The Libertarian Institute - All Podcasts

Charles Goyette returns to the show to discuss the national debt and the general state of the American economy. According to Goyette, the debt can grow to astounding levels, but the game ends when no one is willing to fund American debt. Goyette explains how this could happen with either a bang or a whimper and the role that U.S. foreign policy plays in the growth of the debt. He then addresses the rise of China, and the degree to which the growth of the Chinese economy is legitimate. Goyette then details how far Americans have deviated from the foundational precept of liberty and how the establishment has given up on any kind of financial probity.

Charles Goyette is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Dollar Meltdown and Red and Blue and Broke All Over: Restoring America’s Free Economy. He is finishing work on a new book about the media’s complicity in the war lies of the American Empire.

Discussed on the show:

P.J. O'Rourke

"Ukraine Needs a Lifeline—Now," by Marco Rubio (The Wall Street Journal)

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Foreign correspondent Reese Erlich returns to the show to discuss his latest article "The U.S. is Permanently Occupying Northern Syria, and That's Trouble." Erlich dials back to the good old days—2014—when the United States assured Americans it would not be involved on the ground in Syria. Guess what? They ended up in a ground war in Syria. Erlich then details the immense factionalism in the region, and some of the myriad incentives different groups have. Erlich then discusses the role Israel is playing in Syria and how tensions between Iran and Israel are playing out in real time.

Reese Erlich is a nationally syndicated columnist and the author of Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect. Erlich’s revised edition of his book ”The Iran Agenda” will be published in 2018. In the meantime read his work at his website and follow him on Twitter.

Discussed on the show:

"Pentagon: Mass evacuation of Yazidis in Iraq unlikely," by Barbara Starr (CNN)

Afrin

Manbij

"Russian mercenaries killed in US strike on pro-Assad forces" (The Hill)

"Israel Backs Limited Strike Against Syria" (The New York Times)

"Obama to Iran and Israel: 'As President of the United States, I Don't Bluff'," by Jeffrey Goldberg (The Atlantic)

Costs of War (Brown University)

Golan Heights

Al-Nusra Front

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Grant Smith returns to the show to discuss his upcoming conference "The Israel Lobby and American Policy" and the recent Al Jazeera documentary "The Lobby," which he wrote about in a recent article for Antiwar.com "Will Al Jazeera Air The Lobby Before AIPAC Meets?" Smith also gives a detailed breakdown of the list of great speakers who will be presenting at the conference on March 2nd. You can buy your tickets to see Grant, Scott, and more through Eventbrite.

Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including “Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America” and “Divert!”. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C.

Discussed on the show:

"The Lobby" (Al Jazeera)

American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)

The Israel Lobby and American Policy Conference

"Will Al Jazeera Air The Lobby Before AIPAC Meets?" by Grant Smith (Antiwar.com)

Israel Project

"The Inside Story on Our UN Report Calling Israel an Apartheid State," by Richard Falk (The Nation)

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Code Pink's Jodie Evans returns to the show to discuss CodePink's "Divest from the War Machine" campaign. Evans details the confluence of congress, corporations, and civic institutions all of which support and profit from war and Code Pink's role in raising awareness and creating a robust divestment movement. Then she lets you know how you can be a part of the solution.

Jodie Evans is the co-founder and director of CodePink. To find out more about what you can do to help divest from the war movement you can email [email protected].

Discussed on the show:

Divest from the War Machine

"The Militarized Budget 2017" (National Priorities Project)

Medea Benjamin

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Peter Van Buren returns to the show to discuss the American diplomatic tensions with North Korea and his article "Don't Be Cynical About An Olympics Detente With North Korea." Van Buren explains why he thinks that the United States is not moving towards war with North Korea, how the Koreans created a serious window for diplomacy with their Olympic delegation, and reflects on his time living in South Korea in the late 1990s. Van Buren then makes the case that the U.S. is in constant search of an enemy, and why North Korea is the perfect foil.

Peter Van Buren worked for 24 years at the Department of State including a year in Iraq. He is the author of “We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People” and the novel “Hooper’s War.” He is now a contributing editor at The American Conservative magazine. Follow him on Twitter @WeMeantWell.

