Conflicts of Interest
COI #159: The People Who Were Right About Afghanistan
by Kyle Anzalone | Sep 7, 2021
On COI #159, Kevin Gosztola joins Kyle Anzalone to discuss the people who were right about the Afghan War all along, among them Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who cast the sole ‘no’ vote against the 2001 authorization to attack Afghanistan. Lee correctly predicted that...
COI #158: Afghan Kids Killed By US Bomb, Pentagon Claims “Success”
by Kyle Anzalone | Sep 5, 2021
On COI #158, Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter update the aftermath of a US drone strike in Kabul that killed at least 10 Afghan civilians, most of them children. While the Pentagon claims it struck a car carrying Islamic State explosives, and that secondary blasts caused...
COI #157: Biden Puts Israel First
by Kyle Anzalone | Sep 3, 2021
On COI #157, Connor Freeman – writer at the Libertarian Institute – returns to the show to discuss Biden’s Israel policy. Biden entered office with a prime opportunity to revive the Iran nuclear deal, but has instead caved to the demands of Tel Aviv. Now the deal is...
COI Bonus #2: FedEx/Police Partnership and Fake Stories From Afghanistan
by Kyle Anzalone | Sep 1, 2021
On the second COI bonus show, Kyle Anzalone and Patrick MacFarlane discuss a new police partnership with FedEx that allows cops to use drug dogs in the company’s facilities, leading to constitutionally questionable raids. Will Porter joins Kyle and Pat to discuss news...
COI #156: The Occupation of Afghanistan Is Over, Biden Vows to Continue Bombing
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 31, 2021
On COI #156, Kyle Anzalone discusses the departure of the last US soldiers in Afghanistan. After 20 years, the occupation has finally ended. However, the US war in Afghanistan may not be over as Biden has vowed to continue drone strikes in the country. The latest...
COI #155: US Bombs Afghanistan, Claims to Target ISIS, Wipes Out a Family
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 29, 2021
On COI #155, Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter update the situation in Afghanistan, including the aftermath of a deadly suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport on August 26. President Joe Biden authorized two separate retaliatory drone strikes on what the government...
COI #154: The War State Spins Lies to Exploit Tragedy at Kabul Airport
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 26, 2021
Connor Freeman – writer at the Libertarian Institute – returns to the show to discuss the dual suicide bombing at the Kabul airport. As of the recording, at least 60 Afghans and 13 American soldiers were killed in the blasts. ISIS-K – a group of mostly non-Afghans...
COI #153: Despite All-Out Media Effort, Americans Still Support Afghan Withdrawal
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 24, 2021
On COI #153, Kyle Anzalone updates events in Afghanistan. The Pentagon and State Department are working to remove some privileged Afghans and Americans from Afghanistan. The US claims it has evacuated tens of thousands so far, but it is still unclear how many will be...
COI Bonus Ep: End the Damn Wars guest Magnus Panvidya
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 23, 2021
On the first-ever Conflicts of Interest bonus episode, Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter sit down with Magnus Panvidya to discuss the ‘End The Damn Wars’ project, an effort to unite anti-war voices across the political spectrum and organize street actions opposing US...
COI #152: Vaccine Passports, Mask Mandates & Booster Shots
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 22, 2021
On COI #152, Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter discuss the state of the US Covid regime. An increasing number of federal agencies, state and local governments are requiring employees to be vaccinated. The mandates are not limited to government employees as an increasing...
COI #151: Hawks’ Boast of Obsessive Anti-China Paranoia as Basis for Policy
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 20, 2021
On COI #151, Kyle Anzalone explains how Biden’s China policy is being formed by officials who boast about being Sino-paranoid. Biden’s new Air Force Secretary said he was “obsessed” with China and was hoping to “scare” the CCP. The delusions of key Biden officials is...
Conflicts of Interest #150: Scott Horton on the End of a Fool’s Errand
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 17, 2021
On COI #150 the great Scott Horton returns to the show to discuss the collapse of America’s sockpuppet government in Kabul. Scott explains how he seemed to be one of the only Afghan War analysts to correctly predict how quickly – and mostly bloodlessly – the Afghan...
COI #149: Taliban Overruns Kabul, Dealing Fatal Blow to the US-Built Government
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 16, 2021
Major territorial gains that began in provincial centers earlier this month came to a head on August 15, with the militant group waltzing into the national capital and seizing the city, encountering virtually no resistance from government forces in the process. With...
