Jeff Paterson of Courage to Resist discusses Bradley Manning’s conditional guilty plea and testimony in his own defense; the bogus justification for Manning’s extended “suicide watch” detention at Quantico; how Manning’s sentence (if the judge finds him guilty) will show if the military is accountable for torturing its own soldiers or not; and Julian Assange’s retrospective on Manning and Cablegate.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:48 — 5.7MB)

Eric Margolis, journalist and author of American Raj, discusses Palestine’s overwhelming victory in its bid for non-member observer state status at the UN (with the US in lonely opposition); how influential pro-Israel lobbies have paralyzed US Mideast policy; Canada’s own religious right movement; the Israeli government’s fear of Palestine’s new-found access to the International Criminal Court; the double standard on terrorist/freedom-fighter bombers in Kabul and Damascus, respectively; and whether Egypt’s President Morsi is eliminating the remnants of Mubarak’s dictatorship – or establishing his own.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:06 — 8.3MB)

Scott McConnell, co-founder of The American Conservative, discusses his article “Why Americans Don’t Understand Palestine;” the mainstream media’s “journalistic malpractice” on Israel/Gaza issues; the UN General Assembly’s overwhelming support for Palestine’s observer state status; why Israel will choose between apartheid and ethnic cleansing when two-state solution talks finally end; and how new American immigrants could turn the tide against empire and militarism.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:54 — 7.3MB)

Kevin Zeese, Co-Chair of Come Home America, discusses Bradley Manning’s pretrial hearing at Fort Meade; evidence that Manning’s mistreatment at Quantico was orchestrated by Pentagon brass; lawyer David Coombs’ careful and effective questioning of witnesses; and the news updates at BradleyManning.org.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:39 — 3.8MB)

Sheldon Richman of the Future of Freedom Foundation discusses how the Washington and Colorado laws legalizing marijuana could nullify the federal war on drugs; the case for legalizing “hard” drugs; the realities of responsible drug use and addiction; and the creeping government regulation of drugs – starting in the early 20th century.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:47 — 11.6MB)

Jacob Hornberger, founder and president of the Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses his article “Outrage over Morsi but not over our Dictator;” the prerequisites for a truly free society; the federal courts’ excessive deference to the Pentagon and CIA; Obama’s pre-election concern about his “kill list” falling into Romney’s hands (so much for a nation of laws, not of men); and how arbitrary justice marks the height of tyranny.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:49 — 6.6MB)

IPS News journalist Adam Morrow discusses the real story behind Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi’s so-called power grab; how Egypt’s judicial apparatus – largely a relic from the Mubarak era – is sabotaging representative government; Mursi’s shortcomings on IMF loans and Syria policy; and how Egypt’s new leadership prevented another Israeli “Operation Cast Lead” in Gaza.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:08 — 6.2MB)

Washington, D.C.-based freelance reporter Kelley B. Vlahos discusses her article “Another Thanksgiving in Afghanistan;” why the David Petraeus/Paula Broadwell scandal really matters; the US-trained Afghan thugs who will take over if and when the US ever withdraws; the underwhelming slate of candidates for CIA director; and the racism of the drone war.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:47 — 7.5MB)

Nathan Fuller, an activist with the Bradley Manning Support Network, discusses the progress of Manning’s pretrial hearings; his motion to dismiss the charges based on the denial of a speedy trial per the UCMJ; Manning’s upcoming testimony on his treatment in the Quantico Marine brig; new information about who ordered Bradley’s Prevention of Injury (POI) detainment – against the advice of psychologists; and how Wikileaks helped ignite the Arab Spring.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:21 — 7.4MB)

Sheldon Richman of the Future of Freedom Foundation discusses the new and improved fff.org website; the death of adversarial journalism; US failures in Afghanistan; and the David vs. Goliath conflict in Gaza (and Israel sure isn’t David).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:12 — 5.8MB)