rachelblevins

This year has been a whirlwind of change, growth, adventures and lots of news. Thank you for coming along for the ride! I'm grateful for each one of you, and all of your support. Here's to doing it all over again in 2024. Happy New Year!

Israeli officials are warning that time is running out for a diplomatic solution with Hezbollah, as clashes continue to increase along the border with Lebanon. But given that Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip has killed mainly children and women—and not the Hamas fighters they claim to be targeting—it raises the question of how much more Israel can handle... Palestinian-American Journalist Dr. Ramzy Baroud noted that while Washington's focus on the Middle East has died down in recent years, Israel is trying to force the U.S. to return, in order to support a regional war that could include both Hezbollah and Iran.

Ukraine's Zelensky went from being TIME Magazine's "Person of the Year," showered with praise and funding by the West—to begging for more lethal aid as TIME describes him as "delusional." International Relations and Security Analyst Mark Sleboda noted that while the West may be waking up to the reality that Ukraine isn't winning, as they struggle to pass more funding for Kiev, Zelensky continues to be the "Emperor with No Clothes," with an inner circle that is scared to question him.

The Pentagon is struggling to keep up with the cost as it uses $2 Million missiles to take down the $2,000 drones coming from Yemen, as the Biden Admin tries to justify support for Israel and the U.S. Military’s presence in the Red Sea. Political commentator and Founder of Syriana Analysis, Kevork Almassian, noted that instead of serving the national security interests of the American people, the U.S. Military continues to serve the financial interests of the private sector defense contractors who profit from fueling wars around the world.

Americans are struggling to pay their bills, going into debt and working multiple jobs just to survive, while the U.S. Government focuses on a reckless foreign policy focused on fighting nation-building and proxy wars against Russia and China. Prof. Richard Wolff, an Economist and founder of Democracy at Work, noted that the Biden Admin is insulting the American people when it tries to convince them that the economy is great and so-called 'Bidenomics' is working, when they see the reality of the crumbling 'U.S. Empire' all around them...

The U.S. may be picking fights around the world with support for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, but the Pentagon is now scrambling to respond to the one threat it apparently didn't see coming: Yemen's Houthis interrupting traffic in the Red Sea, in order to push for a ceasefire in Gaza. Ecuadorian Journalist and Editor of The Cradle, Esteban Carrillo, noted that while several Arab nations say they support a ceasefire, they're showing that support in name only, refusing to take any tangible steps to push Israel to stop committing genocide. But Yemen is actually doing something about it.

Israel's ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip continued with "unwavering" support from the U.S., despite the soaring civilian death toll. But more than 10 weeks in, it begs the question—what has Israel accomplished in Gaza, aside from the slaughter of thousands of Palestinian civilians? Lebanese Journalist and War Correspondent Ghadi Francis noted that the Palestinian resistance is becoming stronger than ever, as Israel exposes its military and strategic weaknesses, along with its hunger for genocide to the world.

Israel is relying heavily on artificial intelligence in its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with the IDF using a system they call "The Gospel" to choose targets at an unprecedented rate. That's as a recent report says nearly half of the nearly 30,000 bombs Israel has launched in the last 10 weeks have been "unguided" munitions. Independent Journalist Vanessa Beeley says that anyone wondering why the U.S., the UK and the EU would support Israel—as it kills 20,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children—needs to keep in mind that they are using Gaza as a testing ground for the latest weapons and technology.

Biden recently called Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip “indiscriminate,” as the overwhelming majority of the around 20,000 Palestinians killed by Israel are women and children. Journalist Robert Inlakesh noted that everything from Israel’s carpet bombing tactics, to its mess of a ground invasion, to the IDF’s own reports that several of its soldiers have been killed by friendly fire, show that Israel doesn’t seem to have any clear objective in this war. But of course, Biden vowed to continue supplying Israel with money and weapons, knowing that they will be used to kill more civilians.

The Ukrainian leader went to Washington to plead for Congress to pass Biden's requested $60 BILLION in Ukraine-related aid, and he left with just $200 MILLION in what has become a routine maintenance package for Kiev. International Relations and Security Analyst Mark Sleboda noted that Zelenksy is facing the perfect storm right now, both politically and militarily, as Washington's war chest for Ukraine runs out and Russian forces continue to advance.

While the Biden Admin has made it abundantly clear that it doesn't care about Palestinian civilians, as it continues to fully support Israel's ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip, it is also showing the world that it doesn't care about American citizens—as hundreds remain trapped with the State Dept. doing little to try to secure their safety. Palestinian-American Journalist Dr. Ramzy Baroud, who has lost at least 24 family members and counting in Israel's latest bombardment, noted that for Americans trying to escape Israel's wrath, the U.S. passport has become meaningless.

The Biden Admin has resorted to begging in order to try to get Congress to approve billions more in military aid for Ukraine, with the president insisting, "We can't let Putin win" the conflict that the U.S. started with Russia a decade ago. When they aren't talking about Ukraine, the Biden Admin is continuing to try to defend Israel's war crimes, even as the death toll in Gaza from Israel's bombardment nears 18,000 Palestinians killed—70% women and children—with thousands more buried under rubble, and nearly 50,000 injured. But State Dept. Spokesman Matthew Miller wouldn't dare call any of it a "war crime," and the U.S. is still using its veto power to strike down any UN Security Council resolution that mentions the need for a "humanitarian ceasefire."

