Actually, it was a former spy turned novelist, and they were all my guests today on the Randi Rhodes Show.
Journalist Dave Weigel gave us the scoop on his ouster from the Washington Post after a slimy member of a private email list released some of his more controversial statements made in private. That led into a discussion on the thin line between objective journalism and a reporters rights to voice his or her own opinion.
I was thrilled to talk with CIA agent turned novelist Barry Eisler, as I just finished reading his latest novel, Inside Out, this morning. We talked about how the story in the book could have actually happened, as it is based on real events (the 92 torture tapes the CIA says it destroyed… or did they?), as well as the Russian spy story dominating the news today.
Adam Green is the activist to whom I referred above. He’s the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, who today announced the formation of a new coalition formed to pressure President Obama into demanding that BP stop blocking clean up workers from using life-saving respirators. Sign the petition now at BPMakesMeSick.com.
And the second journalist on today’s show was Jason Leopold of truthout.org whose story published Monday, “Dangerous Cost Cuts at Alyeska Pipeline: Yet Another Example of How BP Runs Things” led to his follow-up story, “Alyeska CEO Steps Down Following Truthout Exposé.”
Tomorrow, we’ll wrap up my week guest-hosting the Randi Rhodes Show with another stellar line-up of guests: John Nichols of The Nation, Marylee Orr of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network, Shannyn Moore who was a first responder after the Exxon Valdez spill, peace activist Cindy Sheehan, and comedian John Fugelsang. Whew. Then I’ll sleep!