Podcasts about Central Intelligence Agency

Following President Trump's press conference last week on crime in Washington, D.C., Jason breaks down the dangers he has seen firsthand.  Jason revisits his conversation with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe, who shares his lengthy resume in terrorism and national security. He describes working in Congress and provides his perspective on U.S. national security threats.  Bring on the stupid: Hobby horse racing reaches new heights.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

0:00 - Russiagate Reckoning 11:20 - DC 31:18 - Why Dan Proft is Single 49:09 - IL mental health screening 01:11:52 - George Beebe, former director of Russia analysis at the Central Intelligence Agency and a former staff advisor to Vice President Cheney on Russia, offers what he believes Putin will try to achieve at tomorrow's summit in Alaska. George is currently Director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft - quincyinst.org 01:28:13 - Collin Anderson, executive editor for the Washington Free Beacon, on just how gerrymandered Chicago is—so gerrymandered its main airport parks planes in two different congressional districts. Follow Collin on X @CAndersonMO 01:47:15 - Rachel K. Paulose, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota (2006-2008), discusses possible charges if the Trump administration plans to jail the Russian hoax colluders. Follow Rachel on X @RachelKPaulose 02:07:37 - Founder & Principal Broker for HealthInsuranceMentors.com, C Steven Tucker, explains how a 15-minute trip to the emergency room can turn into a $70,000 bill. Follow Steven on X @HealthInsMentorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following World War II, President Truman helped produce the modern national security state by creating the Central Intelligence Agency. Only later did Truman regret what he did, as the CIA turned into a monster that could never be tamed.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/harry-truman-founding-father-national-security-state

My guest today is John Schuhart.John is an executive leadership coach. He spent 17 years as an Intelligence Community Senior Executive, including: Chief Financial Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence AgencyDeputy Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Director of National IntelligenceDeputy Executive Director of the Central Intelligence Agency's Community Management StaffJohn is also the author of, New Supervisor Survival Guide, a book that explores the challenges of becoming an effective leader. Being a leader who people want to work for is not rocket science. But most people either spend too-little time learning or fail to get the training and support they need to learn how to lead and—perhaps more importantly—think about how they want to lead before they become supervisors.In our conversation today John shares his insights and wisdom about leadership and the skills that make leaders effective. John, thank you for this great conversation. Thank you for writing your book and sharing these practical insights and principles of leadership. Your work is making the world a better place!If you'd like to learn more about John and the work that he does, you'll find links below:Gray Beard Coaching: https://graybeardcoaching.com/Book: New Supervisor Survival Guide: Twelve Simple and Proven Leadership Skills to Help New - and Not So New - Bosses ThriveMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

Following World War II, President Truman helped produce the modern national security state by creating the Central Intelligence Agency. Only later did Truman regret what he did, as the CIA turned into a monster that could never be tamed.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/harry-truman-founding-father-national-security-state

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Author and Retired DEA Agent Wes Tabor. There was so much to unpack about his incredible career in law enforcement and his accomplishments off duty that this is my first three-part interview. Part two of the interview that will go live next Sunday, and part three with be released the next day on Monday. Honestly, I could have talked to Wes all day. I will definitely have him back on the show in the future. Here's a quick bio of just some of Wes’s accomplishments. Wes became a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1988. As a deputy, Wes served as a S.W.A.T. lead, having completed the FBI S.W.A.T. school in 1995. Wes was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, anti-crime and property Detective, and earned the Florida Medal of Valor in 1996 for his heroism by disregarding his own safety, running into an apartment fire, saving multiple lives, and Mittens the cat.  In 1998, he was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wes had a 23-year career with the DEA and has been stationed in Field Divisions such as: St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and internationally in cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala, Caracas, Venezuela, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bogota, Colombia. During this time, he was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in positions such as: supervisory special agent, country attaché, assistant country attaché, Deputy Section Chief, Assistant to the Global Deputy Chief of Operations, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Wes was paralyzed in an auto accident where a drunk driver and career criminal had been at fault. Fortunately, he recovered from his spinal cord injury (C5/6) fracture and went back to being a DEA agent. The suspect later absconded and was on the run for 23 years, only to be captured in 2024.  He was given probation for 6 months by a local judge in Minnesota.  From 2012-2015, Wes was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as an Assignee to various locations in the Western Hemisphere, conducting various classified activities on behalf of the DEA while embedded with the CIA. He has worked with some of the most prestigious law enforcement and military agencies, conducting operations and training modules, with the FBI, Secret Service, Defense Intelligence Service, US Army Special Forces, and Navy Seals. As a DEA agent, rising through the ranks to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, he was the division's Strike Force Commander, where he oversaw global money-laundering investigations, High Value Mexican Cartel Investigation, and led his teams in pursuit of some of the largest cases on the globe. I told you there’s a lot to Wes’s story! Today’s episode is more focused on his beginnings and his heroism. We will get to more incredible stuff in the next two episodes.    In today’s episode, we discuss: ·      Thank you to Chris Feistl for the intro. ·      An unlikely role model growing up. ·      The positive influence of the police explorer program on him as a youth. ·      His time in Florida as a Sheriff’s Deputy, working in SWAT, the detective bureau, and as a D.A.A.T. instructor. ·      Running into a fire and saving multiple people, and Mittens the cat. ·   Receiving the Florida Medal of Valor for his heroic actions. ·      Social media and law enforcement today. ·      What he sees as the weaknesses or strengths in law enforcement training today.   All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.   Check out Wes's newest book, Infiltrate America: Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel! Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!! Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series. Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

First aired January 15, 2023In this week's episode Chris finally tackles the much-requested topic...MKUltra! The Central Intelligence Agency tries to harness the ability of brain washing, memory wiping and personality insertion upon the minds of willing and unwitting test subjects. Is there a real Manchurian candidate in the works? Are our pets, really inside ops, collecting information about us to share with foreign nationals!? Those bastards!Let's not find out for ourselves, let's do this for Peter! This one's for you. Rest in peace you beautiful porpoise.Support the showStay curious!

Drugs as Weapons Against Us: The CIA's Murderous Targeting of SDS, Panthers, Hendrix, Lennon, Cobain, Tupac, and Other LeftistsDrugs as Weapons Against Us meticulously details how a group of opium-trafficking families came to form an American oligarchy and eventually achieved global dominance. This oligarchy helped fund the Nazi regime and then saved thousands of Nazis to work with the Central Intelligence Agency. CIA operations such as MK-Ultra pushed LSD and other drugs on leftist leaders and left-leaning populations at home and abroad. Evidence supports that this oligarchy further led the United States into its longest-running wars in the ideal areas for opium crops, while also massively funding wars in areas of coca plant abundance for cocaine production under the guise of a “war on drugs” that is actually the use of drugs as a war on us. Drugs as Weapons Against Us tells how scores of undercover U.S. Intelligence agents used drugs in the targeting of leftist leaders from SDS to the Black Panthers, Young Lords, Latin Kings, and the Occupy Movement. It also tells how they particularly targeted leftist musicians, including John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Tupac Shakur to promote drugs while later murdering them when they started sobering up and taking on more leftist activism. The book further uncovers the evidence that Intelligence agents dosed Paul Robeson with LSD, gave Mick Jagger his first hit of acid, hooked Janis Joplin on amphetamines, as well as manipulating Elvis Presley, Eminem, the Wu Tang Clan, and others.https://amzn.to/4fH3ZNDBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Send us a textPart 1Guardian angels are all around us and very often they show up when we need them the most. On this episode, we bring back our good friend Keith Shibley as he brings in his guardian angel Jennifer May.  Jennifer May is a twenty-three year veteran of law enforcement. She recently retired in December 2024 as a Senior Executive Service member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Counterintelligence Division. Jennifer began her law enforcement career in 2001, graduating from the FBI Academy in May 2002 and was first assigned to the New York Field Office's White Collar Crime Branch where she investigated notable securities fraud cases including the Bernie Madoff, multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.In 2009, Jennifer was promoted to FBI Headquarters and served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Counterterrorism Division where she spearheaded the creation, development and launch of the FBI's first automated watchlisting database. In 2012, she was detailed to the Central Intelligence Agency and served as the FBI's representative to assist in interagency operations targeting terrorist activity and threat streams identified on extremist web forums.Keith Shibley is a twenty-three-year veteran of law enforcement. He is currently a K-9 handler at Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Departments Explosive Dog Detection Unit. In 2010 Keith became a Detective and was assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Washington D.C. While at the FBI Keith worked on domestic and international terrorism cases. In 2018 Keith requested to take time off to get help for a substance abuse problem. Since 2020, Keith has been sharing his intimate story of trauma starting at childhood and going through his law enforcement career highlighting several major incidents that affected him in a negative way. Find Keith ShibleyInstagramFacebookFind Jen MayFacebookFind The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramTom Flynn InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeThe Suffering Podcast FamilySherri AllsupSupport the showThe Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube

Send us a textPart 1Guardian angels are all around us and very often they show up when we need them the most. On this episode, we bring back our good friend Keith Shibley as he brings in his guardian angel Jennifer May.  Jennifer May is a twenty-three year veteran of law enforcement. She recently retired in December 2024 as a Senior Executive Service member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Counterintelligence Division. Jennifer began her law enforcement career in 2001, graduating from the FBI Academy in May 2002 and was first assigned to the New York Field Office's White Collar Crime Branch where she investigated notable securities fraud cases including the Bernie Madoff, multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.In 2009, Jennifer was promoted to FBI Headquarters and served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Counterterrorism Division where she spearheaded the creation, development and launch of the FBI's first automated watchlisting database. In 2012, she was detailed to the Central Intelligence Agency and served as the FBI's representative to assist in interagency operations targeting terrorist activity and threat streams identified on extremist web forums.Keith Shibley is a twenty-three-year veteran of law enforcement. He is currently a K-9 handler at Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Departments Explosive Dog Detection Unit. In 2010 Keith became a Detective and was assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Washington D.C. While at the FBI Keith worked on domestic and international terrorism cases. In 2018 Keith requested to take time off to get help for a substance abuse problem. Since 2020, Keith has been sharing his intimate story of trauma starting at childhood and going through his law enforcement career highlighting several major incidents that affected him in a negative way. Find Keith ShibleyInstagramFacebookFind Jen MayFacebookFind The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramTom Flynn InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeThe Suffering Podcast FamilySherri AllsupSupport the showThe Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube

This Day in Legal History: National Security Act of 1947On this day in legal history, July 25, 1947, Congress passed the National Security Act of 1947, fundamentally reshaping the American national security infrastructure in the wake of World War II. The legislation created a unified framework to coordinate defense and intelligence operations, aiming to prevent the bureaucratic fragmentation that had plagued wartime decision-making. One of its central provisions was the formation of the National Security Council (NSC), designed to advise the president on domestic, foreign, and military policies related to national security.The Act also established the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which replaced the wartime Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and became the first peacetime intelligence agency tasked with gathering, analyzing, and coordinating intelligence. Additionally, it created the National Military Establishment (later renamed the Department of Defense in 1949), which consolidated the War Department and the Navy Department under a single executive authority.Within the National Military Establishment, the Act preserved the autonomy of the Army and Navy while officially creating a separate branch: the United States Air Force. It also formalized the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide coordinated military advice to civilian leadership. These structural reforms sought to ensure more cohesive planning and execution of U.S. defense policy during a time of growing Cold War tensions.The legislation marked a profound shift in how the federal government approached global strategy, institutionalizing the military-intelligence bureaucracy that would define American power projection for decades. It also laid the legal groundwork for the modern national security state, with broad implications for executive authority, covert operations, and civil-military relations. As Cold War dynamics evolved, the institutions born from this Act became central to both overt diplomacy and covert action around the world.Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for aiding Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minors, is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Her legal team argues that a 2007 non-prosecution agreement made with Epstein in Florida should have shielded her and other associates from future federal prosecution. The case raises a significant legal issue: whether plea deals made by one U.S. Attorney's Office bind other federal jurisdictions. This question has divided circuit courts, increasing the chances the Supreme Court might take up the case when justices return from summer recess in late September.The Justice Department under Trump acknowledged the legal split but urged the Court to deny Maxwell's appeal, arguing that plea agreements are binding only between the negotiating parties. Maxwell's defense contends the 2007 deal's broad language promised immunity for co-conspirators nationwide, and that allowing prosecutors to renege undermines trust in the justice system. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers supports her petition, citing the widespread use of plea agreements in American jurisprudence.The case unfolds amid renewed political pressure over Epstein-related disclosures, with Trump's administration walking back earlier commitments to release more records. The political sensitivity may affect the Supreme Court's willingness to get involved, especially given the presence of three Trump-appointed justices. Columbia Law professor Daniel Richman noted the unusual breadth of Epstein's original deal might make this a poor case for setting a national precedent, despite its legal significance.Amid Epstein furor, Ghislaine Maxwell seeks relief from US Supreme Court | ReutersThe Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to implement major funding cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, arguing the cuts align with its broader effort to dismantle federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. A lower court had blocked the move in June, with U.S. District Judge William Young ruling that the cuts were unlawfully arbitrary and lacked clear justification, violating administrative law. The decision came after lawsuits from a coalition of researchers, public health groups, and 16 states led by Democratic administrations, who argued the grant cancellations were politically motivated and targeted research associated with DEI or gender identity.The administration contends that continuing to pay the $783 million in grants contradicts its policy goals. The Justice Department is also challenging the venue of the lawsuits, arguing they should have been brought in the Court of Federal Claims, which specializes in monetary claims against the federal government. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently rejected that argument, refusing to pause Judge Young's ruling.Judge Young, despite being a Reagan appointee, sharply criticized the administration's actions as lacking any rational explanation and as ideologically driven. He noted that officials failed to define DEI while broadly discrediting grant-supported research without evidence. Critics, including NIH employees and scientists, have warned that the cuts undermine scientific integrity and public health.The Supreme Court, now with a 6-3 conservative majority, has been receptive to Trump administration appeals in similar cases. In April, it allowed comparable cuts to teacher training grants to proceed. The administration hopes for a similar result in this case.Trump administration asks US Supreme Court to allow NIH diversity-related cuts | ReutersGlass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), two leading proxy advisory firms, have filed lawsuits against Texas over a new state law restricting their ability to advise shareholders on environmental, social, governance (ESG), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters. Proxy advisors provide independent recommendations to institutional investors—such as pension funds and asset managers—on how to vote on issues at shareholder meetings, including board elections, executive compensation, and corporate policies. This means their influence is significant in shaping corporate governance across markets.The new Texas law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, requires these advisors to include disclaimers stating their recommendations may not be in the financial interest of shareholders and to back up ESG or DEI-related advice with financial analysis. Glass Lewis and ISS argue the law violates their First Amendment rights by forcing them to include government-mandated speech that contradicts their independent analysis and perspectives.Filed in federal court in Austin, the lawsuits name Attorney General Ken Paxton as the sole defendant. Both firms contend the law is politically motivated and will damage their reputations, cost them clients, and undermine shareholder oversight of corporate boards. ISS also criticized the law as serving to protect corporate executives from accountability, labeling it "anti-capitalist" and counter to shareholder interests.The legal challenge comes amid a broader rollback of corporate DEI programs nationwide and is part of a trend in Republican-led states to push back against what they see as left-leaning influence in financial decision-making. The law is scheduled to take effect on September 1, unless blocked by the court.Glass Lewis, ISS sue Texas over law limiting DEI, ESG proxy advice | ReutersThis week's closing theme is by Enrique Granados.This week's closing theme is Granados' masterwork Goyescas, Op. 11, a piano suite composed in 1911 and widely regarded as the Spanish composer's magnum opus. Subtitled Los majos enamorados (The Gallants in Love), the suite captures the spirit and elegance of 18th-century Madrid, evoking a romanticized world of passionate young lovers, elaborate dress, and melancholic reverie. Granados drew inspiration from the art of Francisco Goya, though the individual pieces are not linked directly to specific paintings. Instead, they are tonal impressions—musical vignettes steeped in the colors and textures of Goya's Spain.Goyescas is divided into two books. Granados premiered Book I on March 11, 1911, at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, showcasing his own virtuosic pianism. Book II followed in December of that year and was first performed in Paris at the Salle Pleyel on April 2, 1914. Each movement in the suite is rich with rhythmic flair, lyrical warmth, and emotional depth, capturing the elegance of Spanish courtship rituals and the melancholy undercurrents of unfulfilled longing.The suite's most famous piece, Quejas, o La Maja y el Ruiseñor (Lament, or The Maiden and the Nightingale), would later be famously echoed in the song “Bésame Mucho.” Granados' idiomatic use of ornamentation, rubato, and folkloric rhythms set a high watermark for Spanish piano music and influenced later composers such as Albéniz and Falla. Through Goyescas, Granados created a work that is both a tribute to Goya's vision and a deeply personal expression of turn-of-the-century Spanish romanticism.Without further ado, Enrique Granados' The Gallants in Love, the third movement, El Fandango del Candil. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

In the past the Central Intelligence Agency got its hands dirty to support the American vision of freedom and democracy. But what is the spy agency's purpose for when the President himself despises those very values? Pulitzer Prize winning author Tim Weiner talks Andrew Harrison through The Mission: The CIA In The 21st Century , his absorbing new history of the Agency through the years of 9/11, secret prisons, torture to a surprise vindication over Putin's election interference and the Ukraine War. Is there a future of intelligence in the age of dumb ideology?  • Buy The Mission: The CIA In The 21st Century through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Support us on Patreon for early episodes and more . • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker to get your £100 sponsored credit.   Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jim Semivan is a 34-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency who spent 25 years as an operations officer in the National Clandestine Service, running spies and managing highly classified programs. After serving as special assistant to the deputy director of operations, Jim co-founded To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science following a personal UAP experience that fundamentally changed his perspective on the phenomenon. His unique position within the intelligence community has given him access to classified evidence and briefings that few outside the "invisible college" of government researchers have ever seen. With decades of experience in clandestine operations and special access programs, Jim brings an unprecedented level of credibility and insider knowledge to the discussion of non-human intelligence and the government's 80-year investigation into what he calls "the wickedest problem facing humanity."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lehto-files-investigating-uaps--5990774/support.

