Political Misfits

Robert Hockett, Cornell University professor of law and public policy, joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss this week’s inflation figures, why the cost of rent and utilities rose faster last year than the value of homes, how the US housing market came to be so distorted and what might solve the problem, how post-2008 proposals to strengthen regulations for the biggest banks came to be so watered down, and whether the FTC is correct to challenge a massive proposed grocery store merger.

Syrian American journalist with The Grayzone Hekmat Aboukhater discusses why the US has given Egypt a human rights waiver to enable Cairo to get US weapons, Egypt’s role in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, how to understand recent Israeli attacks on Syria, the role of Gulf states in influencing Syrian policy, how the US presidential election figures into the trajectory of the current war in Gaza and the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and Israel’s strange new offers to Hamas.

Former US diplomat and former senior foreign policy advisor Jim Jatras discusses the continued fallout from this week's presidential debate, whether former President Donald Trump helped or hurt himself against Vice President Kamala Harris, how the terms “Marxist” and “socialist” are being used in the race, an update on Senate races, and a new fight brewing over the federal budget that’s renewing fears of a government shutdown before the election.

Deputy director at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration Abe Paulos discusses the topic of Haitian immigration to the US, why the right wing is attacking Haitian migrants ahead of the presidential election, what the federal government could be doing to make large-scale migration to certain population centers smoother, and the double standard for whiter immigrant populations like Ukrainians.

The Misfits also discuss the resignation of the head of the New York City Police Department and the NSA’s new podcast.

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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International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss Ukraine’s drone attack inside Russia this week, how to understand US and UK policy regarding how Ukraine is allowed to use their weapons, what’s driving Kiev to try to take land inside Russia, how the US attempts to justify its interference in other countries’ trade, and whether US-provided F-16s will change the calculus of Ukrainian forces at this stage in the conflict.

Critical medical anthropologist Adrienne Pine discusses warnings by Honduran President Xiomara Castro about the threat of another coup in Honduras, how Castro’s government is acting on the lessons of the US-backed 2009 coup in Honduras, how the US attitude toward Venezuela is connected to Washington's view of the Honduran government, and how the US uses drug trafficking indictments to apply political pressure to governments it dislikes.

Editor of the Polemicist Jim Kavanagh discusses last night’s presidential debate, including who won and who lost, whether listeners learned anything more about the candidates’ positions and plans for voters’ top issues, and whether either candidate will walk away from the event with more votes. He also discusses former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s appearance before Congress to defend his policies during the Covid-19 pandemic

Professor of English Literature and Orientalism Mohammad Marandi discusses the Iranian president’s visit to Iraq, how Iran’s relationship with Iraq has evolved, reports that the US and Iraq have come to an agreement for US troops to withdraw from the country, the state of the economy of Iran, and whether US sanctions have been successful in their goal of crippling the country.

The Misfits also discuss mining companies acknowledging the native right to the land they extract resources from and the quiet closure of Prince Harry’s visa case.

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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Writer and journalist Daniel Lazare joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss what to expect from this evening’s presidential debate between GOP candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, how Republican culture wars drag the party down, the class signals of the Harris campaign, the likelihood of a government shutdown weeks before the election, what to make of investigations into a number of high New York City officials, and why Republicans and Democrats are talking about creating a sovereign wealth fund..

Managing editor of Covert Action Magazine and the author Jeremy Kuzmarov discusses US accusations that Iran is selling missiles to Russia, the US insistence that it can decide what trade is allowable and what is against the rules, what short range missiles might be useful for in the Ukraine conflict, why the US and UK foreign ministers are heading to Kiev, and the announcement of joint military exercises between Russia and China.

Canadian author and activist Yves Engler discusses Israel’s latest strike on the al Mawasi “safer” zone in southern Gaza; Washington’s latest “demands” of Israel and whether stern words will ever be matched with any real pressure; whether remarks by Israel’s defense minister that Hamas is destroyed as a military unit could presage the end of the war in Gaza; how the cozy relationships between intelligence services, the military, and the press affects the quality of journalism; and the role of academia in propping up the “rules-based international order.”

Editor of the English Section of Haiti Liberte Kim Ives discusses the recent visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Haiti, whether Blinken’s supposedly congratulatory visit was in fact an attempt to quell a crisis in the transition government, whether more countries are going to join the deployment of Kenyan police in Haiti as promised, and what the transition government in Port-au-Prince has achieved so far.

The Misfits also discuss GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance walking back accusations that Haitian migrants are eating people’s pets and a default judgment against music mogul Sean Combs.

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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Spokesperson for Black Hive and radio show host Anthony Rogers Wright joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the worrying poll numbers for Vice President Kamala Harris as she catches but hasn’t passed GOP candidate Donald Trump, why this race looks more like the 2016 contest than that of 2020, what effect Tuesday’s debate is likely to have on the race, a new report on the US withdrawal of Afghanistan, Trump's remarks he'd lock up opponents if he wins, and whether Congress is yet again hurtling toward another government shutdown.

