7 chapters across the catalog
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open episode 1439 of No Agenda from the Texas Hill Country and Northern Silicon Valley. The hosts discuss their first significant break in nearly two years, noting the timing relative to global events like the war in Ukraine and potential food shortages. Dvorak mentions his birthday week while Curry jokes about Dvorak being in the Seychelles.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating a meeting in the Seychelles involving Blackwater founder Erik Prince and a Russian banker. While Prince testified the encounter was a coincidence, evidence from witness George Nader suggests the meeting was pre-arranged to establish a back-channel between the Trump transition team and the Kremlin. Prince continues to deny these allegations, calling them "hogwash."
Operation Mockingbird, Mueller Investigation Back Channels
Former Congressman Thaddeus McCotter referenced Operation Mockingbird, an actual CIA program designed to infiltrate and influence the domestic media. Meanwhile, the Mueller investigation is reportedly scrutinizing a meeting in the Seychelles involving Erik Prince and Russian officials. Critics argue the search for a "back channel" contradicts the primary narrative that Trump was directly cultivated by Putin, calling the investigation's premise preposterous.
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, addresses allegations regarding a back-channel meeting in the Seychelles and discusses the "Safari Club," a 1970s-era rogue CIA operation. Prince argues that the U.S. and Russia share a common interest in fighting Islamic terrorism. He criticizes the American left for shifting from Soviet sympathizers to modern Russia hawks based on political convenience.
A taxi driver from Djibouti discusses US drone operations in Yemen and the impact of the Chinese presence in East Africa. The conversation shifts to the Seychelles, where claims are made regarding the theft of regional fish stocks and the environmental impact of selling island sand.
European Banks and the National Register of Shell Companies
German Justice Minister Heiko Maas announced plans for a national register to force shell companies to reveal their owners. The Panama Papers reveal that over 500 banks, including HSBC and Deutsche Bank, helped clients set up offshore accounts in jurisdictions like the British Virgin Islands and the Seychelles.
African Drone Bases, Seychelles and Ethiopia
The US military is expanding its drone program across Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with new bases established in the Seychelles and Saudi Arabia. A primary base in Ethiopia is being used to target the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab. Officials state that the Seychelles base was a temporary measure while the Ethiopian site was being arranged, effectively covering the entire Horn of Africa.
