Chuck and Mike discussed interesting figures in history who may have acted in criminal ways from behind the scenes while war machines rumbled on. History may or may not spare the mechanics within industrial complexes from damnation. Does literature shape history, or is history influencing literature? How can someone reconcile the truth from all of it?
Pearse Redmond joined Chuck in the second hour and discussed racist cartoons and racial allegories in film and literature. Is the author of The Cat In The Hat pushing racism? Does Mr. Potato Head no longer need to be gender-specific?
From The Planet of The Apes to the current War of Terror are there lessons unlearned in our distant and recent history? Pearse also reveals his recent lack of enthusiasm to generate a lot of content.
It was another great Tuesday from two great co-hosts on The Ochelli Effect.
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.
Friend and fellow Ochelli Radio Network host Pearse Redmond is our guest as we talk a bit about his show Porkins Policy Radio. A strange media landscape filled with nonsense opens up a lot of opportunity for anyone hoping to do something different.
Tom Secker joins e today for our mid season breakdown of Homeland Season 7. We start off by discussing the first major arc of the season, the Ruby Ridge/Waco standoff between O’Keefe and and the FBI. Tom and I discuss the surprisingly balanced approach Homeland has taken to this topic. We discuss the idea that this is a clever attempt at portraying the CIA as the adults in the room willing to negotiate, as opposed to the psychotic gun totting FBI. We also explore the historical events Homeland is touching on: Ruby Ridge and Waco. Tom also mentions the recent shows on the Uni-bomber and Waco which were also quiet sympathetic to Kaczynski and the Branch Davidians. Of course we also talk about our favorite agent provocateur Brett O’Keffe. Later we move onto the second major arc of the season, fake news and Russian Active Measures. Tom and I discuss how this is woven into the story line and the way in which Homeland discusses it. We dissect the new character Yevgeny Gromov, the mysterious head of Russian ops in the US, and talk about how he represents a widely held viewpoint within Russian intelligence.
In the second hour Tom and I dive into the very covert ways in which the CIA are portrayed as the heroes. We again touch on Saul and Carrie as our surrogates for the agency even though neither of them works for the CIA anymore. We ponder if this is a new method for the CIA’s entertainment liaison office. Tom and I also explore several real life parallels that seem to line up with Homeland. We look at the Skripal poisoning and the recent report that Mikhail Lesin was murdered on orders from Putin. We also touch on Saul’s ability to run his own operations with zero oversight while National Security Adviser. We finish off by complaining about the Frannie story-line, our love of the 4chan episode, and our hope that O’Keefe and Dar Adal escape from prison and get their own spin off series.
Tom Secker of Spy Culture joins me to discuss the season 7 premiere of Homeland. We start off by giving a quick recap of the previous season which saw a faction of the deep state attempt to assassinate President Elect Elibazeth Keane. Tom and I then dive into this season, which breaks with Homeland protocol, and picks up 52 days after the events of season 6. We talk about where we are: President Keane locking up the supposed coup plotters, Carrie trying to expose her overreach, and Brett O’Keefe trying to “tell the truth.” We discuss our general thoughts on this griping first episode and discuss why we are excited for the season progression. We then move onto one of the main themes of this season, the various characters defense and love of the state. Tom and I look at Carrie and Saul and how they represent the “good” CIA trying to restore democracy and civil liberties. We talk about the clever way show runner Alex Gansa and the CIA have inserted this idea without even mentioning the agency once. Tom and I also talk about my favorite character Brett O’Keefe, also known as Alex Jones. Later on we explore the real world parallels that Homeland is introducing including: fractured political state, the threat of an omnipresent deep state after the president, and how Homeland mimics the way families are being torn apart by Trump’s America.
