Topic: Rob Portman

Major General William Walker testified that the Pentagon imposed unusual restrictions on the DC National Guard the day before the January 6 riot. Walker claimed he was required to seek high-level approval for even minor troop movements, resulting in a three-hour delay in responding to calls for help from Capitol Police Chief Stephen Sund. Critics suggest the procedural changes indicate the event was a managed "scam" to facilitate political outcomes.

The House of Representatives passed legislation targeting online sex trafficking, specifically aimed at the website Backpage. This move threatens the liability protections of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Senator Rob Portman argues the internet has made trafficking "ruthlessly efficient," while tech advocates warn that eroding these protections could destroy platforms like YouTube and Yelp. The hosts view this as the beginning of the end for the open internet.

During a Senate hearing, prosecutors from Sacramento explain how Section 230 immunity led a judge to drop pimping and sex trafficking charges against Backpage.com. They argue that without SESTA, law enforcement lacks the tools to prosecute sites that knowingly facilitate human exploitation. The current legal battle is limited to conspiracy and money laundering charges.

Senator Rob Portman grilled the CEO of Backpage over the site's practice of stripping "code words" from advertisements, arguing this constitutes editorializing. This legal battle over Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has significant implications for the liability of all internet platforms regarding user-generated content.

The hosts break down the "Bipartisan Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act" embedded in the 2017 NDAA. The bill establishes a Global Engagement Center to synchronize government efforts to counter foreign influence and provides grants to NGOs and private media organizations to "expose" disinformation.