Putin made a visit to both the UAE and Saudi Arabia to meet with leaders, as the two countries are set to join the BRICS alliance next month. Veteran Journalist Elijah J. Magnier noted that the celebration of the Russian President's visit in each country is a reminder that Western attempts to isolate Russia have failed worldwide, and have instead pushed Moscow to reduce reliance on the West in record time.

The U.S. Senate just voted to block Biden’s requested $100 BILLION+ package that includes funding for Israel and Ukraine—at least for now. Scott Horton, Director of the Libertarian Institute, noted that the pressure on Congress is increasing, as Americans finally wake up to the propaganda that fuels the U.S. War Machine, and when faced with the truth of what their tax dollars are funding with support for Ukraine and Israel, they are calling for an end to the endless wars.

Israel killed 700 Palestinians in just 24 hours this week, as it ramps up its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, vowing to hit the southern half with the same strength as the northern half, which has been described as "Hell on Earth." Lebanese Journalist and War Correspondent Ghadi Francis noted that not only is nowhere in Gaza safe, but Israel is targeting the same areas it told civilians to flee to, and the world is watching as genocide is being committed before our eyes.

The State Dept. says the U.S. does not believe Israel is intentionally killing civilians in Gaza—even as the overwhelming majority of the Palestinians killed by Israel's intentional bombardment are women and children. Veteran Palestinian Journalist Said Arikat discussed the questions he posed to Matthew Miller about what the Biden Admin is doing to stop Israel from killing civilians, and why the U.S. isn't doing more, when it claims to care about international law.

NATO's Chief is warning the alliance needs to be “prepared for bad news” on Ukraine, as he becomes the latest in the West to admit that Kiev isn't winning the war against Russia, despite unprecedented support from the U.S. and its allies. International Relations and Security Analyst Mark Sleboda noted that the West's sudden change in rhetoric on Ukraine is no surprise, and while Zelensky is doing everything he can to stay in power and eliminate his competition, the Biden Admin continues to eye his top general, Valery Zaluzhny as his replacement.

While Western media focus on the truce and hostage-transfer deal, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza created by Israel continues, with more than 15,000 Palestinians dead—nearly 70% of whom are women and children—and more than 7,000 missing, buried under rubble. Dr. Ramzy Baroud explained why, in the eyes of the West, "Palestinians murder" but "Israelis kill," or "Palestinians die in clashes" with apparently no one to blame.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their current truce for another 48 hours. But while Israel is being recognized for releasing dozens of Palestinian detainees, in exchange for the Israeli hostages released by Hamas.... Israel continues to create new prisoners. Veteran War Correspondent Elijah J. Magnier joined me to discuss the latest, as the West has suddenly come around to supporting a ceasefire, and Israel has detained an additional 260 Palestinians since it went into effect—bringing the total to 3,260 Palestinians detained from the West Bank since Oct. 7

The Israeli cabinet voted to approve a hostage and four-day ceasefire deal with Hamas, despite previously refusing to even consider such a proposal. So, why now? Former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter noted that the change comes from the simple fact that “Israel is not winning this conflict,” both militarily and in the court of public opinion.

Argentina just elected the world's first Libertarian leader: Javier Milei. The self-proclaimed "anarcho-capitalist" who campaigned with a chainsaw in hand and promised to eliminate the country's central bank and slash government spending has presented himself as the ultimate anti-establishment candidate. But Milei is also ending plans for Argentina to join the BRICS alliance next year, and his plan to combat soaring hyperinflation involves eliminating the Argentine Peso and adopting the U.S. Dollar instead. In fact, Milei says he sees the U.S. and Israel as Argentina's "main partners,” so just how anti-establishment is he?

Biden's approval rating just hit a new low, as Americans voice their frustration with his handling of the U.S. Economy and refusal to support a ceasefire in Gaza. But the Biden team is busy writing Op-Eds for the Washington Post on "the challenge of Putin and Hamas." As Biden continues to lobby for $106 BILLION that includes more military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, he is arguing that the U.S. must fuel proxy wars overseas because it "makes the world safer" and the U.S. "more secure." Yes, really.

Only Joe Biden would follow up a major summit with Xi Jinping by messing up any diplomatic progress he might have made by doubling down on his earlier claim that the Chinese leader is a “Dictator.” Journalist and Geopolitical Analyst KJ Noh noted that Biden's latest comment is a reminder that Washington is still continuing to stoke tensions with China in a number of areas that include relations with Taiwan, the U.S. Military’s presence in the South China Sea, and the targeting of China’s high tech sector.

The U.S. Military is once again bombing Syria, as it continues to illegally occupy the country, while also stealing its resources in a war on the Syrian people that has lived on despite Washington’s failed attempts to overthrow Assad’s government. Journalist Vanessa Beeley discussed the latest escalation in fighting in Syria, Israel committing genocide in Gaza while also targeting the West Bank, and RFK Jr’s startling admission of how the U.S. uses Israel to try to maintain control in the Middle East.

The Biden Admin continues to refuse to support a ceasefire in Gaza as it pledges support for Israel in the name of “self-defense.” But what does Israel’s “right to self-defense” actually mean and is it justification for a month-long bombardment of the 2.3 million people in Gaza? And given the extremely high death toll, why hasn’t the Palestinian Authority invoked the Genocide Convention? I discussed all this, and more with Independent Journalist, Sam Husseini.