want to listen to

In an escalation in the cold war against China, the heads of the U.S. FBI and UK MI5 spoke jointly in London on the “serious threat“ that they say the Chinese government poses to Western businesses. Meanwhile, New York City released a PSA on what to do in a nuclear war, where the main recommended tactic is to go inside. What is behind the sensationalist language and where have we seen it before?

Brian is joined by Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and activist with Pivot to Peace.

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Behind the Propaganda: U.S. & British Intelligence Ramp Up Threats Against China

Whitney is joined by Unlimited Hangout contributor Stavroula Pabst to discuss Peter Thiel, the man behind Trump's VP pick J.D. Vance and the CIA-linked architect of key aspects of the technocratic surveillance state.

Show notes: https://unlimitedhangout.com/2024/07/resources/show-notes/the-thiel-verse-with-stavroula-pabst/

Originally published 07/25/24.

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The Thiel-Verse with Stavroula Pabst

"Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wrote in The New York Times in 2014. "NFL Betting Promos & Bonuses | Top NFL Betting Sites & Offers for Week 9 NFL Odds & More," USA Today offered readers in 2023. "Bookmakers break down NBA, NHL playoffs, big bets," reads a June 2024 Fox Sports headline.

It's not an exaggeration to state that, since its legalization in 2018, sports betting and other forms of sports gambling have all but taken over American sports media. Increasingly, over the last six years, leading sources on sports news, including ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, and NBC, have signed multi-million and billion-dollar agreements with major players in the sports betting industry, and launched suites of gambling-themed verticals, podcasts, and series designed to urge viewers and listeners to keep placing their bets, no matter the social costs.

These media platforms claim to reason that, amid a shifting media landscape where cable channels struggle to adapt to the streaming era and legacy newspapers hemorrhage advertising revenue, partnerships with sports gambling companies help keep them afloat. But what does it mean when sports media are beholden to betting companies? Given the predatory nature of the industry, and the clear conflict of interest of sports media also being gambling pushers, what are the social and political costs to shifting sports from an admittedly already very flawed entertainment business, to a widespread peddler of increasingly unsustainable and gimmicky gambling opportunities? On this episode, we examine how sports media in the U.S. have increasingly embedded themselves in the exploding online sports betting industry. We look at the corrosive effect this has on sports coverage, the glaring conflict of interest this generates, and the moral hazards of a media climate (and state and local governments) that welcomes with open arms a regressive tax pushed by a notoriously rapacious and exploitative industry. 

Our guest is, friend of the show, The Nation's Dave Zirin.

Episode 206: How the Gambling Industry Swallowed Sports Media Whole

Abby and Robbie Martin go for a whole two hours covering the RFK Jr dead baby bear blow-up, Peter Thiel's involvement in the Israeli occupation and mass slaughter of Palestinians, and much more.

Note: the voice speaking in the opening of the podcast is generated with AI using a service called Jammable.

RFK Jr Elite Depravity, Peter Thiel Infrastructure For Genocide

You wanted it we provided it check it out. 

The picture Matt refers to in the second half of the episode: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/atmosphere-at-hamish-bowles-ghislaine-maxwell-and-lillian-news-photo/609338670?adppopup=true

Episode 83: Jeffrey Epstein (Part 2) feat. Matt Christman and Nick Mullen

Clint Lorance had been in charge of his Army platoon for three days when he ordered them to kill three Afghans on a dirt road. After a second-degree murder conviction, Lorance was pardoned by Trump, hailed as a hero. His troops suffered a different fate. This episode originally published July 2, 2020 on Post Reports.

“The Cursed Platoon,” Part 1

News and views about the world for those who want to change it, with Brian Becker

Behind the Propaganda: U.S. & British Intelligence Ramp Up Threats Against China

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker