Political Misfits

Mark Sleboda, foreign affairs and policy analyst joins at the top of the show to break down the strategy that is unfolding in Ukraine as attacks on infrastructure intensify near Kiev. They also talked about how much military aid is being supplied by NATO to the Ukrainian military. Weapons are going into west Ukraine to support an insurgency according to Sleboda. Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of 'The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump, 2020 and Central Bankers at the End of Their Ropes: Monetary Policy and the Coming Depression joins the show to talk about how much sanctions slammed on Russia will impact its economy and economies beyond Russia”s border. No one really knows if sanctions will turn around and take a bite out of the U.S. and European economies, that remains to be seen, according to Dr, Rasmus. The real economy in Russia is connected to natural gas and oil sales not the stock market. It will be difficult for the global economy to make up the loss of Russia’s oil and natural gas. The Russian stock market remains closed since the beginning of the conflict and not slated to open until Monday. Russia is using Crypto to circumvent sanctions and using it in place of the banking systems that Russian’s do not have access to Dr. Rasmus said.Next, KJ Noh, a global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace joins the conversation to talk about the misinformation media war while trying to navigate the fog of war. The Misfits talk about the role of censorship in media: the EU banned RT and Sputnik News what does this type of action portend for media that does not align with a Western ideology and bandwidth? The Misfits discuss Russia’s relationship with China. What is China anticipating following sanctions placed on one of their major trade partners? China wants peace and will lift all wheat- import restrictions on Russia. Then they talk about the kind of assistance China will offer to Russia. China declares a multipolar world and economy a drive toward centralized digital currencies. And, China supports Russia’s security interest. The root cause of this crisis is the US and the Western expansion of NATO just as China possess similar security concerns in the Pacific according to Noh. For the last segment, John Kane, Mohawk activist and educator, producer and Host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast, and co-host of Resistance Radio on WBAI Pacifica Radio NY joins the show to talk about the Supreme Court taking up a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act.The battleground is over child placement. Overturning the legislation could potentially remove large amounts of regulations protecting tribes and their members. Forceable moving children from native households to place them with a white family. Texas, Louisiana and Indiana are challenging the child protection law they claim the law is racist and violates the 14th Amendment. Kane says that’s why the law is failing because it does not recognize the sovereignty and distinct cultural identities of native tribes. If SCOTUS overturns the legislation Indian casinos are at risk of loosing regulated gaming privileges which is important to native economies because there is no state income tax base on tribal lands. The Misfits sign off till tomorrow.

Jeremy Kuzmarov, managing editor of CovertAction Magazine and the author of several books on US foreign policy, discusses the implications of Europe’s new lethal aid for Ukraine and talks about the information war underway and how to view Russia’s justifications for its actions. The three also discuss Europe’s uneven responses to refugee crises and reports of Africans in Ukraine being blocked from trains and at borders. Mohammad Marandi, political analyst and professor of English Literature and Orientalism, University of Tehran, updates the Misfits on a possible new Iran deal and the additional protections Tehran wants, given Washington’s abrupt abandonment of the first agreement. He also discusses the failure of US sanctions as a tool of diplomacy.Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity and a former foreign policy, civil liberties, defense and intelligence advisor to U.S. Congressman Ron Paul, discusses the implications of recent security decisions in Europe, including Germany’s huge new defense budget and Belarus’ rejection of its non-nuclear status.The Misfits also discussed the new economic sanctions against Russia, banning and labeling of Russian media, the role of propaganda in conflicts, left infighting over Ukraine, former Attorney General William Barr’s new book, the results of this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, and more.

Our first guest, Jim Jatras, retired former U.S. diplomat and GOP Senate foreign policy adviser, joins the show to talk about what is happening on the ground in Ukraine militarily and diplomatically. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to discuss a “neutral status” for his country. Russia said it was ready to send a delegation to Minsk, but of course, as these statements are being made, people are fighting and dying in Ukraine. They talked about the scale of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and the burgeoning protests in the region. Next, John Ross, author, economist, and senior fellow of the Chongyang Institute at Renmin University of China, joins the show to discuss the wave of sanctions the US has imposed. They talk about the immediate economic impact in Russia and elsewhere. Also, India is apparently trying to establish a rupee payment mechanism to trade with Russia - if other countries do this as well, does it eventually affect the value of the dollar overall?Kimberly Dvorak, investigative journalist, talks about the possible outcomes from Russia’s military engagement in Ukraine. They talk about whether Ukraine will become a divided state: Ukraine on the West and parts of Eastern Ukraine join Russia. The Misfits also talk about the impact the war in Ukraine will affect domestic politics and the 2022 midterm elections.For the last segment, Jacqueline Luqman, co-host of By Any Means Necessary which can be heard M-F 2:00p to 4:00p ET on Radio Sputnik, calls in to join the conversation to talk about what it means to fight for peace at a time of open conflict. There’s a lot of pressure right now in the West to take a side - and pressure to accept the idea that to be on the side of ordinary Ukrainians watching this horror play out is to be on the side of the US and NATO. Luqman points out that while Russia is striking Ukraine, Israel has been dropping bombs in Gaza for years with no sanctions from the West.

Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, joins the show to talk about how Russia launched what it is being referred to as a special military operation in Ukraine last night, with the stated goal of demilitarizing and denazifying the government there. Michelle and Peter talk about how diplomacy has failed to resolve security concerns long held by Russia, which has escalated tension and led to military conflict. Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins the show to talk about Russian President Vladimir Putin's early morning announcement and the sanctions against Russia that followed. They talked about how Western sanctions target Russia which include freezing Russia’s financial assets. They discuss the potential impact it could have on businesses and individuals living in the region and how much pain will be felt beyond Russia’s borders? Dan Lazare, journalist and analyst, meets up with the Misfits to talk about the economic state of flux now that Russia has moved into Ukraine, Will there be a global energy shock? They also talk about the Russian electorate. How do Russians feel about military action and occupation of Ukraine? Does it help Putin with voters? And what will Putin decide to do with Western parts of Ukraine once the breakaway republics are secured? The Misfits sign off for today. We will be back tomorrow in this space to bring you the latest news and analysis.Till tomorrow…

At the top of the show, George Szamuely calls in to break down reaction to the sanctions the U.S. announced on Tuesday. They also talk about opposition within the Republican Party as Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) is calling for Russia’s economy to be destroyed, while Donald Trump praises Putin for being a canny operator. Next, Ford Fischer, a primary source documentarian whose works include Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning films and editor-in-chief of News2Share (@N2Sreports), calls in to talk with the Misfits about the truckers Freedom Convoy that is leaving from different parts of the U.S. and rolling into DC. Protesters say they plan to jam the beltway outside of DC today, and converge at the U.S. Capitol by March 1, 2022. Then, Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins the show. They talk about the recent announcement that Kyle Rittenhouse is launching a “Media Accountability Project." Rittenhouse has also filed lawsuits against reporters, saying he was defamed and wants to help others in his situation. Rittenhouse is the man who shot and killed two people during racial justice protests in Wisconsin in 2020, but who was found not guilty by virtue of having acted in self defense, the jury concluded.John and Michelle also discuss with Gosztola the litigation resulting from the opioid crisis. The Wall Street Journal reports that Purdue’s Sackler family has increased their opioid settlement offer to as much as $6 billion. The new settlement offer comes after the company’s prior Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan was overturned. For the last segment, Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center and the editor of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News magazines, joins the show to talk about the crisis at New York's Rikers Island jail that houses thousands of people awaiting trial in New York City. Last month, news broke that over 2,800 guards were conspiring to skip work for so-called “sick leave” at any given time. On some days, as many as 35 percent of guards called in sick, claiming diarrhea or just not bothering to call in at all. This is a crime called time and attendance fraud, and it resulted in the city paying out millions of dollars in overtime for other guards to cover the missed shifts. In the meantime, prisoners missed more than 7,000 medical appointments because there was nobody to escort them.

