Transparency as the Antidote to Soft Power Abuse

Picking up right where Part 1 left off, Tom Bilyeu and Mike Benz dive even deeper into the shadowy world of influence operations, modern censorship, and information warfare. In this second half, Benz unravels how the censorship-industrial complex formed, the role of AI and social media in real-time narrative control, and the profound consequences of Elon Musk's purchase of X (Twitter) on global discourse and populist uprisings. Tom presses Mike on the “why” behind the intense manipulation of platforms, revealing that the ability to shape language and thought at scale isn’t a partisan game—it's about preserving the interests of entrenched stakeholders across the globe.

As global populist movements surge and increasingly polarized narratives grip the world—from America to Germany, the UK, and beyond—Tom and Mike scrutinize the connective tissue animating these phenomena. They explore how radical activists are intentionally seeded and activated by NGOs for regime change; what happens when the playbook is turned inward; and how collateral damage is created when hearts and minds are exploited with little regard for social unity. Mike makes the case for radical transparency as the antidote to soft power abuse, arguing that America can remain formidable on the world stage without turning its own institutions into black boxes. If you want to understand why our world feels so unstable—and what it might take to reform it—this is the conversation you cannot miss.

SHOWNOTES
00:00 How Censorship and Narrative Control Work in Practice
10:51 AI, Social Media, and the Evolution of Influence Operations
17:19 The Weaponization of “Russian Disinformation”
21:53 Is This About Ideology or Economics? (Deep State/Blob)
29:59 How the Censorship Playbook Is Used Against Both Sides
32:55 BlackRock, Hedge Funds, and Statecraft Collusion
39:31 The EU, International Law, and Global Free Speech
44:55 What’s Driving Today’s Populist Uprisings?
52:37 Radicalization, Culture Wars, and Collateral Damage
01:02:22 Sunshine as Disinfectant: How to Reform the System
01:09:01 Where to Follow Mike Benz

FOLLOW MIKE BENZ:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/mikebenzcyber
YouTube: Mike Benz Cyber
Rumble: Mike Benz Cyber
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebenzcyber/

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