Putin has no interest in peace. So then why does the Trump administration continue to negotiate with him? Joining us to break it down wherever you stream your podcasts is Tamar Jacoby. on.soundcloud.com/2GJb4qR51ucb...

Yesterday, we unpacked the Trump administration's racist response to the shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. and the CIA-run “Zero Units” the shooter once worked with. Joining us is @robertyoungpelton.bsky.social an author, filmmaker, and journalist. on.soundcloud.com/eJBag2q4t0NV...

Former U.S Assistant Attorney General @harrylitman.bsky.social joins us today to discuss Linsey Halligan's disqualification and subsequent dismissal of the cases against James and Comey. Listen wherever you find your podcasts. on.soundcloud.com/HNNPqq0JpNxJ...

The video of six Democratic Senators and members of Congress reminding U.S. soldiers to ignore illegal orders sent shockwaves through the Trump administration last week. Joining us to discuss it is Tom Mockaitis. Find anywhere you stream your podcasts. on.soundcloud.com/Nb3jADg9NG6U...

How the "socialist" handled the "fascist." Breaking down President Trump's mysteriously warm welcome of Zohran Mamdani is Sasha Linden Cohen and Peter Drier. Stream wherever you find your podcasts. on.soundcloud.com/Ry8HoCAzTMtT...

Trump’s “peace plan” was written by… Russia? Yesterday, @robertbenson92.bsky.social joined us to discuss how Trump has sold out Ukraine in a plan that entirely succumbs to Russia and Putin’s wishlist. on.soundcloud.com/4BgCRusIqlLY...

Epstein's deep connections with the American elite is symptomatic of a the larger problem of elites ignoring the problems of everyday Americans. Joining Ian is @anandwrites.bsky.social. Stream at the link our bio.

1 in 13 dollars donated in the last election cycle came from America’s 902 billionaires – and 80% of those donations went to Republicans. Joining us is William Cohen. Stream anywhere you listen to your podcasts. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

The Kremlin peace deal being pushed on Ukraine is chock full of Putin's wish list. Yesterday, @andersaslund.bsky.social joined us to discuss the deal in detail. Full interview at the link in our bio or anywhere you stream your podcasts.

The Trump family has monetized the presidency in ways we have never seen before. This is increasingly evident after The White House state visit of Saudi Arabia’s previously-shunned Crown Prince. Joining us is Senior Editor at Forbes @danalexander21.bsky.social on.soundcloud.com/fh7y4fev2Gfu...

Yesterday, Trump called For the execution of Democratic Senators and Congressmen and Women who are military and intelligence veterans. Joining Ian Masters to discuss this dangerous rhetoric is Lucian Truscott IV. Find anywhere you stream your podcasts. on.soundcloud.com/EOiYXBstVXgb...

Trump has signed a new EO creating an AI Litigation Task Force, signaling a federal push to block states from setting their own protections. The move directs Bondi to challenge state regulations designed to safeguard consumers. Joining us is J.B. Branch. on.soundcloud.com/ffKvY5826Klh...

Alexander Sammon joins us to discuss a counter resistance ICE group in LA's South Bay. Full interview at the link in our bio.

Trump is weak – as is apparent through the split in MAGA. Now, a new succession fight is emerging as Carlson and Vance test whether the post-Trump era has already begun. Joining us to discuss the jockeying to succeed Trump is Jacob Heilbrunn. on.soundcloud.com/XldWl5qA2ShU...

Chief Ukraine Correspondent for the @financialtimes.com @christopherjm.ft.com joins lan Masters to discuss the U.S. and Russian backed peace plan in Ukraine. Full interview at the link in our bio.

Trump is pressuring a weakened Zelensky to accept a sellout peace plan that is Putin’s wish list. Yesterday, @christopherjm.ft.com, the @financialtimes.com chief Ukraine correspondent sat down to discuss what the U.S. backed peace plan could mean for Ukraine. on.soundcloud.com/RCpQD0uZlSk8...

