This week I welcomed Matthew Alford to discuss all things Brexit. We kicked off the show by talking about Boris Johnson’s rise to power. Matt talked about Johnson’s public persona as an “inbred upperclass twit,” and how this has shaped his political career. Next, we dove head first into the ongoing drama of Brexit. Matt updated the listeners on the latest developments, including the announcement of a general election on December 12. Matt also analyzed recent polls, which suggest that Johnson and the Conservatives will most likely win and therefore push forward with his party’s plan to leave the EU. We talked about the wisdom of holding a second election and why Matt advocates for voting Labour. We also touched on complex issues like the border with Northern Ireland and how Brexit could unravel the delicate political architecture of the peace deal in Northern Ireland.
In the second hour we discussed Donald Trump’s false narrative that he is some sort of “peace president.” Matt focused on why so many in the conspiracy culture seem to latch onto this false narrative. We also spoke about Trump’s destructive policies in Venezuela and the deteriorating political situation in Haiti. Matt concluded the episode by talking about what some in the UK are overlooking (e.g., the UK as a major arms dealer) due to a strong focus on Brexit. We ended by talking about some of the positive initiatives such as climate change activism around the world, and various other protests during which individuals en mass speak truth to power.
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.
On TYR’s Day, A Cornucopia of Phobias and fabricated amblyopia deconstruct dreams of utopia. Michael Swanson started things off by examining the evolving social media/advertising head games driving personal interactions, Fame, and many walks of shame.
Facebook is for grandpa. The toxic anti-social media platform has been a thing for nearly a generation. What happened to your news stories and inspirations for outrage? Is it about to become more fertile digital soil for cults of personality to blossom within?
Venezuela is the focus in the second hour. Pearse Redmond and Chuck break down the alleged uprising and even speculate about the reality that may be unfolding while the MSM runs it’s standard mocking bird programming. Is anyone else reminded of “The Bay of Pigs”?
Are fake news and the anti-social media going to continue dominating public perceptions? Will the truth remain trapped behind enemy lines on the far side of the great Fire Wall?
Are the resource pirates with private armies merely utilizing the digital weapons developed in the internet age to make the repeating blueprint of regime change and population control continue far beyond 2020?
On this particular Ochelli Effect, Michael Swanson went into a direction that Chuck did not expect. The industry of Psychology and MkUltra were discussed as inspired by Mike’s interest in the Documentary Wormwood. It was quite unique among all the dialogs with Mike on the show over the years. How does this relate to what Mike knows about his father?
This was far from the typical conversation Chuck and Mike have had over the years. Mike also talked about some current events and the dissertations of Eric Olsen. Fascinating stuff.
Pearse Redmond arrived in the second hour giving us an update on the latest slow-motion coup de tat in Venezuela. Chuck ranted briefly about how media consumers get what they ask for regardless of the gravity or value of information. This was another great TYR’s Day night on The Ochelli Effect.
Ricardo Vaz of Venezuelanalysis.com joined me to discuss the ongoing regime change operations in Venezuela. We stared off by discussing the recent return of so called “interim president” Juan Guaido after his visit to several Latin American including Colombia and Brazil. Ricardo talked about the muted response from Maduro, who allowed Guaido to return with out a fuss after being banned from international travel. Ricardo also talked about the response on the ground in Venezuela to Guaido’s return, and the fact that he appears to be losing some momentum as a political leader. We also talked about Guaido’s recent travel where he was allegedly scolded by US Vice President Mike Pence in Venezuela. Ricardo and I also broke down some of the wild statistics that figures like Guaido and John Bolton have been bandying about. We focused on the claims of 600 army defections and 20,000 Cuban intelligence operatives working inside Venezuela. We also touched on the devastating impact of the sanctions on medicine like insulin and the bridge-aid standoff . We fished off the conversation by discussing some of the other opposition figures including Leopoldo Lopez, Julio Borges, and Juan Requesens.
TYRs Day is always informative and fascinating. You just gotta “Know when to hold ’em? and “Know when to fold ’em” when the dealers shuffle the cue cards. Michael Swanson is back from his vacation and he started with a bang. Chuck and Mike talked about the evolution of Las Vegas, The landscape of the American gambling industry, and how both seem to make perfect sense when compared to the proliferation of the American media industrial complex.
Poker is a hell of a game and seems to be what all political and media creatures enjoy playing. Sadly The House is actually the consumers, and the highest rollers and all staked by the corporations who don’t care what the price paid by people is for their profits.
AC/DC – Sin City (Excerpt Lyrics)
..
“So spin that wheel
Cut that pack
And roll them loaded dice
Bring on the dancin’ girls and put the Champagne on ice” …
Porkins arrived in the second hour to talk about all the news that might not be worthy of coverage to some who like their echo chambers fully climate controlled.
What is the real deal with Venezuela? How should we value the trickle of the truth finally being heard on the Jeffrey Epstein saga? Chuck and Pearse briefly debate the possibility of winning in light of the limited hangouts and speed of death by memory hole that remotely valid information suffers in the current infotainment environment.
Are you ready for the Cohen fiasco? Is there another Libya in the near future? What can be said about alleged men who think the best way to intimidate others is Twitter? How is the Kakistocracy treating you?
