The Global Liberty Alliance Podcast with Jason Poblete (Jason Poblete)
Explorez tous les épisodes de The Global Liberty Alliance Podcast with Jason Poblete
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| 05 Oct 2021 | Paul Rusesabagina's Plight for Freedom and Justice in Rwanda | 00:56:21 | |
On November 9, 2005, President George W. Bush awarded Paul Rusesabagina the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for saving the lives of thousands during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. A real-life hero of the acclaimed film Hotel Rwanda and the President and Founder of the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, Paul served as the Hotel des Mille Collines manager in Kigali. He bravely risked his life to shelter Hutus and Tutsis, seeking refuge from the genocide that killed more than 800,000 people. But, in a bizarre twist of fate, last week, Mr. Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years by a Rwandan court that international law experts have repeatedly said was a sham legal proceeding orchestrated by Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, Mr. Rusesabagina's long-time adversary. On this podcast, Jason Poblete speaks with one of Paul's six children, Ms. Anaïse Kanimba, about her father's plight for freedom and justice in Rwanda. Further Reading
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| 15 Nov 2022 | A Family's Justice Journey - Holding Lebanon to Account for the Death of an American, Amer Fakhoury | 00:43:12 | |
At times, we are called to do the most extraordinary things at the most challenging moments in life. That is the story of one American family in New Hampshire, the Fakhoury family. In August 2020, the Fakhoury family said goodbye to their beloved, Amer, who died as a result of injuries that he sustained while in the custody of Lebanon's corrupt security services or Lebanon's equivalent of our CIA and FBI wrapped up in one. During the course of the last two years, the family has set out to find out what happened to Amer, and start their justice journey to ensure that this never happens again to Americans or US nationals who travel abroad to Lebanon or to other nations. The Fakhoury family started a foundation, filed a lawsuit in the District Court of the District of Columbia, and has engaged in other advocacy efforts including with Congress. Last week the Global Liberty Alliance co-signed an open letter with the Fakhoury Foundation urging U.S. officials to fully enforce the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act in the matter of Amer Fakhoury. Further Reading
---- If you want to help defend the fundamental rights of Americans, free enterprise, and the rule of law, consider donating to the Global Liberty Alliance. GLA is also accepting Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Follow this link to learn more! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 01 Nov 2022 | Combating Iranian Religious and Political Extremism Is Essential for Global Liberty and Prosperity | 01:06:25 | |
Rebecca Schönenbach is an economist who works as an independent consultant in the field of counter-terrorism. As a specialist in Sharia, Islamic extremism, and counter-terrorism financing, she gave lectures at universities in Istanbul, Sarajevo, and Budapest, among others, and advises authorities, NGOs, and companies. Schönenbach also writes papers on the topics of Islamism, Islamic finance, and the connection between radicalization and misogyny. Schönenbach is the chairwoman of two non-profit associations: Veto! For the rule of law e. V. www.veto-rechtsstaat.de and Women for Freedom e. V. www.frauenfuerfreiheit.de and is a columnist for the German Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Read her bio on LinkedIn. In addition to the recent uprising in Iran, Jason and Rebecca discuss how the Iranian regime's long-term game plan of religious extremism impacts in the greater Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. With the support of autocratic states such as China and Russia, Iran seeks to destabilize democracies including the United States and Europe in order to create a new global order. | |||
| 10 Jan 2024 | Iran and Transnational Terror: The Matter of Jimmy Sharmahd from California | 01:03:33 | |
In the upcoming episode of the Global Liberty Alliance (GLA) podcast with Jason Poblete, we confront a significant discrepancy in the Biden administration's announcement last year. The administration declared the release of all Americans detained in Iran, implying a complete return of all Americans and U.S. nationals held hostage in Iran. This statement, however, was not entirely accurate - in fact, it was incorrect. GLA has asked Congress to conduct oversight on this matter. The release excluded several Americans and U.S. nationals, including Jimmy Sharmahd from California and Shahab Dalili from Virginia. The Global Liberty Alliance (GLA) has identified additional cases of unjust imprisonment or hostage situations in Iran, underscoring the gravity of the issue. In this episode, we feature a discussion with Jimmy’s daughter, Gazelle. Jason and Gazelle delve into efforts to facilitate Jimmy's release. This conversation raises pressing questions: Why was Jimmy Sharmahd, among others, left behind? Are more Americans and U.S. nationals detained abroad facing similar neglect? We also ponder on how America can improve its response to such situations. Additionally, the broader implications of these cases on all Americans are explored. Tune in as we strive to uncover truths, navigate the intricacies of these international diplomatic challenges, and discuss actionable steps you can take to make a difference. Join us in this enlightening journey for answers and awareness. Additional Reading --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 11 May 2021 | The Next Decade of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom, with Faith McDonnell | 01:08:16 | |
The persecution of Christians worldwide is at an all-time high. In this podcast episode, Jason Poblete addresses the crisis with Faith McDonnell, who has been on the frontlines of religious freedom advocacy since the 1970s. Faith is currently the Director of Advocacy at Katartismos Global, a 501(c)(3) organization that equips the Church for mission and ministry. From 1993 until 2021, Faith served as the Director of Religious Liberty Programs and of the Church Alliance for a New Sudan at the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Faith writes and speaks on the subject of the persecuted Church and has organized rallies and vigils for Sudan in front of the White House, the State Department, the Canadian Embassy, and the Sudanese Embassy. She has drafted legislation on religious persecution for the Episcopal Church and for the United States Congress. In June 2007, her book, Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’.s Children, was published by Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Further Reading
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| 23 Feb 2021 | Defending the Marginalized, with FIU Law Professor and Litigator, Juan Gomez | 01:09:14 | |
On this podcast, Jason speaks with Juan Carlos Gomez, Associate Clinical Professor at the Florida International University College of Law and Director of the Carlos A. Costa Immigration Human Rights Clinic. They discuss the law as an instrument for good, especially when used to help those at the margins of society, such as the mentally ill. Prof. Gomez has been defending the rights of individuals in immigration matters for over 30 years including in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, as well as the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. In immigration law, he has helped thousands of individuals in situations including removal and deportation proceedings, family immigration, and the transfer of professionals and executives to the U.S. He works with a wide range of clients: counseling corporations on compliance with immigration laws, as well as defending scores of mentally ill or criminal accused. He also has coordinated teams of attorneys in multi-forum conflicts to effectively resolve clients’ problems. As an attorney for a Central American Refugee Project, he helped in the representation of thousands of individuals in the Southeastern United States in a national class action. He has represented refugees from every part of the world where there have been conflicts over the last three decades. As director of East Little Havana Legal Services, he led a team of attorneys to resolve the series of problems faced by clients. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 24 Jul 2020 | Rule of Law in Guatemala and the Constitutional Crisis | 01:13:55 | |
We invited former diplomat and Guatemalan vice-presidential candidate Betty Marroquin back to the podcast to pick up where we left off the last time we spoke a few weeks ago. You should listen to the first podcast too because it places in context a lot of what we talk about in this episode. There is a link below that will take you to a short but informative interview at The Impunity Observer whose team consulted with a constitutional attorney and former Professor of Constitutional Law José Luis González. It is an overview of some of the leading legal issues Guatemalan jurists must contend in an ongoing political and legal battle to de-politicize the judiciary. In addition to an overview of the recent history that gave rise to the current issues, Betty and I discuss how Russia has been meddling in Guatemalan affairs via the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs or non-profits). The sole aim of this meddling is undermining regional security and American interests. While we did not talk about it in this episode, the same can be said about Communist China and, to a lesser extent, the Iranian regime and its proxies. Guatemala is a beautiful country with a magnificent culture and people. For some bizarre reason, the left the world over has been obsessed with undermining Guatemalan institutions and their constitution. The reason? You decide. I think part of the reason why Guatemalan institutions have been under assault by cultural radicals on the Left since the end of their civil war in the 1990s is that the Guatemalan Constitution protects life from conception until natural death. More on that later. We have another set of programs in the works with other Guatemalan civil society leaders and jurists. Further Reading
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| 29 Sep 2020 | Judicial Crisis: Guatemalan Constitutional Crisis Part 2 | 01:10:57 | |
Under Article 268 of Guatemala's Constitution, the main duty of the Constitutional Court of Guatemala is the defense of the constitutional order. The Court is supposed to do this by impartially and its functions are clearly outlined in the Constitution, particularly Article 272. It is supposed to the guardian of rule of law and constitutional order, yet jurists and rule of law activists in Guatemala claim it is operating illegally and Congress must act to restore constitutional order and hold lawbreakers to account. One of several reasons Guatemalan lawyers are struggling to restore the integrity of this court is foreign meddling including the now, mostly defunct, International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), an independent international organization created in 2006 to supposedly help the people of Guatemala deal. CICIG made matters worse, not better. CICIG undermined Guatemalan sovereignty and rule of law, and in the process, U.S. interests in Guatemala and the region. It was a globalist experiment, backed by the left-leaning policy establishment in Washington, D.C., that went terribly wrong. It is an excellent case study of what not to do when combatting issues such as corruption, impunity, and other important matters every nation in the world must deal with, not just Guatemala. The solution lies in strong national institutions, backed by Guatemalan jurists, not foreigners or NGOs. In addition to the United Nations-anchored CICIG that deployed foreign lawyers, some allegedly very corrupt ones, foreign NGOs, some based in the United States, Russia, and other meddlers have exploited a really difficult phase in Guatemala's history, its civil war period, and have derailed many anti-impunity and anti-corruption efforts. Meanwhile, these non-Guatemalan actors work against Guatemalan jurists seeking to reform the system by making outrageous claims in studies or media stories such as specious allegation Guatemala's democracy is in peril. A better way forward is for foreigners to cease meddling in Guatemalan affairs and allow Guatemalan jurists to do their work without foreign interference. Guatemala needs liberty, not globalism. Further Reading
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| 15 Feb 2022 | Protecting Life and Property, A Discussion with Virginia Gun Rights Advocate Philip Van Cleave | 00:42:25 | |
In this episode, Jason speaks with the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) president and gun rights advocate Phillip Van Cleave. A former law enforcement officer from Texas, Phillip has been defending gun owner rights in Virginia since the 1990s. The Virginia Citizens Defense League is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental human right of all Virginians to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 13 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Further Reading
