Unauthorized Disclosure

Former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou returns to the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast to discuss President Joe Biden's administration making an example out of IRS whistleblower Charles Littlejohn, the "terrorism enhancement" applied against "Vault 7" leaker Joshua Schulte, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal hearing on February 20. *Full episode available by becoming a subscriber at TheDissenter.org or a patron at Patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure

FREE PREVIEW OF FULL EPISODE AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS We kick the year off with a show regular, Matthew Hoh, who is a former Marine, former State Department official, and the associate director for the Eisenhower Media Network, discusses the US government's attacks on Yemenis and how the Israeli government's war on Gaza is expanding to a wider regional conflict.

Each year, Project Censored puts out a yearbook called "State of the Free Press" that contains a list of the top censored stories of the past year. It also assesses prevailing and troubling trends in the United States news media Mickey Huff, the director of Project Censored, and Andy Lee Roth, the associate director, join the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss their latest yearbook, which is available from their website at Project-Censored.org BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Support the show and get access to exclusive content at patreon.com/unauthorizeddisclosure

In this free edited version of the weekly "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Kevin Gosztola speaks with Azadeh Shahshahani. Azadeh is the legal and advocacy director for Project South and a past president of the National Lawyers Guild. In our conversation, Azadeh discusses the deactivation of Palestinian activist or solidarity groups on university campuses, legal scholars and law students facing repercussions for speaking out in support of Palestinians, and the cruel indifference of the Biden administration to violence in Gaza (as well as the West Bank). BECOME A SUBSCRIBER: Go to patreon.com/UnauthorizedDisclosure or subscribe at TheDissenter.org

Andy Worthington, a journalist known for his work chronicling the inhumane and unjust detention of prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay military prison, returns to the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast. He's also involved in the Close Guantanamo campaign, which supports monthly vigils demanding the release of prisoners approved for release and that the United States detention camps be shut down. *For early access to full episodes and exclusive content, subscribe at TheDissenter.org

Note: This is not an episode of "Unauthorized Disclosure," but rather an interview that co-host Kevin Gosztola recorded that he is sharing with listeners of this podcast.Tom Mueller, journalist and author of Crisis of Conscience: Whistleblowing In An Age Of Fraud, continues his work covering whistleblowers with his latest book, How To Make A Killing: Blood, Death, And Dollars In American Medicine.The book details the monopolistic nature of dialysis corporations and how clinics or treatment centers label individuals “problem patients” when they become whistleblowers and dare to challenge their abuse, fraud, or malpractice.

Get early access to episodes by subscribing at TheDissenter.org Micah Herskind, an organizer and writer who has been based in Atlanta, joined the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to discuss the movement and the efforts by Mayor Andre Dickens and other Democrats to engage in voter suppression and prevent a public vote on "Cop City."

In this week's "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola speak with Zoe Alexandra, a contributor with People's Dispatch. Zoe discusses the turmoil that has been unfolding around Guatemala's elections, and more.

(Free edition) Norman Solomon, co-founder of RootsAction.org, joins the "Unauthorized Disclosure" podcast to talk about his new book, War Made Invisible: How America Hides The Human Toll Of Its Military Machine.

Returning to the "Unauthorized Disclosure" weekly podcast, CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou helps Kevin Gosztola what will happen next to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Many believe extradition to the United States could be imminent. John also reflects on his mentor and friend Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who died last week. John shares an incredible story about Ellsberg from 2016. It involves a PEN America awards ceremony in Beverly Hills and acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola. Kevin and John also highlight a remarkable example of media malpractice from US media pundits David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart, who used the death of Ellsberg to further their attacks on NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. 

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 "Tortugi

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 Pe

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

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 mili