L.A. Secret Police. Inside the LAPD Elite Spy Network is a New York Times and Los Angeles Times Bestseller. This incredible non-fiction book rips the lid off the LAPD and exposes the reader to its dark underbelly of corruption during the reign of Chief Daryl Gates. L.A. cops ruined lives and reputations, inflicted mindless brutality, committed murder and engaged in massive cover-ups. In Los Angeles, police corruption was much more than unmarked envelopes stuffed with cash. It was a total corruption of power. For decades LAPD engaged in massive illegal spying and lied about it. Its spying targets included politicians, movie stars, professional athletes, news reporters and anyone wielding power or those of interest to Daryl Gates. Incredibly, the spying targets included a Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, a Secretary of Defense, a current Governor and the President of the United States. It all happened in Los Angeles.Detective Rothmiller is the modern-day Frank Serpico; he exposed the tentacles of corruption which reached to the highest levels within the LAPD and Washington D.C. It wasn't long after that an assassin attempted to take his life. It was apparent to many that powerful forces wanted him silenced. Incredibly, in this book Detective Rothmiller names names! See why this book changed the LAPD and is required reading at many universities. As former Assistant United States Attorney Marvin Rudnick said, “Rothmiller was in a position to know. He did very sensitive work.”Every book has an ending. However, the ending of this book will shock you. Within the new epilogue is a multi-page essay written especially for this updated book by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Cay Johnston. In it he describes his personal experience as a target of Daryl Gates illegal intelligence operations while he served as a Los Angeles Times reporter. You'll also read the challenge posed by detective Rothmiller to the LAPD. A challenge LAPD has refused to answer.Since releasing this updated eBook, Detective Rothmiller has been interviewed dozens of times by the national media regarding current NSA domestic spying and the 2013 murderous rampage of former LAPD cop Christopher Dorner. In late 2013 Detective Rothmiller was interviewed for a major television documentary which will expose corruption and major crimes committed at the highest levels. The documentary is scheduled for release in 2016. https://amzn.to/404ozAVBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Robert David Steele (July 16, 1952 – August 29, 2021) was an American case officer for the Central Intelligence Agency,[ co-founder of the United States Marine Corps Intelligence Activityand conspiracy theorist.Conspiracy theoriesSteele was a regular guest on Alex Jones's radio show. In an interview by Jones in June 2017, Steele claimed NASA holds a colony on Mars populated by human slaves who were kidnapped as children and sent to the planet.NASA spokesperson, feeling the need to respond about numerous false rumors, said "There are no humans on Mars" and that “there's only one stupid rumor on the Internet? Now that's news."On his Public Intelligence Blog, Steele cited The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a fabricated antisemitic document, at least 42 times to expound on the "Zionist conspiracy". He stated in a September 2019 blog entry that Jews in financial sectors were "a secret society" that "believes [itself] to be exempt from all laws and customs", leading to accusations of antisemitism, and called for the incarceration of Jews who were insufficiently loyal to the republic.He described the Holocaust as being a "contrived myth" and Zionism as “a cancer on humanity” urging the eradication of "every Zionist who refuses to be loyal to their country of citizenship and the rule of law.”In September 2020, he implied "two Zionists", one of whom was Yitzhak Rabin, were in Dallas and somehow involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Additionally, he claimed Rabin and Dick Cheney agreed on a proposal for the September 11 attacks: "The Zionists installed the controlled demolitions that assisted what I believe was clearly a directed energy controlled frequency event in the twin towers, controlled demolitions alone for WTC seven, and a massive coverup was executed….9/11 [legal] cases did not go to trial; controlled Zionist judges and prosecutors ensured that all cases were generously settled".Steele was the organizer of the Arise USA tour, a three-month tour of all 50 American states.[1] The Daily Beast reported the tour began in May 2021. Steele promoted Donald Trump's claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election and told his audiences of "the treason and high crimes represented by the fake pandemic, unconstitutional lockdown, mask idiocy, and the deaths and sterilization and mutations associated with the untested toxic 'vaccines'".[14] The tour featured speakers such as Oath Keeper Richard Mack and conspiracy theory promoter Sacha Stone. In July 2021, he held a demonstration in Belfast, Maine to claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and called COVID-19 a hoax.[15][16] He claimed to be the first person to call COVID-19 a hoax.[5] The tour concluded in August 2021, following allegations that $300,000 had been stolen from the tour's budget.[17] He also promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory.[1]Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Less than a fortnight after the US claimed to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability, our foreign editor Greg Sheridan joins us for the truth about the most secretive regime on earth. Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glenn Carle is an American writer and former intelligence officer. He is the author of The Interrogator: An Education (2011), which describes his involvement in the interrogation of a man at the time believed to be one of the top members of al-Qa'ida. Johns Hopkins Magazine has found The Interrogator to be "unusually candid in its portrayal of the CIA's internal workings—and the toll the agency's moral grey zones take on its operatives".Glenn spent 20 years in clandestine field operations with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Carle retired as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Transnational Threats from the National Intelligence Council. Carle has been critical of President Donald Trump, particularly after Trump began to disparage American intelligence agencies' assessment of Russian influence over the 2016 presidential election. He told Newsweek, in an article dated December 21, 2017, that he believed that President Donald Trump was "actually working directly for the Russians."Among other roles, Glenn is a Columnist for Newsweek Japan, providing commentary and analysis of international relations, Geo-strategic, and US political issues, and foreign policy and intelligence issues.----------DESCRIPTION:The Shadow Wars: Glenn Carl on Russian Influence, U.S. Intelligence, and Global AuthoritarianismIn this episode, former CIA officer and author Glenn Carl discusses his career in intelligence, focusing on themes such as the internal workings of the CIA, the impact of moral gray zones on operatives, and the nuances of Russian active measures. Carl critiques President Trump's stance on U.S. intelligence agencies and comments on Russian tampering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The conversation delves into the strategic shift from focusing on Russia to China, Putin's KGB background, and how Russian tactics destabilize Western democracies. The episode also explores the erosion of U.S. democratic norms through internal and external influences, the complexity of intelligence operations, and the enduring legacy of Carl Schmitt's authoritarian ideas in contemporary U.S. politics.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to Glenn Carl00:36 Glenn Carl's Career and Criticism of Trump01:24 Thanking the Supporters01:54 Discussing Russia and the Cold War04:40 Shift in US Strategic Focus06:00 The Role of Russian Intelligence06:49 Putin's Influence and Russian Nationalism18:09 The Struggle in Ukraine24:05 Putin's Background and Russian State Dynamics41:25 The Influence of Vladislav Surkov44:54 Russian Strategy to Undermine the US46:53 Recommended Reading on Russian Influence48:09 Authoritarian Toolkits and Their Impact49:02 US Vulnerabilities and Russian Exploitation49:48 Russian Influence in Europe01:00:24 Traditionalism vs. Modernism01:08:21 Trump's Motivations and Russian Influence01:12:10 Historical Intelligence Operations01:20:01 The Current State of US Democracy01:24:07 Conclusion andhttps://glenncarle.com/ Final Thoughts----------LINKS:https://glenncarle.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Carlehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-carle-2031706/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0134b2dhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Interrogator-An-Education/dp/B005UVQIAU----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Two weeks after graduating from USC, Tracy Walder began her career as a Staff Operations Officer in the Central Intelligence Agency's Counterterrorism Center before, during and after September 11th 2001, and as Special Agent at the FBI. During her time at the CIA, she lived in and travelled to countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe as well as served in war zones such as Afghanistan. After the CIA, Tracy became a Special Agent at the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, Santa Ana Resident Agency. Following her time at the CIA and FBI, she received her master's in teaching at Chapman University and began teaching history and a course created for young women on national security and global policy at high schools in California and Texas. She now works as an adjunct instructor of Criminal Justice at Texas Christian University, is the national security contributor for News Nation and appeared on the Discovery Channel's Lost Monster Files, the History Channel, and the Discovery Channel. She is currently the star of the number one documentary on Netflix American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden. Tracy shares her incredible story of going from sorority sister to CIA and FBI agent, and details her work in law enforcement, counter-terrorism and national security. We discuss her key role in the new Netflix doc, the rampant sexual harassment she experienced at the Bureau, and whether America is safe from domestic and foreign terrorists under the Trump administration. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth yesterday launched a scathing attack on the American media for its reporting of US strikes on Iran, saying that cheering against their president is “in their DNA”. It followed reporting earlier this week on a leaked intelligence assessment which said that US strikes set back the Iranian nuclear programme only by a matter of months. John O. Brennan, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency joined us on the show this morning to discuss all.

