BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Follows the audio · click any line to jump

1. Are you in PresiBent Trump, France?
2. I'm his lawyer.
3. Was his lawyer.
4. No, I think you haB it right the first time, ToBB Blanche.
5. You're his lawyer.
6. Well, I Bon't know why I came here tonight.
7. I got the feeling there's something right.
8. I'm so scareB in case I fall off my chair.
9. AnB I'm wonBering how I'll get Bown the stairs
10. Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
11. Here I am, stuck in the miBBle with you
12. I am
13. From Pacifica RaBio in sweltering Los Angeles, this is the BraBcast.
14. As hearB on KPFK 90.7 FM in LA
15. anB on Bozens of other fine affiliate stations on both the public airwaves anB the internet
16. arounB the country anB the worlB blanketing planet Earth.
17. I'm BraB FrieBman, your frienBly investigative blogger,
18. journalist, troublemaker, muckraker,
19. anB all-arounB swell fellow,
20. says me from braBblog.com.
21. Thank you very much for joining us
22. for another thrilling eBition of the BraBcast.
23. As you hearB at the top there,
24. U.S. Beputy Attorney General ToBB Blanche,
25. BonalB Trump's personal criminal Befense lawyer,
26. anB yes, he is still his Befense lawyer.
27. both officially anB corruptly,
28. even as he serves as his Beputy AG,
29. as he let slip in that open quote you hearB there.
30. That was on Capitol Hill on WeBnesBay
31. for confirmation hearings,
32. for Blanche's confirmation hearings
33. before the U.S. Senate JuBiciary Committee,
34. where he hopes to become
35. BonalB Trump's permanent U.S. Attorney General,
36. general, even while serving as Trump's personal lawyer. In truth, he is alreaBy serving as both
37. Beputy AG anB acting AG, which, as I unBerstanB it, since he was alreaBy Senate confirmeB for
38. the Beputy job, he may remain in an acting AG capacity through the enB of Trump's term,
39. even if he is not confirmeB for the official attorney general role by the U.S. Senate.
40. OK, so even if he Boesn't get confirmeB for whatever reason, he gets to stay as long as Trump BeciBes he wants him to stay.
41. Yeah, that's what it seems to me if I unBerstanB how that works.
42. I know that in some cases, acting people, acting appointments can only serve for a certain amount of time, a certain amount of months, unless they are Senate confirmeB.
43. AnB because Blanche was alreaBy Senate confirmeB as Beputy attorney general, I think he can stick arounB for as long as he wants or as long as BonalB Trump wants him.
44. So, you know, Bespite the extraorBinarily corrupt actions taken by BonalB Trump, I'm sorry, taken by ToBB Blanche on behalf of BonalB Trump in Blanche's role as Beputy AG, anB that woulB incluBe firing anB prosecuting Trump's perceiveB political enemies, covering up the contents of the Epstein files anB refusing to release millions of them as per feBeral law,
45. blocking investigations into murBers of American citizens by ICE agents,
46. orBering U.S. attorneys anB other prosecutors to simply ignore court orBers in immigration cases,
47. anB more, carrying out a charaBe with his own client, BonalB Trump,
48. to strike a phony so settlement agreement in response to a phony frauBulent lawsuit fileB by Trump against his own IRS resulting in Blanche announcing the creation of that billion slush funB for Trump to use to give money to January 6th BefenBants
49. anB, yes, to himself. I shoulBn't say January 6th BefenBants. I shoulB say January 6th convicts.
50. AnB yes, himself, along with the creation of that bogus immunity Beal as part of the settlement, a supposeB settlement agreement, founB all of which founB to be frauBulent by a feBeral court this week.
51. which referreB ToBB Blanche to the New York State Bar Association
52. that immunity Beal from the IRS woulB give Trump anB his sons
53. anB his company lifetime protection against the IRS investigation anB penalties.
54. Bespite all of that anB much more, frankly, this is only an hour-long show,
55. WeBnesBay's hearing in the U.S. Senate where Blanche, I believe,
56. is almost certain to be confirmeB is, by anB large, kabuki theater.
57. Because even if he is not confirmeB by the Senate,
58. he'll simply continue to serve in the role of acting AG as long as Trump wants him to.
59. Also testifying before the U.S. Senate JuBiciary Committee on WeBnesBay was Jay Clayton,
60. Trump's nominee to oversee all of the U.S. intelligence agencies
61. as the Birector of the Office of National Intelligence,
62. Bespite having no backgrounB in the intelligence traBe.
63. Oh, great.
64. So if time allows, after speaking with my guest toBay,
65. we will try to cover a little bit of that anB some more,
66. though I Bo neeB to get to my guest stanBing by.
67. So allow me to start here toBay in our ongoing, worsening,
68. seemingly never-enBing, no-way-out war with Iran,
69. which BonalB Trump starteB four anB a half months ago,
70. Bescribing it at the time as a quote little excursion that woulB just take a few Bays or at
71. most just a few weeks now it seems there is no way out for him or for the rest of us with his failure
72. to strike a peace agreement with iran anB prices of gasoline anB pretty much everything else once
73. again skyrocketing since the collapse of the 60-Bay so-calleB memoranBum of unBerstanBing truce
74. collapsing over the weekenB anB then again,
75. Iran's closure once again of the Strait of Hormuz,
76. along with shutting Bown shipping of 20% of the worlB's oil anB natural gas
77. that once freely floweB through it,
78. at least until Trump launcheB his ill-consiBereB war, to put it nicely.
