Unauthorized Disclosure

Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek are joined by one of the attorneys for Palestinian American organizer Rasmea Odeh, who was convicted of an immigration fraud offense in Detroit on November 10. She was immediately arrested and jailed after the judge revoked her bond and will be in detention until her sentencing on March 10.  Deutsch provides background on who she is, why the government knew who she was and allowed her into the United States, how she was torture victim who had been abused by Israeli forces, how the judge gutted Odeh's defense and sought to protect Israel and how the prosecutors, in many ways, pursued this like a terrorism case.  In the discussion portion after the interview, we discuss the UN Committee Against Torture proceedings with the US delegation, journalists Max Blumenthal and David Sheen possibly being banned from German parliament, a Navy war games exercise threatening national park land with electromagnetic radiation and a US Marshal's Service dragnet spy program intercepting phone com

Nathan Patches Pim, a Food Not Bombs volunteer, joins the podcast to highlight what has been happening in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with people resisting a sharing ban against feeding the homeless. He recaps several arrests that happened in the past week and then discusses what is behind the city pushing laws to criminalize the homeless.  During the discussion portion, the show's hosts, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola, discuss the outcome of the midterm elections, the Pentagon learning from Israeli about how to prevent civilian deaths, the coup leader in Burkina Faso having US military training and a school in Huntsville, Alabama, placing its students under dragnet surveillance and expelling mostly black children.

Page May, organizer with We Charge Genocide, joins "Unauthorized Disclosure" this week to talk about the group's "shadow report" to the UN Committee Against Torture on Chicago police violence and the process of putting it together. She discusses police militarization, sexual assault by police, mass detention and harassment in the context of a system with a history that goes all the way back to the days of slavery in the United States. She also addresses where the name comes from, its historical basis and how it helps frame the group's organizing efforts in Chicago.In the discussion portion, we discuss Israel  the Al Aqsa mosque, US military plans to  "advisers" to the Anbar province in Iraq and the FBI impersonating  and , accused cop killer Eric Frein's , and Josh Rogin and Eli Lake's  with Bloomberg.

Hosts Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek are joined by journalist and author of Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel, Max Blumenthal. He also shares his experiences in Israel and Gaza in the midst and aftermath of Israel's summer assault, which killed over two thousand Palestinians and damaged infrastructure more severely than Israel's two previous wars on Gaza. He also talks about the fanatical protesters he encountered when he went to the Lincoln Center on the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera's "Death of Klinghoffer" and how Jewish people are perpetuating the "spirit of the Holocaust" to maintain their status in the world and preserve Israeli military occupation of Palestinians.

This week on the “Unauthorized Disclosure” podcast the guest is Cori Crider, a director for and a counsel representing Guantanamo prisoner Abu Wa'el Dhiab. She describes the kind of treatment Dhiab has suffered in Guantanamo while he has been on hunger strike and why he decided to bring a lawsuit against the United States government. She highlights the significance of 32 videos of Dhiab's force-feeding and forced removal from his cell, which a federal judge has ordered be released (although the government is appealing). She also discusses the critical role she plays as an attorney who can publicly advocate for Dhiab while he remains in indefinite detention. During the discussion portion, hosts Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek debrief and reflect on "Ferguson October," since they were both there in St. Louis last weekend to cover the "weekend of resistance." Then, the show highlights plans by the Obama administration to for battle in Syria, which will make it possible for inmates and former offenders to be s

Hosts Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek are joined by Montague Simmons, chair of  (OBS). He provides an update on aggressive action by police against protestors. He talks about helping community residents feel they will be secure when they participate in actions and how "jail support" is being handled. He also offers a preview of an upcoming weekend of resistance, "Ferguson October," that will take place October 10-13. During the discussion portion, Gosztola and Khalek talk a bit about Ebola (they don't have it). Then, the war in Syria and Iraq is highlighted, particularly how Obama has abandoned the "near-certainty" standard, which was developed to prevent civilian casualties in the administration's covert drone war. We talk NSA spying and how the government has its own definition of "collection" that does not mean what you might think. And the show wraps with Khalek reflecting on a hashtag she and journalist Max Blumenthal started, which garnered quite a bit of attention: #JSIL.

Hosts Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek are joined by Peter Hart, the activism director for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR). Hart discusses some of the myths in media coverage of the escalated war in Iraq and Syria. He talks about Obama being treated as a "reluctant warrior" and the effect that has on news reports. He also highlights fear mongering that has been ongoing.  In the discussion segment, Gosztola talks about Attorney General Eric Holder's resignation and how Holder presided over a Justice Department that is still investigating antiwar activists. He then gets into how an Alabama judge suspended the First Amendment for a little over a week and what is happening in Ferguson with an escalation in police targeting community organizers.

