9 chapters across the catalog
CIA Directors Brennan and McLaughlin on Deep State
Former CIA directors John Brennan and John McLaughlin appeared on C-SPAN, where McLaughlin remarked "Thank God for the deep state" regarding the impeachment inquiry. Brennan defended the intelligence community as an institution of "truth," while critics pointed out the irony of the CIA claiming a mandate for domestic truth-telling.
BBC Interview, Libel Laws and Russian Collusion
A BBC presenter cut off Republican pollster John McLaughlin after he alleged that Hillary Clinton took more money from Russians than Michael Flynn. The presenter claimed the BBC could be held liable for such allegations without the accused present. The hosts mock this "rule," noting the media frequently discusses Trump's alleged collusion without him being present.
The hosts thank "John the Brewer" for a shipment of home-brewed beer before discussing the death of political commentator John McLaughlin. They reflect on the legacy of "The McLaughlin Group" and the host's physical decline in his final months on air. There is brief speculation about the future of the show's regular panelists, including Eleanor Clift.
Marijuana for the Homeless, McLaughlin Report Errors
A Denver non-profit called "Cannabis Can" distributed pre-rolled joints to the homeless to raise awareness, utilizing a legal loophole regarding gifts. Additionally, John McLaughlin's year-end political review is criticized for misidentifying a staged photo op in Paris following the Charlie Hebdo attack as a genuine march of world leaders.
McLaughlin Group Predictions, Summer Crime Spike
The McLaughlin Group's recent episode featured a dire prediction from John McLaughlin that violent crime in American metropolitan areas will spike during the summer of 2015. The hosts discuss the highly scripted nature of the show and wonder where McLaughlin obtained the data for such a specific and ominous forecast.
Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Colin Powell, accused CIA leadership of systemic lying regarding intelligence leading up to the Iraq War. Wilkerson detailed how officials like George Tenet and John McLaughlin fabricated links between Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein to influence Powell's UN presentation. He asserts that the torture program was part of a broader pattern of incompetence and deception within the agency's top ranks.
John McLaughlin is criticized for his apparent shock during a PBS broadcast when informed that drugs are prevalent in American prisons. The segment highlights the failure of drug prohibition, noting that if the government cannot keep drugs out of controlled prison environments, the broader drug war is fundamentally flawed.
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak describe their first meeting in 1993 during the filming of CNET television pilots. They recall working with Halsey Minor and Kevin Wendell on a McLaughlin Group-style roundtable format that never launched. Curry reveals he declined a full-time offer from CNET that included two million shares of stock, choosing to stay at MTV instead.
Hillary Clinton, World Bank Presidency Predictions
John McLaughlin predicts that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will become the next head of the World Bank. The hosts suggest this narrative is being used to "soften up" the public for the transition. They also discuss her role in the "Friends of Syria" group and speculate on her physical exhaustion and political future compared to Bill Clinton.
