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The great Ray McGovern talks about the real dangers behind the phony Russia collusion probe, namely the near-impossibility of detente with Russia thanks to the democrats' insistence that any of President Trump's inclinations in that direction must be based on his being a traitor to America. Scott and McGovern both think the premise is ridiculous, of course, but more importantly it increases the risks of a global nuclear war. McGovern says he would be perfectly fine impeaching Trump, but not for Russiagate nonsense—the real crimes Donald Trump is guilty of involve continuing illegal wars that Barack Obama started. But in order to indict Trump for these war crimes, democrats would have to lay the same blame on Obama, which they will never do.

Discussed on the show:

"RAY McGOVERN: DNI Nominee Intent on Getting to Bottom of Russiagate" (Consortium News)

A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership

"Matt Taibbi on Russiagate: Press Will Learn Nothing From This Fiasco" (Rolling Stone)

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

"7/17/19 Lyle J. Goldstein on the Consequences of War with Russia" (The Libertarian Institute)

"The Scott Horton Show Archives" (The Libertarian Institute)

Ray McGovern is the co-creator of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity and the former chief of the CIA’s Soviet analysts division. Read all of his work at his website: raymcgovern.com.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Scott interviews Muhammad Sahimi about President Trump's new sanctions on Iran, which are even stricter than those imposed by President Obama, since they eliminate some of the previous waivers and cover even necessary goods like food and medicine because, even though not technically sanctioned, the financial institutions necessary to broker any kind of deal are not willing to operate in Iran for fear of legal action by the U.S. government. Sahimi likens these sanctions to those placed on Iraq in the 1990s, which the UN estimated led to the excess deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children. Sahimi fears the same will happen in Iran, but it will be seen as justified and necessary.

Discussed on the show:

"Economic Sanctions Will Kill Tens of Thousands of Innocent Iranians – LobeLog" (LobeLog)

"5/18/18 Richard Garfield on the excess death rate of the 1990s U.S. sanctions in Iraq" (The Libertarian Institute)

"Economic Sanctions, Humanitarianism, and Conflict After the Cold War" (JSTOR)

"Regime change is the Trump administration’s goal in Iran" (The Washington Post)

Muhammad Sahimi is a professor of chemical engineering at USC, Iranian expatriate, and expert on Iranian and U.S. foreign policy.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Mike Swanson discusses the recent announcement that the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates again. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has said this is a precautionary measure against a possible recession, of which there have been early signs over the last few months. The dangerous thing, says Swanson, is what happens if there is a recession even after this move—with rates already so close to zero percent, what more can the Fed do? Unfortunately it would probably mean huge inflationary measures that could wipe out the savings of average Americans.

Discussed on the show:

"Today’s Federal Reserve Rate Cut Marks The Start Of A New Financial Era" (The Libertarian Institute)

"Paradigm Shifts" (LinkedIn)

Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country

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: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

David Stockman reminds us how flimsy the "Russiagate" case has been from the very beginning, and that we should really be focusing on how the investigation even got started in the first place. Stockman claims that President Trump's idea that it would be better to cooperate with Russia rather than continue a new Cold War with them was intolerable to the ruling class, who want America to remain undisputed atop the world geopolitical hierarchy, which means policing the globe and flexing our military might at every opportunity. The Russiagate investigation has been nothing but an elaborate attempt to bring Trump down for other reasons. Stockman dismantles each pillar of the phony case one by one.

Discussed on the show:

"Not Mueller Time – At Last!" (Antiwar.com Original)

"5/10/19 Ray McGovern and Bill Binney on the Supposed Russian Hack of the DNC" (The Libertarian Institute)

"12/13/16 Craig Murray: DNC, Podesta emails leaked by Americans, not hacked by Russia" (The Libertarian Institute)

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: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Will Porter returns to the show to discuss Trump's nominee to be Director of National Intelligence. Congressman John Ratcliffe has drawn criticism for being unqualified for the job. Will explains that Ratcliffe has lied about his resume to look more qualified. Will and Kyle talk about the possible role of Ratcliffe could play in the investigation of the origins of Russiagate. The investigation could bring down deep state figures like Comey and Brennan. 

Will also shares his thoughts on the Mueller hearings, the IRA trial, and Afghan peace talks. 

Will Porter is a staff writer at RT. 

Links

Trevor Aaronson on Ratcliffe

McGovern on what role Ratcliffe will play in Russiagate

Daniel Larison Ratliffe is unqualified

Ratcliffe has taken MIC money

52 Minutes

Not Safe for Work

Pete had a chance to talk with, Jacob,  the founder of Deterrence Dispensed. DD has gone beyond what Defense Distributed has done in that they actually corrected many of the designs that Defense Distributed put out, AND have pushed beyond 3D printing to the self-manufacture of weapons made of metal. Enjoy this conversation with a reclusive figure. You'll definitely under why after this interview.

Jacob Keybase Profile

DD Keybase Community

DD Files

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BTC: bc1qkjmul7m7m0t959gtgezrc3ryr6w93ml0ur2n48

LTC : LU1uSbp63pZMUGk7DXSGQQAtLiFS2uA9de

ETH: 0x1f846726aa54dbe7d6afccf8a70a30add13471d5

Indiegogo for The Monopoly on Violence

Pete's Patreon

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Pete's Books on Amazon

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Danny Sjursen explains why President Trump could end the war in Afghanistan if he wanted to. When it comes to foreign policy, the president is basically a dictator, and Trump in particular is pugnacious enough to cover his right flank at all times, just like Nixon was able to meet with Mao in the 1970s. Negotiations with the Taliban have also continued without falling apart, which is a good sign for the possibility of ending the war on agreeable terms. By the same token, Hillary Clinton felt that because she was a woman and a democrat, she had to be extra hawkish, and Scott and Sjursen agree that as president she would not have accomplished what Trump has with respect to negotiations in Afghanistan and Korea.

Discussed on the show:

"Could Donald Trump Actually End the Afghan War?" (The Nation)

"A Majority of Military Veterans Think the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq Were a Mistake – Mother Jones" (Mother Jones)

Danny Sjursen is a retired U.S. army major and former history instructor at West Point. He writes regularly for TomDispatch.com and he’s the author of “Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge.” Follow him on Twitter @SkepticalVet.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Tim Shorrock joins the show to discuss U.S. negotiations with Korea and the status of the relations between North and South. Lately soldiers from the North and South have begun patrolling together, one of several important symbolic gestures in the process of reconciliation between the two nations. Recently Donald Trump became the first president to visit the North, and Shorrock thinks his willingness to participate in negotiations, which previous presidents have not, has been hugely important. Unfortunately the democrats have almost unanimously condemned President Trump's willingness to meet with Kim Jong-un as a personal liking for dictators.

Discussed on the show:

"Most Dem Presidential Candidates Are Attacking Trump’s Korea Policy—From the Right" (The Nation)

"The U.S.-North Korean Agreed Framework at a Glance" (Arms Control Association)

Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy

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: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

In another installment of "I consume content so you don't have to" I did indeed watch both (!) nights of Round 2 of the democratic debates.

I discuss some of what was discussed each night, my overall thoughts on the whole production, and what the DNC is doing to keep these from being a total cluster going forward.

On FPF #382, I discuss the House passing an anti-BDS bill and the impact of US sanctions on Iran. The bill, while stripped of most of its teeth, is an attack on the First Amendment. I explain why Americans have the right to boycott and BDS is not an anti-Semitic movement. The US sanctions on Iran are limiting the importing of medications. This could lead to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. I break down how the US sanctions become deadly. 

Links

US sanctions will kill Iranians

Scott Horton talks Israel on FPF