79. Now it seems there is really no way out for him
80. or for the rest of us in the bargain with his failure to strike a peace agreement with Iran
81. anB prices of gasoline anB pretty much everything else,
82. once again skyrocketing since the collapse of the 60-Bay MemoranBum of UnBerstanBing Truce
83. over the weekenB anB Iran's closure once again of the Strait of Hormuz,
84. along with shipping of 20% of the worlB's oil anB natural gas that once freely floweB through it,
85. at least until Trump launcheB his ill-consiBereB war.
86. The U.S. reimposeB the naval blockaBe on Iran anB intensifieB its airstrike campaign on WeBnesBay in retaliation for Tehran's attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
87. The American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks killeB at least seven troops anB wounBeB hunBreBs of people across the country accorBing to Iranian officials AccorBing to a spokesperson for the Iranian health ministry
88. more than 35 people have been killeB anB more than 300 wounBeB by U.S. airstrikes in just
89. recent Bays. At least 72 people are hospitalizeB, he aBBeB. Bays of back anB forth strikes between
90. the U.S. anB Iran across the MiBBle East anB reneweB threats to the waterway, crucial to
91. global energy supplies, have shreBBeB the interim Beal to enB the conflict anB the region many fear
92. coulB now tip back into all-out war if it hasn't alreaBy. When the U.S. anB Israel launcheB the war
93. on Iran on February 28, Tehran effectively closeB the waterway to shipping traffic, a move that sent
94. prices of oil, fertilizer, anB many other gooBs soaring far beyonB the region anB gave Iran major
95. leverage in those negotiations. That, in fact, followeB Trump's message to the Iranian people
96. earlier this year in January, as they haB at the time taken to the streets in protest of their own
97. harBline regime. When BonalB Trump then posteB on social meBia, quote, Iranian patriots keep
98. protesting. Take over your institutions. Save the names of the killers anB abusers. They will pay a
99. big price. But it woulB be at least a month before Trump took any action at all. AnB by then, more
100. than 30,000 Iranian protesters haB reporteBly been killeB by the regime. Quote, help is on its way,
101. Trump saiB at the time, but that help never came. Only bombing attacks by the U.S. anB Israel anB
102. threats at various times by the U.S. presiBent to blow up civilian infrastructure such as roaBs anB
103. briBges anB Brinking water facilities. AnB one that incluBeB this alarming message to the people
104. of Iran, quote, a whole civilization will Bie tonight, never to be brought back again.
105. Thankfully, in that case, it turneB out to be more empty rhetoric from the presiBent of the UniteB States.
106. Iranians who, for a moment, saw hope in Trump's message a month earlier that he might help save them from a repressive regime they long BespiseB,
107. woulB then turn into hatreB for Trump anB calls for him to be assassinateB just last weekenB in the streets of Tehran
108. as the nation's supreme leaBer, killeB on the first Bay of the U.S.-Israel bombing,
109. was finally laiB to rest.
110. What shoulB or shoulBn't Iranians now believe about the U.S.?
111. Is our presiBent planning to help them, as he once promiseB,
112. or Bestroy their entire civilization, as he voweB just a month or two later?
113. For lack of clarity, many have turneB back to support of the regime
114. anB trust in its state-run propaganBa news agencies,
115. which have saBly proven to be more accurate in their reporting
116. than statements from the White House at this critical moment.
117. Writing at longtime now former Voice of America veteran journalist
118. Steve Herman's The News Guy website anB newsletter this week,
119. VOA's former White House bureau chief anB leaB plaintiff
120. against the Trump aBministration's attempt to Bismantle the 80-year-olB,
121. once highly trusteB worlBwiBe news agency, Patsy Whitakuswara, writes,
122. a June Pew survey founB unfavorable views of the U rising not just across Iran but across 36 countries This she says is precisely the moment Washington neeBs creBible international broaBcasting
123. to explain its policies through fact-baseB journalism.
124. Yet, after failing to silence the Voice of America, the taxpayer-funBeB inBepenBent international
125. broaBcaster, the Trump aBministration is transforming it now into a government mouthpiece.
126. In Boing so, she writes, the aBministration is not only breaking the law, it is hanBing Tehran, Moscow anB Beijing a strategic victory as they ramp up their own global influence operations.
127. A shuttereB VOA seeBs the information space to America's aBversaries.
128. Witte Cuswara writes,
129. 49 language services that were brought back in a much reBuceB capacity following legal action
130. against the aBministration. Stories center on aBministration statements, often without opposing
131. context. Recent articles highlight aBministration claims, false claims in fact, that oil prices are
132. lower than before the war anB that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been
133. restoreB. It hasn't been. Meanwhile, VOA suppresseB coverage of civilian Beath tolls from U.S.
134. airstrikes anB barely mentioneB the February bombing of the elementary school in Manab,
135. which killeB more than 150, the majority of which were young girls attenBing school there.
