impact on Syria has been muted, and what will come next as the Saudi crown prince reiterates that there will be no recognition of Israel without a Palestinian state.

Economist, radio show host and author Dr. Jack Rasmus discusses the Federal Reserve’s half-point interest rate cut, new polling in the presidential race, the Teamsters declining to endorse either major presidential candidate, the failure of a stopgap measure to fund the government through the election, and a ballot measure in California that evokes the era of ‘three strikes, you’re out.”

Professor of communications and author Dr. Jared Ball discusses legendary rapper and activist Chuck joining forces with YouTube and the State Department as a "global music ambassador," how the State Department is using music and culture to soften its image abroad, how the culture of Black America in particular is used to project an image of the US that is increasingly distant from reality, and how foreign-facing projects reinforce propaganda at home.

The Misfits also discuss who Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might meet with during UN proceedings next week and the arrest of an Alaskan man for threatening the lives of Supreme Court justices.

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Former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning correspondent Jon Jeter joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the likelihood of a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown prior to this year’s presidential election, how Congress may navigate this budget question, how both Democrats and Republicans have furthered threats to democracy, Vice President Kamala Harris’ performance with the National Association of Black Journalists yesterday, the pressure by Washington to shut down media that covers Africa transparently, and the draconian charges against activists opposed to the creation of a “Cop City” in Atlanta.

Labor attorney, human rights activist and author Daniel Kovalik discusses his detainment by US Customs after visiting Venezuela; what needs to happen in the US to prevent the border from being used as a rights-free zone; what 30,000 workers at Boeing are striking to achieve; why the US seems so unwilling to regulate or punish Boeing properly; a “tense” meeting between the Teamsters leadership and Kamala Harris; and the wave of pager explosions across Lebanon that killed a dozen but injured thousands.

Technologist and cohost of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast Chris Garaffa discusses how yesterday’s attack on the people of Lebanon was achieved at a technological level, how Israel might be able to use the attack to collect more surveillance data on Hezbollah, why this attack is more properly viewed as terrorism than a typical action of war, and whether the US was aware of Israel’s plans.

The Misfits also discuss Google dodging a massive EU fine, a US lawsuit against the owner of the ship responsible for the Baltimore bridge collapse earlier this year, and a diplomatic snafu.

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International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss how Ryan Routh, the latest man to possibly threaten former President Donald Trump, came to be so passionate about the war in Ukraine and to be treated seriously by the US mainstream media. He discusses the general delusion in Western media about the war, as well as new accusations that Ukraine’s Kursk incursion was entirely the Ukrainian president’s idea, why US military packages for Ukraine are shrinking, and what to make of the Wall Street Journal’s assessment that the war has resulted in a million casualties.

Veteran FBI special agent and renowned whistleblower Jane Turner discusses how Ryan Routh was able to get close to Donald Trump with a weapon, why the Secret Service wouldn’t have noticed a man lying in the bushes of Trump’s golf club for 12 hours, and why Routh wasn’t on the FBI’s radar as a threat. She also discusses the State Department’s latest attacks on RT, why it was the Department of Homeland Security to arrest Sean Combs, how Combs should be treated while awaiting trial, and what kind of time the music mogul could be facing.

Writer and journalist Dan Lazare discusses the latest election polling and whether that makes predicting November’s presidential election results any easier, whether the true support for Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is being captured, how the potential for more chaos in Ukraine and Gaza might affect the contest, Trump’s complaints that the threats against him aren’t being taken seriously, the Ohio community facing bomb threats as a result of being dragged into the campaign, the appointment of a new European Commission cabinet, and the corruption scandal embroiling New York City.

The Misfits also discuss reports asking whether Israel is intentionally targeting aid workers, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political crisis, and a norovirus outbreak in Hawaii.

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*Meta is banned in Russia as an extremist organization.

Scholar, journalist, and geopolitical analyst of the Asia-Pacific KJ Noh joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the sanctions announced Friday on Sputnik and RT’s parent organizations, whether the sanctions are truly about espionage and money laundering or about politics, and how the US has no problem obscuring its own influence operations targeting China.

Author, political scientist and host of the American Exception podcast Aaron Good discusses what is being investigated as a second assassination attempt against Donald Trump, this crime’s place in historical context, the suspect’s strange political background, whether a second assassination attempt means that anything more is afoot than unwell people wanting to commit violence, and why the US hasn’t seen more presidential assassination attempts in recent years.

Retired Army colonel and retired State Department official Ann Wright discusses a successful attack on Israel by the Ansar Allah government in Yemen, why Israel is protesting arrest warrants not yet issued by the International Criminal Court for its officials, the significance of reported plans by the US to finally withdraw troops from Iraq, and how the government of Turkiye has responded to the death of one of its citizens at the hands of the IDF.

Founder and executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center Paul Wright discusses an unconstitutional search of a female visitor by corrections officers at a California prison, how such searches are used to discourage visiting, the scheduled execution of a man who has been excluded as a suspect for the murder he was convicted of, why there seems to be no mechanism for overriding legal processes when they have come to the wrong conclusion, the frequency with which the US nearly executes innocent people, and how both main parties have embraced the death penalty.

The Misfits also discuss some of the many organizations founded by Ryan Routh, suspected of trying to assassinate Donald Trump, as well as some more high-profile resignations in New York City and why the US Congress hasn’t passed a budget bill yet.

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Author, political scientist, and host of the American Exception podcast Dr. Aaron Good joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss why the US Justice Department goes so overboard in targeting groups like Uhuru, who are accused of process crimes but are clearly no danger to American society. He also discusses historical and contemporary weaponization of the Department of Justice and the indictment of a John Doe presumably in Iran for an alleged hack and dump attack on former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

Author, writer, and environmental organizer Tina Landis discuss the fires raging in California currently, how this fire season compares to other years, how climate change play a role in increased frequency of fires, insurance companies abandoning victims of fire damage, ways in which activists are calling for the public ownership of private energy companies, and the Amazon deforestation crisis and what Brazil’s government is calling for as a solution.

Author, and former senior Pentagon security policy analyst Michael Maloof discusses whether the US will decide to allow Ukraine to use foreign-supplied missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory, what to expect from Russia if this comes to pass, Russia expelling six British diplomats, and what’s wrong with the US Navy, which has been routed in the Red Sea and seems to be in the middle of a manpower and discipline crisis.

President of Healthy California Now and longtime nurses union organizer Michael Lighty discuss the persistence of racial bias in medical diagnostic tools, why it’s so difficult to leave inaccurate race-based assessments behind, better ways to predict medical outcomes, and whether the structure of US health care system helps perpetuate inaccurate race-based tools.

The Misfits also discuss this week’s News of the Weird, including a groundhog sneaking into an arcade claw machine, and a splenectomy that failed to find a spleen.

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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