Scheer Intelligence
Scheerpost
Scheer Intelligence features thoughtful and provocative conversations with "American Originals" -- people who, through a lifetime of engagement with political issues, offer unique and often surprising perspectives on the day's most important issues.
High-Noon Saturday: Restarting the Gaza Genocide?
Welcome to another edition of Scheer Intelligence. I’m your host, Robert Scheer, and today marks a significant new chapter for our program as we transition to Scheerpost, where we’ll continue our mission of exploring vital issues with depth and clarity. After nearly a decade of broadcasting through KCRW, we’re excited to bring you more frequent conversations, allowing us to engage with the news as it unfolds.In this inaugural episode under the Scheerpost banner, I’m joined by the esteemed Ray Mc
How Zionism went from protecting Jews to threatening them
On this final episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast hosted on KCRW but continuing on ScheerPost.com, host Robert Scheer welcomes Larry Gross, author and Professor Emeritus of Communication at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The two cover Zionism, specifically through the lens of Gross, who lived in Israel and personally witnessed the country’s evolution from its earlier claim to progressive idealism under its Labor party founders to the brutalizing occupation of
It’s all kicking off with China
Tariffs, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric cars: there is much to be said about the evolving relationship between China and the United States. While Donald Trump’s recent tariffs on the country are just the latest story, it is only a fraction of the news coming out of China that directly affects the U.S. and the future prospect for business and the government. Joining host Robert Scheer from China on this episode of Scheer Intelligence is Geopolitical Economic Report editor-in-ch
For once Trump gets it right
This is the political season to be thankful for small favors of optimism, and in this edition of Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer and guest Joe Lauria, editor of the Consortium News website, are excited to have found a gift of striking significance to what remains of the practice of serious journalism on the internet. It is Donald Trump’s delivery on a promise in his inauguration address that “After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expressio
Did Mike Davis get it right in making “The Case for Letting Malibu Burn”?
The wildfires in Los Angeles county have brought a multitude of difficult and prevailing questions to the forefront of the region as well as the system of capitalism. Joining host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast is Jacobin Magazine columnist Ben Burgis to discuss writer Mike Davis and how his book, “The Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster,” (February 1998) serves as a kind of prognosis for everything going wrong in Los Angeles today.
The
China is not our enemy
The American saber-rattling against China has been increasing almost as fast as China’s own development in the past few years. China’s economic prosperity and international influence is undeniable yet American politicians continue to treat their rise as a threat to their global hegemony. Joining host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence is Megan Russell, a writer, academic and CODEPINK's China is Not Our Enemy Campaign Coordinator.
Scheer is quick to point out the intergeneration
Another Christmas on Death Row
*This episode originally aired on December 21, 2018.This is part two of a two-part interview. To listen to part one, click here.In part two of this two-part interview, Death Row inmate Kevin Cooper, once coming within four hours of execution, details how he copes with the daily torment of impending death as his legal team fights to prove his innocence with new exonerating evidence Gov. Jerry Brown has refused to allow to be examined.
For the past 33 Christmas holidays, Kevin Cooper has inhabited
Assassinating the Myths of Healthcare
Much needed attention has been brought upon the for-profit health insurance industry in the wake of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Personal stories about people’s tragic experiences involving not only UnitedHealthcare but many other insurance companies have spelled out a deeper issue that resonates across the American political spectrum.
Sean Morrow, a journalist and writer for More Perfect Union—a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on working class issues—has gained sign
UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination exposes divergence of America's justice system
The assassination of Brian Thompson, the former CEO of UnitedHealthcare insurance company, has prompted a national reckoning of how corporate entities commit crimes on a daily basis and are not only not punished but rewarded for their profit-making prowess. Many point to Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin, as an example of vigilante justice, murdering someone who is responsible for the deaths of thousands who are denied medical care.
Joining host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intell
Lena Herzog: You cannot win a nuclear war
Though one can debate the reasons, statistics and precedent of nuclear war, what is often left out of the conversation is the reality of it: destruction of the world as a whole. In her new immersive art experience titled, “Any War, Any Enemy,” immersive artist Lena Herzog throws this reality literally right in the faces of viewers. The film can uniquely be experienced via virtual reality as well as a traditional screen and it plainly shows what nuclear war looks like.
Herzog begins the film with
Juan Cole: The antidote to Israeli propaganda
Gaza today symbolizes nothing but death, destruction and oppression. Israel’s genocide and scorched earth bombing campaign has not only wiped out its people but the rich history that stretches back thousands of years. Juan Cole, University of Michigan history professor and renowned Middle East historian, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast to clearly lay out the history behind Gaza through his newest book, “
Dr. Warren Hern: Abortion in the age of unreason
The election came and went, and despite Democrats’ heavy emphasis on abortion rights, the election of Donald Trump makes it clear that the rights of women across the country are in grave danger. Joining host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence to spell out this danger and talk about his new book, “Abortion in the Age of Unreason: A Doctor's Account of Caring for Women Before and After Roe v. Wade” is “America's Abortion Doctor” Dr. Warren Hern.
Hern possesses vast experience wit
Michael Tracey: Why working class Americans of all races voted for Trump
Reporting on the election often involves being glued to computer screens dictating the polling numbers around the country and using statistics revolving around race and gender to make assumptions about how the country is politically swaying. Journalist and online host Michael Tracey actually went out to many prominent swing states throughout the election and spoke to various swaths of voters, engaging in what their vote really means and how ordinary Americans view newly appo
These 10 Companies Run Our ‘Democracy’
Amidst the hype, excitement and nervousness of the election, the bigger picture of what the United States is and how it operates often gets lost on people. Many think that choosing one or another candidate will significantly alter their future to better represent their values, but in reality there is only one group of people that matter the most: those who Dr. Peter Phillips, professor emeritus at Sonoma State University, calls the “titans of capital.”
In his new
The enviable life of a true American publisher
Fewer people in the world had access to the personal moments experienced by Steve Wasserman, Heyday Books publisher, former LA Times Book Review editor and former editor at several of the nation’s most prominent book publishing houses. In his latest book, “Tell Me Something, Tell Me Anything, Even If It's a Lie,” he details his close encounters with a handful of some of the most significant people in the 20th century, including Jackie Kennedy, Susan Sontag, Christopher Hitchens, Gore Vidal, Barb
It’s time to get rid of big agriculture
Any urban street in America is guaranteed to be lined with popular fast food chains, the readily available nature of their products being the main attraction, with people barely giving a thought to the process behind getting the food from the farm to the table — or more likely, the take-out box.
Joining host Robert Scheer on this week’s Scheer Intelligence are two people who dedicated their recent film, “Food and Country,” to understanding this process behind food in the United States and how b
Juan Cole: Where is the Middle East Heading?
In the 365 days following the events of Oct. 7, the situation in the Middle East is as complicated as ever. Israel’s genocide in Gaza agonizingly continues, and its invasion of Lebanon and subsequent retaliation at the hands of Hezbollah and Iran has added more fuel to the fire. Tensions are escalating and Middle East expert and writer Juan Cole joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast to explain its precedent and what the future may hold.
The extremism of the
Everything your kids won’t learn in school about our democracy: Can parents fill the void?
At a time of book bans and the withholding of critically important struggles in our history, our education system has increasingly failed to provide our young with the tools to become engaged citizens in our much celebrated experiment in democracy. This miseducation of the young has been vastly accelerated by the shocking erosion of civic education in the standardized testing that separates winners and losers in the ranking of our meritocracy.
This reality has been made painfully obvious to
How deep does the 'Deep State' go?
In the midst of election season, conversations revolving around the levers of power become more frequent, and in the case of a U.S. presidential election, that often includes debates around the so-called “deep state”. Joining host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence, Professors Charles Derber and Yale Magrass discuss their new book, “Who Owns Democracy?: The Real Deep State and the Struggle Over Class and Caste in America.”There are many interpretations of what the 'deep state'
Can Israel decide who qualifies as Jewish?
The genocide in Gaza has brought the issue of Israel — and what it represents for Jewish people — into the forefront of Jewish communities worldwide. The powerful influence of the Israel lobby on Israel’s image in the United States makes this issue highly contentious and deeply complex.
In this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast, host Robert Scheer and Lara Friedman, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering peace between Israel and Pale
Richard Silverstein: Israel, ‘The far right extremist state that I can no longer identify with’
Israel and its lobby today try to conflate the state with Jews around the world, that it speaks for Jews and encompasses the entire diaspora. Richard Silverstein, author and journalist of the Tikun Olam blog, says that this couldn’t be further from the truth. As the genocide in Gaza rages on, along with the killing of Israeli citizens and the mass torture of Palestinians, the support for Israel among Jews, particularly the younger generation, will continue to falter as the state itself plunges d
The CIA: The world’s first secret empire
The CIA’s destructive role in world politics since the end of World War II as a secret rogue spy agency controlled by unelected intelligence officers has become so ubiquitous that it can be joked about. But behind the jokes lies a far darker reality: the agency's imperial ambitions have fueled a legacy of death and destruction in the name of expanding American power. Hugh Wilford, author and professor of history at California State University Long Beach, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode
The CIA: The world’s first secret empire
The CIA’s destructive role in world politics since the end of World War II as a secret rogue spy agency controlled by unelected intelligence officers has become so ubiquitous that it can be joked about. But behind the jokes lies a far darker reality: the agency's imperial ambitions have fueled a legacy of death and destruction in the name of expanding American power. Hugh Wilford, author and professor of history at California State University Long Beach, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode
The real decision makers will make sure your vote doesn’t challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar that strangles the world economy
The “big club” that “you ain’t in,” as George Carlin famously put it, is increasingly visible as the presidential election rolls on toward November. Politicians and the donor class that controls them have made it known to the public that they are not representatives of the majority but rather the small elite minority. Nomi Prins, financial historian, author and former Goldman Sachs managing director, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast to describe exactly
A “meaningful” election where neither candidate condemns U.S.-sponsored genocide?
It is around that time in an election year where the typical platitudes and ultimatums exclaiming it is “do or die,” “now or never” are being thrown around. The overarching narrative from the past two elections remains the same: the Democrats are not great: they bolster the military industrial complex, make empty promises to working people and maintain sometimes identical policies to their right wing counterparts on issues like immigration … but we must choose them or face the wrath of Donald Tr
“Sly Civility,” A Reagan-appointed radical educator’s heroic effort to save the system from itself
Those seeking systemic change often aim to radically overhaul the existing structure and directly challenge the rot they see within. Although history has shown this to be successful at times, it is usually extinguished by the powers that be and perhaps more pragmatic approaches could have brought about the sought change. This is the story told by Dr. Donna J. Nicol, an author and academic, about Dr. Claudia Hampton and her journey to preserve affirmative action. Nicol joins Scheer Intelligence
Modernizing Nuclear War
Seventy-nine years ago, the Truman administration dropped atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, instantly killing approximately 100,000 innocent civilians. Host Robert Scheer calls these horrific incidents among the major instances of terror ever committed in human history.
Bill Hartung of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft joins Scheer Intelligence to discuss the history and legacy of nuclear weapons in relation to the military industrial complex, as a $2 tri
Seeking asylum for truth telling
Any threat to the status quo within the American empire has led to the censorship, jailing and escape of the dissidents brave enough to stand against it. One may think of Edward Snowden’s asylum in Russia or Julian Assange’s refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London as recent examples. However, the history of dissidents fleeing American persecution runs deep. Joining host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast to discuss his new book, “Flights: Radicals on the Run,” is
Netanyahu’s speech betrays historic Jewish values
Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress proved to be a testimony of the U.S. government and its politicians’ stance on the genocide in Gaza. With standing ovations, smiling handshakes and overall warm welcome by a large number of Washington politicos, the strength of Israel’s influence in the U.S. is clear. Richard Silverstein, author and journalist of the Tikun Olam blog, which covers the Israeli national security state, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcas
Never forget Julian Assange
Although Julian Assange is free and home in his native Australia, his story and decade-long suffering at the hands of the U.S. government must never be forgotten for the sake of the survival of the First Amendment. In this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast, host Robert Scheer is joined by Kevin Gosztola, who runs The Dissenter newsletter and has been reporting on the Assange case and whistleblowers in the U.S. for more than a decade. Together, they underscore the significance of the Ass
NATO: From Cold War defensive coalition to global military behemoth
The 75th anniversary celebrating the creation of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, creates an opportunity for those in the war machine to double down their commitment to war and for peace advocates to amplify their calls for non-violence. David Swanson, co-founder and executive director of World BEYOND War and long-time peace advocate, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence. Swanson talks about his new book with Medea Benjamin, “NATO: What You Need To Know,”
The Supreme Court criminalizes being homeless
The Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow cities to ban people from sleeping outdoors presents a major shift in the perception of poverty and homelessness in the U.S. and what the Eighth Amendment represents. Clare Pastore, a law professor at the University of Southern California, joins her faculty colleague Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast to break down what the decision means and expand on her article published in The Conversation.
