Topic: Military Policing

A satirical quiz from Reason TV highlights the linguistic gymnastics used by the U.S. government to avoid the word "war." Terms like "kinetic action," "police action," and "preauthorized defense stabilization initiative" are used to describe conflicts in Vietnam, Libya, and Afghanistan.

A Black Lives Matter activist at a town hall argued that police killed many victims at the Pulse nightclub during the crossfire and called for the disarming and demilitarization of law enforcement. The hosts discuss the proliferation of military-grade equipment in small-town police departments, citing a recent manhunt in Calistoga as an example of excessive force and "overkill" in local policing.

The hosts criticize the media's new practice of broadcasting live, unencrypted police scanner audio during active manhunts. They note discrepancies between scanner reports of IEDs and what was shown on CNN. Additionally, they highlight a news clip where a reporter accidentally refers to police officers as "soldiers" before correcting himself, pointing to the increasing militarization of domestic law enforcement.

CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin issues a televised apology after suggesting that military veterans returning from war were contributing to police violence in Baltimore. The hosts speculate that Baldwin was forced by network executives to retract her statement and discuss the broader issue of police militarization.

A massive manhunt is underway in Pennsylvania for Eric Frein, a 31-year-old suspect accused of killing a state trooper. Authorities describe Frein as a survivalist and military reenactor who may believe he is a soldier in active combat. The media coverage is criticized for using "fear porn" tactics, such as closing schools and using military terminology like "police barracks" to describe the situation.

Mainstream media reports claim the Assad regime has used nerve gas against rebels, supported by "shaky cam" YouTube videos. The hosts express skepticism regarding the authenticity of these videos and the high-profile defection of the Syrian military police chief, which was also announced via social media.

Heavily armored military vehicles from Fort Meade, Maryland, were spotted in North St. Louis as part of a training mission for the 354th Military Police Company. Residents were warned to stay away from the 32,000-pound vehicles, which were used for urban driving drills. The secrecy surrounding the vehicles' overnight parking locations sparked local rumors of martial law.

The investigation into the American Police Force (APF) and its leader, Michael Hilton, reveals a history of criminal felonies and aliases. Hilton, who attempted to take over a prison in Hardin, Montana, is linked to Serbian paramilitary symbols and is described as a "warlord" from the former Yugoslavia. The hosts express alarm at how a convicted con man could lead a private military organization.

Police use of Tasers is under scrutiny for being applied excessively, including against elderly citizens and non-violent suspects. Simultaneously, the high rate of suicides among U.S. military personnel—reportedly 40 per month—has raised questions about whether these deaths are related to experimental treatments or the silencing of potential whistleblowers within private military firms like Blackwater.

Reports from the Army Times suggest that military police may assist civilian authorities at DUI checkpoints in California for training purposes. This development is viewed as a potential violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of federal military personnel to enforce domestic policies. The role of the Northern Command in domestic operations is identified as a precursor to potential martial law.

Dvorak and Curry discuss the United States' transition into a global "police state" following World War II. They note that the U.S. maintains military bases in over 200 locations, including Germany, which they argue is a mechanism for moving money rather than a modern security necessity. Curry laments the loss of American isolationism and expresses frustration that the country seems trapped in a predictable cycle of interventionism and economic reset.