A social justice podcast combining hard-hitting journalism and interviews with hip-hop music and original lyrics from independent artists. Each episode delves into an important issue with an alternative take to widely accepted narratives, arming listeners with knowledge and insight they won't hear from mainstream media outlets.
As Gaza smolders, Lebanon burns, and the world rightfully continues to demand Hamas release the remaining hostages it abducted during its attack on October 7th 2023, we illuminate the underreported plight of Palestinians held and abused throughout what one human rights group dubs Israel’s ‘network of torture camps,’ where men, women, and children—yes, children—are imprisoned, beaten, sodomized, raped, and/or murdered. Inmates undergo amputations due to prolonged shackling, genital electrocutions, waterboarding, and other sinister forms of torment. Many are held without charges or trials, some indefinitely. The United Nations and other human rights groups have condemned these crimes, and whistleblowers have been leaking more and more, yet these detention facilities and those imprisoned haven’t garnered much international outcry, if any. Milena Ansari of Human Rights Watch and Jenna Abuhasna of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association—who spoke with us from Jerusalem and Ramallah, respectively—discuss the deplorable conditions, controversial policies, and horrific abuses occurring at these facilities, along with the quest for accountability, and freedom.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
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Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“I'll answer that part first, that’s the easy one,” explains John Kiriakou, the former CIA intelligence officer who served 30 months in federal prison for exposing the agency’s torture program to the world, when asked whether he’d do it all again despite the personal and professional fallout from his disclosure.
Those are just some of the many profound insights he shared with us during a recent, wide-ranging conversation encompassing everything from the significance of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s recent plea deal with U.S. authorities to the lack of affirmative defense under the WWI-era Espionage Act to his thoughts on Israel’s indefinite detention and alleged torture of Palestinians, the personal toll of truth-telling, ongoing ‘War on Terror,’ and much more.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The occupied, blockaded, walled territories of Palestine have served as an incubator for some of Israel’s deadliest and most intrusive weapons and surveillance systems. Once tested and perfected on the captive population, they’ve been sold to some of the most oppressive, murderous autocracies—and democracies—in the world.
These are some of the many revelations exposed in the latest book by acclaimed journalist, filmmaker, and author Antony Loewenstein: “The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation around the World.”
A guest on previous episodes ”Disaster Capitalism” and “Grifter’s Paradise,” Loewenstein joins us once again to discuss the ascent of Israel into one of the largest arms dealers on the planet, its insanely disturbing testing and marketing techniques, the authoritarian regimes that have unleashed these weapons and technologies to crush dissenters and massacre countless people, 9/11’s lasting impact on all this, his warning for the future, and much more.
For links to the book and Loewenstein's work, head over to newsbeat.substack.com.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional orders in response to South Africa’s case charging Israel with committing genocide against Palestinians, ruling that Israel must refrain from genocidal acts, punish public incitement of genocide, facilitate humanitarian aid, and more. Our previous guest, international human rights attorney Francis Boyle, describes the legally binding mandates as a monumental win to help stop the massacres and civilian carnage, while MSM and others dismiss their weight since they don’t explicitly call for a “ceasefire.” What do these historic directives actually mean? What happens next? And will they stop the daily atrocities leveled against the innocent Palestinian people?!? We break it all down, sharing critical context and explaining just what’s at stake, as the death toll in Gaza continues to mount.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Like we always do at this time of year, we present an important, alternative look at Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, examining how the civil rights icon was so much more than simply the “I Have a Dream” soundbite, which has become known as the cornerstone of his public perception. Along with Pastor Roger C. Williams of the First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, NY, Larry Hamm, of the People's Organization for Progress, Hip Hop artist Silent Knight, and King’s own words, listeners learn of MLK’s Poor People’s Campaign, which he believed would be his true legacy. More than likely, it was this that got him killed.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We follow up our preview episode about South Africa's genocide case against Israel with a breakdown of the two-day hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and discuss President Biden's bombing of Yemen -- seriously escalating the crisis in the Middle East. The joint US-UK operation came the same day, Jan. 11, 2014, when South Africa laid out its case against Israel for its brutal war in Gaza, which has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children. Citing the Genocide Convention, South Africa accused Israel of committing four genocidal acts since Hamas' horrific attacks on Oct. 7. “Nowhere and nobody is safe," one of the members of South Africa's contingent declared. South Africa is seeking a provisional measure to prevent further harm to Palestinians. The court said it would make its ruling in a public setting at a future date.
