How US Sanctions Could Worsen Iran and Venezuela Virus Responses

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Vijay Prashad, the Director of Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, Writing Fellow and Chief Correspondent for Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

He is also a professor of international studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and the author of 18 books, including Arab Spring, Libyan Winter, The Poorer Nations: A Possible History of the Global South; and The Death of a Nation and the Future of the Arab Revolution.

Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus could rise into the millions, warned government officials this week as a massive jump in fatalities was observed. The hardest-hit nation in the Arab and Muslim world, Iran has so far lost nearly 1,000 lives and documented more than 16,000 confirmed cases of infection from Covid-19. But, in addition to contending with an unknown and terrifyingly infectious disease, Iranian authorities are struggling to marshal the necessary medical resources in the face of draconian US and European sanctions. Across the world in Venezuela, a similar situation with sanctions is transpiring.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience.

Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman. RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

Missed an episode? Check out Rising Up on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change.

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV , AppleTV, Roku, Sling and online at freespeech.org.

.