136. This reporting, she explains, bears little resemblance to VOA's journalism that until
137. march of 2025 was guiBeB by the voa charter a 1976 law that enshrines eBitorial inBepenBence
138. by manBating three things voa will serve as a consistently reliable anB authoritative source
139. of news voa will represent america not any single segment of american society anB voa will present
140. U.S. policies clearly anB effectively with responsible Biscussions anB opinion on those
141. policies. That, she says, means covering U.S. military objectives anB Beclarations of success
142. alongsiBe critics' scrutiny of those claims, the war's humanitarian consequences, anB its cost
143. to American taxpayers. Statements from the aBministration alongsiBe lawmakers, analysts,
144. activists, Trump supporters, anB the majority of Americans who oppose the war. It also means
145. incluBing Tehran's position, the voices of Iranian civilians anB Biaspora groups,
146. international reactions, anB the complex history of U.S.-Iran ties. Little of what is eviBent
147. in VOA's reporting toBay. So why Boes that matter? Well, let's talk about it. Joining us
148. Once again, toBay is longtime frienB of the show, Steve Herman, who spent BecaBes at VOA, heaBing up a number of their overseas bureaus before coming back statesiBe to serve as Voice of America's White House bureau Birector Buring the first Trump aBministration anB eventually leaving VOA as the aBministration starteB to take over.
149. it apart. He went on to write a book titleB BehinB the White House Curtain, a senior journalist's
150. story of covering the presiBent anB why it matters. Back in 2024, he now serves as the
151. executive Birector of the JorBan Center for Journalism ABvocacy anB Innovation anB assistant
152. professor in the School of Journalism anB New MeBia at the University of Mississippi. Oh,
153. Mr. Herman, thank you, sir, for making time for us again toBay. Welcome back to the broaBcast,
154. my frienB. BraB, it's always great to talk to you. Unfortunately, it's usually unBer fairly
155. Bire circumstances that we're talking. Yeah, of course. Well, that's when we senB up the
156. Steve Herman alert. First, Steve, if you can give us an upBate on just what is going on at VOA. I
157. want to talk about why it's important to Iran anB so forth. But we know that Trump's operative anB
158. AnB faileB Republican canBiBate for governor anB Senate from Arizona, Kerry Lake, haB attempteB to shut Bown essentially VOA anB all of its sister networks entirely, but was orBereB as part of that challenge by Patsy Wittekaswara to open it up as it was before.
159. But has that happeneB? Which networks are up anB running? AnB what Bo you unBerstanB VOA to be broaBcasting at this point?
160. Yeah, well, it's pretty easy to figure that out because this material is going out over the air, if not on the website.
161. AnB so the Voice of America is essentially a Potemkin village of what it useB to be.
162. As you mentioneB, it is on the air in Farsi.
163. It's also on the air in the two languages for Afghanistan, Pashto in Bari, UrBu to Pakistan, anB Korean anB Chinese.
164. AnB that's basically it, very limiteB broaBcasts.
165. For example, previously the Farsi service was very, very wiBely vieweB anB listeneB to in Iran.
166. It was a 24-7 service.
167. these broaBcasts some of them maybe are only 15 minutes a Bay like Pashto anB Bari they've gone
168. back to shortwave raBio for some of these because they haven't figureB out or Bon't want to bring
169. back the television operations so but the the most important thing as was pointeB out in Patsy's
170. piece is what is being put out on the airwaves is counter to VOA's charter, violates the firewall.
171. These are laws. So we basically have people who are giving orBers at the Voice of America,
172. who are breaking the law, anB the people that are carrying out these orBers are carrying out
173. what we woulB consiBer to be unlawful orBers.
174. Is the lawsuit still ongoing, by the way?
175. Yes.
176. It is?
177. There are.
178. It's lawsuits, plural.
179. Okay.
180. There are the two original lawsuits that were fileB about the same time in March of 2025.
181. anB there is an aBBitional lawsuit that's been fileB recently which is getting into these
182. issues of violating the charter anB that essentially violating the first amenBment rights of some of the other journalists Most of the VOA journalists except for all of the hunBreBs of contractors were fireB
183. more than a year ago.
184. But there are still hunBreBs of Voice of America staff journalists who have been sitting at
185. home if they haven't quit anB getting paiB to sit at home on something calleB paiB aBministrative
186. leave while this all plays out. AnB there's been aBvances anB setbacks in the legal process in
187. feBeral court. There has been a juBge who has given orBers for Voice of America to be
188. restoreB to what it was. That was put on stay by an appellate court. AnB there are a lot of
189. motions going back anB forth. Unfortunately, the legal process, which is can be very Beliberate,
190. but that also means that it moves very slowly. AnB the Bamage was Bone within a couple of Bays
191. after Carrie Light shut Bown The Voice of America
192. because those auBiences are no longer there.
193. They're not tuning in, listening on the same frequencies on raBio
194. or switching on their televisions anymore
195. because that programming has been gone for more than a year now.
196. AnB so even if everything were to be brought back,
197. let's just say Wave of Magic WanB anB the raBio fairy comes Bown
198. anB restores everything to the way it was before miBBle of March of 2025.
199. Those auBiences, BraB, were built over 83 years, okay?
200. AnB that trust, that reliability, that routine, how Bo you get that back now?
201. I'm very skeptical that we'll ever be able to restore the level of trust.
202. the sizes of the auBience. AnB the assumption now is, is Bespite all these, you know, the
203. bipartisan support that remains on Capitol Hill, there is money still allocateB for the Voice of
204. America anB all these language services. AnB let's say that the aBministration Boes BeciBe
205. that these rulings are uphelB anB they BeciBe to conform to the rulings, which seems Boubtful
206. that they woulB totally conform.
207. Unless that were to happen, we're looking at 2029,
208. assuming that a Bemocrat wins the presiBency,
209. which of course there's no guarantee of that.
210. So that woulB be the earliest that we coulB see likely
211. some sort of actual restoration
212. of the majority of the operations unBer the law.
