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Geopolitical Economy Report

Geopolitical Economy Report

542 episodes — Page 5 of 11

Why is Israel attacking Lebanon? What is Hezbollah really? The colonial war explained

Israel is bombing Lebanon, with staunch US support. An Israeli minister vowed that "Lebanon will be annihilated". Ben Norton analyzes the colonial war, explains the origins of Hezbollah, and provides historical context. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoyuwuXFG2c Topics 0:00 Israel is waging war on Lebanon 1:19 ICC accuses Israeli officials of crimes against humanity 2:41 USA facilitates Israel's crimes 4:16 Israeli education minister vows "Lebanon as we know it will not exist" 4:35 (Clip) Israeli minister: "Lebanon will be annihilated" 4:52 Israeli media calls for g*noc1de against Palestinians 5:27 Israeli minister boasts of new Nakba in Gaza 6:00 Israeli minister says Lebanon, Syria, Iraq are not sovereign states 8:34 Zionism & Israel: European colonialism in Palestine 10:22 (Clip) Netanyahu applauded in US Congress 10:43 Israel is the aggressor in Lebanon 11:56 Which countries call Hezbollah a "t3rr*rist" group? 13:44 Hezbollah's origins in Israeli occupation of Lebanon 16:29 Hezbollah's alliance with Christians & religious minorities 19:02 ISIS, Al-Qaeda, & Syria War 23:08 Israel, ISIS, & Al-Qaeda 26:02 Lebanon's sovereignty & territorial integrity 27:25 Outro

Sep 25, 202428 min

Israel's pager attack in Lebanon will blow back: Western tech can't be trusted anymore

Israel killed many people in Lebanon by putting explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies, in what was condemned internationally as a terrorist attack. This is already backfiring, hurting Western technology companies. Ben Norton discusses how this act of war will fragment supply chains, as Global South markets no longer trust tech made by the US and its allies. China's manufactured goods will increasingly be seen as a safer alternative. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGnVF55Eu0o Topics 0:00 Israel's pager attack in Lebanon 1:44 Ex CIA director admits it was terrorism 3:07 Russia blasts terrorism, China condemns Israel 3:58 Israel opened Pandora's box: global economy will fragment further 5:51 China gets more customers in Middle East / West Asia 6:44 China is largest trading partner of most countries 7:17 China is world's manufacturing superpower 9:52 How Israel made pagers into bombs (with Hungary & Taiwan links) 14:37 USA demonizes Chinese tech (Huawei) 15:45 US NSA spies on the entire world 18:39 Israel spies on other countries 20:56 USA fears Chinese role in supply chains 22:34 US role in Israeli plot 23:48 How US & Israel weaponize supply chains 29:28 Hezbollah 31:23 Outro

Sep 24, 202431 min

US escalates new cold war on China: Congress passes 25 anti-Chinese laws in 1 week, funds propaganda

Cold War Two fervor is reaching fever pitch in Washington. In "China Week", the US House of Representatives approved 25 anti-Chinese laws, in bipartisan votes, including $1.6 billion in funding for anti-China propaganda worldwide. Ben Norton discusses how both the Republican and Democratic Parties are targeting China with information war, sanctions, tech restrictions, tariffs, even threats of military force. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tix5L5qDaNw Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/09/22/us-congress-25-anti-china-laws-week-fund-propaganda/ CIA director threatens China & Russia, says Ukraine war benefits US economy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDv4KsLXua8 How the US wages economic war on countries all around the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYUq_9XlQs0 US Secretary of State Blinken announces China containment policy: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/05/28/cold-war-blinken-china-containment/ Topics 0:00 US Congress escalates Cold War II on China 1:53 US House approves $1.6 billion for anti-China propaganda 2:46 Goal of new cold war: do to China what West did to post-Soviet Russia 3:44 Congress funds war, not social programs for Americans 5:20 Media notes US politicians are preparing for war 6:28 (Clip) Biden lies about Iraqi "WMDs" 6:45 Containment strategy toward China 7:45 (Clip) Blinken: USA "will shape the strategic environment around Beijing" 8:29 The "rules-based international order" 10:05 (Clip) CIA teaches how to "lie, cheat, and steal" 10:22 Pompeo's anti-China speech 12:11 (Clip) Pompeo: US must (regime) "change" China 13:00 CIA says China is biggest "threat" 15:29 US Congress' (Anti) "China Week" 17:22 Funding anti-China disinformation 17:42 Hong Kong 18:34 Taiwan 20:10 "Pacific Partnership" (for war) 20:34 Japan and South Korea 20:55 Economic warfare and sanctions 24:40 Electric vehicles (EVs) 27:03 Drones 27:53 Batteries 28:39 Biotech 29:08 Telecommunications 30:37 Chinese currency (renminbi/yuan) 31:45 Agriculture/land 32:14 Media 32:37 Scientific research 32:59 Confucius Institutes 33:36 USA restricts interchange with Chinese 35:00 Preparing for war 35:49 Outro

Sep 22, 202436 min

World demands end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, in landslide UN vote

The vast majority of the world voted at the UN General Assembly to demand an end to Israel's unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory within 12 months, with 124 countries (64%) in favor, 14 (7%) against, and 43 (22%) abstentions. Ben Norton analyzes the geopolitics of the vote, and how the US and most of the West is violating international law. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK9dmK8p0n0 Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/09/19/end-israel-occupation-palestine-un-vote/ Topics 0:00 Intro 0:21 Chart of countries' votes at UN 1:00 UN resolution demands end to Israel's occupation 2:22 Map & analysis of countries' votes at UN 6:49 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling 8:28 West's "rules-based order" threatens international law 12:41 USA blocks full UN membership for Palestine 14:45 Why USA supports Israel, its "unsinkable aircraft carrier" 15:55 (Clips) Biden: US would create Israel if it didn't exist 16:20 US empire opposes peace, in Gaza and worldwide 18:12 Outro

Sep 19, 202418 min

Ukraine sits on trillions worth of minerals. US politicians want them.

