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Scott interviews Max Blumenthal about the political unrest in Venezuela. Blumenthal explains how dangerous it is that there's been a mostly positive, and bipartisan, response to President Trump's comments about intervening there. Just like when he was bombing Syria, the mainstream media finally praises him for being "presidential". But Blumenthal wants to know—how is this any different than Russia trying to interfere in our elections, which the political mainstream finds so abhorrent?

Discussed on the show:

"The Making of Juan Guaidó: US Regime-Change Laboratory Created Venezuela’s Coup Leader" (Consortiumnews)

"Is the US Meddling in Venezuela? Max Blumenthal Asks US Congress Members." (YouTube)

Sandinista National Liberation Front

"Moderate Rebels podcast" (Free Listening on SoundCloud)

Colour revolution

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY

"The Weight of Chains" (Težina lanaca (2010) - YouTube)

"Juan Guaidó: Venezuelans, Strength Is in Unity" (The New York Times)

"2/1/19 Greg Palast on Avoiding Regime Change in Venezuela" (The Libertarian Institute)

"U.S. Push to Oust Venezuela’s Maduro Marks First Shot in Plan to Reshape Latin America" (WSJ)

Director and writer of “Killing Gaza,” Max Blumenthal is a senior editor of the Grayzone Project and the author Goliath, Republican Gomorrah, and The 51 Day War. Follow Max on Twitter @MaxBlumenthal.

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; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Jason Hickel discusses the history of British colonial rule in India and his new piece, "How Britain stole $45 trillion from India." He explains the British government's clever scheme: forcibly extract tax revenue from the people, use the money to buy goods from other parts of India, then export the goods back to England where they can be sold for a British profit. Thanks to English economic policy, about 60 million Indians died from famine—a tragedy to rival the Holocaust or Mao's cultural revolution.

Jason Hickel is an academic at the University of London and a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions. Follow him on Twitter @jasonhickel.

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; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Greg Palast explains the situation in Venezuela, where the Trump administration has recently been signaling for U.S.-backed regime change. Although the claim is that it's the U.S.'s duty to support "democracy," says Palast, the concern is really for Venezuelan oil. Major players like the Koch brothers need reliable access to Venezuela's particular form of heavy crude oil, and the Maduro government doesn't play ball the way the Saudis, for example, do. Now Maduro's political opponent, Juan Guiado, is openly calling for outside military support in his attempt to overthrow Maduro. Palast is adamant that that would be an utter catastrophe both for the U.S. and for the Venezuelan people.

Discussed on the show:

"U.S. Push to Oust Venezuela’s Maduro Marks First Shot in Plan to Reshape Latin America" (WSJ)

Colour revolution

"Amanpour's full interview with Juan Guaido" (CNN Video)

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Investigative reporter Greg Palast covered Venezuela for BBC Television and The Guardian during Hugo Chavez’s presidency. He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, now a movie available on Amazon Prime. A documentary of Palast’s work for BBC-TV, The Assassination of Hugo Chavez, is available as a free download at Palast’s site, GregPalast.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; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

On FPF #306, I update the political uncertainty in Venezuela. Maduro appears to be retaining control over the country. However international actors continue to push the Juan Guaido government. I discuss the regime change effort coming from the United States. 

Links

Max Blumenthal & Dan Cohen on Venezuela

The Drive - USS Ford

FPF #262 - INF Treaty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHhQEtf9osU

I've been practicing law for about 5 months now. Not a super long time, but I've already learned some realities about how the system REALLY works.

Check out Thijs van der Linde's new show! Gaius Libertatis

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Show Notes:

Lautenberg Amendment 

The Man Behind the Beard Lysander Spooner Ep. 27

The Principled Libertarian Community on Facebook

The Principled Libertarian on Facebook

"The Enterprise of Law: Justice without the State" by Bruce L. Benson (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Lysander Spooner on Jury Nullification Ep. 56

"The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas (Amazon Affiliate Link)

"The Count of Monte Cristo" [2002 Film] (Amazon Affiliate Link)

"Legal Systems Very Different from Ours" by David D. Friedman (Amazon Affiliate Link)

"Private Governance: Creating Order in Economic and Social Life" by Edward Stringham (Amazon Affiliate Link)

"Anarchy and the Law: the Political Economy of Choice" by Edward Stringham (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Non-State Justice Systems: A Primer Ep. 36

Bonnie Kristian talks about her latest piece, "If Trump Isn’t Planning to Draw Down U.S. Intervention in Somalia, He Should Be." She and Scott point out how President Trump often has good instincts on foreign policy, at times questioning what the U.S. is even doing in countries like Somalia, and yet other times he has no problem getting talked into more war by his generals and advisers. The hawks around him love to use the excuse that "we fight the terrorists over there so we don't have to fight them over here," but in reality, says Kristian, that's pretty much the only way we could provoke an attack somewhere in the U.S., by inciting an American into retaliation because of our military's crimes abroad.