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| 23 Oct 2021 | Loudon County Virginia Parents Defending Fundamental Rights and Freedom | 00:33:05 | |
Mr. Dimis Christophy is a Loudon County, Virginia parent who, along with hundreds of other families in the region, are locked in what appears to have become a battle of wills with the Loudon County school board. On this podcast, Jason speaks with Dimis to learn why Loudon County has ignited a national movement from parents across the political spectrum to rein in out-of-control school boards and local governments. Dimis reminds us that elected officials work for the people, not the other way around. Unfortunately, the Loudon County Virginia school board has yet to learn that less but with elections right around the corner, they soon will. Please support Dimis and their efforts; be sure to visit his website, www.realimmigrantcorner.com where two Iranian immigrants to the U.S. share their life experiences and success. Further Reading
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| 21 Jun 2020 | Triangle of Terror in Latin America: The Nicaragua Leg | 01:05:59 | |
The Global Liberty Alliance is a non-government organization based in Alexandria, Virginia. Its mission is to strengthen the rule of law, empower human rights defenders, and advance the cause of justice. In the podcast, we talk with Mr. Roberto Bendaña an American businessman of Nicaraguan ancestry who paid a very high price for standing up to the Ortega-Murillo regime because of his political work in Nicaragua in a group he helped started called Hagamos Democracia (Growing Democracy). Mr. Bendaña was falsely accused by Nicaragua’s Sandinista regime of various crimes because he dared to call for free and transparent elections in Nicaragua including a clean up of the voter rolls in that country. Warned of the impending politically motivated show trial against him, Mr. Bendaña with the help of friends, and what is left of the free press, as well as honest members of the police who sympathized with his situation, fled Nicaragua and arrived in the United States in December 2013. On or about January 2, 2014, Nicaragua abused the INTERPOL mechanisms by requesting a Red Notice based on false charges and forced Roberto and his family to flee Nicaragua. Many regimes abuse INTERPOL including Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Russia. An INTERPOL Red Notice alerts law enforcement agencies around the world of an outstanding arrest warrant. You can read more about it here. Roberto remains active in the family coffee business and currently resides in College Station, Texas where he also teaches Spanish. He has remained active in the freedom cause for Nicaragua. For one-page background and other summaries of the of nations discussed in this episode, follow the links: --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 02 Aug 2020 | Religious Liberty Under Assault in Nicaragua; Catholic Cathedral in Managua Fire Bombed | 00:59:54 | |
Religious liberty is a national security issue. Where the right of people to worship as they desire comes under assault, bad things, sooner or later, will most assuredly follow. In this podcast, we go to Central America, to Managua, to talk with a brave Catholic priest on the frontlines of an increasingly brutal war where several Americans have died too. Indeed, religious liberty is under assault in Nicaragua, yet Father Raúl Zamora believes a lot of good can come of this crisis once democracy is restored and the people free again. Father Zamora counsel we must first shed indifference and bear witness to what has taken and will continue to take place. The Ortega-Murillo regime is resorting Cold War-era tactics of the Sandinistas and is waging an open war against people of faith, particularly the Catholic Church. According to the State Department's 2019 International Religious Freedom Report," [m]any of the same religious freedom violations and abuses committed by the Ortega regime and its supporters against the Church and its followers in the wake of the 2018 protests continued into 2019." In this episode, Jason Poblete speaks with a Catholic priest in Managua, Nicaragua who is on the front lines defending religious liberty for persons of all faith traditions, Father Raúl Zamora. During the First Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom on July 26, 2018, Vice President Mike Pence called Father Zamora who was also in attendance at the Department of State gathering, a "hero of the faith." The week before the Ministerial, the Ortega-Murillo regime laid siege to Father Zamora's Divine Mercy Parish, where more than 200 students sought sanctuary during peaceful protests against the Ortega-Murillo regime. Two students were assassinated, one in the Church, by snipers under the command of the Ortega-Murillo regime. On July 31, the same day we recorded this podcast with Father Zamora, a chapel inside the Cathedral in Managua was firebombed with a Molotov cocktail by, as of this recording, unknown assailants. They spoke about that incident; however, the podcast talks more about the future, the importance of bearing witness to the mass crimes taking place, potentially politicide or genocidal act against groups of persons with specific political ideas and from distinct socio-economic backgrounds, and the need to restore democracy. Father Zamora shares his hopes and aspirations for Nicaragua as the people of that Central American nation weather a political crisis that could result in more violence in the months ahead. Further reading:
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| 16 Jan 2024 | Case Update: Mark Swidan, American Political Prisoner in Communist China | 01:02:08 | |
In the latest episode of the Global Liberty Alliance Podcast, airing on January 16, 2024, host Jason Poblete welcomes back a special guest, Katherine Swidan, to continue the conversation about her son, Mark Swidan, an American wrongfully imprisoned in China. The case update, released just two days after Mark's 49th birthday, offers an in-depth update on his situation, highlighting recent developments and the ongoing efforts of his family to secure his freedom. Katherine's return to the show underscores the personal and emotional aspects, providing listeners with a unique and heartfelt perspective on the struggles and resilience of those fighting for justice in challenging international legal environments. This episode is essential for anyone interested in human rights, international relations, and the continued advocacy for Mark Swidan's release. Further Reading
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| 09 Feb 2021 | Hostages in Iran, Part 2: Dissident Journalist Kidnapped and Held Hostage by Iran | 00:57:09 | |
This week on the GLA podcast, GLA President Jason Poblete speaks with Ms. Gazelle Sharmahd, the daughter of Mr. Jamshid Sharmahd. A U.S. Legal Permanent resident based with his family in California, Jamshid was kidnapped and taken hostage by the regime on or about August 1, 2020. A registered nurse working on the pandemic's frontlines, Gazelle is one of her father's strongest advocates for his release. Jamshid, an Iranian-German national, has witnessed the hardship of an oppressive government, which has been ruling over Iran since 1979. He was forced to flee Iran because he did not share the same ideals as the Islamic Regime. Jamshid has always stood up for justice and basic human rights like freedom of speech. According to Gazelle and her family, America was only the country that wholeheartedly accepted Jamshid and her family. Jamshid's recent abduction was not the first time the Iranians have intimidated or harassed this family. In 2011, as CNN reported, Iran attempted to assassinate him on U.S. soil, a plot foiled by the FBI. Despite the challenges, Gazelle shares with Jason how their family has persevered and remains singularly focused on liberating Jamshid from Iranian captivity. Iran has been using hostage-taking and kidnapping as a tool of state since the 1980s. There are currently several Americans held hostage in Iranian prisons, as well as many other foreigners such as Jamshid. What is particularly disturbing about this case is that several foreign governments may have been involved, facilitated, or allowed Iranian agents to kidnap a dissident. Jamshid had not traveled to Iran, he was on his way back to the United States after a business trip and had traveled through Germany and the UAE en route to California. Further reading
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| 10 Nov 2020 | International Advocate (and the 'Most Hated Man at the United Nations') Visits with GLA | 00:31:41 | |
During this podcast, Jason talks with a fellow international lawyer and human rights advocate, Mr. Hillel C. Neuer. Hillel is the executive director of UN Watch. UN Watch is a human rights NGO and UN watchdog group based in Geneva, Switzerland. Neuer is the founding chairman of the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a coalition of 25 NGOs from around the world. Neuer is from Montreal, Canada. He holds a BA in intellectual history and political science from Concordia University, a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws from the McGill University Faculty of Law, which he graduated in 1997, and a Master of Laws in comparative constitutional law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Neuer served as a law clerk to the Supreme Court of Israel and a Graduate Fellow at the Shalem Center think tank. In 2007, Hillel Neuer’s banned U.N. speech became the most viewed and written-about NGO speech in the history of the United Nations. News reports described it as a “stunning rebuke of the U.N. Human Rights Council” and “a diplomatic moment to remember.” Why was Hillel called the 'most hated man at the United Nations'? Be sure to listen! Further Reading
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| 14 Dec 2022 | A Virginia Mom's Quest to Educate Fellow Americans About the Importance of Liberty and the CCP Threat | 00:46:44 | |
Virginia mom and liberty warrior Xi Van Fleet grew up in Mao Zedong's Communist China. Raised during the Cultural Revolution, after high school, Xi, along with all the urban youths, was forced to work in the fields for three years to be re-educated by the peasants. She was able to go to college only after Mao’s death. In 1986 she came to America as a student to pursue her graduate studies. For the past 30 years, she has worked in the field of Information Management and stayed out of politics or any civic activity; however, starting in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, she decided she had to speak up. Compelled by her personal experience during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and the realization that what she has experienced is taking place here in America, she has committed herself to warn the American people and help them see what is happening now in America. Further Reading
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| 10 Feb 2024 | [After Show] Venezuela, Cuba, and policymaking in Washington, DC with foreign policy expert Caleb McCarry | 00:08:39 | |
We received a lot of good feedback from several listeners about the show with my good friend, Caleb McCarry. I also listened to a podcast recommended by a friend who follows these issues and recorded with former Congressman Joe Garcia (D-Fla.) about some related Cuba issues (here is the link). In summary, when considering US/Cuba relations, without justice and accountability, we can never really move the needle in a meaningful way. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 08 Mar 2022 | Are US Sanctions and Foreign Assistance Laws Being Politically Weaponized in Guatemala? | 01:17:02 | |
Last week in an exclusive interview with Guatemala Attorney General María Consuelo Porras, Jason Poblete and the Attorney General discussed why she thought the United States had imposed sanctions earlier this on her and other Guatemalans. You can listen to that podcast by following this link. The first podcast was recorded in Spanish with Attorney General Porras, so we decided to record another podcast with colleagues in Guatemala who are on the frontlines of freedom battles. On this podcast, we dig deeper and speak with two leading conservative thought leaders in Guatemala, Dr. José Luis González Dubón, a constitutional lawyer and practitioner, and former Vice Presidential candidate and business, Ms. Betty Marroquin. Editor at Large Steve Hecht is a businessman, writer, and film producer, born and raised in New York. Further Reading
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| 25 Jul 2022 | ‘Death sentence certain' in Iran, Says Family of Jimmy Sharmahd from California | 00:53:09 | |