Pastore explains that the l
Max Blumenthal: The Washington Post’s attack on The Grayzone
Everyday the Washington Post’s “democracy dies in darkness” grows evermore ironic and detached from the reality of what the publication—and legacy media as a whole—has become. In the latest clash between independent and mainstream press, one of the country’s largest remaining newspapers accused—and then retracted—a claim that The Grayzone had received payments from the Iranian media.
Dennis Kucinich explains new Automatic Draft Registration legislation being considered by Congress
The last time the United States saw large scale student anti-war protests was in response to the Vietnam War in 1968 and today against the genocide in Gaza. The last time the United States saw automatic draft registration was also during the Vietnam War era and today. Long serving Congressman Dennis Kucinich joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence to break down what the new automatic draft registration provision, which was passed by the House and now under consideration b
Ron Kovic: ‘A dangerous country: An American elegy’
Paralysis from the chest down as a result of serving in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War may sound like devastation beyond reconciliation, but for Ron Kovic, it became a transformative and politically enlightening experience. The two-tour veteran amplified his activism a few years after being discharged from the army with honest and insightful writing about what serving in this war was truly like. His best-selling memoir, “Born on the Fourth of July,” was published in 1976 and later was
Navigating the deadly maze of the prison industrial complex
Being a 140-pound 19 year old, who had not yet had to shave is a daunting time to enter an American prison with a life sentence, especially when the system has no interest in rehabilitating you or helping you reintegrate into society. The greed of the prison industrial complex squeezing slave profits out of imprisoned people through the exploitation of the 13th amendment and the brutal system set up to limit opportunity usually leaves most who walk through the gates hopeless and abandoned.Dorsey
Guaranteed income: The first step towards guaranteeing human rights in America
In this episode of Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer is joined by author Natalie Foster, president and co-founder of the Economic Security Project, a network dedicated to advancing a guaranteed income in America and reining in the unprecedented concentration of corporate power.
“Never Again” must apply to the the genocide of the Palestinians
Jordan Elgrably reminds people of the crucial stories behind those being bombarded daily in Gaza.
US traffic of guns turns productive Mexicans into desperate refugees
The solution to Trump's exploitable border crisis is to end the US trafficking of guns for drugs that turns productive Mexicans into desperate refugees.
An establishment scholar’s indictment of the West’s ‘blind support for Israel’s slaughter in Gaza’
The recent missile exchanges between Iran and Israel stirred fears of World War III, and while the action has cooled down, the uncertain path still looms with tension. Esteemed author and Middle East scholar Trita Parsi joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence to discuss what these attacks could mean going forward.
Ray McGovern: One more presidential briefing with “President Scheer”
Ray McGovern once again joins host Robert Scheer for a “theatrical” episode of Scheer Intelligence. Scheer plays a stern and uncompromising president receiving an uncomfortable briefing from McGovern on the most pressing issues of the day, from Ukraine to Israel to China.
Is an American parliament the answer to our rotting democracy?
On this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast, host Robert Scheer welcomes Maxwell L. Stearns, a constitutional lawyer and professor at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, to discuss his book, “Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy.”
It’s a secret only when Uncle Sam says it is
In light of recent developments in the Julian Assange extradition case, former CIA officer John Kiriakou joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast, to delve deeper into the contradictions within the United States government and intelligence agencies regarding the disclosure of classified information and the veil of secrecy they maintain.
Does Zionism lead to genocide?
In this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast, host Robert Scheer and The Grayzone editor-in-chief Max Blumenthal contextualize the events of Oct. 7 and afterward in relation to the history of Israel and Palestine.
“The banning of TikTok is an attack on the free market”
On this episode of Scheer Intelligence, David Greene, the Civil Liberties Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, joins host Robert Scheer to discuss the new bill that would ban the massively popular online social media platform, TikTok, in the U.S. In their conversation, they point out the hypocrisy of singling out one Chinese company for mass data collection, when there’s no evidence that TikTok collects data in any different way, or for any other purpose, than other social media compa
"LatinoLand": Complex and powerful
Author Marie Arana, former book editor and columnist for the Washington Post and the inaugural literarydirector of the Library of Congress, joins today’s episode of Scheer Intelligence with host Robert Scheerto discuss her new book, LatinoLand, to answer the question — what does it mean to be Latino? Whilemany know that Latinos often come to America, many forget that they have, in fact, always been inAmerica.
The immiseration of the American worker is a bipartisan political scam
On this episode of Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer and Les Leopold discuss Leopold’s new book, “Wall Street's War on Workers: How Mass Layoffs and Greed Are Destroying the Working Class and What to Do About It” that describes how both political parties created the economic suffering that Trump feeds on. The critical question the book asks is: Did the nightmare of the world economy have to go this way? Or is it really a failure of capitalism? Or is it a failure of people manipulating capi
Israel does not speak for Jews like us
On this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast, Heyday Books publisher and former LA Times book editor Steve Wasserman and host Robert Scheer commit themselves to this conversation as Jews who have experienced these questions firsthand through their families in addition to having explored and reported on this topic throughout their careers.
As Palestinians continue to die, the history of their betrayal by the “Free World” tells us why
Juan Cole, a renowned history professor at the University of Michigan and expert on the Middle East and South Asia, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast to tackle inconvenient truths ignored by the media in the history of Israel and Palestine. This includes the conflation that criticizing the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is somehow a form of Holocaust denial.
The Un-Oppenheimer: The story of a teenager who sought to save the world
Journalist and filmmaker David Lindorff explores the story of Ted Hall, who, at the age of 18 years old, leaked the secrets of the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union in an attempt to secure a balance in the world’s most dangerous arms race.
His book, “Spy for No Country: The Story of Ted Hall, the Teenage Atomic Spy Who May Have Saved the World,” makes the case that due to the courageous work of Hall and fellow Los Alamos scientist Klaus Fuchs, the idea of mutually assured destruction was born and
The kidnaping of the century: How Patty Hearst became a revolutionary
One of the biggest stories of the twentieth century, big enough to displace Watergate from the front pages of newspapers nationwide, takes the form of a novel in an attempt to use fiction as a vehicle to expose the truth of this media spectacle. Journalist and author Roger D. Rapoport joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast to discuss the case of Patty Hearst and how Rapoport's new book, “Searching for Patty Hearst,” ventures into fiction in order to reveal th
Ray McGovern: The Imprisonment of the Palestinian People Was Not an Act of God
Israel’s current war on Gaza and the Palestinians draws pessimism and hopelessness, reminding two veterans of its origin in another such war in the region in 1967, The Six Day War, which resulted In Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence to dissect the relationship Israel has maintained and exploited ever since that imperial conquest with support of the United States, and how the future of A
Four Deaths That Shaped Modern American History
The 1960s represented a pivotal time in American history, one that embodied vast change and influence in shaping what the country has become. From the Civil Rights movement to the Vietnam War to the moon landing, society was in a period of steadfast innovation, self reflection and self determination. The specter of death, however, could not escape the memory of the time, including the deaths of the millions of civilians and soldiers in Southeast Asia and the thousands of victims of racial violen
Netanyahu’s Palestinian Genocide Is Also a Betrayal of the Jews
Apart from the death, destruction and suffering bestowed upon the Palestinian people in Gaza by the hands of the Israeli government, an ideological battle is taking place around the world, especially in the United States, where Jewish people face discrimination, prejudice and attacks on their identity by the hands of other Jews.
The Never Ending War on Terror
The revelations of people like Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and John Kiriakou have allowed the world to know about the sly and insidious turn Western governments took following 9/11. From torture programs to mass surveillance to extrajudicial captures and killings, it has become clear how far these governments have poured away their own values and beliefs.
‘If I was to be buried, I would want that on my stone’
Norman Lear, who died this week at the age of 101, visited the KCRW studio in Santa Monica, CA six years ago to sit down and talk with host Robert Scheer in this two-part interview about Lear’s life through his autobiography, “Even This I Get to Experience.” Scheer said of the book:
An Autopsy on Israel’s Historic Assault on the Palestinians
This week’s episode of Scheer Intelligence welcomes someone with extraordinary courage and experience not only in Palestine but the Middle East as a whole. Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Kuwait-born, Canada-based Palestinian doctor, who also serves as the medical director at Gila, a global humanitarian healthcare organization, provides an indispensable account of what he knows is Palestine.
Settler Colonialism, Thanksgiving and Gaza
American historian, writer, professor and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz uses her studies on indigenous peoples’ history and her work with Palestinian diplomats and the United Nations to show how historic “settler colonialism” like in the United States relates to Gaza today. Dunbar-Ortiz makes the case, on this Thanksgiving edition of the Scheer Intelligence podcast, that inherent in that settler colonialism are the various definitions of genocide.
Humanity Has Failed Gaza
Amidst the carnage and political debacle surrounding Gaza and Israel, it can be easy to discuss the conflict with a macro view, where families, hospital workers, UN workers and journalists become statistics and political perspectives dominate. On this episode of the Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer talks to the author of what Scheer claims are “arguably the two most important books that deal with the humanity of the Palestinian people.”
Abortion Pills Go Global
After Ohio’s recent vote to enshrine the right to have an abortion into the state’s constitution, host Robert Scheer dives deeper into one of the underappreciated and underreported aspects of the fight for abortion rights on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast.
Palestine’s Obituary
Historian Juan Cole minces no words in offering a grave and sobering account of the conflict in Palestine and Israel on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast. In a comprehensive reflection of the history and current day situation in the Middle East, Cole uses his expertise as one of the leading historians of the region to paint a picture of the war. He asserts that in all definitions of the words, Israel is actively committing war crimes, like the United States in Iraq, a genocide and
The Palestinians play David to Israel’s Goliath
“There's no room for complexity in the American media when it comes to Israel and Palestine,” said Robin Andersen, the award-winning author and professor emerita of communication and media studies at Fordham University, to host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast.
In the almost three weeks since the October 7th attacks in Israel, the coverage around the war in the Middle East is as alert as ever, except only for one side, Andersen and Scheer discuss. The real and fab
What About the One State Solution With an Equal Vote for Every Palestinian and Israeli?
Palestinian American journalist Mnar Adley makes the case for one democratic nation with each Palestinian and Israeli having the equal right to vote on their governance on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast.
Do Republicans Want Americans to Starve?
The topic of feeding those in need doesn’t sound like it should be controversial but the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, in the United States is bizarrely under attack by Republicans in the current Congress. Joining host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast is Christopher Bosso to discuss his newest book, “Why SNAP Works: A Political History—and Defense—of the Food Stamp Program.”
Labor Is Back and Standing Tall
Labor has once again emerged as a hot button issue in the United States, so much so that even the likes of Joe Biden and Donald Trump have been spotted lurking around picket lines and union events popping up across the country. To talk about the rise in the American labor movement, Harold Meyerson, editor at large for The American Prospect, joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of the Scheer Intelligence podcast. Meyerson has a distinguished career reporting on labor issues for multiple publi
Where Did It All Go Wrong for the Internet?
