Lawrence Douglas joins us to discuss today’s court appearance by James Comey who pleaded not guilty and hopes to have the case dismissed on grounds that the prosecution was vindictive and that a US attorney was unlawfully appointed to take over the case. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with Robert Pape about Trump’s apparent determination to provoke a “war within” as he sends troops from Texas to the streets of Chicago and calls for the arrest of the governor of Illinois and the mayor of Chicago. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

America’s Sea Change of Views on Israel Two Years After October 7 @lincolnmitchell.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | Lawrence Douglas - The James Comey Show Trial by Trump and Bondi Gets Underway | Robert Pape - Trump's "War Within" is Underway and It Will Be a Long One | @lincolnmitchell.bsky.social - America's Sea Change of Views on Israel Two Years After October 7

Professor M. Victoria Murillo @vickymurillo.bsky.social joined @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social to break down the complex trade dynamics between the US, Argentina, and China. Listen to her interview here: www.backgroundbriefing.org

NOW at backgroundbriefing.org | William Hartung - The Role of $21.7 Billion in U.S. Military Aid to Israel | @garrettepps.bsky.social - Judge Blocks Deployment of Nat’l. Guard to Portland Calling it "Martial Law" | Cory Doctorow - Have You Noticed the Internet Suddenly Got Worse?

Then we speak to Cory Doctorow / @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy about which government policy choices made it possible for a few tech companies to become monopolies, illegally spy on us, and leave us with a worse, less useful, internet thats destroying our mental health. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with @garrettepps.bsky.social about Trump's apparent attempt to provoke a riot in Portland to justify invoking the Insurrection Act, and the courageous Trump appointed judge who has for the time being blocked him deploying the National Guard. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined by William Hartung to discuss the numbers and costs, in human life, homes, communities, and bombs dropped in two years of Israel’s war on Gaza, and how $21.7 billion in US supplied arms is only part of the story. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

NOW at backgroundbriefing.org | Dr. Allen Frances - Is Trump Crazier Than Ever? | @vickymurillo.bsky.social - Trump Bails Out Argentina Who Then Undercuts US Soy Farmers Causing Crisis | @chuck77.bsky.social - US Has Gained 839 Billionaires in 36 Years and They Own $7.8 Trillion

We speak with @chuck77.bsky.social about his new book, Burned by Billionaires which reveals 905 American billionaires (up from 66 in 1989) own $7.8 trillion in wealth compared to the bottom 66 million American households which have a combined wealth of $4.1 trillion. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined by @vickymurillo.bsky.social to understand why Trump is giving Argentina’s far right president a $25 billion bailout, at the same time Argentina has undercut US Soy farmers and is causing US to loose $60 billion in Soy sales. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with Dr. Allen France about Governor Pritzker of Illinois is calling for the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment which would require the cabinet to agree that the president is not mentally fit to continue in office. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Steven Simon join us for an assessment whether there will be a Gaza peace deal in the next few hours. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We’re joined by @katherinestewart.bsky.social discussing Trump’s second coup after January 6 underway and the next Christian nationalist phase of the Trump/Vance corrupt takeover of the US. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

As Trump’s deadline for a Gaza peace deal approaches, we speak with James Carroll about his article at @prospect.org, “Jews, Muslims, and this Long, Cruel War.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | Steven Simon - Will Peace Happen in Gaza and Trump Get His Nobel Prize? | @katherinestewart.bsky.social - The Second Trump Coup Is Underway and Will We Have an Election Next November? | James Carroll - What Happens After This Long, Cruel Is Over?

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | @lizagoitein.bsky.social - Trump and Miller Broaden Their War on Democrats They Label Communists and Terrorists | @thelisagraves.bsky.social - How the Genial Phony John Roberts has Rewritten the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights

We speak with @thelisagraves.bsky.social about her new book chronicling the last twenty years of the John Roberts Supreme Court and how this genial phony has radically upended voting rights, anti-corruption, gerrymandering, gun regulation, and reproductive choice. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with @lizagoitein.bsky.social about our increasingly unhinged president and his shadow-whisperer Stephen Miller attempting to label Democrats communists and terrorists and weaponizing the government shutdown to make cuts in what he calls “Democrat Agencies” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

A typically provocative and comprehensive discussion by @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social puts me through my paces of more or less evertything Comey and more. Thanks, @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social !

where i argue that democrats really don't have a choice but to try- cause there is no way you can cut a deal with trump- his word is no good. his is a liar and a con man

They have no choice. You gotta play the cards you have been given

I discussed my new book w/ @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social, #ScienceUnderSiege, with the great @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social of KPFK/ KPFA public radio #BackGround briefing: soundcloud.com/user-830442635 (was part of pledge drive with free book giveaways!)