The Global Liberty Alliance has been advocating to secure the release of Mr. Jamshid "Jimmy" Sharmahd, a human rights activist and journalist from California held hostage in Iran for nearly two years. In this podcast, GLA President Jason Poblete talks with his daughter Gazelle Sharmahd, a registered nurse in California, about the latest developments in Mr. Sharmahd's case. Last week Gazelle told The Jerusalem Post and other international news outlets that the Iranian regime's lawyer said a "death sentence is certain" in her dad's case. The upcoming session before the regime's kangaroo court system, the Revolutionary Court, makes it the sixth hearing of Jimmy's "sham trial." The death sentence will be announced soon and could be carried out immediately. There is no rule of law in Iran. Iran tried to assassinate Jimmy in California in 2009 in a plot that the FBI foiled. The Biden administration recently announced an international emergency concerning Iran and hostage-taking; however, no other information was released about the status of efforts to bring US nationals home from Iran. The Biden administration is also seeking to reverse the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Iran deal, a deal that condoned hostage-taking. The GLA and other NGOs, including hostage advocacy groups and former hostages, have recommended that all US nationals be freed before sitting down for any talks with Iran. Unfortunately US, German, and other stakeholders continue to negotiate with the state sponsors of terrorism in Iran, and there has been no progress on hostages. GLA believes the Iranian regime targeted Mr. Sharmahd in retribution for US policy against Iran. Under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, the US must help secure the release of Jimmy and other US nationals held hostage in Iran. ---- If you want to do more to support efforts to defend the fundamental rights of Americans, free enterprise, and the rule of law, consider donating to the Global Liberty Alliance. GLA is also accepting Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Follow this link to learn more. Further Reading
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| 29 Mar 2022 | SPECIAL REPORT: AMERICAN HOSTAGE IN CHINA. The Matter of Mark Swidan, Unjustly Imprisoned in China for Almost 10 Years | 01:12:57 | |
American citizen Mark Swidan has been unlawfully imprisoned in Communist China for close to ten years. What started out as a business trip in late 2012, turned into a nightmare for the Swidan family when he was unlawfully detained by police on November 12, 2012. On this podcast, GLA President Jason Poblete speaks with Mr. Swidan's mom, Mr. Katherine Swidan. Without probable cause, the Chinese police stormed Mark's hotel room in Dongguan Municipality, Guangdong Province. The police claimed that they had found drugs on his driver and translator. All were taken into custody. No drugs were found on Mr. Swidan or in his room, but the driver and translator blamed Mark. The Chinese police also took him into custody on suspicion of trafficking and manufacturing methamphetamine. You can learn more about the case at the California-based Dui Hua foundation website. Sentenced to death by the Chinese kangaroo court system, on February 5, 2020, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has concluded that Mr. Swidan has been arbitrarily detained by the Chinese authorities in violation of international law. WGAD has urged his immediate release with compensation and other reparations. Inexplicably, the U.S. government has failed to raise the profile of this case with Chinese officials. There was a unique opportunity to do so before the Beijing Olympics, yet nothing happened. Mark is not the only American unlawfully detained in the Chinese gulag prison system. Further Reading
Please consider donating and supporting matters such as these. The Global Liberty Alliance (GLA) is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are fully deductible as charitable contributions for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Your monetary gift is an investment in the cause of liberty. With your investment, you can help support GLA’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the importance of fundamental individual rights, free markets, and the rule of law. You can also support human rights advocates defend victims and advance the cause of justice. LEARN MORE. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 20 Oct 2020 | Jason talks Latin America with Ana Quintana with the Heritage Foundation | 00:51:10 | |
On the edition, Jason Poblete speaks with Ana Quintana, from the Heritage Foundation. Ana is a Senior Policy Analyst, Latin America, and the Western Hemisphere who leads Heritage's U.S. policy efforts toward Latin America. Ana has authored numerous policy studies included but not limited to Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela. Like Jason, Quintana was born and raised in Miami and also resides in Virginia. Jason and Ana discuss recent events related to Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Further Reading
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| 30 Apr 2024 | Divine Mercy Radio (WDMC-AM): Interview with Jason Poblete of GLA | 00:57:09 | |
Bill Gent with Divine Mercy Radio on Florida's Space Coast welcomes Jason Poblete, president and co-founder of The Global Liberty Alliance, to discuss his work representing Americans unlawfully detained in other nations. Divine Mercy Radio's mission is to proclaim, through radio, the Good News of Jesus Christ and to communicate His truths, as found in Sacred Scripture and Tradition and in the magisterial teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Divine Mercy Radio commenced broadcasting on Divine Mercy Sunday 2008, bringing the message of the love and mercy of God to people of all faiths and no faith, the reality of Jesus' presence to those seeking meaning in their lives, and the promises of Jesus to those oppressed by sin, guilt, anxieties, and addictions. Learn more by following this link. | |||
| 01 Feb 2021 | US-Cuba Policy at a Crossroads, a talk with Dr. Andy Gomez, former Assistant Provost of the University of Miami, Cuba Expert | 01:07:16 | |
On Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration's "Cuba policy is governed by two principles. First, support for democracy and human rights - that will be at the core of our efforts. Second is Americans, especially Cuban-Americans, are the best ambassadors for freedom in Cuba. So we’ll review the Trump administration policies." Dr. Andy Gomez, former Assistant Provost of the University of Miami and Director of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (Retired), joins Jason Poblete of the Global Liberty Alliance and takes a deep dive into the history of U.S. Cuba policy and issues that the Biden administration should consider as it develops its Cuba policy. Further Reading - Social Challenges Facing Cuba, book by Dr. Andy Gomez (2014) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 16 Aug 2020 | A Talk With Human Rights Champion, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Ret.) | 00:50:06 | |
A schoolteacher and former Florida state legislator who went on to serve in the Congress for almost 30 years, former U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), or Ileana, as she prefers to be called, has dedicated her professional life to public service. A long-time human rights champion, Ileana talks with Jason Poblete of the Global Liberty Alliance about the importance that Americans remain engaged in the world. While in Congress Ileana served on several Congressional committees, but her favorite was the committee she went on to lead as Chairwoman, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Ileana has championed the advancement of freedom and democracy throughout her career and to this day. She was a pioneer in developing policy solutions to hold human rights abusers accountable, leading the fight to enact keystone laws in the use of economic sanctions, such as the 2012 Global Magnitsky Act. Before being elected by her peers as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana served as Chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia; International Operations and Human Rights; International Economic Policy and Trade; and Africa; and as Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. Ileana also served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was a member of the CIA Subcommittee and the National Security Agency and Cybersecurity Subcommittee. On this podcast, Ileana and Jason talk about the use of economic sanctions as a tool in foreign policy, especially to advance the cause of human rights, and the need for American policymakers to address these topics. They crammed a lot in one hour, but we expect another podcast with Ileana since there were a lot of issues they could not discuss, and, as you'll learn in the podcast, Ileana would like a tougher interview next time! Further Reading
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| 09 Mar 2021 | Bulgarians Struggle with Rule of Law, Lawyers Work to Reform the System | 00:45:07 | |
Almost 30 years since the end of the Cold War, former Eastern Bloc nations such as Bulgaria are still struggling with Soviet ghosts, including the corruption of the legal system. That is exactly what is going on in Bulgaria, a NATO partner and strong U.S. ally. Rocked by street protests during much of last year, Bulgarians are tired of the corruption and are demanding reform of the legal system. In this episode, GLA President Jason Poblete speaks with Dr. Radosveta Vassileva, an international lawyer speaking out against corruption in Bulgaria, and other human rights activists working to strengthen the rule of law. Radosveta has raised awareness of the rampant corruption and inadmissible human rights violations in Bulgaria. She describes her opinion that the EU Commission has abdicated its obligations and must do more to advance the rule of law. Radosveta's family has been subjected to unprecedented abuse by Bulgaria’s government. Last week, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a joint bipartisan statement that if requested, the United States will "[a]ssist Bulgaria in tackling corruption, restoring an independent media, and promoting the rule of law. The steps Bulgaria takes to address these issues will only serve to strengthen our relationship further." Jason and Radosveta discuss how U.S. economic sanctions, such as the Global Magnistsky law, can help support reform efforts in Bulgaria and other countries where the rule of law is under assault. Radosveta has been working on applying Global Magnistsky sanctions against corrupt Bulgarian officials. Further Reading
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| 24 Jul 2020 | The Extremes of Virginia, A Talk with August Wallmeyer | 00:47:02 | |
In this podcast, I talk with August Wallmeyer, a former journalist, speechwriter, and energy trade lobbyist who spent many years working in the Virginia Assembly. A few years ago I read his book, the Extremes of Virginia, a book about areas of the Commonwealth that a majority of us rarely if ever visit or think about when it comes to politics or policy matters. Wallmeyer, who traveled hundreds of miles to complete his research, brings all his experiences to bear as he unpacks three “rural, poor, and largely unknown” areas of Virginia: Southwest, Southside, and the Eastern Shore. I moved to Virginia in 1992 and never left. I first visited in the 1980s on a family visit and knew I would return, and stay. One of the first things we did when I relocated from Miami, Florida was, well, explore as much as I could. Over the years I have visited just about every single county and met people from all walks of life. One thing I noticed, however, was how different life was outside the northern Virginia region. I had a general understanding as to why, but not the politics or the policy reasons behind it. August's book helped fill the gaps. For those of you who know me, I've always been skeptical of foreign assistance programs (the tax money you and I send as taxpayers to foreign lands). America has invested billions of dollars a year in other nations for all sorts of things. You name it, your tax dollars have likely paid for it including wars, some necessary, some not; nation-building, a terrible idea; and much more. These days it is much easier to know where your money goes because of the Internet. Yet, most voters don't know and, I think, don't want to know. Yet what about the policy challenges right here in America, in places such as the subject of this book? Over the course of many years, I've talked with policymakers and civil society leaders throughout the Western Hemisphere. They, too, struggle with some of these issues in their homelands and, guess what, a lot of what happens in these places impacts us right here, in places such as the Extremes of Virginia where even Mexican drug cartels have tried to make a home base for their illegal drug activities and others, human trafficking. Where I live, we still deal with transnational crime rooted in Central America such as MS-13 and other gangs. Another show focusing on these issues is coming soon. Tossing money at a problem is not the answer and, as August explains in the podcast, it can make things worse. Now I am not saying we should eliminate all foreign assistance or related programs. Some of these programs are needed to protect and strengthen U.S. national security and other interests; heck, we spent more money on domestic programs than we do on our military! I think the question is one of political will, not money. Where is the political energy I see from lawmakers on building nations for re-building our hardest-hit parts of the state and the nation? And it is not about charity either. We have plenty of it. People who can want jobs, not handouts. These are some of the questions and issues I explore with August. Further Reading:
