🎯 All Moments (76)
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Fired from the CIA: The Six-Week Job Hunt
The speaker recounts his initial firing from the CIA by Martha Kesler, detailing the unusual six-week grace period to find another job within the agency, and the difficulty of finding one during Christmas.
CIA's Unpreparedness: 'You'll Figure It Out' Interrogations
The guest highlights the CIA's lack of formal interrogation training, recalling cabling headquarters for guidance on what to ask a captured prisoner only to be told, 'You'll figure it out.' He then describes an improvised 'good cop, bad cop' scenario with a Pakistani intelligence officer.
Brennan's Ambition: Heading His Own Agency and the NCTC
The speaker recounts his mutual dislike with John Brennan and Brennan's relentless ambition to head his own agency, which eventually led to him being put in charge of the Transnational Terrorism Information Center (TTICK), later the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
Brennan's Unqualified Rise: From Analyst to Riyadh Station Chief
The speaker highlights the controversial promotion of John Brennan, an analyst with no overseas experience, to station chief in Riyadh, one of the world's most important stations, despite never having recruited a spy.
Intelligence Identities Protection Act: Unconstitutional and Unchallengeable
The speaker explains that the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, under which he was charged, is considered unconstitutional by Harvard Law Review for violating the First Amendment and being prior restraint, yet the lack of case law made it impossible to challenge in court.
Prosecution's Weak Case: The Decreasing Plea Offers
The speaker's lead attorney, Plato Cacheras, notes the unusual pattern of the prosecution's decreasing plea offers (from 45 years to 10, then 8, then 5), indicating a weak case, as offers typically increase if rejected.
FBI's Counter-Espionage Operation: Luring the Diplomat
The speaker details how the FBI asked him to become an asset, repeatedly inviting the Japanese diplomat to lunch to uncover what information he sought and how much he was willing to pay, despite the language barrier.
Torture Was Not Effective: FBI vs. CIA Interrogation
The guest asserts that none of the CIA's torture techniques were effective, contrasting them with the FBI's long-standing, effective interrogation methods dating back to the Nuremberg trials, highlighting a fundamental difference in approach and results.
Attorneys Force Plea: 'It's About Mitigating Damage, Not Justice'
The speaker recounts the agonizing morning his attorneys, including a 'mean old man' and a 'sweet gentleman,' convinced him to take a plea deal against his will, emphasizing that their job was 'about mitigating damage' rather than pursuing justice.
Lost Knowledge: The Destroyed MK Ultra Documents
The guest explains that 80% of MK Ultra documents were destroyed to avoid prosecution, meaning much of what was learned, including details about shocking experiments like dosing San Francisco fog or French village bread, is lost and could not be used for future operations.
First Day in Prison: Aryans, Nazis, and the Mafia
The speaker recounts his terrifying and absurd first day in prison, where he was immediately confronted by a Nazi gang who questioned his identity, only to later be 'adopted' by the boss of the Banano crime family, finding unexpected allies.
Abu Zubaydah Reveals Khalid Sheikh Muhammad's Identity
The guest describes a pivotal moment when Abu Zubaydah, under respectful FBI interrogation, revealed the true identity of the terrorist 'Mkhtar' as Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, a name previously unknown to US intelligence, enabling them to piece together critical information.
McCain's Attempt to Restore Pension: 'These Damn Obama People'
The speaker recounts John McCain's offer of help after his release from prison, specifically addressing how the 'Obama people' confiscated his pension and drove him into bankruptcy, prompting McCain to devise a legislative solution.
McCain's Failed Pension Amendment and the Need for a Pardon
The speaker describes John McCain's ingenious but ultimately thwarted attempt to reinstate his pension through a specific amendment, which failed due to McCain's illness and death, leaving a presidential pardon as his last hope.
Rebuilding Life: Books, Greek Citizenship, and Whistleblower Laws
The speaker details his journey of rebuilding his life after prison, including becoming a best-selling author, gaining Greek citizenship, and helping the Greek government draft whistleblower protection laws that were adopted by the European Union, despite continued financial hardship.
The CIA's 'Need to Know' Principle: A Masked Boss and Unseen Prisoners
The guest recounts a stark illustration of the 'need to know' principle: a masked individual on a plane transporting a captured prisoner reveals himself to be an old boss, who then states he can't disclose the prisoner's destination due to security protocols, mirroring the guest's own lack of knowledge about the prisoner's identity.
