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I'm glad you found the channel. Some folks have asked me why I don't play up the ACA connection more, but honestly, I think it's mainly the GB listeners who would be interested in this channel, and that wasn't a majority. I actually don't see a lot of cross over between the audiences beyond that. But glad you found the channel and that you like the content. I'm due for a release, and have been editing the next episode, which is an interview with a woman who runs a support platform for neurodivergent people.

I think it's fair to say it ended, but I still think that keeping it secret is extremely concerning. Things like this should be exposed, not covered up.

According to the article, they are saying that similar conflicts yield 3 to 15 times. They went with 4, which makes it far to the conservative side of estimating. I think it's fair to make a good faith effort to project a figure when the only entity tracking the numbers keeps coming under attack no matter how meticulously they document the direct conflict deaths. We have numbers under rubble that cannot be counted. We have mass graves that cannot be counted. We have people dying of starvation that may or may not be counted. We have people dying of treatable illness that can't get medical care due to conflict situations. I think there is good reason to assume it's a pretty conservative estimate. I think we'll get actual figures once it's over, and that's when all those who have been silently complicit will cry "If only we'd known!"

@@athomeinmyhead That sounds fair. It's such a tragedy..

It's overwhelming.

I still get shocked, and I keep wondering when I'll finally just be so cynical that won't happen anymore.

Yes, I actually understand the reasoning behind why people are voting how they are in 2024, why people are defending voting Biden, why they are defending voting third party, not voting, and even voting Trump to usher in the "burn it all down" philosophy. In the end I agree that one of the two major parties will win. So, they both should start acting like they want to win--if they want to win. If I had to bet, I would say that a lot of people who are expressing dissatisfaction about Biden will still vote for him in the general, and he'll squeak by. But I didn't think Trump was going to win the first time he ran, and he did win. So, I'm prepared to be wrong as well. But ultimately it's up to the parties to appeal to the electorate, or risk a loss. And I'm not telling anyone how to vote. I'm also not judging anyone on their votes, as long as they own those votes and take responsibility for signing on to what their candidates are doing/stand for.

Thanks for the resource tip!

It's amazing how suppressed this has been. I did a short on it, and it only got like two dozen views. I have had shorts that bombed similarly, but it's hard for me to believe people don't have any interest in this topic. I at least expected a few hundred views (which is still low for my shorts, but 2 dozen was shockingly low for this topic).

I'd advise you not to take medical advice from him without a second opinion.

My friend's dad is/was a highly specialized anesthesiologist. For "fun", he patrolled the US/Mexico border eager to help catch immigrants crossing. Just because someone is a skilled doctor doesn't make them immune to fashy ideology & propaganda.

Why do you think he wouldn't say anything false? He might himself be convinced of disinformation.

Sorry, that's probably my security settings. I vet all comments. As you can imagine, some of my topics dredge up some hateful bigots sometimes, and I try not to subject marginalized communities to those kinds of communications. Usually I will clear comments within 24 hours. I tend to check more right after publishing something, and less often if it's been a week or more.

@@athomeinmyhead Ah. That's understandable. I think if people use no no words, those get flagged as well by the AI censor bot.

It's not necessarily about particular words. Bigots can be quite civil sometimes. I'm Ok with just about anyone who shows they have done their homework, can articulate the problem, and has questions or a disagreement. But if they comment, even civilly, and they demonstrate they haven't really investigated the issue, and they have an opinion that is bigoted, I don't allow that comment. I know a lot of channels are about "debate"--but I'm not that channel. I am all for education, but in a more university/lecture format. I let people come on the show and give their experiences, as a method to allow people who want to hear about those experiences learn. People who want to invalidate those experiences, I'm not really interested in platforming. If you listened to the episode on free speech, you'll get what I mean. There are limited platforms available, and we all have to choose which voices we want to amplify on those platforms. I choose not to amplify ignorance or bigotry--even if it's offered up with nice words, because it already has a huge platform in this world. Mine is reserved more for things and people that aren't already being shouted from the mountain tops. Or at least, that's what I'm trying to achieve.