Author and West Coast Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition Richard Becker discusses why international law doesn’t seem to figure into the “rules-based order” espoused by the US, increasing Israeli raids in the West Bank including an IDF sniper killing an American citizen, why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject ceasefire deals, why the UK and US intelligence chiefs held an unprecedented public event recently, the crisis continuing in Sudan and lack of international response, and the smug interview given by Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland where she essentially admitted US' role in sabotaging a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine a month into the operation.

Swiss banking industry whistleblower Brad Birkenfeld discusses a series of gaffes at the Bureau of Labor Statistics that are leading to greater questions about its accuracy and impartiality, and the US setting up a money transfer system to get funds to Iraq that lacked even basic security checks for decades and appears to have facilitated massive fraud.

The Misfits also discuss a social media uproar in Springfield, Ohio; the American obsession with celebrities’ politics’, and a strange new human case of bird flu.

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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Scholar, journalist and Asia-Pacific analyst KJ Noh discusses new sanctions evasion charges against a former government advisor on Russia, why it seems only people who are able to live outside the US are facing these Russiagate linked charges, why US media can’t accept support for China by Chinese Americans as genuine, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s first remarks since his arrest and indictment in France, this week’s summit in Beijing between China and dozens of African nations, and how China’s military training in Africa supports its political and trade relationship with the continent.

English-language Brazil correspondent for TeleSur Brian Mier discusses the battle between Elon Musk and the Brazilian government after Brazil banned his social media site, what the accounts Musk is defending did to run afoul of Brazilian authorities, why Brazil has frozen the assets of Starlink to pressure X, and the role Starlink plays in Brazilian communications.

Labor attorney, human rights activist, and author Daniel Kovalik discusses whether second degree murder charges for the father of a school shooter are appropriate, polling in presidential and Senate races in Florida and Montana, which presidential candidate will get the endorsement of the Teamsters, why so many law enforcement organizations are endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, whether his inconsistency on abortion will cost former President Donald Trump the election, why Trump’s sentencing in his New York hush money trial has been delayed, whether threats to block the sale of US Steel to Nippon Steel were all a negotiating tactic, and what Israel has done in its ongoing raid on parts of the West Bank.

Author and founding member of the Critical Media Literacy Conference of the Americas Nolan Higdon discusses his new book on the proliferation of educational technology in schools. He argues that the effectiveness of these technologies is far from proven, but what is sure is that these devices are harvesting data from the children that use them, and that no online or tech service is actually “free” - we are paying with our data and the insights predatory companies gain into our lives and desires.

The Misfits also discuss this week’s News of the Weird, including a gluttonous eagle and a teenage medical assistant.

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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Political consultant and organizer Donna Davis joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss why Democrats are spending time and money on Florida, whether abortion is going to be a galvanizing issue in that state, why former President Donald Trump is avoiding blue states, whether Republicans should be playing chicken with Democrats over a budget shutdown, whether disparaging Native Americans will affect candidate Tim Sheehy’s chances in the Montana Senate race, why so many polls show Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in a dead heat, and whether inexperience in the Democratic campaign apparatus is going to hinder its successes.

International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda discusses the cabinet shuffle in Ukraine, what unites who’s out and who’s in, why the Biden administration had protected certain cabinet members for so long, and why the US and the EU are at odds over a $50 billion loan for Ukraine.

Belfast-based political commentator and socialist activist Phil Kelly discusses the scathing report on the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire that left 72 people dead, the regulatory failures that led to the mass casualty event, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's speech describing his country's "deep rot," the crackdown on Palestinian human rights activists in the United Kingdom, and the political chaos in France as President Emmanuel Macron continues to attempt to subvert the democratically expressed will of the French people.

The Misfits also discuss a new White House memoir, record fundraising by Kamala Harris’ campaign, and the irony of the New York Times’ publisher complaining about future attacks on the free press.

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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Editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report Margaret Kimberley joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and Ben Zinevich to discuss the political persecution of four Americans connected to the African People's Socialist Party, how FARA Act has been used to censor political views and curtail the right to free association, the Heritage Foundation suiting federal agencies to reveal whether President Joe Biden and his family were ever warned that their foreign business dealing left them open to foreign coercion, the Democratic Party blowing its money on the presidential race while neglecting increasingly consequential statehouse elections, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’ dishonest attack on third party candidates, CNN polls showing a dead heat in the presidential election, and the US charging Hamas leaders with deaths of 43 Americans in October 7 attacks.

Co-host of the Final Countdown on Radio Sputnik and award-winning cartoonist Ted Rall discusses the ongoing defamation lawsuit brought by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin against the New York Times, why an appellate court keeps overturning a judge’s dismissal of the case, how the Times defends itself in these cases, and whether Palin should be vindicated.

