Topic: Ferguson Police

The Department of Justice filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, Missouri, following the city's attempt to revise a negotiated consent decree. The lawsuit details a pattern of unconstitutional policing and a "debtor's prison" system that disproportionately affects black residents. Speculation arises that the extensive requirements for body cameras and training may serve as a template for privatizing the local police department.

FBI Director James Comey suggests that a "chill wind" has blown through law enforcement since the Ferguson protests, leading to a "Ferguson effect" where officers are less proactive, potentially causing a rise in violent crime. The White House and various analysts dispute this claim, while former Commissioner Ray Kelly supports Comey's assessment.

A story about an Ohio police officer who showed restraint by not shooting a suspect is identified as part of a public relations campaign for body cameras. The segment argues that Taser International is aggressively pushing expensive cloud-based camera systems to law enforcement. The hosts express skepticism that body cameras provide a full or objective account of police interactions.

The discussion critiques the media's use of the term "verdict" in the Ferguson and Eric Garner grand jury decisions, noting that no trial occurred. The hosts argue that the legal definition of "homicide" is being misrepresented as synonymous with murder. They express skepticism toward the push for federally funded body cameras, suggesting it is a step toward a nationalized police force.

Rachel Maddow's coverage of the Ferguson police "rioting" is criticized, followed by an analysis of comments from non-voting Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Norton suggests that the lack of black elected officials in Ferguson may be due to election fraud or rigging. The discussion posits that the demographic mismatch between the police force and the community is being used as a catalyst for federalizing local law enforcement.

The protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting of Michael Brown are analyzed as a potentially manufactured racial crisis designed to drive Democratic voter turnout for the 2014 midterms. Al Sharpton is characterized as a professional agitator and federal snitch. Missouri State Senator Jamila Nasheed is criticized for claiming Brown was killed "execution style" without evidence, contributing to a narrative of Black Americans being "under siege."

The FAA's implementation of a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) over Ferguson is viewed as an attempt to control the media message by restricting news helicopters. A historical clip from 1970 describes the 1917 St. Louis riots starting after police in a black Model T Ford drove through neighborhoods shooting at residents, eventually leading to the death of two detectives.