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

The Biden administration is turning up the heat against China yet again, as news leaks that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is traveling to Taiwan in August—another in a series of majorly escalatory acts.

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.

Dangerous Game: Pelosi Provokes China Over Taiwan

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iran, signed a $40 billion energy cooperation agreement, and pledged to strengthen their economic and military alliance with China. Moscow and Tehran also called to drop the US dollar and use local currencies for trade.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=n60R8NooXa0

SOURCES: https://multipolarista.com/2022/07/23/iran-russia-dollar-china-alliance

Iran & Russia pledge to cut US dollar from global trade, strengthen China alliance

Despite the horrendous heat wave that’s been hitting Europe and parts of the US, the Biden administration has yet to take truly meaningful action, and reports of his possible announcements this week don’t appear to meet the gravity of the climate crisis. What could the government be doing and how do we get there?

Brian is joined by Tina Landis, an organizer in the environmental and social justice movements and the author of the book Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism, which she is currently on tour nationwide to discuss.

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.

Socialist Solutions: Climate Change Ravages the Planet

Since Bernie Sanders’ failed attempt to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, there has been a reinvigoration of the left in the USA. This uptick has also been visible in the media, and nowhere more so than with the rise of Hasan Piker – arguably the most influential political voice on livestreaming service Twitch. Aaron Bastani caught up with Hasan to talk about the future of the left, how much he despises Nancy Pelosi, the difference between personal and private property, and how much he benches.

Novara Audio: Radio for a Different Politics

Downstream: The World's Biggest Political Streamer w/ Hasan Piker

The NHS is at breaking point, barely anyone can afford their energy, and now we’re running out of clean water. After 12 years of Tory rule, is there a single thing in Britain that works?

Plus: Owen Jones demolishes Tory lines on energy prices; and Liz Truss comes out with more complete nonsense.

With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.

_________________________________________________________

Support Novara Media for as little as £1 a month:

https://novaramedia.com/support

Novara Audio: Radio For A Different Politics

TyskySour: The Tories Have Broken Britain

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the student debt crisis. With an announcement expected imminently on the fate of the national freeze on student debt payments, pressure is mounting on the Biden administration to not only extend the moratorium, but also cancel a substantial amount of the crushing debt burden tens of millions of people in the United States are under. How did we end up in a situation where borrowers have accumulated over $1.7 trillion in debt just because they wanted to get an education?

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.

How U.S. Capitalism Buries Students in Debt

Russia and Ukraine agreed to a negotiated settlement to end the conflict in April, but British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened to stop the peace deal, and the US and EU escalated the proxy war to try to weaken Moscow.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=LpJMqs1yG1A

SOURCES: https://multipolarista.com/2022/09/03/west-peace-proposal-ukraine-russia

West killed peace proposal to end Ukraine war, Russia supported negotiated settlement

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

The Ukraine war is escalating—dramatically. Russian President Putin & U.S. President Biden both made major and dramatic speeches in the last day, after a successful and U.S.-backed Ukrainian counter-offensive earlier in the week. What did Putin and Biden reveal in their addresses and where is this headed?

Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, the host of the BreakThrough News podcast The Punch Out, co-host of the BT live video show The Freedom Side, and a writer, including the article “Should we really blame NATO for the Ukraine war?”: https://www.liberationnews.org/should-we-really-blame-nato-for-the-ukraine-war/

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.

Ukraine War Escalates—And Nuclear War Threats Grow

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

How U.S. Capitalism Buries Students in Debt

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker