This week I addressed some editorial issues regarding the radio show and the types of guests I will not support or promote. I talked about the backlash I received for calling Ryan Dawson a “racist grifter” and why I continue to stand by that statement. I discussed my own journalistic integrity and why I will not allow myself to be tainted by right-wingers simply because they do “good research.”
In the second hour, I took a call from Dimitri who questioned my decision to have Lucien Greaves on the show and take much of what he was saying at face value. We talked about Greave’s’ problematic past which I, admittedly, did not research before when I had him on. I talked about my own reservations now about having him back on, and how this is an inevitable problem when it comes to radio journalism. Later we talked about another controversial figure that people ask me about Dr. Joylln West, whom Jon Atack knew and has talked about on the show before. I talked about the theories regarding West and the Oklahoma City Bombing and how much of that story doesn’t hold up. Chuck helps me finish off the show by talking about the problems that we face as journalists and radio hosts.
In the first hour, I went solo and talked about some recent developments in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. I started off with the recent hostage rescue operation by French special forces which freed 4 tourists. I talked about the political instability that Burkina Faso has been facing over the past several years. I also talked about the rumors that the hostages were going to be handed over to the Macina Liberation Front in Mali. I spoke about the rise of jihadi groups across West Africa and how much of it unfolded in 2012 with the ouster of Mali’s president Amadou Toumani Toure. I also discussed the role that France continues to play as a colonial overlord in West Africa. I finished off by looking at a recent attack on a church in northern Burkina Faso and how it might link to gold mining in the country, and how this is exploited by groups like the neocons.
In the second hour the founder of Counterpunch and Washington Babylon, Ken Silverstein, joined me. We started off by talking about Ken’s latest media project WashingtonBabylon.com. Ken talked about the structure of the site and the unique way they are approaching both journalism and political reporting. Later we talked extensively about The Intercept and the myriad problems facing the billionaire-funded outlet. Ken talked about the recent scandal where yet a third whistleblower has been sent to jail after cooperating with The Intercept and Jeremy Scahill. Ken talked about his own time at The Intercept and why he ultimately had to walk away. Ken and I trashed Glenn Greenwald and also talked about the theory that The Intercept is, in fact, an intelligence operation to entrap whistleblowers. Later we talked about some of Ken’s reporting looking at the NRA spending scandal and why Wayne LaPierre paid $14,000 in rent for a summer intern. We finished the conversation by looking at the situation in Venezuela. Ken also teased a bombshell story he is writing on Marco Rubio.
This week friend of the show Kevin Gosztola of Shadowproof.com joined me to discuss the latest developments with Julian Assange. Kevin explained the charges that have been brought against Assange and the spin they have received in the media. He talked about the use of term “hacking” and why that is, in fact, an incorrect definition of what Assange has actually been charged with. Kevin also talked about Chelsea Manning who is still in jail after losing a recent appeal. Kevin also talked about the 2017 FBI affidavit which is the theory for the government’s case against Assange, should he be extradited back to the US. Kevin talked about the language used in the affidavit and its similarity to the Espionage Act. We also talked about the government’s theory that Assange aided the enemy through the publication of the Afghanistan War Logs. We discussed how this could set a dangerous precedent for all journalism. Later Kevin and I explored the larger implications of the US government’s attacks on Assange and journalism in general. We touched on the criminalization of basic journalistic practices like eliciting information from sources and protecting sources. We also talked about how this could be used against foreign and Americans journalists across the world. We closed out the first hour by talking about Ecuadorian president Moreno.
In the second hour, I talked about CIA director Gina Haspel’s recent speech and Q&A at Auburn University. I talked about Haspel as the director of the CIA and how she has differed from recent directors. I also touched on the doublespeak and doublethink used throughout her speech encouraging young people to join the intelligence services. Later I talked about comments made by the moderator Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess regarding Guantanamo Bay.
Brian Heiss joins me today for another in-depth discussion discussion. We start off by touching on the recent gas attack in Syria and the bellicose rhetoric coming out of Washington. Brian and I discuss our issues with the claims that this was launched by Assad. We also talk about the Skirpal case and the recent appointment of John Bolton to National Security Adviser. Brian and I than turn out attention to Kurt Eichenwald, Justin Berry, and the child pornography scandal they were involved in. We start off by talking about Eichenwald’s latest misstep in the media and how this led us to finally cover his sordid past. We discuss his fight with one of the Parkland students and the subsequent fallout of that. Brian and I then dive into the Eichenwald’s story about teenage webcam pornographer Justin Berry. We start off by laying out the story that Eichenwald laid out several years ago in the New York Times. Brian and I then dissect this story piece by piece, exposing the many lies, omissions, and downright illegal things Eichenwald committed. We talk about the true nature of Justin Berry and his webcaming. Brian and I talk about Eichenwald’s involvement in Berry, including giving him $2,000 which he never disclosed to the NYT’s. We also touch on Eichenwald’s use of his epilepsy and “significant memory disruptions” as his excuse for not remembering key events and dates during the writing of this story.
