Podcast
Political Misfits
Hosted by Sputnik International · EN
Political Misfits brings you news, politics and culture from the belly of Washington, DC - without the red and blue treatment.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Gulf State Neutrality, Obama Scolds Black Men, Harris on Healthcare
Oct 12, 202401:54:58Tap to summarizeMike Maloof, former senior security policy analyst for the secretary of defense, joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss whether we should assume Gulf states will abide by their promises not to let Israel or the US use their airspace for a strike on Iran, whether these states will be able to stay out of a hot war between the United States and Iran, whether US bases in the Gulf are still a deterrent force or have become a liability, how Israel’s war on Lebanon is escalating, whether the US will be able to replace the missiles it is burning through in Israel and Ukraine, and the detention by Israeli occupation forces of US journalist Jeremy Loffredo.Economist, radio show host, and author Jack Rasmus discusses how inflation is remaining steady amid government promises it is easing, whether Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris would keep Federal Trade Commission head Lina Khan if she keeps the White House for the Democrats, former President Barack Obama scolding black men for being hesitant to support Harris, how the Harris campaign has begun attacking Jill Stein openly with new ads against the Green Party in key battleground states,President of Healthy California Now and longtime nurses union organizer Michael Lighty discusses the topic of health insurance on the campaign trail, Harris’ propsal to have Medicare cover long-term in-home care, and how private health insurance weighs down American small businesses.The Misfits also discuss this week’s News of the Weird, including an emergency landing on a Wyoming highway, a record-breaking wheelbarrow, and an explosive estate sale.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Georgia Chemical Plume, Oklahoma Bible Fight, Israel Mulls Iran Retaliation
Oct 11, 202401:54:20Tap to summarizeThe hosts open the show with Jordan Chariton, journalist and CEO of Status Coup, who is going to speak on pool chemical plant disaster and new details from 2024 presidential campaigns.The show goes on with the next guest, Bill Ayers, former teacher, educator and activist, speculating on efforts to teach Bible in schools, and how it is connected with the GOP candidate.Then, the hosts will talk to activist and journalist, fighter for peace and social justice Robert Fantina. He is to speak about war in the Middle East and the drawbacks of tit-for-tat mode of battles, how the conflict in Ukraine relates to the outcome of the November election, and why the US is punishing former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and his family.Stella Leftharis, a St. Petersburg resident who weathered Hurricane Milton, discusses the situation on the ground in the aftermath of the historic storm, the severity of the devastation, what rescue efforts are looking like, and whether people are returning after evacuation orders.The Misfits also discuss new corruption investigations in New York and a raccoon infestation in Washington.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Thousands Flee Milton, New JFK Data and Resentencing the Menendez Bros?
Oct 10, 202401:55:36Tap to summarizeAuthor and researcher Nicolas Davies joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss new reports of US Navy presence at the site of the Nord Stream pipelines that were bombed days later, reports that US officials are frustrated at not being let in on Israel’s plans to attack Iran, whether the US is considering its own direct strikes on Iran, and Israel once again ordering hospitals in northern Gaza to evacuate.Meteorologist Denise Isaac discusses the arrival of Hurricane Milton on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the conditions that created the monster storm will bring, the havoc it might wreak in different regions of the state, and how to see the impact of the changing climate in the storm.Adjunct professor and former general counsel of the NAACP Kim Keenan discusses the possibility that the Menendez brothers will be resentenced for the murders of their parents decades ago, the new evidence that could determine their fate and how culture influences and is influenced by the legal system. She also discusses the possibility that the House and Senate will flip in 2024 in unprecedented ways, and what other election surprises await.Washington journalist and author of three books about the CIA Jefferson Morley discusses what a CIA whistleblower recently told him about the agency’s knowledge of Lee Harvey Oswald, how this information should change the narrative about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the significance of the JFK assassination as a symbol of government dishonesty, and how the US government and American society are still paying for that coverup.The Misfits also discuss a Washington Post report on the undercount of casualties in Gaza, a mysterious death in Georgia, and Oklahoma schools revising their demand for US-themed Bibles.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Hurricane Milton Targets Florida, Israel-Lebanon War, US Wiretap Systems Hacked