Ukraine is "sitting on a trillion dollars worth of minerals that could be good to our economy", said US Senator Lindsey Graham as he stood next to Zelensky in Kiev. Ben Norton discusses how Western politicians and corporations want to exploit Ukrainian natural resources, to profit and to weaken the role of China and Russia in critical supply chains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XuJLV2kfcc Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/09/16/senator-lindsey-graham-ukraine-trillion-minerals/ Zelensky is literally selling Ukraine to US corporations on Wall Street: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/09/09/zelensky-selling-ukraine-wall-street/ West prepares to plunder post-war Ukraine with neoliberal shock therapy: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/07/28/west-neoliberal-recovery-conference/ Topics 0:00 US Senator Lindsey Graham wants Ukraine's minerals 4:19 Ukraine has tens of trillions of dollars worth of natural resources 5:34 China and critical minerals supply chain 7:10 USA wants Ukraine to replace China in minerals supply chain 8:03 Wall Street is buying up Ukraine 9:13 (Clip) Zelensky's love letter to Western corporations 10:58 NATO fights Russia to the last Ukrainian 11:46 Study: foreign intervention is 100 times more likely in country with oil 14:22 Geopolitics of NATO proxy war on Russia in Ukraine 17:58 Afghanistan's resources and $1 trillion of minerals 24:31 Outro

Sep 17, 202425 min

Trump's threat to punish countries that drop US dollar will speed up de-dollarization

Donald Trump has threatened that, if he comes back as US president, he will impose 100% tariffs on countries that drop the dollar, trying to cut off their trade. Ben Norton discusses how this will accelerate the global dedollarization movement, incentivizing more nations to join China, Russia, and BRICS in seeking financial alternatives. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sYacRjSND4 Check out our related video "De-dollarization: China drops US Treasury bonds, instead buys gold, oil, metals": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-bnIrbZjaM Topics 0:00 (Clip) Trump threatens countries that drop US dollar 0:49 De-dollarization 2:06 (Clip) Trump pledges tariffs on nations that de-dollarize 2:24 Dollar system is not a "public good" 3:03 BRICS 3:49 BRICS Bank (New Development Bank) 4:33 Brazil's Lula calls to drop US dollar 5:10 China & Brazil de-dollarize trade 5:35 China & Russia de-dollarize trade 6:01 Russia & Iran de-dollarize trade 6:10 Southeast Asia (ASEAN) de-dollarizes 7:05 (Clip) Trump: "I would not allow countries to go off the dollar" 7:37 Trump's plans to punish independent countries 8:22 Dollar system and US imperial decline 10:00 China is biggest trading partner of most countries 11:11 BRICS GDP (PPP) is bigger than G7 12:27 Largest economies on Earth (Rise of Global South) 14:01 US imperialism is in crisis 16:27 China's share of global trade 16:40 China de-dollarizes its trade 20:10 China buys oil & gas in yuan/renminbi 21:56 De-dollarization of trade vs savings (investment & reserves) 22:40 China dumps US Treasury securities 25:11 China's central bank buys gold 25:56 JP Morgan report on dedollarization 27:07 Multipolar financial world 29:01 Outro

Sep 14, 202429 min

CBDCs vs Wall Street?

What are central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and why are banks on Wall Street lobbying against them? Could they be an alternative for average people, or would they create even more problems than they solve? Political economist Radhika Desai is joined by legal scholar Robert C. Hockett to discuss CBDCs, central banks, the Federal Reserve, and the banking system. This is part of Radhika's show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Sep 11, 20241h 3m

Western 'democracy'?: France's Macron steals election, arrests Telegram CEO

The same week France arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the "President of the Rich" Emmanuel Macron stole the 2024 election, refusing to allow the left-wing New Popular Front that won to form a new government, instead appointing a new prime minister from a right-wing party that got 6% of the vote. Ben Norton discusses how Western "democracies" are actually oligarchies. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbx43-U1h1o Topics 0:00 Western "democracy" is oligarchy 3:39 Emmanuel Macron: the "president of the rich" 6:11 Inequality in France 8:27 French billionaire oligarchs 12:48 France's 2024 election results 14:10 Macron appoints election loser Michel Barnier as PM 15:28 Leftist leader Mélenchon accuses Macron of electoral theft 17:04 52% of French want to impeach Macron 17:28 Western leaders praise undemocratic PM Michel Barnier 19:51 How Macron stole the election he lost 23:07 France is not a democracy 24:20 Arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov 25:57 US government wanted Telegram backdoor for spying 27:09 Russia, West, and Pavel Durov 28:18 Telegram and Belarus color revolution attempt 30:16 Western media's former love affair with Durov 31:19 West turns on Durov 33:45 Outro

Sep 7, 202434 min

Israel's war on Gaza is only possible due to US support and weapons

A top Israeli military official admitted the war on Gaza is only possible thanks to US support and arms supplies. Ben Norton explains how Israel is an outpost of the US empire in a key geostrategic region. As Joe Biden said, "Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interest in the region". VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UWewzp7lcE Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/09/04/israel-war-gaza-possible-us-support/ Why does the US support Israel? A geopolitical analysis with economist Michael Hudson: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/11/12/why-us-support-israel-geopolitics-michael-hudson/

Sep 4, 202419 min

Can the US Federal Reserve really control inflation?

Can the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, really stop inflation? Or is it more committed to inflating asset price bubbles for the rich? Political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss the Fed's monetary policy, and its implications for average working people. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAtx2vDJkM8 You can read the transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/08/31/fed-inflation-radhika-desai-michael-hudson/ This is part of the show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Aug 31, 202448 min

How the US wages economic war on countries all around the world

The United States government has imposed sanctions on more than one-third of countries on Earth, including over 60% of poor countries. Ben Norton documents how Washington's economic warfare is deadly in nations like Venezuela, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. It is also fragmenting the global financial system, as China and Russia create alternatives. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYUq_9XlQs0 Topics 0:00 USA has sanctions on 1/3rd of world 1:44 "Targeted" sanctions are a myth 3:16 Washington Post admits US is waging economic warfare worldwide 8:56 100,000+ Venezuelans died from US sanctions 10:50 Goal of US sanctions: "hunger, desperation and overthrow of government" 13:39 US government compares itself to Darth Vader 14:46 OFAC director sings, "Every little thing we do is sanctions" 16:05 Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died from US-led Western sanctions 20:32 (CLIP) Madeleine Albright on Iraq mass deaths: "the price is worth it" 21:08 60% of poor countries face US sanctions 22:01 US dollar dictatorship and financial hegemony 24:13 Donald Trump's war on Venezuela 25:16 "Sanction everybody and their sister" 25:54 Boomerang of US sanctions: China, Russia, BRICS create alternatives 30:08 Russia re-industrializes, its economy grows rapidly 34:10 Too big to sanction - Is this the limit? 37:01 Outro

Aug 28, 202437 min

On Ukraine war, Europe is totally out of touch with its people, poll shows

While EU leaders push to escalate the proxy war on Russia, and Ukraine invades Kursk region, polls show many Europeans want peace talks for a negotiated settlement, and oppose sending more weapons. Ben Norton looks at the evidence. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTVawAEUoDQ Topics 0:00 Intro 0:30 Ukraine is desperate 1:37 Ukraine invades Russia's Kursk region 4:11 People in US & EU want negotiated settlement 6:19 Most likely outcome of Ukraine war: compromise settlement 7:42 What should Europe do in Ukraine war? Peace deal 8:58 Europeans' view of Ukraine war, by country 10:00 Should Europe send arms & ammo to Ukraine? 11:18 Ukraine losing war would be "end of Western hegemony" 12:34 Outro

