Patrick Jaicomo of the Institute for Justice discusses the (brief) history of the “qualified immunity” doctrine, which makes it very difficult for civilians to sue government agents for constitutional rights violations. Jaicomo breaks down the different types of legal immunity, and the ways in which it’s still possible, sometimes, to seek redress for unjust killings, thefts, and other abuses by government officials. Usually, however, the state protects its own, at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Discussed on the show:

“Police Stole $225k in Cash and Coins, and the Courts Said “Okay”” (Institute for Justice)“Tamir Rice’s Basically Reasonable Murder” (Simple Justice)

Patrick Jaicomo is an attorney with the Institute for Justice. You can follow his work on Twitter @pjaicomo.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Les_P9A7pR4

Scott talks to David Stockman about the fate of the economy after the coronavirus-induced shutdown and the multi-trillion dollar bailouts being undertaken by the U.S. government. Stockman is much more concerned about the economic ramifications than about the virus itself, and not because businesses are being forced to close for a few weeks, but primarily because we’ve been living under a crony capitalist regime of corporate welfare and unsound money for decades on end. The only solution any of the central planners understand, he explains, is to pump more money into the financial markets, which provides the illusion of short term relief at the expense of real long term damage. The current stimulus will only inflate asset bubbles even further and eventually bring about an even worse crash. All of this, of course, will be blamed on free market capitalism, which is the system most people think we have. Such a backlash is likely to lead to even greater socialization of our government and economy.

Discussed on the show:

“The Money Printing Gods Have Failed!” (David Stockman’s Contra Corner)

David Stockman is the ultimate Washington insider turned iconoclast. He began his career in Washington as a young man and quickly rose through the ranks of the Republican Party to become the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan. After leaving the White House, Stockman had a 20-year career on Wall Street. He is the author of Trumped!, The Triumph of Politics, and his history of the financial crisis, The Great Deformation: The Corruption of Capitalism in America.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Yn3WjzcGs

Scott Paul discusses the looming cholera outbreak in Yemen as the country prepares for yet another rainy season. Thanks to U.S.-backed Saudi bombing of critical infrastructure, the people of Yemen lack the tools to fight cholera: basic nutrition and clean water. Paul describes the state of the overrun, under-equipped Yemeni hospitals, warning of their inability to deal with the current crisis, let alone what could happen if the coronavirus spreads there. Scott reminds the audience that President Trump could pretty much end this war with a single phone call, but instead continues to placate Saudi Arabia.

Discussed on the show:

“Rainy season threatens huge cholera spike in Yemen as conflict hampers efforts to address forgotten crisis” (Oxfam International)

Scott Paul leads Oxfam America’s policy advocacy on a number of emergencies and cross-cutting humanitarian issues. He is a frequent media commentator with outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, Foreign Policy, and Al Jazeera and has testified before Congress. Follow him on Twitter @ScottTPaul.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9BhTYianK0

Mike Swanson offers his take on the current virus-induced stock market downturn. What has surprised him most so far is the fact that assets are down across the board, unlike previous recessions, which might see a decline in stocks offset by a jump in precious metals. This suggests that the real panic hasn’t actually hit yet, and that we are likely to see a lull before another big downturn. He and Scott are worried for the economy, but knew even before the coronavirus that something like this was inevitable thanks to decades of interference by the Federal Reserve and other central planners.

Discussed on the show:

Big Debt CrisesThe Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory

Mike Swanson provides investment advice at wallstreetwindow.com and is the author of The War State: The Cold War Origins Of The Military-Industrial Complex And The Power Elite. He also works with the Neopolis Media Group, a group of historians, educators, authors, researchers, and free speech advocates who endeavor to provide original and engaging content, including The Ochelli Effect, and The Lone Gunman Podcast.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKH006etGF8

Scott talks to Philip Weiss about the latest in Israeli politics, where Benjamin Netanyahu still has neither been removed from power in a decisive election, nor tried for his corruption charges. His main opponent, Benny Gantz, may now be offered the chance to form a minority government, but if he cannot, there could be yet another round of elections. But with the global coronavirus outbreak, Weiss explains that Netanyahu’s approval ratings are now as high as ever—he and Scott think there’s little chance he will be ousted any time soon. Meanwhile, there is great concern for the health of the Palestinians living in ghetto-like conditions on the West Bank, but whom the Israeli government seems to have little interest in helping.

Philip Weiss is the long-time editor of Mondoweiss.net. Follow him on Twitter @PhilWeiss.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S5sukRM4Aw

Tim Shorrock shares what might be a positive side to the global coronavirus outbreak: a chance for the U.S. government to relax sanctions on Iran and North Korea. Shorrock thinks it would be easy for President Trump to announce that these sanctions will no longer be enforced, if he wanted to, and that Congress is unlikely to prevent such a move. A crisis like the coronavirus helps demonstrate how awful it is to victimize the civilians of a foreign country with economic sanctions, which can contribute to shortages of necessary supplies even during normal times. Scott wishes Trump would follow the example of Richard Nixon in feeling that it was worthwhile to go negotiate with even the world’s worst rulers in the name of world peace.

Discussed on the show:

“Washington Hawks Are Softening Their Hard Line on Sanctions Against North Korea” (The Nation)“CDC, FDA: The Enemy” (The Libertarian Institute)“Tucker Carlson on How He Brought His Coronavirus Message to Mar-a-Lago” (Vanity Fair)

Tim Shorrock is the author of Spies For Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing and a regular contributor to The Nation and the Korea Center for Investigative Reporting. Follow him on Twitter @TimothyS.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKGS26FVv3U

Scott talks to Gareth Porter about the New York Times’ continued efforts to bolster the story that Russia both interfered in the 2016 presidential election and continues to do so in the lead up to the 2020 election. This time around, they allege, Russian actors are working on behalf of both President Trump, and also Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary race. Porter reviews some of the reasons why these claims are spurious, and he and Scott rehash a few of the Times’ other great blunders.

