From Ochelli.com What is going on in the world of allegedly informative media? Mike Swanson discussed the landscape of digital and physical media products and bi-products.
Changes to Mike’s website and the pitfalls of encouraging audience participation are examined in the first hour. Despite the difficulties, we still encourage thoughtful listener feedback.
Pearse Redmond talked about the strangeness of global affairs since Joe Biden entered the White House.
Strippers, Impeachment, and other ingredients in the malaise glaze coating current events are fairly thick.
This week I welcomed Matthew Alford to discuss all things Brexit. We kicked off the show by talking about Boris Johnson’s rise to power. Matt talked about Johnson’s public persona as an “inbred upperclass twit,” and how this has shaped his political career. Next, we dove head first into the ongoing drama of Brexit. Matt updated the listeners on the latest developments, including the announcement of a general election on December 12. Matt also analyzed recent polls, which suggest that Johnson and the Conservatives will most likely win and therefore push forward with his party’s plan to leave the EU. We talked about the wisdom of holding a second election and why Matt advocates for voting Labour. We also touched on complex issues like the border with Northern Ireland and how Brexit could unravel the delicate political architecture of the peace deal in Northern Ireland.
In the second hour we discussed Donald Trump’s false narrative that he is some sort of “peace president.” Matt focused on why so many in the conspiracy culture seem to latch onto this false narrative. We also spoke about Trump’s destructive policies in Venezuela and the deteriorating political situation in Haiti. Matt concluded the episode by talking about what some in the UK are overlooking (e.g., the UK as a major arms dealer) due to a strong focus on Brexit. We ended by talking about some of the positive initiatives such as climate change activism around the world, and various other protests during which individuals en mass speak truth to power.
Friend of the show Hugo Turner joined me this week to discuss Elliot Abrams and his legacy in Central America and role in the Iran-Contra affair. We began by discussing the roots of Iran-Contra and why it is still largely ignored by the media. Hugo discussed the origins of the affair going all the way back to the October Surprise in 1980. We talked about the other events that opened the door into Iran-Contra including the attempted assassination of Contra leader Eden Pastora in Costa Rica. Hugo and I then explored Abrams role in Iran-Contra itself. We also discussed Abrams role in covering up war crimes in El Salvador like the El Motoze massacre. Later Hugo and I talked about the genocide in Guatemala which Abrams helped facilitate. We also discussed the complex web of people and groups involved in drug trafficking, terrorism, death squads, and the suppression of the poor. We closed out the conversation by looking at the parallels between the 1980’s and the current political environment. We used the current situations in Venezuela and Haiti as examples.
Today I am joined by the founder of Inner City Press, Matthew Russell Lee, to discuss his investigative work inside the United Nations. Matthew and I begin by discussing his recent expulsion from the UN after his persistent work on the John Ashe UN corruption scandal. Matthew explains how Chinese billionaire Ng Lap Seng, in conjunction with former UN ambassador Frank Lorenzo, was involved in one of the largest ongoing corruption scandals at the UN. We also discuss the symbiotic relationship between corruption, media censorship and UN atrocities around the world. We talk about the head of UN peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, and his role in maintaining France’s colonial control of Africa. Later, we discuss the crisis in Yemen and the way this is being covered up by both the UN and the media. Matthew and I also touch on some of the more bizarre stories coming out of the UN, including the one about 40 pounds of pure cocaine in the mail room. We finish off by looking at the legacy of Ban Ki-Moon’s UN, and explore the possibility of his running for president in South Korea.
Porkins Policy Review 