In the second hour we dive even deeper into this story and the many nefarious people involved. Brian and I talk about Eichenwald’s open admissions to viewing and receiving child pornography from Justin Berry. Brian discusses the digital paper trail including PayPal payments and messages from Eichenwald talking about his ever increasing collection of porn from Berry. Brian also explains in depth how Eichenwald became an administrator to Berry’s website, and shows how the payment of $2,000 might have in fact been to get his dormant child porn site up and running again. We also discuss the abusers around Berry including Kenneth Gourlay. I talk about the way the media has portrayed Justin as both a saint and a devil. We talk about Debbie Nathan’s reporting in CounterPunch at the time, which did reveal a lot of truth about this story, but also didn’t seem to care that Justin was molested at age 13, and instead placed more blame on him than many of his abusers. We also touch on Nathan’s association with the National Center for Reason and Justice. Brian and I also bring in the Arnold and Jesse Friedman case, serious problems with repressed memory and satanic ritual abuse. We finish off by discussing tentacle porn, hentai, Japan’s low rate of child molestation, and the serious problems America has with sexuality and sex in general.
Good friend and frequent guest Stephen Singular joins me today to discuss his latest book and first novel In the Cards. The book deals with the 2000 election and one journalists effort to expose the corruption and manipulation of the results by the GOP. Stephen begins by giving us an overview of the novel and what led him to write it. He also discusses the setting and the circumstances around the rigged 2000 election. We then talk about the novels protagonist, freelance journalist Jimmy Iverson. Stephen talks about the sort of person that Jimmy is and the journalistic ideals that he holds. We also talk about Jimmy’s current job as a ghostwriter for larger than life oil executive Bart Simmons. Stephen touches on the issue of ghostwriting and the reality of doing that work. Stephen and I talk about Bart’s veiled hints to Jimmy about voting manipulation, and how this and Jimmy’s engineer friend Tony lead him into uncovering the truth of the 2000 election. We also talk about Bart as a character and the complex way Stephen writes about him. Neither a hero nor a villain, Bart is a complex individual who does what he does for the good of the nation. We then explore Jimmy’s investigation into the company that produces the voter cards and electronic voting machines. Stephen and I discuss the real life problem of having a handful of powerful corporations in charge of voting here in the US and around the world. We also talk about how the voter cards could be manipulated to 1/5000 of an inch. We also touch on the many roadblocks that Jimmy facing in his pursuit of the truth. Stephen discusses the issues surrounding the media coverage of the election in both the novel and in real life. He talks about how and why the media completely fell asleep at the wheel and decided that this was not a story worth exploring. Stephen explains how this has led us to the situation we find ourselves in today. We also talk about how 9/11 and the Iraq war shifted the media and political narrative so quickly that the 2000 election was all but forgotten.
In the second hour Stephen and I explore how the election story affects Jimmy’s life on a personal level. We talk about Jimmy’s obsession with the truth and his deterioration when no one will take him seriously. Stephen and I talk about Jimmy’s alcohol abuse and the unraveling of his family life because of his desire to expose the reality of the rigged election. Stephen talks about how Jimmy’s convictions and lack of support leads him down a self destructive path. Stephen also talks about his own personal experience dealing with dangerous topics such as neo-nazis, and the risks that he took, and his own decisions to draw a line in the sand. We finish off the conversation by looking at the circumstances of the 2016 election and the allegations of Russian interference. I discuss my own beliefs which have evolved since reading In The Cards. We discuss how the 2000 election set the stage for subsequent voter manipulation in 2004, 2008, and 2012, and how the threat of a foreign government manipulating votes is not a far-fetched theory. I talk about the idea that the Democrats may be using the Russians as a smoke screen for GOP voter manipulation because admitting the truth exposes their own corruption, and the corruptions of the entire voting system as it exists today.
I finish off the show by talking about some new features I will be introducing on Patreon, and encouraging Patrons at the $5 level to suggest topics for the show. I also briefly touch on the launch of Scientology’s latest venture, Scientology TV.
Porkins Policy Review 