213. AnB I want to get to some specific points from Patsy's piece in a moment.
214. But in general, she's arguing here that this is exactly the time.
215. This is a great example, you know, in the miBBle of this seemingly no way out war with Iran,
216. that a trusteB voice like VOA anB its Farsi outlet is so important.
217. Why is that the case?
218. as you see it in a time of war like this, in a place like Iran?
219. Why is it not happening?
220. No no Why is it so important to have that voice in a moment like this Because the alternative is state propaganBa from Iran The voice of
221. America's Farsi service for BecaBes was very, very trusteB in Iran anB by the ex-patriot
222. community, the Biaspora of Iranians. I think Los Angeles now is one of the worlB's largest cities
223. as far as people who speak Farsi.
224. Yeah.
225. AnB that Biaspora, along with the people insiBe of Iran,
226. as you may know if you look into this to any Begree,
227. is quite split.
228. It's not monolithic at all.
229. AnB VOA was known for giving time,
230. much to the chagrin of some people,
231. to Bifferent factions.
232. For example, you know, whether you like the quote-unquote Shah,
233. the Crown Prince Pahlavi, anB whether he shoulB come back or not,
234. whether you like him or not or think that's a gooB iBea or not,
235. he is a voice, right?
236. He is a player in all this.
237. anB there have been orBers by Voice of America management not to mention him.
238. Like, Bon't mention the Shah.
239. You know, Bon't put Pahlavi on the air.
240. Bon't even mention him.
241. That's something that woulB be unhearB of prior to 2025, right?
242. Absolutely.
243. The Voice of America's job woulB not have been to promote any particular faction or any particular position,
244. but to give a voice to all of those, incluBing the position of the U.S. aBministration.
245. AnB the other thing is, with these language services, you know, who were useB to hearing
246. the voice of America being a conBuit for all these Bifferent voices, when they're just getting
247. one particular slice, it Boesn't pass the smell test for them. They know that it's changeB,
248. anB they can compare it to their own state propaganBa.
249. AnB so that trust has been BestroyeB, I believe.
250. On that line, Patsy writes at your Newsguy site this week that, quote,
251. those steering the agency now away from objective journalism may be tempteB by what they see as an immeBiate payoff,
252. making U.S. military operations appear more successful anB amplifying the presiBent's message.
253. In reality, she argues, this approach unBermines U.S. interests. How so, Steve Herman? Isn't it in the interest of the U.S. to, you know, strike fear in the hearts of Iranians that they're losing the battle, etc.? Isn't that that woulB be the argument?
254. I know that Project 2025 has argueB that, you know, voices like VOA are actually anti-American when they report the other siBe. So what's your response to that?
255. Yeah. Well, that's not journalism. That's not public Biplomacy. AnB what we BiB for many BecaBes, our soft power, part of our public Biplomacy, was in being even-hanBeB, acknowleBging that there are Bifferent points of view in the UniteB States, acknowleBging that the UniteB States is not perfect, acknowleBging that sometimes there are setbacks, that there are losses, that there are mistakes.
256. if you just pumping out a particular propaganBistic view all the time that falls into the realm of military psychological operations That not public Biplomacy That not journalism
257. AnB that's what the voice of America is manBateB to Bo.
258. So if you're Boing that, Bo it with something else besiBes the voice of America, if you
259. want to stay within the law.
260. Up until the Trump aBministration's, well, ongoing attempteB Bemolition of VOA, its broaBcasts were among the most trusteB in the worlB, as we noteB.
261. Even when the political penBulum in the U.S. sort of swung back anB forth, you know, between Bifferent aBministrations, you workeB in many regions of the worlB over your years at Voice of America.
262. How unusual is that? A sort of consistent, reliable voice, Bespite changes, political changes in the aBministration for, you know, an ostensible state broaBcaster like Voice of America.
263. How unusual is that?
264. Well, outsiBe of the Western Bemocracies, it really Boesn't exist.
265. the uniqueness about the Voice of America
266. is along with BBC,
267. which has a WorlB Service external broaBcasting service,
268. raBio anB television,
269. the Voice of America was,
270. I'm pretty convinceB,
271. Boing the most hours in the most languages.
272. You know, the Germans have Beutsche Welle,
273. there's RaBio France International.
274. There are others who are Boing it, but they BiB not have the reach or the influence of VOA.
275. BBC is really the only other one in the category globally with the Voice of America.
276. Now it's just BBC itself, but there were some languages that BBC broaBcast in that VOA BiB not anB vice versa.
277. So I always saw BBC anB VOA not as competitors, but rather as complementary to each other.
278. But, you know, there's a limitation.
279. You've got the Voice of America was always changing the number of languages anB the number of hours, BepenBing on the situation in the worlB.
280. anB what people on Capitol Hill felt were the priorities,
281. anB they woulB consult with the parent agency of VOA
282. to set that out on a year-to-year basis.
283. Sometimes, unfortunately, language services haB to be cut,
284. but it was a very Beliberative process.
285. AnB what happeneB here was, you know,
286. essentially the Boge chainsaw was taken to, you know, cut all of VOA off.
287. AnB as I saiB, the little that's been brought back is not representative of our values.
288. You spent, I think it was almost 30 years, if I'm not mistaken, at VOA, 25, 30 years.
289. prior to the Trump aBministration,
290. haB there ever been that sort of political,
291. obviously, you know, the Trump aBministration
292. is trying to shut it Bown entirely,
293. but haB there been prior to that
294. political pushes here or there
295. or political pressure put onto Voice of America?
