Background Briefing: October 20, 2022

 

The Paralysis Caused by Brexit Claims Another British Conservative Prime Minister

We begin with the short tenure of Liz Truss as the British Prime Minister following her resignation today which will prolong the leadership crisis in the UK as the Tories scramble for a replacement with even the former disgraced PM Boris Johnson in the running. Joining us from the UK is Patrick Allen the Founder and Chair of the Progressive Economy Forum who sees this latest Tory leader to be forced to step down as a continuum from the original cause of political paralysis that has gripped the country and lowered its economic and international standing and that is Brexit. First introduced by PM Cameron, its unworkability then brought down his successor PM May who was followed by one of the lying fools who championed Brexit, Boris Johnson, and now the idiot who thinks she’s smart Liz Truss has become the latest victim of one of the greatest geopolitical self-inflicted wounds in modern history.

 

Is Putin Planning to Sabotage Norwegian Gas Pipelines and Infrastructure?

Then we investigate fears in Norway that Russia may be planning to sabotage Norwegian gas pipelines and infrastructure that are a vital source of energy for Europe which is facing a cold winter following Russia’s cut-off and sabotage of its own gas pipelines to Europe. Joining us is Amb. Peter Galbraith, an author and former US diplomat. From 1993 to 1998, he served as the first US Ambassador to Croatia where he negotiated and signed the agreement that ended the war in Croatia. From 2000 to 2001, he was the Director for Political, Constitutional and Electoral Affairs for the UN Mission in East Timor and in 2009, he was an Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations serving in Afghanistan. He was previously a staff member for the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and is the author of two books on Iraq, including the best seller The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War Without End and we discuss the arrests of eight Russians caught in Norway with drones and electronic equipment, one of whom is the son of a close confident of Putin’s.

 

A New Study Finds Record Amounts of Money Pouring into State Races

Then finally we look into a new report from Open Secrets detailing the record amount of money pouring into state races, including State Secretary of State offices overseeing elections with 299 Republican election deniers running as candidates in the upcoming November 8 elections. Joining us is Anna Massoglia, a researcher, editor, and writer based in Washington, D.C. at the Center for Responsive Politics, where she studies foreign influence, digital and political ads, and is responsible for OpenSecrets’ Dark Money data as well as it’s Foreign Lobby Watch. Trained as a lawyer, she was appointed by the U.S. Treasury Department to be a member of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, a Federal Advisory Committee to the IRS, and is an editor of a new report at Open Secrets, “State-level midterm election fundraising on track to exceed $7 billion.”