“Ignorance is the Key Ingredient That Keeps MAGAworld Believing Trump's Lies and Absurdities” | I discussed my new book with @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social, #ScienceUnderSiege, with @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social #BackgroundBriefing: soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

NOW at backgroundbriefing.org | @kenklippenstein.bsky.social - New National Security Directive Outlaws Common Beliefs of Over Half of USA - @stephenmarche.bsky.social - Trump Is like a Latin American Caudillo | @sashaabramsky.bsky.social - Trump Uses Shutdown to Inflict Trauma on Public Workers

We speak with The Nation’s @sashaabramsky.bsky.social to assess the plight of public service workers who are being targeted by Trump and Vought using the government shutdown as an excuse to inflict "trauma" by firing them. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with @stephenmarche.bsky.social about the prospect of American Civil war which Trump and Hegseth seem to be calling for saying to the nation's gernerals we are fighting "the enemy within" while suggesting Democratic-led U.S. cities should be training grounds. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined by @kenklippenstein.bsky.social to discuss the National Security Directive issued by Trump which would outlaw his political opposition as "Anti-Christian" and "Anti-American," using language which easily includes over half of the country's common beliefs soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | Robert Kuttner - How Trump Will Take Advantage of the Government Shutdown | @stschrader1.bsky.social - Trump Tells Our Admirals and Generals That the Enemy is Within | @michaelemann.bsky.social - Ignorance is the Key Ingredient in MAGAworld

We speak with @michaelemann.bsky.social and look into Trump’s war of science and expertise with faith-based ignorance the required ingredient to keep the MAGA coalition believing the lies and absurdities issuing forth from the administration. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speaker with @stschrader1.bsky.social about Trump telling hundreds of our Admirals and Generals today that the enemy is within and that Democratic-led U.S. cities should be military training grounds. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined by Robert Kuttner to discuss the government shutdown hours away which Trump is blaming on the Democrats for wanting more money to spend on healthcare for illegal immigrants. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

[email protected] - Can Democratic Senators Convince the Public You Can't Make Deals With Republicans Acting in Bad Faith soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

James Thurber - Trump Meets With Democratic Leaders to Avoid a Shutdown Making it Clear He Won't Compromise soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

[email protected] - Trump Promises Eternal Peace in the Middle East With a Peace Plan Hamas Has Yet to Sign soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | @zivguy.bsky.social - Trump Promises Eternal Peace in the ME With a Peace Plan Hamas Has Yet to Sign | James Thurber - Trump Meets With Democratic Leaders to Avoid a Shutdown | @jamespmanley.bsky.social - You Can't Make Deals With Republicans Acting in Bad Faith

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | @harrylitman.bsky.social - Trump's Consiglieres Unleashed to Jail the Mob Boss's Enemies | David Adler - An Activist in a Flotilla Heading to Gaza That Israel Has Attacked | Robert Malley - A Senior ME Negotiator on the Pursuit of Israel/Palestine Peace

We’re joined by @harrylitman.bsky.social discussing how the mob boss in the White House is exposing the DoJ as nothing more than his private law firm with consiglieres unleashed like junkyard dogs to hound, harass and jail Trump's enemies. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We’re joined by David Adler from a boat with the flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza which has already been attacked by Israel with drones and is heading into greater danger as it crosses the Mediterranean. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with Robert Malley about his new book, Tomorrow Is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | Sidney Blumenthal - MAGA Stalinists at the Head of Trump's White House | Mark Hannah - Trump Leaves China to Fill the Void After the US Withdraws From the World Body | @jacobsilverman.com - Silicon Valley's Merging of Techno and Christo-Fascism

Sidney Blumenthal joins us to discuss the MAGA Stalinists at the head of the Trump White House reshaping the country into a white Christian nationalist nation dominated by oligarchs and Tech fascists. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We’re joined by Mark Hannah discussing the unheralded role of the United Nations as Trump takes America out of the world body he is busy trashing only to have China fill the void. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We’re joined by @jacobsilverman.com, author of Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley, discussing Silicon Valley's merging of techno-fascism and Christo-fascism as well as his article at @thenation.com, “Elon Musk’s AI Grift.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | Richard Parker - Could Our Democracy Be Over Before We Get to Vote in 2026? | George Beebe - Zelensky Warns the World is "in the Most Destructive Arms Race in History" | Chris Whipple - Harris' Book Claims Biden's Inner Circle Was Responsible For Return of Trump

We speak with Chris Whipple about Kamala Harris’s new book which makes some strong accusations against Biden’s inner circle and his decision to run for re-election. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with George Beebe about President Zelensky’s speech today at the UN in which he warned that the world is in “the most destructive arms race in human history” and that “There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined by former Ramparts editor Richard Parker to discuss Jimmy Kimmel’s return to the air with someone who has himself been the target of government crackdown on free speech. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Dulcie Leimbach joins us to discuss the embarrassing performance by the leader of the free world at the UN General Assembly today in which he trashed the rest of the world and whined about how he didn't get the contract to renovate the UN. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...