Brief: The Free Press Tastes Its Own (Polio) Medicine

Get full access to all of our episodes and listen ad-free on Patreon. Today’s profile by Julian is of a man who connects the dots between the gun-nut fifth column in American law enforcement, local school board and city council anti-woke mania, and grassroots Christian Nationalist/QAnon crossover. Like our other swamp creatures, his involvement in the chicanery around the last two elections make him a clear and present danger to democracy. With him, our poker hand improves to three of a kind, because like Roger Stone and Paul Manafort, he was also indicted by the Mueller Probe—and in his case, pled guilty—only to be granted a full presidential pardon by Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Loka 20234min

Arizona’s recent increase in “sovereign citizen filings” connects to a New Age spiritual center called the Ultimate Light Mission. Julian talks to investigative reporter Isaac Stone Simonelli. Show Notes Sedona's wellness to radicalization pipeline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 Loka 202325min

Women journalists spend years meticulously investigating, corroborating and fact-checking allegations that Russell Brand is a serial sex offender. The result? A 6600-word masterpiece of survivor-centered concision, battle-tested by a legion of editors and lawyers. But the manosphere responds! With logorrheic defenses, conspiracy theories, and rationalizations. Peak posting through it. We look at choice man-stan statements from Charles Eisenstein (RFK Jr’s Director of Messaging), and psychonaut Daniel Pinchbeck. We also look at a pre-allegations interview Brand did with meditation guru Jack Kornfield to learn more about how Brand has ingratiated himself to wellness entrepreneurs flattered by his attention.  Show Notes BBC and police begin inquiries as Russell Brand faces more claims  ‘Jimmy Savile police unit’ helps Met with Russell Brand investigation  Russell Brand quizzed by cops 9 YEARS ago over claims he sexually assaulted masseuse and treated her 'like a prostitute' On Mobs, Cults, and Russell Brand - Charles Eisenstein  Brand and Circuses - Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter  Open Letter to Russell Brand — Daniel Pinchbeck's Newsletter A Cultural Crucible - Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter   Alyssa Milano on the #MeToo movement: 'We're not going to stand for it any more' Writer blames ‘predatory’ ways on women | Page Six   #6 - Abusing Power: Taking Predatory Daniel Pinchbeck At His Word   We Refuse to Endorse Daniel Pinchbeck as a Credible Voice in the Psychedelic Movement   Community, Transparency and Accountability—Dr. Ann Gleig in conversation with Egyoku Nakao Roshi & Tenku Ruff Roshi   Jack Kornfield (Morality, Spirituality & AI) - Stay Free with Russell Brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 Loka 20231h 20min

Four members of the Florida-based Grenon family were recently sentenced to between 5 and 12 years of prison for selling bleach. The problem? They claimed that bleach, known as Miracle Mineral Solution, cured Covid-19—as well as cancer, autism, AIDS, erectile dysfunction, and over 90% of the world's ailments. The elder Grenon, Mark, had founded the Genesis II Church of Health & Healing alongside of MMS's founder, Jim Humble, who left the church in 2017. How did the Grenons profit from industrial-strength bleach for 13 years before finally being convicted? And why are so many people sprinkling bleach crystals in their morning glass of water to "detoxify?" Derek investigates. Show Notes Family Sentenced for Selling Bleach as ‘Miracle’ Covid-19 Cure Drinking bleach can be deadly but lots of Americans are falling for fake bleach ‘cures’ Fringe 'Church' Founder on MMS: It's No Cure Genesis 2 Church FDA Warning Letter Jim Humble MMS Testimonials Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Loka 20239min

