Free Preview Clip
https://www.peterbcollins.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Kovalik-2.mp3
As an international observer for Venezuela's 2018 presidential election, Dan Kovalik knows that recent claims that the election wasn't legitimate are lies used to rationalize the bipartisan American support for ousting Nicolas Maduro.Kovalik has appeared on this podcast before. He's the author of The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Putin. His latest book is The Plot to Control the World: How the US Spent Billions to Change the Outcome of Elections Around the World.
Tech note: we had problems with the Skype audio, and apologize that some of Kovalik's comments are marred by distortion.
Kovalik recaps the May, 2018 election, which was boycotted by the opposition that now calls it illegitimate, featured 3 other candidates, and was won by Maduro with over 60% of the vote. We note that the tainted election that installed Trump in the White House raises more questions about legitimacy than Venezuela's.
We discuss the phony basis for Juan Guaido's claim to the presidency, and the bizarre depiction of the National Assembly as the only remaining democratic institution. With America's long, sordid history of interfering in the elections of other countries, it's beyond ironic that John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, now joined by convicted Iran-Contra felon Elliot Abrams, simply assert that Maduro is no longer president, and arbitrarily "recognize" Guaido.
Kovalik, who just returned from a week in Nicaragua, says the American media depictions of Daniel Ortega's efforts to control the recent insurrection are as false and damaging as the coverage of Venezuela.
We discuss the yellow journalism being produced by corporate media, and note that Chris Hayes on MSNBC is one of the lone voices of opposition to US intervention. We also criticize coverage by the PBS Newshour, which offered a "Debate" between two guys who support regime change and only disagree on the way to achieve it.
Source