Aug 23, 202412 min

How US Big Tech monopolies colonized the world: Welcome to neo-feudalism

US Big Tech corporations are like the feudal landlords of Medieval Europe. These Silicon Valley monopolies own the digital land that the global economy is built on, and are charging higher and higher rents to use their privatized infrastructure. Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf1wQ9QeaKM Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/08/19/us-big-tech-monopolies-neo-feudalism/ Topics 0:00 Neo-feudalism 1:36 Amazon's monopoly 3:57 Google's monopoly 4:54 Amazon takes 50% of sellers' revenue 6:30 How Amazon sets prices: the Buy Box 9:01 Technofeudalism, by Yanis Varoufakis 9:42 Cloud infrastructure 10:44 New cold war on China 11:35 China: only alternative to US Big Tech monopolies 14:55 Chinese socialism 19:33 Monopoly capitalism & imperialism 21:51 Feudalism & capitalism 23:54 Utilities 26:37 Privatized digital infrastructure 29:29 Uber & Silicon Valley's monopolistic business model 34:28 Apple wages war on Chinese competitors 35:37 Apple's outrageous 30% Patreon fee 39:44 Outro

Aug 20, 202439 min

Exposing US gov't role in Bangladesh regime change: Why PM Sheikh Hasina was overthrown

The US government supported protests that overthrew Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. New interim leader Muhammad Yunus has been cultivated by Washington for decades. Ben Norton discusses the geopolitical reasons for the regime change; the roles of India, China, and Russia; and the Pentagon's desire to build a strategic military base on Saint Martin's Island. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irlrT3zvsqQ Topics 0:00 Interim leader Muhammad Yunus: Made in USA 5:09 Overthrow of Sheikh Hasina 7:44 US military base on St. Martin's Island? 8:57 Myanmar 10:33 China's reliance on Strait of Malacca for oil imports 13:34 Bangladesh-China relations 14:47 BRICS 15:36 US pressure to join Quad 17:47 Russia warned of color revolution in Bangladesh 19:06 Arab Spring 19:58 Was Hasina's undelivered resignation speech fabricated? 22:26 Hasina: "White man" demanded military base in Bay of Bengal 23:58 Hasina: USA "can overthrow the government in any country" 25:36 US-backed 1975 coup against Sheikh Mujib 28:33 US-backed 2022 coup against Pakistan PM Imran Khan 31:00 US support for protests in Bangladesh 31:22 NED funding for Bangladeshi opposition 31:41 NED funding of opposition media outlet Netra News 34:13 Historical context: Partition, India, Pakistan, 1971 liberation war 38:40 Reasons for protests 41:13 US-backed color revolutions 46:21 US State Department pressure on Bangladesh 47:36 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, & extremism 54:12 Outro

Aug 17, 202454 min

USA lets athletes cheat with steroids, as it accuses Russia & China of violating anti-doping rules

According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the US has allowed athletes in international competitions, including the Olympics, to use prohibited drugs, recruiting them as informants to spy on others. Ben Norton discusses the geopolitics of sports and the blatant hypocrisy of the US agency USADA, which constantly criticizes Russia and China. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOHR37Pd6PU Sources and links here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/08/10/usa-athletes-cheat-steroids-russia-china-doping/ Topics 0:00 US doping scandal exposed 1:05 Hypocrisy on Russia's ban 1:20 Chinese athletes harassed at Olympics 2:09 US accusations of corruption 2:46 Will US host 2028 Olympics? 3:26 US government funds USADA 3:59 WADA exposes US doping scandal 8:46 WADA is investigating US 10:14 US new cold war on China 11:20 China says US athletes are under-tested 11:49 US Congress threatens WADA 12:16 The "rules-based international order" 12:51 Russia banned over Ukraine War 14:07 US not banned over wars on Iraq et al. 15:52 Israel not banned despite crimes in Gaza 17:22 West makes rules in "rules-based order" 17:58 International Olympic Committee (IOC) dominated by West 20:38 Imperialism 22:06 Outro

Aug 16, 202422 min

As stock market crashes, is US facing new financial crisis? Economist Michael Hudson explains

The stock market crashed on August 5, in a new "Black Monday". What caused it? Is the USA on the verge of a new financial crisis? Ben Norton is joined by economist Michael Hudson to discuss the extreme volatility, AI / Big Tech bubble, Japanese yen carry trade unwind, Chinese economy, and geopolitical dangers. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stgBVvz5RIM Check out Geopolitical Economy Hour, the program Michael Hudson hosts with Radhika Desai, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP His website: https://michael-hudson.com Topics 0:00 Teaser 0:54 Why did the stock market crash? 8:19 Is the US economy entering a recession? 12:36 Japan and the yen carry trade unwind 27:14 China's economy 32:41 Popping of the AI / Big Tech bubble? 46:05 Geopolitics: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran 54:19 Re-inflating the bubble? 1:03:51 Can't the debt be rolled over? 1:07:27 Asset price inflation vs consumer price inflation 1:11:29 Capital gains grow faster than the economy 1:13:12 What is missing from most economic analysis? 1:26:05 Outro

Aug 7, 20241h 26m

Debt is political: Why wealth flows from poor to rich

How does the structure of the international financial system cause a drain of wealth from the poor to the rich? Political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss the politics of debt. VIDEO (with the charts): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bu9dHGRpmE Read the transcript (with the charts) here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/debt-politics-wealth-flow-poor-rich This is part of the show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Aug 5, 20241h 11m

Deja vu: USA tries to impose new puppet government in Venezuela

As part of a new coup attempt in Venezuela, the US has recognized opposition leader Edmundo González as supposed president, after Trump tried to impose puppet Juan Guaidó in 2019. The State Department cited only US government-funded sources to accuse President Maduro of "electoral fraud". Ben Norton shows how misleading - and hypocritical - Washington's claims are. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KCDj-alHbg USA backs another coup attempt in Venezuela - with Elon Musk's help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NglJ4J2rMEA Why is USA obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela? Is it oil, China, Russia, socialism, multipolarity?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ViMqMXGGs US gov’t-linked firm is source of exit poll claiming Venezuelan opposition won election: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/29/us-government-edison-poll-venezuela-election/ Topics 0:00 US recognizes Venezuelan opposition leader as "president" 1:53 Hypocrisy: US supports dictatorships, wars, coups against democracies 3:39 Why Washington hates Venezuela 4:48 2002 US-backed coup in Venezuela 6:57 Latin America is divided on Venezuela 9:18 OAS: tool of US meddling 10:33 Mexico condemns OAS "interventionism" 12:34 China, Russia, Iran support Venezuela 13:08 Peru's dictatorship backs Venezuelan opposition 14:00 Oligarchs like Elon Musk 14:44 USAID operative hints at invasion 16:14 Fake news 17:28 Mercenary Erik Prince threatens Maduro 19:29 State Dep't cites US gov't-funded groups to allege "fraud" 19:59 Carter Center: funded by US, UK, EU, Gulf monarchies 23:39 Exit polls 25:36 CIA-linked firm's shady polling 28:58 María Corina Machado: US government-backed fanatic 29:51 Geopolitical changes: Multipolarity vs unipolarity 31:59 Possible US military intervention? 33:28 Outro