The Wild West days of the Internet are over, conclude Scheer Intelligence host Robert Scheer and his guest, The Grayzone founder and editor Max Blumenthal. They recall a time when one could find scorching exposés of anti-establishment news on sites like Salon, with the potential to reach millions of readers, that has evolved into a tightly controlled and intensely surveilled space dominated by a handful of Silicon Valley monopolies. Inconvenient information doesn’t stand a chance and will more o
John Kiriakou: Never Forget America’s Torture Legacy
Torture. It stands as one of the pillars of American exceptionalism. While it was a major part of the war on terror—one worth hundreds of millions of dollars—a selective amnesia allows it to slip through the pages of history. John Kiriakou suffered for attempting to solidify the record on a torture program that the U.S. has excused itself from countless times through Hollywood propaganda, innumerable redactions to official documents and silencing of dissidents.Kiriakou joins host Robert Scheer o
The Four Billionaires Who Want to Control the Universe
In Jonathan Taplin’s new book, “The End of Reality: How Four Billionaires are Selling a Fantasy Future of the Metaverse, Mars and Crypto," the internet innovation expert delves into activities of the gang-of-four powerful oligarchs: Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg and Marc Andreesen, breaking down their increasing profits and infinite ambitions to control and influence domestic and global affairs while sending our technology innovation in a profit-driven, dystopian direction, corrupting
Why is The New York Times Burning Peace Activist Jodie Evans at the Stake
The New York Times has revealed what the future could potentially look like in an impending war with China. Through conjecture and innuendo-filled reporting, America’s “paper of record” went out of its way to attack one of the country’s most fierce peace movement fighters — Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans.
The Liberal Darling That Wasn’t: UC Berkeley’s Troubled Past
The University of California at Berkeley is widely considered one of the most progressive and historically transformative universities in not only the United States, but the world. This is printed all over pamphlets written for prospective students and talked about endlessly by tour guides giving people the privilege to walk through such a prestigious site. What isn’t discussed, however, is the other side of that history, the one mired by involvement with the military industrial complex, with th
Junk Science Is Putting Innocent People in Prison
The perception of certain types of trial evidence as cutting-edge, foolproof, and reminiscent of Hollywood can inadvertently sway juries into assuming the guilt of countless individuals. Techniques such as bite marks, blood splatter analysis, ballistics evidence, and others appear to present irrefutable indications of involvement in criminal activities. However, concealed within this seemingly conclusive cache of evidence lies a substantial amount of what is known as junk science. This is why Ch
Veteran CIA Analyst on Russia Ray McGovern Has Never Been More Scared of Nuclear Catastrophe
A retired CIA expert on Russia and rare voice of reason coming from the bowels of the American deep state, Ray McGovern joins host Robert Scheer on another edition of the Scheer Intelligence podcast. With world peace, nuclear weapon prudence and film critique on the agenda, McGovern and Scheer delve into a host of relevant issues stemming from the war in Ukraine and the history behind it. From Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” to CNN's strange truthful broadcast on Ukraine’s counteroffensive, t
The Constitution Still Betrays Women
On this episode of Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer is joined by Professor Julie C. Suk, an eminent expert in constitutional law and a professor of law at Fordham University. Together, they delve into the challenges women face in society, which stem from the Constitutional framework despite the century old passage of the 19th amendment that belatedly granted women the right to vote.
A Story More Provocative Than Oppenheimer?
The world has somehow reached a moment where the use of nuclear weapons has possibly never been closer and the interest in nuclear weapons has possibly never been higher. With the release of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” a compelling dialogue emerges concerning the utilization of nuclear weapons, as the biopic delves into the life of the father of the atomic bomb and his profound doubts about the barbaric weapon he unleashed on the world. An even more captivating narrative about dissent amo
The NSA Is It’s Own Worst Enemy
There has been no journalist that has been more effective in penetrating the self-serving secrecy of the NSA and the security state than James Bamford, the Emmy-nominated filmmaker and best-selling author. He joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of Scheer Intelligence to discuss his latest book, Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America's Counterintelligence. While Bamford has engaged in his share of muckraking on the NSA in his previous works, his new book focuse
Decriminalizing Being Human
Despite the United States accounting for around 5% of the world’s population, it houses nearly a quarter of the world’s prison population. This often discussed metric begins to make sense when examining the major cities like Los Angeles, New York and others, where things like poverty and mental illness are often considered “crimes.” Host Robert Scheer digs into this phenomenon in Los Angeles on this week’s episode of Scheer Intelligence with Melissa Camacho, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU o
The Era of Nukes and No Diplomacy: “Crossing a Rubicon to Armageddon”
The Doomsday Clock continues to tick toward nuclear war, but at its fastest pace ever. Professor Jackson Lears, a former naval officer serving on a U.S cruiser carrying tactical nuclear weapons, considers the current moment more frightening than at any time during the Cold War. Then, there was intense alarm for the fate of the earth and the survival of the human race. Today, rather than diplomacy or negotiation, talk revolves around new weapons shipments, disappointment in U
Ray McGovern: Russia’s ‘Coup’ Is Actually Biden’s Disaster
Understanding foreign policy in Russia is complicated. Over the past weekend, the media said Russia was undergoing a coup and then they weren’t. The leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was a brutal military figure, then suddenly a liberator of Putin’s hold on Russia. These entanglements in narratives require an impartial judge, someone who can make sense of it for the way it is. After years of doing this on a daily basis for the president of the United States, Ray McGovern joins host
Norman Solomon: Bipartisan Obsession with War
In War Made Invisible, journalist Norman Solomon explains that Biden is as guilty as Trump in ushering a potential nuclear holocaust.
The Century Long War on Cannabis Is a War on Science
Harvard physician Peter Grinspoon fights back against years of war on youth and communities of color.
You Sure You Want to Eat That Sentient Being?
Peter Singer knows it is difficult to make a lonely stand against the mega corporate food processing machine. To make meaningful changes to diet, to care more about where food comes from and to consider the vast laundry list of problems that comes with the international food industry requires a great deal of attention to detail and resourcefulness. Singer, through his persuasive and forgiving prose, makes it easier for folks to get in the know about what a trip to the supermarket really entails.
In American Prisons, You’re Nothing More Than a Number
Often overlooked, ignored and damned, the cycle that throws people in the prison system and spits them out is a calamitous yet integral part of the American experience. People who find themselves at the short end of the stick—usually poor, uneducated and of a minority race—find themselves worse off, excommunicated from society and filled with more trauma and neglect. Keri Blakinger was not poor, was highly educated and white, yet found herself in the same spot and was treated in the same cold an
The China Dragon Roars Back Whether the US Likes It or Not
The Western world, in the midst of being primed for a war with China, often has a limited understanding of who this supposed enemy is. Is it a communist force ready to challenge the U.S.’s capitalist and hegemonic structure? Is it an economic ally providing an indispensable factory floor for our corporate interests? Or is it somehow a combination of both? Joining host Robert Scheer this week on Scheer Intelligence is Suisheng Zhao, professor and director of Center for China-U.S. Cooperation at t
Even at Ground Zero of the Climate Crisis Denial Remains the Norm
It is so easy for people to throw trash on the floor, waste food and water and engage in endless consumerism without being truly connected with the Earth around them. Without witnessing a first hand account of the destruction to the natural environment from the persistently damaging habits of society, there is little incentive to change. The scary and all encompassing problems of climate change will devastate the planet indiscriminately regardless, and it is because of this that writer, editor a
The Teapot Dome scandal: When democracy worked to hold the fat cats accountable
Over 100 years ago, the United States had corrupt politicians who could actually be prosecuted for their crimes in gaming the economy. As mythical as it may seem, the history of a small band of radical and gutsy senators who were willing to put it all on the line for justice can serve as inspiration for those who have only ever seen their political representatives bought and paid for. In Crooked: The Roaring '20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, a Crusading Senator, and the Birth of the Ame
Interpreting for the U.S. Army of the Deaf
It has been almost two years since the distressing scenes of packed airports, people chasing after departing U.S. aircraft and the Taliban emerging on top were witnessed with the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan. Amidst the commotion and confusion, what was certain was the fear within one type of Afghan citizen, the interpreters of the American military. Without them, U.S. forces would have been an army of the deaf, engaging in pivotal and deadly operations in a country thousa
Is Tik Tok a U.S. Deep State front?
Alan MacLeod’s reporting on the influx of former government employees at TikTok, Meta, Twitter and other social media companies helps define the scope of the U.S. censorship regime.
It's Called the American Dream Because You Have To Be Asleep to Believe It
A thorough dissection of America’s capitalist mythology reveals the sham to which lots of people continue to subscribe, despite growing nationwide suffering.
Iran 1953: The Birthplace of Western Backed Coups
The story of a U.S. backed coup destabilizing a country for the benefit of Western capitalist interests is one so often repeated that each instance is a sort of classic novel in the dystopian series from the 20th century on. The tale of the Iranian coup in 1953 is indeed a classic, as it was the first of its kind. With its share of infamous characters—mainly the CIA and British MI6—as well as its lasting impact on the region, its citizenry and the world, the coup in ‘53 proved to be a monumental
America’s Slavery-Ridden Origin Story: Facing the Uncomfortable Reality
Writer Dionne Ford dives deep into her ancestry and confronts the complexities of being a Black woman in America with the blood of both the enslaved and the enslaver.
Private Opulence and Public Squalor in the US
The Federal Reserve is not working for the people but for wealthy individuals and corporations that can afford to have a say in the rules.
It’s China’s Turn To Give Peace a Chance
A major shift in global relations has recently transpired. To some in America, it may look like the second coming of the Evil Empire. To much of the rest of the world, it’s a welcome chance for a renewed multipolar order, where the sovereign desires of nations are respected and new collaborations can be established. The deal brokered between Iran and Saudi Arabia, brought together by China, to restore diplomatic relations, is a clear example of that. The 20-year anniversary
Looking at the skeletons inside the NFL’s closet
Renowned sports journalist Dave Zirin talks about his latest documentary, which explores the unjust, unfair and deeply racist history of the NFL coupled with its commitment to nationalism, militarism and corporatism.
The Nightmare Espionage Act That is Killing Julian Assange and the First Amendment
The use of the century old Espionage Act in the Julian Assange case continues to set the chilling precedent of a bleak future in American journalism, a precedent that endangers even those outside US borders.
Ray McGovern: The Last Chance to Avoid World War III?
After a year of war and carnage in Ukraine, the fighting continues, and there are no signs of it slowing down. In fact, military budgets have increased, the weapons shipments have multiplied and the number of countries involved has reached world war levels. In a time of conflicting narratives, misinformation and rampant propaganda, history proves to be one of the few sources of wisdom left to predict and caution what the future holds.
The US Is Sending Its Worst Down to Mexico
Violent drug cartels often dominate headlines about Mexico but the Ayotzinapa case reveals a more sinister involvement from the US side of the border.
The Birthplace of Dystopian America
Cop City Atlanta is a privately funded, local community surveillance campus that has already taken the life of one protestor as a harbinger of the police state on the horizon.
Nuclear War Imminent?
Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel William J. Astore who served in the nuclear missile command fears the end of human life through nuclear war is more likely than in the Cold War era.
Jane Olson: Storytelling Exposes Humanity
Numbers and facts only tell half the story of some of the world’s most horrendous circumstances.
Ex-CIA Agent John Kiriakou: The Deep State’s Attack on Dissent Beginning With MLK
The FBI, CIA, NSA and other agencies have historically exploited their power but their limits appear boundless in the modern age.
Israel Fascist?
Israel’s sharp turn to the extreme right has startled American Jews.
Dr. Warren Hern: Humans are a metastasizing cancer terminating all life on the planet
Physician and anthropology scholar Dr. Warren Hern delves into some of the most upsetting aspects of human behavior as a fatal threat to all life on earth in the near future.
Fact-Checking Jesus
The Rev. Madison Shockley discusses the historical, political and controversial misconceptions of the Christmas story.
You know gay rights are mainstream when Biden picks up the Rainbow flag
Larry Gross, author of the LGBTQ civil rights treatise, “Up From Invisibility,” honors the achievement of the new same-sex marriage law with only feint appreciation for the president who signed the bill.
Who’s crazy, you or your nation?
Dr. Gabor Maté’s new book strips back the realities of the neoliberal system that has been plaguing the health of US and the world citizens.
