Corruption in Lebanon Propped up by the Transnational Capitalist Elite – Nadim Houry
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Corruption in Lebanon Propped up by the Transnational Capitalist Elite – Nadim Houry

Byiizuu

Widespread corruption in Lebanon is fostered by the country’s ruling class, whose business interests are enmeshed with those of international finance. Nadim Houry, executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative, explains how Lebanon’s culture of political impunity is tied to the reconstruction agreements put in place in 1990, at the end of the 15-year civil war. The ongoing political deadlock shields the authorities from scrutiny and allows for vulture capitalists such as the former governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank, Riad Salameh, to embezzle the country’s resources. At the same time, ordinary people are faced with crushing inflation.

Part 2: Debt and the Collapse of Antiquity – Michael Hudson
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Part 2: Debt and the Collapse of Antiquity – Michael Hudson

Byiizuu

In part two, Michael Hudson discusses his new book “The Collapse of Antiquity.” Hudson challenges the traditional beliefs about the fall of the Roman Empire, arguing that it was caused by a financial crisis brought on by excessive debt, wealth inequality, and the concentration of economic power. Hudson draws parallels to modern-day economies and highlights the dangers of financialization and wealth concentration.

Debt and the Collapse of Antiquity – Michael Hudson (pt 1/2)
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Debt and the Collapse of Antiquity – Michael Hudson (pt 1/2)

Byiizuu

We get a first look at the new book by renowned political economist Michael Hudson on the age-old battle between creditors and the real economy. Ancient Rome refused to adopt the practices of debt forgiveness and land redistribution previously understood to be essential. Instead, they instituted a rigid pro-creditor legal system, assassinating anyone who remotely threatened it–including Tiberius Gracchus, Julius Caesar, and Jesus. The empire devolved into a rentier economy, ultimately collapsing from within. Today’s neoliberal establishment increasingly defends this failed state framework, even as the same disastrous dynamics intensify.

Capitalism’s Structural Crisis and the Global Revolt
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Capitalism’s Structural Crisis and the Global Revolt

ByGregory Wilpert

According to William I. Robinson, the COVID pandemic has further intensified the structural crisis of global capitalism and has caused numerous uprisings and revolts around the world, which global elites are trying to suppress via militarization, police repression, and surveillance. Robinson joins Greg Wilpert on theAnalysis.news.

The Capitalist Solution to ‘Save’ the Planet: Make it an Asset Class & Sell it
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The Capitalist Solution to ‘Save’ the Planet: Make it an Asset Class & Sell it

ByLynn Fries

John Bellamy Foster explains the ‘solution’ master-minded by global finance to resolve the imminent environmental crisis: create a multi-quadrillion dollar’s worth of assets on the back of everything nature does and expropriate it from the global commons to make a profit. Worse still: it is already happening.  Lynn Fries interviews Foster on GPEnewsdocs.

Resource Limits to American Capitalism & The Predator State Today
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Resource Limits to American Capitalism & The Predator State Today

ByLynn Fries

James K. Galbraith discusses the shift of US capitalism from an industrial state to what he calls a predator state: a finance-led, military-centered corporate republic that continues to prevail. To overcome it, he lays out what is needed to focus on employment, stability and adjustments to rising resource costs. Lynn Fries interviews Galbraith on GPEnewsdocs.

Nationalize Fossil Fuel to Fight Climate Change and Inflation – Bob Pollin
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Nationalize Fossil Fuel to Fight Climate Change and Inflation – Bob Pollin

ByPaul Jay

By purchasing controlling interest of the major American fossil fuel companies, the federal government can phase out fossil fuels, transition to sustainable energy, and enforce a lower price of oil which will alleviate inflationary pressures. Bob Pollin joins Paul Jay on theAnalysis.news.

Bill Black pt 6/9 – The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One
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Bill Black pt 6/9 – The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One

ByPaul Jay

Bill continues his history of modern financial fraud in America. He says the dark side of “financial discipline”, is the Merrill Lynch’s and Goldman Sachs of the world don’t provide discipline. They provide cash. They fund the expansion knowing it’s crap because they know as long as it’s going up, they personally, not Goldman, they personally will make a ton of money. Bill Black on theAnalysis.news with Paul Jay.

Make the Fed Publicly Owned and the Foundation of a Public Banking System – Gerald Epstein

Make the Fed Publicly Owned and the Foundation of a Public Banking System – Gerald Epstein

ByPaul Jay

The Federal Reserve has been subsidizing the megabanks, but what’s needed is an institution that provides the backstop, the loan guarantees, the subsidies, the lines of credit, et cetera, to support the development of a whole variety of public financial institutions. Gerald Epstein on theanalysis.news podcast with Paul Jay.