Hosts Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek are joined by retired Army colonel and former US diplomat Ann Wright, who resigned from the State Department in 2003 in protest against the Iraq War. She discusses her organizing with CODEPINK, which spent the past week demonstrating in hearings on Capitol Hill on the Obama administration's plans to combat ISIS. She reacts to Secretary of State John Kerry calling out CODEPINK and also discusses an op-ed written by Chelsea Manning on what the US should do to fight ISIS.  During the discussion portion of the show, we acknowledge the votes in Congress giving Obama the go-ahead to train and arm Syrian rebels. Khalek  she wrote this week on an Israeli drone conference. We talk about Israel's NSA scandal with Unit 8200 members blowing the whistle on spying against innocent Palestinians. Then, we move on to the Justice Department invoking the state secrets privilege to protect an anti-Iran advocacy group and wrap up our show covering the US response to the spread of Ebola in nor

Hosts Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek interview Shane Bauer, who is a reporter for Mother Jones and recently attended the massive "Urban Shield" police meet-up and training exercise in Oakland, California. He had many following his reporting on the event on Twitter, and he interviewed vendors and snapped many amazing, if not also disturbing, photos of what was happening. And, before the five-day meet-up was over, Bauer had his media badge taken by police and he was booted. During the discussion portion, we talk about going to President Barack Obama's announcement that America is going to war against ISIS—and how the Obama administration won't call it a a war on ISIS. Khalek highlights a report she did on a religious zealot Israeli general, who ordered an Israeli soldier to be killed by friendly fire rather than captured by Hamas. The episode concludes with some talk about District Attorney Sam Sutter. Sutter stunned environmental activists this past week when he had criminal charges against two men who engage

Hosts Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek interview Liz Spoerri, an assistant middle school teacher who has organized with environmental groups, and Patrick Mazza, a veteran climate activist who has been organizing for the last 15 years. Spoerri and Mazza recount the direct action they took on September 2 against oil trains that run through Seattle, which was coordinated by Rising Tide North America. They both were arrested and face misdemeanor charges for putting their bodies on the line. They share why they took the action and why they feel it is important for others, particularly in NGOs, to take action as well.  During the discussion portion, we talk about the Islamic State in Iraq and potential plans by the United States to destroy the terrorist group. We also discuss a 2009 intelligence report provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to journalist Glenn Greenwald, which contained a blueprint for spying to help US corporations  in the world. Then, we discuss journalist Ken Dilanian, who The Intercept  as

Kevin Gosztola of Firedoglake.com and Rania Khalek, who writes for the "Dispatches from the Underclass" blog, are joined by Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor, who is a professor at Princeton University and also works at the Center for African-American Studies. Yamahtta-Taylor talks to us about why Ferguson erupted into anger and protest over the killing of Mike Brown by a white police officer, especially since this happens in cities all over the United States just about every other day. She also discusses issues of class and class position in black communities and how they factor into debates about how to win justice.    During the discussion portion, the show stays on this topic and highlights an array of examples of police crimes that seem to have occurred or earned attention in the past week. Some insights are shared from Gosztola's reporting trip to Ferguson. The demands for justice from organizers in Ferguson are highlighted as well.

Kevin Gosztola of Firedoglake.com and independent journalist Rania Khalek are joined by Truthout contributors Dahr Jamail and William Rivers Pitt. They recently co-authored the book, The Mass Destruction of Iraq: The Disintegration of a Nation - Why It Is Happening and Who Is Responsible. Jamail and Pitt provide insights on the continuation of the US military's latest operations in Iraq, the new Iraqi prime minister handpicked by the US government, the role of the Kurdish forces and whether there is an endgame to what the US is doing in Iraq.  During the discussion portion, we highlight the case of former Bagram prisoner Qandi Agha, who provided Amnesty International an account of torture he suffered after being detained by US special forces in Afghanistan. Then, the rest of the show is spent talking about everything in Ferguson, Missouri, that happened in the aftermath of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown being shot and killed by police. (Everything right up to the afternoon of August 15.)