Peace Candidate Matthew Hoh: War is a cancel culture
How Democrats, their pro-war Republican cohorts and the media canceled the U.S. Senate campaign of ex Marine and US foreign policy official Matthew Hoh.
The US spends almost as much on healthcare as the rest of the world combined and has one of the worst outcomes
Esteemed physician Dr. Stephen Bezruchka explains why spending the most in the midst of inequality and flawed politics produces an unhealthy prognosis.
Joel Beinin: Israel’s Elections Spell More of the Same for the Country, Only With an Even Uglier Face
Historian Joel Beinin uses his personal experiences to paint a picture of Israel, past and present, as a country and an idea.
Highly regarded poet Javier Zamora tells the riveting story of his hellish nine-week journey as a nine-year old child
In this week's Scheer Intelligence interview, as in his New York Times bestselling book, “Solito: A Memoir,” celebrated poet Javier Zamora cuts through the nasty dehumanization about undocumented immigrants with the focused memory of his perilous journey as a child refugee attempting to join his family under the most vulnerable of circumstances. With their lives overturned by the U.S.-sponsored war in El Salvador, Zamora's parents had found refuge in California, but it took eight years and
Is Elon Musk the best or the worst for Twitter?
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Legal Director Corynne McSherry discusses with host Robert Scheer the internet control issues raised by Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter and what may lie ahead for it and other social media giants.
Is Dennis Kucinich the last Democrat for peace?
For 16 years the former Democrat congressman from Cleveland advocated for peaceful alternatives to the madness of war, but now members of his party in Congress are permitted only the voice of the warmonger.
How the Federal Reserve and allied central bankers wrote the obituary for competitive capitalism
Former Goldman Sachs managing director Nomi Prins exposes the role of the Federal Reserve and other western central banks in creating a world economy for the superrich while enabling the impoverishment of much of the world’s population
Eduardo Carreon: Adopting the mindset of the oppressor
Indigenous Los Angeles psychology graduate student Eduardo Carreon analyzes the mindset of disgraced former LA City Council leader, a Latina whose racist bile scorned Black and gay colleagues and others, including indigenous members of her own Latinx community.
Fake journalism is only the first draft of fake history
35-year teaching veteran Jim Mamer explores the uncomfortable areas of history most schools fail to teach and what it means about the state of the world today.
Zachary Karabell: China Is not the enemy - it is America’s indispensable economic ally
Author Zachary Karabell pleads that despite the militaristic noise, China and the U.S. share an economic dependency that would rupture the domestic economy of both nations if severed.
Biden’s peace for Afghanistan is a humanitarian disaster
The U.S. withdrew its troops and with them all humanitarian aid while freezing Afghanistan’s foreign reserves, leading to mass deprivation for Afghanistan’s innocent civilian population.
A Somali boy’s escape from Somalia’s harrowing genocide leads him to his dream paradise—and the brutality of American racism.
On this week’s Scheer Intelligence, Boyah Farah, a young refugee from Somalia’s hellish civil war describes his family’s narrow escape from death and their arrival in the placid suburbs of Boston. But life was more a nightmare than the dream he had imagined.
Russian and western leaders squandered Mikhail Gorbachev’s legacy. Now we’re all paying the price.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, editorial director and publisher of The Nation, remembers the Russian leader—whom she called a friend—as a committed pro-peace thinker, on this week’s “Scheer Intelligence.”
What killed America’s peace movement?
CODEPINK founders Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans are rare voices of conscience confronting the bipartisan warmongers.
The terrifying research nuclear powers don’t want you to see
Climate scientist Alan Robock, one of the authors of a groundbreaking Nature Food paper on the little-discussed impacts of nuclear war, talks to Robert Scheer about his work.
The menace that is Amazon and Walmart
Columbia Law School professor Kathryn Judge talks to Robert Scheer about the exploitation of monster behemoth retail companies revealed in her new book “Direct.”
That time the KKK tried to kill Paul Robeson
Joel Whitney, the author of “Finks,” joins Robert Scheer to discuss a little-told episode in the socialist actor and singer’s life and why it’s seemingly been erased from our collective memory.
Katie Halper: ‘Trump broke liberals’ brains’
The comedian and host of two popular progressive podcasts offers her take on why the American left keeps getting things wrong.
Fist bumping the dictator we pretend to love
Former Mideast CIA operative John Kiriakou discusses his recent trip covering Biden in Saudi Arabia and what he’s learned about America’s “special relationship” with the country.
Saving broke and broken America, one town at a time.
Michelle Wilde Anderson speaks to Robert Scheer about how four working class towns struggling with poverty and broke governments still managed to progress.
Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic, author of “Born on the Fourth of July” and subject of Oliver Stone’s iconic Vietnam War film, will mark his 76 th birthday watching a war that portends the end of civilization
At a time when the war that could end civilization escalates, peace activist Ron Kovic marks his July 4 birthday sounding the alarm about the true costs of war, a sentiment shared by his girlfriend of 16 years, TerriAnn Ferren.
Has America lost the key to democracy?
The authors of “Let’s Agree to Disagree” offer a guide to fostering critical thinking and dialogue in a society that seems to have forgotten how to engage in either.
Craig McNamara reveals the truth behind the lies of his father, Robert McNamara
The author of “Because Our Fathers Lied” lays bare agonizing truths about America his father helped to shape.
Ralph Nader: Is there any hope left for Democrats?
The former presidential candidate speaks to “Scheer Intelligence” host Robert Scheer about the shreds of democracy left in America.
Can the U.S. handle a multi-polar world?
A veteran foreign correspondent returns from three decades covering the rise of the East to grapple with an America that is more dangerously parochial than ever.
Immigrants are still building America, no matter what our lawmakers say
A new book documents the extent to which American prosperity is founded on immigration—and raises questions about how we treat immigrants today.
It’s scoundrel time in the good ol’ USA
Critics of the West’s role in the Ukraine war, such as CIA veterans Ray McGovern and John Kiriakou, are being ostracized from the American media landscape.
Will the Ukraine war end without destroying all life on the planet?
Veteran award-winning journalists Patrick Cockburn and Robert Scheer, who met in Moscow in 1987 when Mikhail Gorbachev optimistically promised peace, now fear a descent into nuclear war hell.
No such thing as dissent in the age of big tech
Lifelong journalist Joe Lauria joins Robert Scheer to discuss how companies like PayPal, YouTube and Facebook are quashing non-stream reporting and opinions on Ukraine.
The American women and children we all conveniently forget
Jorja Leap joins Robert Scheer to discuss the plight of women who have been incarcerated and their struggles to reenter society.
Putin is already using his nuclear weapons
Pentagon whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg argues the Russian president may not be deploying his nukes but is using them effectively as a threat.
American dissent on Ukraine is dying in darkness
When it came to the Ukraine conflict, Professor Michael J. Brenner did what he’s done his whole life: question American foreign policy. This time the backlash was vitriolic.
Sanctions on Russia may overturn the world economy as we know it
Economic expert Ellen Brown talks to Robert Scheer about the financial revolution Vladimir Putin has started and what the global economic future could look like as a result.
Biden denies CIA torture victims their day in court
CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou comments on the legal case of five Guantanamo Bay torture victims and what its outcome could say about the US.
What you really need to know about the threat of nuclear war
For decades after the Cold War ended, the threat of nuclear war seemed to fade into the global background. Climate change took center stage as the existential crisis of our time, and it seemed for a few brief years that treaties and diplomacy, however flawed, had led nuclear powers to set aside the possibility of using nuclear weapons again. (To date, it is only the U.S. that has detonated nuclear weapons—both in Japan—and it continues to be the country with the largest nuclear arsenal by far.)
The man who turned America’s economy into a literal casino
Mary Childs, the co-host of NPR’s “Planet Money,” joins Robert Scheer to discuss her new book, “The Bond King.”
What role has the US played in the Ukraine crisis?
As Russia’s attack on Ukraine wages on, and Ukrainian civilians die daily, the fog of war has seemingly been clouding more nuanced analysis in the United States, argues “Scheer Intelligence” host Robert Scheer. To get more perspective on the historical context of the current conflict, Scheer invites former CIA analyst Ray McGovern to discuss the role the U.S. and NATO have played in Ukraine. McGovern has long been an outspoken critic of what he’s coined as the American Military-Industrial-Congre
Chairman Greg Sarris on the reincarnation of the American Indian
Greg Sarris, Tribal Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, explores the urgent need for an American future rooted in indigenous knowledge.
A “deep moral rot" is at the heart of the Navy SEALs
Journalist Matthew Cole joins Robert Scheer to discuss his hard-hitting book, “Code Over Country,” about SEAL Team 6, the most celebrated unit in the Navy SEALs elite special forces unit.
Is It too late to protect our privacy in the internet age?
Leading privacy lawyer Neil Richards joins Robert Scheer to discuss his new book “Why Privacy Matters” and whether we can still claw back some control over our personal data.
American exceptionalism is on deadly display in Ukraine
Oliver Stone, creator of the Showtime documentary series “The Putin Diaries,” speaks to Robert Scheer about the escalating crisis in Ukraine.
America gets Islam all wrong. Muslim Americans pay the price
Middle East expert Juan Cole talks about lesser known peaceful Muslim movements and how the U.S. maligns a Muslims at home and abroad.
Michael Ratner was a revolutionary lawyer unlike any other
The late human rights lawyer took on some of the most important cases of our time, including defending Guantanamo Bay detainees and representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Meet the real Hunter S. Thompson, one of the most distinctive American voices of the past century
Peter Richardson joins Robert Scheer to discuss his latest book, “Savage Journey,” on the legendary Gonzo journalist.
Remembering Joan Didion, a "singular" California writer and a "helluva lot of fun"
On this week’s “Scheer Intelligence,” Wasserman joins host Robert Scheer to talk about the larger-than-life writer they both greatly admired, but also the flesh-and-bones woman they both knew personally: Joan Didion.
A come to Jesus sermon from the Rev. Chris Hedges
During another pandemic holiday season when everyone could use a little faith, the Pulitzer prize-winning journalist talks to Robert Scheer about putting Christ back into Christmas.
This whistleblower is a decades-long thorn in the U.S. government’s side
Joseph Carson has spent most of his career as a federal employee challenging everything from the country’s nuclear weapons program to its whistleblower adjudication infrastructure.
Obed Silva’s memoir delivers a transborder story as universal as love and loss
The Mexican-American author opens the wounds his father inflicted in a eulogistic debut that is as much about the U.S.-Mexico border as it is about healing.
It’s time to free Leonard Peltier, America’s longest serving political Prisoner
The Native American activist’s attorney Kevin Sharp tells Robert Scheer why Peltier’s imprisonment is one of the worst miscarriages of justice this country has ever seen.
California’s grim genocidal past implicates the University of California
Tony Platt’s recently re-released book, “Grave Matters” digs into the Golden State’s dark history of not only massacring Indigenous Peoples, but later desecrating their graves and excavating their remains without their descendants' consent.
New indictments expose Democrats’ Russiagate obsession as a historic hoax.
Aaron Maté joins Robert Scheer to discuss the damning new Justice Department evidence that the Hillary Clinton campaign conspired to finance and promote the totally fraudulent “Steele dossier.”
Why did a jury of seven US military officers blast the CIA for “torture performed by the most abusive regimes in modern history”?
Torture victim Majid Khan’s lawyer J. Wells Dixon joins Robert Scheer to discuss his client’s shocking testimony about the CIA’s so-called “enhanced interrogation tactics.”
Daniel Hale and America’s unending persecution of whistleblowers
John Kiriakou joins Robert Scheer to discuss the plight of the whistleblower, sentenced to 45 months in prison for revealing how often drone strikes kill civilians.
God “caged” in Jersey
Chris Hedges on his 10 years as a teacher and pupil creating theater in the U.S. prison plantation system.
The brave boys who helped end the Vietnam War
Documentary filmmaker Judith Ehrlich joins Robert Scheer on this week’s “Scheer Intelligence” to discuss “The Boys Who Said No,” a documentary about the Vietnam War draft resisters.
Is America’s view of ‘evil’ Russia merely projection?