In the second hour Tom and I talk about the interesting mention of 4chan by O’Keefe. I also talk about my theory that they are obliquely referencing Qanon in this episode. We then move onto the climactic scene where coup plotter General McClendon is assassinated inside a federal prison. Tom and I theorize as to who was behind this. I lay out my theory that this may have been a third unknown actor, most likely the Russians. Tom and I finish off by touching on a very revealing interview Alex Gansa gave to Variety. We talk about Gansa’s comments that the CIA is working with the New York Times and the Washington Post, as well as his own reference to the deep state going after Trump. I round out the episode by going off about the recent cornstarch anthrax letter that was sent to Donald Trump Jr. I talk about Jack Posobiec’s idiotic comments and lack of historical knowledge about the government orchestrated 2001 Anthrax attacks, as well as Julian Assange’s claims that he received a letter with white powder.
Good friend Tom Secker joins me today in the first hour for an in-depth discussion of the Science and Entertainment Exchange (SEEX). Tom explains what this little know pseudo-govenment NGO is, and how they have been quietly assisting over 1,300 Hollywood films. We talk about their connection to the National Academy of Sciences and their connection to the state. Tom then discusses their stated aim: to assist Hollywood in depicting accurate science, and the promotion of science and scientists. Tom and I then explore how this is not quite an accurate assessment of their work. We talk about the huge influence that they have on Hollywood productions, including changing aspects of the script and promoting was amounts to science fiction. Tom discusses SEEX’s involvement in Thor, how they made Natalie Portman’s character an astrophysicist and then created a whole add campaign designed around her. We also discuss SEEX’s strange idealized Hollywood depiction of scientists as rich and beautiful. Tom talks about how SEEX seems to have drank the Hollywood kool-aid. We talk about how Science and Entertainment Exchange promotes “cool” scientists over actual science. Later we discuss SEEX’s close relationship with both the Pentagon and the CIA. Tom and I lay out the theory that the Pentagon is simply using SEEX as a front to push a technocratic transhumanist agenda. We finish off the hour talking about why more attention should be paid to SEEX and the work they are doing.
In the second hour I talk about the untimely deaths of musician Mark E. Smith and author Ursala K. Le Guin. I then move onto the passing of investigative journalist Robert Parry. I talk about the tremendous work that Parry did on Iran-Contra and the 1980 October Surprise. I discuss why the loss of Parry is so significant given the sad state of journalism today. I also touch on Prop Or Not’s nasty attack on Parry. I end the show talking about Trump’s upcoming State of the Union and what we should keep an eye out for in his speech.
Chuck interrupts both of his guests a bit more than usual on this episode. So it looks like being busy producing himself , has not made him shut up any more than anything else. Good thing ? Bad Thing , You Decide…
This Tuesday night we start off with author Mike Swanson who takes us through many concepts. This time we address “supply-side economics”and the contradictions of public pronouncements versus policy. Also addressed is the Wall Street indications versus day to day life. much more in-depth information can be found at https://wallstreetwindow.com and by the way the site is undergoing a bit of a renovation. Plus more … Hyperbolic Trigonometric Identities Clash
Second hour we discuss ICBMs that were not launched on Hawaii and Japan with fellow radio host Pearse Redmond. Was it a test? If yes , a test of what ? Is this the new normal? Does agent Orange AKA Trump have any idea what is going on anyway? 239 Lbs.? Is psychosis a good psy-op? Hyperbolic Trigonometric Identities Clash ? Mass Distraction? Weapons of self-destruction ?Trickle Down Economics ? Korean Hyperbolics?
Tom Secker joins me in the first hour to discuss the upcoming Netflix movie about Anders Behring Breivik and the Oslo and Utoya Island attacks. Tom and I talk about why the film is being made now and the state funding it is receiving from the Norwegian government. We then talk about the writer and director of this film Paul Greengrass. Tom explains his career as a government propagandist and focuses on his film United 93. We then talk about the aspects of the attack we anticipate Greengrass and Netflix will leave out of the film. We discuss Breivik’s politics and how they have become adopted by much of the alt and far right in recent times. Tom discusses the notion that the attack may have been intended as a message to far right groups to further embrace this political ideology. We also touch on the idea that this was a Gladio style event, and whether or not Brevik was working for others. Later Tom and I talk about former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his current job as Secretary General of NATO. We discuss NATO’s role as it exists today and the power it has. Tom and I finish off by discussing our final episode in our review of House of Cards. I also update the listeners about the return of Porkins Great Game.
