A Different Lens

Today we sit down with writer and activist Eli Morey to discuss the late July elections in Venezuela, how the US has responded, the internal going ons in the country, and Venezuela-Argentina relations.   Shownotes Debunking myths about Venezuela: What’s really going on? Venezuela Presidential Election: International Organizations Call on Authorities to Guarantee Transparency Voting Trends: Do They Favor Machado/González or Maduro? Venezuelan forces surround embassy sheltering opposition figures A court in Argentina orders the arrest of Venezuela's president and his right-hand man

Today we talk to international affairs specialist Dr. Gilbert Doctorow to discuss recent battlefield events in the Ukraine-Russia war, the possibility of a diplomatic completion to the war, and delving into Russia-China and Russian-North Korean relations.   Shownotes Gilbert Doctorow  Gilbert Doctorow Substack   Episode #162: US/NATO-Russia Conflict with Dr. Gilbert Doctorow Putin demands more land to end Ukraine war, terms Kyiv rejects as ‘complete sham’   Vladimir Putin lays out six conditions for ending the war in Ukraine Ukraine’s Zelenskyy charting ‘comprehensive plan’ to end war with Russia Negotiated outcome most likely result of Russia-Ukraine war, major poll says France, allies to ‘finalize’ plan to send military trainers to Ukraine Russia and North Korea sign partnership deal that appears to be the strongest since the Cold War China Can End Russia’s War in Ukraine With One Phone Call, Finland Says Beijing and Moscow Go From ‘No Limits’ Friendship to Frenemies in Russia’s Backyard How China and Russia Compete, and Cooperate, in Central Asia

We chat with  independent political analyst and friend of the show Dan Welch to have a free flowing conversation regarding the 2024 Presidential election and the recent Biden-Trump debate.   Shownotes Dan Welch Interview with Press TV on Trump-Biden Debate June 28, 2024

Today we discuss the Holodomor famine, what caused it, the response to it, and its relevance in contemporary politics. We also talk about the difference between socialism and fascism and how there has been a concerted effort to equate the two ideologies.   Shownotes Further Reading   Khrushchev's Secret Speech, 'On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences,' Delivered at the Twentieth Party Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union   On Stalin's Team: The Years of Living Dangerously in Soviet Politics   Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend    

Today we sit down with friend of the show, activist Mark Provost, to discuss the 2024 Presidential elections. In this episode we touch on a variety of topics: the Israel-Gaza war, the overall economy, housing, and voters who are not fond of Trump or Biden and how all of these flow into and can affect the upcoming election cycle.   Shownotes   The Colorado River Is Shrinking. See What’s Using All the Water (NYT)   Reading The Numbers: 130 Million American Adults Have Low Literacy Skills   Do More Than Half of Americans Read Below 6th-Grade Level? (Snopes)   Meet 'double disapprovers': swing voters who could decide the presidential election   ‘No doubt’ Netanyahu preventing hostage deal, charges ex-spokesman of Families Forum

Today we talk to Margaret Kimberley, the Executive Editor and Senior Columnist of Black Agenda Report, discussing Israel's war on Gaza and the larger political situation surrounding it as well as delving into the 2024 elections with the seeming match-up between Trump and Biden and the issue with the push to take Trump off the election ballot.   Shownotes Black Agenda Report Israel in talks with Congo and other countries on Gaza ‘voluntary migration’ plan Killing of Hamas leader in Lebanon stokes escalation fears Biden Convinced Netanyahu to Halt a Pre-Emptive Strike Against Hezbollah Hamas video via Asa Winstanley of Electronic Intifada Watch Blinken react to Biden calling Xi a ‘dictator How Israel Could Lose America_ Netanyahu Risks Letting the War in Gaza Jeopardize an Essential Alliance Margaret Kimberley response to PBS Newshour report on Israeli propaganda Biden just knifed labor unions in the back. They shouldn’t forget it

Today we chat with author and activist Chris Fry to discuss the issue of artificial intelligence, how it is and can be utilized,  the effect it would have on the working class, and what are some reasons to maintain hope.   Shownotes Artificial Intelligence and the Class Struggle

Today we do a deep dive into The Great Purge, really discussing the overall situation and getting into the specifics of who was involved, what they did, and the reasoning behind it. Shownotes Further Reading

Today, we chat with Dr. Shawgi Tell, a professor of education at Nazareth University about his article entitled "Charter Schools and the Privatization (and Profitization) of Education." In the interview we discuss how charter schools differ from public schools, the strange ways in which they are funded, and how the strange space they occupy being private institutions while delivering a public good.   Shownotes Charter Schools and the Privatization (and Profitization) of Education Network for Public Education Network for Education Policy Centers    

We continue our series on Stalin with Dr. Nick Partyka today, specifically delving into collectivization of Soviet farms, what was occurring previously, and even discussing kulaks and the de-kulakization campaigns.   Shownotes Further Reading