Topic: Global Post

The Washington Post published an article suggesting that cleaning up air pollution has accidentally accelerated global warming by removing reflective particles from the atmosphere. The hosts interpret this as a justification for future geoengineering projects, such as Bill Gates's proposals to spray particles into the sky to create artificial clouds.

The Washington Post and Democracy Now! continue to report rising death tolls and hospitalizations across nine states, with projections from the IHME reaching 145,000 deaths by August. The hosts express deep distrust in these mathematical models, drawing a parallel to the perceived unreliability of global warming data.

Reports of a 165-degree heat index in an Iranian city are criticized as sensationalist headlines designed to push global warming narratives. The Washington Post and British newspapers like The Independent are cited for using subjective "feels like" numbers rather than actual temperatures. Historical data from July 8, 2003, in Saudi Arabia is referenced to show that current heat index figures are not unprecedented.

The hosts conclude that the mainstream media is fully "in on it," acting as a controlled propaganda arm for the government. They point to the "Boston connection" with Global Post and the selective propagation of shocking videos as evidence of a coordinated effort to manipulate public opinion.

An investigation into the Ground Truth Project reveals its ties to Global Post and funding from major organizations like the Ford and Kaiser Family Foundations. The project aims to train a new generation of foreign correspondents but is scrutinized for its "media partners" including NPR, PBS, and RYOT News. The hosts describe RYOT News as a non-serious organization run by "hipsters."

The hosts examine the background of James Foley, the journalist reportedly beheaded by ISIS. They note that Foley previously won an award for a video depicting the sodomy and capture of Muammar Gaddafi. The discussion questions the legitimacy of organizations like the Overseas Press Club and the Global Post, suggesting they may be used to train journalists to follow specific geopolitical narratives.

James Foley was a freelance journalist who contributed to the Global Post and operated his own website, in-iraq.org. Before his journalism career, Foley served as a reporting officer for USAID in Baghdad, an organization often linked to the U.S. State Department and intelligence community. The Global Post itself is noted for its reliance on freelancers and its lack of a traditional corporate news business model.

Global Post CEO Philip Balboni confirmed that ISIS demanded a ransom of 100 million euros (approximately $132 million) for James Foley. Balboni stated that the organization and Foley's family were attempting to raise $5 million, a figure more in line with ransoms paid by European governments. He claimed that the start of U.S. bombing in Iraq "sealed Jim's fate" by ending the possibility of a negotiated release.