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| 26 Jan 2024 | Podcast Preview: Freedom After Captivity: Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert's Journey | 00:01:54 | |
Mark your calendars for #TuneInTuesday next week (January 30, 2024)! 📅 Join our latest #podcast to discover the recent works of former Iran hostage Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert. Learn how you can contribute to the fight against #EndHostageDiplomacy. 🎙️🌍 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 28 Dec 2021 | Venezuela's "Opposition," A Deep Dive with Venezuelan Human Rights Activist Alessa Polga | 00:54:10 | |
As we wind down 2021, Jason talks with Venezuelan Human Rights Activist Alessa Polga. Alessa is Venezuelan by birth but currently camped out in Ontario, Canada, making Venezuela's liberty her mission. Venezuela is one of the world's leading oil producers; however, Alessa told the Toronto Star in 2017, "our natural disaster is our government." In addition to discussing the plight of the Venezuelan people, Jason and Alessa take a stab at unpacking the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, human rights, and why what the United States calls the opposition is just opposition in name only. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 28 Sep 2021 | Seeking Justice for Amer Fakhoury, an American kidnapped and held hostage by the Lebanese Security Services | 00:47:07 | |
Upon arrival at the Beirut airport, Lebanese officials kept Mr. Amer Fakhoury U.S. passport as part of a routine procedure he was told for former Lebanese nationals who had not been in the country for more than 20 years. Accompanied by his wife and two of his four daughters, Amer, a New Hampshire businessman who was returning to his ancestral homeland for a family vacation, perhaps thought nothing of it at the time. Little did he and his family know at the time what would transpire a few days later. On this podcast, two of his four daughters, Guila and Zoya, share this remarkable story about their father, a freedom-loving Catholic and soldier. He fought for a democratic Lebanon free of terrorists, such as Hezbollah. Amer's story started decades before, in Southern Lebanon, where Amer defended his homeland from terrorists who have since taken over his ancestral homeland. Forced to leave and start his life in America with his family, they lived the American dream that became a nightmare on September 12, 2019. Determined to hold the perpetrators to account and help other American families going through similar struggles, the Amer Fakhoury Foundation provides advocacy, emotional, and financial support to the victims and their families. In addition, the Foundation works to ensure anti-torture laws are created and implemented in countries that enforce torture on helpless victims. Further Reading
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| 01 Sep 2020 | "The Triangle of Tyranny in Latin America," with American Enterprise Institute Fellow, Dr. Ryan Berg | 01:11:51 | |
This week's GLA Podcast goes beyond Latin America's "Troika of Tyranny," Venezuela, Cuba, & Nicaragua, to explore the role of tyranny in transnational crime and U.S. national security interests throughout Latin America. Guest Dr. Ryan Berg is a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on transnational organized crime, narco-trafficking, and illicit networks. He also studies Latin American foreign policy and development issues. Before joining AEI, Dr. Berg served as a research consultant at the World Bank, as a Fulbright Scholar in Brazil, and a visiting doctoral fellow at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. He has also worked in Peru and São Paulo, Brazil. In this episode, you'll hear about the Cuba link to Nicaraguan troubles, Brazil, and transnational crime, how Mexican cartels continue to engage in cross-border criminal activities, including right here in Virginia. You'll hear how sanctions are a tool, not a policy, and how recent events in Venezuela could result in further destabilization of the Andean region. You can read more about Ryan and his work on the AEI website. Further Reading
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| 25 Aug 2020 | Fighting for Justice Across the Globe, Holding International Organizations to Account | 01:12:51 | |
On this podcast, GLA's Jason Poblete talks with Washington, D.C. International Human Rights litigator, Ms. Abbe Jolles. Abbe represents clients worldwide, including in conflict zones. She has handled individual and corporate, criminal, and civil matters involving unlawful property confiscation, incarceration, or risk of incarceration, and other fundamental rights violations. Ms. Jolles is admitted to the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UNICTR), where she achieved a landmark decision; to the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) - Discipline Council; the Special Court of Sierra Leone (SCSL); and the Special Tribunal of Lebanon (STL). She is also the first American woman admitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the first American admitted to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. The speakers discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the ICC, international organizations in general, and their potential effects on American sovereignty, the Constitution, and the rule of law. Does the system work, or is there a better way to hold human rights violators to account? Further reading: Hear Their Cries, Abbe's victims' rights organization | Global Legal, Abbe's law firm in Washington DC --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 24 Jan 2023 | How the FBI Helped Nab the Notorious Spy some have called the "Queen of Cuba" | 01:04:53 | |
A retired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent, Mr. Pete Lapp served over two decades in the FBI and is highly experienced in counterintelligence, espionage, economic espionage, and trade secret theft. In this podcast, GLA's Jason Poblete talks with Mr. Lapp about one of his more high-profile cases, the espionage investigation of Ana Belen Montes, who was arrested ten days after 9/11/2001. Montes was sentenced to 25 years for spying for the Cuban Intelligence Service while she worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency. On January 6, 2023, Montes was in the headlines again because she had been released and had reportedly returned to Puerto Rico to live with her sister. Mr. Lapp has worked on many other national security cases. In October 2021, Pete founded PJ Lapp Consulting, LLC, where he now focuses his vast knowledge and experience in counterintelligence and insider risk (IR); He is a widely recognized expert and thought leader in the area of IR. You can learn more about his practice by visiting his website. Further Reading
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| 31 Jul 2023 | Beware of the Havana Tall Tales on Cuba's "Private Sector" | 00:28:59 | |
Last month the Miami Herald published an interesting story by Nora Gámez Torres, "How Miami companies are secretly fueling the dramatic growth of Cuba’s private businesses." A link is posted below. In this podcast, Jason discusses how this is nothing new and how politicians and activists continue to peddle the fiction that Cuba has a private sector. Further Reading
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| 31 Jan 2023 | An Update on the Fakhoury Family's Hostage Accountability Efforts | 00:57:30 | |
In a November 15, 2022, podcast with the Fakhoury Foundation, the Fakhoury family from New Hampshire shared how they set out over two years ago to find out what happened to Amer Fakhoury, who died as a result of injuries that he sustained while in the custody of Lebanon's corrupt security services or Lebanon's equivalent of our CIA and FBI wrapped up in one. Be sure to listen to that show! In this episode, two of Amer's daughters, Guila and Zoya, provide an update and discuss current events with GLA's Jason Poblete beyond the story and how events in Lebanon may be impacting their accountability efforts. Further Reading
Go Deeper
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| 10 Jun 2022 | SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS EXCLUSIVE: A Conversation with Guatemala's President, Dr. Alejandro Giammattei (SPANISH SHOW) | 00:55:06 | |
Guatemala’s President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei skipped the Summit of the Americas this week, and we wanted to know why. The conversation did not disappoint. Jason and President Giammattei talked about transnational crime, human trafficking, and fending off foreign meddlers such as Communist China. Despite these regional challenges, President Giammattei's bigger problem these days, or nuisance, seems to be our own country and an army of NGOs, many funded by US taxpayers and Europeans, hell-bent on making trouble for the President and his allies in Guatemala. Why? For starters, President Giammattei is staunchly pro-life and a law-and-order leader. He defends Guatemala's sovereignty fiercely and is not afraid to poke Uncle Sam if necessary. Yet it's clear President Giammattei wants to be a partner, not an adversary, and he continues to work with the US despite the unfounded political attacks by certain Biden administration officials. In March, in another exclusive GLA podcast, Jason spoke with Guatemala Attorney General Porras about alleged corruption allegations against her by the US government that led to her being sanctioned. If someone was trying to destroy her re-appointment chances, the joke is on them. She was re-appointed by the President. President Giammattei has a clear vision of where he wants to take his nation and, perhaps, become a thoughtful and focused voice for the region. The US and Guatemala need to work closely, not at odds, and it appears certain Biden administration officials are allowing ideological disagreements to get in the way of good policy for America and the Americas. On this podcast, GLA President and Counsel Jason Poblete continue to unmask the many issues stewing in this important Central American nation. President Giammattei stressed the importance of working with American partners, building markets, defending property rights, and the right to life, combating transnational crime, pushing back on China meddling in the Americas, and even reforming the inter-American system (he's making news on this last point, be sure to listen!). Further Reading
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| 08 Nov 2022 | A Political Re-Awakening in Paraguay: Defending Fundamental Rights of Children, Religious Freedom | 01:00:17 | |
A nation of about seven million people, Paraguay is slightly smaller than California and an important U.S. ally in South America for trade and national security issues, including terrorism, transnational crime, and related matters. Since 2019 American taxpayers have sent close to $85 million in foreign assistance to Paraguay. It may seem like a nominal amount, at least when compared to the total U.S. federal budget. And perhaps to folks in Washington, DC, it may seem like nothing when it comes to our money, but these foreign aid programs add up in tough economic times. Some of that money is invested in worthwhile programs in the US national interest, but some are not. Who is minding the store and doing oversight? It is supposed to be the Congress, yet as we learn on this podcast with a leading lawyer and civil society leader in Paraguay, Valeria Insfran, some of our tax dollars are being used in ways that she thinks to undermine the rule of law, Paraguayan sovereignty, and US interests too. Valeria has been on the front lines of a fundamental rights battle involving children and families in her country. Jason and Valeria touch on a wide range of issues, including the Sao Paolo Forum, the Inter-American Dialogue, the Princeton Pact (see link below), and more recent events, including sanctioning by the Biden administration of a former Paraguay President and his family (calling into question again, the politicization of U.S. sanctions programs in Latin America – Guatemala was the other). At the request of listeners, this particular podcast was recorded in Spanish as part of a series to reach liberty warriors in the Americas. We will record an English version of this podcast, hopefully soon. There was a lot to unpack in this program, and we have asked Valeria to return, and she has agreed. Further Reading
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| 06 Oct 2020 | Update: Forced Labor & Human Trafficking, Socialist Cuba Medical Brigades in Uruguay | 00:33:11 | |