Oct 9, 202401:55:00Tap to summarizeWriter and journalist Daniel Lazare joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the perilous state of federal disaster relief programs, why the Biden administration wants to recommission closed nuclear power plants, whether Washington can be trusted to regulate dangerous industries and ensure the risks are worthwhile, what promises Vice President Kamala Harris is making to workers while on the campaign trail, and why her campaign is increasingly and publicly close to the heads of the biggest American companies.Writer and video journalist based in Beirut Hadi Htt discusses daily life under Israeli bombardment, whether there is any truth in reports that Hezbollah would be willing to negotiate its own ceasefire with Israel independent of a Gaza agreement, and what role the Lebanese government is playing in the current conflict.Gulf Coast resident Stella Leftharis and St. Petersburg Tenants Union organizer William Kilgore discuss how Central Florida residents are preparing for Hurricane Milton, whether everyone who can evacuate has been able to, what Florida and the federal government are doing and failing to do in order to prevent the worst case scenario, and how the region has bounced back from disasters in the past.Technologist and co-host of the Covert Action Magazine Podcast Chris Garaffa discusses the latest “Chinese government linked” hack of US systems and whether Washington brought this on itself by insisting on technological backdoors for its own agents. They also discuss the extraordinary energy needs of AI research, why governments are greenlighting new energy projects for the dubious benefits of AI, and why former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has changed her tune on protections for social media companies.The Misfits also discuss further indictments in the New York City Mayoral corruption scandal, and former President Donald Trump sharing his COVID test results with Russian President Vladimir Putin.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Year of Gaza War, US Forsakes Appalachia, Kamala Slips With Unions
Oct 8, 202401:54:29Tap to summarizeInternational affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the one year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, whether Israel can say it achieved its military goals in the past year, the risk of an expanded and prolonged war in the Middle East, questions about how long the war in Ukraine will continue, and the quiet and indefinite departure of Russia’s ambassador from Washington DC.Cody Cogdell, a political organizer based in western North Carolina, discusses the state of crisis North Carolina residents remain in 10 days after Hurricane Helene tore through, how communities themselves have picked up the task of relief while the federal government fails to rise to the occasion, why people are so confused about where to go for aid, and why emergency response and recovery programs suffer from the same inequalities prevalent in broader American society.Spokesperson of Black Hive and radio show host Anthony Rogers Wright discusses Kamala Harris' continued problems recruiting union members as well as Arab and Muslim voters, how online polls could prove to be inaccurate, ongoing accusations of election fraud, GOP threats to political speech, important cases in the new Supreme Court term, and a key Senate race in Nebraska to watch.Belfast-based political commentators and socialist activist Phil Kelly discusses why Irish peacekeepers are part of a UN mission in Southern Lebanon, why the IDF appears to be threatening those soldiers, and whether the UN or Ireland will back down. He also discusses the flailing Labour government in London.The Misfits also discuss the expansion of de-aging software in movies and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s personal effects being auctioned.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Middle East War Explodes, Biden’s Draconian Cuba Policy and Citizens United 2.0
Oct 4, 202401:54:34Tap to summarizeInternational human rights activist, organizer and political analyst Ajamu Baraka joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the rapid escalation of war across the Middle East as Israel ramps up aggression on Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine this week; whether Israel will continue to exchange strikes with Iran; why the United States stands idly by as its ally Israel risks dragging Washington into the regional war; the multiple possible October surprises facing Democrats before November’s election.Robert Hockett, law and public policy professor at Cornell University, discusses a lawsuit by Senator JD Vance and other Republicans to tear down remaining campaign finance restrictions, what Federal Election Commission regulations still do exist to regulate campaign finance and how well enforced they are, what could be done to eliminate the power of wealth in politics, and whether New York Mayor Eric Adams’s bribery defense will work.Labor, community and anti-war activist Gloria La Riva discusses Vice President Kamala Harris' right-wing campaign, GOP candidate Donald Trump's demagogic campaign against Haitian immigrants, an update on US political prisoner Leonard Peltier, an assessment of Biden’s policy towards Cuba, and how a Harris administration might approach Cuba.Scholar, journalist and geopolitical analyst KJ Noh discusses the release of the Chagos Islands from the United Kingdom's control to Mauritius, why the United States seeks to retain control of Diego Garcia, and how this move fits into the larger context of a new cold war in the Pacific and Indian Oceans against China.The Misfits also discuss a look into the life of an American school shooter and an update on conditions left behind by Hurricane Helene.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Iran Breaks Through Israeli Iron Dome, Assange Speaks and VP Debate Recap
Oct 3, 202401:51:49Tap to summarizeAuthor and Western Regional Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition Richard Becker joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend, whether Israel can sustain a war on multiple fronts, the likelihood that the US will join an Israel-Iran conflict as a belligerent, what role Gulf states might play in an expanding conflict, Israel’s attempt to create “buffer zones” around its territory, and what exactly the “Dahiyeh Doctrine” is and how Israel evades international law in its use.UK-based researcher and journalist Mohamed Elmaazi discusses WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s first public comments on human rights and press freedom, the Council of Europe recognizing Julian Assange as a political prisoner, the role of the United States in restricting press freedom, and how both major US parties and candidates compare when it comes to free speech.Political consultant and political organizer Donna Davis discusses last night's vice presidential debate, how instant polling revealed viewers felt about the performance, an odd speech by Trump in Milwaukee, how Donald Trump benefits from staying out of the public eye, how tight the polling numbers are in battleground states, and the Longshoremen's Association strike taking place across East Coast ports in the United States.Medical doctor, co-director of Popular Resistance Dr. Margaret Flowers discusses a report on how some state agencies and universities in Texas profit off unclaimed bodies, how the situation has devolved into a greater scheme to profit off of bodies, how the for-profit healthcare system has related to this issue, and what can be done to avoid the problem.The Misfits also discuss the “yassification’ of JD Vance on X, fruit bats, and a chemical explosion in Georgia.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Hezbollah Leader Killed, Helene Floods and Dockworkers Strike Likelihood