Austin Pelli, co-host of Fault Lines which can be heard on Radio Sputnik 7:00a -10:00a ET Monday through Friday, calls in to update the Misfits about the breakup of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa over the weekend. Austin reports that over 70 trucks were towed,150 arrests were made and most people were taken to the city limits and asked not to return. There were no deaths or serious injuries, according to Austin. They also talked about the bank seizure of donations and bank accounts held by protestors. Mark Sleboda, reporter and foreign affairs analyst, joins the show to break down the latest in Eastern Europe. They talk about the geopolitical significance of Russia officially recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk Republics. They also talk about whether or not a larger incursion past DPR and LPR into Ukraine could ensue and what impact this could have on global oil prices and inflation. Next up is longtime educator and activist Dr. Bill Ayers, who is a former professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he held the titles of Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar and specialized in teaching social justice, urban educational reform, narrative and interpretive research, and children in trouble with the law. Ayers joins the conversation to discuss the recent recall in San Francisco of three of the city’s school board members. The ousted members were recalled primarily over the closure of schools and other covid-related restrictions. Ayers explains that the recall was sponsored by a few billionaires costing $1.9 million. Recalls are often utilized as a political mechanism that takes advantage of low-voter turnout, resulting in an election result that does not necessarily reflect the will of the general electorate, according to Ayers.For the top of the last hour, Miranda Devine, reporter at the New York Post, Daily Telegraph and the author of the bestselling book “Laptop From Hell,” joins the Misfits to talk about the latest development out of the Hunter Biden corruption investigation. They talk about what was Hunter Biden doing in China and Ukraine. They also talk about Hunter’s spending habits and what the federal probe is looking into, particularly Biden’s finances, taxes and business dealingsFor the last segment, Jeremy Kuzmarov joins the program. He’s the Jay P. Walker Assistant Professor of American History at the University of Tulsa. He’s also managing editor of Covert Action Magazine, and the author of three books, most recently “The Russians Are Coming–Again: The First Cold War as Tragedy, the Second as Farce.” He joins the show to talk about how the media is describing events unfolding in Ukraine. They talk about reports over the weekend that Russia is preparing a “kill list” and a full blown invasion of Ukraine. The question that the Misfits discuss with Kuzmarov is why are we being asked, yet again, to just take the government’s and the media’s account of all that is actually happening in the region?

Austin Pelli, co-host of Fault Lines, which you can hear every day, Monday through Friday from 7:00a-10:00a ET on Radio Sputnik, calls in from Ottawa to give the Misfits an update on an anticipated crackdown by police to clear protesters from the Canadian capital. It has been widely reported that law enforcement is preparing to clear the capital over the weekend, and protesters say they plan to remain in place. Austin told the Misfits that two leaders of the Freedom Convoy were arrested this morning.Mark Sleboda, international relations and foreign affairs analyst, joins the show to break down the latest developments out of Ukraine. They talk about Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s speech to the United Nations Thursday warning of a possible “false flag operation.” Blinken said Russia or pro-Russian Ukrainians could allege a provocation that would then give them cause to enter Ukraine. Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor Emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, joins the show to talk about the recent UK law called the Official Secrets Act that is used to prosecute anybody accused of leaking classified, sensitive, or national security information, including journalists. It’s a law that American prosecutors have often said they would like to see in the United States. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s conservative government is now poised to greatly expand on the Official Secrets Act to allow the government to prosecute and jail whistleblowers and journalists. Ted Rall, award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, author whose his latest book is "The Stringer," and co-host of the DMZ America podcast with Ted Rall & Scott Stantis, joins the show to talk about the recent ruling by a New York state judge ordering Donald Trump and his children Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. to testify in depositions within three weeks. The court order relates to New York state’s investigation into the Trump organization’s business practices. Then, the Misfits talk with Ted about Elon Musk tweeting that he’s being harassed by the SEC trying to “chill” Musk’s right to free speech. Finally, Michelle and John ask Ted about rising inflation and recent reports that sixty percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck with little to no savings to fall back on.Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. joins the show to discuss the impact of hybrid immunity to COVID-19. They discuss the science, where it stands now on natural immunity versus vaccine-induced immunity, and whether one form of immunity is notably more effective than the other. They talk about how federal guidelines will adapt to rising rates of immunity.The Misfits close Friday’s show with Stories of the Weird.We sign off till Tuesday.

Jim Jatras, former US diplomat and former senior foreign policy advisor to the Senate Republican leadership, joins Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the expulsion of the US deputy ambassador from Russia and the accusations Ukraine and Russia are exchanging of cease-fire violations, as the US secretary of state addresses the UN Security Council on the crisis. Chris Garaffa, editor of TechForThePeople.org, breaks down the Future of Tech commission’s recent recommendations on limiting data collection, and the need for more forceful action on privacy violations. They also discuss new legislation to protect childrens’ privacy online and Google’s plans to (pretend to) protect your privacy. Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell professor of law and a professor of public policy at Cornell University, gets into the Justice Department’s investigation of short selling on Wall Street. He also helps explain the ramifications of the Canadian government’s new emergency powers as they relate to private banking and breaks down what the about face of the Trump Organization’s accounting firm means. Austin Pelli, cohost of Fault Lines, reports from Ottawa, where a crackdown on the anti-mandate trucker convoy is underway. Protestors appear to be unconcerned with the threats of arrest, and promise the protest will continue.

