Topic: Haruna Yukawa

Research from a Japanese producer reveals that Kenji Goto had taken his wife's surname (Jogo) to distance himself from past financial issues, a common practice in Japan. The background of the other captive, Haruna Yukawa, is described as "delusional," citing his blog posts about being a reincarnation of a 1903 soldier. The segment questions the mainstream media's portrayal of both men as standard journalists.

The hosts analyze the media coverage of ISIS holding two Japanese hostages, Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa, for a $200 million ransom. They argue that the situation is a "messaging deal" designed to give ISIS a psychological edge and make the group appear more powerful than it is militarily. Wolf Blitzer and Mike Rogers discuss the "terrorized" public reaction as a primary goal of the group's propaganda.

A new ISIS release features a still image of Kenji Goto holding a photo of what appears to be the decapitated body of Haruna Yukawa. The hosts analyze the image, noting that the head appears disproportionately large and the anatomy seems incorrectly aligned, suggesting a "trademark Photoshop move." They contrast this with historical beheading videos that featured actual footage of the act.

A Reuters report reveals the eccentric background of Haruna Yukawa, who traveled to Syria on a "hardship course in self-discovery." Yukawa had previously lost his wife and business, attempted suicide by self-mutilation, and believed he was the reincarnation of a cross-dressing Manchu princess. He established a "Private Military Company" that existed only on the internet before being captured by militants.

The hosts criticize mainstream news outlets for omitting Haruna Yukawa's history of mental instability from their reporting. They suggest that the "security consultant" label used by the media is a simplification of a much more complex and troubled individual. They also speculate that ISIS may have fired their video editors due to the increasingly obvious technical flaws in their propaganda releases.