Topic: Daniel Ellsberg

Tributes are paid to Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who leaked the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War. The hosts discuss Ellsberg's legacy in contrast to modern whistleblowers like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, noting the shifting media attitudes toward government leaks.

UN Special Rapporteur Niels Melzer criticized the British judicial system, describing the proceedings against Julian Assange as a "kangaroo court" after a judge labeled Assange a narcissist. Melzer expressed grave concern that Assange would not receive a fair trial in the United States due to public and official prejudice. The discussion compares the current prosecution under the Espionage Act to the historical treatment of Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.

Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg discussed the use of the Espionage Act against Edward Snowden. Ellsberg argued that the law was never intended for those providing information to the American public. Snowden himself stated that a fair trial is impossible because he would be barred from presenting a "public interest" defense in court.

A documentary featuring Daniel Ellsberg outlines how five successive presidential administrations—from Truman to Nixon—lied to the American public about the Vietnam War. The discussion covers the Tonkin Gulf incident and the true economic motivations for the conflict, such as tungsten and oil. The hosts draw parallels between these historical lies and modern justifications for military involvement in the Middle East and Africa.

John C. Dvorak attended the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Pioneer Awards in San Francisco, where he met famous whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. He also spoke with Larry Lessig about Creative Commons and noted the presence of various "journalism tools" developers. Dvorak observed that the attendees were largely preoccupied with NSA surveillance and Russian political issues.

An account of a privacy rally in San Francisco describes a poorly organized protest where attendees were asked for their email addresses at a privacy event. Protesters, including Daniel Ellsberg, marched to Nancy Pelosi's closed office on a Sunday while following traffic signals. The hosts mock the "retarded" level of modern liberal protest, which they view as ineffective and performative.

Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg appeared on Larry King's program to discuss the 1998 film "Enemy of the State" as a realistic depiction of modern NSA surveillance. Ellsberg warned that the infrastructure for a police state is already in place, with the government capable of recording all digital communications and movements via smartphones. The hosts note the suspicious suicide of the film's director, Tony Scott, and the movie's lack of availability on major streaming platforms.

A 1972 incident at the Nixon White House is recounted, where a member of the Ray Conniff Singers protested the Vietnam War during a performance. A leaked phone call between Richard Nixon and John Connally reveals the President's profane reaction to the protest and mentions a similar incident involving Eartha Kitt.

Jay Leno and President Obama compared Edward Snowden to Daniel Ellsberg, with the hosts arguing that the media narrative unfairly labels Snowden as a coward for fleeing the country. Obama's claims of signing whistleblower protections are contrasted with the aggressive prosecution of figures like Bradley Manning and the FBI's treatment of former NSA official William Binney.

Piers Morgan abruptly ends an interview with Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg to make room for a segment with Paris Hilton. Ellsberg was in the middle of warning about the NSA's "abyss" of domestic surveillance. Morgan also offers brief condolences for the death of journalist Michael Hastings.

The history of the Pentagon Papers is reviewed, detailing how Daniel Ellsberg leaked 42 volumes of Vietnam War history to the New York Times. The discussion focuses on the Nixon administration's attempt to use "prior restraint" to stop publication and the subsequent Supreme Court ruling that protected the First Amendment. This historical context is used to frame current legal pressures on journalists.

Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg was among 110 protesters arrested outside the White House during a demonstration marking the eighth anniversary of the Iraq War. Separately, the hosts acknowledge a correction regarding bird flu cases in Japan, noting the information was known prior to the tsunami but was under-reported.

The discussion turns to the massive release of 400,000 Iraq War documents by WikiLeaks. Daniel Ellsberg, famous for the Pentagon Papers, appeared at a London press conference to support Julian Assange. The hosts argue that while the documents confirm government lies and torture, the public reaction has been manipulated to focus on treason rather than the content of the leaks.

Daniel Ellsberg is quoted criticizing President Barack Obama for using the Espionage Act to prosecute more leakers than all previous presidents combined. The hosts discuss a perceived "war" between the CIA and the Obama administration. They suggest Obama is attempting to implement a version of the British Official Secrets Act in the U.S. to criminalize the handling of classified material by journalists.