Sojourner Truth Radio

On December 23, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for 2017, which includes the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Misinformation Act. This gives a green light for the U.S. to further consolidate its propaganda machine and gives a clear path for the State Department to block alternative narratives that contradict the U.S. point of view or U.S. interests. Is this the Ministry of Truth that George Orwell wrote about? Our guest is Rick Sterling, investigative journalist and author of The War Against Alternative Information" on Consortium News.

Since the November 20th presidential and legislative election in Haiti, protesters have taken to the streets daily decrying an electoral coup. And now, just days after Haitians marked the 214th anniversary of Haiti's independence, Haiti's electoral council ignored challenges of massive fraud in the election to declare Jovenel Moise the winner.

Jovenel Moise is a businessman who was handpicked by outgoing Haitian President Michel Martelly; Moise has never held electoral office. Meanwhile, candidates challenging the election results " including Dr. Maryse Narcisse, the candidate of the Lavalas Party " are refusing to accept the results. Lavalas has called for continued mobilizations against the electoral coup, but protesters are being met with violence by United Nations-trained Haitian police. We get the latest update from Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee.

For our Weekly Earth Watch, Ruddy Turnstone of the Global Justice Ecology Project joins us to discuss the huge $66 billion Bayer-Monsanto merger, a deal which will make Bayer the worlds largest supplier of seeds and pesticide.

Read more of her analysis of the merger in Toward Freedom: http://towardfreedom.com/33-archives/globalism/4443-if-those-who-forget-the-past-are-doomed-to-repeat-it-the-future-looks-grim-the-bayer-monsanto-merger

Since the November 20 presidential and legislative election in Haiti, protesters have taken to the streets daily decrying an electoral coup. And now, just days after Haitians marked the 214th anniversary of Haiti's independence, Haiti's electoral council ignored challenges of massive fraud in the election to declare Jovenel Moise the winner.

Jovenel Moise is a businessman who was handpicked by outgoing Haitian President Michel Martelly; Moise has never held electoral office. Meanwhile, candidates challenging the election results – including Dr. Maryse Narcisse, the candidate of the Lavalas Party – are refusing to accept the results. Lavalas has called for continued mobilizations against the electoral coup, but protesters are being met with violence by United Nations-trained Haitian police. We get the latest update from Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee.

On December 23, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for 2017, which includes the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act. This gives a green light for the U.S. to further consolidate its propaganda machine and gives a clear path for the State Department to block alternative narratives that contradict the U.S. point of view or U.S. interests. Is this the Ministry of Truth that George Orwell wrote about? Our guest is Rick Sterling, investigative journalist and author of The War Against Alternative Information" on Consortium News.

And for our Weekly Earth Watch, Ruddy Turnstone of the Global Justice Ecology Project joins us to discuss the huge $66 billion Bayer-Monsanto merger, a deal which will make Bayer the worlds largest supplier of seeds and pesticide.

Today, economist Max Wolff joins us to discuss the financial impact of a Trump presidency. What thus far do we know about how Trumps economic policies will differ from President Obama? How does the state of the economy now contrast with when Obama took office? How could Trump's policies impact those who are impoverished, the middle class and the wealthy, as well as international trade and small businesses? What can we glean from his economic direction from those he has chosen to be part of his economic team?

Today, economist Max Wolff joins us to discuss the financial impact of a Trump presidency. What thus far do we know about how Trumps economic policies will differ from President Obama? How does the state of the economy now contrast with when Obama took office? How could Trumps policies impact those who are impoverished, the middle class and the wealthy, as well as international trade and small businesses? What can we glean from his economic direction from those he has chosen to be part of his economic team?

Then, Phyllis Bennis joins us for an update on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the second time in history, the U.S. has allowed a vote in the UN condemning Israeli settlement expansion into Palestinian territory. Why now? What has the reaction been from the Israeli government and Donald Trump? Will Trump manage to undo the resolution? Trumps appointment of David Freedman as his ambassador to Israel indicates his plans to move the U.S. embassy to East Jerusalem, a move in clear opposition to a two-state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. And, much to the outrage of conservative Israelis, a historic verdict has been ruled by an Israeli military court; an Israeli soldier was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of a Palestinian man.

We also bring your our weekly Earth Minute, in partnership with the Global Justice Ecology Project.

Phyllis Bennis joins us for an update on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the second time in history, the U.S. has allowed a vote in the UN condemning Israeli settlement expansion into Palestinian territory. Why now? What has the reaction been from the Israeli government and Donald Trump? Will Trump manage to undo the resolution? Trumps appointment of David Friedman as his ambassador to Israel indicates his plans to move the U.S. embassy to East Jerusalem, a move in clear opposition to a two-state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. And, much to the outrage of conservative Israelis, a historic verdict has been ruled by an Israeli military court; an Israeli soldier was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of a Palestinian man.

The water protectors at Standing Rock held strong for months, standing in opposition of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a project that would cut right through the lands of Indigenous people, with the possibility of contaminating their water and land, as well as desecrating sacred sites. They have been met with violence from law enforcement: tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons in freezing temperatures and more. They have been arrested and beaten. Now, more than 2,000 veterans and activists have flooded to Standing Rock to strengthen the peaceful protest.

On Monday night, December 5th, the veterans took part in a forgiveness ceremony " acknowledging the U.S. military's part in violating the rights of Indigenous people throughout history.

Today, we bring you a special, one-hour interview with two of the people who are standing with Standing Rock as part of this massive coalition of veterans: Michael A. Wood Jr., one of the organizers of the Veterans contingent; and J.C. Faulk, an African American activist out of Baltimore, who is going to Standing Rock in support. We spoke with them the day before they left for North Dakota.

Today, we look at the ramifications of Donald Trump's election. Our panelists – Jackie Goldberg, Laura Carlsen and Linn Washington – share what concerns them the most about Trumps cabinet and White House picks thus far.

Plus, can the divides between Blue Dog, Clinton, and Bernie Democrats be crossed? Is the Democratic party remaking itself, or will it be business as usual? What role could third parties play? What will change?

Can and will the various movements for change come together and build a broad-based movement in this new Trump world? What will it take?

Is Trumpism being globalized? What is at risk for the Global South and Europe, including their movements for change?

And, why is mainstream media buying into the so-called "alt-right" as respectable? Isn't this a new term for an old problem: racism?

Today, the presidential vote recount initiated by the Green Party is moving ahead, but not without some stumbling blocks. Our guest is David Cobb, campaign manager for the Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka ticket.

What impact did voter suppression have on the election? We speak with Marcia Johnson Blanco, co-director for the Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.

Plus, Greg Palast, investigative journalist and author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," joins us in studio.