Discussed on the show:

“The New York Times’ Insidious Ongoing Disinformation Campaign on Russia & Elections” (Consortium News)“The Plot to Subvert an Election: Unraveling the Russia Story So Far” (The New York Times)“Same Goal, Different Playbook: Why Russia Would Support Trump and Sanders” (The New York Times)“Pompeo and Netanyahu paved a path to war with Iran, and they’re pushing Trump again” (The Grayzone)

Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist on the national security state, and author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. Follow him on Twitter @GarethPorter and listen to Gareth’s previous appearances on the Scott Horton Show.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbf0eKuK2DQ

The following is an automatically generated transcript.

Show Transcript

Scott Horton 0:10

All right y'all welcome in Scott Horton show. I am the director of the libertarian Institute editorial director of anti war.com, author of the book fool's errand, time to end the war in Afghanistan. And I've recorded more than 5000 interviews going back to 2003, all of which are available at Scott horton.org. You can also sign up to the podcast feed full archive is also [email protected]. Slash Scott Horton show.

All right, you guys on the line I've got Gareth, the great

Gareth Porter, of course, investigative historian and journalist author of the perils of dominance about Vietnam manufactured crisis, which is the authoritative source on Iran's nuclear program and then his little

latest book with john Kiriakou, of course, is the CIA Insiders Guide to the Iran crisis from CIA coup to the brink of war. And he writes regularly for us at anti war.com. And at truth This and truth at and here he is at consortium news.com. The New York Times insidious, ongoing dis information campaign on Russia and the elections. Welcome back to the show. Gareth. How are you sir?

Gareth Porter 1:30

I'm doing well. I hope you're doing well too. It's good.

Scott Horton 1:32

I'm hanging in there but appreciate that. Listen up. So here's the point on going I saw people on Twitter the other day, I quit Twitter But okay, I admit sometimes I troll Aaron ma tangling Greenwald's feeds because I love those guys. And I saw where someone was attacking Greenwald and saying I can't believe this guy's still talking about Russia, like the debunkers were the ones who you know, drag this thing on for three Yours is horrible hoax. And now the real point four years, they're not done yet. They're still blaming Russia for intervening in America's democracy. They're trying to disrupt our society. Gareth. I read it in an article by, oh, David Sanger in the New York Times. Well,

Scott interviews William Arkin about his recent Newsweek article discussing the the government’s various contingency plans—both public and secret—to keep a functioning, constitutional government alive during a national crisis. He is not so concerned about the introduction of martial law as usually conceived, which he considers unlikely, but worries about something called devolving succession, a process by which a group outside the usual, public line of succession could declare themselves a legitimate government. One problem with this system is that these figures are essentially unknown to the American public. Arkin believes that more transparency with respect to the government’s succession plans would increase faith among the American people that they are in good hands in emergencies.

Discussed on the show:

“Inside The Military’s Top Secret Plans If Coronavirus Cripples The Government” (Newsweek)Insurrection ActPosse Comitatus Act

William Arkin is a military intelligence analyst, activist, author, journalist, academic and consultant. His award-winning reporting has appeared on the front pages of The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. He is the author of American Coup: How a Terrified Government Is Destroying the Constitution. Follow him on Twitter @warkin.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTLUfJYJHvg

Jim Bovard shares the story of the death of Duncan Lemp, a 21-year-old Maryland man recently killed by police in his home in the middle of the night. The police aren’t releasing their side of the story yet, but it looks as though Lemp hadn’t even been charged with any crimes—police were simply executing a search warrant on what they deemed a “high-risk” target. The SWAT team threw stun grenades into his room, where he and his pregnant girlfriend were sleeping, then shot Lemp to death. Scott suspects that the officers responsible will face few to no repercussions for this crime, as is almost always the case.

Discussed on the show:

“Did Maryland Police Shoot And Kill A Sleeping Man?” (The American Conservative)“Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)” (IMDb)“Potomac man killed in police-involved shooting in Maryland” (The Washington Post)“James Bovard Playboy 2000 Flash Bang You’re Dead SWAT Team Abuse” (jimbovard.com)

Jim Bovard is a columnist for USA Today and the author of Public Policy Hooligan: Rollicking and Wrangling from Helltown to Washington. Find all of his books and read his work on his website and follow him on Twitter @JimBovard.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3S2zV2k4Y0

Scott interviews Ryan McMaken about the current coronavirus-induced financial slowdown and what it might mean in terms of the next big crash. McMaken explains that with America’s incredibly over-financialized economy, practically the only tool that the government knows how to use is huge injections of liquidity directly into the financial sector. This of course only eases the pain temporarily, delaying (and worsening) the eventual popping of the bubble. One danger Scott and McMaken foresee is that there can now be no principled opposition to those who clamor for government-sponsored, “free” programs like universal health care, free college, and other expensive social packages, since our government continues to demonstrate that it is perfectly willing to create a trillion dollars out of thin air and hand it out to certain people. The only question, at that point, is who gets the money.

Discussed on the show:

The Great Deformation: The Corruption of Capitalism in America“The US Constitution Needs an Expiration Date” (The Mises Institute)

Ryan McMaken is a senior editor at the Mises Institute. He has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Colorado, and was the economist for the Colorado Division of Housing from 2009 to 2014. He is the author of Commie Cowboys: The Bourgeoisie and the Nation-State in the Western Genre.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFLE378N9o