Ring of Fire Blog

There Are More People In Slavery Today Than Any Point In History (VIDEO)

Farron Cousins — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:47:49 -0400

Not only does slavery still exist across the globe today, the human trafficking industry is thriving. Many people mistakenly believe the problem is confined to Third World and underdeveloped countries, but it's happening in our own backyard.

Who’s To Blame When 46 Million Americans Remain Uninsured? The Democrats (VIDEO)

Mike Papantonio — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:06:55 -0400

Senator Max Baucus has a proposal for health care reform. The only problem: follow the money and you will quickly find that Baucus is deep in the pockets of the insurance industry. In fact, he has received more money from them than any other Senator. Mike Papantonio takes Baucus to task for his plan, and outlines the problems facing the change we've been expecting for the country.

This Week on Ring of Fire!

Farron Cousins — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:40:59 -0400

This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio:

Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern

Today on Ring of Fire, legendary singer and songwriter Graham Nash will be here to give us his thoughts on the current state of American politics from the war in Iraq, to our economic meltdown. He’ll also give us the inside scoop on the release of his new CD box set, which chronicles his 40 years in the music business.

Eric Lotke from the Campaign for America’s Future will stop by to tell us how the Chamber is fighting to keep the economy in a recession by aggressively lobbying against regulatory reform, healthcare reform, and union organizing. If American workers want it, you’d better believe that the Chamber is fighting against it.

Racist Murder: 'Kind And Fuzzy' Can't Fight Right Wing Hate (VIDEO)

Farron Cousins — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:28:06 -0400

Since 9/11, right wingers have stepped up their vitriolic attacks against anyone who doesn't agree with them--or doesn't look like them.

These professional hate mongers have opened the door to a new era of intolerance that has in turn sired an increasing number of politically and racially-based murders. Mike Papantonio of Air America's Ring of Fire talked about the new right wing hate with David Neiwert, author of the new book "The Eliminationists: How Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right."

The GOP: Less Likeable Than Cuba And Venezuela Put Together (VIDEO)

Farron Cousins — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:29:52 -0400

The departure of Arlen Specter from the Republican Party had less to do with personal beliefs than it did with preserving his political career. But his departure wasn’t a decision that he freely made – Specter was basically forced to abandon his party. This is part of a larger plan by GOP faithfuls like Newt Gingrich and Grover Norquist to rid their party of any independent thinkers. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of Air America's Ring of Fire talks about this issue with Tim Dickinson, political correspondent for Rolling Stone magazine.

This Week on Ring of Fire!

Farron Cousins — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:01:41 -0400

This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio:

Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern

Rolling Stone reporter Matt Taibbi will be joining us to talk about the financial industry’s takeover of the federal government, which all started when they given billions of dollars of the taxpayer’s money to stay solvent.

We’ll be taking a look at what labor unions are doing to fight Wall Street corruption and greed with Richard Trumka, the secretary treasurer of the AFL-CIO.

Is The Christian Right Killing Christianity? (VIDEO)

Mike Papantonio — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:15:48 -0400

Ever since Karl Rove made his unholy Republican alliance with the Religious Right, Christianity has been suffering from a severe decline. It doesn't help when you have people like Pat Robertson and the late Jerry Falwell who made their careers by selling a hateful version of religion that abandoned all of the principles which Jesus taught. Mike Papantonio discusses these and other reasons that have contributed to the decline of American Christianity.

Pap Attack: Christian Majority Losing Steam

Mike Papantonio — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:20:18 -0400

When President Obama made the statement that America is not uniquely a Christian nation, there were no surprises about how the Christian community reacted.

This Week on Ring of Fire!

Farron Cousins — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:57:52 -0400

This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio:

Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern

This week on Ring of Fire, Rolling Stone political correspondent Tim Dickinson will be joining us to talk about the jihad occurring in the GOP – where the old party leaders are attempting to purge anyone who isn’t a hard line republican.

We’ll also be talking with investigative journalist Greg Palast who’ll give us an update on the lawsuit filed against oil giant Chevron for dumping 18 billion gallons of toxic sludge into the rainforests in Ecuador.

