Topic: Political Power

Richard Dolan cautions against "knee-jerk conspiratorialism" that sees every figure as controlled opposition. He points to historical whistleblowers like Victor Marchetti, Bill Binney, and Edward Snowden as examples of individuals who worked within the system but took genuine risks to expose illegalities. Dolan argues that there are always divergent factions and opinions even within the upper echelons of the establishment and the media.

John Michael Greer joins the program to discuss his book, The King in Orange, which examines the magical and occult roots of political power. The conversation focuses on the 2016 election, meme magic, and the use of symbols and slogans as tools for psychological and magical manipulation in modern politics.

Evidence from Alaska and the Social Security system suggests that guaranteed income increases civic engagement and voting rates among recipients. When citizens have a financial stake in a government program, they are more likely to participate in the political process to protect it. UBI could transform a disempowered population into an engaged electorate, shifting the government's focus from the interests of the wealthy to the needs of the general citizenry.

Gordon White reflects on his transition from the low-corruption environment of New Zealand to the power politics of London. He describes five interlocking pillars of control—finance, pharma, military, media, and shadow state—that create a "prison for the soul." While skeptical of a "space squid" at the top, he allows for the possibility of non-physical agencies influencing human actors who feed on fear and negativity.

John Perkins and Greg Carlwood discuss the perceived powerlessness of U.S. Presidents, including Barack Obama, due to their dependence on corporate funding and vulnerability to character assassination. Perkins argues that the United States has become a "corporate talkocracy" or a fascist state where business and government are indistinguishable. He asserts that political leaders cannot fix the system because they are beholden to the corporations that funded their elections.

The discussion explores the theory that sitting presidents, including Barack Obama and the Bushes, act as "stooges" for behind-the-scenes policy makers. Estulin suggests that modern leaders are controlled through the threat of instantaneous reputation destruction via social media and whispering campaigns rather than physical assassination. The recent talk of impeaching Obama is characterized as a potential warning from higher-level elites to return to established policy lines.

Despite the Pope seeking asylum within Vatican City, Kevin Annett asserts that heads of state are not immune to prosecution for crimes against humanity under international law. The ITCCS has contacted police in Canada, the U.S., England, and Italy to request assistance in detaining the accused. Annett recounts instances where activists successfully occupied churches by challenging police officers' oaths of office regarding the protection of child rapists.