At the top of the show, our guest is Dr. David Oualaalou, an International geopolitical consultant, global speaker, author, veteran & former international security analyst in Washington, DC. He’s the host of “Geopolitics in Conflict” on YouTube, Locals & Rumble, and founder of Global Perspective Consultingheadquartered in Dallas, TX. His latest book is "The Dynamics of Russia’s Geopolitics: Remaking of the Global Order." He joins John and Michelle to break down the latest in Ukraine. The head of Russia’s delegation to the OSCE said this morning that the Russian bottom line is that Ukraine cannot and must not join NATO. But, we already know that France and Germany opposed Ukrainian membership in NATO, and all member countries have to vote unanimously to accept a new member. It remains unlikely that Ukraine would be eligible or become a member of NATO anytime soon, according to Dr.Oualaalou. Pandemic related mandates remain in effect until March as protests in Ottawa continue. Austin Pelli, co-host of Fault Lines, which you can hear every day, Monday through Friday, from 7:00a -10:00a ET on Radio Sputnik, called in from Ottawa to give the Misfits a breakdown of what’s happening on the ground. Austin says that protesters are preparing for an escalation by law enforcement over the weekend in an effort to motivate protestors to clear the capital space truckers have occupied since mid-January. Leila Mechoui, journalist and co-host of the Red Star Radio podcast, also called in from Ottawa. The Misfits to talk about speculation that a group of protesters are preparing for a coup to overthrow the Canadian government. “The only people talking about overthrowing the government is the government,” Leila said.Next, Tina Landis, environmental and social activist and the author of the book "Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism," joins Michelle and John to talk about a report on potential sea level rise issued Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, warning that sea levels will rise as much in the next 30 years as much as they did in the previous hundred. That means seas a foot higher, or as much as a foot and a half higher in the Gulf of Mexico on the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Morgan Artyukhina is a writer and news editor at Sputnik’s Washington, DC, bureau, focusing on international and breaking news, as well as covering military technology, the expanding neoliberal police state, and the ongoing struggles against it in the US and around the globe. Morgan meets up with John and Michelle in studio to talk about how Ethiopia's parliament yesterday voted for an early end to the country’s six-month-long state of emergency, indicating that the bloody conflict between the government and Tigrayan rebel forces was easing.For the last segment, Sarah Sax joins the show. Sarah is an environmental journalist, with a focus to uncover the social, economic, and environmental forces driving large-scale land-use change and environmental injustice, with a focus on climate justice, gender, land and indigenous rights, and agricultural commodities. John and Michelle talk with Sarah about a hydroelectric plant slated to be built in the Pacific Northwest on sacred tribal land owned by the Yakama tribe.

For the first segment, Austin Pelli, co-host of Fault Lines - which you can hear every day Monday through Friday, from 7:00a-10:00a ET here on Radio Sputnik, calls in from Ottawa, Canada to give us an on-the-ground perspective covering the Freedom Convoy. Austin describes the scene as being friendly and festive. Ottawa police have been supportive of the protest, and participants in the convoy are compliant with law enforcement. Each weekend, more people show up to the protest, yet pandemic mandates are slated to be lifted by the end of February.Next, Kimberly Dvorak, award-winning investigative journalist, calls in from Virginia to talk with Michelle and John about the latest development in Russia over tensions in the Ukraine. There are a great number of developments on Ukraine today: President Putin met this morning with Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which was after Scholz met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Both sides stressed economic ties, and Scholz said that Europe’s borders are inviolable. Putin, for his part, said that he does not want or seek war in Europe. At the bottom of the first hour, John Kane, Mohawk activist, educator, producer and host of the Let's Talk Native podcast, and co-host of Resistance Radio on WBAI Pacifica Radio NY, joins the show to talk about the Interior Department reviewing deaths in custody of native people at tribal detention centers overseen by the department. According to an investigation published last summer, at least 19 men and women have died in these detention centers since 2016.Terry Collingsworth, executive director of International Rights Advocates and labor/human rights attorney specializing in trade and international labor rights issues, joins Michelle and John to talk about the National Labor Relations Board’s findings about how Amazon has treated union organizers in its warehouses and what it has been ordered to do. The Board’s findings follow after Amazon workers in Alabama voted for a second time whether or not to unionize. During the last hour, Bruce Fein, former associate deputy Attorney General of the United States and a renowned constitutional scholar, catches up with the Misfits to discuss a recent court decision regarding Sarah Palin. A New York judge yesterday said that he will dismiss a lawsuit brought against the New York Times by Republican former vice presidential nominee and Alaska governor Sarah Palin. He said that Palin’s legal team did not prove a key element of the case, that the New York Times intended “actual malice.” But in a very unusual decision, the judge said that he will allow the jury to continue deliberating over a verdict, and that he will dismiss that verdict once it has done so. This seems like an easy win for the Times. But, the judge seems to be preparing for an inevitable appeal and he wants both his own reasoning and the jury’s reasoning on the record, according to Fein.For the last segment, Dan Kovalik, labor attorney, human rights activist, and author whose latest book is called "Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture," joins the show to talk about the latest out of Honduras. The United States yesterday formally requested the arrest and extradition to the US of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. The Justice Department accuses the former president of trafficking drugs into the United States. His brother Tony was convicted of trafficking last year and sentenced to life without parole. The Honduran Supreme Court will meet today to decide whether to extradite Orlando Hernandez. Orlando Hernandez is not new to corruption. There have been credible, serious reports that he was a major drug trafficker going back to 2015.