After the illegal drug trade, slavery and human trafficking are two of the most profitable criminal activities in the world today. This gross violation of fundamental rights occurs on every continent, and the victims include men, women, and children from every walk of life imaginable. As part of its mission to defend fundamental rights and strengthen the rule of law, the Global Liberty Alliance is committed to helping uncover trafficking in persons in the Western Hemisphere and hold modern-day slave traders to account. Just 90 miles from the United States, socialist Cuba, with the assistance of various Caribbean, South American, and Central American nations, has propped up an international network that traffics in persons who have been denied various fundamental individual rights. After several months of investigation, on July 16, 2020, GLA announced that a complaint was filed with Uruguay's National Institute of Human Rights and Ombudsman Office (INDDHH) - Uruguay's human rights agency - to compel the release of records related to Uruguay's contracting medical workers from Cuba and to urge the INDDHH to investigate the trafficking in Cuban medical professionals in that country. The INDDHH can also take other steps to ensure compliance government agencies in Uruguay are abiding by labor laws and other human rights laws. In this podcast, GLA's Jason Poblete talks about the recent developments in the case in Uruguay. Further Reading
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| 22 Jun 2021 | US Hostage Law and Policy, and Related Matters | 01:17:03 | |
In this episode, Jason Poblete talks with Dr. Danielle Gilbert, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Military & Strategic Studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Dr. Gilbert received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the George Washington University in Washington, DC, where she also served as a Ph.D. candidate-in-residence with the Institute of Security and Conflict Studies. Her research on the causes and consequences of violence has been supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the United States Institute of Peace, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Cosmos Club Foundation, the Bridging the Gap Project, the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, the Les Aspin ’60 Summer Fellowship, and the Georg W. Leitner Program in International and Comparative Political Economy at Yale. Before beginning her doctoral work, she served four years on Capitol Hill, including as a Senior Legislative Assistant and Appropriations Associate, and worked as a policy advisor on presidential and congressional campaigns. Jason and Dani talk about a wide range of issues in her field and hone on in recent developments in U.S. hostage policy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 21 Jul 2022 | China Holds American Mark Swidan Hostage for Close to Ten Years | 00:50:45 | |
In March, we spoke with Ms. Katherine Swidan, mother of Mr. Mark Swidan, an American unlawfully imprisoned in Communist China for nearly ten years. A lot has happened in Mark's matter since Global Liberty Alliance President Jason Poblete spoke with Ms. Swidan. Katherine lives in Luling, Texas, a town of about 6,000 people along the San Marcos River. Katherine talks about the latest in her son's case and how recent policy updates may or may not impact efforts to bring Mark home. Jason also talks about recent developments related to the Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act of 2020 and the Executive Order released this week. Further Reading
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| 03 Nov 2023 | A Talk With former Iran Hostage, Marine Corps Sgt. Rodney "Rocky" Sickman | 00:38:36 | |
On this day 44 years ago, Iranian militants seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage. This event marked the beginning of the Iran hostage crisis, which lasted for 444 days until January 20, 1981. Dive into a compelling conversation between Jason Poblete, president of the Global Liberty Alliance, and Marine Corps Sgt: Rodney "Rocky" Sickman, a former Iran Hostage. Together, Rocky and Jason revisit the tumultuous events of the 1979 hostage crisis and shed light on its lasting implications. Drawing parallels with current events, this podcast offers a unique blend of historical insights and modern perspectives on global liberty and justice. Rocky is currently working with Folds of Honor, a non-profit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. The organization was founded by Major Dan Rooney in 2007, following his return from his second tour in Iraq as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Please consider supporting this worthwhile cause. Follow this link! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 06 Jul 2021 | Former Iran Officials Teaching in American Universities, Oberlin College | 01:03:52 | |
The road to justice is usually a very long one. Accountability for gross violations of human rights, such as crimes against humanity, can elude victims or family members, sometimes for a lifetime. This podcast is the first of several planned podcasts that will discuss how former Iranian regime officials have been offered lucrative posts at several American universities. In this episode, Jason talks with Ms. Lawdan Bazargan, whose brother was unlawfully imprisoned, tortured, and assassinated by the Iranian regime in 1988 during was has come to be called the 1988 Massacres. An American and California resident, Lawdan explains how she and her family have sought to hold Iranian regime officials to account in Europe, and more recently, right here in the United States. So when she learned a former Iranian regime official was offered a job at Oberlin College in Ohio, Lawdan and other families whose loved ones had been killed in 1988 sprung into action. Lawdan explains that Americans should work for an education system "free of bigots, murderers, and people accused of crimes against humanity." "Professor Mohammad Jafar Mahallati has no place in our higher education system," Lawdan said, and she hopes Oberlin college will reassess their decision to offer him a job. Professor Mahallati is a Professor of Religion at the Department of Religion, Nancy Schrom Dye Chair in the Middle East and North African Studies of Oberlin College. In an Open Letter To Amnesty International on Oberlin College’s Appointment of Mahallati families urged Amnesty and other NGOs to "hold Mahallati accountable for his grave misdeeds on behalf of the Iranian regime. Anything less shows an inexplicable indifference to the mass murders and lies detailed in Amnesty’s report" that included Mahallati for his role in covering up the 1988 Massacres while he served at the United Nations. Further Reading
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| 01 Dec 2020 | The Fundamental Rights of the Youngest Clients | 00:50:38 | |
A Mom's Peace is a mission for mothers of miscarried and stillborn souls. Headquartered in Virginia and run by volunteers, it supports moms, and dads, of all faith and non-faith backgrounds during a very difficult time - the loss of a child. A Mom's Peace also helps provide dignity and respect in death for miscarried or stillborn babies, the youngest of our clients. This podcast is the first in a series of podcasts on this subject, particularly as it relates to the rights of parents when a baby is stillborn or miscarried. In some states, such as Indiana, healthcare facilities and abortion providers are required to inform pregnant women or parents of their right to determine the final disposition of fetal remains and to document that decision in the woman’s medical record. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Indiana law requiring healthcare providers to properly dispose of fetal remains and not treat unborn children as medical waste. "This Court has already acknowledged that a State has a "legitimate interest in proper disposal of fetal remains." Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, Inc., 139 S. Ct. 1780, 1782 (2019). In addition to Indiana, other states with fetal disposition laws include Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Georgia has had a law on the books for several years that regulates the disposal of fetal tissue. Last year, state legislators in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin introduced legislation to amend state laws on fetal remains. Similar efforts are under review in Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina, and right here in Virginia. In 2016, HB 970 was introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates that, had it been enacted, would have required hospitals and health care providers who provide abortion services to dispose of fetal remains by burial or cremation. In a future episode, we will further explore some of these laws and why the laws in a majority of U.S. states treat stillborn or miscarried babies as medical waste. We will also speak with other fundamental rights advocates to change that so that parents know their rights and the rights and dignity of our youngest clients are defended. Further Reading --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 10 Aug 2021 | A Report from the Northern Triangle with Businesswoman and Liberty Warrior Betty Marroquin | 01:02:02 | |
Last week the center-right President of Guatemala had to contend with what was supposed to have been massive streets protests from opponents on the left. Well, it fizzled, and nothing of any political consequence materialized on the streets of Guatemala. In this podcast, we talk again with businesswoman and fellow liberty warrior Betty Marroquin about this and other issues in the headlines in Guatemala and the Norther Triangle. These topics are important. Matters such as border security, illegal immigration, or human trafficking start, at times, in this region of the Western Hemisphere, so it impacts us here in the United States. It's important to listen to people who actually live in this part of the world. Jason and Betty also discuss rule of law and how to free markets, not government programs or regulations, are some of the best ways to improve economic opportunity and the quality of life for all. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 06 Feb 2024 | Venezuela, Cuba, and policymaking in Washington, DC with foreign policy expert Caleb McCarry | 01:07:11 | |
In this thought-provoking episode, Jason Poblete, president of the Global Liberty Alliance, sits down with Mr. Caleb McCarry, a distinguished foreign policy expert currently advising at Pax Sapiens. Together, they delve into the nuances of policymaking, conflict resolution, and the complex challenges of foreign policy, mainly focusing on hot-button issues in the Western Hemisphere, like Venezuela and Cuba. Drawing on Caleb's extensive background in international relations, this conversation offers unique insights into the strategies and considerations involved in navigating global diplomacy and promoting democracy. You can tune in to gain a deeper understanding of these critical issues from two seasoned experts in the field. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 07 Sep 2020 | Putting on Notice Human Rights Abusers from Cuba Hiding in the United States | 00:56:03 | |
In this edition, we head south to South Florida to speak with lawyer and human rights defender, Mr. Santiago A. Alpízar. A native of Cuba and born after the socialist takeover of Cuba in 1959, he became a lawyer in Cuba who managed a wide range of casework early in his career. Yet, Santiago paid a high price for refusing to join the Communist Party, and he talks about his journey to freedom and the practicing law in the United States. Santiago is one of four lawyers in South Florida who, over a decade ago, founded an organization dedicated to holding to account human rights abusers from Cuba who enter the United States. In 2019, Santiago and his fellow lawyers at Cuba Repression ID provided information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that led to the arrest and imprisonment of a former lieutenant colonel of a Cuban State Security officer.
Projects such as Cuban Repression ID are essential to helping advance the cause of justice in the United States and, perhaps someday, Communist Cuba, where the rule of law remains illusory. Working with the information provided by a variety of sources in the United States and Cuba, they help U.S. law enforcement identify, through photographs and film footage, individuals who beat or harass unarmed critics of Cuba's communist government. Many laws are making it increasingly difficult for foreigners who commit human rights abuses in foreign lands to hide in the United States.
In addition to his work in the United States, Jason talks to Santiago about the challenges of practicing law in Cuba. For example, did you know that most Cuban lawyers are required to work for law firms owned by the government? While there is some room for lawyering outside of the state system, it is illegal for lawyers to open a private law firm or represent clients in administrative hearings or court proceedings. However, Cuban lawyers, the brave ones, have used the Cuban legal system to do what they can and press cases in a variety of creative ways to advance the cause of justice. It is a form of civil resistance lawyering, and it is not for the faint of heart!
Further reading
Cuba Repressor ID (website).
Santiago Alpizar's law firm in Miami, Florida (Alpizar Law).
The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC).
A video of President Ronald Reagan's 1983 speech in Miami, Florida at a Cuban Independence Day celebration.
Ethiopian human rights abuser sentenced for fraudulently obtaining US citizenship by admitted a series of lies in the naturalization process, including failure to disclose participation in persecution during the Red Terror period in Ethiopia (DHS Press Release).
List of denaturalized former citizens of the United States (Wikipedia).
