Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

On this edition of Parallax Views, Porkins Policy Review's Pearse Redmond rejoins the show to discuss recent developments in the case of billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein (see eps. 29 & 30) and the recent prostitution scandal that ties together New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, seedy-massage-parlor-owner-cum-MAGAhead Cindy Yang, and Donald Trump. Trump and Epstein The conversation begins with Pearse and I discussing how the Jeffrey Epstein case has gone mainstream. We talk about the work Pearse as well as previous guest and friend of the show Ed Opperman have done on the case and how it predates the coverage coming out today. We then delve into the recent developments in the sordid saga of Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire pedophile who stands accused of being involved in a human sex trafficking ring, while also refreshing new listeners on some of the basics of this story that illustrates a case study of a one percenter's disgusting display of power in this New Gilded Age of injustice. Trump's Labor Secretary,Alexander Acosta, stands accused of giving a sweetheart pleas deal to Jeffrey Epstein In particular we hone in on the lawsuit that could lead to the unsealing of court documents in the Epstein case. Pearse and I discuss what could be at stake for three of the case's principal actors in the case: victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre (a teenage runaway who was for Epstein at Trump's Mar-a-lago), celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz, and British socialite (and Epstein's procurer of young girls) Ghislaine Maxwell. Moreover we examine how Trump's Labor Secretary, Alexander Acosta, ties into this case. Additionally we also delve into a recent story detailing how Epstein funded Russian model Lana Pozhideva's "Education Advance" which claims to advocate for "Women's Empowerment". Pearse explains how Pozhidaeva's denials of knowing anything about Epstein seem far-fetched and tells listeners a little bit about the MC2 Modeling Agency in relation to this story. Lana Pozhidaeva We then shift our attention to another scandal. Recently, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft found himself embroiled in a prostitution scandal at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. It turns out this massage parlor, which is alleged to be involved in human trafficking was formerly owned by Li Yang aka Cindy Yang. As it turns out Yang has rebranded herself since then as a MAGA supporter who has gained a great deal of access among Trump and Republicans. Pearse discusses both the seedy aspects of these spas as well as how Yang could be a security threat possibly giving access to foreign intelligence and businesses to Trump. Further Reading: The Miami Herald's "Perversion of Justice" series on Jeffrey Epstein by Julie K. Brown "Robert Kraft, Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump, and a Day of Reckoning for America's Billionaires" by Will Bunch The Miami Herald's profile on Cindy Yang The Mother Jones' piece on the relationship between Cindy Yan and Donald Trump SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON!

On this extremely casual weekend edition of Parallax Views, sometimes Antifada co-conspirator Alex Gendler joins us to discuss VICE Films' Lords of Chaos, a dark dramedy detailing the arsons, murders, and other acts of delinquency committed in the name of Satan by Norway's teenaged black metal scene in the 1990's. In addition we also discuss the film's director Jonas Akerlund and his connection to the metal genre, Mayhem's Euronymous as a precursor to tankie edgelords that worship Stalin, the insane neo-Nazi antics of Burzum's Varg Vikernes and his wacky racist Dungeon and Dragons knock-off RPG, the rise of the legitimately unsettling and serious National Social Black Metal (NSBM) scene in Eastern Europe and its connections to the Azov Battalion, the acoustic black metal parody Impaled Northern Moon Forest, and other black metal nerdiness along with much, much more! SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON!

On this edition Parallax Views, award-winning veteran journalist Alexander Stille joins us to discuss the importance of journalism, understanding President Donald Trump and the rise of right-wing populism through the scandalous reign of Italy's longest-running post-war Prime Minsiter Silvio Berlusconi, and how we arrived at a moment of "alternative facts" and fake news that have led to a social "truth decay" in which media consumers have wildly different conceptions of what constitutes reality. Note: Some commentary on SCOTUS and Congress in this episode slightly date this recording, but only make up a few lines of the conversation.

On this edition of Parallax Views, Shadowproof Press managing editor, producer and co-host of Unauthorized Disclosure, and all-around maverick reporter Kevin Gosztola joins us to discuss the state of journalism today, his extensive coverage of whistleblowers from Chelsea Manning to Reality Winner, the recent tensions between CNN and his colleague Rania Khalek, and witnessing the Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign rally in Chicago. We begin the conversation by discussing the state of journalism and the media ecosystem today. Kevin and I take on the claims that media criticism, specifically aimed at corporate media, is the stuff of tinfoil-hat wearing conspiracy theories. Kevin discusses the difference between establishment media and corporate media as well as the ways this biases many American reporting outlets. Whistleblower Chelsea Manning, whose case Kevin Gosztola covered extensively From there we take a deep dive into Kevin's history of covering cases of whistleblowers including Pvt. Chelsea Manning, CIA analyst and case officer John Kiriakou, and NSA contractor Reality Winner. Kevin describes how he first became interested in whistleblowers cases via the early work of Wikileaks and goes on to describe his involvement in the cases of Manning and Kiriakou as well as discussing the surveillance whisteblowers of the NSA. Then we take a dive into Kevin's latest whistleblower reporting with the case of Reality Winner, a former Air Force veteran and NSA contractor who leaked classified documents on potential Russian hacking in the 2016 Presidential election. Kevin and I discuss who Reality Winner is, the media's lack of coverage in regards to her story, how she was treated by federal investigators, nd the illegitimate smears against her because of her name and personality. Kevin also gives a bit of insight into the character of this young woman and paints a picture of a creative, conscientious, and humanitarian individual who was punished for trying to do what she felt was right and moral. Air Force veteran and NSA contractor Reality Winner standing strong in the face of adversity "Jail Buddha" sketch art by Reality Winner We then switch topics to another female firecracker more than willing to speak her mind: alternative media journalist Rania Khalek. Rania was in the news recently when CNN went after In The Now, where Rania is a reporter, for its funding by Russian state-sponsored media. We discuss the debate around outlets such as In the Now, RT, and Sputnik and have a nuanced conversation about state-sponsored media, corporate media, and related issues. Kevin and I cover the importance of media literacy and the problems of broad-bushing any criticism of US policies as being part of a Kremlin Manchurian Candidate conspiracy. In addition, we discuss how Rania and journalists like have had difficulty getting gigs because their content is "too hot too handle" and as such they've been forced into a corner with regards to where they can work. You can read Kevin's report on CNN/Khalik incident here and the full, unedited CNN interview here. Rania Khalek We then wrap up by discussing Kevin's coverage of the recent Bernie 2020 rally in Chicago. Kevin notes how the Chicago rally illustrates the difference between the Bernie's 2016 campaign and the current campaign. He argues that Bernie has more openly embraced issues related to POC and Black Lives Matter in a way that shows his based has pushed him leftward on these matters. Kevin also discusses Bernie's history of involvement with Civil Rights in the 1960s and the inspirational speech given by the young, black, queer activist Destiny Harris at the Chicago rally. Watch Destiny Harris Speaking at the Bernie 2020 Rally in Chicago We then wrap up the show with a positive note on the future as well as plugging Shadowproof and its upcoming batch of freelance reporting! LISTEN TO UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE W/ KEVIN GOSZTOLA & RANIA KHALEK! SUPPORT INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM! SUPPORT SHADOWPROOF!