Season II Finale: Another Ferguson Shooting & Failures of the Democratic Party

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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Season II Finale: Another Ferguson Shooting & 

Failures of the Democratic Party

In this episode of Breaking the Set, Abby Martin comments on yet another shooting in Ferguson, MO, involving a local resident who was shot in the head by an unknown person, yet after police confiscated the bullet there has been no follow-up or investigation into who shot her. Abby then reports on the latest violence in Gaza, and speaks with Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant about her letter to the Obama administration denouncing Israel’s ongoing siege and blockade of Gaza. BTS wraps up the show - an interview with author and journalist Nafeez Ahmed, discussing his four-part investigation into the Pentagon’s mass social science project called The Minerva Research Initiative, as well as his latest book ‘Zero Point’.

Source: Breaking the Set

​Ferguson’s Jim Crow Roots, Gaza Myths & Misconceptions, Losing Teeth for Protesting

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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Ferguson’s Jim Crow Roots, Gaza Myths & Misconceptions, 

Losing Teeth for Protesting

Abby Martin remarks on the growing militarization of America’s local police, highlighting a program known as Urban Shield. Dr. Wilmer Leon, professor of political science at Howard University, talks about the historical context of police brutality against minorities in America. Mnar Muhawesh, editor-in-chief of Mint Press News, discusses the evolving situation in Gaza. Kambale Musavuli, spokesperson for Friends of the Congo, reveals an incident involving several individuals being beaten up by bodyguards for the presidents of the DRC and Gambia during the US Africa summit in Washington.

Source: Breaking the Set

Stopping Ebola, Big Ag’s Right to Farm & Institutionalize Corporate Greed

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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Stopping Ebola, Big Ag’s Right to Farm & Institutionalize Corporate Greed

In this episode of Breaking the Set, Abby Martin talks about the growing Ebola outbreak; why world governments need to step up efforts to combat contagion, and where you can go to help those infected in West Africa. Abby also reports on the right wing think tank ALEC’s and their efforts to squash the rights of individuals under so-called “Right to Farm” laws, which make it nearly impossible to challenge factory farms over the mistreatment of animals or mass pollution; also highlighting efforts by Missouri voters to amend their constitution against this law in their state. Abby then goes over the case of Arthur Demoulas, the former CEO of a grocery store chain, whose philosophy includes putting employees over profits. There is discussion with RT’s Lori Harifinest about the conditions of Demoulas’ termination from the company and how it relates to institutionalized corporate greed. Abby wraps up by doing an interview with UK politician George Galloway, discussing the violence in Gaza and the latest air strikes the US military has launched against Islamic militants in Iraq.

Source: Breaking the Set

​500,000 Homeless in Gaza, Afghan Insider Attack & Tracking ‘Terrorists'

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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​500,000 Homeless in Gaza, Afghan Insider Attack & Tracking ‘Terrorists

Abby Martin on classified documents released by the Intercept showing how nearly half of the US government's official watch list of "known or suspected terrorists" aren’t affiliated with any organized group. The latest on the Gaza conflict, with mounting pressure on Israel as the death toll continues to rise. The treatment of teens in American prisons and the appalling state of juvenile facilities. RT’s Anastasia Churkina talks about a recent attack in Afghanistan that claimed the life of US Army Major General Harold Greene. The 50th Anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, and a few of the most absurd pretexts for war in modern history. Finally, author and journalist David Seaman discusses the growing popularity of Bitcoin, as well as Gaza and President Obama’s comments on America’s use of torture on terror suspects.

Source: Breaking the Set

McDonalds Crushes Workers, History of Corporate Personhood & FBI Forensic Fail

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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As always, vote with your dollar.

McDonalds Crushes Workers, History of 

Corporate Personhood & FBI Forensic Fail

Abby Martin on the findings of a 2012 FBI investigation showing how 45 death row inmates may have been wrongly convicted in the US since the 1980s. McDonalds called out for firing nine employees after they tried to unionize, and we highlight efforts by the National Labor Relations Board to give workers a better chance at demanding a living wage. Mikey Huff and Andy Roth of Project Censored discuss the backlash faced by whistleblowers in the US, as well as providing a perspective on the way media outlets are reporting on the conflict in Gaza.