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 02 Mar 2021 | United Nations Corruption Endangering Human Rights Activists, a Talk with Whistleblower & Lawyer, Emma Reilly | 01:08:31 | |
In this podcast, Jason Poblete speaks with international lawyer Ms. Emma Reilly, a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Human Rights Officer and whistleblower. Since 2013, Emma has been calling attention to a troubling practice at the UNHRC that has endangered the lives of dissidents and other human rights abuse victims who visit or testify at the UN. Despite well-documented evidence of wrongdoing by U.N. personnel, it took seven years for Ms. Reilly to secure whistleblower status. When she did, she was exiled to the U.N. bureaucracy's bowels to work on matters that appear designed to silence her and as retribution for standing up to Communist China and China’s supporters working in the UN system. The UNHRC, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is made up of 47 member states, including the United States. Under U.S. law, the United States is supposed to withhold as much as 15% of our tax dollars from U.N. agencies that fail to provide mechanisms to protect whistleblowers and others who ensure the organization's responsible behavior. Emma has written to several U.S. policymakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Chris Smith. The Biden administration and Congress should take a close look at Emma's case. Current and former U.N. officials are endangering the lives of human rights victims and other civil society leaders. The practice must stop and those who put dissidents and their families in danger should be to account. More than 37,000 employees work for the United Nations in offices in 193 nations. According to UN data, these men and women are supposed to "maintain international peace and security, foster sustainable development and promote human rights." Think of it this way, if the UN were a corporation it employs about the same number of employees as Hobby Lobby yet Hobby Lobby has annual revenues of $5 billion a year, the UN, nothing. The UN relies on charity or financial donations provided by taxpayers of the member nations - in other words, you! Corporations are held to account by markets, shareholders, and customers. If a company delivers a bad product or service or fails to manage the bad employees, companies lose business. The marketplace is a powerful check on the private sector. Meanwhile, the UN operates, at times, with relative impunity, where no one is really held to account until it's too late; it is also so far removed from the people who fund it that, effectively, taxpayers have no way to reign in the bureaucracy. Emma's efforts at the Human Rights Council is not the first time whistleblowers have been pressured by U.N. leadership and it will not be the last. The United Nations is broken and China is one of the leading manipulators of the system. By supporting whistle-blowers such as Emma or demanding that your Member of Congress vote to withhold your tax dollars from broken UN agencies are some of the ways you can hold the U.N. to account when its employees and management break the rules. Further Reading
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| 11 Aug 2020 | Documenting Injustice, Sowing Seeds of Hope, A Discussion with Maria Werlau of the Free Society Project | 01:02:45 | |
In this GLA podcast, Jason Poblete speaks with Maria Werlau, the Executive Director of the Free Society Project. The Free Society Project is better known in these parts as Cuba Archive (“Archivo Cuba” in Spanish), a non-profit organization incorporated in 2001 in Washington, D.C, operating from Miami, San Juan, and other U.S. cities. Cuba Archives promotes the understanding, recognition, and observance of human rights through research and information. Over twenty years, Cuba Archive has helped gather and tell the story of pre- and post-1959 Cuba, gathering and telling the story of its victims. Cuba Archive takes something terrible and turns it into something useful. They record human rights abuses in countries such as Cuba. The aim? There are many reasons to do this, and we explore them in this podcast. As Maria has shared widely over the years, there is profound unawareness of the enormous cost socialism and Communism have inflicted on Cuba and its people. And with Cuba just 90 miles away, it has had an impact in our country as well. Jason, Maria, and others involved with issues such as these, have always stressed that knowing Cuba's victims is essential to understanding Cuba's current state. No matter your point of view on U.S. policy toward the region, if you want to understand current U.S.-Cuba policy, start by listening to this podcast. Further Reading: Cuba’s Intervention in Venezuela: A Strategic Occupation with Global Implications by Maria Werlau (Jul. 2019). Cuba Archive database. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 30 Mar 2021 | Hollie McKay, Journalist, Foreign Policy Expert and War Crimes Investigator | 00:50:17 | |
In this podcast, Jason speaks with Ms. Hollie McKay, journalist, foreign policy expert, and war crimes investigator. Formerly with Fox News, Hollie is currently a national bureau correspondent covering national and international news from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, and Myanmar. Her most recent book, Only Cry for the Living: Memos From Inside the ISIS Battlefield is a chilling yet sobering and inspiring collection of stories that exposes the evil of ISIS and why it sought to wage terror on civilians in a desperate attempt to create an antiquated caliphate. As Jason and Hollie discuss in the podcast, to stare down evil is a reminder of how difficult life can be, but also a lot of good can come from this process, as Hollie captures in her writings. Further Reading
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| 12 Dec 2023 | Jason Poblete Discusses Iran policy with DC-based Iran expert, Alireza Nader | 00:55:22 | |
This podcast episode features a dynamic discussion with Alireza Nader, an expert on Iran based in Washington D.C., and Jason Poblete, President of the Global Liberty Alliance and a specialist in national security law and international law. The focus of their conversation is the recent events of October 7, specifically the attacks on Israel by Hamas, which is understood to be a proxy of Iran. They explore the complexity of these events, discussing their implications and intricacies from a variety of perspectives. Additionally, they delve into the prospects and challenges of democracy-building efforts in Iran, considering what the future might hold in this context. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 30 Jan 2024 | Freedom After Captivity: Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert's Journey | 01:14:14 | |
In this compelling episode of the Global Liberty Alliance Podcast, host Jason Poblete is joined by Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, the Australian academic who endured a harrowing experience as a hostage in Iran. Now released and reclaiming her freedom, Dr. Moore-Gilbert shares her profound insights and the details of her ordeal. Her book, The Uncaged Sky, 804 Days In an Iranian Prison, is available on Amazon. This conversation delves deep into her newly published book, where she vividly recounts her experiences and the mental, emotional, and physical challenges she faced during her captivity. Dr. Moore-Gilbert opens up about the darkest moments of her imprisonment and the resilience she mustered to survive. Listeners will also get a glimpse into her life post-release. Dr. Moore-Gilbert discusses her current endeavors, her advocacy for other unjustly detained individuals, and how her experience has reshaped her perspective on life and liberty. Kylie's story is not just a story of survival; it's a testament to the human spirit's indomitable will to overcome the most daunting circumstances. Join us for a journey of courage, hope, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. Tune in to the Global Liberty Alliance Podcast for this inspiring and eye-opening episode with Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 15 Jun 2021 | Western Hemisphere, Beyond "Drugs and Thugs," with Dr. J Michael Waller | 00:53:07 | |
Dr. J Michael Waller is Senior Analyst for Strategy at the Center for Security Policy. His areas of concentration include propaganda, political warfare, psychological warfare, and subversion. He is the former Walter and Leonore Annenberg Professor of International Communication at the Institute of World Politics, a graduate school in Washington, DC. A former instructor with the Naval Postgraduate School, he is an instructor/lecturer at the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg. Dr. Waller holds a Ph.D. in international security affairs from the University Professors Program at Boston University. He received his military training as an insurgent with the Nicaraguan contras. He was a co-founder of the Blue Team on China in the 1990s. For 13 years he was the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Professor of International Communication at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC, where he designed and taught the world’s only graduate program on public diplomacy and political warfare and was part of the team that developed the first civilian Master’s degree program in Washington DC for US Army officers in lieu of attending the US Army War College. He is President of Georgetown Research, a political risk and private intelligence company in Washington, DC. He is a frequent guest instructor at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg. His doctoral dissertation, written in 1993 and published as Secret Empire: The KGB In Russia Today (Westview, 1994), foresaw the rise of a KGB officer to seize political control of Russia. He is author or editor of books relating to intelligence, political warfare, public diplomacy, terrorism, and subversion. See his page on Academia.edu. He has written for the Daily Beast, Daily Caller, The Federalist, Forbes, Insight, Investor’s Business Daily, Kyiv Post, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, New York Times, Reader’s Digest, Real Clear Politics, USA Today, the Washington Examiner, the Washington Times, and the Wall Street Journal. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 03 Jul 2020 | Guatemala and the Rule of Law (and why it matters in the United States) | 01:06:10 | |
Have you ever heard of the Northern Triangle? It's not the Bermuda Triangle, the Triangle of Terror, or the Tri-Border Area in South America. It's a region in Central America that, usually, includes including Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. By the way, why so many triangle references in the Western Hemisphere? We'll talk about it in a later episode. This episode is about the rule of law, or lack of it, and how it impacts one of these three nations, Guatemala. If you're listening to this podcast from the United States, why should you care about Guatemala? Well, they're our neighbors and what happens there, sooner or later, impacts us here. The good and the bad. If you've never visited, you should. It's a great country with lots to do. However, they're going through challenging times right now and it impacts us. Endemic poverty, corruption, and violence in the Northern Triangle region, sooner or later, become policy challenges of the United States. Illegal immigration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and even terrorism, among other forms of transnational crime, divert tax dollars that could be used for other things, for starters. Transnational crime and corruption are investment kryptonite, meaning, American companies and investors tend to shy away from these high-risk markets. In this episode, I talk with former a former Guatemalan Vice Presidential candidate and political analyst, Betty Marroquin. Betty has a unique perspective on U.S.-Guatemala relations and what should be done to improve how both countries work with one another. A businesswoman and former diplomat who served in Washington, D.C., she is a passionate defender of the rule of law. Betty has started and managed several companies focused on the prêt-à-porter industry, and, more recently, in the field of interior design. Currently, she owns a company that manufactures furniture and accessories with Guatemalan components in Guatemala. A strong supporter of fundamental rights, including life from conception until natural death, Betty shares with us some of the challenges her country faces, especially from a certain non-Guatemalan managed NGOs that have been undermining the rule of law. We talk about a wide range of issues including the Foro de São Paulo, a group of socialist, anti-liberty political groups from throughout Latin Amerca. We also discuss how U.S. taxpayer-funded programs could be set up to better advance U.S. national and security goals in Guatemala and the Northern Triangle. For more information about Guatemala, click on the following link for a background summary. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 24 Nov 2020 | The Western Sahara & Self-Determination for the Sahrawi People, with Katlyn Thomas | 01:04:03 | |
A 29-year United Nations (UN)-brokered ceasefire in the ongoing conflict for Western Sahara came to an end last week in the Sahara Desert when Moroccan forces clashed with the nationalist Polisario Front. On today's show, Jason talks with Ms. Katlyn Thomas, a New York-based and practicing international attorney who served as the first legal advisor to the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). She is also the former Chair of the United Nations Committee of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Invaded and unlawfully occupied by Morocco in 1975, Western Sahara remains the only colonized African nation. For sixteen years, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and its people, the Sahrawi, have fought the Moroccan invaders. In 1991, when it appeared that the Sahrawi would win their freedom and Western Sahara would finally be free, the King of Morocco brought in the United Nations and pressed for a cease-fire. In good faith, the Sahrawi laid down their arms and agreed to a cease-fire only because the United Nations promised them the only thing they had ever asked for: the right to vote on self-determination. The Sahrawi have been waiting since 1991 for the vote. A member of the African Union, the SADR has been recognized by over 80 nations. The United States does not recognize Moroccos's claim to Western Sahara. Further Reading
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| 18 Jan 2022 | The Rising Tide of Spain's Conservative Movement | 00:58:12 | |