This is the documented autobiography of a victim of government mind control. Cathy O'Brien is the only vocal and recovered survivor of the Central Intelligence Agency's MK-Ultra Project Monarch mind control operation. Chiseled deep into the white stone of the CIA's Langley, Virginia headquarters is a partial verse lifted from the Holy Bible and writings of Saint John...""and the truth shall set you free." This statement, like the agency, is total reality. The building that it is engraved upon houses the world's most successful manufacturer of lies to facilitate psychological warfare. The "Company" uses truth and technology as their raw materials to produce "pure" lies for control of you and America's allies.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

The Cold War intensifies with US involvement in South Vietnam. It's 1954. Colonel Ed Lansdale, former advertising executive and the CIA's maverick agent in South-East Asia, a pioneer in clandestine operations and psychological warfare, is given the task of creating dissension in the North to stop the advance of the communists. Return of the award-winning series about America's Central Intelligence Agency - told from the inside out by long-serving CIA agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris, Johnny Flynn, Stephen Kunken and Kelly Marie Tran.In Episode 2.1 Jungles vampires, the CIA's lone-wolf super-hero, psychological warfare…Cast: Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris Virginia Spence ..........Kelly Marie Tran Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn Colonel Ed Lansdale..........Stephen Kunken Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia Prime Minister Diem..........Jon Jon Briones General Mike O'Daniel..........Ian Porter "Lightening" Joe Collins..........Rob Benedict Pat Kelly & Madam Nhu..........Lourdes Faberes Ngô Đình Nhu..........Yung General Hinh..........Thaiger Nguyen Lou Conein.......... Philip Desmeules Steve Arundel......... Greg LockettAll other parts played by the castOriginal music by Sacha PuttnamWritten by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch Trails: Jack Soper Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony DiazDirector: John Scott Dryden Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott DrydenA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

Return of the award-winning series about America's Central Intelligence Agency… told from the inside out by long-serving CIA agent Eloise Page (Kim Cattrall).In Series 2, the Cold War intensifies with: US involvement in South Vietnam; an attempted coup in Indonesia; the Hungarian uprising; the Suez crisis; the U2 spy plane; meddling in Africa; and a failed US-backed invasion of Cuba, which seals the fate of CIA's legendary head Allen Dulles (Ed Harris). A new kind of President, John F Kennedy, offers hope of a different kind of world… until his assassination in Dallas in 1963. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris, Johnny Flynn and Kelly Marie Tran.

Jeffrey Sanow, a former senior intelligence officer with the CIA, spent decades navigating high-pressure environments where reading people wasn't just a skill—it was a matter of survival. How do you make decisions when the stakes couldn't be higher? Starting as a Peace Corps volunteer, followed by over two decades of service in the Central Intelligence Agency, Jeffrey reveals what years of fieldwork taught him about influence, persuasion, and the power of truly understanding others. Whether you're leading a team, negotiating a deal, or simply seeking to communicate more effectively, these insights will transform the way you approach every conversation.    LINKS   The Mojo Sessions website www.themojosessions.com   The Mojo Sessions on Patreon www.patreon.com/TheMojoSessions Full transcripts of the show (plus time codes) are available on Patreon.   The Mojo Sessions on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheMojoSessions   Gary on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/gary-bertwistle   Gary on Twitter www.twitter.com/GaryBertwistle   The Mojo Sessions on Instagram www.instagram.com/themojosessions   If you like what you hear, we'd be grateful for a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Happy listening!   © 2025 Gary Bertwistle.  All Rights Reserved.  

In this rare appearance from a former Central Intelligence Agency operative, Michele Rigby Assad details how she, as a young woman from small town America, went on to work in one of the world's most misunderstood and dangerous geopolitical climates — the Middle East. Working across a handful of undisclosed locations throughout the Arab world, Rigby Assad shares the difficulties she faced while successfully infiltrating and gathering intelligence from terrorist cells known for their stern anti-Western beliefs.   About Michele Rigby Assad: Michele Rigby Assad began her career in the government relations department of an international relief and development organization in Washington, DC, in 1995. After obtaining a master's degree in contemporary Arab studies from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service she joined the CIA in 2002 to work as an intelligence officer in the Directorate of Operations, the covert arm of the agency. Specializing in counterterrorism and counterintelligence issues, Rigby Assad worked in Iraq and other secret Middle Eastern locations. To date, Rigby Assad has lived in six countries in the Near East region and traveled to more than 45 others.   Buy Michele Rigby Assad's book Get off the X  Produced by The Mob Museum. To watch episodes of this podcast, visit YouTube For behind-the-scenes photos, merchandise and exclusive content, visit insidethelife.org For more on the Museum visit themobmuseum.org This program is presented by The Mob Museum and includes views and opinions of independent panelists and/or interviewees that do not necessarily reflect or represent the stance of The Mob Museum. Factual statements made by panelists/interviewees have also not been vetted by the Museum, and the Museum does not assert that such statements are truthful. All statements should be understood as the individual's perspective rather than a view expressed by The Mob Museum. This program has been made available by The Mob Museum for the private, non-commercial use of its audience. Such private use is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This program is subject to copyright protection, and those seeking to utilize the program or portions thereof, for anything other than private use should contact The Mob Museum at PR@themobmuseum.org.  

Minneapolis father on laptop given to his kid with images of men having sex 12:53- Tim Tebow on child predators 28:21- Human Chain for Abrego Garcia in DuPage 31:13- Baristas on the picket line over their flair 49:32- Trump in Doha to Emir Al Thani: we appreciate those camels 56:50- Campus Beat 1:05:38- Dems/media: covering for Biden 1:26:23- George Beebe, former director of Russia analysis at the Central Intelligence Agency - now Director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, is optimistic a Russia/Ukraine ceasefire could happen soon 1:41:18- Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University, Wilfred Reilly, explains why democrats aren't welcoming to Afrikaners Check out Professor Reilly’s most recent book Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me: Debunking the False Narratives Defining America’s School Curricula 2:03:45- CEO/Founder of Liberty Cigars, John Adams, describes the cigars he will be supplying for next week's Cigar Nights For more on Liberty Cigars visit libertycigars.com Join Larry Elder, Dan & Shaun on two consecutive nights — Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Goebbert's Farm in Pingree Grove, Illinois, and Thursday, May 22, 2025 at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, Illinois — as they light up some cigars together and discuss the the successes and challenges of Trump's first 100 days in office. It will be an unforgettable night of lively conversation and fine cigars with several hundred like-minded friends. 560theanswer.com/cigarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Show Notes Episode 493: Secret Dealer Man Part 3 of the Crack Epidemic This week Host Dave Bledsoe tried to make a bartender believe he was an undercover agent for the state liquor authority and drinking for free would help their case. (It would have worked if his “badge” didn't read Female Body Inspector) On the show this week we FINALLY conclude the Crack Epidemic and Coke Month with the story of how maybe the CIA did the crack epidemic. Along the way we discover that Dave will do anything for love, but he won't do that. (That being to help a stripper smuggle drugs) Then we dive into the not so secret history of the Central Intelligence Agency. Then we meet a CIA asset and Panamanian dictator who trafficked so much coke the US Army got involved. (In taking him out, not buying his coke, we think.) Then we talk about a reporter, a hot story that was almost too good to be true. (Turned out it actually was too good to be true.) Our Sponsor this week is the Central Intelligence Agency, less evil than you think, more evil than you would like.  We open the show with 60 Minutes and close with Kirby who is living a life of danger. Show Theme: Hypnostate Prelude to Common Sense The Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatthehellpodcast.bsky.social The Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/ The Show on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxP5ywpZ-O7qu_MFkLXQUQ The Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthehellwereyouthinkingpod/ Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/kHmmrjptrq Our Website: www.whatthehellpodcast.com Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/Whatthehellpodcast The Show Line: 347 687 9601 Closing Music: https://youtu.be/EjEUjmjwkpU?si=aN9cC-FF_ka3Y9AK Buy Our Stuff: https://www.seltzerkings.com/shop Citations Needed: History of CIA https://www.cia.gov/legacy/cia-history/ Guns, Drugs and the CIA https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/archive/gunsdrugscia.html Panama's Noriega: CIA spy turned drug-running dictator https://www.reuters.com/article/world/panamas-noriega-cia-spy-turned-drug-running-dictator-idUSKBN18Q0NW/ Helping the crack flow https://archive.org/stream/dark_alliance_original_series-gary_webb_cia_cocaine/Gary-Webb_Dark-Alliance/some_related_articles/edit821.htm_djvu.txt Wikipedia Kerry Committee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Committee Though Evidence Is Thin, Tale of C.I.A. and Drugs Has a Life of Its Own https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/27/specials/cia-thin.html The Storm Over Dark Alliance https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB2/storm.htm Tracking the Genesis of the Crack Trade https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-20-mn-59169-story.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talk to John Potash about the MLK Assassination, Black Panthers and Malcom X in the first hour. We're joinned by Cisco Streetlove and continue the discussion.Drugs as Weapons Against Us meticulously details how a group of opium-trafficking families came to form an American oligarchy and eventually achieved global dominance. This oligarchy helped fund the Nazi regime and then saved thousands of Nazis to work with the Central Intelligence Agency. CIA operations such as MK-Ultra pushed LSD and other drugs on leftist leaders and left-leaning populations at home and abroad. Evidence supports that this oligarchy further led the United States into its longest-running wars in the ideal areas for opium crops, while also massively funding wars in areas of coca plant abundance for cocaine production under the guise of a "war on drugs" that is actually the use of drugs as a war on us. Drugs as Weapons Against Us tells how scores of undercover U.S. Intelligence agents used drugs in the targeting of leftist leaders from SDS to the Black Panthers, Young Lords, Latin Kings, and the Occupy Movement. It also tells how they particularly targeted leftist musicians, including John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Tupac Shakur to promote drugs while later murdering them when they started sobering up and taking on more leftist activism. The book further uncovers the evidence that Intelligence agents dosed Paul Robeson with LSD, gave Mick Jagger his first hit of acid, hooked Janis Joplin on amphetamines, as well as manipulating Elvis Presley, Eminem, the Wu Tang Clan, and others.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