Mark Sleboda, foreign affairs and policy analyst, joins the show at the top of the hour to break down the latest from diplomatic talks over the weekend. Today, President Putin met with Foreign Minister Lavror and Defense Minister Shoygu to talk about de-escalation. Shoygu said that Russian troops are about to finish their military drills and will soon return to their permanent bases. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is asking the US for proof of Russian intentions because the US insistence that a Russian invasion is imminent is spreading panic in the country. Even airlines are canceling flights to Ukraine because they can’t get insurance to operate them.Then, Austin Pelli, co-host of Fault Lines, which you can hear every day Monday through Friday, from 7:00a-10:00a ET here on Radio Sputnik, calls in from Ottawa, Canada, to give us an on-the-ground perspective covering the Freedom Convoy. Austin says that protesters are peaceful, keeping the streets clean and salted, contrary to media accounts of Confederate flags and trash.Leila Mechoui, journalist and co-host of the Red Star Radio podcast, also called in from Ottawa. Leila talks about who is supporting the protest and those who remain opposed. She says that the Trudeau administration is planning to lift pandemic-related mandates as soon as February 28, but Trudeau is not saying that it has anything to do with pressure from protesters. Truckers protested a specific issue, and now that issue may be resolved soon.Next, Daniel Mc Adams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, joins John to talk about the rising populist anti-war conservatism that is ascending within the GOP. John and Daniel discuss the primary season and the competitive Senate races. The redrawing of districts following the 2020 census and which senators are up for election will have an impact on how many and who turns out to vote this November.For the last segment, Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins the show. Remember Russiagate? John and Kevin discuss the recent news that Justice Department Special Prosecutor John Durham filed a motion on Friday related to potential conflicts of interest in connection with the case of Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussman, who has been charged with lying to the FBI. Sussman allegedly told the FBI that he was not acting on Hillary Clinton’s behalf when he gave the FBI documents that supposedly linked the Trump campaign to a Russian bank. But records show that he later billed the Clinton campaign for doing exactly that. The limited information that Durham has released so far indicates that nothing about Russiagate was true.

George Szamuely, columnist and senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute, joined John and Michelle during the first hour to break down the latest developments from a very tense session yesterday between British Foreign Minister Liz Truss and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.For the next segment, Guy McPherson, scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources, ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, joined the show to talk about the recent increase in earthquakes in Texas, which saw twice as many earthquakes in 2021 compared to the year prior, according to research by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin. The Misfits ask McPherson why fracking causes earthquakes and how dangerous they are. Recent earthquakes are a result of wastewater disposal wells, a byproduct that results from drilling for natural gas that induces earthquakes, McPherson said.At the top of the last hour, Andalusia K. Soloff is a multimedia journalist, documentary filmmaker, and graphic novelist based in Mexico City who specializes in state violence, migration, indigenous land struggles and gender-based murders in Latin America. She joins the show to shed light on the assassinations of journalists in Mexico. Six weeks into 2022, five journalists have been murdered in Mexico, the deadliest year for journalists there in over a decade. Between 2000 and 2021, Mexico saw the murder of 145 journalists. Soloff explains that many of the murders follow reporting on corruption cases involving local politicians and drug cartels. Many journalists, especially those in border towns like Tijuana, are in fear of their lives yet remain committed to reporting on crime and corruption.KJ Noh, is a global justice activist, writer, teacher, and a member of Veterans for Peace, joins Michelle and John to talk about what, if anything, results from the Quad meeting today in Australia. Foreign ministers of a bunch of NATO allies have been doing the rounds between Kiev and Moscow, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Asia meeting with leaders from Australia, Japan and India in the Quad format. Blinken is then headed to Fiji and then back on US soil in Hawaii. The Misfits close the show with Friday’s Stories of the Weird, not to be missed. We sign off till Monday…