President Bush Blames 'Rogue CIA Officer' – The Setup
The guest recounts President Bush's repeated public denials of CIA torture, culminating in a statement blaming any torture on a 'rogue CIA officer.' This immediately tipped off the guest that the White House was trying to pin the blame on him.
The Unelected, Unaccountable 'Deep State' That Outlasts Presidents
The guest explains his belief in a 'deep state' or 'federal bureaucracy' composed of long-serving, unelected officials who, confident they can outlast any president, will 'slow roll' initiatives they disagree with until the president leaves office, operating largely unaccountably.
'Torture is a Crime, Illegal to Classify': FBI Declines Prosecution
The guest explains that the FBI declined to prosecute him for revealing classified information about torture, citing that international human rights organizations had already disclosed the information, and crucially, that 'torture is a crime, and it is illegal to classify a crime for the purpose of keeping it from the American people.'
Unpacking Israel's 'Greater Israel' Strategy: Territorial Ambitions
This clip delves into Israel's "Greater Israel" strategy, outlining its territorial ambitions beyond current borders. John Kiriakou details how this vision includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip, parts of Lebanon and Syria, and even the Sinai Peninsula (which was previously returned to Egypt), raising concerns about the future of the region.
CIA Officers Quit or Faint Over Torture Program
The guest, with access to all CIA cables, saw reports of officers quitting their assignments or a secretary fainting during a torture session, a career-ending decision, confirming his belief that the torture program was illegal and morally reprehensible.
Netanyahu's Political Survival & Extremism in Israeli Government
This moment explains how Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption charges incentivize him to prolong war and how Israel's fractured political system, with many parties and individual interests, makes it impossible for any party to win a working majority. It also highlights the rise of right-wing extremists within the government.
Netanyahu's War Incentive: Avoiding Corruption Trial
John Kiriakou explains how Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial and the Israeli Supreme Court's rulings create an incentive for him to prolong the war. His 'only viable strategy is delaying tactics,' and the best argument for delay is that he can't focus on his defense because he has a war to prosecute, meaning peace would force him to trial.
'Three Felonies a Day': The Danger of Over-Criminalization
The guest discusses the book 'Three Felonies a Day,' which argues that due to excessive regulation, the average American unknowingly commits three felonies daily. This means if the government wants to target someone, they can always find a charge, leaving individuals vulnerable.
John Brennan's Revenge: Becoming Martha Kesler's Boss
The speaker details how John Brennan, after being fired by Martha Kesler, leveraged a connection with George Tennant to rise through the ranks, eventually becoming Martha's boss and firing her in return.
John Brennan Approved Visas for 9/11 Hijackers
The speaker reveals that John Brennan, while serving as station chief in Riyadh, approved the visas for the 9/11 hijackers, a significant and controversial detail in his career progression to one of the most senior positions in the CIA.
Post-Prison Surveillance: A Whistleblower's Lingering Paranoia
John Kiriakou, a former CIA surveillance detection instructor, shares his experience of ongoing paranoia and actual surveillance by the FBI after being released from prison. He recounts spotting agents following him and the frustration of being monitored despite his willingness to be open, highlighting the lasting impact of his whistleblower status.
Why Intelligence Agencies are Crucial, But Must Remain Uncorrupted
John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer, asserts the vital importance of intelligence agencies for national security, arguing against dismantling them. He emphasizes that while these agencies are crucial for monitoring global threats, the core issue lies in preventing them from becoming corrupt or politicized, advocating for a balanced and ethical approach.
Russia-Ukraine War: Diplomacy, Predictions, and Putin's Military Pressure
John Kiriakou, citing Russian studies professors, suggests that Russia is winning the war in Ukraine and advocates for diplomacy. He predicts that Ukraine will lose territory but eventually gain EU membership and major non-NATO ally status. He also reveals that Putin is under significant pressure from his military establishment to continue the war, despite potential public dissent.
John Brennan's Strategic Move to the Obama Campaign
The speaker explains how John Brennan strategically joined the Obama campaign in 2007, making him the only senior intelligence official to do so amidst a wave of retirements, a move that 'saved himself' and secured his future.
John Brennan's Vendetta: 'He Was Going to Have My Head'
The speaker recounts how, immediately after Barack Obama became president, John Brennan initiated a vendetta against him, asking Attorney General Holder to have the FBI 'grab' him, despite knowing they didn't have a case.
John Kerry Silenced Investigations for Secretary of State Ambition
The speaker reveals his 'terrible job' as a Senate investigator for John Kerry, who repeatedly killed investigations into sensitive CIA activities (like Afghanistan's heroin production and the Dashyle massacre) because he wanted to become Secretary of State and avoid upsetting the White House.
