Topic: Polygraph

The Washington Post reports on a draft memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg outlining plans for widespread random polygraph testing and mandatory non-disclosure agreements for over 5,000 personnel. These measures aim to staunch leaks within the Office of the Defense Secretary and the Joint Staff.

Senator Dick Durbin grills FBI Director Kash Patel over reports that dozens of FBI officials were subjected to polygraph exams to test their loyalty to the director. Patel defends the use of polygraphs as a standard tool for investigating unauthorized disclosures and media leaks. He declines to discuss specific personnel matters or disqualifying alerts on the seventh floor of the Bureau.

John C. Dvorak shares a personal anecdote about participating in a paid psychological study at UC Berkeley involving polygraph machines and graphic films. He describes being wired up to monitor his reactions to "Signal 30" and other gruesome safety films used in driver's education and shop classes. Dvorak notes that his results were deemed unusable because his high level of anticipation skewed the baseline data.

ABC News reporter Pierre Thomas reveals that the FBI is conducting polygraph tests on its workforce, allegedly asking employees if they have spoken negatively about Director Kash Patel. These "loyalty tests" aim to identify "deep state" actors with political motivations against President Trump, drawing comparisons to the Pete Strzok investigation.

Analysis of Christine Blasey Ford's testimony focuses on her use of "vocal fry" and the validity of her polygraph test, which some suggest was easily defeatable. The discussion shifts to Brett Kavanaugh's high school yearbook references, specifically the term "boofing." While Kavanaugh claimed it referred to flatulence, research into the Urban Dictionary suggests it refers to the consumption of alcohol via the rectum to avoid detection on the breath.

The FBI's seventh background investigation into Brett Kavanaugh is described as an investigative tool rather than a criminal inquiry, meaning polygraph results will not be used as formal evidence. Attorney Deborah Katz, representing Dr. Ford, pushes for an investigation with no artificial limits on time or scope, opposing the one-week deadline. This procedural delay is viewed as a strategy to influence the upcoming midterm elections while deepening national divisions.

Representative Raul Labrador questioned Peter Strzok about a 2016 polygraph examination that was found to be "out of scope." The hosts explain that being out of scope can mean a polygraph was "fishy" or that a five-year validity window had expired. They suggest that Strzok's security clearance for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) should have been revoked during this period.

Representative Doug Collins challenged Peter Strzok on why he maintained access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) despite an out-of-scope polygraph. Collins cited Department of Justice procedures requiring individuals to be "read out" of SCI access following polygraph issues. The hosts speculate that the "fishy" polygraph results were related to Strzok's undisclosed affair or potential "scheming."

The ongoing issue of "deep state" leaks has prompted calls for the FBI to prioritize identifying leakers within the national security apparatus. Suggestions include polygraphing former officials who retain their security clearances and challenging the protections journalists use to shield sources when national security is at risk.

John C. Dvorak describes participating in a psychological study at the University of California involving a lie detector. He recounts being shown gruesome films, including one of a tribal circumcision involving rocks, to measure his physiological response. He explains how anticipation of the scenes caused the polygraph needles to "pin," suggesting that the tests are effective at measuring stress but can be manipulated.

CNN's Jake Tapper reports on an "unprecedented" CIA effort to prevent leaks regarding the Benghazi attack, including monthly polygraph tests for operatives. The hosts speculate that Tapper was "read in" on the story by the agency to manage the narrative. They discuss the intense pressure and intimidation tactics allegedly used against whistleblowers within the agency.

Title 5 of the Intelligence Authorization Act is identified as aggressive anti-whistleblower legislation that criminalizes the disclosure of classified information to media personnel. The act includes provisions for expanded polygraph testing for government employees and contractors to prevent leaks, which the hosts argue targets transparency.

An anecdote describes participating in a psychological study at the University of California involving a lie detector. The subject's physiological responses were triggered by the mere anticipation of gruesome films, causing the polygraph needles to spike before the movies even began. The experience is used to illustrate the limitations and potential for manipulation of lie detector tests.