Sam Hussein CV

[last updated 2020]

Living in Maryland, near Washington, D.C.

Independent Journalist

Currently writing primarily at husseini.substack.com.

Have covered critical stories, often exposing prevalent disinformation regarding U.S. foreign policy and war making. This includes exposing the U.S. government policy regarding maintaining the sanctions on Iraq throughout the 1990s and associated false pretexts for bombing during that period. Exposed the Rambouillet text in the U.S. regarding the false pretexts for the 1999 war against Yugoslavia.

Did extensive work debunking the fabrications around claims of Iraqi possession of WMDs before the 2003 invasion.

Attempted to question Trump and Putin at Helsinki summit while covering it for The Nation in 2018 and was locked up, leading to major media coverage from outlets around the world. Questioned Elizebeth Warren on her foreign policy which got substantial pickup online; questioned former governor Jerry Brown, now head of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, leading him to criticize Democratic Party posture toward Russia.

In 2019, covered the Plowshares trial after Catholic Worker pacifists broke into a major U.S. nuclear weapons facility.

Since the start of the pandemic, have investigated its origins and written about U.S. government biowarfare programs.

Regularly attended new conferences at the National Press Club and other venues in D.C., questioning numerous officials including NATO spokesperson Jamie Shea, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, journalists Dan Rather and Judith Miller and former head of Saudi intelligence Amb. Turki bin Faisal al-Saud. The questioning of the former lead to a suspension by the executive director of the National Press Club, which was overturned by the Ethics Committee.

Have had in-depth pieces published by Consortium News, especially under the editorship of Robert Parry, CounterPunch and other more independent outlets. Have also had pieces published in establishment U.S. media including in op-eds published in the Washington Post and USA Today. Appeared on various media including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CNN, Al Jazeera, MSNBC, Fox News Channel and C-SPAN's "Washington Journal."

1997 to Present: Communications Director and Senior Analyst, Institute for Public Accuracy

Assembled thousands of news releases that resulted in tens of thousands of interviews on a wide array of policy areas on a variety of major and independent media outlets. News releases included some of the most critical examination of claims about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Artist

For visual art work and writing, see: BeThatEmpty.org.

Summer 2007: Consultant to The Real News Network

Produced several video segments and proposed a long-term strategy for the network.

2006 to 2011: Founded Washington Stakeout

Questioned officials as they exit Sunday morning news talk shows, including politicos Paul Ryan, Heath Shuler and Mike Simpson and Colin Powell. In addition to individual segments, produced complied video: "The Absurd U.S. Stance on Israel's Nukes: A Video Sampling of Denial" which included questioning of then-Congressman Mike Pence and DNI John Negroponte.

2000 to Present: Founded VotePact.org
Encouraged "disenchanted Democrats" and "disenchanted Republicans" to engage in honest dialogue which would result in them each voting for their preferred independent candidates by pairing up rather than simply voting for one major party or the other because they detested the other more.

2000 to 2003: Chaired the local board of Pacifica station WPFW

Played a role in preventing the total implosion and/or hijacking of the largest independent media network in the U.S., ensuring the WPFW board push for reform of national board.

1996 to 1997: Media Director, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Oversaw the ADC’s media strategy. Broke ground in terms of policy positions, making the ADC publicly critical of the sanctions against Iraq as well as both Israeli policies and increasingly authoritarian tendencies of the Palestinian Authority, which the organization was reluctant to do. Did interviews on scores of TV and radio stations. Had op-eds published in Newsday, Knight-Ridder wire and numerous other outlets. Did outreach to Arab-American community.

1990 to 1996: Worked at Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting

Starting as a volunteer, worked in a number of roles at the media watch group. Research and wrote for magazine, Extra! while doing other freelance work. Worked to increase distribution for FAIR’s syndicated radio program, CounterSpin. Also acted as activism coordinator for a period.

1988 to 1989: Math teacher - Homeless shelter manager

Did substitute stints in the New York City public school system, lasting from a day to several months, mostly at the junior high level. Also managed a Catholic Worker homeless shelter, Arthur Sheehan House, in Brooklyn. Worked to fend off the nonprofit that was granted ownership as a trustee from selling the property.

1987 to 1988: Programmer, Moody’s Investors Service - Art student

Did SQL and C programming in a corporate environment. During this period also studied art at Hunter College and the School of Visual Arts. Was caretaker for my father who had just developed a heart condition. Was offered a position at JPMorgan and decided to go in another direction.

1987: Graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University

Receiving a double major in Applied Math (Computer Science specialty) and Logic and Computation (from Department of Philosophy).

Select media appearances:

2020: Interviews on the origins of the pandemic.

2016: "How Disenchanted Democrats and Republicans Together Can Break the Two Party Duopoly" (The Real News, VotePact)

2011: "National Press Club bans reporters for tough questions?" (RT)

2001: Two days after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, argued against war on "The O'Reilly Factor" -- segment ended with microphone being cut. (FNC)

Selected writings:

2020:

"Sanders Suspends: What Happened? What Now?" (Counterpunch, VotePact)

"Contrary to claims, the pandemic may have come from a lab -- and regardless, it exposes the threat of biowarfare arms race." (Salon)

"Averting our Gaze from Biowarfare: Pandemics and Self-fulfilling Prophecies" (Independent Science News, antiwar.com)