8 chapters across the catalog
Kenyal Brown, a suspected serial killer in Detroit, was revealed to be a federal informant who was released from custody despite numerous parole violations. Detroit Police Chief James Craig questioned why a dangerous individual was allowed on the streets. The hosts link this to the Buffalo shooting and other incidents where suspects had connections to federal law enforcement, calling it a "trauma-based economy."
The "six-week cycle" is a concept suggesting the FBI must manufacture or facilitate a domestic terrorism event every six weeks to justify its budget and existence. This process often involves undercover agents or informants finding vulnerable individuals, egging them on via text, providing inert weaponry or vehicles, and then arresting them to claim a "thwarted" plot. The hosts argue this proactive entrapment is a violation of rights and fails to address actual radicalization.
Shahed Hussain, an FBI informant on the lam for DMV fraud, was tasked with finding terrorists in the impoverished town of Newburgh, New York. Hussain targeted destitute individuals, offering them $250,000, cars, and businesses to participate in a plot to bomb synagogues and shoot down planes at Stewart Air Force Base. The hosts highlight how the FBI uses financial incentives to lure people into conspiracies they would otherwise be incapable of executing.
Dothard Perry, an FBI informant during the 1960s, describes the process of infiltrating radical groups and receiving cash payments for "hot pieces of information." Perry expresses remorse for misusing the trust of those he surveilled, admitting his information led to the undoing of various groups. The hosts use this historical context to show that the use of informants to disrupt political movements is a long-standing government tactic.
Investigative journalist Seth Rosenfeld revealed that Richard Aoki, the man who provided the Black Panther Party with its first firearms and weapons training, was an undercover FBI informant. The hosts suggest this was a "double cross" intended to make the Panthers look scary to the public, thereby providing the political justification for implementing stricter gun control laws in California.
The discussion turns to the history of FBI infiltration, specifically the case of Richard Aoki, an informant who provided weapons to the Black Panther Party. The hosts use this to explain why they are suspicious of modern political groups. They also touch on new reports regarding facial recognition technology's ability to detect political views and sexual orientation.
Investigative reports reveal that Richard Aoki, the man who provided the Black Panthers with their first firearms, was an undercover FBI informant. Another former informant, Dothard Perry, describes the process of being paid in cash by the Bureau to infiltrate and undo political groups. The hosts suggest that many radical movements are historically steered by covert government catalysts.
Shelby Steele and the hosts criticize Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for building careers out of "manipulating white guilt." They contrast Jackson’s early 1970s focus on family and education with his later "shakedown" tactics against corporations. Al Sharpton is described as a "street guy" and former FBI informant who was elevated by MSNBC to activate voters through racial tension.