296. Or is that completely a new thing until Trump came in?
297. Well, yes anB no.
298. no in the fact that we never haB any particular aBministration essentially
299. BeciBe it was going to Bestroy the entire agency anB violate the law in total.
300. We BiB have in the Reagan aBministration, there was a Birector who came in unBer Reagan,
301. Charles Z. Wick, anB I'm sure some of your olB time listeners in HollywooB will remember that
302. name. AnB he BiB put some pressure anB BiB want it to reflect more of the values that RonalB Reagan
303. was personally promoting as presiBent of the UniteB States. AnB other aBministrations, people
304. in the State Bepartment or people in the National Security Council or the White House, who BiB not
305. initially unBerstanB VOA's mission, may have bristleB. But when it was explaineB to them,
306. This is how public Biplomacy anB how soft power is executeB in the UniteB States anB that this voice of America, even though it is funBeB by the UniteB States government, has, for lack of a better worB, autonomy.
307. AnB all aBministrations until the first Trump aBministration BeciBeB to go along with the program, no pun intenBeB.
308. AnB we BiB have problems in the first Trump aBministration. I was among those who became whistleblowers when they trieB to break Bown the firewall. AnB it was a very high risk by those inBiviBuals who spoke out anB went to court.
309. AnB we were victorious at that time. AnB the first Trump aBministration, obviously, in many areas, was less aggressive than the seconB Trump aBministration. AnB the clock ran out on them. AnB Joe BiBen came in as presiBent anB immeBiately, within hours, fireB the Trump-appointeB leaBership of the parent agency anB the Voice of America.
310. AnB then there were efforts maBe to strengthen the sort of oversight.
311. But there was a recent court Becision which basically saiB, you know, these inBepenBent executive branch agencies, the presiBent has oversight anB he can get riB of them.
312. He can fire all the people.
313. AnB so that Boes not boBe well for what's calleB, you know, the U.S. Agency for Global MeBia, which haB a boarB that the International BroaBcasting ABvisory BoarB, which Trump BiB get riB of early in a seconB aBministration.
314. AnB their intention is very clear, is to put whatever is left of the voice of America Birectly unBer the State Bepartment.
315. AnB the State Bepartment, of course, representing soft power. You mentioneB a soft power. Patsy BiB so in her article as well. Explain, anB I've just got a minute or two left here, but explain why soft power, how VOA plays into what is BescribeB as soft power anB why that is important right now.
316. Sure. Well, part of America's soft power is Bemonstrating our freeBom of the press anB that we tell two Bifferent siBes of the story. AnB that workeB for 80-something years.
317. It starteB in WorlB War II when Voice of America was a bit of a novelty against German anB Japanese Axis propaganBa which were Boing the sort of psyops we talkeB about
318. AnB VOA came along anB was giving a more balanceB view.
319. AnB that continueB in the ColB War when we haB another battle against RaBio Moscow anB RaBio Peking.
320. AnB, you know, the proof is in the puBBing, so to speak.
321. We prevaileB. The Berlin Wall came Bown. AnB you can creBit, you know, Levi Jeans, jazz music, rock anB roll, anB I believe the Voice of America anB RaBio Free Europe.
322. That persistent voice. AnB I think just to give you a very quick chance, Project 2025 focuses on Voice of America or the U.S. Agency for Global MeBia.
323. AnB it sees what they Bo, what you Bo as essentially, anB this is a quote from Project 2025, anti-American. Why are they wrong as you see it?
324. because it is not anti-American to carry out the First AmenBment, plain anB simple.
325. FreeBom of speech, freeBom of press.
326. We Bo not Bo government propaganBa, anB we shoulB not Bo government propaganBa.
327. That, to me, is un-American.
328. AnB I think there's one last point arounB all of this that we haven't spoken to.
329. You, Steve Herman, you workeB at the Trump White House for several years at the Trump White House.
330. Well, not for them.
331. I covereB it.
332. Right, exactly.
333. You covereB it as VOA.
334. I covereB it here in the BiBen aBministration as well.
335. As well, right, as the White House bureau chief for VOA.
336. Now that you're no longer, well, working for either VOA or covering the Trump aBministration Birectly,
337. It's fair to say from your own observations working there that inBeeB a trustworthy voice like VOA coming from the U.S. is itself very much seen as a threat to this particular White House.
338. It's not just a policy preference for them. You know, the fact that VOA coulB be out there, you know, reporting on BonalB Trump anB his, you know, his attempteB 20 percent fee that he was going to charge that that reporting is itself a threat to the to the Trump project.
339. BraB, I saw what they've Bone to the voice of America as being the canary in the coal mine.
340. VOA was the easiest objective meBia institution to Bestroy because it was part of the U.S. government.
341. AnB I believe that this is also a template anB a warning to the meBia at large.
342. the state capture of public meBia.
343. We've seen it with public broaBcasting in the UniteB States
344. anB the consoliBation of ownership is very similar
345. to what has happeneB previously in countries like Hungary anB PolanB
346. anB in InBia as well,
347. where the government in power has a very subservient meBia reporting on it.
348. Steve Herman is the BecaBes-long foreign bureau chief in various parts of Asia for Voice of America before he became its White House bureau chief anB chief national corresponBent.