Aug 3, 202433 min

USA backs another coup attempt in Venezuela - with Elon Musk's help

The USA and its allies in Latin America have refused to recognize the results of Venezuela's elections, as far-right opposition extremists try to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro, with the help of billionaire oligarch Elon Musk. Ben Norton documents the many US-backed coups since Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez came to power and launched the Bolivarian Revolution. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NglJ4J2rMEA Our investigation: "US gov’t-linked firm is source of exit poll claiming Venezuelan opposition won election" - https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/29/us-government-edison-poll-venezuela-election/ Check out our related video: "Why is USA obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela?" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ViMqMXGGs Topics 0:00 US supports coup attempt in Venezuela 1:41 Elon Musk: "We will coup whoever we want!" 3:35 Electoral "fraud" allegations 5:52 Observers say vote was fair 8:05 Argentina's leader Javier Milei 9:06 CIA & Israeli Mossad 9:50 Venezuelan opposition loves Israel 10:38 Maduro supports Palestine 11:07 China, Russia, Iran 11:52 Why USA is obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela 12:57 Oil 13:36 CLIP Donald Trump wanted to "take over" Venezuela (and its oil) 14:07 CLIP John Bolton: US corporations want Venezuela's oil 15:18 CLIP Bolton boasts Venezuela coup attempt was "a lot of work" 15:49 From Juan Guaidó to María Corina Machado 17:55 US-backed coup in Venezuela in 2002 19:25 Venezuelan opposition's long history of crying "fraud" 19:48 Guarimbas 21:35 What "dictatorship"? 22:13 Obama declares Venezuela a "national security threat" 23:38 Economic war, sanctions, & embargo 30:15 Venezuela's oligarchy vs. working class 32:12 Inflation 33:08 Sanctions 35:39 West steals Venezuela's foreign assets 36:46 Failed CIA-backed invasion of Venezuela 37:36 No evidence for "fraud" claims 39:36 Outro

Jul 31, 202439 min

Why is USA obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela? Is it oil, China, Russia, socialism, multipolarity?

Why has the US constantly tried to overthrow Venezuela's leftist government, backing coup attempts against Presidents Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro? Ben Norton analyzes the role of Venezuela's large oil reserves and natural resources; socialist system; anti-imperialist foreign policy; partnership with China, Russia, and Iran; and key role in building a multipolar world. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ViMqMXGGs Topics 0:00 Intro 0:14 Oil 1:58 Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution 5:45 Multipolarity 9:49 China 14:09 US sanctions 17:28 Russia & Iran 18:22 Washington says China is biggest threat to US hegemony 19:31 US coups & regime change 20:44 US economic blockade 23:18 BRICS 24:24 De-dollarization 26:29 Latin American regional integration 29:25 US-backed coup attempts 30:24 Natural resources 31:52 Monroe Doctrine: US neocolonialism in Latin America 33:09 Venezuela's key role in challenging US imperialism

Jul 27, 202434 min

China & Russia help Global South develop & resist Western imperialism: Nicaragua explains

While the US and Europe have invaded and colonized countries around the world, China and Russia have helped the Global South develop and resist Western imperialism, argues Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, leader of the Sandinista Revolution. Ben Norton reports. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8waJIQTKD4

Jul 26, 202426 min

Nicaragua condemns Israel, says USA should disappear if Palestine can't have a state

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega blasted Western support for Israel in its war on Gaza and asked, if a state of Palestine is not allowed to exist, why should the US be allowed to exist? He was joined at the 45th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution by Palestinian ex guerrilla Leila Khaled, who denounced imperialism and neocolonialism. Ben Norton reports. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1wKlRUyFg Read our related article - US legally owes Nicaragua reparations, but still refuses to honor 1986 Int’l Court of Justice ruling: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/06/28/us-owes-nicaragua-reparations-1986-icj/

Jul 22, 202421 min

EU admits it has hypocritical 'double standards' on Israel, Ukraine, Iraq, climate change

European Union foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell admitted the West has hypocritical "double standards" on international law, the Russia-Ukraine-NATO war, Israel's brutal bombing of Gaza, the US-led invasion of Iraq, and climate change. Ben Norton analyzes the revealing comments of the top EU diplomat. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQuUbBf6snA Sources and links here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/18/eu-borrell-hypocrisy-double-standards-israel-ukraine-iraq/ EU confesses ‘our prosperity was based on China & Russia’: cheap energy, low-paid labor, big market: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/10/18/eu-prosperity-china-russia-energy-market/ ‘Western dominance has ended’, EU foreign-policy chief admits, warning of ‘West against the Rest’ geopolitics: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/02/26/western-dominance-ended-eu-josep-borrell/ Topics 0:00 Intro 1:56 (Clip) EU foreign policy chief on West's "double standards" 4:25 (Clip) West values lives of Ukrainians more than Palestinians 5:06 (Clip) Hypocrisy on Israel's violations of UN resolutions 6:19 Historical carbon emissions by region 7:17 (Clip) Western hypocrisy on climate change 8:46 Who is Josep Borrell? 10:02 (Clip) West is prolonging Ukraine war 10:42 "Western dominance has ended" 11:55 (Clip) USA has lost its hegemony 12:11 China's economic rise 12:54 (Clip) China challenges Western dominance 14:21 Multipolarity 15:01 (Clip) "The world is much more multipolar" 15:54 "Democracy vs autocracy"? 16:33 (Clip) "On our side, there are a lot of authoritarian regimes" 17:00 How West relied on China & Russia 17:40 (Clip) "Our prosperity was based on China & Russia" 19:15 Borrell's racist "garden vs jungle" rant 21:30 (Clip) European exceptionalism 22:11 Outro

Jul 18, 202423 min

Donald Trump is NOT a 'threat to the deep state'. Here is his warmongering record.

Following a shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump's supporters have portrayed him as a so-called "threat to the US deep state". But in reality, Trump was a warmonger as president, and appointed top CIA officials and neoconservatives to run his foreign policy. Ben Norton reviews Trump's support for Israel and Ukraine and his aggressive policies against China, Russia, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wwm4OiYY5M Topics 0:00 (Clips) Trump on Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine 0:32 US politics & bipartisan war crimes 3:29 Alleged assassination attempt against Trump 7:13 Trump's warmongering foreign policy: a summary 11:35 Israel - Palestine 16:56 Trump proposed bombing Russia & China 17:27 Russiagate 18:01 Trump tore up 2 arms treaties with Russia 18:55 Ukraine 20:33 (Clip) Trump boasts of arming Ukraine 20:56 Trump vs Obama on Ukraine weapons 23:02 NATO 24:24 "We're at war with China" 26:24 Trade war & new cold war on China 28:44 Democrats vs Republicans on Russia & China 29:48 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) 30:44 Assassination of Qasem Soleimani 31:20 Trump's war on Iraq 32:48 US hypocrisy on "political violence" 34:31 Syria 35:00 (Clip) Trump brags of taking Syria's oil 35:27 Afghanistan war & minerals 37:06 Trump wanted to take oil from Libya & Iraq too 38:15 Yemen 39:24 Trump plans to attack Mexico 41:06 Bolivia coup 41:54 Elon Musk & Bolivia's lithium 43:24 Venezuela 44:06 (Clip) Trump on "taking over" Venezuela 44:18 Venezuela coup attempt 46:00 Nicaragua coup attempt 46:37 Elliott Abrams 47:53 Cuba blockade & sanctions 50:09 Tax cuts for the rich 51:54 Billionaires for fellow billionaire Trump 53:16 Outro