Joseph Weisberg, a former CIA officer and the creator of the TV show “The Americans,” joins Robert Scheer to examine common misconceptions about the Cold War.
War is a multi-trillion-dollar racket and the Pentagon knows it
Andrew Cockburn brilliantly documents the motivations behind the U.S. military’s war lust in his new book, “Spoils of War.”
The British-American lie that started 30 years of carnage in the Middle East
Journalist Stephen Davis documents in detail the lead up, cover up and aftermath of a 1990 hostage crisis that few recall.
A traitor to torture
In this week’s installment of Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer hears from Kiriakou the inside story of how the the program started as part of a cynical power struggle between the CIA and FBI, why torture does not save lives or secure better intelligence, and how, while the program was started under Republican President George W. Bush, it was a top appointee of President Obama, himself a key architect of the torture program, who chose to prosecute him five years after his interviews with A
Paradoxical past, present and future of China's "socialist market"
In this week's Scheer Intelligence podcast, host Robert Scheer discusses the paradoxical past, present and future of China's "socialist market" economic model with Nathan Gardels, author of "It Is No Longer Glorious to Get Rich in China," published this week by Noema, a magazine of the Berggruen Institute.
America’s war machine refuses to let Afghanistan go
Maj. Danny Sjursen weighs in on the U.S. exit from Afghanistan and Gen. David Petraeus’ dangerously false narrative about our country’s longest war.
Democrats’ destruction of America’s welfare system is coming back to haunt them
Peter Edelman examines how Americans are still tormented by the specter of President Bill Clinton’s worst domestic policy failure.
Prisons are an enabler of America’s obscene wealth
Prisoner-turned-journalist Eddie Conway talks about how the immorally cheap labor of those caught in the prison industrial complex is the shame of the U.S. economy.
Christianity is the linchpin in America’s war machine
Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug, a professor of religious studies, examines how Christian rhetoric is used to justify endless wars and the “moral injury” they inflict.
The West is keeping the COVID-19 pandemic from ending
Activist Achal Prabhala speaks to Robert Scheer about the wealthy countries’ reluctance to end global vaccine apartheid.
The man who exposed Pegasus long before mainstream media
Journalist Richard Silverstein has been sounding the alarm bells about the private surveillance spyware sold by Israel’s NSO for years.
Something’s rotten in the science of food
Marion Nestle’s book “Unsavory Truths” contains shocking revelations about how the science that influences what we eat is corrupted by corporate interests.
Julian Assange’s father and brother on the public and personal urgency of his case
John and Gabriel Shipton talk to Robert Scheer about the WikiLeaks founder’s grueling struggle to be freed from a London prison as the Biden administration demands his extradition.
What has Silicon Valley done to our food?
In a new book, journalist Larissa Zimberoff examines how companies have changed the way we eat in the name of climate change without always considering their products’ health impacts.
The second American Revolution: A work in progress
The second American Revolution: A work in progress
Has Silicon Valley made it impossible for us to listen?
Ximena Vengoechea wants to teach us how to listen again with her new book “Listen Like You Mean It,” but is that even possible in a capitalist world?
Dennis Kucinich: From sleeping in a car as a kid to 16 years in Congress
The former Congress member talks to Robert Scheer about his life and the dramatic events surrounding his political rise, as told in his new book “The Division of Light and Power.”
The Women Warriors Who Stopped the American War in Vietnam
Sherry Buchanan, author of “On the Ho Chi Minh Trail,” discusses what she learned about the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese women who survived its frontlines.
A former CIA mideast expert’s view of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis
John Kiriakou, a CIA torture whistleblower, offers expert insight into Israel’s most recent attacks on the Palestinian territories on this week’s “Scheer Intelligence”
The Russian bounty story is a deadly example of fake news
Maj. Danny Sjursen weighs in on U.S. intelligence agencies’ recent admission that a report that the Taliban had been paid by Russia to kill Americans is most likely false.
The Ruling Class’ Revenge Against Julian Assange
Pulitzer Prize-winner Chris Hedges joins Robert Scheer to discuss the WikiLeaks founder’s plight as he languishes in a British prison.
Whatever Happened to Americans’ Moral Compass?
Journalist and anti-war activist David Harris speaks to Robert Scheer about his resistence to America’s genocide in Vietnam and his education in federal prison.
Black Lives Matter: “When We Fight, We Win”
As the jury was deliberating its verdict in George Floyd’s murder by former police officer Derek Chauvin, BLM co-founder Melina Abdullah spoke with Robert Scheer about the movement’s enormous impact and the work that remains.
Capitalism Killed the Rock-and-Roll Star
Jonathan Taplin joins Robert Scheer to discuss his new memoir about the time he spent among rock-and-roll royalty like Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin.
“Moffie” links white supremacy and homophobia as macho perversions
Writer-director Oliver Hermanus discusses his new film and the complex history of his native South Africa on this week’s “Scheer Intelligence.”
What Is It About the Democrats’ Love of War?
Maj. Danny Sjursen, ret. discusses Biden’s stalling on Trump’s commitment to end the US-Afghanistan war.
The Cartoon is Dead: Long Live the Cartoonist
Political cartoonist Mr. Fish joins Robert Scheer to talk about the death of his art form and his most recent book, “Nobody Left.”
Ralph Nader: Democrats Ushered in an Era of Corporate Fascism
The consumer advocate, author and former presidential candidate, refuses to mince words about Democrats and their corporate bedfellows in a new interview with Robert Scheer.
Israel Has Always Been A Contradiction
Larry Gross, who grew up in Israel shortly after it was founded, talks about the racism he witnessed in the young nation long before it occupied the West Bank and Gaza.
The Human Cost of America’s Addiction to Cheap Goods
Investigative journalist Amelia Pang joins Robert Scheer to discuss the story of a Chinese prisoner at the heart of her gripping new book, “Made in China.”
In conversation with Lawrence Ferlinghetti
In a special Scheer Intelligence from a March 2019 conversation, Robert Scheer talks with his lifelong friend and legendary poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who passed recently in San Francisco at the age of 101. The two discuss a host of topics, including the importance of not selling out and the founding of San Francisco’s landmark City Lights bookshop, where Scheer worked as a young man.
Israel's apartheid pandemic
Middle East scholar Juan Cole joins Robert Scheer to discuss what the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Is Hollywood finally breaking free of toxic gender stereotypes?
Films like “Palmer,” released on Apple+ in late January, are redefining how global audiences understand gender constructs in previously unthinkable ways.
The Egregious Price America Exacts for Integrity
Joel Whitney joins Robert Scheer to talk about the lives of poets George and Mary Oppen, two admirable Americans persecuted for their leftist ideals.
The FBI’s Crusade Against MLK Was Darker Than You Think
Director Sam Pollard did a deep dive into the FBI’s surveillance of MLK under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover in his documentary “MLK / FBI,” released by IFC Films earlier this month. Listen to the full conversation between Pollard and Scheer as they discuss the implications of that question, as well as address the highly controversial summaries of the FBI’s MLK surveillance tapes discovered by King’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, David J. Garrow in 2019.
Jimmy Carter’s Foreign Policy Record Reveals Both Hope and Cynicism (Part 2)
In the second part of the “Scheer Intelligence” interview with Jonathan Alter, the author of “His Very Best” examines the former president’s mixed foreign policy record.
Jimmy Carter's Lifelong Efforts to Atone for White America's Sins (Part 1)
Raised in privilege amidst the barbarism of segregation, the oft-maligned president eventually embraced the New South liberalism that just swept his native Georgia’s election.
Death by UFO at Heaven’s Gate: A Dark Fable for Christmas
Clay Tweel’s HBO Max documentary on the New Age “cult of cults” that claimed dozens of lives raises powerful questions about the checkered histories of various religions.
How Reagan paved the way for Trump
Matt Tyrnauer, director of the devastating Showtime documentary blockbuster “The Reagans,” reveals how Donald Trump was the logical heir to the Reagan Revolution beginning with his plagiarism of the Gipper’s “Make America Great Again” slogan and ending with the abysmal failure to confront a medical pandemic.
What Aaron Sorkin Got Wrong in ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
Historian Jon Wiener, who wrote “Conspiracy in the Streets” on the subject of the Netflix film, sets the record straight on this week’s “Scheer Intelligence.”
How the Democratic Party Became a Vehicle of Aristocracy
In the second part of a two-part interview, Thomas Frank explores how anti-populism made liberals comfortable with plutocracy.
Benjamin Madley and a California Genocide
Robert Scheer sits down with professor and author Benjamin Madley to talk about a little known part of California's history.
Don’t Believe Anything You Were Told About Populism
Thomas Frank examines the history of American populism, and how it was distorted by Democrats and co-opted by Republicans.
The Real Reason the Blue Wave Never Materialized
Dennis Kucinich, former Ohio congressman and mayor of Cleveland, weighs in on what the Democratic Party keeps getting wrong.
The Only Meaningful Way to Save American Journalism
Publicly-funded media models make a lot of Americans nervous, but Victor Pickard argues it may be the only way to repair our tattered democracy.
Tracing America’s Brutal Imperialist History Through Its Military Bases
Political anthropologist David Vine argues that the most visible evidence of the country’s global empire are the thousands of military installations it has around the world.
America’s Prized Legal System Only Works for the Rich
Attorney Ronald Goldfarb offers a scathing indictment of American law and lawyers in his new book, The Price of Justice.
Big Oil weaponized our judicial system against an attorney and the Indigenous people he represented
The epic battle by Steve Donziger to get Chevron to pay a $9.5 billion judgment he won in 2011 for its “mass industrial poisoning” of Indigenous Amazonian tribes in Ecuador has left him under house arrest for 13 months, disbarred, with a lien on his home, frozen bank accounts, $32 million in legal fees and no way to make a living. The judgment has not yet been paid.
Wrestling Back Privacy From the Jaws of Big Tech
James Steyer is taking on Mark Zuckerberg and other tech barons and he wants to empower the rest of us to do the same.
The Socialist Lesson Bernie Sanders Left Out of His Message
Rabbi Michael Lerner, a lifelong progressive, talks about his new book and what he found lacking in the Democratic Socialist’s presidential campaign.
How Today’s Uprisings Compare to the 1960s Rebellions
The movements of the sixties, which are captured in detail in Mike Davis and Jon Wiener’s new book Set the Night on Fire, are seen as wildly successful. Is it possible Black Lives Matter will be even more significant?
Trump Is the Sweaty Armpit of Monopoly Capitalism
Journalist David Dayen examines how the greatest danger to our American society doesn’t come from the White House, but from a few obscenely powerful corporations.
The Devastating 1918 “Spanish Flu” Was Exported from the United States, But Don’t Call it the Kansas Virus.
“The Great Influenza” author John Barry gave us a warning 16 years ago that is extremely relevant to today’s Covid-19 pandemic: It is always fatal to allow politics to trump science.
Attacks on the Post Office Aim to Destroy American Democracy
Communications scholar Mark Lloyd explains how the USPS, which is enshrined in the Constitution, became a political battleground.
Something’s Rotten in the Corporate States of America
A new book by Barbara Freese explores eight stories about the unfettered corporate greed that has corrupted modern society and led to an astounding loss of life.
Questioning Corporate Media’s Thirst for Scandal in the Age of #MeToo
Journalist JoAnn Wypijewski’s latest book, “What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About #MeToo: Essays on Sex, Authority and the Mess of Life” issues a blistering challenge to “scandal media,” which she dismisses as a distorted Cliff Notes version of reality.
How Brooklyn Turned Bernie Sanders Into a Democratic Socialist
In his new book, Theodore Hamm examines the New York figures and policies that inspired Sanders to become a champion of working class Americans.
Are Russia and the US Actually Different When It Comes to Meddling in Foreign Elections?
In “Rigged,” historian David Shimer documents both countries attempts to manipulate democracies abroad — and comes to some questionable conclusions
The Unbearable Violence of Being American
Oliver Stone and Maj. Danny Sjursen frame their nation’s past and present in the context of the imperialist U.S. wars that stole their youth.
