The Intercept Briefing

Donald Trump is spectacularly bad at being president. This week on Intercepted, investigative journalist Marcy Wheeler and The Intercept’s Glenn Greenwald analyze the latest insanity emanating from the White House. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tim Weiner and Intercept writer Trevor Aaronson discuss the firing of James Comey and debate his FBI legacy. And Palestinian author and journalist Rula Jebreal explains why President Trump is going to Saudi Arabia and Israel on his first international trip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump’s complicated relationship with FBI Director James Comey came to a shocking conclusion in Tuesday night’s episode of American shitshow. Glenn Greenwald analyzes Comey’s firing. Next week, Chelsea Manning will be freed from prison. We hear exclusive audio from her trial and talk to journalist Alexa O’Brien. And French civil liberties activist Yasser Louati says despite her defeat in the presidential election, many of Marine Le Pen’s ideas are already embedded in mainstream French politics. And a premiere track from hip-hop artists MC Sole and DJ Pain 1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're still a week away from the beginning of season two, but here's a taster of Jeremy's interview on our sister podcast, Politically Re-Active. Jeremy clears the air on his cancelled appearance on "Real Time with Bill Maher" with hosts W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu, and much more. To hear the full interview, subscribe to Politically Re-Active or head to politicallyreactive.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange hits back at Trump’s CIA director Mike Pompeo after Pompeo accused Wikileaks of being a “hostile non-state intelligence agency.” In a wide-ranging interview, Assange discusses the allegations Wikileaks was abetted by Russian intelligence in its publication of DNC emails, and the new-found admiration for him by FOX News and Donald Trump. Also, why Assange believes he and Hillary Clinton may get along if they ever met in person. And we premiere an unreleased song by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nothing brings warmongers, hawks and elites from both parties closer than a cruise missile strike. This week’s Intercepted will piss off Assad supporters and the Democrats and Republicans fawning over Trump’s newest war. Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich questions the official story on the chemical weapons attack. Murtaza Hussain on what Assad gains by using chemical weapons. And, Maher Arar is a Syrian-born Canadian engineer who was kidnapped at JFK airport by US operatives after 9/11 and rendered to Syria and tortured by Assad’s agents. Arar says he opposes Assad and US intervention. All that and a bucket of media stupidity to celebrate beautiful missiles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erik Prince—the most infamous mercenary in modern U.S. history—is Trump’s secret emissary. This week, an exclusive interview with Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who has fought a decades-long battle against Prince. Tavis Smiley talks about the “Santa Claus-ification” of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the 50th anniversary of King’s militant speech against the Vietnam War. Rep. Barbara Lee reflects on her own historic anti-war speech, delivered three days after 9/11. And Vice President Pence, who can’t be alone in a room with a woman who is not his wife, goes Psycho.Please take a moment to fill out Panoply's survey about the shows you listen to, love, and what else you'd like to hear: survey.panoply.fm. Many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump officially rejects climate change and unofficially declares war on planet Earth. Naomi Klein takes us on a terrifying journey into Trump’s real life version of The Purge. Boots Riley of The Coup discusses Trump and hip hop and performs. Murtaza Hussain talks about the US bombings in Iraq and Syria that have killed 1,000 civilians in one month. And, we talk to the developer of an app that tracks US drone strikes that Apple has censored 13 times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has not started any new wars… yet. But his administration is pouring gasoline on several initiated by his predecessors. This week on Intercepted: US forces are deploying in Syria, as drone strikes expand in Yemen. And Russia and Iran loom over everything. We talk to veteran war correspondents Anand Gopal and Iona Craig. Glenn Greenwald analyzes James Comey’s testimony on Capitol Hill and exposes a major lie spread about Edward Snowden. Actor William Camp “stars” in the real life story of the spy who became “the Socrates of the NSA.