Discussed on the show:

"If Trump Isn’t Planning to Draw Down U.S. Intervention in Somalia, He Should Be" (Reason.com)

Al-Shabaab (militant group)

"Trump’s favorite general: Can Mattis check an impulsive president and still retain his trust?" (The Washington Post)

Somali Civil War (2006–2009)

"US forces should leave Afghanistan, even if a deal with the Taliban fails" (Defense News)

Bonnie Kristian is a fellow at Defense Priorities, and weekend editor at The Week. Her writing has appeared at TIME, CNN, Politico, The American Conservative, and many others. Follow her at her website or on Twitter @bonniekristian.

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; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; 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 for an update us on the Korean peace talks. President Trump recently claimed that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, whereupon the mainstream media was quick to point out that Kim's regime has not in fact agreed to denuclearize. But, as Shorrock explains, that's not what Trump said at all—he was merely pointing out that the negotiations appear to be going in the direction of peace and diplomacy, such that the North is not a threat to the South or to the U.S. The centrist establishment can't tolerate this idea because they despise Trump so much. Shorrock also points out the promising progress in dismantling the DMZ, including the mingling of North and South Korean soldiers for the first time.

Discussed on the show:

"US-North Korea Talks Are Moving Decisively to the Diplomatic Phase" (The Nation)

"Naomi Klein: Disaster Capitalism" (YouTube)

"Remarks on DPRK at Stanford University" (www.state.gov)

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; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Mandy Smithberger talks about the revolving door between politics and arms manufacturers, most recently manifested in President Trump's appointment of Patrick Shanahan as acting secretary of defense. Shanahan, a former Boeing executive, has recused himself from issues directly involving Boeing, but as Smithberger points out, that doesn't prevent him from promoting the interests of his former company, since he still has huge influence over the industry in general. His history with Boeing can also make it hard to know when his decisions are legitimate and when he might be biased against a former competitor, as in the case of the new F-35 fighter jets.

Discussed on the show:

"Our Man From Boeing" (Project on Government Oversight)

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

House Resolution 1

Mandy Smithberger is the director of the Strauss Military Reform Project at POGO. Previously she was a national security policy adviser to U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-California). Follow her work on Twitter @StrausReform.

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; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

On FPF #305, I breakdown war state efforts to create and expand wars. Factions of the Trump administration continue to push regime change efforts in Venezuela. DNI Dan Coats is attempting to throw cold water on a deal with North Korea. Max Boot is arguing that the US should remain in Afghanistan and Syria for 100 years. The Trump Administration is in a dangerous state that could lead to a conflict with Iran. 

Links

Peter Van Buren - Venezuela

Jim Lobe Ben Armbruster - Iran

Sheldon Richman talks about his latest piece for the Libertarian Institute, TGIF: The FDA’s Assault on Tobacco Consumers, where he explores the latest government efforts to regulate every aspect of nicotine products. In addition to its control over products containing actual tobacco, the FDA is now claiming jurisdiction over e-cigarettes—which contain nicotine but not tobacco—and tobacco pipes themselves. Just like alcohol prohibition or the war on drugs, Richman says, making a substance illegal or difficult to get only makes people turn to more potent and more dangerous forms. If the government really cared about fewer people smoking, it would look favorably on the smokeless alternatives. But of course, it does just the opposite.

Discussed on the show:

"TGIF: The FDA's Assault on Tobacco Consumers" (The Libertarian Institute)

"Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act" (FDA)

A Hobby, Not A Habit – Meditations on Pipe Smoking

"Scott Gottlieb’s FDA Is Moving Toward a Stealth Ban on Cigarettes and Cigars" (Reason.com)

Saying Yes: In Defense of Drug Use

The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct

Ceremonial Chemistry: The Ritual Persecution of Drugs, Addicts, and Pushers, Revised Edition

Sheldon Richman is the executive editor of the Libertarian Institute and the author of America’s Counter-Revolution: The Constitution Revisited. Follow him on Twitter @SheldonRichman.

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; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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