A new book by the cartoonist the cops didn’t let get away
The former L.A. Times cartoonist thought he was protected by freedom of the press until his own newspaper came after him for a blog post about LAPD abuses.
The Price of Ignoring the Ferguson Uprising
Throughout the uprisings inspired by the killings of Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Freddie Gray and so many other Black victims, white leaders refused to learn from Black Lives Matter, a group inspired by the police killing of Trayvon Martin, 17, in 2012 and catalyzed by the killing of Michael Brown.
The Great Con of American Patriotism
In conversation with Robert Scheer, Ron Kovic and Maj. Danny Sjursen examine their roles in our nation's bloody trajectory since the Vietnam War.
For Many Young People, Socialism Is as American as Apple Pie
Bernie Sanders may never make it to the White House, but, just when we need them most, socialists like “Bigger than Bernie” co-author Meagan Day have picked up his torch.
The Powerful Past, Present and Future of Black Lives Matter
As BLM protests sweep the globe, the movement’s co-founder Melina Abdullah talks about its roots and her hopes for the coming years.
The Cynical Forces Behind America’s Forever Wars
Journalist Patrick Cockburn examines the disastrous inevitability of America’s failures in the Middle East as the region continues to reel from decades of U.S.-sponsored turmoil.
Harnessing Humor to Unveil America’s Ugliest Truths
Political comedian Lee Camp wants to dismantle systems of oppression with a molotov cocktail filled with facts and some good old fashioned laughter.
The ‘Mass Murder Program’ Behind America’s Rise to Power
In a new book, journalist Vincent Bevins traces the Cold War massacres in Asia and Latin America that still define global political dynamics today.
A Global Look at the Virus That Upended the World
The series “Decoding Covid-19” offers a hopeful account of the international cooperation that has stemmed from the unprecedented crisis.
Big Banks Got the Sweetest Deal From the Covid-19 Bailouts
Banking expert Nomi Prins explains why Congress’ stimulus bill has been a boon for Wall Street and not the small businesses that need it most.
Does Medicare for All Await Us at the End of This Viral Massacre?
Dr. Margaret Flowers predicts how the coronavirus pandemic will impact the ongoing struggle for universal health care in the U.S.
Coronavirus Proves Capitalism Has Always Been a Lie
Economist Ellen Brown sheds light on the intricacies of an economic system that is being unmasked by the government’s pandemic response.
Governments Are Using Coronavirus to Usher in a New Era of Mass Surveillance
States all over the world are ramping up surveillance, as people seemingly willingly give up whatever civil liberties they have left in the name of safety.
The Power and Pain of Being Asian American During the Coronavirus Crisis
As we all battle the deadly pandemic, Asian Americans like Hollywood producer Janet Yang are also facing an onslaught of racism.
Coronavirus has already transformed America, for better and for worse
In a special edition of “Scheer Intelligence,” host Robert Scheer becomes the guest as filmmaker Stephen French asks for the journalist’s take on the unprecedented crisis.
Even the ICC Can’t Rein in American Exceptionalism
The U.S. response to the international criminal court’s decision to permit an investigation into the Afghanistan War highlights the profound danger America poses to the world.
The Afghanistan War Turned Americans Into ‘Good Germans’
A combat veteran reflects on the moral impact America’s longest war has had on its own people.
Bernie Sanders Is Trying to Save the Democratic Party From Itself
The class war that gave rise to Sanders’ campaign is the fault of a long line of corporate Democrats like Joe Biden, and voters know it.
Julian Bond Was a Radical Long Before MLK
The lifelong activist often adopted radical positions on a number of issues, including war and the environment, a new book reveals.
The CIA’s Complicity in Modern Global Atrocities Revealed
Intelligence expert William Binney discusses the revelation that a widely used encryption service has been in CIA hands for decades.
The Clinton Machine Will Do Anything to Stop Bernie
It’s not just Sanders that the Democratic establishment is frightened of, it’s the powerful working class movement he’s helped build.
Dennis Kucinich: The Democratic Party Has No Soul
As tensions between the left and right wings of the Democratic Party continue to rise, the former Congress member offers an insider’s take on the party.
The Greatest Threat to the Prison Industrial Complex
A new PBS documentary provides insight into a prison initiative that is fighting recidivism with an unlikely tool.
Noam Chomsky Makes the Case for the Lesser of Two Evils
In the second part of an engrossing interview, the renowned thinker explains his criticisms of Israel and his take on U.S. electoral politics.
Noam Chomsky: America Has Built a Global Dystopia
In the first installment of a remarkable two-part interview, the two left-wing public intellectuals meet for the first time to discuss world politics.
The Bipartisan Profiteers Who Demolished the American Dream
When it comes to the U.S. housing crisis, the blame from the wholesale swindling of the American people lies on all ends of the political spectrum.
The Plot to Discredit and Destroy Julian Assange
Several nations have played a role in the WikiLeaks publisher’s demise as corporate media stands idly by.
America’s Darkest Secrets Are Laid Bare in ‘The Report’
A new film about the CIA torture report brings to life the brutal reality of the crimes the agency committed post-9/11.
The stain on America’s collective soul that will not wash away
Although the extent of our lawless detention program in Guantanamo Bay is something many Americans know little about, it affects us all.
The center cannot hold off climate catastrophe
Experts worldwide are trying to tackle climate change with radical proposals, but one thinker is advocating for a more moderate approach.
There is no Donald J. Trump without William F. Buckley
An in-depth look at a debate between James Baldwin and Buckley reveals ever-relevant truths about racism in modern America.
The drug trade isn’t just killing people, it’s killing the planet
A gripping documentary documents the surprising role drug cartels and illegal traffickers are playing in the looming extinction of a rare whale.
We’re having the wrong conversation about mental health
Two of the most urgent crises facing Americans---mental health and homelessness---are inextricably linked. The failure to see this has only made things worse.
The Man Who Created a President From Beyond the Grave
A bone-chilling documentary about Roy Cohn, Donald Trump’s mentor, reveals the all-American evil that brought us modern-day politics.
The extraordinary film that will change your mind about refugees
“Midnight Traveler” tells the harrowing story of Afghani director Hassan Fazili and his family’s displacement as filmed on their cell phones.
There’s Only One Superpower Left and It’s Not America
In a world in which global opinion reigns, public diplomacy rooted in nationalism and propaganda will not save us from pressing crises.
America Keeps Getting China All Wrong
The two international giants are linked in inextricable ways, and yet Americans’ understanding of China consistently lacks nuance.
The solution to homelessness is staring us all in the face
People like Becky Dennison are working to address to one of America’s most urgent crises with a straightforward approach.
The Most Consequential Whistleblower Who Wasn't
In the run-up to the Iraq War, Katharine Gun, the subject of the film “Official Secrets,” nearly changed the course of history with one corageous decision.
White Supremacy Is as American as Apple Pie
A documentary about a black woman’s reunion with relatives who have been passing as white gets to the heart of one of the nation’s founding wounds.
The Latest Victim in the Crucifixion of Julian Assange
The mysterious arrest of a Swedish data privacy activist with links to the WikiLeaks founder raises important questions about government surveillance.
Democracy Dies Without Alternative Media
Where would America be without the muckraking journalists and the publications that champion their work?
Is Trump Building a White Ethnostate?
Author and University of Michigan professor Alexandra Minna Stern traces the origins of America's burgeoning white nationalist movement.
America Has Gulags In Its Own Backyard
In a groundbreaking series, Shoshana Walter reveals the work camps operating all over the country under the guise of rehab centers.
We Could Solve the Israel-Palestine Conflict Tomorrow
Filmmakers Abby Martin and Mike Prysner discuss the war crimes being committed in Gaza and how a resolution could be reached in the Middle East.
New Low in Greed: Care Home Operators Rake in Millions, Pay Workers $2 an Hour for 24/7 shifts
A new investigative report uncovers rampant exploitation of caregivers at residential care homes across the nation, many of them poor immigrants who work for a pittance around the clock with no days off, often sleeping on floors, couches, or in garages while the care home owners get rich, breaking several labor laws.
The Media Is Complicit in Julian Assange’s Torture
A United Nations expert finds the WikiLeaks founder has been subjected to psychological torture, and media around the globe played a part.
The Homegrown Crisis California Refuses to Own
One of the wealthiest and most liberal states in America has created a humanitarian emergency that only those who caused it can truly fix.
The Sordid Story Behind the Mass Extinction of Languages
Languages along with the world views they contain are dying out at an alarming rate. Sadly, this is by no means an accident, argues Lena Herzog.
Elon Musk Is Gaslighting America
Journalist Will Evans exposed Tesla’s flagrant labor violations, but all the company’s founder did was shrug him off and cry "fake news."
The Lies Liberals Tell Themselves About the Second Amendment
A deep-seated denial of the racist, colonial roots of gun rights in the U.S. underlies the left’s flawed approach to domestic arms control.
Can We Learn Anything From Our Forever Wars?
In a brutally honest exit interview, recently retired U.S. Army Maj. Danny Sjursen opens up about his 18 years as a witness to the carnage of America’s forever wars.
Did the Left Get Zionism and Israel Totally Wrong?
Susie Linfield traces the history behind what she views as a leftist abandonment of Zionism by Jewish intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky and Hannah Arendt.
The Americanization of Popular Culture Should Terrify Us All
Hollywood's triumph in the global culture wars is a serious cause for concern at a time in which conglomerates and uniformity reign, argues French scholar Violaine Roussel.
Has Freedom of the Press Become a Convenient Illusion?
In a bold statement, a leading dean of journalism argues that in abandoning Julian Assange, the mainstream media have abandoned the First Amendment.
Silicon Valley doesn’t give a damn about Earth’s imminent demise
Bill McKibben, the “world’s best green journalist” says it may be too late to save the planet, but that doesn’t seem to keep tech barons and the rest of the uber-rich up at night.
Can We Trust Billionaires to Save Democracy?
Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s plan to revamp democracy and put capital in the hands of the people has one glaring blindspot.
Julian Assange Is Being Used as a Smokescreen
The U.S. government’s attack on the WikiLeaks founder covers up a menacing assault on the First Amendment, argues journalist Bruce Shapiro.
The Destruction of Palestinians Will Be Israel’s Undoing
The great majority of Israel’s problems would be solved if the nation were able to establish lasting peace with its neighbors, says journalist and filmmaker Mariam Shahin.
Is Life After Prison Possible?
After finding herself abandoned by society after leaving prison, Susan Burton became the aid she and so many others in her position needed.
This Is the Only Way White Supremacists Lose
The victory against “the white supremacist, patriarchal, heteronormative capitalists” will be won in our courtrooms, our streets and our classrooms through vigorous, relentless resistance, according to Black Lives Matter co-founder Melina Abdullah.
The Liberal Betrayal of America’s Most Vulnerable
Mass incarceration, one of our greatest shames, was established by Republicans and Democrats who demonized large parts of American society.
The U.S. Deserves Its Own Nuremberg Trials
Nazi Germany’s crimes and the U.S. War on Terror may not be so different in the eyes of international law.
Hollywood’s Love Affair With Racism
When it comes to matters of race, the entertainment industry fails its increasingly diverse audience, time and again.
Liberals Are Digging Their Own Grave With Russiagate
Two Russia experts discuss how the Washington establishment's virulent anti-Kremlin sentiment affects domestic and foreign policy as well as media narratives.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Journalism’s Good Ol’ Days
Los Angeles Times reporter Patt Morrison and Truthdig Editor in Chief Robert Scheer point out a surprising fact about journalism through the ages.
Growing Up Among the Great American Rebels of the 60s
Tosh Berman, the son of the artist Wallace Berman, describes his childhood surrounded by the revolutionary artists of the Beat movement.
The Power of Living in Service to the Oppressed
The story of Tom Catena, a doctor who risks his life daily to proffer medical care in an African war zone, is as remarkable as it is inspiring.
The Great Con of American Patriotism
In conversation with Robert Scheer, Ron Kovic and Maj. Danny Sjursen examine their roles in our nation's bloody trajectory since the Vietnam War.
The Border Story Our Leaders Don’t Want You to Hear
Life, replete with its ups and downs, goes on in U.S. and Mexican border communities despite the political calamity unfolding around them.