While I was writing that last reply, it reminded me of this video that is a really good explanation of why I don't favor the "debate" format. In fact, this video influenced me a lot, and has had an impact on others I've shown it to. It's just a good breakdown--and I'm only offering it here because I believe it's relevant. For all I know you may already be familiar with it. th-cam.com/video/wCl33v5969M/w-d-xo.html

@@athomeinmyhead I am very familiar with that video. Thank you for the clarification & explanation. For context, both my wife & I lately have noticed our comments being redacted on other channels so I thought it was the same situation here.

Oh, I think that's a given. The stuff that leaks or is exposed should not be assumed to be the whole enchilada.

@@athomeinmyhead Exactly. It's been a minute since I've recalled such an egregious example.

Yeah, it would be nice if the West could stop relying on child labor in dangerous jobs. :(

We are The Empire, sadly.

Yes, exactly. I keep hearing people saying we need to save democracy in 2024 when we vote, but if the US is engaged in things like this, and the public isn't aware until after these programs end, then how can we be informed voters? We don't even have a clue what it is we're voting FOR.

@@athomeinmyhead Right? Maybe US democracy is actually in jeopardy in 2024 (and to be fair, things can get a lot worse.) But you can't preserve "faith in institutions" when institutions keep doing this BS!

While I heard about it on Democracy Now!, I always post the source in the descriptions for these, and in this case it's Reuters, which is about as mainstream media as you can get, literally a news wire service. But yeah--I encourage you and anyone else to do as much vetting as you need to, because I agree this is unbelievable. It started under Trump, but continued under Biden. I'm currently writing up a script for the next full episode, and trying to get more information. Mainly, I want to know what sort of accountability was applied once this program ended. I suspect NONE AT ALL. But I'll do what I can to find out.

@@athomeinmyhead Thanks for the reply. For me beyond the obvious unethical action is the Geo political reasons this was done and what cost is worth doing something so blatantly wrong to a innocent population. I think I have a fair idea why, but I don't think It's justifiable.

Yeah Reuters goes into the reasons. But it's obscene. I think what bothers me as much as the fact we did this, was that the program was ended, quietly. No ownership that we did this, and I'm betting no accountability. Just mass killings, as part of a political tit-for-tat.

@@athomeinmyhead I'm Australian, so I often watch how American Intelligence does things that They will never be accountable for and we as an ally are complicit in no matter who we vote for. We have had Prime Ministers removed for not towing the line. We have spy equipment used on our lands for the purpose of launching missiles around the world and mass spying, recently we signed Auckus and are making my Home capitol a nuclear target at our expense for American Military's strategic goals. The only Silver Lining is the thought that China would be worse if it was dominant in this region. But I don't even know if that's true. Thanks for the response. I have seen this topic circulating twitter a bit at least.

I'm amazed at the lack of attention this is getting. I just published the full length episode on the original Reuter's reporting. I also wonder if living under China would be worse. I've been raised and told it would be, but in the US, it's pretty bad, and getting worse. And it seems that all the things we accuse other nations of doing, we do, we just hide it better by weaving it into our system. So, we say that we abolished slavery, but we still have legal slavery codified in our Constitution and practiced in our prisons. But ask any citizen here, and they'll tell you slavery was abolished, even though they can literally go to the amendment that "abolished" it to see that it's still allowed--and we're still doing it.

Well, if someone didn't do it, it wouldn't get done. ;)

And harder to vote. How can I possibly choose a candidate to vote for when I am kept in the dark about what the government is actually doing? If I don't even have transparency into the government programs that are happening, how can I know what I'm voting for or against? It's like there's a veneer we are given to make that decision, but what's really going on is kept hidden, and it makes it literally impossible for anyone to be an informed voter. If you and I signed a contract, and I kept relevant information hidden from you to get you to sign, that would constitute fraud. How are our votes valid when we aren't told what it is we're voting for or against? How is that "democracy"--how is our government legitimate?

