3mo ago

Ex-CIA Agent's Book Reveals Secret Government Plots

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/30929882

Skip Timestamp, Timestamps, and Generated Summary below:
Video Description:
On this week’s show, you’re getting two scoops.
It’s a Useful Idiots double header, with former CIA Agent Barry Eisler, who left the CIA to become a spy-thriller novelist (get his latest book The System at barryeisler.com), and Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Ben Cohen, who was arrested recently for interrupting RFK Jr.’s congressional testimony to protest US funding of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
First, Barry Eisler explains his role as a covert operative in the CIA, and the truth it taught him about American tribalist politics.
I spent three years in a covert position in the CIA. It taught me a lot about the culture and machinations of the U.S. government and what some call the deep state. And it became great fodder for a guy who then went on to become a full-time thriller writer.
What I found there is in some ways a microcosm of tribalism politics in America. And it's this.
A lot of people think, ‘oh, is it a bunch of liberals there? Or is it a bunch of conservatives?’ But the fundamental, underlying, and much more meaningful political culture in the CIA is the belief that ‘Hey, America is a force for good in the world. And everything we do, whether it's traditional espionage or shading off into coups or even invasions and occupations, that's all just to make the world a better place.’
It's that more fundamental thing where they really believe that America is a force for good in the world and that our mistakes are just innocent mistakes, rather than something much more nefarious.
Subscribe for the full interview with Barry Eisler, where we discuss Russiagate from a CIA perspective, watch Palantir’s Alex Karp let slip that his AI kills people, and the connection Barry’s spy thrillers have to Aaron’s nonfiction writing.
Next we talk to Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry’s.
After disrupting a Senate testimony from RFK Jr. to protest US funding of weapons for Israel’s mass assault on Gaza, he was hauled out by police and arrested. He explains why he did it:
Everybody has their breaking point. I was reading about the slaughter of all these innocent children in Gaza. And then I read another article in the paper about another outbreak of lead poisoning in Milwaukee. Lead poisoning creates irreversible brain damage and there's nothing you can do about it.
And we know how to prevent it! It's chipping lead paint and lead in plumbing pipes and we could fix it, for a minuscule five percent of the Pentagon budget!
And so those two things: we’re making a conscious decision to provide the bombs as a gift to Israel that they use to kill kids in Gaza. And we're kicking kids off Medicaid and not preventing lead poisoning, an easily preventable permanent disease.
So I said, I’ve got to make my voice heard. I’ve got to take the most serious action that a citizen can take, which is an act of civil disobedience. And so that's what I did.
Skip Timestamp:
11:57.821 - 12:57.986 Sponsor
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:06 Matthew Miller FLIPS
04:30 Musk and Trump break up over Epstein
08:20 Indian Lt Gov's CRAZY evolution take
12:57 Israel runs NYC mayor debate
17:50 Barry Eisler interview
33:57 Ben Cohen interview
Generated Summary:
Main Topic: This episode of the "Useful Idiots" podcast features discussions on current political events, including Matt Miller's changing stance on Israeli war crimes, Elon Musk's feud with Donald Trump, controversial statements by Indiana's Lieutenant Governor, and criticism of New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mandani's views on Israel. It also includes interviews with Barry Eisler, a former CIA operative turned novelist, about his new book "The System," and Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, about his activism.
Key Points:
Matt Miller's Shift on Israeli War Crimes: The hosts discuss how former State Department spokesperson Matt Miller admitted that Israel committed war crimes after leaving his government position, contradicting his previous statements.
Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump: Elon Musk accused Donald Trump of being in the Epstein files, sparking a feud. The hosts and Newsmax discuss the implications and potential motivations behind Musk's claim.
Indiana Lieutenant Governor's Controversial Statement: The hosts criticize Indiana's Lieutenant Governor for suggesting that belief in evolution implies indifference to suicide.
Zoran Mandani's Views on Israel: The hosts discuss the controversy surrounding New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mandani's refusal to prioritize a visit to Israel and his support for equal rights for all states, including Israel.
Barry Eisler Interview: Eisler discusses his background, his new political thriller "The System," and the compromising positions the system puts people in. He also touches on the culture within the CIA and the incentives for conformity.
Ben Cohen Interview: Cohen discusses his recent arrest for protesting US policy on Israel, his past activism, and his views on government spending priorities, particularly the military budget.
Highlights:
Matt Miller's admission of lying about Israeli war crimes while in office.
Elon Musk's accusation against Donald Trump regarding the Epstein files.
The Indiana Lieutenant Governor's misunderstanding of evolutionary theory.
Zoran Mandani's stance on equal rights and his refusal to prioritize visiting Israel.
Barry Eisler's insights into the CIA's culture and the pressures of political power.
Ben Cohen's passionate advocacy and civil disobedience against perceived injustices.
About Channel:
Useful Idiots is an informative and irreverent politics podcast with journalists @aaronjmate and @kthalps