The Illegal CIA Operation That Brought Us 9/11
Was it conspiracy or idiocy that led to the failure of U.S. intelligence agencies to detect and prevent the 2001 terror attacks?
The West Has Islam Dangerously Wrong
University of Michigan professor and author Juan Cole explores our biggest misconceptions about the world's second-largest religion.
The Opioid Crisis: Made in the USA
Writer Chris McGreal and host Robert Scheer zero in on the book American Overdose: The Opioid Tragedy in Three Acts in this week’s episode of Scheer Intelligence. McGreal, the book’s author and a correspondent for The Guardian and other news sources, discuss how the opioid addiction crisis is largely an American epidemic.
How Corporate Corruption Fuels Terrorism – and Why It Goes Unpunished
Here’s a pop quiz: How long has corporate corruption existed? Answer: As long as corporations as we know them have been in business. Thanks to journalist David Montero’s meticulously sourced survey, Kickback: Exposing the Global Corporate Bribery Network, the consumer public now has access to a wealth of details about the astonishingly shady antics in which multinationals have been engaging since the retro-imperialist heyday of the British East India Company.
And this malignant strain of corpora
The ‘Highest Danger of the Cold War’ Isn’t Behind Us
The odds were stacked against the two authors of “The Kremlinologist: Llewellyn E. Thompson, America’s Man in Cold War Moscow” when it came to treating their subject with anything resembling journalistic precision or objectivity. That’s primarily because they resembled their subject a little too closely -- in addition to being the book’s co-writers, Jenny and Sherry Thompson are also Llewellyn Thompson’s daughters.
Another Christmas on Death Row
This is part two of a two-part interview. To listen to part one, click here.
Is California About to Execute an Innocent Man?
In part one of a two-part interview, 33-year death row inmate Kevin Cooper—also an artist of exhibited works and a published author—describes his fight to prove his innocence of a heinous murder and asks why Gov. Brown refuses testing that could prove his innocence, identify the real killer and prove he was framed.
Wall Street's Corruption Runs Deeper Than You Can Fathom
"Noncompliant" author Carmen Segarra sounds off on Goldman Sachs, deregulation and the dangerous ways our culture rewards bad behavior.
The Center Is Not Holding, and Trump Is Our Proof
Digital DNA co-author Jonathan Aronson on the "hollowing out" of American workers and the elected officials that claim to represent them.
The Future of the Planet Looks Like 'WALL-E'
Dianna Cohen of the Plastics Pollution Coalition reveals how our dependence on the material threatens the health of future generations.
The Biggest Threat to Free Speech No One Is Talking About
FAIR co-founder Jeff Cohen dissects the midterm elections, the failures of the mainstream media and the future of the Democratic Party.
An Urgent Call for Humanity in the Age of Trump
Filmmaker Alexandria Bombach discusses her new documentary, "On Her Shoulders," and the challenges of telling Nadia Murad survivor's story and the Yazidi people.
We're in a New Age of McCarthyism
Comedian Lee Camp explores the legacy of Lenny Bruce, big tech's capacity to strangle independent media and the freedom of working for a network like RT America.
Who Loves War? You Guessed Wrong
Lyle Jeremy Rubin, a five-year marine veteran of the war in Afghanistan, member of About Face: Veterans Against the War, and PhD candidate in history has developed considerable authority and wisdom to speak on US foreign policy, truth about war veterans, and the role liberal and progressive media celebrities play as “cheerleaders” of the “forever war” the United States seems unwilling to end. Rubin and Scheer talk about the relationship of war-fighting, patriotism and the American people. About
Spying in LA
Has the CIA taken over local policing? Activist Jamie Garcia discusses how technologies launched by the CIA, NSA and the Pentagon to spy on terrorists are radically altering crime-fighting in Los Angeles and local communities in a “predictive policing” program that ends up targeting black and brown communities.
NAFTA 2.0, Trump Got It Right?
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch and a 25-year veteran of congressional trade battles, discusses NAFTA 2.0, the Trump Administration’s newly negotiated trade agreement between Mexico, Canada and the United States that, improbable as it may seem, could actually give Mexican workers a living wage and end corporate control of trade courts.
America the Great and Its Fascist Reality
Jason Stanley, Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, discusses his latest book, How Fascism Works, the Politics of Us and Them, and why the United States is especially vulnerable to certain elemental features of fascist policies. Our history with actual fake news, patriotism, racism, and the lack of a true liberal democracy has led us to the rise of Trump, Stanley asserts.
Justice and Liberty for Some
California’s only elected public defender Jeff Adachi, of the City and County of San Francisco, discusses why he opposes California’s new bail reform bill, his views on preventive detention, immigration, and how the Japanese internment camps led him to a career as a public defender.
Outgrowing Men: Jane Fonda’s Rebuke of Male Hegemony in Life and Politics
Film veteran Susan Lacy discusses her latest documentary, Jane Fonda in Five Acts. Lacy stresses that celebrated actress and political activist Fonda has been shaped by four “acts —the four men in her life—her father and actor Henry Fonda, and husbands, film director Roger Vadim, political activist Tom Hayden and media mogul Ted Turner. The last act is Fonda’s alone, on her lifelong journey to personal liberation.
Silicon billionaires are the lethal monkey on the back of the American public
Author Anand Giridharadas discusses the distorted libertarian ideology that they use to subvert the American experiment in democracy. They have done so by denying the legitimacy of government intervention into the economy on the side of fairness and justice, including decent working conditions, fair wages, regulation of the economy, and the right to form unions to represent them and fight for their interests.
Bill Clinton Enabled Trumps Immigration Policy
Helen Sklar, immigration attorney for more than 33 years, discusses the basis of the immigration family separation under Trump and how former President Clinton laid the groundwork for this.
American Middle Class: The Rise of the Precariat
Alissa Quart discusses her latest book, Squeezed, on living in a middle-class that is being crumpled by meritocracy and converted into what Quart terms the “Precariat,” which Scheer describes as “people who think they’re in the middle class, and they have the education, very often they find themselves living paycheck to paycheck.”
ReKognition: The Face Of Surveillance, Useful or Dangerous?
Jacob Snow discusses Amazon’s Rekognition program, which is being promoted for use at the state and federal level to use facial recognition to fight crime.
Zeiad Abbas: 'God is not a real estate agent'
Journalist and filmmaker Zeiad Abbas, a Palestinian refugee, describes living conditions of Palestinians under the state of Israel, which he calls “ethnic cleansing,” and discusses a toxic water crisis in Gaza and more.
The Rise and Fall of Women Moviemakers in Hollywood
Hollywood historian, film critic and writer Carrie Rickey discusses the lack of women behind the cameras in Hollywood; it wasn’t always so.
Generation Wealth: The Loss of the Self
A deep look at how the accumulation of money has become the greatest goal, even at the peril of the self.
Nick Goldberg: Veteran Journalist and Editor
Nick Goldberg, the editorial page editor of the Los Angeles Times, discusses print journalism, its financing, and the challenges it faces.
Seymour Hersh: Reporter
The Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist assesses his career reporting on some of most significant stories of the past 50 years.
Howard Bryant: The Heritage
The sports journalist discusses his new book on the conflicted progress of black athletes.
Kimberley Reed and John S. Adams: Dark Money
The documentary director and Montana journalist discuss their film about how so-called dark money entered politics in the big sky state.
Nomi Prins: Collusion
The former Wall Street banker turned journalist and author returns to Scheer Intelligence to critique the actions of international central banks.
Jennifer Rothman: The Right of Publicity
The Loyola Law professor discusses her new book about the history and evolution of the right of publicity.
Eon McLeary and Manuel Ruiz: The Work
The documentary filmmaker and a former prisoner discuss the film about a group therapy program in one of the most infamous prisons in the United States.
Nate Cardozo: A Golden Age of Surveillance
The attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation discusses the fight for privacy online.
Sara Driver: 'Boom for Real'
The independent film director discusses her documentary about the early career of the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Wim Wenders: A Man of His Word
The Oscar nominated director discusses his documentary about the current pope.
Adam Winkler: We The Corporations
The UCLA Law professor discusses his newest book about the rights of corporations.
Sasha Abramsky: Jumping at Shadows
The journalist and professor discusses his latest book about how fear has contributed to demagoguery.
Betsy West and Julie Cohen: RBG
The documentary filmmakers discuss their film “RBG” on the life and career of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Kenneth A. Carlson: The Heart of Nuba
The documentary filmmaker discusses his new film about a heroic doctor in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan.
John Densmore: The Legacy of The Doors
The drummer for The Doors discusses being in the iconic band and staying true to his beliefs.
Norman G. Finkelstein: Martyrs in Gaza
The author discusses his new book about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
John Kiriakou: The Wrong Direction for the CIA
On his return visit to the podcast, the former CIA counterterrorism official and whistleblower discusses his opposition to the nominee for the head of the agency.
Dwayne Booth: And Then The World Blew Up
The political cartoonist known as Mr. Fish discusses the history of his art form and the struggle to keep the industry alive.
Dissent is Patriotic
Short Description: The active duty Army Officer discusses his time as a soldier and his critical views on the US Military.
Greg Campbell: Hondros
The journalist and filmmaker discusses his documentary about the late photojournalist Chris Hondros.
Alice Waters: Coming to My Senses (Part 2)
The legendary chef and proponent of the slow food movement discusses her iconic Berkeley restaurant and her involvement in the Edible Schoolyard Project.
Alice Waters: Coming to My Senses (Part 1)
The legendary chef and proponent of the slow food movement discusses her influences and her newest book.
Debra Deanne Olson: The Honorable Culbert Levy Olson
The granddaughter of one of California’s most progressive governors discusses his life and political career.
Dustin Lance Black: From Milk to Marriage Equality
The Academy Award winning writer speaks about making the film Milk and his subsequent activism.
David Cay Johnston: It’s Even Worse Than You Think
The Pulitzer Prize winning journalist discusses his new book on the first year of the Trump Administration.
Andrea J. Ritchie: Invisible No More
The attorney and author discusses her new book about law enforcement’s assault on women of color.
Trita Parsi: Losing an enemy
The founder and president of the National Iranian American Council talks about the United States’ resistance to normalizing relations with Iran.
Mary Murphy: Change Happens When Women are in Power
The journalism professor and media expert discusses the sexual harassment scandal in Hollywood.
Peter Edelman: Not a Crime to be Poor (part two)
The Georgetown Law professor and director of the Georgetown Center for Poverty and Inequality talks about his most recent book.
Peter Edelman: Not a crime to be poor (part one)
The Georgetown Law professor and director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality talks about how the criminal justice system continues the cycle of poverty in America.
Steven J. Ross: Hitler in Los Angeles
The history professor discusses his new book about a small group of civilians in Los Angeles in the 1930s and 40s who helped fight Nazis in America.
Bryan Buckley: The Pirates of Somalia
The director discusses his new film about the true story of a young journalist who embedded himself with Somali pirates.
Jere Van Dyk: The Trade
The author discusses his time in Afghanistan both as a reporter and as a hostage.
Peter Nicks: The Force
The documentary filmmaker discusses his new film The Force, about the Oakland Police Department.
Tiana Alexandra-Silliphant: The General and Me
The documentary filmmaker discusses her film about Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Peter Kornbluh: Transparency is essential
The senior analyst at the National Security Archive discusses the need for transparency of government documents.
Daniel Ellsberg: The Doomsday Machine
The former military analyst talks about why he leaked the Pentagon Papers and why there aren’t more whistleblowers today.
Erwin Chemerinsky: Free Speech on Campus
The Dean of Berkeley's Law School discusses his new book and the limitations of the First Amendment.
Viet Thanh Nguyen: The Sympathizer
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author discusses his acclaimed novel and the legacy of the Vietnam War.
Brett Morgen: Jane
The filmmaker discusses his most recent film about primatologist Jane Goodall.
Norman Lear: A 'bleeding heart conservative,' (part 2)
The 95-year-old television icon talks about politics and mortality. [Contains mature language.]