At the top of the first hour, Zachary Siegel, freelance journalist and a journalism fellow at Northeastern University's Health in Justice Action Lab, joins John and Michelle to talk about Biden’s Harm Reduction Bill. The measure is not without controversy. A provision provides funding for things like needle exchange programs for individuals suffering from drug addiction. Many Republicans have voiced opposition to the $30 million health care bill. Zachary explains why the bill should pass and why it matters, and points out that the goal should be to focus on reducing the demand for opioids as they are potent relievers of emotional and physical pain.Then, the Misfits were joined by Dr. Jack Rasmus. He’s a professor in both the economics and political science departments at St. Mary’s University, where he focuses on economic inequities. He’s most recently the author of the book "Epic Recession and Global Financial Crisis." He joins Michelle and John to discuss the latest report that dropped today indicating a surge in inflation. Dr. Rasmus points out that the recent spike in price inflation for fuel, meat and baked goods is a result of price gouging by monopolistic corporations. It is more about corporate greed than the narrative of supply shortages.Next, Dr. Peter Kuznick called into the show. He’s a professor of history and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University in Washington, and he’s an expert on 20th century history. He’s the author of many books, including "The Untold History of the United States" and "Beyond the Laboratory: Scientists as Political Activists in 1930s America." Dr. Kuznick came on the show to discuss the historical context of NATO expansion into Eastern Europe and how we got to the recent tensions with Russia regarding Ukraine.Ron Clewer, Illinois market president for Gorman & Company and affordable housing advocate, joined John and Michelle for the last segment of the show to talk about the recent escalation of home prices, as well as falling supply and lack of affordable housing. Clewer does not see the market turning back anytime soon, and says not only will the market continue to see a rise in demand for housing, but that the building of affordable housing is a workforce solution. The Misfits close the program with a reminder to join us tomorrow, because it's Friday's Stories of the Weird!

At the top of the show, Peter Oliver, RT correspondent, calls in from Berlin to break down the latest news out of Russia as NATO continues to move toward Ukraine. Peter sheds light on the impact that preemptive sanctions could have on the region. The Normandy quartet of leaders (Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France) meets tomorrow. Stay tuned to this channel for further updates. Next, Danaka Katovich, national organizer for Code Pink, a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, joins the show to talk about the Biden administration's continued engagement in drone attacks and shipping military aid to Yemen. The warfare has caused a humanitarian crisis as civilians continue to get killed in the crossfire. The humanitarian situation on the ground is dire as there is not enough food, water and medical supplies, Danaka said.During the last hour of the show, we are joined by Chris Garaffa, editor of TechForThePeople.org, to talk about a story by Vice News reporting on new facial recognition spyware that the Los Angeles Police Department is using to track the homeless. ODIN Intelligence is offering police forces the capability of identifying and compiling searchable information on homeless people in communities, in order to address "problems" such as “degradation of a city's culture,” “reduction in property values,” “poor hygiene (using streets as a restroom),” and “unchecked predatory behavior,” among others.John and Michelle close the program with a conversation about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s newfound support for a stock ban for lawmakers and judges. And, Amazon is planning to offer health care services billed, and Amazon Care, oh my!The Misfits sign off till tomorrow….

Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor Emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, joins Michelle and John at the top of the show to discuss today’s diplomatic meetings set to ease tensions in Ukraine involving French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House. Next, Bill Mew, leading digital ethics campaigner and CEO of cyber incident firm The Crisis Team, joins to discuss the proposed digital dollar. Why now? Why would the US need a digital dollar with so many digital currency options on the market, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum? A digital dollar that functions over an app could bring competition for banks that offer bank account transaction services and debit cards, according to Mew.With talks between the United States and Iran on the JCPOA in their final phase, the US announced that it would restore sanctions waivers that would allow Russian, Chinese, and European companies to do nonproliferation work that would make it more difficult for Iran to use its nuclear sites for weapons development. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins Michelle and John to talk about the possible outcomes from the negotiations. For the last segment, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, joins the Misfits to talk about Covid restrictions in light of new data indicating a fall in infection rates while hospital ICUs remain at capacity. The Misfits sign off till Wednesday. Join us then to go against the grain, and keep organizing!

Dan Lazare is the author of the recent "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, The Supreme Court and Decline of American Democracy." He joins at the top of the first hour to break down the latest CNN controversy. The company’s president, Jeff Zucker, was forced to resign after an affair with another CNN executive. Star host Jake Tapper jumped into the fray in support of Zucker, saying that when fellow anchor Chris Cuomo was fired a few months ago, he decided to burn his bridges by reporting Zucker’s affair, which violated CNN’s HR rules. Then, Tapper called his colleague Chris Cuomo a terrorist.For the next segment, Lydia Parker, founder and executive director of Hunters of Color, joins Michelle and John to talk about HOC’s recent change.org petition that is seeking a broader investigation of the Peter Spencer killing in rural western Pennsylvania. Lydia also explained the challenges that people of color encounter while engaging in outdoor activities in an environment where 97% of private land is occupied by white property owners. Lydia emphasizes HOC’s motto: "The outdoors is for everyone."Chris Garaffa, editor of TechForThePeople.org, catches up with Michelle and John at the top of the second hour to talk about the latest cyber news. The FBI did indeed buy access to the powerful Pegasus spyware, saying it wanted to “stay abreast of emerging technologies and tradecraft.” But don’t worry, it was never used. They just wanted to test and evaluate it. Chris explains how the spyware has been acquired and used against journalists and protest movements. Then, the Misfits discuss the new robot dogs recently developed by the Department of Homeland Security.George Szamuely is a senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute. He was a frequent columnist with the Taki’s Top Drawer pages of the New York Press. Szamuely has also written for Antiwar.com, Counterpunch, and the Center for Research and Globalization. He joins Michelle and John to discuss the recent change in tone from the mainstream media stressing there’s an imminent threat of war in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have said: "let’s not panic, we don’t think this is true." A reporter at the Guardian, Shaun Walker, ran some US claims about Russia moving blood supplies closer to the Ukrainian border. Turns out the source was unreliable, and officials from Ukraine are saying it simply isn’t a true account of what’s happening on the ground.The Misfits close the show with 'Stories of the Weird.' Till next week...

Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins Michelle and John at the top of the show to talk about how the White House walked back rhetoric after repeating that Ukraine was in “imminent” danger of a Russia invasion. This follows Biden’s comments about a “minor incursion.”Juan Jose Gutierrez, immigration lawyer and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, joins John and Michelle to talk about the latest status of Joe Biden’s immigration promises from the campaign trail. Biden promised to end a Trump-era policy called the Migrant Protection Protocols. Since Biden has been in office, numerous migrants have been held in a detention center in Mexico.Next, Nicholas Davies, independent journalist, researcher with Code Pink and author of "Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq," calls in to discuss the latest killing of an ISIS leader in Syria. During the night, the United States launched a special forces raid outside of Idlib, Syria, killing the leader of ISIS, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. Twelve other people were killed, including four women and six children. Adriana Garriga Lopez is an associate professor of anthropology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, associate faculty of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, anthropologist and multidisciplinary artist. She joins us for the last segment of the show to talk about gentrification overrunning the real estate market in Puerto Rico and the impact that a new tax haven law is having on the displacement of native Puerto Ricans and their cultural rights.Join us tomorrow for more breaking news and ‘Stories of the Weird.’

