In the latest edition of “The Most Censored News” interviews, Lee Camp is joined by Margaret Kimberly. A well-known figure in activists circles in the United States, Margaret is the executive editor of and a senior columnist at Black Agenda Report (BAR). BAR’s website offers alternative perspectives on current events and has become a trusted source for those seeking information beyond the mainstream media. In addition to her work at BAR, Kimberly is also the author of “Prejudicial: Black America and the Presidents,” a book that was published in 2020 by Steerforth Press.
Camp and Kimberly talked about the U.S.-Russia prisoner swap between Brittney Griner, a star American basketball player and former prisoner in Russia, and Victor Bout, a Russian arms dealer. The trade garnered significant attention from the mainstream media, but Kimberly highlighted the deeper issues at play in the situation. Bout has a complicated history in the arms trade, having shipped various goods, including arms, all over the world following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. He was eventually arrested in Thailand in 2008 in a sting operation set up by the U.S, in which agents posed as Colombian rebels and convinced Bout to agree to kill Americans.
In 2011, after several years of fighting extradition, Bout was brought to the United States and found guilty in a trial. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the judge stating that she felt the sentence was excessive but was required to impose it due to mandatory minimum sentences.
Griner, on the other hand, was arrested in Russia for carrying CBD oil in her suitcase, a violation of Russia’s strict laws on marijuana. As a black woman standing at six feet nine inches, Griner faced disproportionate scrutiny and her case gained significant attention. However, the Russian government had been requesting a prisoner swap with the U.S. for years, offering to trade Griner for Bout. The U.S. had previously refused this offer, but Griner’s case provided an opportunity to finally agree to the swap. Kimberly therefore concluded that Griner was essentially being used as a pawn in a larger political game between the U.S. and Russia.
Kimberly also discussed the broader issues at play in the current geopolitical landscape, including the decline of American global dominance and the rise of China as a major player on the world stage. She pointed out that while China is pursuing its own economic and strategic interests, it is doing so in a way that is more subtle and less violent than the U.S. has in the past. This difference in approach has led some countries to view China as a more attractive partner, as they do not have to worry about military intimidation or interference in their internal affairs.
Kimberly also discussed the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Libya, and the role that the United States and its allies have played in exacerbating these crises. She argued that the U.S. has a history of backing violent extremist groups, including jihadists and Neo-Nazis, in order to further its own interests. This has resulted in a humanitarian disaster, with millions of people being displaced and killed in these conflicts.
Kimberly’s interview with Lee Camp offers a thought-provoking perspective on current events and the underlying issues at play in the global political landscape. It is a must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.
Lee Camp is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and activist. Camp is the host of Behind The Headlines’ new series: The Most Censored News With Lee Camp. He is a former comedy writer for the Onion and the Huffington Post and has been a touring stand-up comic for 20 years.