Canada vs USA, Public vs Private Healthcare – Mario Seccareccia

Canada vs USA, Public vs Private Healthcare – Mario Seccareccia

ByPaul Jay

The Canadian public healthcare system has not been perfect, but it’s the privately owned facilities that have failed badly. Mario Seccareccia on theAnalysis.news podcast with Paul Jay. Transcript Paul Jay Hi, I’m Paul Jay, and welcome to theAnalysis.news podcast. Mario Seccareccia is an emeritus professor at the Department of Economics, University of Ottawa, where since…

Artificial Intelligence in Whose Interests? – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 6/6
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Artificial Intelligence in Whose Interests? – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 6/6

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Ms. Foroohar and host Paul Jay discuss the merging of finance and big tech and the threat AI poses to working people and the economy; they also discuss the potential of AI in addressing the climate crisis and making a more rational and equal society possible – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced May 9, 2018.

Sociopaths Rise to the Top RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 4/6
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Sociopaths Rise to the Top RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 4/6

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Ms. Foroohar says growing inequality and record student, household and corporate debt is creating a dangerous bubble, similar to the lead up to the ’29 crash; the Financial Times columnist and author of “Makers and Takers” says a few on Wall St. see it, but most businesses are doing too well to care – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced May 9, 2018.

Clinton’s ‘Committee to Save the World’ Unleashes Wall Street – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 3/6
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Clinton’s ‘Committee to Save the World’ Unleashes Wall Street – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 3/6

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Ms. Foroohar says President Bill Clinton’s finance team further deregulated Wall St. including eliminating Glass-Steagall legislation allowing even riskier investments; the Financial Times columnist and author of “Makers and Takers” says this helped create the world’s largest financial institution—Citigroup— headed by Clinton’s former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced May 9, 2018.

Apple, Market Manipulation and the Cult of Personal Finance – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 2/6
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Apple, Market Manipulation and the Cult of Personal Finance – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 2/6

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Ms. Foroohar says the legalization of stock buybacks in 1982 allowed companies like Apple to now spend only 15% of their investments on R&D, while the majority is spent on market manipulation; the Financial Times columnist and author of “Makers and Takers” said the move from traditional pensions to 401k’s makes everyone feel they benefit from finance when the vast majority of profits go to the elites and most people’s living standards deteriorate – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced May 9, 2018.

The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 1/6
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The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 1/6

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Ms. Foroohar says financialization delivers stagnant wages, inequality, and economic crisis; the Financial Times columnist and author of “Makers and Takers” says the financial sector represents only 7 percent of the U.S. economy but takes around 25 percent of all corporate profit while creating only 4 percent of all jobs – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced May 9, 2018.

Harvey Weinstein, the Democratic Party and the Power of the ‘Creative Class’ – Thomas Frank on RAI (9/9)
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Harvey Weinstein, the Democratic Party and the Power of the ‘Creative Class’ – Thomas Frank on RAI (9/9)

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Tom Frank says in the world of the wealthy, liberalism is something you do to offset your rapacious behavior in other spheres – with host Paul Jay. This episode was produced on January 2, 2018.

Liberal Elite Doesn’t Care Much About Inequality – RAI with Thomas Frank (3/9)
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Liberal Elite Doesn’t Care Much About Inequality – RAI with Thomas Frank (3/9)

ByPaul Jay

Bill Clinton accomplished a Republican agenda and Obama allowed the Tea Party to steal the economic populist moment, says Thomas Frank on Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay; Frank is the author of “What’s the Matter with Kansas” and “Listen, Liberal”. This episode was published on September 10, 2017.

The Necessity for Higher Wages – Heiner Flassbeck on RAI Pt 4/5
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The Necessity for Higher Wages – Heiner Flassbeck on RAI Pt 4/5

ByPaul Jay

Mr. Flassbeck, former head of UNCTAD, says we’re going into the Japanese scenario, a stagnation with a kind of deflation because we have no purchasing power in the hands of the mass of the consumers. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 31, 2014, with Paul Jay.

The U.S. Dollar and the Search for a Reasonable Capitalist – Heiner Flassbeck on RAI Pt 3/5
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The U.S. Dollar and the Search for a Reasonable Capitalist – Heiner Flassbeck on RAI Pt 3/5

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Flassbeck says the stock market bubble can burst at any moment because everybody knows there is no real growth behind it; then we are really in trouble as the whole effect of stabilization will disappear in one moment. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 31, 2014, with Paul Jay.

How We Broke the Bank of England – Robert Johnson on Reality Asserts Itself (pt 4/8)
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How We Broke the Bank of England – Robert Johnson on Reality Asserts Itself (pt 4/8)

ByPaul Jay

This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced on June 12, 2014. Mr. Johnson says, “I used to tell my dad, if I’m fortunate enough to see St. Peter and get through the gate, I’m not going to get in because I helped knock off the British pound”.

Finance is Building the Architecture of their Own Rules – Robert Johnson on RAI (pt 3/8)
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Finance is Building the Architecture of their Own Rules – Robert Johnson on RAI (pt 3/8)

ByPaul Jay

This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced on June 10, 2014. On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Johnson says the scale of the political investment of finance – six, seven hundred million dollars – is overwhelming. With the political power of finance, do we still have a democracy?