It will be interesting. I was surprised at a recent ruling in favor of mifepristone. Folks are saying it's a technicality, but the verdict was unanimous, and the Trump appointed judges didn't break ranks, even with a dissent that wouldn't have mattered. There is no appeal after SCOTUS, so they could, actually, rule however they want once they're on the bench. I have no idea what's going to happen in 2024--or even if either candidate will survive until the elections? ;)

@@athomeinmyhead If neither of these used car salesmen ever ran again I'd be happy! (moral equivalence not implied.) But I think it's going to be Trump in 2025 and he'll do everything he can to dismantle the last decent/fair bits of our system.

Right before seeing your comment, I was here to release a short recapping this article. I'm just so tired of finding nothing but rot in this country. www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/

@@athomeinmyhead I moved out of the states 10 years ago and don't plan on moving back - at least until healthcare is fixed. Going to a doctor in Korea or Taiwan is a magical experience

I have at least one friend who is. They are amazing.

I realized I was ignoring things from when I was younger, focusing on things I was discovering from before I was born. Then I realized how old I am, and that 2001 was 23 years ago. A whole generation has come up not knowing what it's like to not associate Islam with terrorism.

Thanks for the feedback, and glad you liked it.

Yeah, I think part of the problem is people hear "less lethal" and think "not dangerous". And yeah, they still provide an opportunity for cops to be abusive if they're set on it.

@@athomeinmyhead Yeah, they were first called "non-lethal" which they aren't.. and that was even worse. "Oh, it doesn't matter what I do because they're non-lethal!" I'm not sure what to call them which wouldn't send the wrong message.

I'm always psyched when people check the further reading. When people contact me to say a link isn't working, I get excited. LOL

Nope, no comments.

Aw. Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the content!

2024 will be extremely interesting. I tend to think that enough people will be scared of Trump that they will break for Biden, when they get to the polls, but I'm also not counting on that, and am preparing for another Trump presidency if it comes to that. BUT... that being said, youth vote doesn't have the long history of "two party" training that the older vote has, and that's a real wild card. I don't know if they'll impact 2024, or how much, but going into the future, we can see by things like the TT ban that the plutocracy is worried about that future.

I mean, I'm actually just doing what anyone with a computer could do from their desk. But I think a lot of people either don't notice these things, or don't take the time to really go looking for what's out there about it. A few things I have kept on my radar that are just "fading" from public view, are the results of the Epstein child-r*pe island (So far only the two curators have seen justice, and that is very odd, since it's been years now, and he was supposedly video taking and recording a lot of these interactions in order to black mail people. So why haven't we seen a single r*pist convicted? And this crosses both Liberal and Conservative lines for people involved. The other issue is the "Audrey Hale manifesto"--that should be public record, but is being withheld due to a law suite, but a law suit that most folks aren't following... so it is just sort of disappearing from public memory. I want to know what was in those writings. I may be disappointed, but I wonder if it doesn't include information about SA, that was known to be happening at the school at the time Hale was attending. The school was covering it up, and it was a scandal for a while. Things like that bother me--because the state or power institutions rely on things falling off the news-radar, to get away with so much.

It's very different content here. If you liked GB 2.0, you will probably find this content interesting. If you thought GB 2.0 was weak, you probably will hate the content here. :)

@@athomeinmyhead haha gotcha. I assume GB is godless biznatches? (sorry I made a personal pledge to stop swearing when I was 10 years old and have kept it up) You know I never really checked out the shows the sprung out of TAE, so I can't say I have an opinion on them. But for now I'll just say thanks for having an awesome mind. I have always appreciated what you have had to say.

Yes, when I saw both headlines featured today: Sending arms AND criticizing Israel, it was such a perfect image of the administration's confused policy--confused in that words and deeds are not aligned. And I go with "actions speak louder than words".