Oct 1, 202401:53:23Tap to summarizeInternational affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss proposed revision to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, the drone attacks in both directions across Ukraine and Russia’s border, Israel’s escalating attacks on Lebanon and their civilian toll, what an Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon would look like, what to make of how Israel has used the intelligence gathered from its apparent penetration of Hezbollah, and how Israel justifies its strikes on Yemen.Educator and organizer Sarah Brummet discusses the deadly floods and effects of Hurricane Helene, how populations are surviving amid a limited federal response, why liberal elites blame Americans in the south for their own poverty and precarity, who benefits from federal and state aid programs and who is left behind, and what adequate disaster preparation and response would look like.Political analyst and academic Mohammad Marandi discusses the Israeli attacks in Lebanon that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the extent to which his assassination and the deaths of other leaders will affect Hezbollah’s military capability, rumors that Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz, and when an Iranian response to Israel might come.Writer and journalist Daniel Lazare discusses GOP candidate Donald Trump's ongoing personal attacks on Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, more lies about immigrants from the Trump campaign, the future of the Supreme Court, the Texas Senate race, and the impact of a possible strike by East Coast dock workers.The Misfits also discuss the imaginary “rift” between Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump’s new interest in saints, and the deaths of Kris Kristofferson and Dikembe Mutombo.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall, Sportswashing, Eric Adams Controversy
Sep 28, 202401:54:29Tap to summarizeLeading activist and evangelist for Modern Monetary Theory Steve Grumbine joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss who voters trust more on the economy between the major party candidates, the lip service paid to the middle class by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, the uselessness of insurance in a world of increased natural disaster zones, and how Pennsylvania voting demographic changes could sink Harris’ chances of winning the state.Journalist, videographer and anti-imperialist and labor rights organizer Karleigh Webb discusses the hypocrisy of Western accusations of “sportswashing,” and why defense and capital cooperation with supposedly oppressive states is fine, while others are condemned.Spokesperson for Black Hive and radio host Anthony Rogers Wright discusses the political fallout of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ indictment on corruption charges, the likelihood that New York Governor Kathy Hochul will remove Adams from office, Kamala Harris' visit to the US-Mexico border, the DNC taking in a massive donation haul, GOP candidate Donald Trump meeting with the leaders of the United Kingdom and Ukraine, the possibility of a Republican takeover of Congress in 2025, a settlement between Newsmax and voting machine maker Smartmatic, and an update on Trump’s New York civil fraud case.The Misfits also discuss old cheese, old boyfriends, and a fat cat.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →NYC Mayor Indicted, OpenAI Goes For Profit, No Ceasefire in Lebanon
Sep 27, 202401:52:50Tap to summarizeFormer US diplomat and former senior foreign policy advisor Jim Jatras joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the failure to stop escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, whether any of Israel’s goals can be achieved by military action in Lebanon, how the conflict could continue to spread, the difficulty in getting any foreign policy iconoclasts elected or confirmed to office, the House speaker calling for Ukraine’s ambassador to the US to be fired, and Trump’s calls to lift sanctions on Russia and Iran.Technologist and cohost of the CovertAction Bulletin podcast Chris Garaffa discusses OpenAI abandoning non-profit status, the departure of notable figures from the AI company over concerns about an erosion of safety guidelines, OpenAI’s reported proposal to build massive data centers across the US, the energy requirements of all this technology, and a new FTC report on the data collection and use practices of social media companies in general.Editor of The Polemicist Jim Kavanagh discusses the FBI raid on the New York City mayor’s residence, the felony charges that Erid Adams faces, the passage of a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown before the November election, abortion as a campaign issue, whether GOP candidate Donald Trump is serious about ending sanctions on Russia and Iran and ending the conflict in Ukraine immediately, the defamation suit facing Newsmax, why presidential polling in Florida is so close, and how CNN and the Anti-Defamation League are attempting to walk back their accusations of anti-semitism against Representative Rashida Tlaib without actually apologizing.The Misfits also discuss the romantic life of Tesla founder Elon Musk and an update on the case against Bad Boy Records founder Sean Combs.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
Transcribe →