Source: Breaking the Set

US Loses 40% of Guns in Afghanistan, Decriminalizing Piracy & Why Weed isn’t Legal

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

Government / News 
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US Loses 40% of Guns in Afghanistan, 

Decriminalizing Piracy & Why Weed isn’t Legal

Abby Martin on a recent report by the US Inspector General for Afghanistan, highlighting how the Pentagon has lost track of more than 40 percent of guns delivered to Afghan security forces. A recent UK agreement that reduces the likelihood of individuals being sued by entertainment companies for file sharing. RT’s Sam Sacks discusses the shift in state policy on marijuana use, citing a report by journalist Lee Fang that outlines why marijuana is such a threat to the bottom line of American pharmaceutical companies. Abby then breaks through the propaganda rhetoric of ‘Human Shields’, calling out instances such as the second Iraq War and the current conflict in Gaza. Finally, BTS’s Manuel Rapalo remarks on the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI and a few of the most outrageous pretexts for war in modern history.

Source: Breaking the Set

​Pro-Israel Bias, Spying on the Innocent & Gitmo’s Life Sentence without Trial

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

Government / Politics
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​Pro-Israel Bias, Spying on the Innocent & 

Gitmo’s Life Sentence without Trial

Abby Martin on the latest violence in Palestine, including Israeli airstrikes on civilian targets in Gaza. Yet another revelation on NSA spying with Dr. Hooshang Amirahmadi, one of five prominent Muslim-Americans allegedly targeted for surveillance. The corporate press’s partisan coverage of the Benghazi scandal while ignoring the trial of terror suspect Ahmed Abu Khattala in the US. Finally, Keane Bhatt, activist and signatory on a second open letter to Human Rights Watch, condemns the organization for its revolving door relationship with the US government.

Source: Breaking the Set

​BTS Producer Raided by SWAT, Dangers of Oil Transport & NSA Target Speaks Out

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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BTS Producer Raided by SWAT, Dangers of Oil Transport 

& NSA Target Speaks Out

Abby Martin on the high prevalence of SWAT raids across the US, and how only one day after reporting on the issue, one Breaking the Set producer’s home was violently raided by a SWAT team. We call out the media framing of the current violence in Gaza and Israel. RT’s Anya Parampil goes over some of the biggest misconceptions about the island nation of Cuba. The anniversary of the 2013 Quebec train disaster, the deadliest freight train accident in Canada’s history, and the dangers of transporting volatile fossil fuels across large distances. Finally, lawyer and former Homeland Security official Faisal Gill, one of five Muslim-American men targeted for surveillance by the NSA and FBI after doing nothing wrong.

Source: Breaking the Set

Congressional Insider Trading & 90% of NSA Collection on Innocent Americans

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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Congressional Insider Trading & 90% of 

NSA Collection on Innocent Americans

Abby Martin on the recent Hobby Lobby Supreme Court case, making birth control coverage a hot potato. Congress’ announcement that members will not disclose the financiers of their all-expense-paid travels. Firedoglake journalist Kevin Gosztola talks about the latest NSA leak involving the exact number of ordinary people swept up in the dragnet of the surveillance grid. Finally, Charles Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity and author of ‘935 Lies: the Future of Truth and the Decline of America’s moral Integrity’, shares how ’60 Minutes’ has become besieged by conflicts of interest and internal censorship.

Source: Breaking the Set

New Earthly Species, Crashing Koch Party & Big Tobacco’s E-Cig Takeover

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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New Earthly Species, Crashing Koch Party & Big Tobacco’s E-Cig Takeover

Abby Martin on the discovery of 367 new species in Southeast Asia and the importance of calling attention to these finds. The US Supreme Court ruling that police officers need a warrant to search your phone, and the federal court judge saying the ‘No-Fly List’ is unconstitutional in its current form. Lauren Windsor, executive producer of ‘The Undercurrent’, talks about her exposé on the efforts of right-wing billionaires the Koch brothers to influence government on massive financial deregulation in the US. Finally, John Stewart, director of the ‘Challenge Big Tobacco Campaign’ at Corporate Accountability International, about how cigarettes today have become even more addictive than 50 years ago.

Source: Breaking the Set 

Goldman Sachs, Power of NY Graffiti & Tesla’s Electric Car Patent Revolution

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government

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Goldman Sachs, Power of NY Graffiti & Tesla’s Electric Car Patent Revolution

Abby Martin calls out Goldman Sachs CEO, Lloyd Blankfein for his comments on income inequality in America, acknowledging there is a problem but ignoring that he’s a part of it. Abby then goes over a few of the most outrageous CIA operations around the world, such as the agency’s efforts to destabilized Latin America through a series of coups and assassinations and even an attempted character assassination through a CIA producer porno film. Abby then speaks with photographer and author, Yoav Litvin, discussing his work documenting 46 different street artists in his book ‘Outdoor Gallery’. Abby then reports on the announcement by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, who has released the patents over the company’s electric vehicle technology, discussing the importance of sharing patent information on innovations that move humanity forward. BTS wraps up the show with an interview with Hip Hop Artist Vance ‘Head Roc’ Levy, performing the song ‘The Super Bad III Solution’.

