Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. The show is archived at: www.gorilla-radio.com. The GR blog is at: gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com, and you can find and support the program at GRadio.Substack.com. Financial support is also possible through the Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/PacificFreePress. He's too the past contributing editor to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com, (now defunct) and tweets at @paciffreepress. G-Radio is dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in the corporate media. Some past guests include: M. Shahid Alam, Joel Bakan, Maude Barlow, Ramzy Baroud, David Barsamian, William Blum, Luciana Bohne, Helen Caldicott, Noam Chomsky, Paul Cienfuegos, Yves Engler, Laura Flanders, Denis Halliday, Julia Butterfly Hill, Sam Husseini, Robert Jensen, Dahr Jamail, Chalmers Johnson, Malalai Joya, Kathy Kelly, Ingmar Lee, Dave Lindorff, Andrew Gavin Marshall, Stefania Maurizi, Greg Palast, Michael Parenti, John Pilger, Kevin Pina, Ted Rall, Paul Craig Roberts, John Ross, David Rovics, Joan Russow, Danny Schechter, Vandana Shiva, Norman Solomon, David Swanson, Andy Worthington, Mickey Z., Howard Zinn and many others.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 25th, 2023
On February 9th, a train derailed outside East Palestine, Ohio. The toxic cargo, purposefully ignited in a disastrously ill-advised attempt at environmental remediation.
David Rovics‘ new song, East Palestine is a modern ballad of an old American story of the venality and base corruption culminating in the Ohio catastrophe.
David’s recent article too, ‘Communications for Indy Musicians, Then and Now‘ is a reflection not only on his quarter century making a living as a touring musician, but of living and working in our mediated times. His new album, Killing the Messenger is due out any day, telling the stories of East Palestine and others.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 25th, 2023
Last weekend saw mass anti-war demonstrations around the United States and Europe. In Washington, DC ‘Rage Against the War Machine‘ manifested in the very heart – if not the soul – of the nation with speakers and activists from a variety of pursuits and political persuasions agreeing to forego their disagreements on other issue for the moment to focus on the rolling disaster that is the global war machine.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor at CovertActionMagazine.com and he was there.
graphic: Monte Wolverton
Jeremy Kuzmarov and dispatch from DC in the first half.
And; On February 9th, a train derailed outside East Palestine, Ohio. The toxic cargo, purposefully ignited in a disastrously ill-advised attempt at environmental remediation. David Rovics‘ new song, East Palestine is a modern ballad of an old American story of the venality and base corruption culminating in the Ohio catastrophe.
David’s recent article too, ‘Communications for Indy Musicians, Then and Now‘ is a reflection not only on his quarter century making a living as a touring musician, but of living and working in our mediated times. His new album, Killing the Messenger is due out any day, telling the stories of East Palestine, and the other on.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 26th, 2022.
Efforts to smother the remnant embers of free expression across media platforms are continuing apace. Concentrated corporate news ownership, suppressive speech legislation, and a burgeoning cancel culture are combining to muzzle investigation of corporate malfeasance and stifle the debate of government policy at perhaps the most crucial moment in human history. And, the communications technology revolution many hoped to democratize and counterbalance a worldview skewed by the dominant class has so far failed to materialize.
But don’t despair, there still exists real alternatives to the “mainstream” information monolith; honest, independent, and courageous media outlets that – if they lack anything – it’s merely broader recognition, and more generous support.
And; though its technically illegal for Canadians to enlist in foreign wars, when it comes to the Ukraine conflict its clear Ottawa is happy to ignore transgressors. And, Canadian media is going that official blind-eying one further, lionizing Canadians killed in combat over there.
Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. He’s also a contributing author to the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network‘s open letter regarding the recent death of Canadian Joseph Hildebrand, killed fighting in Ukraine.
Ken Stone and Canada’s role in keeping the killing in Ukraine going in the second half.
But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and having a party whilst pushing back too with CovertAction.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 30th, 2022
If journalism is the “first rough draft of history” what Western historians will say about the origins of the current Ukraine war will roughly be a tale of desperate struggle between the freedom-loving patriots of a small nation, Davids, bravely facing down Goliath’s unprovoked attack.
Russia also has a story to tell, and it too relates the saga of freedom-loving patriots, the Davids of Donetsk, bravely defending the unprovoked assails of Kiev and the perfidious NATO. What’s certain is neither tale is quite true, nor entirely false. Factual ambiguity lies too behind the beginnings of this latest manifestation of the greater, and much longer, war between the two global behemoths.
