Topic: Pentagon Papers

Tributes are paid to Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who leaked the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War. The hosts discuss Ellsberg's legacy in contrast to modern whistleblowers like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, noting the shifting media attitudes toward government leaks.

A review of 1970s headlines reveals striking similarities to modern news cycles, including military conflicts in Southeast Asia, high oil prices, and early instances of gender-reassignment surgery in professional sports. The hosts note the parallels between the 1972 Renee Richards tennis controversy and current debates surrounding transgender athletes. The segment concludes with a look at the economic troubles and energy crises that defined the late 70s.

The rapid collapse of the Afghan government is linked to long-standing corruption detailed in the "Afghanistan Papers." General Michael Flynn is identified as the only high-ranking official who previously blew the whistle on the war being a financial farce, which critics claim led to his subsequent legal targeting by the intelligence community.

NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake's advice to "never speak to the FBI" is revisited in light of the Flynn case. Drake, who was charged with making false statements despite telling the truth, warns that the bureau will use any statement to justify framed charges. This segment emphasizes the danger of "naive" cooperation with federal agents, even for high-ranking officials.

The "Afghanistan Papers," a collection of secret documents obtained by *The Washington Post's* Craig Whitlock, reveal that U.S. officials consistently misled the public about the war's progress. For 19 years, generals claimed to be "turning the corner" while privately admitting the mission was failing. The war has cost $2 trillion and thousands of American lives.

Secret recordings of General Michael Flynn and other military leaders show they were highly critical of the Afghanistan war strategy in private. These debriefings are compared to the Pentagon Papers from the Vietnam era, exposing a massive disconnect between official narratives and reality. The hosts suggest Flynn's outspokenness on these failures may have contributed to his legal troubles.

Speculation regarding a list of journalists on the CIA or FBI payroll suggests that media agendas are set by intelligence agencies. Historical parallels are drawn to the release of the Pentagon Papers, noting that The New York Times was the primary driver of the story despite the film "The Post" focusing on The Washington Post. Journalists like Richard Engel are criticized for opposing the release of the Senate Torture Report, allegedly to protect CIA credibility.

A documentary featuring Daniel Ellsberg outlines how five successive presidential administrations—from Truman to Nixon—lied to the American public about the Vietnam War. The discussion covers the Tonkin Gulf incident and the true economic motivations for the conflict, such as tungsten and oil. The hosts draw parallels between these historical lies and modern justifications for military involvement in the Middle East and Africa.

The hosts discuss Perry Fellwock (alias Winslow Peck), the original NSA whistleblower who exposed the agency's activities in Ramparts Magazine in 1972. Fellwock revealed the existence of Echelon and the NSA's massive budget compared to the CIA. The discussion links these early revelations to the Church Committee and the subsequent tightening of congressional oversight.

Glenn Greenwald argues that the possession of classified information is a fundamental component of investigative journalism, citing historical examples like the Pentagon Papers and reports on CIA black sites. The discussion explores the implications of the proposed Media Shield Law, which would legally define who qualifies as a journalist and who receives protection. Greenwald asserts that criminalizing the handling of leaked documents effectively demands that citizens remain ignorant of government actions.

The hosts discuss Senator Mike Gravel's precedent of reading the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record. They argue that Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall, who have hinted at NSA abuses, could use their constitutional immunity to reveal classified secrets on the Senate floor but have lacked the courage to do so, leaving the task to Edward Snowden.

Bradley Manning was found guilty of "wanton publication," a charge never before used in a military court-martial. This charge is viewed as a "chill" against anyone in the national security arena who wishes to publish data on the internet. It is also noted that the judge in the Manning case received a promotion during the trial, a move compared to the government's tactics during the Pentagon Papers case.

The history of the Pentagon Papers is reviewed, detailing how Daniel Ellsberg leaked 42 volumes of Vietnam War history to the New York Times. The discussion focuses on the Nixon administration's attempt to use "prior restraint" to stop publication and the subsequent Supreme Court ruling that protected the First Amendment. This historical context is used to frame current legal pressures on journalists.

The discussion turns to the massive release of 400,000 Iraq War documents by WikiLeaks. Daniel Ellsberg, famous for the Pentagon Papers, appeared at a London press conference to support Julian Assange. The hosts argue that while the documents confirm government lies and torture, the public reaction has been manipulated to focus on treason rather than the content of the leaks.