In regard to your first paragraph, a lot to consider there. But I think that for me the reason for Israel's power is exactly expressed in your next thought about "the whole of the West." I see people saying sometimes "why so much focus on Gaza? Look at all the other areas with atrocities"--but the fact is, this situation in Gaza has taken on a symbolic significance, and we are all watching to see if the Global North's hold on power can be weakened here. It kind of sucks that larger nations, like the US and UK set this up, and Israel is their proxy in the line of fire, while they sit comfortably in their armchairs watching from afar as others kill and die. Part of me wants to blame Israel, but Israel is a cog in a much larger machine. Sure we all have to take responsibility for our roles--I don't mean to write blank checks on excuses. But I can't point at Israel, while I live in the US, without pointing at myself as well. The reason Zionism has this power is because it has powerful allies who are heavily invested in breaking the back of the Global South in order to maintain exploitation of those areas of the world. So, in a very real way, these other nations are helping Israel, because they are helped any time the Global North is empowered to do what it wants with impunity. And yes, the poetry of the self-immolation and how it reflects the burning of the society or the world in distress--is really powerful, and even inspirational. I know not everyone is hit with it in that way. But we saw it was more than a few people who were around the globe.

@@athomeinmyhead Naomi Klein wrote a brilliant piece (which I think is still on her website), "The Iron Dome is Global". She suggests the Israeli oppression of Gaza is a "super-concentrated and claustrophic" model of the way the elites of all the Northern/Western nations are protecting themselves against the people they are oppressing; and the popular uprisings against inequity and climate crisis.

Just from your description, it sounds right on. I remember someone sending me a link once, and I wish I had kept it, but it was a guy who is a climate change scientist/expert. He was asked to come and speak to a group of wealthy and powerful people. He said he assumed it was going to be a talk about what they could do to mitigate the disastrous impacts of it. But he said once they started talking to him, he quickly realized they were more interested in asking him things like "How do I keep my security people from turning on me when things start to get really bad?"

Right? There is always this part of me that starts with "I can't believe it this..." Then I think "It makes perfect sense." In the case of the unidentified woman, I had that same chilly response, because HOW do you silence this? It happened in public. People saw it. A guard was injured in the event. They went to a hospital, and as of last reporting were still alive, albeit who knows in what condition? There were friends, family, workers, people driving by I would assume. And even if you could shut down all the larger, mainstream media outlets--I can't find anything on alternative media either. I don't even have an idea of how even the government could shut that down so hard and so fast. But this is also why others who came after realized they needed to put measures in place to avoid erasure. So, it sucks we won't ever know who she was. But at the same time her contribution was key to making sure others were identified--so it did help.

Yes, the idea that if I oppress a population, they will do whatever it takes, even attack each other, to get out of that pot. And if I am the one turning up the heat or pushing down the lid, I do not get to judge whatever they do to escape that pot. I think that analogy for me, as well, was a great way to frame oppression.

That made me laugh, as I just watched "Descendants" this weekend. But what's interesting is that Barron was so shielded, and I recall a government official testifying before congress who was chastised for using his name in a similar way. The argument at the time was "children are off limits"--and I don't disagree. But apparently Barron is all grown up now, and the apple is still attached to the tree. So he's now fair game. Thanks for your comment!

​@@athomeinmyhead That makes sense. Kids should be off limits, right? I always got upset when some 16 or 17 yr old (usually black) kid was "tried as an adult" so they could be given life in prison. It's just kind of amazing that the Trumps keep producing shithead after shithead. By random chance you should expect a few good ones in there. Ronald Reagan's son seems like a decent human being

It really was alarming to me to see that the interplay between oligarchs/plutocracy was so overt in the DSAC. It wasn't just the system rigged to their advantage, but actual hands-on control of the system. "I have a feeling WE'RE helping THEM." 100%. And you're right, that they keep us desperate in order to ensure we cannot refuse to work. I compared austerity to a systemic Pinkerton substitute in another episode (I don't think it was this one? But maybe it was?). Because we have that gun to our heads. Work or else. And the 'or else' is demonstrated to us on the daily by people without jobs and how they are forced to live. If you haven't seen Black Mirror's "15 million merits"--I recommend it.

