Sri Lanka owes 81% of its external debt to US and European financial institutions and Western allies Japan and India. China owns just 10%. But Washington blames imaginary “Chinese debt traps” for the nation’s crisis, as it considers a 17th IMF structural adjustment program.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=U52tT5hgtSk

SOURCES here: https://multipolarista.com/2022/07/11/debt-trap-sri-lanka-west-china

Real debt trap: Sri Lanka owes vast majority to West, not China

Support Pushback: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate

A recent article in The Guardian parroted a US state-funded group's evidence-free allegations that The Grayzone’s Aaron Maté -- who has reported extensively on the OPCW’s Syria cover-up scandal -- is "the most prolific spreader of disinformation" about Syria among a "network" of "conspiracy theorists."

Aaron called Guardian reporter Mark Townsend on the phone to ask him to substantiate these defamatory claims, and why he didn’t reach out before printing them. 

Guest: Mark Townsend. Reporter for The Guardian who wrote the story, “Network of Syria conspiracy theorists identified” — now updated with Aaron Maté’s response. 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/19/russia-backed-network-of-syria-conspiracy-theorists-identified

Note: to reduce repetition, the recording of the phone call between Aaron and Mark Townsend has been shortened. Townsend was contacted for comment prior to publication of this segment, but did not respond.

Grayzone challenges Guardian reporter on US state-funded Syria smears

Full 90min episode only at https://www.patreon.com/empirefiles.

We successfully got Abby access to the largest war games in the world—on Navy assault ships and press conferences with top commanders, including the Secretary of the Navy.

We got incredible footage and pressing interactions for our upcoming documentary Earth's Greatest Enemy, and are making this inside story available to everyone who has donated to the film. 

Thank you so much for your support, we are so excited about the progress we've made and what's to come!

https://earthsgreatestenemy.com

Abby at RIMPAC War Games: The Inside Story [PREVIEW]

Full 3-hour episode only at https://www.patreon.com/empirefiles

Abby & Mike have a long talk after the overturn of Roe v. Wade: how we got here and the disturbing new reality in America.

This episode is for Patrons only as a thank you for your support!

Roe v. The Empire - Analyzing the Aftermath [PREVIEW]

Texans revolted against Mexico’s rule in 1836—because Mexico was moving to abolish slavery. The fascist element in the state has links into modern day, and the history of Texas is crucial as this decade unfolds.

Brian is joined by Dr. Gerald Horne, who holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston and is the author of many books. His newly published book, “The Counter Revolution of 1836: Texas slavery & Jim Crow and the roots of American Fascism,” is available through International Publishers.

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.

Gerald Horne Discusses His New Book: The Counter Revolution of 1836

A deadly fire broke out over the weekend in Cuba from a lightning storm that struck near an oil storage facility and caused an explosion. At least one person has been confirmed dead, and dozens more are injured and missing. This tragic natural disaster could have happened in any country, but is even harder on Cuba due to the U.S. war against them...including many of Trump’s policies that Biden hasn’t touched.

Nicole Roussell is joined by Gloria La Riva, coordinator of the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee and one of the co-founders of the Hatuey Project at hatueyproject.org.

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.

Disaster Strikes Twice: How Lethal U.S. Policies Target Cuba Even During Natural Disasters

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard  Wolff analyze the Senate's spending bill entitled the "Inflation  Reduction Act" for the effect it could have on inflation. It falls far  short of what’s desperately needed to address the overlapping crises  causing so much suffering for working people.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author  & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his  work at rdwolff.com.

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.

High Prices, Low Wages: The Senate's New Inflation Act Is Class Warfare

The US military spends more than the next 9 biggest countries combined. The expected 2023 Pentagon budget is $840 billion. Donald Trump and Joe Biden have spent $220 billion more than even cold warrior Ronald Reagan.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=h0BZso9Yb30

Research by Stephen Semler at https://stephensemler.substack.com

US military spending eclipses the world - and grew at record levels under Trump and Biden

In this special crossover episode, Rania Khalek of Dispatches sits  down with Brian to talk about the impact of severe repression on the  socialist, communist and Black Liberation movement in the United States  during the past decades.

Rania Khalek’s Dispatches program is on  BreakThrough News, and is available on video at  YouTube.com/BreakThroughNews and as a podcast on Google, Apple, and  anywhere you get your podcasts.

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. This month it's on Wednesday, August 31, at  12pm ET/9am PT. Register now on Patreon!

Infiltration, Violence, Deportation: How the State Weakened and Split Socialism in the US

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how the corporate-owned media has been consumed with wall-to-wall coverage of the death of the Queen, fawning over the British monarchy. But the lifestyle that’s being celebrated is one based on plunder and empire. While their “subjects” live in poverty, the royals live a life of total luxury – all because they were lucky enough to be born into the right family.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

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.

Queens, Kings and Capitalism

Bolivia’s leftist President Luis Arce used his platform at the United Nations General Assembly to propose a revolutionary 14-point program to transform the world.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kqzrvo_vC68

Translation and more info here: https://multipolarista.com/2022/09/27/luis-arce-un-bolivia-14-point-program

Our report ‘War on drugs has failed’: At UN, Colombia condemns ‘addiction to money and oil’: https://multipolarista.com/2022/09/24/war-drugs-un-colombia-gustavo-petro

At UN, Bolivia presents revolutionary 14-point socialist program to transform world

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

Disaster Strikes Twice: How Lethal U.S. Policies Target Cuba Even During Natural Disasters

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

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