Topic: Posse Comitatus

The hosts analyze DOD Directive 5240.01, an updated legal document regarding military assistance to civilian law enforcement. While social media rumors suggested the directive allows the military to kill American citizens, the hosts clarify that it primarily broadens authority for domestic surveillance and drone use, rather than authorizing lethal force against protesters.

Retired General Hertling suggests a "renewed look" at Posse Comitatus in response to social media-inspired terrorism. Other news items include the decision not to charge a Madison police officer in a fatal shooting and the "snub" of President Obama's Arab summit by several Middle Eastern leaders wary of the Iran nuclear deal.

The Department of Defense is forming a 30-person rapid response medical team to assist civilian authorities with Ebola cases in the United States. Rear Admiral John Kirby explains the team will train in Texas before being placed on "prepare-to-deploy" status. The hosts question the legality of using military troops on domestic streets and the potential erosion of Posse Comitatus.

A subtle change in the US Code regarding "Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies" is discussed. This change reportedly allows federal military commanders to police American streets during "extraordinary emergency circumstances" without prior presidential or state consent. The response to the Boston Marathon bombing is cited as a litmus test for this new authority, effectively bypassing the Posse Comitatus Act.

Legal analysts and government officials debated the President's authority to authorize military force within the United States, citing historical precedents like Pearl Harbor and 9/11. The discussion highlights the Posse Comitatus Act and the constitutional distinction between the National Guard and active-duty military branches. Concerns are raised that the executive branch is attempting to redefine the legal structure of domestic security.

Officials in New Orleans are calling for the National Guard to patrol city streets to combat violent crime, describing the situation as a "war." The hosts argue this is a dangerous step toward the militarization of domestic policing and a violation of the spirit of the Posse Comitatus Act. They express concern that the public is being conditioned to feel "comfortable" with troops on the street.

Senate Bill 1867, sponsored by Senators John McCain and Carl Levin, contains provisions allowing the military to detain American citizens suspected of supporting Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. The legislation potentially bypasses the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which historically prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. A military judge would determine the status of individuals as "unprivileged enemy belligerents" without traditional Miranda rights.

The hosts critique a 60 Minutes segment on "Sovereign Citizens," featuring expert J.J. McNab. The report links the movement to the Posse Comitatus, Terry Nichols, and Wesley Snipes. The hosts argue that the media is attempting to demonize the concept of individual sovereignty and link it to domestic terrorism and tax evasion.

The season finale of the TV show "The Event" is analyzed for its portrayal of the President overriding the Posse Comitatus Act to deploy Marines domestically. The hosts argue that such shows, including "24," serve as modern brainwashing to make the public comfortable with unconstitutional military actions. They note that political figures like Rush Limbaugh have historically promoted these narratives.

The U.S. and Canada have signed an agreement allowing troops to cross the border during emergencies. The hosts suggest this is a way to bypass Posse Comitatus laws. They also describe a "kosher" intelligence loophole where the CIA and MI6 spy on each other's citizens to circumvent domestic privacy laws.

The Obama administration announced that the Pentagon will assist the Department of Homeland Security in defending against domestic cyber attacks. The hosts argue this move bypasses Posse Comitatus restrictions and represents a first step toward deploying military resources for domestic law enforcement under the guise of "cyber warfare."

A discussion regarding "Operation Garden Plot," a military contingency plan for suppressing domestic insurrections and civil disturbances in the United States. Claims are made that NORTHCOM and the Department of Homeland Security are preparing for unrest within the next 60 days, potentially involving the use of federal troops against American civilians.

Following a mass shooting in Alabama where the gunman killed himself, reports surfaced of U.S. military troops appearing on local streets, raising constitutional concerns. Separately, the Space Shuttle launch was delayed again, officially due to a hydrogen leak, though the hosts suggest orbital debris from a "space war" is the true cause. A school shooting in Germany is also briefly noted as part of a week of high-profile violence.

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.