Can Trump really just dismantle the Department of Education? Republic Report's @davidhalperin.bsky.social says not. The former director of the American Constitution Society makes one thing clear: only Congress has the legal right to dismantle a government agency. on.soundcloud.com/LCpNyPPfNhUF...

A massive loophole in the Epstein Transparency Act will effectively allow President Trump to go back and classify previously unreleased information. Joining Ian to break it down is @kenklippenstein.bsky.social Listen wherever you stream your podcasts.

Meta prevailed in court today as a judge ruled its earlier monopoly claims don’t hold now that Facebook trails TikTok and YouTube. @brendanbenedict.bsky.social joins Ian Masters to break down the decision. Listen wherever you stream your podcasts. on.soundcloud.com/TldAFKLa3itD...

Trump today hosted a full White House welcome for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, dismissing the murder and dismemberment of a Washington Post critic as “things happen.” Join Ian and @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social's @sarahleah1.bsky.social anywhere you listen. on.soundcloud.com/Smlyzynr4vQ4...

Lawmakers today overwhelmingly approved the release of the Epstein files, but a loophole in the bill empowers Trump’s DOJ to seal off sensitive documents and continue hiding them from the public. Hear Ken Klippenstein break down the loophole anywhere you stream your podcasts. backgroundbriefing.com

Ian spoke with Ben Freeman @quincyinst.bsky.social about his new book coauthored with William Hartung, The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We spoke w/ @jonathanlarsen.bsky.social about how Trump, Rubio and Hegseth are poised to go to war with Venezuela based on ridiculous intelligence from a couple of shadow warriors and threat fabricators financed by the Overstock CEO behind the “Kraken” election deniers soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Trump’s bogus Venezuela intel. Suspected Russian sabotage in Poland. And the ignored guns-vs-butter debate. Join Ian Masters and @jonathanlarsen.bsky.social, @pomonacollege.bsky.social's Mietek Boduszyński, and the @quincyinst.bsky.social's Ben Freeman to break it down. www.backgroundbriefing.org

With AI threatening future employment on a massive scale, particularly among young people already indentured by student loan debt, Sasha Cohen speaks with @aaronregunberg.bsky.social about his @newrepublic.com article, “Americans Hate AI: Will the Democrats Join Them?” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with @faizapatel.bsky.social about her article at @brennancenter.org, “Trump’s Orders Targeting Anti-Fascism Aim to Criminalize Opposition.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with @drboguslaw.bsky.social about the latest release of Epstein emails which implicate Trump further and what our intelligence services knew about Epstein’s ties to foreign leaders. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | @drboguslaw.bsky.social - Epstein's Ties to Foreign Leaders & How Much the CIA Has an Epstein Problem | @faizapatel.bsky.social - In Targeting an Org That Does Not Exist, Trump Can Target Anyone | @aaronregunberg.bsky.social - Will AI be an Issue in the Next Election?

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | @matthewpetti.bsky.social - A Journalist Who Revealed the Email Trove Linking Epstein With Israeli Intelligence | Louise Shelley - Zelensky's Former Media Partner on the Lam With $100 Million Stolen | Chris Preble - Does the US Need Trump's Security Pact With Saudi?

We discuss the cascading fallout from the release of Epstein’s emails with @matthewpetti.bsky.social who was among the first to reveal the leaked trove exposing Epstein’s connections to Israeli intelligence. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with Louise Shelley about the scandal swirling around Zelensky whose former media partner is accused of stealing $100 million from the Ukrainian energy sector which has been under Russian attack and faces widespread power cuts going into winter. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

With the White House busily preparing a defense pact ahead of Saudi Crown Prince MBS’s Oval Office visit next week, we speak with Christopher Preble about his article, “Trump doesn’t need to buy Saudi loyalty with a security pact.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

10 months out from Trump's return to office, Americans are seeing the president's foreign policy in a new light. The results aren't good for Trump. Jonathan Guyer talks about IGA's latest polling data with @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social. Listen now.

