Israel has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who defended Lebanon's sovereignty, helped to defeat ISIS and Al-Qaeda, protected Christians, and fought against Israeli colonialism and military occupation. Ben Norton explains.VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxYAn-Ci4jETopics0:00 Israeli colonialism in Lebanon & Palestine1:10 Diplomats w…

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=IoyuwuXFG2cTopics0:00 Israel is waging war on Lebanon1:19 ICC accuses Israeli officials of c…

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 …

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…

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.…

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…

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: http…

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 t…

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 …

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"…

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=uAtx2vDJkM8You can read the transc…

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. V…

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=fTVawAEUoDQTopics0:00 Intro0:30 Ukraine is desperate1:37 Ukraine invades Russia'…

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=Qf1wQ9QeaKMSources and more information here:…

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 Sa…

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.VI…

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=…

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=9Bu9dHGRpmERead the transcript (with the charts) here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/debt-politi…

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 - Washing…

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 Boliva…

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 build…

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…

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 No…

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=iQuUbBf6…

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 p…

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 trans…

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 dem…

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=tczNLhfdQ7AThis is based on chapter 6 of Radhika's book "Capitalism, Coronavirus …

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_sGETopics0:00 Intro1:11 Deng Xiaoping & China's "Reform & Opening Up"4:06 Socialism with Chinese Characteristics5:17 China'…

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=ur2xRJzbyJETopics0:00 Western complicity in Israel's war crim…

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=z4xfHMkIPJ4Transcript here: h…

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=c3Dsy7q1MiwTopics0:00 Examples of de-dollarization around the world3:11 IMF paper on d…

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=KCIEdThk2jcTopics0:00 Intro0:42 (Clip) UN expert: Israel is committing crimes against…

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 Bra…

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 de…

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=3TRPk3N8FyQZelensky is literal…

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_HuoTopics0:00…

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, Rus…

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…

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.c…

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=ufjxm…

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 hypoc…

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…

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…

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 …

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: ht…

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=JtHx7hhpFDYSources and l…

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=MILgSmiBLA8Topics0:00 Xi…

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 di…

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-bnIrbZjaMCheck out our relate…