Topic: Romney

Historical clips from 2012 detail the Obama administration's "kill list" and the tactical involvement of the President in drone strike decisions. The report explains the existence of two separate lists managed by the military and the CIA, often involving classified legal justifications. Mitt Romney is heard supporting the increased usage of drone technology during his 2012 campaign.

Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham's appearance at the DNC is discussed. Grisham cited January 6 as her reason for leaving the administration. Dvorak notes that Grisham originally came from Mitt Romney's political circle, characterizing her as a "classic Trump hire" error involving a "Romneyite."

The Red Book records a prediction of a massive oil strike in or around Cyprus. Political forecasting for the 2012 election suggests Mitt Romney will lead the Republican ticket with Rick Perry as the vice-presidential candidate to provide an evangelical balance to Romney's Mormonism.

The hosts discuss reports of Russia planning a manned moon base, which they claim confirms their long-standing "moon base" theory. They also suggest that news stories about the "dark side of the moon" are actually viral marketing for the film *Iron Sky*, which features Nazis living on the moon.

A prediction is made that if Mitt Romney fails to win Michigan, the GOP will turn to Jeb Bush. In international news, tensions over the Leviathan gas field involving Israel, Cyprus, and Turkey are predicted to lead to a military confrontation between Russia and Turkey, which will ultimately de-escalate the Syrian conflict.

A Red Book prediction states that the 2012 election will be the most expensive in U.S. history but will result in the lowest voter turnout due to public apathy. One host makes a grim prediction of an attempt on President Obama's life within four weeks, while another predicts an Obama victory.

The hosts debate the future of internet governance and the potential for international regulatory regimes to "break the internet." They conclude by sticking to their prediction that Barack Obama will be re-elected in 2012, asserting that the same interests control both political parties.

Dvorak explains that the physical Red Books were trade show premiums from a company called Memjet. A new, "dangerous" prediction is entered: a "lone wolf" Ron Paul supporter, angry over the Romney endorsement and domestic drone use, will cause a disturbance.

Mitt Romney is criticized for being the only Republican seen standing and clapping with Democrats during the State of the Union. This leads into a personal anecdote about a trip to Croatia to write for "Bug" magazine, involving a meal of illegal, mud-tasting mussels in Dubrovnik. The story illustrates the "scofflaw" nature of local culture in the post-communist era.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against his own border bill in a tactical move to preserve the ability to reconsider the vote later. The final tally was 50-49, with several Republicans like Mitt Romney and Susan Collins voting in favor, while Schumer directed specific Democrats like Elizabeth Warren and Alex Padilla to vote no. This maneuver allowed the administration to maintain a campaign talking point against Donald Trump.

Senator Mitt Romney announced he will not seek re-election, calling for a new generation of leaders. The discussion links Romney, John Kerry, and Nancy Pelosi to past interests in Ukraine, suggesting that many elite political families are financially entwined with the region.

The discussion shifts to the leadership of the Republican National Committee under Ronna McDaniel and her connection to the Romney family. The hosts analyze Republican failures in the midterms, including poor redistricting strategies and the funding of "weak" candidates by Democrats. They note the absence of Kellyanne Conway from major television coverage.

The hosts analyze the confirmation hearings of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, focusing on Senator Marsha Blackburn's questions about gender and sentencing for sex offenders. They suggest the "groomer" label is a new Republican strategy mirroring the "Pizzagate" playbook of 2016. They note that no senators asked Jackson about her role in the Comet Ping Pong shooting case.

Following the acquittal of President Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial, political analysts discuss the impact on the 2020 election and Mitt Romney's vote. In a separate development, Senator Tom Cotton suggested the virus originated from a Chinese biological warfare program. Chinese officials dismissed these claims as dangerous rumors intended to stir xenophobia.

Senator Mitt Romney discusses the potential for Vladimir Putin to use tactical nuclear weapons and addresses rumors regarding Putin's mental health and isolation. Romney expresses support for a humanitarian no-fly zone but warns against direct conflict with Russian forces. The segment also mentions the business ties of Romney's family and Hunter Biden in Ukraine.

The Senate confirmed Robert Califf as FDA Commissioner with support from five Republicans, despite his past financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry. The hosts criticize tech journalist Kara Swisher for interviewing an author about the Sackler family's opioid corruption without acknowledging similar patterns in current pharmaceutical mandates.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress, labeling the January 6 Capitol attack an act of domestic terrorism. Wray stated the FBI found no evidence of Antifa involvement, instead attributing the violence to "militia violent extremists." Former CIA Director John Brennan appeared on MSNBC to criticize Republican integrity, while some observers suggest the new terminology is designed to target Second Amendment supporters.

The Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) meeting is discussed, focusing on Donald Trump's role as the keynote speaker. The conversation reflects on the history of the event, including the era of Ron Paul and the Tea Party's influence on the Republican mainstream.

The Lincoln Project is facing internal collapse following financial scandals and harassment allegations against its founders. Dr. Steve Pichenik appeared on InfoWars to claim a "military coup" is still in effect and that the 2020 election was a sting operation involving marked ballots. These claims are presented as part of the broader information landscape regarding political instability.

A personal anecdote describes a wager regarding the likelihood of the Senate convicting Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. The discussion highlights the political difficulty of securing the 17 Republican votes necessary for conviction, identifying Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and Lisa Murkowski as the most likely defectors. The conversation transitions into a critique of how both political sides use the language of "deprogramming" against their opponents.