Source: Breaking the Set

​Al-Qaeda on Steroids Takes Iraq, Chiquita’s Terrorist Ties & Teen Confronts Pelosi

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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Al-Qaeda on Steroids Takes Iraq, Chiquita’s Terrorist Ties 

& Teen Confronts Pelosi

Abby Martin on extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) seizing control of the Iraqi city of Mosul. Chiquita, the world’s largest banana producer, influencing US lawmakers to block a bill backed by 9/11 victims and family members. Journalist and filmmaker Andrew Demeter, 16 years old and making waves in the alternative media world. ‘Solar Roadways’ and the massive potential this technology holds. Finally, Bhaskar Sunkara, founding editor of the magazine Jacobin, goes over the last 20 years of Mexico’s Zapatista movement.

Source: Breaking the Set  

​BP’s Bird Massacre, Snowden’s 9/11 Comment Ignored, W.H. Fallout

Staff Writer, DB Holmes
News / Government
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​BP’s Bird Massacre, Snowden’s 9/11 Comment Ignored, W.H. Fallout

In this episode of Breaking the Set, Abby Martin remarks on two high level White House resignations, including Press Secretary Jay Carney for unspecified reasons, and the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, who stepped down in disgrace following the revelations of criminal neglect within the department. Abby then reports on a study by the Marine Ecology Progress Series, which says that between 600 and 800 Thousand birds have died as a result of BP’s 2010 gulf oil spill. Abby then calls out corporate media anchors for their superficial analysis of Edward Snowden’s NBC interview, whilst avoiding any discussion on his comments related to how the expansion of the security state does nothing to thwart terrorism. Abby goes on to feature an interview with comedian Lee Camp, talking about the launch of his brand new show on RT ‘Redacted Tonight’, as well as a few of the more ridiculous news stories to hit the airwaves in recent days. BTS wraps up the show with a performance by folk music duo ‘The Chapin Sisters’ performing the songs ‘Palm Tree’ and ‘Let Me Go’, as well as an interview with Lily & Abigail Chapin joined by Kitama Cahill-Jackson, grandson of legendary folk singer Peter Seeger promoting the upcoming ‘Seegerfest’ to be hosted in New York City.

Source: Breaking the Set 

Ukraine’s Journalist Kidnapping Epidemic & Bilderberg 2014: Global Policy in Secret

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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Ukraine’s Journalist Kidnapping Epidemic & 

Bilderberg 2014: Global Policy in Secret

Abby Martin talks about an RT freelance reporter detained by the Ukrainian National Guard, as well as other journalists captured by militants. Journalist Paul Watson discusses the annual Bilderberg meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, and what this secretive gathering means for global policy decisions. A new report by the Intercept showing that the NSA is collecting and recording virtually every single phone call made on the island nation of the Bahamas. John Robbins, heir to Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream, talks about his decision to reject the company and campaign against the dairy industry and other giant food and beverage companies. Finally, RT’s Sam Sacks tells why Congress intentionally bankrupted the US Postal Service and how the push to corporatize the mail industry is hurting us all.

Source: Breaking the Set

​Total Surveillance in Afghanistan, Out-of-Control Presidential Powers & Boko Haram’s Roots

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
___________________________________

Total Surveillance in Afghanistan, Out-of-Control 

Presidential Powers & Boko Haram’s Roots

Abby Martin on the newest revelations from WikiLeaks that all Afghanistan’s phone calls are recorded by the NSA. Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica’s decision to give up his presidential mansion to 100 Syrian refugee children, accept Guantanamo Bay detainees into the country and reject the war on drugs. Eugene Puryear of the ANSWER Coalition talks about Boko Haram terrorist attacks and the wisdom of sending in a US military force to track down the kidnapped girls. Viewers called on to take part in the March Against Monsanto. Finally, RT’s Sam Sacks on the House of Representative’s decision to strip out an amendment to the Defense budget that would have repealed the Authorization for Use of Military Force, which is the justification for nearly all the actions taken during the War on Terror.

Source: Breaking the Set 

India’s Right Wing Takeover, Politicians Who Still Believe in WMDs & the End of the Cheetah

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
______________________________________

India’s Right Wing Takeover, Politicians Who Still Believe in WMDs 

& the End of the Cheetah

On this episode of Breaking the Set, Abby Martin talks about the Army’s review of Chelsea Manning’s request for gender reassignment surgery and the potential to transfer her from a military to civilian prison, where there are much more threats to her safety. Abby then features a report by BTS producer Cody Snell about the demonstrations that took place at the FCC to protest the recent ruling that erodes Net Neutrality, and speaks to Casey Rae, Director of Future of Music Coalition about what a post neutral internet would look like to independent artists and musicians. Abby then revisits the case OfIbragim Todashev, an associate of the Tsarnaev brothers, who was inexplicably executed by an FBI agent during a four hour interrogation, reporting the fact that the identity of the special agent has finally been revealed as a sociopathic ex-Oakland police officer who has a tarnished history of unlawful beatings and arrests. BTS wraps up the show talking to Keane Bhatt, journalist and activist about a recent open letter he and many prominent figures signed calling for the non-profit organization Human Rights Watch to close its revolving door with the U.S. government.