On October 9, RFK Jr. brought his three-podcast-bros-in-a-trench-coat campaign to Philadelphia. On a dias across from Independence Hall, he announced his anticipated departure from the Democratic party and his new status as an independent candidate. Matthew and Julian profile his conspirituality credentials, his diagonalist politics, and his incoherent positions: He attacks public health officials, or corporations—it’s all the same. He can pretend to care about health while making fatphobic and ableist comments. He can rail against the capture of federal regulatory agencies while proclaiming himself a staunch free market capitalist. He can pretend to help advance the lives of Black people by telling them that vaccines are a racist plot against them. He can earnestly identify with and fight in court for dispossessed tribes on American soil, while doubling down on morbid power imbalances abroad. Butcherbox promo: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/CONSPIRITUALITY and use code CONSPIRITUALITY to receive ground beef for life plus $20 off your first order. Show Notes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces independent run for president, ending Democratic primary challenge to Biden 164: The Two Faces of Robert Francis Kennedy Jr.  Brief: The New Age Origin Story of RFK Jr’s Campaign Brief: RFK's Health Propaganda Roundtable Brief: RFK Jr., The Anti-Vax Candidate Brief: RFK Jr Flirts with Body Fascism (w/Natalia Petrzela) Kennedy Condemns Terrorist Attacks Against Israel  Tribal Council | lowerbrulesiouxtribe  Special Report: Stealing Indigenous Voices in Australia (w/Tyson Yunkaporta)  Robert Kennedy’s Indian Commitment  Deep Commitment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Loka 20231h 12min

Quinn Slobodian teaches Modern German History at Wellesley and William Callison teaches Political Theory and Human Geography at Uppsala. We first came across their work via Naomi Klein’s examination of the clusterf&cked politics that dominate the movements we cover. We dug out their paper, and they had us at this: "At the extreme end, diagonal movements share a conviction that all power is conspiracy." There no clear left-right polarity in conspirituality. And Horseshoe Theory won’t cut it. We’re in the age of Diagonalism, and things are very, very weird.  Sign up today at butcherbox.com/CONSPIRITUALITY and use code CONSPIRITUALITY to receive ground beef for life plus $20 off your first order. Show Notes Coronapolitics from the Reichstag to the Capitol - Boston Review William Callison Quinn Slobodian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 Loka 20231h 32min

Our main character this week is the six-degrees of authoritarians—more like one or two degrees, in fact. He’s made millions playing footsie with most of the blood-thirsty kleptocrats of the last half-century. He embodies the corrupt and anti-democratic deep state history of Donald Trump’s inner circle, reaching back through the decades and across the globe. Julian’s colorful storytelling series seeks to contextualize the Trump era and where we find ourselves now, based on the swamp creatures who worked for, enabled, and to some extent groomed him for the role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Loka 20237min

On October 14, Australians will vote in a referendum on a simple question: should Indigenous peoples be invited to form an advisory council—a Voice—to Parliament?  It seemed like a shoe-in “Yes”—before the issue was FUBARed by a coalition of antivax, anti lockdown, Q-adjacent white sovereign citizens who believe that they are the true victims of colonization.  Professor Tyson Yunkaporta of Apalech clan joins Matthew to discuss the complexities of this history—including how some vulnerable Indigenous folks have been lured into supporting the “No” vote and providing cover for libertarian and white supremacist agendas. Yunkaporta is the founder of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University in Melbourne AUS, author of Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World (2019) and released just this past week: Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking. He’s also the host of the excellent free range podcast The Other Others.  Sign up today at butcherbox.com/CONSPIRITUALITY and use code CONSPIRITUALITY to receive ground beef for life plus $20 off your first order. Show Notes Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University Referendum 202 Conspiracy theories are derailing the Yes vote w/ Tyson Yunkaporta  Voice pamphlets: false claims and conspiracy theories distributed across Australia | Indigenous voice to parliament How a soap opera star pushed a conspiracy theory linking the Voice to Parliament to a UN takeover  Key voice battleground South Australia is ‘leaning to no’, campaign volunteers say | Indigenous voice to parliament View The Statement - Uluru Statement from the Heart  Aboriginal Tent Embassy — 'the guys who woke up Australia' — marks its 50th anniversary So-Called Sovereign Settlers: Settler Conspirituality and Nativism in the Australian Anti-Vax Movement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Loka 202352min