COI #148: After 2 Decades of War & Nation Building, the Afghan State Is Crumbling
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 13, 2021
On COI #148, Kyle breaks down some of the latest developments in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue their offensive, seizing major Afghan cities like Kandahar, Ghazni, and Harat. In response, the US is planning to reduce the staff at its embassy and possibly abandon it...
COI #147: American Leaders Weaponize the ‘Chinese Boogeyman’ for Political Gain
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 11, 2021
On COI #147, Dave DeCamp – News Editor at Antiwar.com – returns to the show to discuss how American pols increasingly use China as a political weapon. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently warned that the US must pass a massive infrastructure spending bill or...
COI #146: Afghan Capitals Fall to Taliban as Pentagon Threatens to Ramp Up Bombing
by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 9, 2021
On COI #146, Kyle and Will break down Twitter's latest attempt to root out what it calls 'misinformation,' with the platform announcing a new partnership with Reuters and the Associated Press to 'fact check' information on the site. The two newswires are among the...
Articles
Al-Qaeda Linked Julani Meets With British Diplomats, Discusses Removal From Terror List
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 17, 2024
The leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Syria rebel group that removed President Bashar al-Assad from power met with British officials to request the removal of sanctions and the terror designation on his group. Abu Mohammed al-Julani met with Stephen Hickey, director of...
Assad Issues First Statement Since Fleeing Syria Over a Week Ago
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 16, 2024
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad released a statement that detailed his final movement in Syria before fleeing to Russia. Assad and his family left the country after al-Qaeda-affiliated forces overran Damascus. “I remained in Damascus, carrying out my duties...
Israel to Deploy Dozens of Autonomous Weapons Systems in West Bank
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 15, 2024
The Israeli Defense Forces are preparing to place dozens of weapons systems across the West Bank that can be operated automatically or remotely. According to a report from Israeli Army Radio, the Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station will be deployed to dozens of...
Netanyahu Tells Iranian People That Regime Change Will Come ‘A Lot Sooner Than People Think’
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 12, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a fresh threat to carry out a regime change in Iran. The Israeli leader said Tel Aviv had scored a recent series of victories over Tehran. In an English-speaking address to the people of Iran, he slammed Tehran for...
Haaretz Uncovers Four Palestinian Deaths During Shin Bet Interrogations Since Oct 7
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 11, 2024
The Israeli outlet Haaretz has found that at least four Palestinians have died while under interrogation by the Israeli Shin Bet in over a year. Since October 7, Israeli officials have touted worsening the conditions for imprisoned Palestinians, while human rights...
Israeli Finance Minister: Time to Seize Control of Gaza
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 9, 2024
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Tel Aviv should exploit the downfall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and seize the Gaza Strip. At a meeting of his Religious Zionist Party on Monday, Smotrich said, “We've seen in Syria how regime leaders flee like rats when...
South Korean President Yoon To Resign
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 8, 2024
The party of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will step aside after his failed attempt to invoke martial law last week. People Power Party leader Han Dong Hoon explained that Yoon would resign sometime soon and would cease all official business...
Trump Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Ukraine
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 8, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump demanded an “immediate ceasefire and negotiations” to begin in Ukraine. Trump made the remarks on Truth Social shortly after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal...
Russian Ship Fires Warning Shots at German Helicopter
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 4, 2024
As the rhetoric in Moscow and Brussels continues furthering the buildup to a direct war between Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance, a Russian ship fired warning shots at a German military helicopter over the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred on Wednesday, with...
White House Says It Is Not Considering Giving Nuclear Weapons to Ukraine
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 2, 2024
Responding to a report in the New York Times, a top White House official said President Joe Biden was not considering transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine. The article that stated US and European officials had discussed giving a nuke to Kiev drew a stiff rebuke...
As Many as 200,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Have Deserted
by Kyle Anzalone | Dec 1, 2024
Ukrainian soldiers refusing to report for duty or walking away from their front-line positions are becoming an increasing problem for Kiev. One Ukrainian lawmaker said that there have been as many as 200,000 desertions. Ukrainian officials and soldiers told the AP...
Trump Picks Russia Hawk as Envoy to Ukraine Conflict
by Kyle Anzalone | Nov 27, 2024
On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump tapped retired General Keith Kellogg as his envoy to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Kellogg advocated for the Joe Biden administration strategy in Ukraine and even called for implementing a no-fly zone over the war-torn...