News Beat is an award-winning social justice podcast that often melds music and journalism to raise awareness about important issues.
Here's a link to Part 1 https://newsbeat.substack.com/p/the-genocide-case-against-israel
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
South Africa this week will go before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague and lay out its case of genocide against Israel for its brutal war against Palestinians. With more than 23,000 dead (nearly two-thirds of whom are women and children), countless others injured or maimed, and so many with mental scars that will never heal, this genocide case could prove hugely consequential—and historic. In this episode, Francis Boyle, a human rights attorney and the first lawyer to win orders under the Genocide Convention of 1948 from the ICJ, breaks down the complaint and explains why he believes South Africa will win. A victory in this case would also mean the US is complicit in genocide—striking a huge blow to the Biden administration and the veneer that the US is a beacon of human rights. For more about the genocide case against Israel, the history of the Genocide Convention, and links to the South Africa allegations, head over to our Substack.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Democrats have long been accused of abandoning voters. Disillusionment with the Dems is particularly acute in the Rust Belt, where the long-cracking union wall has collapsed. In this episode, we interview Lainey Newman, the co-author of the book “Rust Belt Union Blues: Why Working-Class Voters Are Turning Away from the Democratic Party." The book, and Lainey's interview, is an insightful and important look into the collapse of once powerful unions and how historically Democratic voters shifted their allegiance to the Republican Party. It also helps, finally, better understand the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. For example, after reading the book and speaking with Newman, one of the people behind News Beat is more convinced than ever that Bernie Sanders would've defeated Donald Trump in 2016. Check out show notes and more from this episode at newsbeat.substack.com.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, we delve into an important and oft-ignored question: Have we truly learned from the mistakes and abuses of the 'war on terror'? What began as a mission against al Qaeda evolved into something far more extensive, lethal, and consequential. From torture and rendition to indefinite detentions and extrajudicial killings, the U.S. government, specifically the executive branch, stretched its powers beyond imagination. Join us as we explore whether the post-9/11 war on terror paved the way for a wider, even more chilling conflict. This episode features remarkable insights from Mark Fallon, a former DoD official, and Jenni Walkup-Jayes, the author of an important paper on the history of terrorism and how to combat it. Get all the details on this episode and our sources on our Substack: newsbeat.substack.com.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim
Executive Producer: Jed Morey
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Consumers -- YOU -- are getting screwed! That’s right—Amazon and Google, the tech giants that have become so omnipresent in our lives, are facing accusations that the monopolies they’ve built in their respective industries are crushing consumers, and in Amazon’s case, the small businesses that are forced to comply with the retail giant’s rules in order to survive. The ongoing Google trial over its search engine’s dominance and the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against Amazon reveal how our lives—and wallets—are effectively controlled by two of the most massive companies in the world. David Dayen, the executive editor of The American Prospect, helps us better understand what these cases are about—and crucially, how they impact all of us. Head over to newsbeat.substack.com to learn more about this episode.
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
Executive Producer: Jed Morey
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With the climate clock mercilessly ticking down, communities are turning to the complex web of court systems throughout the U.S. as a tool to hold major fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in the worsening climate crisis. Across the country, states and municipalities are suing the likes of ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and other polluters for climate-related damages, fraud, deceiving the public, and other alleged misdeeds. Will these climate accountability lawsuits bring Big Oil to its knees?
Visit ExxonKnews on Substack: https://exxonknews.substack.com
Visit News Beat on Substack: https://newsbeat.substack.com
News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.
Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
Executive Producer: Jed Morey
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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