The directive given to our Green Berets is to win by All Means Available. To do so, requires a combination of ingenuity, understanding the environment, a clear plan and precision execution. Mike Vickers built a career on winning America's shadow wars by All Means Available. Mike started his career as both a non-commissioned and commissioned officer Green Beret before becoming a Paramilitary Operations Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency. Mike later served as the Undersecretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, as well as the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, where he served as the lead Intelligence official at the Pentagon. Secretary Vickers joined Fran Racioppi to chronicle his new book By All Means Available, Memoirs Of A Life in Intelligence, Special Operations and Strategy. He has been a part of almost every American known and unknown conflict for the past 50 years; including leading the defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.We defined how America collects and uses intelligence in both national security and diplomacy. We discussed America's will to win large conflicts, when we've gotten it right and why we get it wrong. And we went deep on the real enemy facing America today.Mike sees the United States in a New Cold War that will challenge the nation like never before. He shares the reasons why America got here, and most importantly his Grand Strategy to rebuild a culture of winning global conflict to solidify America's position as the dominant world power for decades to come. Highlights0:00 Introduction6:29 Definition and Significance of Intelligence8:00 DoD intelligence use10:59 Joining the Army15:45 By all means necessary21:12 Politics in War judgement28:11 China & Russia38:00 Defining American power42:28 Nuclear Weapons in Iran & North Korea46:06 Mobilization of American troops48:48 Pakistan49:38 Media on disunity50:56 The arms race against China54:20 Covert action56:34 Denial of Service59:48 Regional and Global Deterrence1:03:07 Transforming out alliances1:10:49 The Next Threat1:14:03 SOF integration1:18:15 America's overconfidence1:20:51 10 Principles1:30:06 Daily HabitsQuotes“We are in dynamic times. We are in polarizing times.”“It's not just military and economic intelligence, it's economic, scientific, and technical intelligence that can make a big difference.”“It became the largest covert action program in CIA history.” “Drive them out by all means available.”“How are we going to win?”“Ammunition is what really sustains operational tempo.”“When America goes to war, we're going to bring everything and we are going to win.”“The more you put in it, the more you better win, and win quickly.”“America is arguably challenged right now, like never before.”“Once the sleeping giant wakes up, look out, they are going to lose.”“Strength is Power.”“There's economic, military, intelligence, political strength, the power of your ideals, and so you try to aggregate that.”"We will win the new Cold War.”“When you think your biggest enemy is another American or group of Americans something's wrong.”“Covert action is taking diplomacy operations, paramilitary operations, sabotage and others and just having it be done under title 50.”“Cyber is this unique weapon that it's used for espionage. It's a very powerful collection tool.”“You need survivable forward presence.”“I think the greatest threat is the combination of China and Russia and perhaps adding in Iran and North Korea.”Watch, listen or read our conversation from the Association of the United States Army as Secretary Vickers shares his leadership lessons learned through covert action; and don't miss the rest of our AUSA series.The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media.

On les voit souvent dans les films ou les séries américaines, parfois présentés comme rivaux, parfois comme partenaires : le FBI et la CIA sont deux des agences les plus connues des États-Unis. Mais à quoi servent-elles exactement ? Et surtout, en quoi sont-elles différentes ?La réponse tient principalement en un mot : le territoire.Le FBI : la police fédérale à l'intérieur du paysLe FBI, ou Federal Bureau of Investigation, est une agence fédérale de police. Il dépend du ministère de la Justice américain et agit principalement à l'intérieur des États-Unis.Son rôle est d'enquêter sur les crimes fédéraux, c'est-à-dire les infractions qui concernent plusieurs États ou qui relèvent de la sécurité nationale. Cela comprend :les affaires de terrorisme intérieur,l'espionnage,les cyberattaques,la corruption,le crime organisé,les enlèvements,et les crimes financiers à grande échelle.Le FBI a donc un rôle de police judiciaire, mais aussi de contre-espionnage. Il dispose d'agents en uniforme ou en civil, qui mènent des enquêtes, procèdent à des arrestations, collectent des preuves, etc. Il peut également collaborer avec les polices locales ou d'autres agences fédérales.En résumé, le FBI est le bras armé du gouvernement sur le territoire américain, pour les affaires complexes ou sensibles.La CIA : les espions de l'étrangerLa CIA, ou Central Intelligence Agency, est totalement différente. Elle dépend du président des États-Unis, via le Directeur du renseignement national (DNI), et agit exclusivement à l'international.Son rôle n'est pas d'arrêter des criminels, mais de collecter des informations sur les pays étrangers, souvent dans le plus grand secret. Cela inclut :l'espionnage politique,le renseignement économique,l'observation de menaces potentielles (terrorisme, conflits, cyberattaques),et parfois des opérations clandestines (renversement de régimes, infiltrations, etc.).La CIA n'a aucun pouvoir de police. Ses agents ne peuvent ni arrêter, ni enquêter sur des citoyens américains. Son travail est de fournir des renseignements au gouvernement et à l'armée, pour éclairer les décisions politiques.Deux missions, un objectif communFBI et CIA ont donc des missions complémentaires :le FBI agit chez eux,la CIA agit chez les autres.Tous deux contribuent à la sécurité nationale, mais leurs méthodes, leurs moyens et leur périmètre d'action sont bien distincts. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

President Donald Trump on Friday said he would strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, as a battle between his administration and the Ivy League school continues. “We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He did not elaborate on the details, including when it may happen.Trump is planning to unveil a budget blueprint that calls for slashing federal spending on key nondefense programs by $163 billion, targeting renewable energy, education, and foreign aid, according to a White House official.The U.S. economy added a stronger-than-expected 177,000 jobs in April. It was more than the 135,000 jobs economists were expecting the economy to add last month. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%, a historically low level.America's top intelligence agency is posting a "help wanted" notice specifically for Chinese officials. The Central Intelligence Agency published two short videos on its platforms on Thursday, describing the opportunity as a way out for Chinese officials struggling to survive amid the Chinese communist regime's infighting and massive internal struggles.

The abortion pill has become the most common form of abortion in America—but most people have no idea about the serious harm it causes women. This week on The Narrative, CCV President Aaron Baer and Communications Director Mike Andrews sit down with Jamie Hall, Director of Data Analysis at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), to discuss their shocking new report on the abortion pill. In this powerful conversation, Jamie breaks down:

Today's guest, Jeffrey Sanow, brings a wealth of experience in intelligence operations, particularly in adapting civilian business tools for military and intelligence purposes.   His extensive tenure at the Central Intelligence Agency gives him a deep understanding of intelligence methodologies. Additionally, as a skilled social skills instructor, he effectively communicates complex subjects – a crucial ability in intelligence work, where building relationships is paramount.   In this episode, we'll explore: His international experience in the CIA and how he now shares his unique global perspective through public speaking The power of stillness and eye contact as a speaker — and why this is so important Why building professional relationships is crucial for speaking opportunities and his advice for cultivating meaningful long-term connections Current Favorites: Book: The Journeyer and Podcast: Karen Hall's The Hero Within   More from Jeffrey Sanow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerey-sanow/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/je.sanow.90/    More from Tricia  Unlock your potential and grow your speaking business during The Art of The Big Talk, my LIVE Two-Day Virtual Masterclass Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