Economist, radio show host, and author Dr. Jack Rasmus discusses the historic collapse of Nvidia stock overnight, fears of an economic slowdown amid stock market selloffs, India considering Russia's SWIFT financial alternative, Turkiye's desires to join BRICS, and chaos in French politics.

Technologist and cohost of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast Chris Garaffa discusses reports that voice data is being passively collected from our phones continually, whether such data collection is legal, where else we should beware of this kind of eavesdropping, and how to fight deepfakes without resorting to political censorship.

The Misfits also discuss the start of the NFL season and with it more stories about athletes’ love lives, and a US Navy commander being relieved of duty after posing with a gun that had been misassembled.

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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International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss a Russian missile strike in Ukraine, Russian gains in the Donbass as Ukraine’s Kursk incursion stalls, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s purpose for traveling to Mongolian, empty Western threats of “punishment” for Mongolia for failing to arrest Putin on behalf of the International Criminal Court, the results of German state elections that brought huge gains for the right-wing Alternative for Germany, and the protests sparked in Israel after six Israeli hostages were found dead in a tunnel near Rafah.

Writer and journalist Daniel Lazare discusses the tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump as November nears, whether GOP actions on abortion threaten their hold on Florida’s electoral votes, whether Trump still has a subterranean bump that isn’t captured in polling, whether Harris can paint herself as a rust belt hero, GOP attempts to move the needle over criticisms to Democrat foreign policy while worries that Republicans may suffer in down-ballot races, and understanding the true relations between immigration and crime.

Writer for Brasil Wire Nathalia Urban discusses the ongoing battle between X owner Elon Musk and the Brazilian government, why a Brazilian court has upheld a judge’s decision to ban X in the country, whether Musk is being selective in what takedown requests he follows, what the US hopes to achieve by stealing a Venezuelan government airplane, and the fate of Venezuelan opposition leaders as they face charges of instigating sabotage and falsifying documents.

The Misfits also discuss the virtues of dressing up, the arrest of New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s aid over alleged ties to the Chinese government, a new localized currency to offset extreme inflation in Argentina, and a Labor Day hotel strike.

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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Belfast-based political commentator and socialist activist Phil Kelly joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the rise of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in Germany, whether it can challenge the growing power of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), why the AfD has become so popular in the last five years, the first deportation of Afghan refugees from Germany, the attempt in the UK to silence political speech, and the UK Labor Party’s expulsion of Jews and abdication of actual governance to the security state.

Veteran FBI special agent and whistleblower Jane Turner discusses a scathing report from the Department of Justice on the FBI's failure to properly handle allegations of child sex crimes, the FBI’s bizarre disinterest in sex crimes in general, how the FBI’s priorities represent who our society values, and whether to expect any changes from the report.

Author Joe Emersberger discusses more attacks by Israel on UN and American aid convoys in Gaza, the legal crackdowns in the United States and Europe of public figures who support Palestine, leaks that highlight US election interference in Ecuador, why the US and Canada are so opposed to Mexico’s proposed judiciary reform.

The Misfits also discuss this week’s News of the Weird, including the possibility of an end to Swiss neutrality, a ginned-up chain gang in Georgia, and an entire police department resigning.

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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Former Washington Post bureau chief and foreign correspondent Jon Jeter joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss an apparent crackdown on political speech in the UK, as pro-Palestinian organizers and activists are arrested on charges under the Terrorism Act. He describes “panic” spreading across the West that support for Israel and the Western-led international order might be eroding, how activists and free speech advocates are being surveilled and apprehended, a standoff between the Brazilian Supreme Court and Twitter over issues of misinformation, former President Donald Trump’s fracas at Arlington National Cemetery, and new polling on the 2024 presidential race.

Editor of the Pan African Newswire Abayomi Azikiwe discusses the excessive heat in Southern Africa and resulting drought in the region, how African nations have come to carry so much debt, and who should be held accountable for the debt crisis on the continent.

Scholar, journalist, and geopolitical analyst of the Asia-Pacific KJ Noh discusses the visit of President Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to China, whether any real progress has been made on the primarily economic and military issues on the agenda, how much of the meeting has to do with the 2024 presidential election, China’s position on the sedition trial of the editors of Hong Kong’s Stand News, as well as the latest on the conflict in Ukraine, including the consequences of Kiev’s gamble on its Kursk incursion.

Physician and infectious disease specialist Dr. Monica Gandhi discusses the occurrence of cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in New England, how Americans should incorporate the reality of West Nile virus into their health routines, the mpox outbreak spreading in Africa, why a preventable disease was allowed to become a global health emergency, and the risk of allowing avian flu spread through the US dairy industry.

The Misfits also discuss Namibia blocking a ship carrying weapons for Israel, the CIA taking credit for foiling a terror attack in Austria, and the dating lives of celebrities.

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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Catch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM