Unauthorized Disclosure

Corporate armies. Corporate cities. Corporate justice. Corporate welfare. Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola speak with journalist Matt Kennard about the new book that he co-authored, "Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy." Kennard (and co-author Claire Provost) traveled to five different continents and visited several countries to investigate and document the sheer extent to which corporations now influence and control governments. TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: Go to TheDissenter.org and sign up at the lowest tier for $3/month.

Journalist and author Antony Loewenstein joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss his new book, The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World. The book from Verso Books will be published on May 23, and it comprehensively documents how Israel's military industrial complex uses the occupied Palestinian territories as a testing ground for the development of weapons and surveillance technology. In our interview, Antony describes the impact Israeli military support and weapons have had on populations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He specifically highlights the alliance Colombia formed with the Israeli military in a brutal war against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or the FARC. Social media companies, as Antony details, do not like Palestinians. He tells us about some of the ways in which Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc, censor Palestinians.

For this week's episode of the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by human rights and environmental attorney Steven Donziger.Steven was the target of a political case sponsored by Chevron. The super-major oil corporation hijacked the judiciary to stop Steven from standing up for the indigenous people of Ecuador, who had their land destroyed by Chevron.Rania and Kevin talk with Steven about post-prison life and corruption in the U.S. judicial branch. They discuss how President Joe Biden has allowed the fossil fuel industry to expand more oil drilling projects on federal land than President Donald Trump. And they also call attention to the Willow and Alaska LNG projects that Biden has greenlit.Later in the episode, Steven addresses the use of a "domestic terrorism" law in Georgia to try and stop the #StopCopCity protest against the construction of a police compound that would destroy forested land. He comments on the case of Manuel "Tortugita" Teran, a forest defender who was executed by police.

In this free clip from the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss how a spokesperson for the US State Department responded when asked why Cuba is designated a state sponsor of terrorism. They also read from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's letter to King Charles about prison conditions at Her Majesty's Prison Belmarsh, where Assange is detained. **Become a subcriber at TheDissenter.org or join the Shadowproof YouTube channel for access to full episodes.**

In this free clip from the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola discuss a report on the U.S. military industrial-complex, particularly the revolving door between the government and military contractors. As of 2021, 672 former government officials, military officers, members of Congress, and senior legislative staff were working for major military contractors like Boeing, Raytheon, or Lockheed Martin. **Join the Shadowproof YouTube channel as a member to get full access to Unauthorized Disclosure episodes or subscribe at TheDissenter.org.**

Eugene Puryear, host on BreakThrough News, joins Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola to discuss the violence that has unfolded this past week in Sudan.Fighting has escalated between General Abdel Fattah Burhan and Sudan's military and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti) and a paramilitary force known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).During the conversation, Eugene describes who the players are and how the people of Sudan are caught in between their jostling for power. He also addresses the widespread claim that somehow Russia must be behind the skirmishes.Later, Kevin asks Eugene and Rania to comment on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and their partnership with the Sesame Workshop on programming for children in Iraq. Samantha Power, a warmonger and poser for human rights who leads USAID, characterized the project in a very nauseating way.The show concludes with Eugene reacting to the U.S. Justice Department indicting Chairman Omali Yeshitela of the African People's Socialist Party and at least two other members affiliated with the Black liberation group. In 2022, the FBI targeted them in raids.Yeshitela spoke at an antiwar rally in Washington, D.C., on the 20th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The demonstration, which was livestreamed by BreakThrough News, also called for diplomatic negotiations instead of further escalation in the war in Ukraine.

Brian Becker, national director for the ANSWER Coalition and host of BreakThrough News' "Socialist Program," joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq and a major antiwar rally planned for March 18 in Washington, D.C.   During the episode, Brian reflects on the antiwar movement before and during the Iraq War and what can be learned from organizing in the 2000s as activists struggle for an end to the war in Ukraine.  Brian also comments on the role of the press in helping the US government spread lies that justified the war.

This show was unlocked for all viewers. Become a subscriber at TheDissenter.org to help keep the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast going.   Kari Lydersen, a Chicago-based reporter, author, and journalist instructor, joins the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast to discuss her feature story for In These Times, "The Case For Nationalizing the Railroads."   Lydersen has covered labor in Chicago and throughout the United States for many years. In this interview, she shares the experiences of railroad workers who united around a strike to help them win paid sick days in their contract. But President Joe Biden sided with the railroad barons and helped corporate executives stop the strike.  Profit margins for the major railroad companies are staggering. Later, Lydersen highlights the four corporations that control US railroads. She describes some of the health and safety struggles that railroad workers deal with daily. She talks about why we see around 1,700 train derailments in any given year. She also addresses what nationalization of the US railroad system might look like and also why so many shipments of goods are transported by trucks than trains, even though trains are more efficient.

This is an edited version. For full episodes, subscribe to the podcast at TheDissenter.org. Ollie Vargas, a contributor to Kawsachun News and co-host of Latin America Review, returns to the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast to discuss the latest developments in Peru. Back in 2022, a right-wing coup removed Peru President Pedro Castillo from power. He was replaced by Dina Boluarte, who had been his vice president. Boluarte has chosen to serve the interests of the oligarchy over indigenous and working class people the country. As part of our conversation, Ollie provides an overview of the violence and repression that Boluarte's US-backed regime has inflicted upon Peruvians in the past months. General strikes have unfolded for several weeks. He offers a recap of this resistance. Ollie addresses the US role in propping up the government, and he describes what grassroots groups have learned as they reflect on what they must do when they regain power in order to prevent a coup from happening again.

Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK co-founder and co-author of War In Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, and Ann Wright, a CODEPINK member, retired Army colonel, and former State Department diplomat, join “Unauthorized Disclosure” hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola to discuss the high stakes of a protracted conflict in Ukraine. Initially, President Joe Biden said the United States would not ship tank to Ukraine. That line was crossed, and now Ukraine would like fighter jets. Both Medea and Ann address the issue of escalating with more and more weapons and military equipment and crossing red lines that are drawn by officials. Medea draws from her experience in antiwar organizing to share how difficult it has been to advocate for a diplomatic settlement and mobilize Americans to oppose fueling this war. Later in the conversation, Ann, who lives in Hawaii, responds to the prevalent idea that the conflict in Ukraine against Russia has been a test run for a war over Taiwan against China. Hawaii is a US military launchpad for Asia-Pacific exercises and actions intended to curtail China’s influence in the region. The Chinese “spy balloon” incident shows just how rapidly a scenario could develop that resulted in a devastating conflict.