“This shocking expose of the CIA operation aimed at destroying the Vietcong infrastructure thoroughly conveys the hideousness of the Vietnam War” (Publishers Weekly).In the darkest days of the Vietnam War, America's Central Intelligence Agency secretly initiated a sweeping program of kidnap, torture, and assassination devised to destabilize the infrastructure of the National Liberation Front (NLF) of South Vietnam, commonly known as the “Viet Cong.” The victims of the Phoenix Program were Vietnamese civilians, male and female, suspected of harboring information about the enemy—though many on the blacklist were targeted by corrupt South Vietnamese security personnel looking to extort money or remove a rival. Between 1965 and 1972, more than eighty thousand noncombatants were “neutralized,” as men and women alike were subjected to extended imprisonment without trial, horrific torture, brutal rape, and in many cases execution, all under the watchful eyes of US government agencies.Based on extensive research and in-depth interviews with former participants and observers, Douglas Valentine's startling exposé blows the lid off of what was possibly the bloodiest and most inhumane covert operation in the CIA's history.The ebook edition includes “The Phoenix Has Landed,” a new introduction that addresses the “Phoenix-style network” that constitutes America's internal security apparatus today. Residents on American soil are routinely targeted under the guise of protecting us from terrorism—which is why, more than ever, people need to understand what Phoenix is all about.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Today we delve into the intricate world of intelligence operations, discussing the role they play in political spheres. Get valuable insights on key topics such as trustworthy advisors, CIA Operations Officers, and potential nation-state interference. /// The Scalpel is proud to partner with Brickhouse Nutrition. Dr. Rose uses and highly recommends Field of Greens. Your purchase through this link supports The Scalpel Podcast. /// https://scalpeledge.com/brickhouse ------------------------------------------------- Dr. Keith Rose joins Blake Farenthold is this first part of an important discussion. We delve into the complexities of intelligence operations and the crucial role they play in political landscapes. Dr. Rose and Blake Farenthold discuss key points such as the necessity for a trusted advisory team with insight into the intelligence community to support the President's strategic decision-making. We also explore the significance of an Operations Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who understands the process, law, and funding mechanisms to effectively run the organization. Concerns about former heads of intelligence organizations like John Brennan, James Clapper, Michael Hayden, Victoria Nuland, and their potential ties to the Clinton world are discussed, as well as the possibility that a nation-state might be supporting these individuals in a clandestine campaign against the current administration. Lastly, the importance of thorough investigations to uncover any wrongdoing or interference with government operations is emphasized to maintain accountability and uphold the integrity of our intelligence agencies. --- Connect with The Scalpel: Website: https://scalpeledge.com Email: KFR@scalpeledge.com TruthSocial: @scalpeledge Rumble: @TheScalpel X: @TheScalpelEdge Instagram: @TheScalpelPodcast

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, JD Maddox discusses new influence opportunities borne out of necessity. JD suggests that listeners consider radical-sounding concepts for, such as letters of marque, indemnification, task-based organization, public-private operations, and new authorities as viable influence pathways for today's strategic landscape. Recording Date: 31 Mar 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned or Related #110 Sean McFate on The New Rules of War #220 Tom Kent on US International Broadcasting and Soft Power Lord's Resistance Army (Central Africa) The Kherson Ruse: Ukraine and the Art of Military Deception Letters of Marque US Agency for Global Media Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: J.D. Maddox is an expert in political warfare, and an academic, writer and former political candidate. He has served as a Central Intelligence Agency branch chief, deputy coordinator of the U.S. Global Engagement Center, advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and as a U.S. Army Psychological Operations team leader. He is the founder of Inventive Insights LLC, and the Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Deft9 Solutions, and currently consults on Operations in the Information Environment to government organizations, and consults to commercial and political organizations on strategic communications. He's an adjunct professor of national security studies at George Mason University's Schar School, teaching Disinformation and Policy Responses, and he's an adjunct professor at Tulane University, where he teaches Open Source Information Analysis. He also recently initiated "Tab D," a biweekly report highlighting U.S. adversaries' narrative vulnerabilities. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

2 Hours and 35 MinutesPG-13Stormy Waters is a managing partner of a venture capital firm.Philo's Miscellany has a YouTube channel in which he reviews rare books.Philos and Stormy join Pete to discuss the Dulles brothers providing background and information on the formation of the Central Intelligence Agency. This concludes the discussion.Philo's YouTube ChannelStormy's Twitter AccountPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's SubstackPete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.

We release this show at a moment of high political drama. Economics, financial markets, and America's relations with the rest of the world are in a state of tumult. So how on earth do we talk with and listen to people on the other side? Should you even try? Jessie Mannisto, Director of Debates at Braver Angels says “yes!” In this episode we learn why understanding those who you disagree with is a vital first step to repairing civic relations. We discuss the First 100 Days Debates: “Is President Trump Making America Great?” Braver Angels is holding a series of structured debates this spring on birthright citizenship, DEI, foreign policy, the limits of executive power and more.Everyone has an opinion about the President and his Administration. “Right now we are all in some way emotionally activated, whether with triumph or with fear and anger,” Jess tells How Do We Fix It? host Richard Davies. “At Braver Angels we are coming together to try to live well in a polarized time.”This episode is our latest report on the people, projects, and ideas of America's largest cross-partisan group that's boosting civic friendship. Bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic is vital work. At a time of so much anger and misunderstanding the repair of our national conversation may be the biggest challenge the nation faces. Subscribe to our podcast. Like us at your favorite podcast platform. Head to Braver Angels to learn more about the work they're doing.Jessie Mannisto came to Braver Angels as a volunteer after being "cancelled" by friends for disagreeing with some of their political views—an experience that led her to seek a space where she could, in the words of the Braver Angels Way, "speak freely and fully without fear." Now she works to cultivate such a space for others, regardless of their beliefs. She also trains Braver Angels members to chair their own debates; one major part of this is mastering our own responses to fear and anger so that we can support others in doing the same, learning from those emotions what they are trying to tell us and using this information constructively.Before joining Braver Angels, Jessie served as a leadership analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency focusing on Eastern Europe. She is also the founder and editor emerita of Third Factor, a magazine and membership community for creative and intellectually excitable people striving to develop and live by their values. She is a native of Detroit, Michigan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Kenny Leahman.I first learned a piece of Kenny's story from an article in Yahoo News with the headline: Retired CIA officer opens up about coming out as gay during ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' era: ‘I was terrified every single day.'Immediately, I wanted to have Kenny on my podcast and today is the day I get to share our conversation with you!  We got to meet in person last year and I've learned more about Kenny's story, his work of dropping cover – in the professional sense, in the sense of coming out as gay, and as you'll hear, in other ways in life, for we all have things we choose to keep undercover.Kenny is retired from the Central Intelligence Agency after a 24-year career.  He now is a coach, educator, and consultant who helps others discover what really matters by focusing on values-based living and leadership.  Kenny says, “Make choices based on what matters.  If it doesn't matter, let it go.”Kenny, thank you SO much for being part of my life and sharing these pieces of your story and life here on Make Life Less Difficult.  Your story is deeply impactful, your wisdom is poignant and prescient, and your vulnerability is inspirational.  Kenny is offering a new workshop, Discover, Decide, and Do What Matters.  You'll find links below to this workshop, Kenny's website, and the article where I first read about him. Kenny's website: https://www.kennyleahman.com/Article from YahooNews!Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

102 MinutesPG-13Stormy Waters is a managing partner of a venture capital firm.Philo's Miscellany has a YouTube channel in which he reviews rare books.Philos and Stormy join Pete to discuss the Dulles brothers providing background and the formation of the Central Intelligence Agency.Philo's YouTube ChannelStormy's Twitter AccountPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's SubstackPete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.

This week Christine shares the story of the eruption of Mount St. Helen. The biggest volcano eruption and the largest recorded landslide in human history. Tayler share the insane story Project MKUltra was a human experimentation program designed and undertaken by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to develop procedures and identify drugs that could be used during interrogations to weaken individuals and force confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture. The ultimate goal was mind control. Spank you for listening. Do less God bless. Gloom & Bloom out!

National security officials discussed military plans in a Signal group chat that mistakenly included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, according to a report published on Monday. To discuss the revelation and the national security implications, Geoff Bennett spoke with Leon Panetta, the former defense secretary and director of the Central Intelligence Agency. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Hip-hop or hip hop is a genre of popular music that emerged in the early 1970s in New York City. The genre is characterized by stylized rhythmic sounds—often built around disco grooves, electronic drum beats, and rapping, a percussive vocal delivery of rhymed poetic speech as consciousness-raising expression. The music developed as part of the broader hip-hop culture; while often used to refer solely to rapping and rap music, "hip-hop" more properly denotes the entire subculture. In modern times, there has been a push to give credit to the Central Intelligence Agency as being the sole catalyst in the creation of the hip-hop movement. Join MC Joel on a trek through the true origins of hip-hop including where the words came from and the first rap song. He takes a closer look at the beginnings of Gangsta Rap which has since become a staple of the hip-hop industry to the point some people believe that is what is actually hip-hop. Finally, Joel looks at the mysterious email sent by an anonymous label executive from the early 90s claiming the industry was told to push Gangsta Rap to help fill privatized prisons. Buy Me A Coffee: Donate Website: https://linktr.ee/joelthomasmedia Follow: Instagram | X | Facebook Watch: YouTube | Rumble Music: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music Films: merkelfilms.com Email: freetherabbitspodcast@gmail.com Distributed by: merkel.media Produced by: @jack_theproducer INTRO MUSIC Joel Thomas - Free The Rabbits YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify OUTRO MUSIC Joel Thomas - Spinning YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

