Topic: Wag

The program opens with a shout-out to the University of Wisconsin River Falls women's ice hockey team for their back-to-back national championships. A debate ensues regarding the athletic merits of field hockey versus ice hockey and the physical fitness of soccer players. The term "WAGs," referring to the wives and girlfriends of high-profile athletes, is introduced as a cultural phenomenon in the United Kingdom.

The relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift has brought significant international attention to the NFL, particularly from female fans in Japan and the UK. Media coverage has focused on Swift's travel from her Tokyo concert to Las Vegas, cementing her status as a prominent "WAG" (Wives and Girlfriends) in the sports world.

Actress Anne Heche passed away following a high-speed car crash in Los Angeles involving a Mini Cooper Countryman. The discussion touches on conspiracy theories regarding her final film project about human trafficking and her notable performance in the political satire film Wag the Dog.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and other officials warned that Russia has pre-positioned operatives to conduct a "false flag" operation in Eastern Ukraine to justify an invasion. The hosts compare these warnings to the film "Wag the Dog," suggesting the administration is manufacturing a narrative to distract from domestic issues.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz alleged that the strike on Soleimani was a political distraction intended to divert attention from the Trump impeachment proceedings and leaked Ukraine emails. She characterized the military action as being in the President's self-interest rather than the national interest.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced that safe drinking water is a more immediate global threat than climate change, citing the 1,000 children who die daily from waterborne illnesses. Critics attacked Wheeler's background as a coal lobbyist. In unrelated news, police in Albania used tear gas against protesters demanding early elections, an event the hosts compare to the film Wag the Dog.

The "gig economy" model used by dog-walking apps like Wag and Rover is under scrutiny as traditional small businesses struggle to compete. Wag recently received $300 million in investment from Saudi Arabian sources. The segment highlights a California dog walker who was fined $18,000 after his contractors were reclassified as employees, while larger tech firms use mandatory arbitration agreements to shield themselves from similar labor disputes.

A Colorado Springs homeowner discovered two shirtless men on his couch and a camcorder after using a popular dog-walking app. The sitter claimed a bottle of personal lubricant found on the scene was actually WD-40 used to fix a stuck car key. The homeowner's dog was found locked in a room, highlighting the risks of gig-economy home services.

The hosts discuss the 1997 film "Wag the Dog," produced by and starring Robert De Niro, which explores the creation of fake wars for political gain. They contrast De Niro's understanding of propaganda in the film with his recent scripted, aggressive public outbursts against Donald Trump. The discussion questions whether De Niro is acting out a role or has forgotten the lessons of his own film regarding media manipulation.

A movie clip featuring Stonehenge and "spatial extrusions" is played. John C. Dvorak identifies it as Thor: The Dark World. They also mention that Wag the Dog is currently playing on HBO, noting its continued relevance to modern political "distractions."

Adam Curry suggests that the CIA's old radio-based deception tactics could be modernized using Facebook Live and smartphone footage. He posits that a well-executed "Wag the Dog" scenario involving fake reports of ISIS crossing the Texas border would likely be taken seriously by the public and media. The hosts note that major networks already rely heavily on unverified social media reports and tweets for breaking news.

The 1997 film Wag the Dog is analyzed in the context of modern political propaganda and media manipulation. Robert De Niro, who produced and starred in the film as a government fixer, is criticized for his real-world political statements against Donald Trump. The discussion highlights the irony of an actor who portrayed a propaganda specialist seemingly participating in scripted media narratives.

Referencing the film Wag the Dog, the hosts discuss how modern warfare can be manufactured for television. They share a report from a military intelligence source suggesting that the "white smoke" seen in Syria may not indicate a chemical agent. They compare the visual evidence to the smoke trails associated with the downing of flight MH17.

A visual effects professional analyzes the video of the Jordanian pilot's execution, suggesting the use of digital compositing and "Twixtor" software for frame interpolation. The discussion posits that such highly produced media serves as a "Wag the Dog" style propaganda tool to build a coalition for military intervention in Syria and the eventual removal of President Bashar al-Assad.

The discussion shifts to why mainstream news organizations refuse to show the full ISIS footage, with the hosts suggesting it is to avoid deconstruction of the video's potential faking. They compare the current propaganda landscape to the film Wag the Dog and a specific episode of the Max Headroom TV series involving a "War Producer" selling terrorist footage for ratings.

Reporting on CNN suggested that the U.S. military and government agencies had been rehearsing the return of Bowe Bergdahl for five years. These rehearsals allegedly included stand-ins for the sergeant and his family to prepare for the eventual exchange and reintroduction process.

Immediately following her resignation, Liz Wahl appeared on CNN with Anderson Cooper while still wearing her RT outfit and appearing to use the same studio background. The hosts argue the entire event was a "Wag the Dog" style setup coordinated between the networks and the State Department.

A discussion of the "Wagging the Moon Doggies" essay explores skepticism regarding the 1960s moon landings. The hosts question why modern billionaires like Richard Branson and Elon Musk struggle with space travel despite having access to vastly superior technology compared to the Apollo era. The segment suggests that the original moon landings may have served as a geopolitical distraction during the Vietnam War.

The hosts express skepticism regarding the technical claims of the Iron Dome, noting a lack of diverse video evidence of interceptions. They characterize the ongoing regional conflict as a "Wag the Dog" scenario that persists because it is profitable for the global weapons industry. The segment addresses the intense emotional reactions from listeners on both sides of the Zionist/Palestinian debate.

The 1997 film "Wag the Dog" is highlighted for its prophetic dialogue regarding the shift from traditional state-on-state warfare to nuclear terrorism. A specific monologue by Robert De Niro's character describes the need for public alertness and the creation of "drills" to maintain job security for the military-industrial complex. The hosts recommend the film as a essential viewing for understanding modern geopolitical staging.