Welcome to Mister Swanson’s neighborhood, kinda. On TYR’s Day Michael Swanson returned after a vacation outside of The Asylum we call America to discuss some of the wicked webs of scandals spun around his home state of Virginia and provide his analysis of the political default positions he observes. Michael also talks about the social strategy of tensions that keep being harnessed to stoke fear. White Flight and post-industrial urban consolidation are nothing new even if the T.V. tries to sell it to you as “New and Improved”.
How is the War on Crime going? The first use of a SWAT Team was to attack The Black Panthers. When people speak of the “War On Terror” is there any real way to determine who terrorists are? A City Of Angels and it’s connection to corruption make it the perfect place to imagine the militarized Police forces of the future. Nixon and his “Law and Order” BS TV specials were only hinting at the BS TV yet to some.
In the second hour Red 6 checked in. Pearse Redmond continued the conversation addressing the current disinformation campaigns which merely serve the best interests of the Military Industrial Complex. Is it just about the oil? Is it really all about The Benjamin’s? Is every fear of Latino People been destined to be combined with the Islamist-Fascist narrative?
Friend of the show Hugo Turner joined me this week to discuss Elliot Abrams and his legacy in Central America and role in the Iran-Contra affair. We began by discussing the roots of Iran-Contra and why it is still largely ignored by the media. Hugo discussed the origins of the affair going all the way back to the October Surprise in 1980. We talked about the other events that opened the door into Iran-Contra including the attempted assassination of Contra leader Eden Pastora in Costa Rica. Hugo and I then explored Abrams role in Iran-Contra itself. We also discussed Abrams role in covering up war crimes in El Salvador like the El Motoze massacre. Later Hugo and I talked about the genocide in Guatemala which Abrams helped facilitate. We also discussed the complex web of people and groups involved in drug trafficking, terrorism, death squads, and the suppression of the poor. We closed out the conversation by looking at the parallels between the 1980’s and the current political environment. We used the current situations in Venezuela and Haiti as examples.
On this special Tuesday Broadcast Pearse Redmond and JP Sottile joined Chuck to do the pre-game show and Live coverage of The State of The Union Address. Both hours are far less painful than the realization that this is a serious look at the alleged leader of the “Free” world.
LBJ may have moved the SOTU to primetime, but Trump just moves your stomach contents closer to your toilet dominating all-time in the fake not-so-much-news cycle 50 years later. Is it now really this complicated? Don’t sit yet.
Deep State Orange Onion
Cliff Notes
Note The designated survivor is Rick Perry. (Not kidding) The advertised one-hour speech ran about 20 minutes over. After attempting to listen to the speech again right after the show, Chuck reports a headache. Support for 45 grew according to instant polling, thus the death of American genius is confirmed.
After noting many guests following a script that would almost sound like a kinder more gentile Trump. Somebody apparently loaded Trump’s speech with every clichéd vapid Neo-Con wet dream of Americana known to the Federalist Society, The Koch Brothers, and beyond.
In the call and answer game with his audience Russian Agent, Orage continued with the following sets of shallow emotional appeals tailored for his supports and the other clapping monkey puppets in Congress.
The Wall, Angel Families, The show of brown faces he is claiming as helped with criminal justice reform and the ask from another reality TV star, The Moon Landing, Random hero-worship for soldiers, He wants others to abandon the politics of revenge, half-hearted celebration of women, AIDS, Cancer, Right wing filler, Anti-abortion, Military bragging, The New Nuclear arms race, pat on the back for nothing actually getting done regarding North Korea, Interference in Venezuala justifications, Attacking socialism, “We Are Born Free”, U-S-A U-S-A U-S-A chants, servitude to Israeli paradigm, Pandering more to troop worshipers, “Great Nations do not fight endless wars”,USS Cole insert, “It is a radical regime, They do bad bad things(Refering to Iran as the leading state-sponsor of terrorism),After again stating that defending the Jewish people is a high priority survivors of the tree of Life massacxre get topped with one guy who survived that Nazi wasve as well, a quick happy birthday chorus for him, Trump describes American rescue from a German train the man “remebers” allegedly, “The American soldiers were proof god exists”, “We must keep America great in ourr hearts and many other empty platitudes in an effort to continue the sleeping whiplash of unknown cryptography that is American political theater in 2019.
El Paso Texas is the example Trump cited to justify The Wall but it sounds fishy. (Ochelli had been to this city when it was dangerous. The idea that it was foreign-born criminals who made it that way holds no water from Chuck’s observations.) What else did the Drumpf make up? He actually made reference to The Pledge of Allegiance and His alleged god several Times. Are you tired of this yet? The WWE Hall of Famer delivered the greatest hits every ill-informed MAGA troll eats for breakfast but was it balanced?
Deep State Orange Onion
Nancy seems to be a master of body language. The women in white stole his thunder for a few moments. Find the kindergarten clap in the footage. Trump breathes heavily at the microphone.
Abrams response: Personal story lead describes the circumstances of her family and an act of kindness by her father. “I love our country”. Insert her acts of kindness for federal workers recently suffering under the Government shut-down. Overall, more of a yawnfest than one imagined in Chuck’s opinion. Red Meat for progressives though.
Friend of the show, Pearse Redmond, returns to talk a bit about some of the stories that are currently flying under the radar. As the story goes, Americans are being attacked by some form of cricket warfare in Cuba. Are John Bolton and the Canadians hoping this aggression will be enough to successfully push for regime change in Venezuela?
Porkins Policy Review 