A new generation of center-right conservatism is taking root worldwide, including Spain. On this podcast, Jason talks with an American lawyer with strong Spanish roots, Ms. Marlene Vallés. A practicing attorney Marlene is also active in the international conservative movement and has helped colleagues in Spain raise awareness in the United States about liberty battles underway in her ancestral homeland. This is the first in a series of podcasts that will help highlight the importance of the defense of fundamental rights in other nations and how they impact us right here in the United States and the Americas. Further Reading | |||
| 14 Sep 2021 | BitcoinCuba wants to introduce Bitcoin in Communist Cuba | 01:18:01 | |
The first publicly verifiable Bitcoin transaction involving someone from civil society in Cuba was registered more than five years ago. The person who helped make this possible is a Cuban-American Bitcoiner and liberty maximalist, Fernando Villar. Fernando is the founder of BitcoinCuba. BitcoinCuba's mission is to educate Cuban civil society on using Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. This is the first of what we hope will be several podcasts on Bitcoin and its potential to help unleash the forces of liberty in some of the politically darkest corners of our planet including 90 miles away in socialist Cuba. PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING GLA PROGRAMS IN PLACES SUCH AS CUBA WITH CRYPTO DONATIONS via The Giving Block: https://thegivingblock.com/donate/global-liberty-alliance/ Further Reading
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| 25 Apr 2023 | An Update from Liberty Warriors in Guatemala | 00:58:48 | |
Jason Poblete is joined by our friend in Central America, businesswoman, former vice presidential candidate, and fellow liberty warrior Betty Marroquin to discuss a wide range of issues, including Communist China meddling in the region, the upcoming Guatemala elections and the sanctioning of the Guatemala Attorney General by the Biden administration (GLA interviewed Guatemala Attorney Porras on a prior podcast that you can listen to by following this link). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 04 May 2021 | Global Religious Freedom, A Conversation with Former Congressman Frank Wolf | 00:56:25 | |
Retired Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Va.) has dedicated his life to public service, particularly in defense of fundamental human rights and religious freedom. In this podcast, GLA President Jason Poblete talks with Mr. Wolf on a variety of religious freedom issues such as the persecuted churches in Nigeria, China, and the Middle East. Working across party lines Congressman Wolf helped lead the effort to enact the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. In 2016, the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act was enacted. It amended the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) to state in the congressional findings that the freedom of thought and religion is understood to protect theistic and non-theistic beliefs as well as the right not to profess or practice any religion." The 2016 law amended IRFA in several ways including requiring the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to report directly to the Secretary of State. This reporting structure was implicit in IRFA (1998) but clarified by the 2016 Amendment as not every Secretary of State had respected this arrangement. The 2016 amendment also established an "entities of particular concern" list, a companion to the "countries of particular concern" classification for non-government actors, such as the Islamic State (IS), the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram, and Houthis. The amended act institutes a "designated persons list" for individuals who violate religious freedom and authorizes the President to issue sanctions against those who participate in persecution. Both of these provisions were already contained in the IRFA legislation (Section 402(2)) but are further detailed in what has been called the Wolf Amendment to IRFA. Wolf represented Virginia's 10th Congressional District from 1981 until 2015. Wolf entered politics in 1968, at the age of 29, when he became a legislative assistant to Edward Biester, the Republican congressman from Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. From 1971 to 1975, Wolf served as an assistant to Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton. Wolf has traveled extensively to places around the world where people are suffering, including five times to Sudan since 1989. He has advocated for relief from the Darfur genocide and other cases of genocide. He has also convened conferences in his district to address human rights issues around the world. Wolf has vocally criticized the human rights record of China and has championed human rights for religious minorities and other believers the world over. You can read more about Wolf's remarkable career here. Further Reading
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| 27 Oct 2020 | The Challenges of International Legal Practice, with Robert Amsterdam | 00:39:39 | |
In this interview, renowned international litigator Robert Amsterdam and Jason Poblete discuss topics related to Mr. Amsterdam's sensational international legal experience, including a near-death in a 2010 Bangkok massacre, U.S. foreign policy pitfalls in Africa, views on U.S. sanctions, the challenges of attorney-client confidentiality over Zoom, and the importance of international know-how in an increasingly shrinking world. According to the former British Ambassador to Russia, Andrew Wood, “The word that best describes Bob is courage, both moral and actual. He raises questions that are not always welcome, and that is often the proper business of a lawyer.” Amsterdam is an international lawyer with 40 years’ experience working on high-profile cases in emerging markets. He is the founding partner of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, a boutique international law firm with offices in London and Washington DC. Further Reading
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| 01 Jun 2021 | War Brewing in North Africa Over Western Sahara? | 00:38:29 | |
In February U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), joined by 25 of their Senate colleagues from both political parties, strongly urged President Joe Biden to reverse the Trump administration's decision to officially recognize the Kingdom of Morocco’s illegitimate claims of sovereignty over Western Sahara. In the letter that was released to the public, the Senators asked the Biden administration to recommit America to its longstanding policy of a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara. To discuss this recent development in the Western Sahara matter, Jason will speak with Bill Flecther Jr., a human rights activist and supporter of self-determination for the Sahrawi. This is our second podcast on Western Sahara; the first was with Katlyn Thomas, an attorney, and international law expert who served on the MINURSO mission in the Sahara. In addition to discussing the most recent developments, Jason (on the right) and Bill (on the left) discuss how politically and ideologically diverse coalitions come together every now and then to advance common goals in complex matters. Fletcher is a long-time human rights activist dating to his teen years. Upon graduating from college he went to work as a welder in a shipyard, thereby entering the labor movement. Over the years he has been active in workplace and community struggles as well as electoral campaigns. He has worked for several labor unions in addition to serving as a senior staff person in the national AFL-CIO. A former president of TransAfrica Forum; a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies; and in the leadership of several other projects. Fletcher is the co-author (with Peter Agard) of “The Indispensable Ally: Black Workers and the Formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1934-1941”; the co-author (with Dr. Fernando Gapasin) of “Solidarity Divided: The crisis in organized labor and a new path toward social justice“; and the author of “‘They’re Bankrupting Us’ – And Twenty other myths about unions.” Fletcher is a syndicated columnist and a regular media commentator on television, radio, and the Web. Further Reading
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| 21 Sep 2021 | Genocide Prevention, A Talk with Dr. Gregory H. Stanton | 00:55:29 | |
On this podcast lawyer and GLA President Jason Poblete speaks with Dr. Gregory H. Stanton is the founding president and chairman of Genocide Watch.From 2010 to 2019, he was a research professor in genocide studies and prevention at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia, USA. From 2003 to 2009, he was the James Farmer Professor in Human Rights at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Dr. Stanton founded Genocide Watch in 1999. He was the founder (1981) and director of the Cambodian Genocide Project and is currently the founder (1999) and chair of the Alliance Against Genocide, the world’s first anti-genocide coalition. From 2007-2009, he was the president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars. Genocide Watch exists to predict, prevent, stop, and punish genocide and other forms of mass murder. In addition, genocide Watch seeks to raise awareness and influence public policy concerning potential and actual genocide. Genocide Watch uses predictive models such as Dr. Gregory Stanton’s “The Ten Stages of Genocide” to analyze high-risk situations for education, policy analysis, and advocacy. Further Reading
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| 31 Oct 2021 | US Government Agencies Working at Odds in Guatemala, Undermining US National and Security Interests | 00:47:26 | |
In this podcast, GLA President Jason Poblete talks with a fellow liberty warrior, Stephen Hecht, in Guatemala. An American, Stephen and his organization Impunity Observer have been long-time freedom champions in Central America who help empower Guatemalans to build a more robust and freer nation where individuals, not governments, are change agents in civil society. This is especially true when building a robust civil society where property rights and rule of law are essential. Jason and Stephen discuss the importance of working together with Guatemalans to combat corruption, illegal immigration, and other issues that, sooner or later, will impact us right here in the United States. This podcast is part of a series that takes a closer look at Central America, particularly Guatemala, and how Guatemalan civil society leaders such as lawyers and business leaders are struggling to reign in foreign meddling from dark forces that are undermining Guatemalan sovereignty and rule of law. In an exclusive interview with GLA, Stephen talks with us about how Guatemala’s Attorney General Consuelo Porras has had wage two battles in her country: one against bad actors in Guatemala and the other fending off attacks by certain officials at the Department of State. Attorney General Porras has been praised by officials at the US Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice as a vital partner of the US in cracking down on transnational crime. So why have certain State Department targeted her in the media? GLA would like to speak with individuals and organizations on the other side of this debate and the invitation is open. Based on what we have researched the past year, there is enough here for the US Congress to take a closer look. Millions of American taxpayer monies are sent to Guatemala every year. The people of Guatemala have elected officials and capable jurists who know what needs to be done to keep building their nation. So why are US officials at different agencies seemingly working at odds? This is untenable. We must do better. What happens in Guatemala, sooner or later, impacts us right here in the states. Further Reading
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| 11 Apr 2023 | The Great Purge in Nicaragua | 00:54:13 | |
Nicaragua remains under the control and authoritarian rule of Daniel Ortega and his party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front. The government has a long and well-documented record of violating fundamental human rights, censoring free speech, and suppressing political opposition. A staunch ally of Russia and Communist China, Nicaragua, with Cuba's assistance, continues to undermine U.S. national and security interests in the region quietly. Religious freedom is an essential indicator of democracy because it reflects the principles of individual liberty and equality before the law, which are fundamental to democratic societies. When individuals are free to practice their religion or belief system without fear of persecution or discrimination, it is a sign that the government is respecting their fundamental human rights and upholding the rule of law. In August 2020, we recorded a podcast with a Nicaragua priest about religious persecution in Nicaragua, especially toward Catholics and other Christians. Close to three years later, the situation is not surprisingly any better; it's worse. Biden administration officials recently announced the release of over 200 political prisoners in Nicaragua. A well-known Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop was also released, but he decided to stay in jail. Why? This podcast explores and discusses these issues with Roberto Bendaña from Texas. A Nicaraguan American, Roberto is persona non grata in Nicaragua and is not allowed to visit his ancestral homeland because of his staunch defense of liberty and fundamental rights. Roberto, a businessman and political activist, seeks solutions to help both nations chart a new way forward without Sandinista rule. Further Reading
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| 07 Jun 2020 | Iran & Hezbollah in Latin America: An Interview with Toby Dershowitz from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies | 00:33:35 | |
The Global Liberty Alliance is a non-government organization based in Alexandria, Virginia. Its mission is to strengthen the rule of law, empower human rights defenders, and advance the cause of justice. In this first episode of a series on Iran & Hezbollah in Latin America, Jason Poblete, President of the Global Liberty Alliance, talks with Toby Dershowitz with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, D.C. about the long-time presence in Latin America of Iran, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups linked to the Middle East region. Ms. Dershowitz is FDD's senior vice president overseeing FDD’s Communications Department, which yields thousands of print and broadcast media appearances each year. She has more than 30 years of experience in Washington, focusing on policy issues related to terrorism, cybersecurity, sanctions, the Middle East, and illicit networks in Latin America. She leads FDD’s policy road-mapping initiatives by identifying the conceptual issues and the strategy necessary to move the dial in various policy arenas.