Lawfare Foreign Policy Editor and Georgetown professor Daniel Byman sits down with Holly Berkley Fletcher, a former Senior Africa Analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, to discuss the complex and tragic situation in Sudan and her recent Lawfare article on the subject, “The Sudan War and the Limits of American Power.” They talk about the initial hope following the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the subsequent military conflicts in Sudan, the country's humanitarian crisis, the role of regional powers, and the challenges faced by civilians and the international community in addressing the ongoing violence and suffering. We value your feedback! Help us improve by sharing your thoughts at lawfaremedia.org/survey. Your input ensures that we deliver what matters most to you. Thank you for your support—and, as always, for listening!To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/27/2025): 3:05pm- After the first week of his second term as president, Donald Trump mandated employees of the federal government work in-person, withdrew the nation from the Paris Climate Agreement, withdrew the nation from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing their willingness to cover-up China's COVID-19 transgressions, delayed enforcement of a national ban of TikTok, recognized two genders—male and female, pardoned 1,500 Americans arrested for their actions on January 6th, 2021, expanded domestic energy production, shut down the U.S. Southern border and began deportations of dangerous illegal migrants, and guaranteed free speech on social media. Trump also fulfilled a long-term campaign pledge to focus on meritocracy and pivot away from the prioritization of far-left policies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) within the federal government. Rich wonders, was this the most consequential first week in modern presidential history? 3:15pm- On Sunday, the Trump Administration arrested nearly 1,000 illegal migrants who have been accused of serious crimes. Comparatively, the Biden Administration averaged 310 arrests per day, according to Axios. The New York Post reports that in a raid over the weekend, federal agents arrested 50 members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua in Denver, Colorado. 3:30pm- CIA Says Lab Leak the Likely Origin of COVID-19: Michael R. Gordon and Dustin Volz of The Wall Street Journal write: “The Central Intelligence Agency has now concluded that the deadly Covid-19 pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, lending credibility to a view that has been the focus of sharp debate among scientists and politicians for years. In doing so, the CIA has now joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Energy Department in identifying a laboratory mishap in Wuhan, China, as the probable source of the Covid virus. It has killed more than 1.2 million Americans and over seven million people worldwide.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/cia-now-favors-lab-leak-theory-on-origins-of-covid-19-eff4e67c. 3:40pm- After initially rejecting deportation flights containing Colombian citizens who entered the U.S. illegally, Colombian President Gustavo Perez reversed course—even providing the U.S. with his own presidential plane to assist in the process. After Perez's refusal, President Donald Trump announced he would slap Colombia with a 25% tariff, with the promise it would quickly increase to 50%. The United States is Colombia's largest trading partner. 4:00pm- Robert Bork Jr.—President of the Antitrust Education Project & President of the Bork Communication Group—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Federal Trade Commission in the Trump Administration. Will antitrust concerns persist over Microsoft's $13 billion investment in OpenAI? Could hypothetical overregulation of artificial intelligence harm American innovation—potentially allowing for foreign adversaries to better compete in the emerging industry? Plus, Bork reacts to Nvidia stock falling 17%, wiping out nearly $600 billion in market value. 4:30pm- Last week, prior to the NFC Championship game, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker misspelled “Eagles” while leading a chant to support the hometown team. Yesterday, the Eagles dominated the Washington Commanders, 55 to 23. But today, Parker spelled the team's name properly—did she just jinx the whole city right before the Super Bowl? 4:40pm- While appearing on NPR, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner stated that he is exploring the possibility of filing local charges against Pennsylvanians who unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021 despite President Donald Trump's recent pardons. But how does Krasner have jurisdiction over federal offenses that were already reversed? 5:00pm- Last week, prior to the NFC Championship game, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Park ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- After the first week of his second term as president, Donald Trump mandated employees of the federal government work in-person, withdrew the nation from the Paris Climate Agreement, withdrew the nation from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing their willingness to cover-up China's COVID-19 transgressions, delayed enforcement of a national ban of TikTok, recognized two genders—male and female, pardoned 1,500 Americans arrested for their actions on January 6th, 2021, expanded domestic energy production, shut down the U.S. Southern border and began deportations of dangerous illegal migrants, and guaranteed free speech on social media. Trump also fulfilled a long-term campaign pledge to focus on meritocracy and pivot away from the prioritization of far-left policies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) within the federal government. Rich wonders, was this the most consequential first week in modern presidential history? 3:15pm- On Sunday, the Trump Administration arrested nearly 1,000 illegal migrants who have been accused of serious crimes. Comparatively, the Biden Administration averaged 310 arrests per day, according to Axios. The New York Post reports that in a raid over the weekend, federal agents arrested 50 members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua in Denver, Colorado. 3:30pm- CIA Says Lab Leak the Likely Origin of COVID-19: Michael R. Gordon and Dustin Volz of The Wall Street Journal write: “The Central Intelligence Agency has now concluded that the deadly Covid-19 pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, lending credibility to a view that has been the focus of sharp debate among scientists and politicians for years. In doing so, the CIA has now joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Energy Department in identifying a laboratory mishap in Wuhan, China, as the probable source of the Covid virus. It has killed more than 1.2 million Americans and over seven million people worldwide.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/cia-now-favors-lab-leak-theory-on-origins-of-covid-19-eff4e67c. 3:40pm- After initially rejecting deportation flights containing Colombian citizens who entered the U.S. illegally, Colombian President Gustavo Perez reversed course—even providing the U.S. with his own presidential plane to assist in the process. After Perez's refusal, President Donald Trump announced he would slap Colombia with a 25% tariff, with the promise it would quickly increase to 50%. The United States is Colombia's largest trading partner.