News Roundup
US Demands Concessions to Drop Iran Terror Designation
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 17, 2022
Wednesday saw two positive signals for a return to the JCPOA nuclear pact with Iran, with three UK citizens freed from Iranian custody amid reports that the White House is considering dropping sanctions on the country’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
News Roundup 3/16/2022
by Kyle Anzalone | Mar 16, 2022
US News The US donated 4.9 million Pfizer covid vaccination doses to Vietnam through Covax. [Link] The Chicago police officer who shot and killed Adam Tolodeo will not be charged. [Link] A US consulate in Mexico closes after coming under fire. [Link] Russia Ukraine's...
Russia Says US Gave ‘Written Guarantees’ on Iran Nuclear Cooperation
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 16, 2022
Russia says it has received “written guarantees” that US sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine will not impact its nuclear cooperation with Iran, as diplomats on all sides of negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal say the talks are nearly complete.
Over 1 Million Somali Children Near Starvation as Pentagon Plans New Troop Deployment
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 16, 2022
The Pentagon wants to send troops back into Somalia on a permanent basis just 14 months after they were ordered to leave. The push for a new deployment comes as the African nation faces a serious drought.
Top Polish Official Wants Armed NATO ‘Peace Mission’ for Ukraine
by Will Porter | Mar 15, 2022
Poland’s deputy prime minister and the head of the country’s ruling party has urged for a “peace mission” in Ukraine led by the NATO bloc, proposing an operation geared toward humanitarian aid but backed up by “armed forces.”
UK Supreme Court Rejects Assange Extradition Appeal
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 15, 2022
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lost an appeal to block his extradition to the United States, with the UK’s Supreme Court outright refusing to hear the petition. Some legal options remain open to him, however.
Zelensky Presses Biden to Step Up Russia Sanctions
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 14, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is again pushing the United States to take a more aggressive stance against Russia, urging his US counterpart to completely isolate the Russian economy after earlier demanding he impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. In his latest...
Western Neo-Nazis Respond to Azov’s Call to Arms
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 14, 2022
White nationalist and neo-Nazi militants are flocking to Ukraine to help repel a Russian invasion following a plea for foreign volunteers from President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a report in the Washington Post. Thousands of fighters have already arrived, many...
News Roundup 3/15/2022
by Kyle Anzalone | Mar 14, 2022
US News The UK Supreme Court denies Julian Assange’s request to appeal his extradition to the US. [Link] While at a black site, Ammar al-Baluchi was used by the CIA to train people to torture. Baluchi was slammed into a wall for over two hours so agents could be...
White House Says China Will Pay a Price for Supporting Russia
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 13, 2022
China will face major “consequences” should it help Russia evade an ever-growing raft of American sanctions, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has warned, just a day before he’s set to meet with Beijing’s top diplomat in Rome. Sullivan’s warning on...
News Roundup 3/14/2022
by Kyle Anzalone | Mar 13, 2022
Russia National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the US will respond if China helps Russia avoid sanctions. [Link] Sullivan says the US will respond to Russia over the killing of an American journalist in Ukraine. [Link] Sullivan warned Russia that NATO would...
News Roundup 3/11/2022
by Kyle Anzalone | Mar 11, 2022
US News Biden will extend masking on public transportation for another month. [Link] The US plans to continue talks with Maduro. [Link] Russia Meta Platforms is allowing users to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers in discussions about the invasion...
While Condemning Putin, Biden Lavishes Dictators with US-Made Weapons
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 11, 2022
The US weapons sector had a good day on Thursday, with Senator Rand Paul’s effort to block a $2 billion weapons sale to Egypt rejected in the upper chamber as President Joe Biden doles out ‘major non-NATO ally’ designations to other repressive states.
Pentagon Report Blames Poor Leadership, ‘Culture of Complacency’ for Deadly 2020 Attack in Kenya
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 10, 2022
The Department of Defense has issued two reviews of the 2020 al-Shabaab attack on the Camp Simba military base in Kenya that killed three Americans. The reports name poor leadership, inadequate training and a “culture of complacency” as the leading causes that allowed...
News Roundup 3/10/2022
by Kyle Anzalone | Mar 10, 2022
US News The US donated 3.8 million AstraZeneca covid vaccines to Mexico. [Link] Venezuela released two Americans. [Link] Russia NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says that a “new normal” is forcing NATO to rethink its long-term plans. [Link] The White House...
Massive Spending Bill to Hike Pentagon Budget & Grow US Arsenal
by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter | Mar 10, 2022
Congress has passed a sprawling $1.5 trillion spending bill that will fund the government through the end of the fiscal year, proposing a significant boost for the military budget and a $14 billion aid package for Ukraine.