Topic: Jacob Appelbaum

The show concludes with an anecdote about WikiLeaks activist Jacob Appelbaum demanding a naked sauna interview to ensure his interviewer wasn't wearing a wire. The hosts play the "Iowa vs Ottawa" gaffe one last time and sign off, reminding listeners of the upcoming Sunday show and the "value for value" support model.

The hosts mock a Wall Street Journal video report on the TOR browser, which they claim is "outrageously dumb." The report suggests that the FBI can "lift the cloak" of TOR through old-fashioned police work. The hosts point out that TOR was originally funded by the government and that its prominent figures, like Jacob Appelbaum, are essentially "spokesholes" for the outfit.

A Pando Daily report alleges that eBay founder Pierre Omidyar co-funded groups involved in the Ukrainian revolution alongside the US government and USAID. This partnership is contrasted with Omidyar's funding of The Intercept, which ostensibly focuses on government transparency. The segment also mentions Jacob Appelbaum and the government funding of the Tor Project as examples of compromised independence in tech and media.

A critique of security researcher Jacob Appelbaum suggests that his revelations about iPhone surveillance—such as the ability to remotely activate microphones and GPS—are actually routine software capabilities documented in developer forums. Appelbaum is described as an "evangelist" for the Tor Project rather than a primary developer, and his focus on specific device "vectors" is seen as a distraction from broader government dragnet surveillance.

Sarah Harrison, a close associate of Julian Assange, has moved to Germany after spending months with Edward Snowden in Russia. She and other activists like Jacob Appelbaum are promoting the "effective exile" narrative, claiming they cannot safely return to their home countries. However, records show Appelbaum has continued to travel internationally, including a trip to Hawaii, challenging the "exile" status.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation has released "SecureDrop," a whistleblower submission platform originally developed by Aaron Swartz as "Deadrop." The system underwent a security audit by Jacob Appelbaum and is being marketed as a secure way for sources to leak documents to journalists. This technology is central to the new investigative model being pursued by Greenwald and his associates.

Edward Snowden received a Whistleblower of the Year award in Germany, with Jacob Appelbaum accepting on his behalf. Discussion turns to Salon Magazine's financial backing by the chairman of Adobe and its recent hit piece on New York Times columnist David Brooks. The economic viability of digital media outlets like The Verge and Boing Boing is questioned as venture capital and advertising models struggle.