Mafia survivor and author Frank Dimatteo joins me today for a discussion of his book President Street Boys: Growing up Mafia. Frank explains how he grew up in a world of mobsters in South Brooklyn. We explore the world in which he was born into in South Brooklyn. We talk about famed gangster and “Crazy” Joe Gallo and the Gallo crew as a whole. Frank explains how the Gallo Crew fit into the larger fabric of the New York Mafia, and their eventual war with the Profaci family. Frank talks about the uniqueness of the Gallo crew which included strong ties to black criminal syndicates, a hodge-podge of members including Syrians, Puerto Ricans, and Poles, down to the infamous Mondo The Midget and his pet lion. Frank then tells us about his own family. He talks about his father Ricky who was a trusted Gallo Crew member and the bodyguard to Larry Gallo. Frank tells us about his experiences living in a world filled in which violence was fairly normalized and his own introduction to “the life.” Frank tells us about his early days driving his father and other mafioso around at the tender age of thirteen. We also discuss what it was like growing up during a mob war.
Frank and I also touch on his time working for the infamous trendsetting porn magazine Screw. Frank explains how the Gallo Crew ran the magazine and the ins and outs of the magazines distribution. Frank gives us an interesting take on Screw’s creator Al Goldstein. Frank and I also discuss the reality of mob life. We talk about the not so glamorous facets of this world and the corrupting power of money and the pursuit of it.
Unfortunately Frank’s phone died during our interview so I finish off by rambling on about the Epstein case, Yemen, Trump, the latest YouTube celebrity George Webb, and the reality of how geopolitics works.
Stephen Singular joins us today to discuss the updated version of his book, Presumed Guilty: An Investigation of the JonBenet Ramsey Case, the Media, and the Culture of Pornography. We begin by laying out what happened on December 25-26, from the 911 call to the discovery of JonBenet’s body several hours later. Stephen describes his personal relationship with the case and his involvement. Stephen and I then dive into the one aspect of the case that was been virtually ignored by most who look into it: pedophilia and child pornography. Stephen explains how Boulder, Colorado has long had a history of child pornography and in child exploitation. We discuss how the pageant world that JonBenet was involved in attracted a very unsavory and dangerous group of individuals. Stephen discusses how this world interacted with many people on the periphery of the Ramsey family and the murder of JonBenet. We talk about pageant photographer Randy Simons bizarre and inappropriate behavior after the murder, and how he may have known more about what had happened that night then he would have people believe. Stephen discusses the numerous pedophiles and child pornographers that were seemingly protected by the Boulder authorities before and after JonBenet’s murder. Stephen and I also discuss the mysterious poems that emerged that seemed to describe not only the murder, but the cover-up and those who may have been involved or knew of it.
Through out the interview Stephen reiterates the point that everyone involved in the case seemed to know that there was more than meets the eye. That the case was not as it seemed and was intended not to be solved. He lays out the theory that JonBenet’s murder and her parents cover-up are two separate but related aspects of the crime. We also talk about the partial release of the original grand jury report that substantiates this notion. The two of us also bring up an overlooked and important clue in the murder: JonBenet telling multiple people that she was going to have a secret meeting with Santa after Christmas.There is a lot of information in this episode so we will be having Stephen back on to discuss and elaborate more on the case.
A newly leaked document from Edward Snowden shows that the NSA uses a persons proclivity for pornography to discredit them. The practice is employed against those that the state believes are “radicalizers”. Of course all of the targets are Muslim, and of course they have minute if not nonexistent ties to terrorism. There is nothing particularly new about this practice. J Edgar Hoover used these very same tactics during his decades long reign as FBI director. Buried deep in this article is a disturbing nugget of information.
Two of the targets chosen to have their porn collections scrutinized are considered radical extremists because they believe that “the U.S. brought the 9/11 attacks on itself” and that “the U.S perpetrated the 9/11 attack.” One of these individuals is a well know celebrity, while the other merely has had his writing featured in jihadist websites. For simply voicing an opinion that the security state doesn’t like (an opinion that is widely held and accepted outside the United States) they are viewed as a serious threat to national security. There is a concerted effort by the security state to stifle any all discussion of alternative conspiracy theories. Either you believe the official conspiracy theory of 9/11, or you will be discredited and publicly humiliated. The targeting of those who espouse alternative views to official conspiracies theories in and of itself is nothing new either. After the JFK assassination the CIA penned a memo to their “media assets” urging them to discredit anyone who questioned the official conspiracy theory as to how Kennedy was murdered.
What is terrifying is that the CIA no longer has to publish secret memos to their media assets. Instead they can simply rely on them to take the stance that questioning 9/11 is obviously “radical” and “extreme.” Gloss it over with the sensationalism of pornography, and most people will either ignore it, or be irritated that the NSA would use ones personal online choice to look at pornography as a weapon. The silver lining of all this is that the truth movement is in fact challenging the power structure of the state. The efforts of individuals to expose the states complicity in 9/11 has obviously had a profound impact on the government. So much so, that they are willing to spend tax dollars trolling a random person’s visits to porn sites, for no other reason than his choice not to believe the official conspiracy theory of
9/11.
Porkins Policy Review 