Peter Oliver, journalist and RT correspondent in Berlin, joins Michelle and John at the top of the show to discuss the latest developments from Ukraine, as well as Germany banning the German-language Russian RT broadcast.Next, Teresa Lundy, communications strategist and principal at TML Communications, talks with Michelle and John about the recent story published in New York Magazine regarding the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's missing money mystery.Ted Rall is an award-winning political cartoonist, columnist, and author, his latest book is "The Stringer," and is co-host of the podcast DMZ America. You can find his work at www.rall.com. Ted meets up with the Misfits to talk about the latest news out of New York. The Albany County New York DA said this morning that former Governor Andrew Cuomo would not be charged in the criminal case involving allegations that he groped a former aide in the Executive Mansion in 2020. Cuomo lost his job and his reputation over the allegation, but he apparently won’t lose his freedom.For the last segment, Tim Stevens, Chairman and CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) based in Pittsburgh, joined the show to talk about the killing of Peter Spencer. An immigrant from Jamaica, Spencer lived in Pittsburgh, and was invited to join his white colleagues in the woods and was found dead a few hours later. No one has been charged with Spencer’s murder.Michelle and John close with conversation about Tom Brady retiring and the new name for the Washington team. Oh please, are they really going to call themselves the Washington Commanders?

We begin with Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, who joins the show during the first segment to break down the latest in Ukraine. Hungary and Ukraine expand their deal on gas imports to alleviate dependence on Russian natural gas. Mark points out that the “lethal aid” which the Western alliance has provided Ukraine since 2014 has been used by Ukrainians to kill fellow Ukrainians. John and Michelle ask Mark about the UK, Poland, and Ukraine working on a trilateral security pact.Next, Paul Wright, managing editor of Prison Legal News and executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center, joins John and Michelle to discuss the latest news that all federal prisons are in a nationwide lockdown today following the murder of two prisoners at the US penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas. The dead are apparently both members of the MS-13 street gang. The BOP is in disarray and stressed over multiple factors, including the latest gang incident and having trouble finding people to hire and keep on staff. John explains that the eligibility to be a prison guard is remedial and problematic, which is exacerbating the problem of hiring qualified prison workers.For the first segment in the second hour, we are joined by Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience. He is a former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents. Jon catches up with the Misfits to talk about the impact of the pandemic economy and recent news from the New York Times highlighting Paycheck Protection Program fraud and missing money. More resources should have been given to workers who create consumer demand rather than fund a trickle-down economics approach to stimulus that emerged, which supplies the rich and draws down on the consumer, according to Jeter.For the last segment, Keean Bexte is on the ground in Ottawa, Canada. He’s reporting on the latest developments from the Freedom Convoy, and checked in with Michelle and John to talk about the truckers protest over the weekend. Keean clarified their demands: since the Justin Trudeau administration implemented pandemic mandates, ten to fifteen percent of truckers lost their jobs. The convoy is demanding an end to all pandemic related mandates. The group has amassed a whopping $10 million. Keean says the convoy has enough cash to idle at the capital of Ottawa for about two and half years.Michelle and John end the program by sharing news about the killing of Peter Spencer, a Jamaican immigrant living in Pittsburgh who went on a trip in the woods with his white coworkers and was discovered dead a few hours later. No charges have been filed. More about this story on tomorrow’s broadcast.

At the top of the show, Dr. Kenneth Surin: Professor Emeritus of literature, religion and critical theory at Duke University joins to talk about the escalating tensions in Ukraine and how the UK and US continue to fan the flames in the region.For the next segment, John Kane: Mohawk activist and educator, producer and Host of the Let's Talk Native Podcast, and co-host of Resistance Radio on WBAI Pacifica Radio NY joins John and Michelle to talk about a recent story involving a California redwood forest that’s officially been returned to a group of Native tribes.During the second hour, Daniel Mc Adams: Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. And co-Producer/co-Host, Ron Paul Liberty Report which can be heard on YouTube. Daniel served as the foreign affairs, civil liberties, and defense/intel policy advisor to U.S. Congressman Ron Paul MD (R) TX from 2001 to 2012. Daniel joined the Misfits to talk about the GOP and Trump’s latest speech over the weekend in Texas. Daniel points out that Democrats live in illusion over the rising support of working class Hispanics, Many of whom voted for Trump after hearing Biden, during his campaign threatened to end oil drilling in the region.Next on the show, A month ago, the Virginia State Water Control Board handed the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a crucial permit for crossing streams and wetlands. But last week, the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rescinded the approval the pipeline had won from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to build across a section of the Jefferson National Forest in Giles and Montgomery counties in Virginia. To talk about this victory with Michelle and John they were joined by Rose, a volunteer for Appalachians Against Pipelines. Rose explained that it took several direct action protests to win the reversal and stall the development of the pipeline.The Misfits sign-off till tomorrow.