Kevin Gosztola of Firedoglake.com and Rania Khalek, who publishes to the "Dispatches from the Underclass" blog, are the hosts of this podcast.  This week, Gosztola interviews Jesselyn Radack, who is one of the defense lawyers for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and the director for the Government Accountability Project's National Security and Human Rights Division. She talks about the latest with Snowden, the one-year anniversary of Chelsea Manning's conviction, mass surveillance and its effects on whistleblowing, lawyers and journalists as well as various other stories from the past week that all have some connection to the government's efforts to control information.  During the discussion segment, the case of oncologist Dr. Rafil Dhafir, is highlighted. He used his own charity to raise money for Iraqis affected by depleted uranium until the government criminalized his activity, put him on trial and had him jailed. He is currently in solitary confinement, and a phone number for the federal medical center w

Kevin Gosztola of Firedoglake.com and independent journalist Rania Khalek are joined by Hatem Abudayyeh, who is a national coordinating committee member for the US Palestinian Community Network. He has been involved in organizing demonstrations in Chicago in support of Palestinians and against Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza. He also had his home raided by the FBI in 2010 (along with 22 other activists) for his engagement in Palestinian solidarity activism and remains under a cloud of investigation that the Justice Department refuses to bring to an end, even though he has not been indicted or charged with any crime. Abudayyeh discusses how the police handle Palestinian supporters versus the supporters of Israel, the upper-class gun-toting Zionist who was arrested in Chicago, efforts to suppress Palestinian solidarity activism and also the political case of Rasmea Odeh, who is a Palestinian on trial for alleged immigration fraud Later, Khalek provides an update on Gaza and the West Bank. Gosztola highlights h

Kevin Gosztola of Firedoglake.com and independent journalist Rania Khalek are joined by Deepa Kumar, an associate professor in the journalism and media studies department of Rutgers University and author of Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire. Kumar explores how the US media has been covering Palestinians in Gaza, especially as Israel's assault has escalated. She also provides context for why five named Muslim Americans became targets of the NSA and FBI, as The Intercept reported just over a week ago. During a shorter discussion portion, we talk about Israel's ground invasion and how Israel is blaming Hamas for all the civilians who die. We also highlight censorship news organizations like NBC News and CNN have imposed on reporters covering Gaza.

Kevin Gosztola of Firedoglake.com and independent journalist Rania Khalek are joined by Todd Miller, a journalist who has covered US-Mexico border issues for over 15 years. He is the author of Border Patrol Nation: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Homeland Security. He appears on the show to provide historical context for why tens of thousands of children and their families have fled Central American countries to the US-Mexico border. He also addresses how private corporations stand to benefit from detention centers that the Obama administration plans to develop or build.  During the discussion portion, Khalek provides an update on Israel's assault on Gaza, and Gosztola provides some comments on the NSA spying on American Muslims.   This week we highlight efforts to get water to Detroit residents, who have had their water shut off by the city. We highlight Wiley Gill, a victim of an American domestic surveillance system known as the National Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.

Kevin Gosztola of Firedoglake.com and independent journalist Rania Khalek are joined by The Nation's sports correspondent, Dave Zirin, to talk about the World Cup, FIFA, the sports "shock doctrine," Brazil culture and history, as well as the militarization of areas in and around the sites of the games. Zirin discusses numerous details from his book, "Brazil's Dance with the Devil," now available from Haymarket Books. We also discuss the protests and how they have pushed mainstream media to pay more attention to issues that arise from hosting mega-events like the World Cup or Olympics.During the discussion portion, we talk about child refugees crossing the US-Mexico border, the Justice Department's decision to finally drop charges against Sami al-Arian and developments with Israel, particularly those related to the murder of a Palestinian teen.  There's ten to fifteen extra minutes this week, as we talked to Zirin for about 40 minutes. Enjoy.

Kevin Gosztola of  and , an independent journalist, are joined by Nafeez Ahmed, who is a writer and contributor to The Guardian. His most recent articles have covered the militarization of social science; specifically, the Pentagon's funding of research into preparing for a civil breakdown as well as how both the security agencies in both the United Kingdom and the United States regard differnt types of activists and factions of the poor as threats. We talk with him for over a half hour about the implications of this militarized social science.  In the discussion portion of the show, we talk about the memo released this past week - with redactions - containing the Obama's "legal" justification for targeting and assassinating US citizen Anwar al-Awlaki. We also discuss the victory thirteen US citizens placed on the No-Fly List won in court and the water shut-offs occurring in Detroit.

Dahr Jamail, a staff reporter for Truthout.org, is the guest this week.

Kevin Gosztola and Rania Khalek are joined by Josmar Trujillo, a writer and activist who organizes with New Yorkers Against Bratton. Trujillo talks about police raids that took place where alleged members of gangs in Harlem were rounded up by the NYPD in a show of force. He discusses organizing for police reform now that Bill Bratton is NYPD chief and Bill de Blasio has been elected New York City mayor.  In the discussion part of the show, Gosztola and Khalek talk about the crisis of immigrant children crossing the US-Mexico border and the escalating conflict in Iraq. Khalek also recounts what happened at a Ta-Nehisi Coates event when she tried to get him to answer a question about reparations for African-Americans.