Topic: Faction

Violence erupted in Baghdad's Green Zone after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics. Rival Shiite factions engaged in heavy fighting involving gunfire and explosions, resulting in at least 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The political deadlock has left Iraq without a functional government for over a year as al-Sadr's supporters demand the dissolution of parliament and new elections to remove Iranian influence.

A formal knighthood is bestowed upon Ryan Clare, who is named "Sir Ryan, Knight of the Geddes Rebel Faction." The ceremony includes the traditional list of "hookers and blow" and other humorous provisions for the new knight.

Brad Thor's new book, "Hidden Order," focuses on the Federal Reserve, which he claims will be the "next big thing" in public discourse. Thor uses a style he calls "faction," blending real-life surveillance and economic trends into thriller novels. The hosts discuss the history of the "Red Cell" term, noting its origins in testing military base security and its co-option by DHS.