Thank you so much. I'll check it out. Technically being homeless isn't illegal, but lots of the aspects of being homeless are. Which makes it practically illegal to not work.

Yes, between "vagrancy" laws and hostile architecture, it's a horrifying dystopia.

Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it. I started out just wanting to focus on extreme protest and the responses to Bushnell. I didn't expect or intend to find what I did (or didn't, I guess) about the protestor in December. It wasn't until I went looking that I realized how fishy the reporting was. It's like the Audrey Hale manifesto, or the Osama Bin Laden "Letter to America", or how Jeffrey Epstein ran a sex trafficking island for years with super high profile clients--but there hasn't been a single arrest yet of any of the guests who set foot on that island. Epstein's been dead since 2019, and it was notorious that he kept books and video, but zero arrests or charges. It's amazing how many things just fade from public memory and people never stop and think "But what ever happened with that, though?"

I think this is similar to the response from the police/state, when they try to shoot these protestors as they're burning and dying. It doesn't actually make sense. It's a visceral thing for some people. I mean, hopefully it's visceral for all of us. But for some people I think it's so horrific, that they can't even imagine someone of sound mind could be doing it. It's almost how some people cannot own that a mass shooter is sane. They want to use mental illness to distance these acts from "normal" or "healthy" people. Very few mass shooters have any indication of mental illness or a diagnosis. And even fewer have a diagnosis that can be tied to their violence. So, in spite of good evidence mass shooters are simply violent, not mentally ill--some people can't overcome that gut-level response that a person who could do that has to be mentally ill. All this really does is equate mental illness with violent and harmful behavior. And people struggling with mental illness don't need that additional stigma. It reminds me a little of dehumanization. We often label people who act in violent ways we can't understand as "monsters" or "animals". I push back on this when it's done in my spaces. Not because I need people to be compassionate, but because I think it's extremely important that we stay mindful that human beings are fully capable of these actions. It's a bit of a round about way to get to my point. But I think it's the same visceral "I cannot understand how a person can do this" response that leads to all of these reactions of wishing to delegitimize the behavior. If we can make this person "not normal" or "sick" in some way, then we don't have to think anymore around it--we can just pretend that was a defective human, and the rest of us are totally incapable of that behavior. I tend to think that most of us are capable of these behaviors, and all we need are the right circumstances or the right impetus. I think we could all be su-cide bombers--like that Ukranian at that bridge that Kinzinger praised. Tomorrow if it's a person doing it for a cause he doesn't support, it will be an "animal" or a "monster". And a person who hasn't been sufficiently desperate may believe they could never do such a thing. But I think if they were tested, they might find otherwise. However, I admit I could be wrong.

It really is, I think. And it's so interesting how differently it hits different people.

@@athomeinmyhead Aaron's sacrifice really affected me when I first heard the news, and this video served not only as a stark reminder of how little I've heard of it in the time since, but also as a reminder of how easy it is for us (or me, at least) to forget history when it isn't in our faces for a few weeks. It really is suppressed for a reason.

Agreed. It really is such an act of defiance, and also one that is so hard for the state to react to. For folks who think it's a useless or ineffective form of protest, I would suggest they consider how hard the state is working to silence it, down play it, vilify it, dismiss it. If it really weren't a threat to the state, the state would let the chips fall where they may, and not care or react to it. The fact is, it's a PR nightmare for them. And they know how horrendous it would be if they had a wave of these protests they were unable to stop.

Agreed

I am glad you found the channel and that you appreciate the content. I'm always glad when someone finds my content useful. Feel free to share it, as well. Regarding your questions on skepticism, I'm not really doing that much anymore, and no longer have many contacts in that community, but if you reply here I should get your message.

I was not aware of Sam's birthday, but appreciate the added context to their story.

Thank you. I hope you enjoy the content here.