11 chapters across the catalog
Thousands of baptisms in the Phoenix Catholic Diocese were declared invalid because a priest used the phrase "We baptize you" instead of "I baptize you" for decades. The hosts question the semantic rigidity of the ruling and wonder if the story is being used to undermine religious institutions.
Pope Francis signaled he would consider allowing married men to become priests in specific areas facing clergy shortages. Meanwhile, China announced its "Made in China 2025" strategy to become a global manufacturing powerhouse. The hosts sign off from Austin during the South by Southwest festival.
An Anglican priest's report from Aleppo is used to contrast the Western media narrative with the situation on the ground. The priest claims that residents in Western Aleppo were terrorized by rebels, contradicting the UK and U.S. narrative that the Syrian government was the sole aggressor. The hosts discuss the prevalence of "fake news" regarding hospital bombings.
Washington Post Anonymous Sources, CIA Hacking Memo
Two Washington Post reporters defended their use of anonymous sources in reporting that the CIA concluded Russia intervened to help Donald Trump win the election. They explained the "negotiation" process for source identification and the risks sources take regarding security clearances and polygraph tests. Critics argue that if the information were definitive, it would be released officially rather than through unauthorized leaks.
The *Frontline* documentary "Top Secret America," based on the work of Dana Priest, explores the massive expansion of the U.S. secret government post-9/11. The film details the friction between the CIA and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), noting that JSOC often operates with less congressional oversight. Former CIA official Cofer Black is featured, discussing the "gloves coming off" in the war on terror.
Office of Special Plans, Dana Priest and Intelligence Leaks
The Office of Special Plans was a secret unit within the Pentagon created by Donald Rumsfeld to find links between Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda that the CIA could not verify. This intelligence was often leaked to journalists to build the case for the Iraq War. Journalist Dana Priest is credited with exposing many of these "Top Secret America" operations, including secret CIA detention facilities.
Pope Benedict XVI Resignation, Vatican Gay Lobby Rumors
Media reports from La Repubblica and Panorama suggest Pope Benedict XVI resigned due to a dossier detailing a network of gay priests at the Vatican being blackmailed by male prostitutes. The Vatican officially denies these claims, attributing the resignation to the Pope's age and fatigue. The segment explores potential financial improprieties and violations of the 6th and 7th commandments within the church hierarchy.
John C. Dvorak prepares to see the "Spider-Man" musical on Broadway, which is rumored to be a massive financial failure. The hosts run through "magic numbers" in the news, including Vodafone's 33% stake purchase and Google's 33% smartphone market share. They sign off with a reminder to visit the No Agenda News Network.
Intelligence Community Expansion, WikiLeaks Defense
A media segment featuring a military analyst defends the massive expansion of the US intelligence community since 9/11. The analyst argues that duplication of effort is necessary for security and criticizes The Washington Post for exposing the scale of private intelligence contracting. The hosts highlight the speaker's dismissal of the WikiLeaks disclosures.
Washington Post Top Secret America Investigation
A two-year investigation by the Washington Post titled Top Secret America reveals that approximately 850,000 people hold top-secret clearances in the United States. The report details a massive, redundant intelligence bureaucracy that has merged with corporate entities. The hosts discuss the involvement of firms like Google and Facebook with CIA-backed venture capital firm In-Q-Tel.
Dana Priest on the Intelligence Bureaucracy
In a featured interview clip, Washington Post reporter Dana Priest discusses the findings of her "Top Secret America" investigation. She describes a post-9/11 intelligence apparatus that has grown so large and redundant that top officials cannot effectively manage it. Priest highlights the lack of coordination between the 1,200 government organizations and 1,900 private companies involved in national security.