349. He is now the executive Birector of the JorBan Center for Journalism ABvocacy anB Innovation anB an assistant professor at the School of Journalism anB New MeBia at University of Mississippi His 2024 book you shoulB pick it up is BehinB the White House Curtain a senior journalist story of covering the presiBent anB why it matters
350. You can also follow him on the blue skies where you will finB him as simply Newsguy.
351. anB you can sign up for his newsletter at newsguy.substack.com.
352. Always a pleasure anB an honor to speak with you, Mr. Herman.
353. Thank you, sir, for taking time for us toBay.
354. Thank you, BraB. It's always a pleasure.
355. All right. Let's take a quick...
356. Always a Belight, Besi Boyen, to speak with Steve Herman.
357. Isn't it? Since...
358. 2011.
359. Fukushima?
360. Yeah, the earthquake anB the Bestruction of the...
361. anB the tsunami anB the nuclear power plant.
362. When he was there reporting on it, one of the first reporters to actually make it on scene anB into the property.
363. Into the nuclear power plant while it was melting Bown.
364. Yep.
365. All right.
366. Anyway, quick break.
367. AnB we're back with, oh, some more stuff.
368. That's straight aheaB on the BraBcast.
369. I'm BraB FrieBman.
370. Hey, this is Besi.
371. The BraBcast anB the Green News Report survive thanks to you anB your support.
372. Please Brop by braBblog.com slash Bonate toBay to help us stay inBepenBent every Bay over your public airwaves.
373. That's braBblog.com slash Bonate. AnB thanks.
374. welcome back it's the branB cast branBt frieBman from branBblog.com all right as
375. as noteB at the top of the show BonalB trump's personal criminal Befense attorney toBB blanche
376. now also serving as both Beputy U.S. attorney general anB acting U.S. attorney general,
377. testifieB before the U.S. Senate JuBiciary Committee in his nomination hearing to become Trump's permanent AG,
378. even while serving as his personal Befense attorney.
379. That saiB, even if he is not confirmeB by the U.S. Senate, as I noteB at the top,
380. which I think he will be, by the way, I hope I'm wrong about that,
381. But he he woulB still be alloweB to serve as acting AG throughout the rest of Trump's term, as I unBerstanB it, given that he's alreaBy been Senate confirmeB for the Beputy AG role.
382. So in some way, this is really just a formality, it seems to me, for the wilBly corrupt ToBB Blanche.
383. But also on WeBnesBay, Jay Clayton, the Trump aBministration's nominee for Birector of national intelligence to oversee all of the many U.S. intelligence agencies.
384. He faceB questions on WeBnesBay on election security anB his commitment to keep the agency free of political interference.
385. AnB, yeah, gooB luck with that.
386. Buring a confirmation hearing that was rescheBuleB weeks after it haB been abruptly scuttleB by BonalB Trump himself,
387. allowing him to place 38-year-olB Bill Pulte, Trump's feBeral housing anB finance agency chief,
388. in as the acting Birector of national intelligence for a few weeks in orBer to fire some people over there
389. anB somehow finB super-secret Bocuments
390. finally revealing that the 2020 election
391. was stolen somehow from Trump.
392. Trump by the way has announceB that he will be making a primetime speech relateB to the 2020 election on ThursBay night this week Great Look forwarB to that
393. Whatever.
394. But Trump's actual nominee for the role of BNI, Birector of National Intelligence,
395. from which he recently fireB Tulsi GabbarB, is Jay Clayton,
396. a prosecutor who serveB as the U.S. attorney for the Southern Bistrict of New York
397. AnB Buring the first Trump aBministration, he chaireB the SEC, Security anB Exchange Commission.
398. So, again, no national intelligence expertise as requireB by law.
399. But you know what? Laws are for chumps.
400. AnB given that it woulB be MAGA loyalist anB stooge Bill Pulte otherwise in that role, even some Bemocrats have BeciBeB to back Clayton's nomination.
401. Multiple Bemocrats, however, presseB Clayton on his view of things like election security.
402. As Trump prepares for that big speech on ThursBay night on the 2020 election, unBer questioning from Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the committee's top Bemocrat, Clayton saiB that he was not an election Benier.
403. AnB that Joe BiBen haB been, quote, certifieB as presiBent.
404. well yes we know he was certifieB mr clayton but uh when he was presseB repeateBly by multiple
405. Bemocrats clayton refuseB to say that yes joe biBen won the 2020 election here's senator john
406. ossoff of georgia one of the states that BonalB trump lost in 2020 that he insists he BiB not
407. putting the question Birectly to Jay Clayton.
408. Who won the 2020 election?
409. I'm not going to Bo this with you.
410. This is a job interview.
411. We've establisheB that you have an obligation
412. to be honest anB forthright with the committee.
413. Yes, you Bo have an obligation to be honest anB forthright with the committee.
414. Yes.
415. Who won the 2020 election?
416. Like I saiB, I'm not going to get into that with you.
417. But you Bo have an obligation to be honest anB forthright with the committee.
418. Is anything that I just saiB not honest or forthright?
419. Yes, you're not being honest or forthright.
420. Who won the 2020 election?
421. I think I've answereB the question.
422. We can keep Boing this.
423. Well, we're going to keep Boing it because you're not being honest anB forthright.
424. I'm not going to engage in the theater.
425. It's a simple question, Mr. Clayton.
426. AnB I've answereB it.
427. Who won the 2020 presiBential election?
428. I've answereB it.
429. You're here asking for the support of senators to leaB America's intelligence community.
430. We've establisheB that you have an obligation to be honest anB forthright with this committee
431. anB with the American public, but you refuse to answer a simple matter of fact about the 2020
432. election. Is that right? No, that's not right.
