Abby Martin

Date: 2015-04-15 | Duration: 2h 35m

Episode Overview

Abby Martin offers a candid critique of mainstream media, U.S. foreign policy, and political power structures throughout her conversation. She reflects on her time at Russia Today (RT), addressing the complexities of covering contentious issues like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Assad regime in Syria. Martin challenges simplistic narratives, emphasizing the role of oligarchs in both Russia and the U.S. and questioning the black-and-white portrayal of global conflicts. She shares her experience reporting on Occupy Oakland, highlighting the importance of independent media in exposing police militarization and systemic injustice. The discussion also delves into controversial topics such as the 2001 anthrax attacks, where Martin scrutinizes the official narrative and suggests government complicity. She critiques the corporate influence over politics, describing the electoral system as a facade controlled by wealthy interests and warning about the erosion of democratic processes. Martin touches on issues of war and empire, citing staggering civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan and questioning the glorification of military figures like Chris Kyle. Throughout, she advocates for a more conscious, equitable society that prioritizes human rights, healthcare, and education over profit and militarism, urging listeners to engage critically with the media and political systems shaping their world.

About Abby Martin

Abby Martin is an American journalist and television host best known for her impactful work on RT America's "Breaking the Set," where she tackled pressing social and political issues with a critical lens. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Abby has garnered a reputation for her fearless reporting and unwavering commitment to uncovering underreported stories, particularly in the realms of war, human rights, and corporate corruption. Beyond her journalistic endeavors, she is a passionate advocate for various social justice causes, making her a compelling figure in contemporary media. Abby’s candid insights and thought-provoking commentary continue to inspire audiences, challenging them to think critically about the world around them.

Key Moments

– Russian Invasion of Ukraine
– Media Bias
– Occupy Movement
– US Foreign Policy
– Political Corruption
– Anthrax Attacks
– War on Terror
– Police Brutality
– Islam and Extremism
– Capitalism Critique
– Healthcare Systems
– Political Fundraising
– Military Veterans
– Drug Policy
– Social Movements
– Supreme Court Power
– Climate and Environment
– Media Censorship
– Human Rights
– Internet and Activism
0:00:00 – Introduction with Abby Martin
0:00:37 – Discussion on Russian invasion of Ukraine and Crimea
0:02:03 – Concerns about surveillance and friend lists
0:04:40 – Comparison of Russian and US oligarchic systems
0:06:08 – Bill Browder and Hermitage Capital Management case
0:10:29 – US and Russia's roles in Syria and Assad support
0:11:08 – Occupy Oakland and police state emergence
0:13:21 – Media sources and their biases discussed
0:15:11 – Challenges of objective reasoning in media
0:16:57 – Chandra Levy disappearance and related controversies
0:23:42 – Anthrax attacks and government involvement theories
0:28:35 – Bush administration's suspicious actions before anthrax attacks
0:31:11 – Mental illness and public perception
0:41:06 – Discussion of Canadian radio host Gian Ghomeshi case
0:46:41 – Psychedelics and terrorism speculation
0:49:25 – Drug policy and health comparisons
0:53:20 – Economic motivations behind law enforcement practices
0:58:49 – The internet as a portal for information
1:01:43 – Meeting with media bureau chiefs and censorship
1:05:32 – Politicians' corporate allegiances
1:09:14 – Death tolls in Iraq and Afghanistan wars
1:11:13 – US bombing campaigns in Yemen
1:16:14 – Hillary Clinton's fundraising goals
1:23:08 – Power and qualifications of political leaders
1:24:12 – Police recruitment of sociopathic individuals
1:30:23 – Police brutality and investigation in sports
1:33:10 – Obama's diplomatic negotiations with Iran
1:39:45 – Civilian deaths in US drone strikes
1:43:25 – Chris Kyle and sniper culture
1:50:47 – American exceptionalism and global empire
1:56:30 – Military interventions and resource extraction
2:00:32 – Islamophobia and religious intolerance
2:04:26 – Wahhabi Islam and religious strictness
2:07:38 – Call to stop violence and self-empowerment
2:11:42 – Capitalism's unsustainability and empire decline
2:16:32 – Healthcare as a human right debate
2:18:58 – Abby Martin's career after RT
2:22:13 – Corporate coup d'etat concerns
2:25:23 – Power of collective action
2:29:19 – Happiness beyond material wealth
2:31:09 – Closing remarks and call for peace

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Wow, we are live, Abby Martin. How do you feel about that? Starting point is 00:00:12 You were like the person, everybody would say, Russia Today, who the fuck's gonna watch that? Starting point is 00:00:37 Russian invasion of Ukraine the Crimea situation they were like we should go there yourself and see it and you're like fuck that Starting point is 00:01:11 Yeah. Starting point is 00:01:36 Network in America living in Washington DC like what a block from the White House. Yeah Starting point is 00:02:03 I'm assuming that everybody who's friends with you is on some sort of a list. Starting point is 00:02:56 It's not really black and white because obviously Putin is a dictator. Starting point is 00:03:33 Like, can I pay attention to Russia today? Starting point is 00:04:03 But I mean, he does have a huge Starting point is 00:04:40 That's basically in line economically with the US. I mean it's run by oligarchs just like the u.s is we're not talking about like communism versus capitalism anymore so Starting point is 00:05:23 all these oligarchs that he throws Starting point is 00:05:43 So I don't necessarily take that at face value and say that like Putin has, you know, has Starting point is 00:06:08 Bill Prouder, CEO of hermitage capital management Starting point is 00:06:48 terrorism or political assassinations or just suspicious deaths outwardly and then just say Starting point is 00:07:48 A Memphis, Tennessee court jury found that. Starting point is 00:08:10 Who was that guy? That guy was Starting point is 00:08:26 it's and this is when people would give me shit all the time why aren't you talking about russia Starting point is 00:09:06 Of course, you can call it criminal activity in other countries, but it just seems like people have a lot of shit to say without really understanding all of these different dynamics that go into global affairs, including myself. Starting point is 00:09:43 And then for a long time it went away you Starting...

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Abby Martin was the guest on JRE #634. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

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On Joe Rogan Experience #634 with Abby Martin, topics include Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Media Bias, Occupy Movement, and US Foreign Policy.

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