S2 Episode #5: The New Tabloids & Capitalist Gangsters – X's Fog of War, Elon's Fraud, and US Empire

Elon Musk’s PAC Reprimanded for Georgia Voter Fraud Allegations, Iran Strikes, and Disinformation Flooding XHost Kodie and co-hosts share listener statistics (top countries outside the U.S. include the UK, Singapore, Russia, Mexico, and Belgium) and play a “spot the lie” game tied to current events, then discuss reports that the Trump DOJ withheld Epstein-related documents, including FBI memos about an alleged sexual assault accusation against Donald Trump. They cover renewed U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, alleged civilian casualties, and concerns about deliberate targeting, alongside a Wired report describing X being flooded with disinformation, including recycled footage, AI-generated images, and monetized false posts from blue-check accounts. The episode pivots to Elon Musk’s America PAC, which Georgia’s State Elections Board reprimanded over allegedly sending partially prefilled absentee ballot applications and misleading formatting. They also discuss DOGE’s restructuring and argue U.S. foreign policy and government action serve corporate interests. Next week they plan an Edward Bernays focus and Adam Curtis’s “The Century of the Self,” and they close with news that Saranac Lake will remove Flock AI cameras after public pushback.00:00 Welcome Back and Setup01:15 Housekeeping Global Listeners03:05 Spot the Lie Game05:22 Lie Revealed and Real Headlines07:10 Epstein Files and Privilege11:21 Epstein Lottery Money Laundering12:29 Satirical Education Network Ad14:10 Iran Strikes and Moral Fallout20:13 Wired Report X Disinformation24:21 X as Tabloid Media26:07 Curating Social Feeds28:50 Frameworks for Foreign Policy39:53 Lobbying and Class Power44:21 Militarism and Identity47:00 Business Plot Revival48:43 Satirical Sponsor Break50:43 Musk PAC Voter Fraud55:41 DOGE and DDS Takeover59:09 Loyalty Over Competence01:03:37 Wrap Up and Next Week01:06:46 Good News Local Cameras01:07:33 Final Sign Off