Topic: Domestic Surveillance

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) releases new classifications for Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs), including categories for racially motivated (RMVE), militia-based (MVE), and anti-government extremists. The report suggests these groups pose the most lethal threat to the U.S. interior. Critics argue these broad definitions are designed to increase surveillance budgets and target political dissidents.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI officials report that many tips regarding the January 6 Capitol riot suspects are coming from the suspects' own family members and co-workers. The FBI is currently processing over 200,000 digital leads to identify approximately 300 suspects. The discussion touches on the social implications of children "ratting out" their parents, attributing some of this behavior to university education.

Former Department of Justice official Mary McCord suggested that the FBI should track domestic terrorism using international intelligence-sharing models similar to those established after 9/11. Critics argue this approach would allow the U.S. government to bypass constitutional protections by using foreign intelligence agencies to snoop on American citizens. Former DHS officials also discussed contracting private companies to monitor social media to avoid legal limitations on the FBI.

The hosts predict that the government will eventually use a major domestic tragedy, such as a school shooting or murder, to justify expanding the use of NSA metadata for general law enforcement. They argue that the current "terrorism only" limitation will be discarded when officials claim that lives could have been saved if they had used the data. This transition toward a "non-risk society" is described as a move toward out-and-out fascism.

The administration is expanding the "IED" label to include incidents like the 2009 "crotch bomber" and the 2010 air cargo printer ink plot. This shift is seen as a way to justify increased domestic surveillance and the integration of advanced detection technologies into critical infrastructure. The hosts argue that the term "IED" is being used as a new "terror word" to bypass privacy protections.

Drones are already being used domestically, such as News Corp's "The Daily" using them to film flood damage in North Dakota. The FAA is reportedly investigating whether this violates regulations. The hosts suggest the government is preparing the public for "drone nation" through media exposure.

The Director of National Intelligence has authorized the use of military spy satellites by domestic law enforcement and civilian agencies. While officials claim the satellites cannot see faces or listen to conversations, privacy groups express concern over the lack of oversight. The hosts speculate that many "UFO" sightings are actually Predator drones or other surveillance craft being deployed over American cities.

UK police have established a new central database to track thousands of individuals labeled as "domestic extremists." The system utilizes automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and "Forward Intelligence Teams" to monitor and photograph protesters at public meetings. Critics argue these measures infringe upon the basic right to protest and create a climate of state-sponsored intimidation.

Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh alleged in a recent speech that the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) operated as a private assassination wing reporting directly to Vice President Dick Cheney. Hersh claimed these operations occurred without legal authority and involved domestic activities against perceived enemies of the state. The hosts discuss the lack of mainstream follow-up on these significant allegations.