Discussed on the show:

Kim Yo-jong

Kim Yong-nam

"U.S. Opens Door to North Korea Talks, a Victory for South’s President" (The New York Times)

Walter Duranty

Agreed Framework

"1/21/18 Gareth Porter on Donald Trump’s Bluff Towards North Korea" (The Scott Horton Show)

“North Korea Says It Might Negotiate On Nuclear Weapons. But The Washington Post Isn’t Reporting That.” by John Schwarz (The Intercept)

“A grand bargain with China could remove North Korea’s nuclear threat — but it would destroy America’s global influence” (Los Angeles Times)

“War with North Korea would be ‘catastrophic,’ Defense Secretary Mattis says” (CBS)

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Police-reform activist Michael Bell returns to the show to discuss his efforts to reform police conduct and receive justice for his son's killing. Bell details the tragic events that led to his son's shooting in 2004 and the subsequent cover up and political masquerade. Ultimately the Bell family was awarded with a record civil rights settlement—which they used to fund their mission to change the law. In April 2014, thanks to Bell's efforts and on the back of immense public pressure, the state of Wisconsin passed a law forbidding any police department from investigating itself in police shootings.

Michael Bell is a retired U.S. air force lieutenant colonel. His website is MichaelBell.info where you can watch his documentary "Forensically Impossible" and sign his petition to re-open the case into his son's death.

Discussed on the show:

"His son was killed by police. He spent almost $65K to ask for an investigation." (Miami Herald)

"'Forensically Impossible: Anatomy of a Police Cover-Up" (MichaelBell.info)

"Air Force Col. Buys 24 Billboards To Expose Cops Who Executed His Son" (The Free Thought Project)

"Wis. bill mandates rules for officer-involved deaths" (USA Today)

"Wisconsin police fatally shot 24 people in 2017, nearly three times more than Minnesota officers" (Post Crescent)

"Wisconsin Police beat and kill unarmed man is now being awarded WPPA merit award." (The Lawrentian)

Shooting of John Crawford III

"The Insanity of Finding Fault vs. Fixing Cause," by Michael Bell and William Scott (WilliamBScott.com)

"Michael M. Bell and William B. Scott: Tragedies provide solutions to officer-involved shooting crisis" (The Cap Times)

“Tamir Rice’s Basically Reasonable Murder,” by Scott Greenfield (Simple Justice)

Graham vs. Connor (1989)

"Scott Walker: I'm the only governor to sign law requiring investigations of deaths in police custody" (Politifact)

Rosemary Lehmberg

"Big Doses of Chemotherapy Drug Killed Patient, Hurt 2d" (The New York Times)

"Milwaukee officer fired after on-duty death for the first time in decades" (WKOW)

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Author Brian Saady returns to the show to discuss his article "With the Shutdown Over, the Government Can Go Back to Suppressing Your Rights." Saady explains in laymen's terms FISA 702, which allows the NSA to monitor any American in communication with foreign targets concerning any foreign intelligence. Saady then turns back the clock and recalls how the history of the national security state has led to the current mass surveillance programs.

Brian Saady is the author of the three-part series "Rackets." Check out his website at BrianSaady.com and follow him on Twitter @briansaady.

Discussed on the show:

"The FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act Restricts Congress, Not Surveillance," by David Ruiz (EFF.org)

Parallel Construction

Stellar Wind

"5 Senators Are Filibustering an Attempt to Expand Warrantless Surveillance of Americans" (Vice)

Exclusionary rule

LOVEINT

"NSA deleted surveillance data it pledged to preserve" (Politico)

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

Ricardo Martinelli

"Accused in Spying Case, Ex-Panama President Fights Extradition in Miami" (The New York Times)

"Schumer warns Trump: Intel officials 'have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you'" (Washington Examiner)

Bill Binney

"Original NSA Whistleblower: I Saw The Order To Wiretap Barack Obama In 2004" (Business Insider)

"NSA Spying" (EFF.org)