Jul 16, 202453 min

NATO vs Western voters and the Global Majority

In response to the NATO summit in Washington, political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss how Western governments are losing elections and ignoring their own people in order to expand the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and beyond, while seeking to impose control over the majority of humanity in the Global South. Read the transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/12/nato-west-war-democracy-global-south VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXIYInJUYp8 This is part of the show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Jul 12, 20241h 2m

Britain is not a democracy: How UK elites installed PM Keir Starmer by destroying Jeremy Corbyn

The UK's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer is a pro-war, neoliberal Blairite who is closely linked to British intelligence and the US government. He was backed by big business interests after the corporate media destroyed popular left-wing, anti-imperialist Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Ben Norton discusses how Britain is an oligarchy, not a democracy. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7YDNrYsV8 Topics 0:00 UK PM Keir Starmer is Tony Blair 2.0 3:26 Biden & Starmer discuss new cold war on Russia & China 5:00 Keir Starmer's shady US government ties 7:13 CIA-linked Trilateral Commission 11:09 Neoliberalism: a class war 13:13 The coup against Jeremy Corbyn 19:12 Outro

Jul 10, 202419 min

How big corporations took over Western governments

How did Western governments get to the point where major decisions are made by and for large corporate monopolies? Ben Norton is joined by political economist Radhika Desai to discuss neoliberalism and the myth of the free market. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tczNLhfdQ7A This is based on chapter 6 of Radhika's book "Capitalism, Coronavirus and War". You can download it for free here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/02/17/capitalism-coronavirus-war-geopolitical-economy-radhika-desai/ Check out other episodes in the series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hNZoKp0XsLFwSxxlMQu6ye8

Jul 7, 20241h 7m

How can China be socialist if it has a stock market? Understanding the Chinese economy

China describes its system as a "socialist market economy". How does that work? What is the role of its stock exchanges? Ben Norton explains Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4__IBd_sGE Topics 0:00 Intro 1:11 Deng Xiaoping & China's "Reform & Opening Up" 4:06 Socialism with Chinese Characteristics 5:17 China's economic growth & poverty reduction 7:42 How state-owned enterprises (SOEs) run China's economy 10:09 Chen Yun & the "birdcage economy" 11:39 SOE share of China's GDP 13:37 China's largest companies are SOEs 14:53 Socialist market economy 16:02 "Grasp the large, let go of the small" 17:42 "Managed competition" in China 19:50 Billionaires in China 20:43 China's stock markets 27:17 (Clip) Western financial analyst says China rejected Washington Consensus 30:43 (Clip) Bloomberg complains "China doesn't care about the stock market" 32:10 Differences between US & Chinese economies 33:33 (Clip) Investor explains China's stock market is not priority for government 36:56 China's economic policy is made for workers, not investors 45:55 US financialized capitalism vs. Chinese socialism 46:33 US stock market is 60.5% of entire world 47:13 Richest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks 47:52 Global oligarchs hold wealth in US stock market 48:31 China's pursuit of "common prosperity" 51:49 Outro

Jul 3, 202452 min

BlackRock & Wall Street banks are profiting from Israel's crimes in Gaza, UN says

Top UN human rights experts called on Western weapons corporations to stop sending arms to Israel, saying they could be complicit in war crimes. Asset managers like BlackRock and Wall Street banks are also profiting. Ben Norton looks at the evidence. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur2xRJzbyJE Topics 0:00 Western complicity in Israel's war crimes in Gaza 1:07 Statement by UN human rights experts 1:26 Weapons corporations aiding Israel 2:41 US, Germany, Italy are arming Israel 3:09 Israel is violating Hague rulings 4:01 Financial companies profiting from Israel 5:10 BlackRock investments in Israel 6:53 Wall Street banks underwrite Israeli bonds 8:52 US states invest in Israeli bonds 10:55 Biden continues arming Israel (despite misleading media claims) 14:11 Outro

Jun 30, 202415 min

Why so many Indians rejected PM Modi: 2024 election was a 'revolt of the farmers'

Economists Radhika Desai and Prabhat Patnaik analyze India's 2024 general election and why Prime Minister Narendra Modi's far-right Hindu-nationalist party BJP lost its majority. They discuss the state of the economy, rising unemployment and inequality, and Modi's neoliberal model. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4xfHMkIPJ4 Transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/06/27/india-modi-2024-election-economy/ You can watch other episodes of their program Geopolitical Economy Hour here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Jun 27, 202456 min

De-dollarization is growing: Even the US Federal Reserve (reluctantly) admits it

Countries around the world are seeking alternatives to the US dollar. IMF economists say de-dollarization is "broad-based". The Federal Reserve reluctantly admits that it is happening. Ben Norton analyzes the latest research. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Dsy7q1Miw Topics 0:00 Examples of de-dollarization around the world 3:11 IMF paper on decline of dollar dominance 6:39 Dedollarization is "broad based", IMF says 8:07 Western sanctions lead central banks to de-dollarize 8:56 Gold: Why central banks are buying it up 12:37 US Federal Reserve acknowledges dedollarization 13:18 (Clip) Fed governor on de-dollarization "challenges" 14:28 Fed governor's speech on de-dollarization 15:38 Bitcoin & crypto are NOT an alternative to the dollar 17:29 CBDCs: China-led mBridge system challenges dollar hegemony 18:58 Fed governor discusses de-dollarization examples 20:21 Fed paper on de-dollarization 24:22 Outro

Jun 25, 202425 min

UN says Israel is committing crimes against humanity & 'extermination' in Gaza

The United Nations Human Rights Council published a report that concluded that Israel has committed war crimes and "the crimes against humanity of extermination" in Gaza. Ben Norton analyzes the statements of UN legal experts. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCIEdThk2jc Topics 0:00 Intro 0:42 (Clip) UN expert: Israel is committing crimes against humanity 1:11 Quotes from UN report 2:25 Israeli army is "criminal", says UN expert 3:01 (Clip) UN expert: Israeli army is "criminal" 3:39 Israel is ethnically cleansing Palestinians with West's complicity 5:10 UN expert: Israel is committing g -- cide in Gaza 6:40 Israel ignores Hague rulings 8:09 (Clip) UN expert details Israeli crimes in Gaza 10:17 The problem with bothsidesism and false equivalence 12:15 Outro