Source: Breaking the Set

Vermont Wins Against Monsanto, VA Corruption Killing Vets & NSA Sham Reform

Staff Writer, Nicole Meyer-Greene

News / Government
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Vermont Wins Against Monsanto, VA Corruption Killing Vets & NSA Sham Reform

Abby Martin talks about yet another drone strike in Yemen over the weekend that killed six people, while here in the US a domestic drone nearly collided with a plane in Tallahassee, Florida. Vermont lauded for its passage of a law that will label all GMO foods, despite conglomerates like Monsanto threatening nearly every state to consider such legislation with legal action. RT’s Sam Sacks talks about the USA Freedom Act, a bill that purports to reform the NSA’s bulk metadata collection. The Phoenix Veteran’s Affair system and a scheme by VA officials there to put medical claims on a secret list in order to improve their backlog statistics, which has now led to a congressional investigation. Finally, hip hop artist Brother Ali discusses everything from his trip to Mecca to his controversial lyrics that got him kicked off of a national music tour.

Source: Breaking the Set  

Innocent on Death Row, RIP Net Neutrality & Clapper and Feinstein’s Love Affair

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

News / Government
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Innocent on Death Row, RIP Net Neutrality & Clapper and Feinstein’s Love Affair

Abby Martin remarks on a new report by the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences which highlights how one in 25 people on death row are innocent. The Senate Intelligence Committee’s decision to remove a requirement from the 2014 Intelligence Operations Bill for the president to disclose the number of civilian casualties due to drone strikes. Jon Fox, global advocacy manager at Access Now about the FCC’s leaked proposal to abandon ‘Net Neutrality’ rules. The corporate media’s visceral coverage of Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks on concern the danger of Israel becoming an “Apartheid State”, citing several examples of why Israel’s segregated social system already meets that definition. Finally, RT’s Meghan Lopez discusses the massive operation to remove military equipment from landlocked Afghanistan, going over the logistical difficulties and the high costs of the US military draw down.

Source: Breaking the Set 

USA Oligarchy, Cheating Soldiers Out of Education & Fight for Fifteen

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

News / Government
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USA Oligarchy, Cheating Soldiers Out of Education & Fight for Fifteen

Abby Martin remarks on a Princeton and Northwestern University study concluding that US national laws and regulations overwhelmingly align with the preference of the economic elite. The federal probe that exposes how Sallie Mae, America’s largest federal student loan service, cheated active duty members of the US Military by providing those loans at illegally high interest rates. An exclusive with hacker and notorious internet troll Andrew ‘Weev’ Auernheimer discussing the overturning of his prison sentence after being charged with conspiracy under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Seattle City Councilwoman Shama Sawant highlights the ‘Fight for Fifteen’ campaign, a national call to action to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Finally, RT’s Sam Sacks tells how Boeing and Hilary Clinton have had a very close and beneficial relationship, and why it will continue for years to come.

Source: Breaking the Set 

Confessions of an FDA agent, truth behind ‘Honor Diaries’ & US’ embarrassing illiteracy rate

Staff Writer, DLMullan

News / Government
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Confessions of an FDA Agent, Truth behind ‘Honor Diaries’ & US’ Embarrassing Illiteracy Rate

Abby Martin talks about ‘breakthrough’ technology discovered by the US Navy that converts sea water to fuel, yet is only being considered for military use. A report by RT’s Lucy Kafanov from Kabul, Afghanistan, about the presidential elections, the background of the two frontrunners and the looming 2014 NATO withdrawal. Former Food and Drug Administration agent Gary Collins tells why the agency isn’t looking out for consumers and how the FDA differs from its counterparts in other industrialized countries when it comes to regulating genetically modified foods and additives. A controversial new film called ‘Honor Diaries’, which highlights a practice performed in some Islamic countries known as Honor Killings - the financiers of the movie are all associated with organizations that promote Islamophobia. Finally, Dr. Richard Long, co-author of the new book ‘Blueprint for a Literate Nation’ discusses the US’ declining literacy rate and solutions to this growing problem affecting 14 percent of Americans.

Source: Breaking the Set