Deep State Radio Special Exclusive 

THE WORD IS ‘BETRAYAL’: A CONVERSATION WITH REP. ERIC SWALWELL

Responding to the reports of Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower Moscow lies and guilty plea, the rising star Congressman from California, Rep. Eric Swalwell, reveals where the new Congress is likely to take investigations into Trump’s business ties and their consequences when it assumes office in January.  He asserts the Congress will examine Trump Organization money laundering that his colleagues have reason to believe took place and that Mueller may not be exploring as closely.  He says instances of suspected lying to the Congress suppressed by Rep. Devin Nunes will be immediately forwarded to Mueller.  He suggests the president and his family’s financial ties to Saudi Arabia are comparable to those with Russia and will get similar investigative treatment.  He does not hesitate to say collusion took place.  And he says he believes the word that best describes the president’s actions is “betrayal”–selling out the American people to serve his own financial and political interests.  It is a news-making interview you won’t want to miss–available exclusively on Deep State Radio.

Stories We’re Watching

G-20 Updates: Drama Builds as Globally Unpopular Leaders Gather in Buenos Aires

World leaders have started arriving in Buenos Aires for the two-day G-20 Summit, which officially starts tomorrow. President Trump has canceled the on-again, off-again meeting with President Putin after his longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress last year about a proposed Moscow deal. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince faces international war crimes charges and a possible showdown with Turkish President Erdogan. Analysts are watching closely the anticipated high-stakes meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping as well as discussions around a potential signing of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Argentine authorities are expecting widespread protests throughout the weekend.

• The Independent: G20 summit: Here are the private sector powerbrokers who influence
• Forbes: IP is the G20 Issue
• Project Syndicate: The Hollowing Out of the G20
• South China Morning Post: With G20 Trump-Xi talks in balance, 3 benefits for China and 1 big risk
• Financial Times: Gulf between US and China looms large ahead of G20 meeting
• Buenos Aires Times: Macron arrives in Buenos Aires as G20 nerves heighten

Russia to Bargain with Saudi on Oil Production ahead of Next Week’s OPEC Meeting

Earlier this week Russia’s Ministry of Energy held meetings with heads of domestic oil suppliers. The meetings come a week before OPEC is scheduled to convene in Vienna. Energy analysts say that Russia is likely to step up cooperation with other OPEC countries to control market supply. Insiders say that Russian producers are in the final stages of negotiation with Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s leader, over the details of oil supply reductions. The talks come amid International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2018 World Energy Outlook report which forecasts a further reduction of OPEC’s market power.

• Khaleej Times: Russia starts accepting need for oil cuts, negotiates with Saudis
• Reuters: Exclusive: Russia accepts need for oil cuts, bargains with Saudi on details – sources
• OilPrice: Is The Saudi-Russia Oil Bromance At Risk?
• Investor’s Business Daily: Russia, Saudi Arabia Huddle On Oil At G20 Summit

Argentine Prosecutor to Review War Crimes Charges against Saudi’s Crown Prince MBS

Human Rights Watch has filed a submission with an Argentine federal judge for an investigation into the alleged war crimes of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of this weekend’s G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. Earlier today an Argentine prosecutor took up the case and is currently reviewing the complaint which details MBS’s role in the crimes committed by Saudi forces in Yemen. Since MBS is also Saudi’s defence minister, prosecutors argue that he could be criminally liable for the actions of Saudi forces.

• Middle East Eye: Argentina judge seeks information from Yemen and Turkey in MBS
• Bloomberg: Trump Is Wrong: Israel Doesn’t Need MBS
• National Post: The Saudi Crown Prince wants to make friends again. First stop: G20
• The Guardian: Argentina prosecutors considering charges against Mohammed bin
• Forbes: War Crimes Allegations Against Saudi Crown Prince Filed In

Michael Cohen to Plead Guilty to Charge in Mueller Investigation as Trump Weighs Pardon for Manafort

Earlier today Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s former personal attorney, pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about a Moscow project. In August, in a case brought by Manhattan federal prosecutors, Mr. Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws and accused President Trump of directing payments to cover up potential sexual misconduct. Experts say Mr. Cohen is likely to further cooperate with Mueller’s team. Mr. Cohen’s plea is the latest development in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of President Trump. Earlier this week, Mueller accused Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager, of breaching a plea agreement by repeatedly lying to investigators. Shortly after the plea was announced, the president said that Mr. Cohen was “a weak person” to reporters before departing for the G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires.