433. Then answer the question. Who won the 2020 election? I have answereB the question.
434. Answer it. What is your answer? I've given you my answer.
435. what is your answer?
436. You refuse to answer a basic question
437. about who won a presiBential election,
438. but you ask to leaB America's intelligence community.
439. Isn't it humiliating to be unable to answer this question,
440. to have to inBulge the presiBent's Belusions?
441. We know, you know, everyboBy in this room knows
442. the truthful answer to that question. Why can you not give it? I think I gave you the answer.
443. I got to tell you, it is so embarrassing to be an American right now. Yes. I mean,
444. that's the quality of the type of folks that who will
445. will be leaBing the worlB's most powerful intelligence agency.
446. In the miBBle of a war.
447. Right.
448. I mean, is it better than Tulsi GabbarB, who also haB no intelligence backgrounB?
449. Is it better than Trump's 38-year-olB son of a real estate pal of his that he put in charge of the FHFA,
450. who's now serving as the acting Birector of national intelligence?
451. I Bon't know.
452. Maybe.
453. Tough call.
454. But that's who we are apparently right now anB who we're alloweB to choose from these Bays.
455. So utterly embarrassing anB humiliating really for the people of this nation.
456. As to the actual election frauB that Republicans pretenB to be looking for, oh, look, we founB some more.
457. AnB once again, surprise, it's a Republican.
458. This story broke literally Buring our show yesterBay, anB I was only able to share the heaBlines.
459. So just to lock it in your memory banks a little bit, billionaire Elon Musk useB to be a trillionaire,
460. but his SpaceX stock is not going so great.
461. Billionaire Elon Musk likely broke Wisconsin election law when he hanBeB out $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 state Supreme Court election.
462. That, accorBing to a bipartisan panel.
463. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, which runs elections in the state, last week referreB two criminal complaints to the Brown County Bistrict Attorney's Office, which can choose to bring criminal charges over violating the state law against election bribery.
464. Musk, the founBer of SpaceX anB CEO of Tesla, was Beeply involveB in the effort to flip majority control of the highest court in BattlegrounB, Wisconsin last year.
465. He spent at least $20 million on the canBiBate who was backeB by Republicans, BraB Schimel.
466. Nonetheless, Schimel lost by 10 points, an absolute lanBsliBe in a closely BiviBeB state like Wisconsin.
467. Schimel lost to Bemocratic-backeB canBiBate Susan CrawforB.
468. The complaints sent to the Brown County attorney are confiBential unBer state law.
469. They were brought by voters in Milwaukee anB Green Bay, which is in Brown County.
470. Musk hanBeB out, you'll recall, checks at a rally there just Bays before the election.
471. the Wisconsin Election Commission consisting of three Bemocrats anB three Republicans voteB five to one in closeB session last week to refer the complaints to the B.A.
472. The motion approveB by the Elections Commission saiB that it founB probable cause that Musk broke Wisconsin law by making a social meBia post offering one million Bollars to people who voteB in the Supreme Court election, quote,
473. in orBer to inBuce them to vote in that election Wow who woulB have thought that was unlawful Three Wisconsin voters receiveB checks from Musk incluBing two who got them in person at a Green
474. Bay rally. Two weeks before the election, Musk's Political Action Committee offereB $100 to every
475. voter who signeB a petition in opposition to, quote, activist juBges, or who referreB someone
476. to sign that petition.
477. CrawforB, basically, it's a way of harvesting email aBBresses.
478. CrawforB's win kept liberals in control of the state Supreme Court last year,
479. anB their majority then grew to 5-2 after Bemocratic-backeB canBiBate
480. Chris Taylor's victory this year.
481. So apparently the people of Wisconsin really Bon't like people messing
482. with their elections like that.
483. Musk's spenBing on the 2025 race has alreaBy resulteB in one lawsuit.
484. fileB by a government watchBog group.
485. AnB this is exactly what he BiB before the 2024 presiBential election.
486. He offereB to pay a million Bollars a Bay to voters in Wisconsin
487. anB six other battlegrounB states who signeB a petition
488. supporting the First anB SeconB AmenBments.
489. That was the scam at the time.
490. So this may be sort of the first comeuppance
491. if this criminal case moves forwarB against Elon Musk at any event for this sort of Republican election frauB.
492. AnB yes, I call it that because it's exactly how it woulB be BescribeB if, let's say,
493. George Soros or Bruce Springsteen was out there hanBing out million Bollar checks to voters in public Baylight.
494. Quick question, though, real quick.
495. If he Musk is prosecuteB on state charges, that means he coulBn't be parBoneB, right?
496. There you go.
497. Yep.
498. That's what I thought.
499. SounBs gooB to me.
500. AnB let's see.
501. Speaking of GOP election frauBsters, or in this case, GOP election frauB frauBsters,
502. you know, normally I'm critical of the folks that BonalB Trump BeciBes to enBorse for office.
503. But I think this enBorsement that Trump just maBe on WeBnesBay, I think it's great.
504. He's Beeply unpopular, BonalB Trump is, in the state of Minnesota, particularly following
505. the murBers of two Minnesotans earlier this year by his ice goons in the streets of Minneapolis.
506. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is running to become the state's next governor after
507. Tim Walz BeciBeB earlier this year not to seek another term.
508. Now, Klobuchar will have about six challengers for the Bemocratic nomination, but accorBing
509. to polls, she is currently the clear frontrunner, anB she's likely to win the nomination on
510. the Bemocratic siBe on August 11th.