If you're not listening to his daily show "background briefing" ur missing exceptional investigative reporting. This show goes into more detail ab connections to Ghislane's father Robert Maxwell, Israel & Epstein. It's much deeper than sex trafficking girls with Trump.

We’re joined by Fred Turner discussing essay at @thebaffler.com on the migration of big tech from Silicon Valley to Texas as well as the fusion of monarcho-capitalism and Christo-fascism. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We’re joined by Jonathan Guyer discussing a new poll, “Reckless Peacemaker: How Americans See Trump’s Foreign Policy.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

With Congress releasing incriminating emails from Epstein expressing surprise that Trump had not been tied to his and Maxwell’s sex trafficking, we speak @ninaburleigh.bsky.social about how the “smoking gun” yet to be fired is Epstein’s ties to Israeli intelligence. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Now at backgroundbriefing.org | @ninaburleigh.bsky.social - Epstein's Ties to Israeli Intelligence | Fred Turner - Silicon Valley's Migration to Texas with Monarcho-Capitalism Embracing Christian Nationalism | Jonathan Guyer - A New Poll On How Americans See Trump's Foreign Policy

Alexander Keyssar says the playbook is clear: never admit defeat, then call wins “illegitimate.” His fix: overwhelming turnout + tight legal defense. Full conversation on Background Briefing w/ Ian Masters. #Democracy #Elections #KPFA #Trump #politics @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social

NOW at backgroundbriefing.org | John Sweeney - Trump Tries to Shake Down the BBC for a $Billion | @michaelemann.bsky.social - How the COP Climate Talks Are Sabotaged From Within | @olgalautman.bsky.social - Does Trump Take Orders From Putin? Either Way, He's Destroying the U.S

We speak with @olgalautman.bsky.social about whether Trump wants to be like Putin or is taking orders from Putin since, either way, he is destroying the United States at a remarkable pace. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

With the COP 30 climate talks underway in Brazil's Amazon, we speak with climate scientist @michaelemann.bsky.social about how the annual COP meetings are sabotaged from within by petrostates Saudi Arabia and Russia and now the US. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined from London by John Sweeny, an ex-BBC journalist who delivers the scoop on Trump threatening to sue the BBC for a billion dollars in a trumped up case like the flimsy lawsuits against his enemies Comey, James and Senator Schiff. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

NOW at backgroundbriefing.org | @jeetheer.bsky.social - Senate Democrats Cave to Open the Government | Joshua Landis - Trump Cozies Up to Syrian President Despite his Past in Al Qeda | @jekavanagh.bsky.social - Hegseth Wants Defense Contractors on "Wartime Footing" as He Plans to Attack Venezuela

We speak with @jekavanagh.bsky.social about Hegseth’s anouncement that defense contractors need to get on a “wartime footing” as he moves closer towards plans to attack Venezuela. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined by Joshua Landis to discuss Trump’s meeting today with the Syrian leader Ahmed as-Sharaa who only a year ago had a US bounty of $10 million on his head but is now getting the golden handshake in the Oval Office. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We are joined by @jeetheer.bsky.social to discuss how 8 Senate Democrats defected to end the government shutdown, with very little in return from Republicans. We discuss the growing calls inside the party for Chuck Schumer to step down from leadership. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We’re joined by @dgraham.bsky.social discussing his article at The Atlantic “Donald Trump’s Plan to Subvert the Midterms is Already Under Way” and Trump’s call to kill the filibuster announcing, “If we do it, we will.. never lose a general election.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

With the government shutdown now in a record 40th day as 13,000 air traffic controllers and 55,000 TSA agents work without pay, we speak with @jeffwise.bsky.social about his article at @nymag.com, “Get Ready For An Air Travel Meltdown.” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Our producer Sasha Cohen is joined by @jwmason.bsky.social following up on the youth-driven Mamdani victory for Mayor of NYC and his recent article at @dissentmag.bsky.social, “What Can Zohran Accomplish?” soundcloud.com/user-8304426...