Jun 24, 202412 min

West's Ukraine summit failed: Global South rejected pro-war 'peace conference'

The vast majority of the world population, in the Global South, rebuked the West's pro-war so-called "Summit on Peace in Ukraine", which was held in Switzerland in June. Russia was not even invited. Ben Norton discusses NATO's hypocrisy and explains why only 78 countries (mostly in Europe) endorsed the "Bürgenstock declaration", while China and Brazil propose genuine peace talks. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY4e2kKcuhk Topics 0:00 Intro 0:17 Map of countries 1:24 Western media admits conference failed 4:35 Zelensky claims China & Brazil aren't "civilized" 7:07 Joint statement & signatories 10:26 China proposes real peace plans 13:54 West is out of touch with rest of world 17:32 Colombia's president criticizes Swiss summit 20:13 Outro

Jun 18, 202422 min

Neo-feudalism: G7 supports BlackRock buying up world's infrastructure, to make rich even richer

Western governments invited billionaire BlackRock CEO Larry Fink to the G7 summit in Italy to speak about "public-private partnerships" and why oligarchs should buy up global infrastructure (to compete with China's state-led Belt and Road Initiative). Ben Norton discusses how capitalism is becoming so extremely monopolized and unequal that it is devolving into neo-feudalism. (One correction: At 26:17, I meant to say "over 90%", well above 60%.) VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VU1JjmEps How Wall Street buys US elections: Blackstone funds Trump, BlackRock backs Biden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJaJ4BST6Nc Topics 0:00 Global inequality 0:56 G7 summit in Italy 1:57 BlackRock CEO invited to G7 summit 2:32 What is BlackRock? 4:45 PGI: US' corporate alternative to China's Belt & Road 7:50 (Clip) BlackRock CEO Larry Fink speaks at G7 summit 8:44 Wall Street vulture funds 10:51 BlackRock buys up infrastructure 14:40 BlackRock buys Malaysia's airports 15:34 BlackRock veterans run Biden's Treasury 16:00 Blackstone CEO funds Trump campaign 17:53 Investment companies buy up houses 18:40 BlackRock runs world's largest Bitcoin fund 19:58 Privatization of infrastructure 23:34 WEF: "You'll own nothing. And you'll be happy" 25:56 Home ownership under socialism vs. capitalism 26:17 Correction: over 90%* (I misspoke) 26:21 Home ownership under socialism vs. capitalism 28:38 World Economic Forum 29:33 Return on capital exceeds economic growth 31:20 Outro

Jun 15, 202431 min

US senator says Ukraine is 'gold mine' with $12 trillion of minerals West 'can't afford to lose'

Ukraine is a "gold mine" with $12 trillion worth of critical minerals, US Senator Lindsey Graham insisted in a TV interview. Ben Norton discusses how Western companies want these resources, and how Washington hopes to block China's access to them to hurt its technology industries. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TRPk3N8FyQ Zelensky is literally selling Ukraine to US corporations on Wall Street: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/09/09/zelensky-selling-ukraine-wall-street/ Topics 0:00 Intro 1:35 Clip: US Senator Lindsey Graham wants Ukraine's minerals 2:24 Ukraine war has nothing to do with democracy 5:44 US also wants to 'weaken' Russia in Ukraine 6:21 Wall Street buys up Ukraine 8:08 Military-industrial complex profits 10:07 Washington Post on Ukraine's 'battle for minerals' 11:55 Russia 12:48 US seeks to block China's access to minerals 15:44 Multiple reasons for Ukraine war 17:10 Trump wanted to take Venezuela's oil 19:16 Exxon CEO ran US State Department 20:29 US plan to seize Russia's $300B in FX reserves 21:20 Clip: Lindsey Graham calls to seize Russia's reserves 21:43 Debate over Russia's central bank reserves 23:07 De-dollarization 24:38 Outro

Jun 12, 202425 min

94% of Americans want to end Ukraine war, but US rejects China peace deal, opposes talks with Russia

Polling shows that the vast majority of people in the US and Western Europe want a negotiated settlement to end the war in Ukraine, but NATO opposes a peace proposal made by China and Brazil, while refusing to invite Russia to a so-called "peace conference" in Switzerland. Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=l5eQd1E_Huo Topics 0:00 Intro 1:30 Biden authorizes attacks inside Russia 2:12 France plans to send military forces to Ukraine 3:52 US discusses increased nuclear weapon deployments 4:57 Poll: most people in US & W Europe want peace 7:04 China & Brazil propose peace plan 9:38 West's "peace conference" didn't invite Russia 11:26 China wants peace in Ukraine 15:45 Nicaragua backs China-Brazil peace plan 16:05 Outro

Jun 8, 202417 min

Mexico's political rebellion: Following AMLO, new President Claudia Sheinbaum paves multipolar path

In Mexico, a new independent left-wing movement has defeated the country's elites. Following current President AMLO, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and their Morena party won the 2024 election in a landslide. Ben Norton is joined by journalist José Luis Granados Ceja to discuss what their "Fourth Transformation" (4T) means for the US, China, Russia, Latin America, and the global economy. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=M0k0WU7JKgM Check out Soberanía, the Mexican Politics Podcast: https://youtube.com/@SoberaniaPodcast Follow José Luis on Twitter: https://x.com/GranadosCeja Mexico Solidarity Media website: https://mexicosolidarity.com Our related video "Mexico's AMLO has 80% approval, despite media lies & US meddling": https://youtube.com/watch?v=-2PQPJUn6KU Topics 0:00 Claudia Sheinbaum wins election 1:36 Geopolitics: Mexico, US, China, Russia 3:19 AMLO boosts minimum wage, reduces poverty 3:45 Economy & natural resources 6:09 US corporations are angry 7:34 Introducing guest 8:18 Why Sheinbaum's victory is historic 13:01 AMLO & 4th Transformation 21:43 Morena & defeat of PRI-PAN-PRD establishment 32:38 Mexico's economy 44:24 Geopolitics: US new cold war on China & Russia 53:28 Latin American regional integration 1:01:02 Everyday life in Mexico 1:08:21 Outro

Jun 5, 20241h 10m

How Wall Street buys US elections: Blackstone funds Trump, BlackRock backs Biden

While BlackRock veterans run Joe Biden's Treasury, Donald Trump's presidential campaign is financed by Wall Street's highest-paid CEO, of Blackstone, the world's largest commercial landlord. Ben Norton explains how Wall Street investment companies, asset managers, and banks essentially buy US elections. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZJaJ4BST6Nc Check out our related video - "How the dollar's 'exorbitant privilege' enriches the USA (and global elites)": https://youtube.com/watch?v=jYkiMcR1Rj8 TOPICS 0:00 Wall Street always wins US elections 0:57 Blackstone CEO funds Trump 2:58 BlackRock backs Biden 3:48 BlackRock vs Blackstone - What's the difference? 7:30 Wall Street's highest paid CEO, Stephen Schwarzman 10:15 Oil & gas industry moguls fund Trump 10:53 Fossil fuel profits tripled under Biden 13:15 Oligarchs back fellow billionaire Trump 15:14 Biden promised: "Nothing would fundamentally change" 15:54 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks & 67% of all wealth 17:23 USA is not a democracy; it's an oligarchy 18:43 Wall Street funded Barack Obama 19:20 Wall Street funded Mitt Romney 20:07 US government represents Wall Street 21:54 BlackRock veterans run Biden's Treasury 25:08 Goldman Sachs veterans ran Trump's Treasury 27:16 Blackstone: the largest landlord in the US (& on Earth) 30:53 De-industrialization & financialization 32:25 Private equity destroyed Toys“R”Us 33:11 Private equity firms buy up retirement homes, hospitals, vets 34:53 2008 crisis & subprime mortgages 37:22 Financial parasites 38:39 Outro

