Topic: Prophets

The "Team DeLulu" phenomenon involves online influencers and "prophets" who convinced followers of alternative election outcomes, leading to severe mental health crises. Reports indicate some individuals planned suicides after Donald Trump's victory or failure of specific prophecies. This extremist devotion mirrors previous movements like QAnon, creating significant emotional distress for invested believers.

The Department of Defense recently awarded massive contracts, including a $651 million deal to BAE Systems for engineering services and a $481 million deal to General Dynamics for the "Prophet" detecting system. The hosts highlight that many of these billion-dollar contracts receive only a single bid, suggesting a lack of competition in military procurement.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) upheld a conviction against an Austrian woman for disparaging the Prophet Muhammad. The court ruled that her right to freedom of expression was secondary to the right of others to have their religious feelings protected. This decision highlights Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which allows for restrictions on speech in the interest of "morals" and "public safety."

A brief comparison is made between the eccentric dressers seen in British politics and David Shing, known as "Shingy," the former digital prophet for AOL. The discussion highlights the trend of over-the-top fashion in corporate and political branding.

President Obama made his first visit to a U.S. mosque in Baltimore, where he spoke against the "radical Islamic terrorist" label and emphasized that ISIL does not represent Islam. Obama quoted a teaching he attributed to the Prophet Muhammad regarding the Golden Rule. The hosts question the authenticity of the quote and analyze Obama's "tell" when he is allegedly being untruthful.

John C. Dvorak and Adam Curry open the show discussing the media's repetitive use of the title "The Prophet Muhammad" and joke about adopting similar formal monikers for themselves. They briefly mention the upcoming podcast awards, noting their historical lack of success in winning them compared to unlikely events like winning Miss USA.

The discussion centers on the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris and emerging conspiracy theories suggesting Mossad involvement. Observations are made regarding inconsistencies in video footage, such as a shooter losing a shoe and the lack of police presence. The narrative explores the "modernity" meme as a code for religious tensions and questions the attackers' motives given that religious materials were left untouched.

Detailed information from military and intelligence producers describes the use of "dirt boxes" (DRT) and "Stingray" devices for scooping up cell phone data from planes and vehicles. A former military member explains "The Prophet," a SIGINT system used in Afghanistan and Iraq for radio intercept and direction finding. The hosts discuss how these systems collect massive amounts of data, making them more useful for blackmail and "fact research" than immediate tactical action.

The hosts analyze the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, questioning the official narrative while discussing the cultural impact of the "Je suis Charlie" slogan. A proposal is made for social media users to change their icons to depictions of the Prophet Muhammad as a stand for free speech. The discussion touches on the methodical nature of the attackers and the high profile of the French cartoonists targeted.

A discussion on media self-censorship cites the 1976 film "The Prophet" and the firing of Juan Williams as examples of the industry's tendency to avoid controversial topics. While New York Times editors publicly deny the practice, reporters privately admit to censoring their own work to align with corporate interests. An anecdote from MTV illustrates how talent is pressured to avoid criticizing major stars like Madonna.

Reports from the Nairobi mall attack indicate that Al-Shabaab militants spared Muslims while targeting non-Muslims. Gunmen reportedly interrogated shoppers on Islamic trivia, specifically asking for the name of the Prophet Muhammad's mother. Those who could not answer "Amina" were reportedly executed, a tactic compared to World War II identity checks.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is calling for international laws to ban "hate speech" and blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad following the "Innocence of Muslims" film controversy. The hosts discuss how Western leaders like President Obama and Hillary Clinton are increasingly entertaining these restrictions on free speech. They also note the irony of the OIC's "religious tolerance" map, which explicitly blocks India from membership.

The use of the title "The Prophet" before Muhammad's name in government and media speech is questioned. An anecdote is shared about MTV being contractually obligated to refer to Michael Jackson as "The King of Pop" in all broadcasts.

Violent protests erupt in Peshawar, Pakistan, leading to the burning of movie theaters in response to an online video mocking the Prophet Muhammad. The U.S. State Department spends $70,000 on Urdu-language television advertisements to distance the government from the film. The hosts argue that the true source of Pakistani anger is ongoing U.S. drone strikes rather than the video itself.

The film "Innocence of Muslims," originally titled "Desert Warrior," is a low-budget production featuring amateur acting and obvious green-screen effects. Analysis of the footage reveals that inflammatory dialogue regarding the Prophet Muhammad was overdubbed using automated dialogue replacement (ADR) long after the original filming. The technical quality suggests the project was repurposed by amateur agitators rather than professional intelligence agencies.

Professor Cornel West appears on PBS to discuss the meaning of success, criticizing the modern focus on material wealth and power. He argues that true greatness comes from service to others and the "prophetic tradition." The hosts mock his delivery and use the clip to launch a joke about being "old school."