Tom Secker and I finish off our trilogy of episodes discussing House of Cards. This month we look at the last season The Final Cut. We discuss Francis’ long political career as it begins it’s twilight phase. Tom and I talk at length about the Cyprus story-line which introduces foreign policy to the show for the first time. We touch on FU’s complete lack of expertise in this realm and how it contributes to his ultimate demise. Tom and I also discuss whether Urquhart’s experiences as a young man in Cyprus made him into the psychopathic individual he is as Prime Minister. Later we explore the characters of Claire Carlsen and Tom Makepeace, as well as our favorite new character Jeffrey Booza-Pitt.
Tom and I also focus on the complex relationship between Francis, Elizabeth, and the security state. We talk about Elizabeth and Corder’s master plan which comes to fruition in the last episode, and how yet again the show accurately portrays the security state as the real center of power in British politics. Tom and and I also touch on two real world events that mimic House of Cards: the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and Paul Manafort laundering money in the Bank of Cyprus. And of course Tom and return to our ongoing question: is it all about sex?
Quick Note: I apologize for the coughing and sniffling. I was still sick at the time of the recording.
Author John Potash joins me in the first hour for a discussion of his book The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders. John describes the radical political life that Tupac was born into; mother Afeni Shakur and step father Mutulu Shakur were both prominent Black Panthers. We talk about the impact that this had on Tupac and how this would ultimately shape his life and his untimely death. John talk about the political messages with in Tupac’s songs, as well as his efforts behind the scenes to broker peace between gangs such as The Bloods and Crips. These efforts along with the politicization of the gangs would contribute to the FBI and US Intelligence targeting Tupuac relentlessly. We explore the numerous assassination attempts on Tupac including the infamous Atlanta and Marin Music Festival shootings. Later we delve into the New York shooting and the trumped up sexual assault case that would land Tupac in jail. John and I also break down the influence of Death Row Records and Suge Knight on Tupac. We discuss the intelligence connections behind Death Row, including CIA cocaine money, mafia lawyers, and the deep relationship it had with the LAPD and their elite police units. We discuss how Death Row was able to orchestrate Tupac’s killing in Las Vegas at the behest of the FBI/ATF and others. We finish off by talking about the impact that Tupac’s killing had on the rap world and the activist community.
In the second hour I talk about my article in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology. I talk about the issue as a whole which deals with CIA and DOD influence in Hollywood and talk about the other writers involved. Later I rant about the growing corporate take over of America and the misuse of the term Deep State. I discuss the notion that corporations are becoming countries, and countries are become nationalist corporations. I look at this through the lens of Trumps administration and the Keystone Pipeline as a case study. I attempt to show how this is really what the Deep State is up to.
Aaron Franz and I joined Tom Secker for a roundtable discussion on the film Wrong is Right; a 1982 political conspiracy thriller/black comedy. This is without a doubt one of the most bizarre movies I have ever watched. We discuss the obvious intelligence/military connections, as well as the prophetic memes and terrifyingly accurate predictive programing. We also break down the meaning and message behind the film. This was an extremely fun conversation but I would suggest that you watch Wrong is Right first.
With the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination I thought I would post something related to it. As with any large scale conspiracy there is just too much to talk about, and to many avenues to explore to really encapsulate what transpired in November 1963. That being said, the above speech by JFK to the American Newspapers Publishers Association is one that in many ways answers the question as to why JFK was murdered in a security service coup. In this speech JFK speaks out about the dangers of “secret societies.” Undoubtedly Kennedy was speaking about the ever expanding CIA, whose firm grip on society and geopolitics was starting to take form as he ascended to the presidency. He refers several times to the “cold war” but never specifically to the Soviets or Communism. He instead warns of a secret group of individuals who rely on subversion, propaganda, and guerrillas to achieve their agenda. JFK makes a point to convey how important a free unrestricted media is in order for America to survive. With the 50th anniversary of his murder there has been a concerted effort to paint any and all conspiracy theories about his death as completely bogus. The myth that Oswald was an unintelligent loner nut job still persists in the corporate controlled media. Yet, this speech shows that Kennedy was very well aware of the danger that was posed by the ever expanding security state, not just to himself, but to the very notion of freedom here in America. So take the time and listen to this startlingly candid speech. You will never ever hear a president make a speech like this now or in the future. As long as the CIA and their invisible government runs this country we will never be free.
Porkins Policy Review 