PBD Podcast "Remove, Reduce, Inform" - Mike Benz On Government, Censorship, Election Tactics & Media Control | PBD Podcast | Ep. 496
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Oct 28, 2024 
Mike Benz, a former State Department official and founder of Foundation for Freedom Online, exposes the deep links between U.S. agencies, big tech, and free speech. He discusses internet censorship tactics and the evolving strategies behind election manipulations. The conversation delves into how social media and military funding intersect, and raises concerns about government influence over tech. Benz also critiques geopolitical dynamics, especially in the context of Russia and Ukraine, shedding light on the complex relationships that govern global narratives.
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Benz's Background
- Patrick Bet-David asks Mike Benz about his background, questioning if his State Department role is a cover for CIA involvement.
- Benz explains that the State Department, DOD, and CIA often work as one unit, with individuals moving between them.
Benz's Censorship Expertise
- Mike Benz specializes in internet censorship due to his extensive experience, starting with observations in 2016.
- His work at the White House and State Department placed him at the intersection of big tech, government, and censorship.
Election Interference Tactics
- Bet-David asks Benz for creative election interference strategies.
- Benz describes the Transition Integrity Project's 2020 plan to pre-censor doubts about mail-in ballots to control public perception.