Japanese Diplomat's Pitch: 'I Was Just Pitched by a Foreign Intelligence Officer'
The speaker recounts a lunch meeting where a Japanese diplomat cold-pitched him for classified information in exchange for money, and his immediate, indignant decision to report the incident to the Senate Security Officer.
The FBI's Trap: House Raid During Interrogation
The speaker describes being lured to an FBI meeting under false pretenses, only to be confronted with accusations of leaking information to Guantanamo defense attorneys and informed that his house was being raided at that very moment.
The FBI's Thursday Arrest Tactic and DC Jail
The speaker explains the FBI's deliberate tactic of making arrests on Thursdays in Washington D.C. to ensure defendants spend the entire weekend in jail, enduring harsh conditions, before their Monday arraignment, pressuring them to make a deal.
Facing 45 Years: 'You May Live to Meet Your Grandchildren'
The speaker recounts the immense pressure of facing 45 years in prison and a chilling threat from a future Deputy Attorney General, who told him to 'take this deal... and you may live to meet your grandchildren,' pushing him to the brink of despair.
OJ Simpson's Jury Consultant Warns Against DC Trial
The speaker's legal team consults OJ Simpson's jury consultant, who strongly advises against going to trial in the Eastern District of Virginia, citing that the jury would be composed entirely of people from the CIA, FBI, and defense contractors, making a fair trial impossible.
Athens: The World's Most Dangerous City for US Security
The guest explains why Athens was the most expensive city for US security, even more than Beirut, due to indigenous and international terrorist groups operating under an informal agreement with the Greek government: 'if you don't kill Greeks, we'll leave you alone.'
Being Labeled the 'Human Rights Guy' at the CIA
The guest recalls a CIA psychiatrist, also a Brigadier General, telling him that colleagues called him 'the human rights guy' behind his back, implicitly not as a compliment. He stood firm, stating, 'they're wrong about this and I'm right about it.'
AIPAC's Unregistered Influence: A Foreign Agent Anomaly?
John Kiriakou questions why AIPAC, a powerful and well-funded lobbying organization, is not required to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department, unlike other entities representing foreign governments. He highlights AIPAC's significant influence on American politics, including its role in primaries and congressional trips to Israel.
Espionage Charges from 'The Top': FBI Apologies
The speaker reveals he was falsely charged with espionage, with three FBI agents later apologizing and admitting the 'BS case' originated from 'the top' (John Brennan), highlighting government overreach and a political vendetta.
From Highly Educated to Rejected by McDonald's and Uber
The speaker describes the profound anger and betrayal he felt after prison, and the shocking reality of being unable to find any job, even at McDonald's or Uber, due to his felony conviction, despite his high education and extensive government experience.
The CIA's Casual Introduction to 'Enhanced Interrogation Techniques'
The guest recounts the casual way he was asked to be certified in 'enhanced interrogation techniques' in 2002, his immediate suspicion that it sounded like torture, and the CIA's justification that it was cleared by the Justice Department and approved by the President.
The Senior CIA Officer Who Called Torture a 'Slippery Slope'
The guest recounts seeking advice from a senior CIA officer about 'enhanced interrogation techniques.' The officer immediately called it a 'torture program' and warned of the 'slippery slope' that would lead to prisoners being killed, investigations, and someone going to prison.
Refusing Torture Training: A 'Shocking Lack of Commitment'
The guest describes his decision to refuse training in 'enhanced interrogation techniques' due to moral and ethical concerns, and the immediate career backlash, including being passed over for promotion despite a major capture, for displaying a 'shocking lack of commitment to counterterrorism.'
The Only One Who Said No to Torture Training
The guest reveals a shocking statistic: out of 14 people asked to be trained in 'enhanced interrogation techniques,' he was the only one who refused, despite knowing it would be a mandatory part of future operations.
The Deadly 'Cold Cell' - Worse Than Waterboarding
The guest describes the 'cold cell' as a torture technique worse than waterboarding: prisoners stripped naked, chained to the ceiling unable to sit or lie down, in a 50°F cell, with buckets of ice water thrown on them hourly. He reveals that people died from this technique.
Revived to be Tortured More: Abu Zubaydah's Waterboarding
The guest reveals the horrifying detail that Abu Zubaydah's heart stopped during a waterboarding session, but a doctor revived him, not to save his life, but 'just so he could be tortured more,' drawing a chilling parallel to historical atrocities.