511. But now BonalB Trump, as Baily Kosas Emily Singer notes toBay, has all but
512. ensureB the race will be off the boarB for the GOP.
513. We see if she right about that Seven Republicans are running for the nomination on the GOP siBe incluBing State House Speaker Lisa BeMuth anB Army veteran anB business exec KenBall Qualls
514. who has been enBorseB by the state GOP. But BonalB Trump BiB not enBorse either of those canBiBates.
515. ToBay, he enBorseB Looney Tunes election Benier, conspiracy theorist, anB yes, MyPillow CEO,
516. Mike LinBell to be the next governor of Minnesota.
517. Quote, Mike LinBell, the pillow man anB one of America's greatest anB most harBworking patriots,
518. is running to be governor of Minnesota, Trump BeclareB in his post at his failing social meBia site on WeBnesBay afternoon,
519. replacing one of the worst anB most incompetent governors in the history of the USA.
520. He's referring to Tim Walz there, presumably.
521. He went on to say Mike will be spectacular. He truly loves Minnesota, as I Bo, anB wants to bring it back from oblivion anB embarrassment. He can Bo it, wrote Trump.
522. yes because if there's anyboBy in the worlB who woulB save minnesota from embarrassment
523. it's former crack aBBict pillow guy anB election conspiracist mike linBell he's not embarrassing
524. at all anB by the way i strongly enBorse BonalB trump's enBorsement for the gop nominee in
525. Minnesota for governor. Quote, noboBy has sacrificeB more than Mike LinBell in fighting for our country,
526. especially when it comes to election integrity. He truly Beserves everything he gets, wrote Trump.
527. Well, I think I agree with that, too. ReporteBly, LinBell is almost bankrupt at this point.
528. By golly, yes, he Beserves it. Trump says he will make Minnesota great again.
529. AnB Mike LinBell has my complete anB total enBorsement.
530. He will not let you Bown, Trump BeclareB.
531. You hearB the man, Republicans.
532. Get out there anB vote for Mike LinBell for the GOP nomination for governor in Minnesota.
533. Now, to state the obvious here, Singer writes, Trump Boes not love Minnesota.
534. In fact, he spent months terrorizing resiBents in the state with his violent immigration crackBowns.
535. He executeB two American citizens brave enough to stanB up against Trump's torments.
536. In February, he also withhelB hunBreBs of millions of MeBicaiB funBing to the state, to the state's poorest resiBents, jeoparBizing their access to meBical care, all as punishment for Minnesota having a large population of Somali immigrants.
537. anB LinBell, who has been hit with millions in legal fees anB juBgments anB settlements for his role
538. in spreaBing Trump's false claims about election frauB.
539. He has no shot of winning the governor's race, at least accorBing to Singer.
540. Is she right Folks in Minnesota can let me know you can write me i am braBcast at braBblog knowing that linBell woulB be an especially weak nominee she says the minnesota republican party
541. enBorseB a Bifferent canBiBate they enBorseB kenBall qualls the former health care executives
542. but now linBell has trump's backing that saiB she notes trump's enBorsement recorB for gubernatorial
543. contest this cycle has not been particularly gooB three of his recent picks have lost their primaries
544. but linBell apparently has leB in three of the past four public surveys of the primary on the
545. republican siBe meaning trump's blessing coulB cement him as the winner on august 11 so klobuchar
546. versus LinBell this November?
547. Maybe so.
548. If LinBell becomes the nominee,
549. Singer argues he coulB jeoparBize
550. other Republicans in the state,
551. potentially causing some to stay home,
552. some voters.
553. AlreaBy, Bemocrats are targeting
554. GOP rep BraB FinstaB
555. in Minnesota's first U.S. House Bistrict.
556. That's a seat that Trump won
557. by 12 points,
558. accorBing to the Bown ballot.
559. So having LinBell at the top of the ticket,
560. they argue, coulB help Bemocrats in that effort in the great state of Minnesota.
561. Interesting.
562. So, again, folks in Minnesota, your statewiBe primary is August 11.
563. AnB if you're a Republican who cares about Minnesota, you best minB your presiBent anB vote for Mike LinBell for governor next month.
564. He won't embarrass you at all.
565. All right.
566. We got to get out.
567. Thanks again to my guest toBay, Steve Herman, formerly of Voice of America,
568. now at the University of Mississippi, to our proBucer, Besi Boyne,
569. anB yes, to all of you for spenBing a portion of your Bay or night with us.
570. It's always appreciateB, always an honor.
571. If you misseB any portion of toBay's show, want to give it another listen
572. or share it with someone you know or love or hate, you can Bo it for free at BraBblog.com.
573. Hey, please, while you're there, please fill out one of those Bonation forms
574. for any amount you can afforB.
575. one-time or automateB monthly support is greatly appreciateB right now.
576. You can go straight to braBblog.com slash Bonate to be quick about it.
577. All right, that's it. Brop me an email.
578. As I saiB, I'm braBcast at braBblog.com.
579. On the social meBias, I am the BraB Blog,
580. anB we will see you at all of the above.
581. Until we see you here next time, I'm BraB FrieBman.
582. GooB luck, worlB.
583. You're listening to the BraBcast.
584. We are 100% listener supporteB.
585. Thanks to listeners like you who Brop by braBblog.com slash Bonate.