Senator Bernie Sanders: Single Payer Health Care System Only Solution (VIDEO)

Farron Cousins — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:14:42 -0400

Health care reform was a large part of President Obama’s campaign, but the GOP has long placed road blocks to meaningful reform. Post power shift in Washington, the effort to revamp our health care system is back on the agenda. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of Air America's Ring of Fire talks about the latest developments in this fight for a better system with Senator Bernie Sanders.

The Pap Attack: Falwell's Legacy Haunts Liberty University (VIDEO)

Mike Papantonio — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:46:17 -0400

Two weeks ago, leadership at Liberty University in Virginia told young Democrats that they were no longer entitled to recognition as a sanctioned organization on campus. Only young Republicans are welcome there.

Al-Qaeda Suspect Cracks...After Getting Cookies

Farron Cousins — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:18:30 -0400

Hey everybody. I’m Farron Cousins, and this is The Raw Roundup on The Daily Left – Brought to you by Raw Story and GoLeft TV. Here are this week’s top stories.

After almost 8 years of claiming otherwise, former vice president Dick Cheney has finally admitted that there was no link between the terrorists who carried out the attacks on 9/11 and Iraq. Cheney made this admission during an appearance on Fox News on June 1st, 2009, where he said that there is not now, nor was there ever any collaboration between al-Qaeda and Iraq to carry out the terrorist attacks. However, he did vaguely hint that the two were working together, just not on the attacks against the United States. In the summer of 2004, America was informed that there was no link between Iraq and anyone involved in 9/11, but as recently as May 21st, 2009, Dick Cheney was still implying that the two had worked together. The panel investigating 9/11 had told the public on June 16th, 2004 that no connection between the two existed. Reports show that it wasn’t until after the US invasion of Iraq that coordinated groups of al-Qaeda began operating in the country.

Has Public Opinion Turned on Obama?

Farron Cousins — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:39:32 -0400

The Republicans want us to think that the public has turned on President Obama, but the truth is that his approval ratings are still high, and that's coming from a public that is still feeling angry about the last 8 years. Mike Papantonio appears on Fox's "Happy Hour" to talk about what the public really feels right now.

This Week on Ring of Fire!

Farron Cousins — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:08:11 -0400

This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio:

Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern

This week on Ring of Fire, we’ll examine some of the most egregious offenses from corporate America.

Author Antonia Juhasz will be joining us to talk about the true nature of Chevron, and how they’re destroying our planet and propping up brutal dictatorial regimes across the globe.

The Pap Attack: Cheney Wants The Questions To Stop

Mike Papantonio — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:38:45 -0400

Former Minnesota Governor, Jesse Ventura is in demand on the interview circuit these days because of his new bestseller book. I interviewed him last week, and he opened the discussion with the topic of torture.

The Daily Left: Unreleased Photos Show Sexual Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners (Video)

Farron Cousins — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:08:12 -0400

Hey everybody. I’m Farron Cousins, and this is the Raw Roundup on The Daily Left – Brought to you by Raw Story and GoLeft TV. Here are this week’s top stories.

According to a new report, unreleased photographs of prisoner abuse in Iraq document several incidents of both rape and sexual assault. Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who in 2004 investigated and wrote a report on allegations of detainee abuse in U.S. prisons in Iraq, has confirmed the existence of graphic photographs depicting the following:
–An American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner.
–A male translator apparently raping a male detainee.
–A female prisoner having her clothing forcibly removed to expose her breasts.
The still unreleased photos relate to abuse alleged to have taken place between 2001 and 2005 in Abu Ghraib and six other prisons. President Obama is currently blocking the photographs from being released, although a lawsuit from the ACLU might force their disclosure down the road.

Jesse Ventura on Ring of Fire this week!

Farron Cousins — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:22:02 -0400

This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio:

Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern

Today on Ring of Fire, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura will be here to give us his thoughts on the Bush administration, including how he thinks we need to be handling the former officials that are responsible for allowing torture.

GQ correspondent Robert Draper will be joining us to tell us why history won’t be as kind to former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as the former administration official would like to believe.