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Intercepted is live from the SXSW Festival in Austin. Edward Snowden joins us via video feed from Moscow. He discusses Trump’s allegations of Obama’s wiretapping, analyzes some of the CIA’s hacking capabilities, and blasts critics who accuse him of being a Russian agent. And we talk to Libyan-American hip hop artist Kayem, who was forced to keep a low profile the past several years after multiple detentions and visits from the FBI. He shares some verses with Intercepted. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Notorious B.I.G. famously alleged that federal agents were mad because he was flagrant. Trump also believes he has beef with the Feds, accusing Obama of tapping his phones. The Intercept’s Matthew Cole and journalist Marcy Wheeler dissect the accusations and the (curious) denials. Sam Biddle and Josh Begley explain what the CIA hacking docs published by Wikileaks say about our “smart” TVs and phones. Journalist Aura Bogado confronts Trump’s assault on undocumented immigrants. Punk band Anti-Flag performs. Plus, Trump “stars” in a scene from Goodfellas. Can he get out of Mar-a-Lago alive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ex-CIA analyst Nada Bakos and former FBI agent Clint Watts explain how Trump’s administration could use “alternative intelligence” to justify dangerous military actions. Shane Bauer of Mother Jones breaks down the connections between immigration raids and soaring private prison profits. Plus the world premiere of a song by the Iraqi-Canadian hip hop artist Narcy. We bet you never thought you’d hear Steve Bannon’s name rapped in autotune. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York Times investigative reporter James Risen breaks down Trump’s declaration that journalists are the enemy and analyzes Trump’s royal court. ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio and former New England Patriots star Donté Stallworth talk about the war on the transgender community and the rising resistance of pro athletes. Sam Biddle exposes the Trump-connected firm that helped the NSA spy on the world and actor Wallace Shawn stars as an NSA operative who is worried about adversaries spying on his luncheons. Plus music from Anohni. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first contestant in Donald Trump’s reality administration has left the West Wing. This week, Glenn Greenwald offers some provocative pushback on the Russia fear-mongering surrounding Gen. Michael Flynn’s resignation (or firing). Naomi Klein walks the dark aisles of the Trump family department store. Former Congresswoman Liz Holtzman, a key figure in the impeachment of Richard Nixon, explains how impeachment actually works. And Hina Shamsi of the ACLU recounts her interrogation at the border. Plus a performance from Jedi Mind Tricks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, investigative reporter Allan Nairn breaks down Trump's relationship with the CIA and the killer assembly of neocons and right-wing conspiracists running the U.S. war machine. Princeton professor Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor dismantles Obama's problematic legacy and offers strategic advice for resisting Trump. The Intercept's own distinguished alt-historian, Jon Schwarz, offers a lesson on the origins of presidential executive orders. And Kimya Dawson gives a raw performance of a new song about racism and the police state. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is signing executive orders like autographed pictures. This week on Intercepted: Two former senior FBI agents blast the “Muslim ban” and Trump’s campaign to make torture great again. Constitutional rights lawyers dissect the (il)legalities of Trump’s orders. Rep. Barbara Lee confronts the president's terrifying approach to government. New secret documents reveal how Trump could resurrect J. Edgar Hoover’s legacy. Brother Ali freestyles a verse, and Peter Sarsgaard stars in the bizarre true story of an NSA operative with vacation tips for deploying to Guantanamo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The clock struck thirteen on January 20, Donald Trump is the president of the United States and episode one of Intercepted is here. Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald and editor-in-chief Betsy Reed join Jeremy Scahill for a discussion on the crazy apocalyptic present. They break down Trump’s attacks on the media, that insane speech he gave at the CIA and the state of the Democratic party. Naomi Klein sends in a dispatch from the Women’s March on Washington. Jeremy goes deep into the secretive world of Seymour Hersh’s kitchen, and shoots the shit with the legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist about why he calls Trump a “circuit breaker." And we hear a spoken word performance from hip-hop artist Immortal Technique. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear a preview of Intercepted, a new podcast coming January 25 from the people behind the fearless, adversarial journalism of The Intercept. Every week, host Jeremy Scahill will discuss the crucial issues of our time with fellow reporters, and outspoken writers, artists and thinkers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.