Topic: Passport

The U.S. State Department is releasing a limited edition passport featuring President Trump's image and signature to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Only 50,000 copies will be produced, making it a highly anticipated collectible. The segment also discusses the modernization of the passport renewal process, which now allows citizens to submit their own digital photos online.

The European Union has launched the Entry-Exit System (EES), a digital scheme requiring non-EU citizens to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics. The data will be stored in a cloud database for three years to track the 90-day stay limit. Implementation began at major airports in Italy and Germany, with provisions to suspend the system if wait times become excessive.

The hosts open the program by acknowledging the sudden death of Todd Cochrane, an early podcasting pioneer and founder of Blubrry, who passed away at age 61 from a heart attack. The conversation transitions to the anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Reference is made to the discovery of a hijacker's passport following the 2001 plane crashes.

Maria Bartiromo and Senator Ron Johnson discuss the FDA's updated stance on Ivermectin, which now acknowledges the drug's use for COVID-19. The hosts note that acknowledging effective treatments earlier would have legally prevented the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for vaccines. The segment concludes with a final reminder of the September 11th anniversary and the "found passport" narrative.

A new executive order mandating that the federal government recognize only male and female sexes has impacted passport applications for transgender and intersex individuals. Some applicants report that their gender markers were not updated despite court orders, while others have had their applications suspended indefinitely. The ACLU has filed a lawsuit challenging the State Department's policy, which critics label an "informal travel ban" for non-binary citizens.

A new executive order mandates that the federal government will only recognize two genders, male and female, based on biological sex at conception. This policy shift affects government documents, including passports and IDs, potentially reversing recent allowances for non-binary or "X" gender markers. Critics argue this move targets the LGBTQ community, while proponents view it as a return to biological standards.

A special "Best of No Agenda" episode produced by Strokey Bill will document the history of COVID-19 "gaslighting" and government mandates. The retrospective features clips of officials like Bill de Blasio promoting vaccines with fast food and the eventual push for vaccine passports.

Over 100,000 people protested across France against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to mandate vaccine certificates for entry to bars, restaurants, and theaters. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds in Paris, where protesters compared the measures to an infringement on freedom. The hosts highlight the lack of major US media coverage regarding the scale of the French resistance.

On the "Pivot" podcast, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discussed vaccine hesitancy, with Galloway suggesting it might be a form of "natural selection" for "low IQ" individuals. They praised Macron's vaccine passport mandate for driving a million new sign-ups in France. The hosts critique the "liberal intellectual elite" for their disdain toward rural Americans and their support for coercive mandates.

Concerns are raised regarding the potential for CCP operatives to exploit porous US borders for infiltration. Miles Yu highlighted a policy flaw where the US government issues passports to naturalized citizens without requiring them to renounce or surrender their Chinese passports, allowing for dual-travel capabilities.

The travel experience continues with a Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam, highlighting a biometric boarding process. The system identified the passenger by name and face without requiring a physical passport or ticket scan at the gate. Speculation follows regarding how San Antonio TSA data integrates with airline systems to facilitate seamless facial recognition across different airports.

Birthday greetings are extended to several listeners, and a success story regarding "Passport Karma" is shared. Listeners are encouraged to attend "No Agenda" meetups in locations such as Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Raleigh, North Carolina, to find community and avoid the pitfalls of AI companionship.

Significant delays in U.S. passport renewals are highlighted, with many travelers facing uncertainty just weeks before their trips. The State Department's automated systems are reportedly overwhelmed, leading some to seek help from congressional representatives or specialized lawyers. This backlog is described as a widespread issue affecting international travel plans for many citizens.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews announces that unvaccinated citizens will be excluded from public venues well into 2022, including major events like the Grand Prix. He warns that there is no "waiting out" the government's mandate. The hosts discuss the underground resistance in Australia and the use of fake QR codes.

Over 155,000 federal workers in Canada have gone on strike, causing major disruptions to government services including tax processing and immigration. Simultaneously, the U.S. State Department is facing a massive backlog of passport applications, with wait times reaching 13 weeks. The hosts speculate that these delays may be a deliberate attempt to restrict international travel.

German investigators identified a yacht, reportedly named the Andromeda, which was rented by a Polish-based company owned by two Ukrainians to facilitate the Nord Stream attack. The team allegedly consisted of six individuals, including two divers and a female medic, who used professionally forged passports to depart from Rostock. Forensic teams reportedly found traces of explosives on a table inside the vessel in January 2023, though skeptics question the convenience of such evidence being left behind by professionals.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced permanent protections against "coercive biomedical policies," including bans on vaccine passports and mask mandates. DeSantis criticized the "biomedical security state" and the marginalization of those who declined COVID-19 injections. The hosts analyze the growing political rift between DeSantis and Donald Trump, who continues to defend the "Operation Warp Speed" vaccine rollout.

Paul Whelan remains in Russian custody on espionage charges after being excluded from the Brittney Griner prisoner swap. The hosts examine Whelan's background, including his bad conduct discharge from the Marines and his possession of four passports (US, Canada, UK, Ireland). His twin brother, David Whelan, is noted for his calm, geopolitical tone during media interviews, leading to speculation about their potential ties to intelligence agencies.

The G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration included a proposal for a global digital health certificate standard acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO). Indonesia's health minister stated that these certificates, verifying vaccination or testing status, would facilitate the movement of people and goods during future pandemics. The initiative aims to revise international health regulations to ensure global interoperability of digital health IDs.

Speculation arises that COVID-19 vaccinations will become a permanent annual or even quarterly requirement, mirroring the business cycles of pharmaceutical companies. Germany's new vaccine passport system, which requires a booster every three months to maintain "up-to-date" status, is cited as a precursor to this global trend.