Topic: Facebook Live

Reports from Melbourne, Australia, indicate a massive crackdown on anti-lockdown protests, including a temporary restricted airspace order and a ban on live streaming. Premier Daniel Andrews is accused of coordinating with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to suppress footage of the demonstrations. The hosts highlight a 6.0 earthquake in the region that received minimal international coverage compared to the civil unrest.

The discussion focuses on the technical execution of the attack's live stream, which used a first-person perspective reminiscent of video games. Cybersecurity experts suggest that live streaming privileges should be restricted to verified accounts to prevent the broadcast of hate speech. The hosts explain the "shitposting" culture of 4chan and 8chan, where users aim to influence mainstream media through memes and provocative content.

CNN reported that Russian-linked accounts, specifically one named "Blacktivists," used Facebook and Twitter to amplify racial tensions in the United States. The "Blacktivists" page reportedly garnered 360,000 likes, exceeding the following of the verified Black Lives Matter page, leading to claims of sophisticated political interference.

Adam Curry suggests that the CIA's old radio-based deception tactics could be modernized using Facebook Live and smartphone footage. He posits that a well-executed "Wag the Dog" scenario involving fake reports of ISIS crossing the Texas border would likely be taken seriously by the public and media. The hosts note that major networks already rely heavily on unverified social media reports and tweets for breaking news.

Four black youths in Chicago were arrested after broadcasting the torture of a mentally challenged white teenager on Facebook Live. The White House and mainstream media outlets initially hesitated to label the incident a hate crime, despite the attackers shouting racial and political slurs. Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated it was "too early to tell" if the incident met the legal definition of a hate crime, leading to accusations of media bias.

A disturbing video streamed on Facebook Live showed a group in Chicago torturing a young man with mental disabilities while forcing him to curse Donald Trump. The incident has been officially classified as a hate crime. The hosts criticize the mainstream media's perceived lack of outrage compared to other incidents, noting that the perpetrators' decision to broadcast the crime live reflects a sense of impunity or a desire for viral notoriety.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak conclude the Christmas special by thanking Sir Ramsey Cain and their producers. Adam announces a No Agenda meetup at the Citizen Bar & Restaurant in Beverly Hills. They sign off with their traditional "In the Morning" greeting and confirm their return for a live show on the following Thursday.

Actress Shailene Woodley was arrested during a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline on Indigenous Peoples' Day. Woodley streamed her arrest on Facebook Live to her 40,000 followers, complaining about the police presence. The hosts mock the incident as a "credit for her IMDB" and a typical celebrity activist performance.

The hosts critique the behavior of Diamond Reynolds during her Facebook Live stream following the shooting of Philando Castile. They note her calm demeanor and the subsequent creation of multiple GoFundMe accounts that raised approximately half a million dollars. A listener provides background information on Castile, noting he was a well-liked cafeteria supervisor with a permit to carry a weapon.

House Democrats, led by civil rights icon John Lewis, staged a sit-in on the House floor to demand a vote on gun control legislation. The protest was broadcast via Periscope and Facebook Live after the official C-SPAN cameras were turned off. The hosts mock the event as a "rowdy slumber party" involving pizza and Dunkin' Donuts, noting that the Senate had already voted down the bills in question.

Facebook faced accusations of suppressing conservative news stories within its trending topics sidebar following a Gizmodo report. A leaked internal document regarding Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter graffiti at the Menlo Park office allegedly prompted employees to reveal that human curators, rather than neutral algorithms, determine news visibility. The segment examines the use of "injection tools" to artificially inflate or suppress specific topics.

Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman appeared on the Today Show to announce a partnership with Facebook for a live experiment during the State of the Union. The interaction was characterized by Goldman's perceived condescending tone toward veteran broadcaster Matt Lauer and the production crew. This segment highlights the cultural friction between Silicon Valley tech executives and traditional media figures.