Bad Faith Episode 523 Promo - We're All Terrorists Now (w/ Ken Klippenstein)
Nov 3, 2025
Independent investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein joins the discussion on the alarming implications of NSPM 7, a national security memo targeting activists and critics as potential terrorists. He talks about how the recent murder of Charlie Kirk has fueled authoritarian policies. The conversation delves into the chilling effects of legal harassment on dissent and the difficulties activists face in securing legal representation. Together, they explore the troubling trend of criminalizing peaceful protests and the connections between domestic repression and broader surveillance practices.
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Harassment Chills Political Participation
- Legal threats and interrogations chill dissent by forcing people to miss work and endure humiliating processes.
- Ken Klippenstein warns that being labeled on DHS pages as a "terrorist" deters future protest participation.
Protester Stayed Home After FBI Visit
- Ken Klippenstein recounts interviewing an Arizona protester who avoided future rallies after an FBI visit despite no charges.
- The visitor said fear stopped him from attending a subsequent No Kings protest, illustrating deterrence.
Technical Reassurances Don't Prevent Investigations
- Legal experts saying "there's no domestic terrorism statute" misses how counterterrorism teams can still open investigations.
- Ken Klippenstein criticizes reassurances that ignore operational reality and chilling effects.