Topic: Whitelisting

The hosts discuss technical difficulties with their newsletter delivery, blaming MailChimp and the general "broken" state of email. They claim that companies like Substack and MailChimp must pay large sums to be "whitelisted" by Google and Outlook. A mention of Start9, a company providing hardware for home-based self-hosting, highlights the difficulty of running independent email servers in an ecosystem controlled by Big Tech.

Listener Richard Gabriel reported difficulties in sending donation notes, which were blocked by server filters for "disallowed content." The hosts acknowledged that the current system for processing notes via PayPal and email is being revamped for the first quarter of 2023. They advised donors to avoid using profanity in notes to ensure they pass through automated spam and content filters.

Comedian Jimmy Dore revealed that his YouTube channel is on a "whitelist" that allows him to monetize COVID-19 content, provided he adheres strictly to CDC and government guidance. Dore criticized the requirement to uncritically accept government data, arguing that the state is a primary purveyor of "fake news." He expressed concern that questioning official narratives leads to being labeled a conspiracy theorist.

Ex-Secret Service agent Dan Bongino explains that the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) would have had to "whitelist" Hillary Clinton's private email address for it to reach President Obama's secure BlackBerry. This contradicts previous claims that Obama was unaware of Clinton's use of a non-government server. The hosts argue this proves high-level collusion within the administration.

Challenges with the No Agenda newsletter delivery on Gmail are attributed to Google's aggressive and potentially corrupt filtering algorithms. While legitimate newsletters are often sent to the "Promotions" or "Spam" tabs, users reportedly receive unsolicited marketing emails from major retailers. The difficulty of whitelisting specific senders in the Gmail ecosystem is highlighted.

The email industry is characterized as a "criminal enterprise" where large providers like Google and Yahoo effectively extort small businesses through whitelisting services. It is alleged that companies must pay significant fees to ensure their emails bypass spam filters and promotional tabs. The CEO of MailChimp is criticized for a perceived cavalier attitude toward these delivery challenges, leading to speculation that a premium "guaranteed delivery" tier is forthcoming.

The mechanics of the spam blacklisting industry are described as a "protection racket" where companies must pay to be whitelisted on major email services. The conflict between Cyberbunker and Spamhaus is explained as a dispute over IP blocking that affected legitimate users. Cloudflare's involvement is framed as a failed attempt to gain positive PR that ultimately slowed down service for their other clients.

Australia is implementing a test system for internet censorship, ostensibly to block illegal content, but critics warn it will inevitably lead to political filtering. Meanwhile, companies are forced to pay upwards of $50,000 a month to stay on ISP "whitelists" to ensure email and content delivery, a practice described as a corporate scam.

A rumor is mentioned regarding a cable network CEO considering a move toward a "sanctioned website list." This model would restrict users to approved portals rather than allowing open access to the entire World Wide Web, though the hosts express skepticism that such a restrictive measure could succeed in the current market.