James Bamford

"To Ted Cruz: Further Militarizing Mexico's Drug War Is a Horrible Idea," by Brian Saady (Antiwar.com)

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Investigative journalist Andy Worthington returns to the show to discuss the absurd rehabilitation of George W. Bush by the left. Worthington recalls the early days of the Bush-Cheney administration and the crimes committed at Guantanamo and the murder of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. Worthington then breaks down the various elements of the U.S. torture network and the long draw down of Guantanamo starting in the Bush days, but which has never reaching its conclusion. Finally Worthington talks about how Obama's preference for drone assassinations limited captures of enemy combatants and why Trump wants to revitalize the prison.

Andy Worthington is the author of “Guantanamo Files” and the director of “Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo.” Read his work at the Future Freedom Foundation and AndyWorthington.co.uk and follow him on Twitter @GuantanamoAndy.

Discussed on the show:

"Humane Treatment of Taliban and al Qaeda Detainees" (The White House)

Hamdan v. Rumsfeld

Extraordinary rendition

Strawberry Fields (Guantanamo)

"The Guantanamo 'Suicides'," by Scott Horton (Harper's)

Murder at Camp Delta: A Staff Sergeant’s Pursuit of the Truth About Guantanamo Bay, by Joseph Hickman

"The Torture Question," (Frontline PBS)

John Yoo

Mohammed Al-Qahtani

Camp Buca John Schwartz

"I'm Still Tortured by What I Saw in Iraq," by Matthew Alexander (The New York Times)

Taxi to the Dark Side (Alex Gibney)

Bagram Air Base

"Bagram: The Other Guantanamo" (Rolling Stone)

"07/21/16 – Sterling Thomas" (The Scott Horton Show)

Abdul Zahir

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Veteran journalist Eric Margolis returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "The Syrian Madhouse Gets Even Crazier." Margolis explains why Rex Tillerson's recent decision to maintain a long-term presence in eastern Syria has created an even bigger mess and how the Turkish-Kurdish conflict has come to a head. Scott then details the long history of U.S. support for and betrayal of the Kurds.

Eric Margolis is a foreign affairs correspondent and author of “War at the Top of the World” and “American Raj.” Follow him on Twitter @EricMargolis and visit his website, ericmargolis.com.

Discussed on the show:

"US military to maintain open-ended presence in Syria, Tillerson says" (The Guardian)

Afrin, Syria

“America, the Kurds, and History: Only a Pawn in Their Game,” by Ted Snider (Antiwar.com)

"Plan B," by Seymour Hersh (The New Yorker)

"How Ahmed Chalabi conned the neocons" (Salon)

"A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm by David Wurmser 1996" (ScottHorton.org)

"The Redirection," by Seymour Hersh (The New Yorker)

March 1949 Syrian coup d'état

The Game of Nations: The Amorality of Power Politics, by Miles Copeland

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Audio Player

Veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "Iran is Losing Influence in Iraq: Is Qassem Soleimani the Right Person?" Magnier breaks down the degree to which Iraq and Iran see eye to eye about policy, the political climate in the lead up to elections in Iraq, and explains how it came to be that the Iraqis rejected the aid of their long-term ally Soleimani. Magnier then returns to the Sunni insurgency in Iraq over a decade ago and describes the intricate web of support for the Sunni insurgents, including from their historical Shia enemies. From there Magnier turns to Muqtada al-Sadr and details his rise to power and fame in the fight against the United States. Finally Magnier discusses the recent Turkish offensive in Syrian Kurdistan and explains why he thinks the Turkish are in a very precarious position.

Elijah Magnier is the chief international correspondent at Al Rai and a political and terrorism/counterterrorism analyst. Find all his work at elijahjm.wordpress.com and follow him on Twitter @ejmalrai.

Discussed on the show:

Qasem Soleimani

Islamic Dawa Party

Haider al-Abadi

Nouri al-Maliki

Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)

Muqtada al-Sadr

Ali al-Sistani

"How much will $15 billion IMF loan really cost Iraq?" (Al-Monitor)

Afrin, Syria

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.