Topic: Silencer

The hosts explore why the term "kiddo" feels unsettling to them, linking it to its use by villains in horror and suspense films like *The Texas Chainsaw Massacre* and *Silence of the Lambs*. They debate whether millennials use the term because of these cinematic influences or if it is simply a linguistic trend they find irritating.

New York Times columnist David Brooks predicted that the war in Ukraine will likely stretch for another year before reaching a conclusion. Meanwhile, at the UN Security Council, a moment of silence for Ukrainian victims was interrupted by the Russian representative, who insisted on honoring all lives lost in the conflict. In Berlin, a protest involving a destroyed Russian tank backfired when citizens began covering the vehicle in flowers as a gesture of peace.

An article in The Atlantic by Derek Thompson suggests that silence is a key behavioral tactic to reduce COVID-19 transmission. The piece cites Professor Jose Jimenez from the University of Colorado, arguing that talking less loudly in public spaces could lower the risk of spreading the virus. This "mask up and shut up" narrative is characterized as an extreme form of social control.

The hosts play a detailed account from Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer who alleges Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993. They discuss the specific details of her claim and criticize the mainstream media for its relative silence on the allegation compared to past accusations against Republican figures.

Time Magazine named "The Silence Breakers"—individuals who spoke out against sexual harassment—as the 2017 Person of the Year. The shortlist included Chinese President Xi Jinping and runner-up Donald Trump. The inclusion of Taylor Swift on the cover sparked debate, as some questioned her role in the broader movement compared to activists like Rose McGowan.

The Hearing Protection Act aims to legalize gun suppressors by reclassifying them as health tools to prevent tinnitus. The hosts deconstruct a news report attempting to demonstrate suppressor noise levels, concluding that the audio was poorly produced or manipulated to make the suppressed shots sound louder than they are.

The hosts discuss the technical philosophy of using fast-acting noise gates to create "digital silence" when neither host is speaking. Curry explains how he helped fellow podcaster Andrew Horowitz set up a similar system for the DH Unplugged show. Dvorak compares the "dead" audio sound to the "Abyss" visual style used by Charlie Rose, which utilizes black velvet to create a void-like background.

The conversation shifts to vintage documentaries, specifically the "Conspiracy of Silence" regarding Boys Town and similar allegations in Kern County. This transitions into a detailed look at the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners (APRCO). The hosts explore the luxury of chartering private Pullman cars, which can be attached to passenger trains and feature executive chefs and mahogany interiors.

Detailed analysis is provided regarding the January 29, 2015, incident where Tarik Z. entered the NOS studios in Hilversum with a fake silenced pistol. The intruder handed a letter to a receptionist claiming to represent a hacker collective and threatening radioactive explosions across the Netherlands. Security failures are highlighted, including the gunman being led to Studio 10 instead of the live Studio 8, and the eventual televised police takedown which some observers characterized as looking staged or poorly acted.

The "Blue Code of Silence" refers to an unwritten rule among police officers to protect colleagues from reports of misconduct. This concept is linked to the name of Blue Coat Systems, which produces web proxy software. The discussion shifts to the power of media messaging and the importance of "reasonable deconstruction" to avoid being swayed by government propaganda.

A discussion explores the possibility that the helicopter crash in Afghanistan was a deliberate act to silence members of Seal Team 6. The theory posits that the official bin Laden raid narrative required the removal of individuals who could contradict the government's story.

As Google Video prepares to shut down and delete its content, producers are urged to download and preserve important documentaries like "Conspiracy of Silence." The film, which investigates allegations of child abuse among Washington D.C. elites, was famously pulled from broadcast and has primarily survived through internet distribution. Other "must-have" documentaries mentioned for preservation include those critical of Monsanto.

The "Boys Town" scandal in Nebraska and the suppressed ITV documentary "Conspiracy of Silence" are discussed. The story involves allegations of a high-level pedophile ring involving politicians and influential figures in the 1980s and 90s.