The CIA's 'Midnight Climax' LSD Experiments on Unsuspecting Citizens
The guest details the shocking MK Ultra sub-operation 'Midnight Climax,' where the CIA rented safe houses, hired sex workers to pick up men, brought them back, and dosed them with LSD to try and extract their deepest secrets, all without their consent.
The CIA, Haight-Ashbury, and Charles Manson: A Hidden Connection
The guest reveals the surprising connection between the CIA, the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic (which his wife's mother attended), and Charles Manson, explaining that the clinic was run by the CIA as part of covert operations, a fact only discovered through unearthed documents.
Chained, Blasted with Death Metal: The CIA's 12-Day Sleep Deprivation
The guest exposes the CIA's extreme sleep deprivation technique, authorized for 12 days, which could lead to death. Prisoners were chained to the ceiling, blasted with industrial lights and death metal music 24/7, making it impossible to sleep without dislocating their arms.
CIA's Gruesome Cover-up: Burying & 'Icing' Torture Victims
The guest reveals the shocking practice of burying prisoners who died under torture in unmarked graves next to interrogation buildings, with 'no report, no nothing.' He also recounts a specific incident where headquarters ordered a body to be kept 'on ice' in a bathtub for days before burial.
A Cleaning Lady Accidentally Foils a 9/11-Scale Terrorist Plot
The guest recounts the astonishing story of how the massive 'Bojinka operation,' which aimed to hijack 14 747s and fly them into US buildings, was accidentally disrupted by a cleaning lady who found the plans in a terrorist's apartment and reported them to authorities.
CIA Torture vs. FBI Interrogation: The Abu Zubaydah Case
The guest details the disastrous back-and-forth in the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah. After the FBI gained critical intelligence through respectful methods, the CIA took over and tortured him (including with cockroaches in a coffin), silencing him. The FBI regained his cooperation, only for the CIA to intervene and torture him again, ruining all progress.
CIA Paid $108 Million for 'Torture Techniques' - Driven by Revenge
The guest reveals the CIA paid two contract psychologists $108 million to develop 'harsh interrogation techniques.' He suggests the motivations were a desire for revenge after 9/11 and the sunk cost fallacy, leading the agency to implement the torture program.
Exposing CIA Torture: The Three Statements That Cost Me Everything
The guest recounts the three critical statements he made in an ABC News interview that exposed the truth about CIA torture: that the CIA was torturing prisoners, it was official US government policy (not rogue officers), and personally approved by the President. Within 24 hours, the CIA filed a crimes report against him.
'Charge Him Anyway': The Political Persecution of a Whistleblower
The guest reveals internal memos showing John Brennan, a 'father of the torture program,' insisted Attorney General Eric Holder charge him with espionage, even after Holder's staff found no basis. They eventually charged him with five felonies, including espionage, only to drop the espionage charges after he went bankrupt.
John Brennan Interferes with Legal Defense, $6 Million Prosecution Cost
The speaker reveals John Brennan's direct interference with his legal defense, limiting his attorneys' security clearances, and questions the exorbitant cost of $6 million spent by the government to imprison him for a short sentence.
Whistleblower Gets 45 Years, Spy Who Caused Deaths Gets 9 Months
The speaker highlights the outrageous disparity in sentencing under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act: he was offered 45 years for whistleblowing, while a CIA secretary who revealed officers' names to an enemy, leading to executions, received only nine months.
Obama's 'Nixonian Obsession' with Leaks, Fueled by Brennan
The speaker alleges that his prosecution was a political vendetta by John Brennan, who leveraged what friends described as Obama's 'Nixonian obsession' with national security leaks to crack down on whistleblowers.
Brennan's Vengeance: From Minimum Security to Actual Prison
The speaker describes how, despite a court order for minimum security, he was sent to a regular prison, later discovering it was due to John Brennan's direct interference, who was 'so angry at the shortness of my sentence that he told them, 'Make it as difficult as possible.''
Vindicated by the Senate Torture Report: McCain's Recognition
The speaker shares his ex-wife's crucial advice to keep telling his story, leading to his vindication when the Senate torture report confirmed his claims, and Senator John McCain publicly acknowledged his indispensable role in revealing the CIA's actions.
From Democrat to Populist: Finding Common Cause on Civil Liberties
The speaker describes his political transformation, leaving the Democratic Party due to John Brennan and Barack Obama's actions, and finding common cause with populist Republicans like Tucker Carlson and even figures like Marjorie Taylor Green and Bernie Sanders on civil liberties issues.