Norman Lear: A lifetime of changing TV and its audience (part 1)
The 95-year-old television icon talks about his time in the military and his shows' biggest controversies. [Contains mature language]
James Cromwell: The consequences of doing nothing
The Oscar-nominated actor discusses his social activism.
Dolores Huerta: A tireless voice for workers
The 87-year-old labor icon discusses her life and career as well as a new film about her.
Scott Hamilton Kennedy: Food Evolution
The documentary filmmaker discusses his new film about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the organic food industry.
William J. Perry: The real risk of nuclear war
The former Secretary of Defense discusses the current nuclear threats the world faces and how we got to this point.
Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis: Whose Streets?
The documentary filmmakers discuss their film about the Ferguson, Missouri protests after the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in 2014.
Sarah Pillsbury: Breakthrough films and Liberty Hill
The film producer discusses her career in entertainment and her Los Angeles foundation.
Jonathan Taplin: Move Fast and Break Things
The professor and music industry insider discusses the downside of the tech industry's rise.
Robert Rosenthal: Embracing new forms of journalistic storytelling
The executive director of the Center for Investigative Reporting discusses new ways to reach more people.
Hamilton Fish: Breathing fresh life into journalism
The publisher of the New Republic discusses the changing landscape of the fourth estate.
Brian Knappenberger: Nobody Speak
The documentary filmmaker discusses his latest film about the end of Gawker and the billionaire who helped bring it down.
Danny Goldberg: In Search of the Lost Chord
The music industry insider discusses his new book about the summer of love and the changing business of music.
Melvin A. Goodman: A truth-teller at the CIA
CIA insider Melvin A. Goodman discusses his new book and restarting a constructive dialogue with Russia.
Rebecca Carroll: Writing as a way to figure things out
The columnist and author discusses how writing has been integral to her life after growing up as a black girl adopted by a white family.
James Forman, Jr.: Locking up Our Own
Professor and former public defender James Forman, Jr. discusses his new book about the mass incarceration of black men.
Peter Moskowitz: Gentrification is killing cities
The journalist and writer talks about the downside of gentrification.
Mark Lloyd: Communications are Essential to a Democracy
The professor and former broadcaster discusses the current obstacles to communications in the United States.
Laboni Hoq: A voice for the rights of the undocumented
The civil rights attorney talks about advocating for immigrants.
John Scheinfeld: Chasing Trane
The documentary filmmaker discusses his latest film about jazz icon John Coltrane.
Laura Poitras: A filmmaker who takes risks
The Oscar-winning documentarian discusses her new film Risk, about Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Oliver Stone: A controversial and provocative original (Part 2)
The Oscar-winning director discusses taking on wall street through film and American foreign policy.This conversation includes adult language.
Oliver Stone: A controversial and provocative original (Part I)
The Oscar-winning director discusses his unique take on history through his films. [Contains adult language]
Ray McGovern: Faulty intelligence
The former CIA analyst discusses his time in the agency and how he believes intelligence was used to wrongly justify wars.
Cullen Hoback: What Lies Upstream
The documentary filmmaker discusses digital privacy and his latest film about the safety of drinking water.
Dr. Paul Song: Obamacare is not the progressive answer
The healthcare reform advocate discusses where the Affordable Care Act falls short and what can be done.
Bill Blum: Bill Clinton laid the groundwork for Trump
The attorney and author talks about how the Clinton administration played a role in Trump's current immigration policies.
Victor Narro: Undocumented immigrants living in fear
The immigration and labor attorney discusses the trauma of being an undocumented immigrant right now.
Boyah J. Farah: A voice for refugees
The Somali-born American writer discusses his early life in the war-torn country and becoming an American.
Joel Whitney: The CIA's Cold War literary influence
The author of Finks: How the CIA Tricked the World’s Best Writers discusses how the spy agency used its own form of propaganda through highly respected magazines to counter the rise in communism around the world.
Lewis Wallace: Is objectivity dead?
The former Marketplace reporter discusses his controversial blog post about neutrality in the Trump era.
Edward Sorel: A lifetime curiosity about Mary Astor
The illustrator and author discusses his recent book, Mary Astor’s Purple Diary: The Great American Sex Scandal of 1936. [EXPLICIT LANGUAGE]
Juan Cole: Be wary of strongmen in the US and abroad
The history professor and essayist talks about Islamophobia and foreign relations under President Trump.
Judy Woodruff: The perfect time to be a journalist
The award-winning journalist talks about women in the press and the next generation of the media.
Geoff Cowan: An aggressive press is essential
Professor Geoff Cowan discusses the need for a strong press and opposition during the Trump presidency.
Steve Wasserman: The future of books
Heyday Books' Steve Wasserman talks about why books are more important now than ever.
Willie Nelson: A Long Story (Part II)
Robert Scheer continues his discussion about music, life, and America with legendary musician Willie Nelson. (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE)
Willie Nelson: A Long Story (Part I)
Robert Scheer sits down with legendary musician Willie Nelson to talk about what makes him an "American Original."
Sergei Plekhanov: A new chapter with Russia
Robert Scheer sits down with Professor Sergei Plekhanov to discuss the United States' future ties with Russia under President-elect Donald Trump.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti: A champion for the Beats
Robert Scheer sits down with Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet and co-founder of famed City Lights Bookstore to talk about his life and work publishing writers of the Beat Generation.
Janet Yang: A groundbreaking producer
Robert Scheer sits down with Hollywood producer Janet Yang to discuss her connection to China and how it has influenced her career in filmmaking.
Zev Yaroslavsky: A pragmatic Los Angeles politician
Robert Scheer sits down with longtime Californian politician Zev Yaroslavsky to discuss his decades-long career and his take on the presidential election.
Richard Reeves: A timely history of internment in America
Robert Scheer sits down with journalist Richard Reeves to discuss Donald Trump's rise and what we can learn from the past.
Blase Bonpane: A priest who defied the church
Robert Scheer sits down with priest Blase Bonpane to discuss his career working for peace in Central America and his conflicted relationship with the Catholic Church.
Johann Hari: Chasing the scream
Robert Scheer sits down with journalist Johann Hari to discuss what he has discovered about addiction and the war on drugs.
Kali Nicole Gross: Dissecting a startling crime
Robert Scheer sits down with Author Kali Nicole Gross to discuss her new book Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Disembodied Torso.
Kshama Sawant: Bringing socialism to Seattle
Robert Scheer sits down with Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant to discuss the changing face of socialism in this country.
Lizbeth Mateo: An immigration activist using herself as an example
In this week’s Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer sits down with immigration rights activist Lizbeth Mateo to discuss what should be done for immigrants and her own status.
Amy Trask: A powerful woman in the world of football
Robert Scheer sits down with former Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask to discuss her experience as a female executive in a male-dominated field.
David Dayen: The untold stories of the mortgage crisis
Robert Scheer sits down with writer David Dayen to discuss the fallout from the housing crisis.
Petros Papadakis: The joy and danger of college football
Robert Scheer sits down with sports broadcaster and former college football player Petros Papadakis to discuss the lure of the sport for young players.
Misty K. Snow: An historic Senate nominee
Robert Scheer sits down with Utah Democratic Senate nominee Misty K Snow to discuss her unlikely candidacy.
Gary Tyler: Cast the First Stone
Robert Scheer sits down with Gary Tyler to discuss his decades wrongly imprisoned and a film about the play he directed while in prison.
David Cay Johnston: The Making of Donald Trump
Robert Scheer sits down with award-winning journalist and author David Cay Johnston to discuss the GOP presidential candidate.
Matt Welch: reason and the libertarian
Robert Scheer sits down with journalist and libertarian Matt Welch to discuss the party's growth during this election campaign.
Mike Farrell: Putting an end to the death penalty
Robert Scheer sits down with actor and activist Mike Farrell to discuss his involvement in the anti death penalty movement.
Chris Hedges: A voice against collective narcissism
Robert Scheer sits down with journalist and author Chris Hedges to discuss Hedges' career and influences.
Benjamin Madley and a California Genocide
Robert Scheer sits down with professor and author Benjamin Madley to talk about a little known part of California's history.
John Burton and California Democrats
Robert Scheer sits down with former congressman and current head of the California Democratic Party, John Burton.
Larry Gross and the Formation of the Gay Community
In this week’s Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer sits down with author and academic Larry Gross to discuss how once “invisible” closeted gay men and women eventually formed a powerful community over the middle and late 20th century.
Barbara Williams and “The Hope in Leaving”
In this week’s Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer sits down with actress, singer, and writer Barbara Williams to discuss her new memoir.
Anthony Davis and the Repercussions of a Football Career
Robert Scheer sits down with famed USC and pro football player Anthony Davis and USC dean Jeremy Rosenberg to discuss how brain trauma from years of playing football forever changed Davis' life.
Sandy Tolan: Children of the Stone
Robert Scheer sits down with journalism professor Sandy Tolan to discuss his new book about the creation of a music school for children in the West Bank.
Jodie Evans: A Codepink Disrupter
Robert Scheer sits down with activist Jodie Evans to discuss her organization's efforts to move the United States away from military conflict as well as the origins of her activism.
Eddie Conway: Making Real News after Prison
Robert Scheer sits down with former Black Panther Marshall "Eddie" Conway to talk about Conway's decades in jail for a crime he didn't commit and what he has done since being released.
Jason Leopold and the Power of FOIA
Robert Scheer sits down with journalist Jason Leopold to discuss how he has used the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) again and again to obtain previously undisclosed government documents.
Madison Shockley and the Meanings of Christianity
Robert Scheer sits down with Reverend Madison Shockley to discuss his family's history with racism as well as his views on what is means to be Christian today.
Thomas Frank and the New "Liberal"
Robert Scheer sits down with writer Thomas Frank to discuss his new book about the changing face of liberals.
William Binney: Blowing the Whistle on the NSA.
Robert Scheer sits down with former National Security Agency official turned whistle-blower William Binney to discuss the fight between Apple and the US government over access to Americans' cell phone data and why he believes there can be too much intelligence.
D. Watkins and 'The Beast Side'
Robert Scheer sits down with author, professor and activist D. Watkins to discuss his book about life in Baltimore and why he has chosen to stay in the struggling city.
Ron Kovic and the Continuing Struggle for Veterans
Robert Scheer sits down with Vietnam veteran, author and peace activist Ron Kovic to discuss what has changed and what hasn’t since Kovic’s time in combat.
Nomi Prins and the Washington/Wall Street Connection
Robert Scheer discusses the culture of Wall Street and its influence on government with author, journalist and former investment banker Nomi Prins.
Jill Stein, the Green Party and the 2016 Election
Robert Scheer sits down with potential Green party presidential candidate, Jill Stein, to discuss her plans and why she thinks the Green Party is more relevant than ever.
Ralph Nader: Consumer Advocate and Voice against Corporate Power
Robert Scheer sits down with author, lawyer and five-time presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, to discuss the current political climate and assess Nader's legacy.
Tom Dine: A Half-Century Advocating for Israel and Peace in the Middle East
This week, Robert Scheer sits down with Tom Dine, currently the senior policy advisor at Israel Policy Forum, but is best know as the head of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), a powerful pro-Israel lobbying organization from 1980-1993.
The Hunting Ground: Sexual Assault on Campus
Robert Scheer discusses the documentary film The Hunting Ground with its director, Kirby Dick, and producer, Amy Ziering.
John Kiriakou: A Whistleblower on Torture
Robert Scheer sits down with former CIA agent and torture whistleblower John Kiriakou.
Dennis Kucinich: An Unpredictable American Original
Robert Scheer sits down with long-time friend and former eight-term Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich to talk about their friendship and how Kucinich’s considers himself a non-ideological pragmatist.
David Talbot and Uncovering the Secret American Government
Robert Scheer speaks with David Talbot, the founder of Salon.com and author of several books to discuss the legacy of former CIA head Allen Dulles in post-World War II America and his impact on both foreign and domestic policy.
John Dean and the Abuse of Power
Robert Scheer sits down with John Dean, former White House Counsel under Richard Nixon and now outspoken critic of the Republican Party. Dean, who famously said during the Watergate scandal that there is a "cancer on the presidency," offers his take on the misuse of power under the guise of national security both during Nixon’s presidency and today.