May 30, 202438 min

US & Israel destroy international law in Gaza, while preaching 'rules-based order'

As Israel bombs Rafah with US support, both are blatantly defying the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC). Ben Norton documents the hypocrisy of the Biden administration's claims to uphold the "rules-based international order" as it sponsors Netanyahu's crimes against humanity in Gaza. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q2B6wkbO6vw Check out our related video - "US threatens ICC, warning 'If they [prosecute] Israel, we're next!'": https://youtube.com/watch?v=ChZZ3GKiNE0 Topics 0:00 Intro 1:30 ICJ orders Israel to stop attacking Rafah 2:38 Israel bombs tent camp in Rafah 3:51 US & UK help Israel violate ICJ rulings 4:34 UN expert calls for sanctions on Israel 6:28 Netanyahu: "Nobody will stop us - not the Hague" 7:19 US threatens to sanction ICC 8:19 Israeli spy chief threatened ICC 9:23 Trump & Biden attack ICC 9:50 Hypocrisy of "rules-based order" 13:02 US House Speaker Mike Johnson threatens ICC 13:48 US "rules-based order" vs. international law-based order 14:40 UK PM Rishi Sunak praises "rules-based order" 15:00 Germany's hypocrisy on Israel 17:55 Western neocolonialism 23:58 China defends international law 26:16 Outro

May 28, 202426 min

China & Russia strengthen friendship, blasting Western 'neocolonialism' & US militarism

Putin met with Xi Jinping in Beijing, where China and Russia released a joint statement blasting Western "colonialism and hegemonism", supporting a multipolar world and more representation for the Global South, and calling for de-dollarization and expansion of BRICS. Ben Norton analyzes the historic document. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ufjxmDLQyBU Full text of the joint statement with links here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/05/24/china-russia-joint-statement-new-era-75th-anniversary/ Topics 0:00 Intro 0:49 Putin's visit to China 1:42 Summary of the joint statement 4:58 Russia deepens economic integration with China 7:18 China expands trade with anti-hegemonic nations 8:50 Note on translation of joint statement 11:20 75th anniversary of China-Russia relations 13:46 Supporting Global South & multipolar world 17:58 Condemning Western neocolonialism & hegemony 20:49 Expanding cooperation 23:03 "True multilateralism" 25:14 Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter 27:35 Shanghai Cooperation Organization 28:33 Expanding BRICS 30:10 Nuclear weapons 30:33 Condemning US militarism 34:26 Climate change & pollution 36:01 Ukraine war 38:58 Non-interference 40:29 ASEAN 40:46 East Asia 41:33 North Korea 42:36 West Asia (Middle East) & Palestine 44:07 Afghanistan 45:18 Africa 46:25 Latin America 48:17 Outro

May 25, 202449 min

US threatens ICC, warning 'If they [prosecute] Israel, we're next!'

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has applied for an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu over crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Biden administration is threatening sanctions on Prosecutor Karim Khan. US Senator Lindsey Graham warned, "if they'll do this to Israel, we’re next!" Ben Norton discusses Washington's extreme hypocrisy and shows the real face of the so-called "rules-based international order". VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ChZZ3GKiNE0 US politicians threaten to invade Int'l Criminal Court if Israel faces war crimes charges: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/05/07/us-threat-icc-israel/ US senator says Israel should drop nuclear bombs on Gaza: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/05/12/senator-lindsey-graham-israel-nuclear-weapons-gaza/ Intro 0:00 "We're next!" 0:15 ICC seeks to arrest Israeli officials 1:50 US gov't threatens ICC 4:08 Lindsey Graham quote: "if they'll do this to Israel, we’re next!" 5:01 Protest 5:27 Bipartisan barbarism 6:57 Karim Khan dropped previous investigation into US/NATO war crimes 8:26 Both sides-ism 9:35 ICC charges against PM Netanyahu & DM Yoav Gallant 10:38 ICJ or ICC? 11:59 Western officials says ICC "was built for Africa" 12:39 Netanyahu responds: "No one will stop us" 13:16 20,000 US citizens in IDF 14:04 Israel is an outpost of the US empire 15:29 Biden, Blinken, & Republicans agree 16:54 Trump imposed sanctions on ICC 18:53 US hypocritically backs ICC charges against Putin 20:15 US & Israel: rogue states 22:57 Outro

May 22, 202423 min

Iran's President Raisi joined BRICS, called to drop US dollar, pushed for multipolar world

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash, sought to unite the Global South against Western imperialism. He joined BRICS, advocated de-dollarization, supported Palestine, promoted a "Look East" strategy toward China and Russia, and allied with Africa and Latin America. Ben Norton analyzes the late Iranian leader's anti-colonial foreign policy. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=pzPKOhHcnvc Topics 0:00 Raisi's death & Iran's future 2:51 Raisi's anti-colonial foreign policy 4:54 Palestine 6:10 Anti-imperialism 8:42 BRICS 10:53 Dedollarization 11:45 Shanghai Cooperation Organization 12:46 "Look East" strategy 13:19 China 18:11 Russia 20:02 Indonesia 20:42 Africa 23:32 Latin America 28:40 Nicaragua & Iran: sister revolutions 33:08 Outro

May 20, 202434 min

Is India's economy truly thriving? Or is it exaggerating its growth?