• New York Times: Michael Cohen to Plead Guilty to Charge in Mueller Investigation
• Just Security: Yes, Collusion: The Legal Significance of the New Mueller Revelations
• WIRED: Mueller: Cohen Lied About Trump Organization’s Moscow Project

Senate to Consider Ending US Support for Saudi-backed Yemen War, Warren Demands Lobbying Firms Disclose Saudi Ties

Yesterday, in a rare bipartisan measure, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to consider ending US military support for the Saudi-backed war in Yemen. Many senators were upset over President Trump’s response to Saudi’s role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi as well as being denied a CIA briefing on the murder. A recent investigation by the Centre for International Policy (CIP) found that between 2016 and 2017, at least 5 of the 37 Republican Senators who voted against the resolution received contributions from pro-Saudi lobbying groups. Shortly after the vote Senator Elizabeth Warren sent an open letter to 18 firms, asking about current or previous work for Saudi Arabia.

• Center for International Policy: The Saudi Lobby: How the Kingdom Wins in Washington full report
• Politico: Warren demands lobbying firms come clean on Saudi ties
• Reuters: Trump support for Saudi prince leaves Turkey with tough choices
• Quartz: John Bolton won’t listen to the Khashoggi murder tape because it’s in Arabic

Brazil’s Bolsonaro Discusses Cuba, Israel, Trade with Bolton

Earlier today US National Security Adviser John Bolton met with Brazil’s president-elect Jair Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro. The two were said to discuss Israel and trade as well as Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua–Bolton’s “troika of tyranny”. Analysts believe that Bolton is likely seeking support for increase pressure on Venezuela’s  socialist government. Earlier this week, Bolsonaro announced via Twitter the nomination of retired General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz as minister of Congressional political relations. Gen Cruz is Bolsonaro’s (also a retired military man) fifth cabinet pick with previous military experience.

• Reuters: Brazilian president-elect adds fifth military man to cabinet
• Financial Times: Bolsonaro meets with Trump national security adviser John Bolton
• Haaretz: Bolsonaro’s Son Meets Kushner to Discuss Moving Brazilian Embassy
• The Guardian: Brazil reneges on hosting UN climate talks under Bolsonaro presidency

More From Deep State Radio

PODCAST: EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU’RE STUPID

When Donald Trump was presented with the overwhelming evidence of Russian interference in the US elections (of which he was Exhibit A) he said, “I don’t believe it.”  When presented with proof of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s role in ordering the murder of Jamal Khashoggi he said, “I don’t believe it.”  When presented with his own government’s assessment of the catastrophic costs of climate change he said, you guessed it, “I don’t believe it.”  Who needs rose-colored glasses when you have your head that far up your own narcissism?  Is this a canny strategy or is Trump our Maroon-in-Chief?  Kori Schake offers Henry the IVth, Part 1 as one of her Tiara-of-Optimism worthy examples.  Mieke Eoyang and Emily Brandwin are not quite so sanguine but all discuss this phenomenon as well as Russia & Ukraine, Brexit, our self-inflicted border crisis and more!  Tune in!

NATIONAL SECURITY MAGAZINE – A CONVERSATION WITH WENDY SHERMAN

New from the Deep State Radio Network, National Security Magazine will be a regular podcast series featuring long-form interviews with important national security newsmakers.  In this week’s episode we feature a conversation with Wendy Sherman, the first woman to hold the post of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and author of the new book, “Not for the Faint of Heart“, a memoir of her extraordinary life.  We discuss with her experiences negotiating the Iran nuclear deal, facing off with North Korea’s leaders and coping with the challenges of dealing with Washington’s bureaucracy.  She also shares her candid views on the current administration and where we are headed on the critical issues of our time.  Tune in.