For a one-page or background summary of the nations discussed in this episode, click on the following links: --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 31 Aug 2021 | Hostages in Iran: Update on the Jimmy Sharmahd Case | 00:31:36 | |
In February, we spoke with Ms. Gazelle Sharmahd, the daughter of Mr. Jamshid Sharmahd. As his friends and family call him, Jimmy is a U.S. Legal Permanent resident based with his family in California. A year ago this month, Jimmy was on his way back home to the United States from a business trip when he was kidnapped in the United Arab Emirates and taken hostage by the Iranian regime. A registered nurse working on the COVID pandemic's frontlines, Gazelle is one of her father's strongest advocates for his release. Gazelle updates listeners about her dad's situation on this show and urges stakeholders to help secure Jimmy's release from Iranian captivity. We also speak with his son, Shayan Sharmahdsaid, who works daily to bring his dad home. Further Reading
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| 26 Jan 2021 | Defending Fundamental Rights, a talk with Florida attorney Laura Jimenez | 00:33:49 | |
In this episode, Jason Poblete talks with South Florida attorney (and former GLA law clerk) Ms. Laura Jiménez about her journey to human rights and international law, especially through advocating for immigrants. Born in Havana, Cuba, Laura started her legal profession in Mexico, where she obtained her Law Degree. After several years of practice, she moved with her family to Miami, where she studied at Florida International University (FIU) College of Law. Laura is a person sensitive to the dreams, expectations, fears, and specific needs of immigrants. She and her family have lived the experience of immigration to the United States. Last year Laura and her team in Miami took on a very difficult case involving a Cuban dissident who was expelled from Cuba for his political beliefs. The Global Liberty Alliance supported the effort on behalf of Ramón Arboláez. You can read more about this case here: Cuban dissident, denied entry to the U.S., waits in a Mexican border town as cancer spreads. ----- If you are enjoying the GLA Podcast, consider supporting with a donation to help sustain future episodes! Learn more here. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 26 Dec 2023 | Unveiling Injustice: The Plight of Cuban Healthcare Professionals in Uruguay | 00:53:30 | |
(SPANISH EPISODE) In this compelling episode of the Global Liberty Alliance podcast, host Jason Poblete and special guest Uruguayan lawyer Sabrina Pelaez dive into one of GLA's high-profile cases: the trafficking of Cuban healthcare professionals in Uruguay. They discuss these individuals' disturbing realities and broader implications for global health and human rights. Poblete and Pelaez provide insight into the complex legal, human rights, and ethical issues at play while also detailing how the Global Liberty Alliance's relentless efforts exposed the illegal network behind this trafficking. Utilizing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws in Uruguay and engaging in administrative and criminal legal procedures, GLA has brought to light the mechanisms of this exploitation, paving the way for policy changes and legal remedies. This episode highlights the plight of Cuban healthcare workers and sheds light on the power of legal advocacy in combatting human rights abuses. Listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of the challenges in this fight and the critical role organizations like GLA play in advocating for justice and human dignity, advancing US national interests one case at a time. If you want to learn about the program discussed in this episode, please follow this link to GLA's Uruguay page. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-liberty-alliance/support | |||
| 17 Nov 2020 | A Reawakening for Liberty in Spain, Latin America, and the U.S., with International Lawyer, María Herrera Mellado | 00:42:45 | |
There has been a political reawakening in the United States of a new generation of voters and freedom advocates that has also been happening in other parts of the world, including Latin America and Europe. In this podcast, GLA President Jason Poblete talks with fellow attorney, María Herrera Mellado, about this liberty movement in Latin America and Spain. Licensed to practice law in several U.S. states and Spain, María is an international business law expert who also is committed to defending and strengthening individual fundamental rights, free markets, and the rule of law. María is currently with the Kivaki Law Firm in South Florida, where she advises foreign investors and entrepreneurs. María also teaches courses on comparative business law in Spain and Mexico and has written several articles on Financial Consumer Protection and Banking Law in Spain, Portugal, and Brazil. She has worked at the United Nations and is trained to represent matters before the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. ---- Want to ask GLA a question about this or another episode? Record it! Use the following Anchor Podcast link. | |||
| 13 Jul 2022 | From Radical Pagan to Radical for Christ, A Conversation About Religious Freedom with International Christian Concern President Jeff King | 00:48:00 | |
During this podcast, GLA President Jason Poblete speaks with Jeff King, President of International Christian Concern (ICC). Jeff grew up in an atheist and agnostic home in Washington, D.C. At age 23, after reading the Bible on his own for 10 years, he came to Christ through the faithful witness of believers he met as he walked from one bar to the next. Jeff refers to himself as a radical pagan who became a radical for Christ. Many years and experiences later, Jeff has turned his many talents and gifts to defend Christians the world over. Further Reading
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| 10 Jan 2023 | A Talk with Michela Wrong About International Criminal Justice and Human Rights | 01:21:32 | |
The Biden administration and Congress have discussed accountability efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But is the international system ready to hold all parties accountable, or will the process set back the course of international justice efforts? In this episode, Jason Poblete talks with Michela Wrong, an award-winning British journalist and author who has had a rich career that has taken her from the fashion runways of Paris and later as a foreign correspondent in Africa for Reuters, the BBC, and the Financial Times. She was awarded the 2010 James Cameron prize for journalism “that combined moral vision and professional integrity.” As she details on her website, her fifth book, “Do Not Disturb,” published in 2021, is a damning portrait of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, from its days as a united band of rebel fighters to today’s era, in which killer squads are dispatched across the world to silence exiled former insiders. The book has prompted a vitriolic backlash on Rwanda’s government-controlled social media, and President Paul Kagame has denounced the author on national television as a foreign agent. Jason and Michela talk about several aspects of international justice. They also discuss the case of eight Rwandan men tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; 4 were acquitted, while the other 4 served their sentences. They are now in legal limbo as they seek to be reunited with loved ones. In addition, they also talk about unfinished accountability efforts related to the Rwandan genocide. Be sure to check out her latest book on the Rwanda genocide, link below, Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad." “A withering assault on the murderous Rwandan regime of Paul Kagame, and a melancholy love song to the lost dreams of the nations of Africa’s Great Lakes. Michela Wrong proves once again that she is an intrepid and highly professional researcher of the subject she knows best. It’s a major accomplishment, very driven, very impassioned.” ―JOHN LE CARRÉ, best-selling author of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Further Reading
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| 03 Mar 2022 | EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Guatemala Attorney General, Dra. Consuelo Porras (SPANISH SHOW) | 01:01:46 | |
On January 27, 2020, US Attorney General William P. Barr met with Guatemala Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras Argueta. That meeting was a follow-up dialogue to the May 2019 Third Ministerial of the Northern Triangle Attorneys General in El Salvador. Dr. Porras has been a long-time rule of law defender who has worked closely with various US agencies including the DEA, the Justice Department, and the State Department. How is it that one year and seven months later, Secretary of State Tony Blinken imposes sanctions on Attorney General Porras for allegedly "obstructed investigations into acts of corruption by interfering with criminal investigations"? It makes no sense. We start to unpack this legal issue and a follow-up show is coming in English, next week, to further assess the potentially unlawful use of U.S. economic sanctions. Further Reading
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| 23 Mar 2021 | Why Not to Work with Corrupt People to Fight Corruption in Guatemala, with Betty Marroquín | 00:58:14 | |
In this episode, former Guatemalan Vice Presidential candidate, diplomat, and conservative liberty warrior Betty Marroquin joins Jason Poblete again to discuss the recent appointments to Guatemala’s constitutional court - the five permanent and five alternative judges that will take office on April 14, 2021 - as well as why the U.S. and Guatemala should be concerned about working with corrupt officials when fighting corruption. In prior podcasts, Jason and Betty have discussed how rule of law and respect of private property rights are vital to Guatemala's future and how both the United States and Guatemala must find ways to work together to defend individual fundamental rights (including the right to life), free markets, and the rule of law. This battle has divided, and still does, the people of Guatemala. It remains one of the most perplexing policy challenges not only for Guatemala but the region. The GLA supports jurists committed to the rule of law, however, it opposes imposing solutions on sovereign nations such as untested and United Nations imposed experiments. The International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) did the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do and it undermined Guatemalan sovereignty. We can and must do better. The process starts by trusting our partners in the region, seek out the best jurists committed to improving the situation, and, most importantly, being patient and impartial. Finally, if you are a conservative in Guatemala and active in politics, you're targeted by the left with impunity. Betty has even had her Twitter account canceled over her work. There is a lot of work to do in Guatemala and the region. Further Reading
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| 06 Dec 2022 | Pushing the Political Envelope in the Cuban-American Community, Talks with Cuba | 00:41:54 | |
In this podcast, GLA's Jason Poblete speaks with former Ambassador Martin Palouš. Martin is currently a Senior Fellow at Florida International University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and Director of the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy. Palouš was part of the movement that helped end the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe during the Cold War. The defense of fundamental individual and human rights has been at the core of his playbook ever since. Born in Prague on October 14, 1950, Palouš studied Natural Science, Philosophy, and International Law, and he has engaged in rich academic praxis for more than 25 years. He was one of the first signatories of Charter 77 in defense of human rights and served as spokesman for the dissident human rights group. Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members included a wide range of civil society leaders at the time, including Martin and the future President of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. Their work and that of other civil society leaders supported by the U.S. laid a foundation for President Ronald Reagan's push to end the Cold War. Palouš went on to have a rewarding career in international law and foreign affairs, including being elected to the Czechoslovakian Federal Assembly and a member of its Foreign Affairs Committee. Later he served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the newly formed Czech Republic and was then asked by President Václav Havel to travel to Washington, D.C. as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the United States from September 2002 to November 2005. Dr. Palouš was designated as Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, where he served in New York from 2006 through 2010. On November 19, 2022, Palouš said in an op-ed that ran in the Miami Herald that he disagreed with the view held by many in the Cuban diaspora that there "cannot be any dialogue with the current Cuban government as long as it pursues policies of systematic violations of human rights and imprisons and persecutes the members of Cuban democratic opposition." He also said, "I’ve always defended human rights and the bravery of those who oppose the Cuban regime, and I’ve had the mettle to act on my convictions as a dissident." What keeps these two communities apart? And why should the American taxpayer care about this? Further Reading
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| 22 Sep 2020 | Hostages in Iran: A Conversation with Richard Ratcliffe (U.K.) about his efforts to reunite his family | 00:58:06 | |
On March 17, 2016, Ms. Nazanin Ratcliffe, a U.K. national, traveled to Iran with her newborn baby girl, Gabriella, to visit her family and celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian new year. Close to four years later, she remains a hostage in Iran. On this podcast, Jason talks with Richard Ratcliffe, Nazanin's husband (and Gabriella's dad), who has tirelessly waged a four-year campaign to secure Nazanin's release from Iranian captivity. Iran arbitrarily detains foreign visitors to exact political and economic concessions. For decades, visitors to Iran from close to twenty nations have been unlawfully imprisoned or held hostage by the Iranian regime. Nazanin is one of the scores of foreign nationals unlawfully imprisoned or held hostage by Iran. The exact number of current hostages held by is unknown. While hostage-taking is a centuries-old practice, the Iranian regime has perfected it as a foreign policy weapon. Some Iranian leaders even openly brag about its effectiveness. In January 2020, the former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp. (IRGC) commander, and leader of the Yaghin think-tank, Hassan Abbasi, explained in a speech how the IRGC derives benefit from hostage-taking. Abbasi said Iran should “generate income" by capturing Americans and demanding a ransom for their return (video). Iran is not the only country that uses innocent people in this manner. In addition to Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela, China, and other nations use hostage-taking as a foreign policy tool. In this podcast, Richard discusses his family's experience these past few years, and the lessons he has learned along the way, which he hopes will be of value to similarly-situated families. For example, governments usually advise family members to stay quiet when a loved one is taken hostage and, in some cases, that is a good idea. It depends on many factors; however, in some cases, silence empowers hostage-takers and endangers the life of this hostage. The use of laws and legal systems to unlawfully imprison innocent people is a gross violation of fundamental rights. While a lot has been done to cope with this problem, a lot more needs to be done to secure and prevent hostage-taking by foreign nations. Political will is needed to help secure the release of hostages in Iran, and in other nations too. Richard and Jason also discuss the importance of deterrence measures such as holding the hostage-takers to account for what they done in courts of law, sanctions, or combination of these and other measures. Further Reading
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| 25 May 2021 | A Conversation with Diane Foley, President of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation | 00:54:40 | |
Diane Foley is the Founder and President of the James W. Foley Foundation (JWFLF). She founded the JWFLF in September 2014, less than a month after the public execution by ISIS terrorists of her son, James Foley. Since 2014, she has led JWFLF efforts to fund the start of Hostage US and the international A Culture Of Safety Alliance, ACOS. In 2015, she actively participated in the National Counterterrorism Center hostage review, culminating in the Presidential Policy Directive-30. This directive re-organized US efforts on behalf of Americans taken hostage abroad into an interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and a White Hostage Response Group. Previously, Diane worked first as a community health nurse and then as a family nurse practitioner for 18 years. She received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH. Further Reading
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