Is Bernie Sanders Being Excluded From Corporate Media?

Ring of Fire Radio

This website – OK, Fine – is focusing today on presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Much information has come out on Bernie recently.  Sanders declared his presidential run about a month ago.

Does Mr. Sanders have a chance of winning the presidency?  Is he able to raise enough funding for his election campaign and get the media attention he needs and deserves?  Is Mr. Sanders’ age a factor?

“Mr. Sanders is considered the Senate’s most left-wing member,” states The New York Times.

The Times also writes that Sanders recently drew 700 people to an event in Davenport, Iowa that was “the largest rally in the state for any single candidate this campaign season.”  Only 50 attended a rally there on Saturday with former Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland.

Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign has been steadily picking up steam over the past month, writes Ring of Fire. After announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, Sanders managed to raise $3 million in just four days and has already had over 150,000 people sign up to volunteer on the campaign trail.

Ring of Fire hosts Mike Papantonio and Farron Cousins discuss it.

What Are The Lesser-Known Spying Programs?

Most people are aware of internet and cellphone spying programs divulged by former NSA employee Edward Snowden.

What are some of the lesser-known spying programs?

License-plate readings and airplane “dirt-box” data collection devices are a couple of the lesser-known surveillance programs.

Mike Papantonio and Kevin Gosztola discuss what’s happening and what authorities look for.

Ring Of Fire

What Is The Deal With The Dershowitz-Epstein-Andrew Scandal?

The Jeffrey Epstein / Alan Dershowitz / Prince Andrew child sex scandal has for the most part fallen through the cracks of mainstream media’s attention.

Billionaire Epstein previously somehow got off with a “slap on the wrist” for sex trafficking minors and there are accusations of “shady deals” with authorities.

In March 2005, a woman alleged her 14-year-old daughter had been taken to Epstein’s mansion by an older girl and paid money after stripping and massaging Epstein.

Wikipedia:

“Police started an 11-month undercover investigation of Epstein, followed by a search of his home. Subsequently, they alleged that Epstein had paid several escorts to perform sexual acts on him.

“Papers filed in 2006 state Epstein installed concealed cameras in numerous places in his property to record sex between prominent people and underage prostitutes for criminal purposes like blackmail.

“Instead of following police recommendation, the prosecutors considered the evidence weak and presented it to a grand jury, an uncommon procedure in non-capital cases.

“In June 2008, after pleading to a single state charge of soliciting prostitution from girls as young as 14, Epstein began serving an 18-month sentence. He served 13 months, and upon release became a registered sex offender.”

Some think the story has the potential to become the “Bill Cosby scandal on steroids.”

Here, Mike Papantonio and Thom Hartmann discuss it.

Ring of Fire

Who Is The Ambassador From Israel To The U.S.?

Ring of Fire video

The Israeli ambassador to the U.S. is Ron Dermer, who was born American and is now an Israeli citizen.

According to Wikipedia, Ron Dermer is an American-born Israeli diplomat and political consultant who currently serves as the Israeli Ambassador to the United States.

“He previously served as Israel’s economic envoy to the United States from 2005 to 2008, a position requiring him to give up his American citizenship, and subsequently served as senior advisor to current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for four years. On July 9, 2013 Dermer was confirmed as Israel’s ambassador in Washington, replacing Michael Oren.”

His U.S. party affiliation is unclear – he has been described as a “GOP activist,” but his father and brother were Democrats.

According to the New York Times, the White House is furious with Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer for helping John Boehner coordinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s March visit to congress, all behind the Obama administration’s back. In some ways, the legality of the situation is in question.

More here

State, County Judges Get Campaign Money

According to Mike Papantonio, the midterm elections didn’t just hand Congress over to the Republican Party, they also gave a host of courthouses all over the country to big business.

Corporate campaign donations were the big winner in judicial elections.

Mike Papantonio video.

What Was ‘Batista Cuba?’

 

According to About.com, Fulgencio Batista (1901-1973) was a Cuban army officer who rose to the presidency on two occasions, from 1940-1944 and 1952-1958.

He also held a great deal of national influence from 1933 to 1940, although he did not at that time hold any elected office.

He is perhaps best remembered as the Cuban president who was overthrown by Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolution of 1953-1959.

Ring of Fire video with Thom Hartmann and Mike Papantonio.

Big Political Influence of Big Box Stores

Big Box retail stores like Walmart and Home Depot have always been willing to give large sums of money to politicians. And that money has bought them a lot of political favors.

Mike Papantonio talks about the big box return on investment with attorney Dave TeSelle.

Ring of Fire video.

Are Republicans Having Trouble With The Immigration Order?

President Obama’s recent executive order on immigration has been one of the few times that he has been willing to stand up to the Republican Party, and they are, predictably, livid about his decision.

According to Mike Papantonio, he’s made the GOP feel impotent.

Considering the fact that presidents since George Washington have made executive orders, it is difficult to see how his executive orders are illegal.

Mike Papantonio video.