Topic: Militias

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirms that the U.S. has begun a series of retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria following the deaths of three American service members in Jordan. Sullivan states the strikes are intended to degrade the capabilities of Iranian-backed militia groups and that further actions are planned. The administration is currently assessing casualties and damage while maintaining that they do not seek a wider regional conflict.

Heavy fighting between rival militias in Tripoli has resulted in at least 45 deaths, highlighting the continued instability in Libya since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The hosts discuss reports that small arms from Libyan stockpiles are flooding across Africa. They reference Hillary Clinton's past involvement in the region and the 2012 Benghazi attack as part of the broader "stink" of U.S. intervention.

Military analysts discussed the potential for Ukrainian forces to transition into a bloody guerrilla war if the country is overrun. While President Joe Biden stated that U.S. troops will not engage in direct combat, the use of military "advisors" remains a primary method of support for non-NATO members.

Citizen militias, such as Patriots for America, have resumed patrols along the Texas-Mexico border in response to a surge in migrant crossings. Organizers claim border communities feel disenfranchised and unsafe, leading volunteers to funnel migrants toward law enforcement. The hosts compare this to similar movements during the Obama administration, suggesting the current border situation is a "simulation on repeat."

Robert Morris of Pennsylvania was arrested in connection with the January 6th Capitol riot, with federal agents highlighting his possession of a fully constructed LEGO model of the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors used the LEGO set and a notebook detailing "hometown militia" plans to argue for his pretrial detention. Critics suggest the focus on the LEGO set is an attempt to sensationalize the case against a "Lego nerd."

U.S. Capitol Police increased security measures in Washington D.C. following intelligence reports of a potential plot by unidentified militia groups to breach the building on March 4. NPR and other outlets characterized the threat as stemming from QAnon followers. Skeptics argue the reporting relies on "false belief" labels and serves as a pretext for maintaining a militarized presence at the Capitol.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress, labeling the January 6 Capitol attack an act of domestic terrorism. Wray stated the FBI found no evidence of Antifa involvement, instead attributing the violence to "militia violent extremists." Former CIA Director John Brennan appeared on MSNBC to criticize Republican integrity, while some observers suggest the new terminology is designed to target Second Amendment supporters.

U.S. officials confirmed airstrikes on multiple sites in Syria targeting Iranian-backed militias in response to rocket attacks against American personnel in Iraq. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin monitored the operation, which the administration framed as a defensive measure to protect overseas troops.

The "Not F'ing Around Coalition" (NFAC), an all-Black militia, conducted armed drills at Stone Mountain, Georgia, on July 4th. The group, equipped with AR-15s and military-grade gear, challenged white militias and "Boogaloo Boys" to confront them. Observers express concern that the political climate is intentionally setting up rival armed groups for potential conflict.

In Texas, "traveling economic militias" are reportedly standing guard outside businesses that choose to reopen in defiance of local orders, using their right to open carry as a deterrent. Contrastingly, the hosts point to New Zealand, where a new bill allows police to enter homes without a warrant following the country's recent gun confiscation measures.

Beto O'Rourke argued against the "tyranny check" justification for the Second Amendment, claiming the issue was settled at Appomattox in 1865. O'Rourke referenced the "Trail of Tears" and early American militias to suggest that modern citizens with AR-15s could not effectively oppose a military with a $750 billion budget. Critics describe his historical comparisons as shallow and a misunderstanding of the purpose of civilian firearm ownership.

The World Health Organization reports that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has exceeded 1,500 cases and is accelerating. Efforts to contain the virus are hampered by violent attacks on health facilities and personnel by local militias who believe the disease is a hoax or a Western plot. An epidemiologist was recently killed by a militia shouting that "Ebola doesn't exist."

Adam Curry proposes that white "open carry" advocates should support Black Lives Matter protesters to demonstrate a unified front against tyrannical government. He argues that if the militia movement is truly about protecting all citizens' rights, they should appear at protests in places like Ferguson. This "calm response" from the government toward white protesters should be the standard for all Americans regardless of race.

Former FBI agent Steve Moore appeared on television to discuss the rise of white anti-government militias, comparing them to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Moore characterized militia members as "non-functional" individuals who react to Democratic administrations. He dismissed the Oregon occupiers as delusional, suggesting they are waiting for a revolution that will never materialize.

An armed group occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon to protest the re-sentencing of local ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. The Hammonds were sentenced to five years in prison under 1996 anti-terrorism laws for a controlled burn that spread to federal land. Media coverage is criticized for focusing on "militia" labels rather than the legal specifics of the arson charges.

The hosts review the exact text of the Second Amendment, emphasizing the comma placement and the phrase "shall not be infringed." They argue that the amendment does not "grant" a right but rather forbids the federal government from infringing upon a pre-existing right. They critique a protester's televised comments regarding background checks.

Iraqi forces and Shiite militias engage in a major offensive to retake Tikrit from Islamic State fighters. Reports indicate that Saddam Hussein's lavish tomb has been reduced to concrete rubble during the fighting. The hosts discuss the term "rubblization" as a deliberate military strategy to bomb regions back to the "Stone Age," noting the prevalence of such imagery in modern war reporting.

The hosts clarify the origin of the "double nickels on the dime" ($55.10) donation amount, attributing it to Sir Tom the Minute Man. They also address why they discontinued the "Minuteman" title to avoid being mistaken for a real-world militia.

The establishment of an ISIS nation-state is ironically viewed as a way to make the group a target for conventional warfare, moving away from asymmetrical terrorism. General David Petraeus recently commented that the US should not act as an "air force for Shia militias." Petraeus's public image and "over-decorated" military uniform are criticized as lacking "presidential timber."

Reports from Simferopol, Crimea, indicate that the airport is being guarded by a local "People's Militia" rather than an invading Russian army. These volunteers claim they are there to prevent "radicals" and "fascists" from Kiev from entering the region. This on-the-ground reality is contrasted with Western media reports of "attack helicopters" and "armed insurrections" which the hosts label as bogus.