Socially Acceptable Assassinations

How do you measure the success of a kill shot?
A character cancellation?
A diss track that hits harder than a drone strike?

It's never as simple as "target down." But that's often how success gets measured in war—and in culture. Short-term wins. Long-term fallout. No real accounting for what stories we're cementing along the way.

So in this episode, we're stepping into one of the most uncomfortable questions we've asked yet:
What makes an assassination "successful"?

(Important note: We do NOT condone assassinations or violence of any kind. But we do think these events—and their ripple effects—are worth analyzing if we want a better future.)

From world leaders to hip hop gods, we examine how targeted takedowns work on the battlefield of public imagination. This is warfare through the lens of narrative. And whether you're nodding along or squirming, there's a reason you're still listening.

Also, yes: we built a framework.
It's systems theory meets cognitive warfare tool meets Sesame Street.
A test to assess the success of kinetic strikes, including assassinations.

And it's called … well. You'll have to listen to find out. (Try not to giggle.)

Let's go there.

Key Topics:
What MLK, Shinzo Abe, Drake, and a CEO reveal about how power gets preserved—or shattered
Why we feel more for a single named character than for thousands of unnamed victims
The narrative power of a diss track vs. a campaign speech
How kinetic action tells a story, whether or not it's strategic

Notable Quotes:
"It always creates a lasting story. It's just … did your action contribute to the story you wanna tell?"
"And guess who destroys the other? The poet. The writer. The archetype of authenticity."
"Words in this instance can absolutely kill you."
"If it only took one bullet to absolutely change society... I mean, I guess we'd save a lot in terms of defense budgets."
"He made himself the question, and now we have to live in the world where we have to answer that."

Resources + Links
Shout out to Dr. Rebecca Nicholson (Ep 003: Unconventional Healing):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO06pBQF_w4&pp=ygUdcmViZWNjYSBuaWNob2xzb24gbWFkIHdhcmZhcmU%3D
How public sentiment changed after Shinzo Abe's assassination (Spectacles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFn6gWYMDpo
Reflections on MLK's killing and the 1968 Fair Housing Act (History Pod):
​​https://youtu.be/xkbKutv0MP0?si=c2tLIGvE32TADZJl
"The Failure, Fear and Frenzy Around Luigi Mangione" (Josh Johnson):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZl_ZBzvifA
Prisoners React to Magione's Conditions (News Nation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCml-w9MQ7Y
Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H58vbez_m4E
Lamar performing "Not Like Us" at the Super Bowl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvqpiUlMsB4

Follow/Connect with MAD Warfare
Website: madwarfare.com
Email: madwarfarepodcast@gmail.com
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YouTube: @MADWarfarePodcast
LinkedIn: MAD Warfare

Your opinion requested:
We asked: Is Drake dead? (Narratively speaking.)
You tell us. Email: madwarfarepodcast@gmail.com
We're collecting your verdicts.

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MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and (yes it bears repeating) sponsorship inquiries to madwarfarepodcast@gmail.com.
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