Is Socialism Around the Corner? (Video)

Farron Cousins — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:48:45 -0400

Fox News is continuing to beat the drum about Karl Marx being right around the corner, forcing America into a Socialist society. Mike Papantonio of Air America's Ring of Fire takes on Stuart Varney (guest host on Your World with Neil Cavuto) about the lack of truth behind these claims, and lays out how this is just another GOP talking point that isn't resonating very well with US citizens.

Jesse Ventura's Advice To Robert Kennedy Jr: Leave The Democratic Party (Video)

Farron Cousins — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:23:07 -0400

Jesse Ventura has been all over the airwaves recently talking about the paperback release of his best-selling book Don't Start the Revolution without Me!. Mike Papantonio of Air America's Ring of Fire talked with the former Minnesota governor about a variety of issues, including why Robert Kennedy Jr. should leave the Democratic Party.

Jesse Ventura on Democracy

Ring of Fire — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:25:38 -0400

Jesse Ventura has been all over the airwaves recently talking about the paperback release of his best-selling book "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me!", as well as his thoughts about the current state of our country. Mike Papantonio of Air America's Ring of Fire was able to chat with the former Minnesota and get his thoughts on a variety of issues, including partisanship, torture, the media, patriotism, green energy, religion, and states' rights. "Don't Start The Revolution Without Me!" is now available in paperback from Skyhorse Publishing here - http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/details.php?TitleID=144.

This Week on Ring of Fire!

Ring of Fire — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:28:02 -0400

This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio:

Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern

Today on Ring of Fire, we’ll take a look at the war on terror and talk about why closing down the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay won’t be enough to fix America’s image in the Middle East with foreign policy expert John Feffer.

Comedian and cartoonist Matt Filipowicz will be here to help us run down some of the most absurd and unusual news stories of the past week.

No Small Task For Eric Holder

Ring of Fire — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:36:14 -0400

What Attorney General Eric Holder inherited from Michael Mukasey and his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales, was not a Justice Department that was slightly confused about where the law began and politics ended. He took over an institution where, at least in recent years, politics had no end. Longtime employees were let go for not being, as Gonzalez’s own staff put it, "loyal Bushies," and the loyal drones that were left in place used the agency to go after any Democratic politician or campaign donor that got in their way. Air America's Mike Papantonio talks about the immense task of cleaning up the department that now lies with Eric Holder with Dahlia Lithwick, contributing editor for Newsweek.

The Pap Attack: No Free Pass for Obama (Video)

Beau Friedlander — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:29:11 -0400

For the last 8 years, the GOP has acted like cheerleaders for Bush and his failed policies. The Democrats cannot afford to become cheerleaders for Obama. That said, Mike Papantonio explains why Obama won't be getting a free pass.

Supreme Court Sets Dangerous Precedent for Torture Lawsuits

Farron Cousins — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:07:09 -0400

Today’s top story – The Supreme Court has ruled that a lawsuit against two former Bush Administration for torture cannot go forward. The suit was filed by a former detainee against former FBI Director Robert Mueller and former Attorney General John Ashcroft. The detainee spent nearly six months in solitary confinement in New York in 2002. The detainee rounded up in the weeks after 9/11 when the FBI and law enforcement were generally looking for people who might have conceivably had any terror connections, and as a result of that, a lot of Muslim men were put in holding cells in New York and the Justice Department has since said that many of them were mistreated. In his case, he argued that while Ashcroft and Mueller did not single him out for mistreatment, they were responsible for a policy of confining detainees in highly restrictive conditions because of their religious beliefs or race. The court said that there is a hole in the argument, as there is no evidence of a solid chain of command that authorized the mistreatment in these cases. But the one thing this case does accomplish is that it sets a very dangerous precedent for future torture cases. You can expect to see this case cited by every administration official who gets hauled before a court on torture charges.

The Pap Attack: Give Government A Chance (Video)

Ring of Fire — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:13:20 -0400

With all of the corporate malfeasance we've seen for the last 8 years, we really have to ask ourselves if government could even possibly do a worse job running the financial industry than the white collar thugs that brought us the recession. The answer, as Mike Papantonio explains in his latest Pap Attack, is "no."