And; Canada too is swept up in the war-mania zeitgeist, both as war-fighters and weapons dealers. Last month, federal and provincial ministers attended Britain’s Farnborough War Fair – properly that is, the ‘Farnborough International Airshow’ – selling Canada as the go-to place in today’s competitive international warmongers’ bazaar. But lest Canadians despair, federal innovation minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne reassures, the nation hasn’t strayed its peaceful path, saying Canada’s “very stringent” oversight guarantees only those sharing our virtues will receive favour and permits to purchase the country’s death-dealing merchandise.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 24th and 30th, 2022
God knows there’s plenty to be afraid of on this planet of mad apes, not least of which are the agents of doom who would use the power of government agencies to create fear and panic in the public mind to further their political agendas, or merely line their own pockets. An abject case in point is the 2020 plot to kidnap and murder Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer by a hapless gang of local stooges on the eve of the presidential election. But all was not as advertised by the prosecution, or their star witnesses in the FBI. Last month, jurors threw out the case against two of those accused, and the jury hung on charges against two other “conspirators” when the extent of the FBI’s role in fomenting and realizing an attack against the governor was revealed.
And; incredibly, two and half years since the believed emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic uncertainty still surrounds the deadly pathogen’s proximal origins. Instead, what exists now is a stand-off between two schools, each defending opposing theories that seem more politically doctrinaire than scientifically determined. But, nearing the third Summer of the pandemic, a third way, a novel phylogenetic method of analysis has emerged that promises to finally determine just where Covid-19 came from, and more importantly, how it came to dominate the course of human events.
Jonathan Latham and the last gambit of the Great Virological Game in the second half.
But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and the FBI’s use of entrapment as part of a strategy designed to sow public fear and render support for draconian anti-terrorist legislation.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio’s first program of the year, recorded December 30th, 2021 and January 3rd 2022.
Honestly, we know the United States was never just. It’s a human rights horror show now and always has been. Yes, “America” the propaganda construct is a triumph – we often have to remind ourselves of its genocides, slavery, and wars of plunder – but to any with even superficial familiarity, expecting justice from America is beyond naive. That’s why some in Britain where surprised when their appellate court served journalist, publisher and political prisoner Julian Assange into the maw of America’s industrial-prison complex. But then, justice is a stranger these days in England too.
Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign. Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’. Andy’s articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants to take part in 2022’s Close Guantanamo effort.
Andy Worthington in the first half.
And; nearly a year since his ascent to office Joe Biden has succeeded in the first and foremost thing he was elected for; that is, he remains still to not be Donald Trump. But then, looking at Biden’s record over this year passed, has the Biden difference been better for America and the World? My first guest is not optimistic, writing, “In many ways, Biden has actually been worse than Trump, for example, in his expansion of Special Forces operations in Africa, his aggressive stance on war in Ukraine, and in his use of human rights as a weapon to try to rally public opinion against China and Russia.”
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who serves too as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He’s the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His latest piece at CovertAction, ‘Biden’s First Year Foreign Policy Record May Be Worse than Trump’s’ examines the new boss’ dubious political accomplishments.
Jeremy Kuzmarov and looking back at Amtrak Joe’s first year in the Oval in the second half.
But first, Andy Worthington and what the Assange verdict and commencement of Gitmo’s 20th year means for the real “rule of law“.
Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded on the dates, August 10th and 14th, 2021.
At month’s end, Ukrainian president and former teevee clown, Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington, doubtless in search of reassurance from long-time Kiev booster, Joe Biden. Zelensky’s position is particularly fragile now, as the U.S. has relented on its effort to halt Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. That effectively puts an end to Ukraine’s strategic value as stumbling block between Russian gas and the lucrative European market.
But all this is cold comfort to those Ukranians East and West suffering a “proxy” civil war dragging on into its seventh year.
And; we in Canada, (and citizens throughout what was once called Western Democracy) are experiencing a political emergency. It is a crisis of trust: Trust in government, in corporations, in media; in fact a lack of faith across the spectrum of society. This apotheosis of incredulity is expressed in voter apathy, cynicism, and even resistance to public health information disseminated by government, media, and the corporate sector vital amidst a global pandemic.
No-one disagrees, unity of purpose is urgently required in this time of global calamity, but what’s to be done once belief is lost?
Aidan Jonah is Editor-in-Chief of The Canada Files, a web news site focusing on “Canadian imperialism, federal politics, and left-wing resistance to colonialism across the world.”
Aidan Jonah and the death and rebirth of Canadian journalism in the second half.
But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and the next Nazi crusade finding purchase in Kiev.
Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded on the dates, February 28th and March 1st, 2021
The last day of February marks a dark anniversary for the people of Haiti. In the wee hours of February 29th, 2004 a crime was committed against the nation; a usurping of the will of the people, and undermining of its future democracy. On that balmy tropical night commandos from a tripartite coalition of nations, all officially friends of Haiti, would penetrate the Presidential Palace in Port au Prince, kidnap head of state, Jean-Bertrand Aristide and spirit him away across the Atlantic.
Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist, prolific essayist, and author whose book titles include: ‘Left, Right — Marching to the Beat of Imperial Canada’, ‘A Propaganda System — How Government, Corporations, Media and Academia Sell War and Exploitation’, and his latest, ‘House of Mirrors — Justin Trudeau’s Foreign Policy’. Engler’s articles appear at Ricochet, The Palestine Chronicle, and GorillaRadioBlog.Blogspot.com among other places, and at his site, YvesEngler.com where I found his latest, ‘Haitian official stashes wealth in Montréal’.
Yves is too a co-founding member of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute which is marking the death of Haitian democracy with an online discussion of the documentary film, Haiti Betrayed, “a powerful indictment of Canada’s role in the 2004 coup and subsequent policy in the country.”
Yves Engler in the first half.
And; nearing the half-way point of the first 100 days of the Biden administration the new president has wielded the immediate, if transitory, authority of Executive Orders with abandon; issuing more than 50 edicts, nearly half being repudiations of his predecessor’s policies. Biden recently waved off criticism of the unilateral nature of his early days in office saying, “I’m not making new law; I’m eliminating bad policy.” He would also no doubt deny unraveling Mr. Trump’s legacy has anything to do with bad blood, or revenging the particularly nasty personal attacks against him and his family during the presidential campaign.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who serves too as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He’s the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano.
His latest at CovertAction is the fifth installment in the series, ‘Biden’s Foreign Policy History and What it Portends for his Presidency’, ‘Escalating the new Cold War with Russia via Ukraine: Biden’s Unprincipled Stands Involving Covert Operations, Blackmail, Corruption, Nepotism and State Terrorism’.
Jeremy Kuzmarov and scratching the tender underbelly of long-time Washington swamp denizen, Joe Biden in the second half.
But first, Yves Engler and chronicling Canada’s role in the Haiti’s betrayal.
Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition recorded on the dates, January 28th, and February 1st, 2021.
Well barring a Trump return to political life with the full moon, we can now safely say America has turned a new page; if “new” is the appropriate descriptor for the new president, a man who’s been at this game longer than most Americans have been alive. Though some may feel near-octagenarian Joe is a less than inspiring figure to lead an American renaissance, at least he arrives with an unprecedented amount of policy baggage; more than ample provenance to measure the man from his acts, and his fictions.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and serves as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He is too the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His latest at CovertAction is the series, ‘Biden’s Foreign Policy History and What it Portends for his Presidency‘.
Jeremy Kuzmarov in the first half.
And; February 7th, Ecuadorians will go to the polls to decide who will succeed Lenin Moreno. Moreno may be remembered as the protege of leftist president and thorn in the side of America, Raphael Correa, who upon election himself undid his predecessors progressive policies, (and threw Wikileaks publisher, Julian Assange to the wolves). Early polling suggests Correa loyalist, Andree Arauz will take the post, perhaps in a first round landslide.
Joe Emersberger is a Canada-based writer whose articles appear at VenezuelAnalysis, CounterPunch, and The Canary, among other places. Joe will be taking part tomorrow in the Webinar, ‘Ecuador’s Presidential Election’ interviewing Monica Palacios, UNES candidate for North America. Emersberger is too author, with Justin Podur, of the forthcoming book, ‘Extraordinary Threat: The U.S. Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela’.
Joe Emersberger and does a pinkening sky in Ecuador promise a new morning for Latin America? in the second half.
But first up, Jeremy Kuzmarov and what Joe Biden’s past portends for America’s future.
Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition recorded on this date, January 28th, 2021.
Well barring a Trump return to political life with the full moon, we can now safely say America has turned a new page; if “new” is the appropriate descriptor for the new president, a man who’s been at this game longer than most Americans have been alive. Though some may feel near-octagenarian Joe is a less than inspiring figure to lead an American renaissance, at least he arrives with an unprecedented amount of policy baggage; more than ample provenance to measure the man from his acts, and his fictions.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and serves as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He is too the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His latest at CovertAction is the series, ‘Biden’s Foreign Policy History and What it Portends for his Presidency‘.
Today, Jeremy Kuzmarov and what Joe Biden’s past portends for America’s future.