Don't Drop the Soap: Finding Peace Before Prison
The speaker recalls a former CIA colleague tweeting 'Don't drop the soap' with a laughing emoji before he went to prison, and his powerful, peaceful response: 'I'm on the right side of history and you are not,' which gave him confidence to survive and make an impact.
The Prison Setup: CIA Whistleblower Targeted by Guards
John Kiriakou recounts a shocking incident in prison where guards attempted to set him up for violence with an Iraqi inmate, fabricating stories to provoke a confrontation. This moment highlights the manipulative tactics used by prison authorities and the dangers faced by whistleblowers.
Defying the Warden: 'I'm Not Afraid of Your Solitary'
After his letter exposing prison conditions went viral, John Kiriakou was called to the warden's office and threatened with solitary confinement. He recounts his defiant response, using his CIA background to challenge the warden's authority and ultimately avoiding punishment.
FBI's Role in High-Profile Plots: Whitmer and Route 82 Bridge Cases
John Kiriakou and Joe Rogan discuss documented cases where the FBI allegedly orchestrated or heavily influenced plots, such as the Governor Whitmer kidnapping and the Route 82 bridge plot, often involving informants who provided the ideas and means for the supposed crimes. This raises questions about government overreach and the ethics of law enforcement tactics.
CIA Spying on Americans: A Forbidden Practice Revealed
John Kiriakou shares an anecdote from his early days at the CIA, where a colleague discovered a wall of folders containing information on American citizens – a practice explicitly forbidden by law for the CIA. This clip exposes a serious violation of constitutional rights and highlights the agency's history of operating outside its legal boundaries.
China: The Greatest Threat & Its Patient Strategy
John Kiriakou argues that China poses a greater threat than the Israel-Palestine conflict. He outlines China's patient strategy of investing in its own infrastructure and bribing foreign countries, contrasting it with the US's global military spending and interventionist approach, suggesting America hasn't learned other ways to win hearts and minds.
China's Masterful Manipulation of Online Discourse and Societal Disruption
This clip details how China actively promotes online arguments, fighting, and societal disruptions, perfecting these digital warfare techniques. John Kiriakou warns that most Americans don't realize the extent of this threat and the need to counter it, setting the stage for a discussion on echo chambers and AI manipulation.
Training ChatGPT for Political Agendas: The Pro-Israel Contract
This clip discusses the alarming trend of using AI, specifically ChatGPT, for political propaganda. It reveals that Brad Parscale secured a $6 million contract to train ChatGPT to be more pro-Israel, highlighting how AI can be manipulated to influence narratives and the challenges of identifying and controlling bots.
ChatGPT's Stubborn Inaccuracy: John Kiriakou's Education Fiasco
John Kiriakou shares a frustrating and humorous anecdote about ChatGPT's inability to provide accurate information about his own educational background. The AI insisted on false details and refused to correct itself, even when challenged by Kiriakou himself, illustrating the challenges of AI accuracy and its stubbornness.
ChatGPT's Fake Scholarly Articles: A Warning for Researchers
John Kiriakou recounts a concerning experience where ChatGPT generated 14 fake scholarly journal articles with non-existent links for his graduate school course outline. This moment highlights the risk of AI hallucinating information and the critical need for due diligence when using AI for research, warning against potential academic fraud.
How Respectful Interrogation Saved Lives & Uncovered Al-Qaeda's Structure
The guest provides concrete examples of how FBI agent Ali Soufan, through respectful interrogation, gained actionable intelligence from Abu Zubaydah that saved American lives. This included revealing Al-Qaeda's compartmentalized structure and specific leads that disrupted a terrorist cell in Dusseldorf.
Mossad's Audacious Recruitment Attempt on a CIA Officer
John Kiriakou shares an incredible personal anecdote from his early career at the CIA: during his very first liaison briefing with Israeli Mossad and Shinbet officers, they attempted to recruit him. He details how the Israelis were banned from CIA headquarters due to constant bugging attempts, and how they brazenly tried to turn him, a junior analyst, into an asset, a tactic apparently common among his colleagues.
The NDAA: How Obama Legalized Propaganda Against Americans
John Kiriakou exposes how the Obama administration, through the NDAA in 2015, legalized the propagandization of the American people. He explains that this stemmed from a seemingly innocuous issue with Radio TV Marti, leading to a law that now allows the government to produce and force any propaganda on its citizens, raising serious concerns about media manipulation.