Political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson are joined by Professor C.P. Chandrasekhar to discuss what is really happening in India's economy, if its government growth statistics and other official data are accurate, the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party BJP, and the country's 2024 elections. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=3zt1ZYzWP7k You can watch other episodes of their program Geopolitical Economy Hour here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

May 18, 20241h 0m

Biden's tariffs on China expose US hypocrisy on 'free trade' & tech subsidies

The Joe Biden White House imposed high tariffs on Chinese technological products, including electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, batteries, and semiconductors. Ben Norton analyzes the hypocrisy of US government accusations that Beijing provides unfair subsidies to its industries, while Washington is spending trillions on industrial policy -- and how this exposes the "free trade" dogma spread by neoliberal economists as a myth. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=a7okuN2qJU8 Our related video: "Is China producing too much? US 'overcapacity' accusations: new tactic in economic war" - https://youtube.com/watch?v=GUpWxNcdnYU Topics 0:00 Biden puts tariffs on China 1:05 Elon Musk demanded tariffs on Chinese EVs 1:55 US "overcapacity" allegations 2:40 Europe threatens tariffs too 3:19 Biden condemned tariffs in 2019 4:58 Climate change hypocrisy 6:13 "Free market" myth 8:47 "Forced" technology transfer myth 13:12 BYD outcompetes Tesla 13:56 Neoliberalism: de-industrialization & financialization 18:26 Subsidies: US gov't plans trillions in benefits 23:52 More tariffs on Chinese products 25:30 Washington Consensus 29:01 US destroys WTO (after creating it) 31:28 Protectionism: How US & UK really developed 39:39 Outro

May 15, 202439 min

US senator says Israel should drop nuclear bombs on Gaza

US Senator Lindsey Graham insisted in a TV interview that Israel should drop nuclear bombs on Gaza, where more than 2 million Palestinian civilians, including 1 million children, are trapped under what the Israeli defense minister called a “complete siege”. Ben Norton discusses Washington's bipartisan complicity in crimes against humanity. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4jJpA11Z5N8 Atomic bombing of Japan was NOT necessary to end WWII. US gov't documents admit it: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/07/atomic-bombing-japan-not-necessary/ Links and sources here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/05/12/senator-lindsey-graham-israel-nuclear-weapons-gaza/ Topics 0:00 Intro 0:31 Lindsey Graham says Israel should nuke Gaza 1:11 Fact check 1:59 Israeli minister called to nuke Gaza 3:55 Crimes against humanity 4:47 US support is bipartisan 5:26 Israel's nuclear weapons 6:45 Israel offered nukes to apartheid South Africa 9:05 US atomic bombing of Japan was not necessary 13:10 Outro

May 13, 202414 min

USA & Israel defy world in vote to make Palestine full UN member

143 countries, representing the vast majority of the world, voted at the UN General Assembly to support giving Palestine full membership. They were opposed by the US, Israel, and seven other small countries, representing just 5% of the global population. Ben Norton analyzes the geopolitics. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=JtHx7hhpFDY Sources and links here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/05/11/us-israel-vote-palestine-un-member Topics 0:00 Intro 0:56 Map of UN vote on Palestine membership 1:44 Countries that oppose Palestine 3:13 Europe is divided 3:35 Ukraine supports Israel & opposes Global South 5:11 Global South supports Palestine 5:44 Biden is allied with Hungary's Viktor Orbán 6:20 UNGA resolution 6:47 Venezuela's voting rights taken away 8:02 Read the UNGA resolution 9:02 Hypocrisy of US "two-state solution" rhetoric 10:29 Most Democrats condemn Israel; Republicans support it 11:11 Countries with bilateral relations with Palestine 11:47 Palestine's rights as UN observer state 13:04 China supports Palestine 13:46 Russia supports Palestine 14:11 Outro

May 11, 202415 min

Xi Jinping blasts US/NATO for bombing China's embassy in Serbia

While visiting Serbia, China's President Xi Jinping condemned the US and NATO for bombing Beijing's embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1999. Ben Norton discusses why Washington launched the attack, and lied about it. Then Ben analyzes China-Serbia relations and the Belt and Road Initiative. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=MILgSmiBLA8 Topics 0:00 Xi condemns US/NATO for bombing China's embassy 1:50 US attack was intentional 4:44 Protests in China 5:58 Civilian victims of NATO's war on Yugoslavia 7:34 China's relations with Yugoslavia 9:05 Belt and Road Initiative 10:21 Chinese investment in Serbian steel plant 17:38 Outro

May 9, 202418 min

US politicians threaten to invade Int'l Criminal Court if Israel faces war crimes charges

US Senators sent a letter to International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan, threatening to impose sanctions and even invade the Hague if he issues arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Biden administration is also pressuring the ICC not to charge Israeli officials over their war crimes in Gaza. Ben Norton discusses Washington's deep hypocrisy. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=pM29iLpZMJU Sources and links: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/05/07/us-threat-icc-israel Topics 0:00 Intro 0:48 US politicians threaten ICC 2:26 Trump sanctioned ICC 3:17 Biden's hypocrisy 3:56 Republican senators' letter to ICC 6:47 Hague Invasion Act 8:44 Israel's gen0c1de in Gaza 9:48 Israel unleashed famine in Gaza 10:37 Israeli minister demands "total annihilation" of Gaza 11:26 Amalek 13:16 US hypocrisy on ICC warrant for Russia's Putin 14:51 Africa criticizes ICC 15:42 US/Israel lobbied for ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan 16:46 US & Israel refuse to join ICC 17:02 ICC vs ICJ 18:40 Save face, or save your empire? 21:13 Outro

May 7, 202421 min

De-dollarization: China drops US Treasury bonds, instead buys gold, oil, metals

China is reducing its holdings of US Treasury securities. Instead, the People's Bank of China is buying gold, and Beijing prioritizes imports of important commodities like oil and metals. Ben Norton discusses the geopolitical impact of de-dollarization in the world's largest economy. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=z-bnIrbZjaM Check out our related video - "How the dollar's 'exorbitant privilege' enriches the USA (and global elites)": https://youtube.com/watch?v=jYkiMcR1Rj8 Topics 0:00 Why countries are de-dollarizing 1:05 Russia & China 1:41 Brazil & China 2:18 Persian Gulf oil & gas 3:29 Central bank reserves 4:54 China drops US Treasurys 6:15 Debate in Beijing 8:40 Gold 9:37 Charts: China buys metals & oil 11:21 Strategic petroleum reserve 11:53 Belt & Road Initiative 12:50 East Asia funds US deficits 14:25 Global South funds Global North 15:25 Japan replaces China as top US creditor 16:03 US inflation, interest rates, bond yields, & debt 18:48 Outro

May 4, 202419 min

Is Japan in crisis as yen crashes? Or is USA exporting its economic problems?

Japan's currency the yen has fallen significantly against the dollar. It its economy in crisis? What is the role of US interest rates, inflation, debt, and deficits? What about China? Ben Norton explains the complex geoeconomic situation. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=sz3r36ZTe7Q Topics 0:00 Intro 1:40 Yen plunges against US dollar 3:32 Rising exports, falling imports 4:40 Did Germany overtake Japan? 5:58 Nominal GDP is misleading 7:27 PPP is much more accurate 9:25 Misunderstanding GDP figures 10:53 US deficits & debt drive GDP growth 12:37 Strong US dollar 13:58 Industrialization & manufacturing 15:31 Current account 16:15 US Treasury securities 18:09 Why is the yen falling? 18:43 Interest rates 20:37 Bond yields 23:28 Why doesn't Japan raise interest rates? 23:50 Japan's debt 26:18 Inflation 29:32 US Treasurys 30:29 De-dollarization: China drops US bonds 33:14 TL;DW (conclusion) 35:07 Outro

May 1, 202435 min