In the second hour I rant about the recent political purge in Saudi Arabia and the larger implications of it. I talk about Mohammad bin Salman’s alleged corruption and liberalization campaigns, and how he is using this as a smoke screen for his larger political ambitions. I discuss my thoughts on the forced resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri by the Saudi’s. I talk about how Hariri and Lebanon are being used as a proxy battleground between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Yemen and the famine is also discussed. I finish off by laying out my theory that this is the foreign policy nightmare we can expect from Donald Trump. I also mention the rumors that Trump was bribed directly by Mohammad bin Salman, and how this might explain the recent developments across the middle east.
Tom Secker and Matthew Alford join me today to discuss their brand new book National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood. We begin by talking about the overall structure of the book and why Tom and Matt decided to write it. Matt and Tom talk about how this book is different from other scholarly books on the topic of government influence in Hollywood and entertainment at large. Tom and Matt talk about the wealth of new research that they discovered which shows that this influence has only increased over time. The three of us examine DOD entertainment liaison head, Phil Strubb, and critique his claim that he only plays a minor role in Hollywood. We look at films such Contact, who in exchange for a few military trucks altered every subversive comment on the military, or simply wrote them out of entire scenes. We talk about how powerful a tool this is not just in presenting a particular image, but in ensuring that a particular image is never know to the viewing public. We discuss how the Pentagon continually wants a benevolent representation of themselves even though they continually boast to the media that they are the most destructive force on the planet. We also talk about the Terminator franchise which manages to instill the message that nuclear war isn’t so bad and that the military will always be there to help afterwards.
In the second hour we continue looking at several other cases studies including Hotel Rwanda, Rules of Engagement, and Thirteen Days. In the case of Hotel Rwanda Matt explains how this movie followed all of the US State Department’s talking points about the 1994 Rwandan genocide with no direct influence from the government. Tom breaks down the numerous changes to the structure on Rules of Engagement which would eventually result in arguably the most racist American film about an Arab nation to date. We also focus on the corporatization of the film industry in tandem with the national security state. The three of us rant about the blatant use of product placement in films today and how this is another piece of national security cinema. We end on a slightly positive note by talking about what can be done to combat this pervasive and dangerous problem. Tom and Matt also give some examples from the book of filmmakers which have actively fought against the national security states influence in cinema.
Tom Secker joins me to wrap up our series of episodes focusing on the sixth season of Homeland. We begin by discussing our thoughts on seeing Dar Adal behind bars (I was quite upset about this). We then move onto some of the major . We discuss what the overarching goals are for the CIA. Ideas and moments in the final two episodes. Tom and I discuss the significance of the show talking about the infamous Office of Policy Coordination and its role in the attempted assassination against the President Elect. We explore why the agency would want the show to mention this. Tom and I also dissect Saul’s assertion that they are fighting back against a CIA engineered coup. Tom talk’s about how this is an oft used plot device in CIA sponsored media. The agency has long glorified the violent revolution orchestrated by themselves. Tom and I ponder if this is one of the goals of this season. We also talk about how this season of Homeland has managed to mimic our current political system better than any other show to date. We touch on the fact that Donald Trump reversed course on all his promises at the same time that the fictional Homeland president does a similar reversal. We also touch on this seasons continued use of the concept of a deep state, and the idea that the CIA are the good guys fighting against it.
In the second hour Tom and I discuss the recent admission by Alex Jones’ lawyer that he is in fact nothing more than a performance artist. We talk about how in some ways this mimics the Brett O’Keefe character on Homeland. Tom and I talk about the impact that this will have on both the alt-media and politics in general. We touch on the idea that there is a reshuffling going on within sectors of the right-wing mainstream and alternative media. I finish off the episode by talking about the recent passing of Will Grigg, his legacy, and how we can help out his family.
Porkins Policy Review 