Since its creation, the Central Intelligence Agency has been tasked with gathering intelligence on foreign adversarial governments.  Exactly how they were to go about doing this was not exactly spelled out in advance.  This gave them an enormous amount of leeway and creativity in how to go about their mission. Some of their ideas were truly inspired, and others were, how shall we say, odd.  Learn more about the Acoustic Kitty and other crazy CIA plots on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed MasterClass Get up to 50% off at MASTERCLASS.COM/EVERYWHERE Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! ButcherBox New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive 2 lbs of grass-fed ground beef in every box for the lifetime of their subscription + $20 off your first box when you use code daily at checkout! Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Ben Long & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the immediate aftermath of the mammoth fires in Los Angeles, Ralph welcomes Douglas Heller, Director of Insurance at Consumer Federation of America to fill us in on what to expect from the industry and how to get the most out of your fire insurance claims. Then, our resident constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, returns to present a list of constitutional crises to expect upon the second coming of Donald Trump.Douglas Heller is a nationally-recognized insurance expert and Director of Insurance at Consumer Federation of America. In addition to conducting research for and providing expertise to consumer rights organizations, Mr. Heller is a member of the U.S. Department of Treasury's Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance, an appointee of California's Insurance Commissioner, serving as a board member of the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan, and he serves on the Executive Board of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.A key thing for everybody to know is that the premiums that we have paid over the last several years here in California—and this really goes across the country, but in California in particular—have put the insurance industry in a perfectly healthy position to deal with the claims, as dramatic and as severe as these fires are and the amount of damage that they caused…For the insurance companies to cry poverty in the wake of the buildup of capital over the last several years would be outrageous, and so we're going to be watching for that.Douglas HellerThe story around the country was that California was already a terrible hellscape for the insurance companies to do business in. When in fact, they were doing far better than the rest of the country. One of the big trade journals that reports on the industry has said that State Farm has been kept afloat by its performance in California over the last couple of years. And it was more a kind of a climate opportunism—after ignoring the potential (and then, growing) impact of climate change on property risk for years and decades, the insurance companies finally had this kind of revelation that oh they can talk about climate change as a new risk and a justification for demanding whatever they want.Douglas HellerBattle lines seem to be drawn—at least in my opinion—between the “Drill baby, drill. All we need to do is rake the leaves” camp versus “Hey, this is another wake up call to the climate crisis.” Because this was a severe weather event. And there were four major fires at once, and no fire department, whose main daily job is medical emergencies, is equipped to deal with that. Especially since the first two days the winds were so high—hurricane force winds—they couldn't get helicopters and airplanes into the air to make the drops in these canyons. And I don't think there's any amount of brush clearing that would have stopped these winds from whipping up these embers to send them into these residential districts.Steve SkrovanBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.The Trump regime has a high probability of being the most lawless dictatorial regime in American history. All presidents violate laws, but Trump has taken this to a new, boastful level of variety.Ralph NaderThe reason why it's more likely that Trump will use this dragnet in a more abusive ways, is because he and his FBI nominee have said openly that they're going to do everything they can to persecute, to go after their enemies list…The only limitation on abuse is that they don't have the manpower to actually use it all.Bruce FeinWe're the guardrails—not Congress anymore. It's the people who have to stand up and protest and not send scoundrels back to office if they're not discharging their obligations under the United States Constitution. If we aren't the guardrails, there aren't any out there.Bruce FeinNews 1/15/251. In Gaza, CNN reports a ceasefire deal has finally been reached. This comes on the heels of negotiations between the warring parties, attended by envoys of both President Biden and incoming President Trump, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Under the terms of this deal, Hamas has agreed to free the remaining 33 Israeli hostages in their custody, while Israel will “free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.” Trump's apparent demand for an immediate settlement with this many Israeli concessions comes as a shock. Israeli journalist Erel Segal, widely seen as a Netanyahu proxy, is quoted saying “We're the 1st to pay a price for Trump's election. [The deal] is being forced upon us… We thought we'd take control of northern Gaza, that they'd let us impede humanitarian aid.”2. In more foreign policy news, the American Prospect is out with a piece on the gifts received by senior foreign policy officials in the Biden Administration. According to this report, Bill Burns – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency – has in the past year received “an $18,000 astrograph, an $11,000 Omega watch, and a ceremonial Saudi war sword.” By comparison, Secretary of State Antony Blinken received $600 worth of memorabilia and “several acrylic landscape portraits.” As this piece notes, individuals cannot keep these gifts – they become public property – yet the disparity in these gifts does reflect the difference in perception toward Blinken and Burns. As one State Department official put it, “When you want someone to drink champagne, you send Blinken. When you need someone to actually fix s**t in Brazil, the Middle East, or Russia, you send Burns.”3. And in the final days of his administration, AP's Matt Lee reports President Biden will reverse Trump's decision to designate Cuba a state sponsor of terror. The state sponsor of terror designation resulted in Cuba facing even harsher sanctions than they had during the decades-long embargo and led to multiple critical shortages of essential goods like fuel. Since the designation was announced in 2021, many have called for it to be reversed, including New York State Senators and representatives in New York, Massachusetts and Minnesota, as well as local representatives and labor unions like the UAW, UE, and others, per People's Dispatch. It is unclear why Biden is taking this action now and Trump can reverse this move as soon as he takes office.4. Turning to labor, NBC reports the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) will rejoin the AFL-CIO, 20 years after leaving the labor federation. With SEIU back in the fold, the AFL-CIO will represent over 15 million workers. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler is quoted saying “We are the, probably, only institution in the country that has an infrastructure in every city, in every state, in every workplace, that is a mobilizing machine…And as they say, outside power builds inside power.” This move is widely seen as an attempt to consolidate worker power ahead of Trump's return to office, though the unions have resisted saying so explicitly. The Teamsters left the AFL-CIO around the same time as the SEIU, but have made no moves to rejoin the labor federation and have instead opted to strategically align themselves with Trump. It remains to be seen which strategy will yield better results.5. In more labor news, Fast Company reports servers at Waffle House franchises around the country claim “the chain forces them to do janitorial work and dishwashing for [sub-minimum] tipped wages, robbing them of up to $46.8 million.” As this piece notes, “Wage theft…is a common practice. As of 2017…workers lose $15 billion annually in minimum wage violations alone.” Moreover, “From 2021 to 2024, the Department of Labor recovered more than $1 billion in back wages and damages for 615,000 employees in the U.S.” Waffle House is a particularly egregious offender, with 90% of workers surveyed reporting they had experienced some form of wage theft in the past year. The state minimum wage in Georgia, where Waffle House is based, is a meager $5.15 per hour, yet the tipped minimum is even lower at just $2.13 – a starvation wage. One worker, Melissa Steach, is quoted saying “Corporations can't keep throwing us around because we make all this money for them…And what are they really doing with it? They are not supporting their workers. They can't keep screwing us around. We're here. We're worth it.”6. On the other end of the spectrum, Apple CEO Tim Cook's staggering compensation package hit nearly $75 million in 2024, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Converted to an hourly wage, this equates to roughly $600 per minute. This is a substantial increase from his 2023 total of $63.2 million, but still lower than the nearly $100 million he received in 2022. In October, Apple reported its services business, including Apple Music and iCloud, hit a revenue of $24.97 billion for the quarter, a “new all-time high for the company.”7. In more tech news, the Intercept reports Meta – parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – is relaxing their content moderation rules as they relate to hate speech. The Intercept received leaked training materials to this effect, which explicitly outline what users are now allowed to say. These officially permitted statements include “Immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of s**t,” “Jews are flat out greedier than Christians,” and simply “I'm a proud racist.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation's international freedom of expression director Jillian York is quoted in this piece saying, “While [Meta's previous censorship regime] has often resulted in over-moderation that I and many others have criticized, these examples demonstrate that Meta's policy changes are political in nature and not intended to simply allow more freedom of expression.”8. In a more positive story of social progress, EuroNews reports that the Italian Bishops' Conference has issued new guidelines all but clearing the way for openly gay men to enter the priesthood. According to the newly issued report, titled "Guidelines and norms for seminaries,” "When referring to homosexual tendencies, it's… appropriate not to reduce discernment only to this aspect, but, as for every candidate, to grasp its meaning in the global framework of the young person's personality.” In 2023 Pope Francis told the AP that “being homosexual isn't a crime,” and has endorsed the church “blessing” same-sex unions. Women remain entirely excluded from the priesthood.9. On the domestic front, Axios reports Justice Democrats – the progressive insurgent group – is planning a new wave of primary challenges to unseat “corporatist” incumbent Democrats. While the group's number one target seems to be George Latimer, who ousted Congressman Jamaal Bowman from his newly redrawn seat last cycle, spokesperson Usamah Andrabi told Axios the group is, “keeping every deep blue district on the table.” However, many of the prominent House progressives are shying away from this effort. Pramila Jayapal, former chair of the Progressive Caucus said “I think given what's at stake we feel really urgently that we need to protect all incumbents,” while Ilhan Omar said "There are folks who endorse against their own colleagues, but I don't."10. Finally, Public Citizen co-presidents Rob Weissman and Lisa Gilbert have written a letter to the chairs of the Trump Transition team asking to be named members of the Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE. In this letter, Weissman and Gilbert express their “concerns about DOGE's structure and mission,” particularly with regard to its proposed leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who “hold financial interests that will be directly affected by federal budgetary policies,” but also makes the key argument that DOGE's mission to “slash excess regulation” and “cut wasteful expenditures” must be tied to the other “half of the picture: more efficiently regulating corporations to better protect consumers and the public from harmful corporate practices.” They argue that their “appointment to serve as members of DOGE” would enable them to serve as “voices for the interests of consumers and the public who are the beneficiaries of federal regulatory and spending programs.” Rather than an earnest plea for an appointment, this letter is more likely meant to expose a key issue with the DOGE project: those in charge of cutting supposed government waste are riddled with conflicts of interests. They have too many fingers in the pie. If Trump were serious about reducing government spending generally – and corruption specifically – he would appoint people like Weissman and Gilbert, not Ramaswamy and Musk. And they would start with the unbelievably bloated, unauditable Pentagon budget.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

On a shelf in his office at CIA headquarters, Director Bill Burns keeps a tiny scaled model of a house. It's the house in Kabul, Afghanistan, where Al Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a U.S. drone strike in 2022. When NPR went out to interview him last week, Burns pointed to the exact balcony on which Zawahiri was standing. There was pride in his voice. The CIA had never stopped looking for the guy even more than two decades after 9/11. But it was also a reminder of challenges, of adversaries that will outlast any single CIA director.Now, as Burns wraps up four years running the Central Intelligence Agency, the challenges have multiplied and intensified.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.orgEmail us at considerthis@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nic McKinley is an entrepreneur, former military special operator, and ex-CIA operative who founded and led two multimillion-dollar tech companies. A pioneer in building technical solutions to protect society from predators, Nic is passionate about solving society's most pressing issues through cost-effective technical solutions. Nic grew up in Montana but left to join US military special operations as a US Air Force Pararescueman. After more than a decade in Pararescue, Nic worked in private intelligence start-ups before being recruited into a specialized unit at the Central Intelligence Agency that provided unique capabilities and expertise in response to the critical operational needs of the Intelligence Community. With 30 combat deployments under his belt in both Special Operations and the CIA, Nic experienced the power of technology during the Global War on Terror and set out to use his skills and training with that experience to combat modern slavery. In 2014, Nic founded DeliverFund, the only donor-funded solution to human trafficking that delivers proprietary data and technology to law enforcement, allowing them to take down human traffickers effectively. Along with DeliverFund, Nic founded a venture capital-backed software company and has a technology leadership consulting practice. Despite being dubbed "The Real Jack Ryan" by VICE Media, Nic's most important role is as a husband and father leading his family in a life of service and adventure in Montana. When he is not in his office, Nic can be found on a lake, on the ski slopes, camping, climbing vertical rock or ice in the mountains, with his nose in a book learning something new, or spending downtime with his extraordinary wife. Nic holds multiple degrees, one of which is a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Harvard University. The Noah Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KP8h2RchhM Safeguard App: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6448926293?pt=125436411&ct=ClearedHot&mt=8 Montana Knife Company: https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/ LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/?  

American Foreign Policy Council's Ilan Berman gives us the 101 on the past, present, and possible future of the Iranian regime, Middle East geopolitics, and the potential for Starlink as a tool to topple authoritarian regimes.   ·      What do the Iranian dissidents want from the United States? ·      Is the Iranian regime at a tipping point? ·      The changing demographics in Iran ·      How 1979 changed everything ·      The CIA boogeyman ·      Recapping U.S. – Iran historical relations ·      “They've had a gun to Israel's head for a while.” ·      What's the Iranian regime thinking now? ·      The cold-hearted rationality of Middle East politics ·      Why Iran might fast-track development of a nuclear bomb ·      Three scenarios for a post-ayatollah Iran ·      Why the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps isn't going away ·      How Elon Musk's Starlink could transform geopolitics ·      China's race to dominate space-based digital connectivity ·      Africa's population boom   Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, he has consulted for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, and has also provided assistance on foreign policy and national security issues to a range of governmental agencies and congressional offices. Follow him on X at @ilanberman.