2/16/24 Matt Taibbi: New Revelations on the Origin of Russiagate
Feb 20, 2024
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Matt Taibbi discusses new revelations on Russiagate origins, including Western intelligence spying on Trump's team. Taibbi's articles reveal CIA involvement triggering Russia collusion hoax. The podcast delves into Cooked Intelligence scandal and the left's alignment with national security establishment.
The CIA relied on foreign allies to spy on Trump's team, fueling the Russia collusion hoax.
The flawed Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian interference lacked concrete evidence and dissenting opinions.
Deep dives
CIA's Role in the Russia Collusion Hoax
The podcast episode discusses the role of the CIA and its manipulation of intelligence in the Russia collusion hoax. It reveals that the CIA had foreign allies spy on the Trump team, triggering the false narrative of Russia collusion. This included surveillance of Trump associates like Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn, and Paul Manafort. It also exposes the deceptive tactics used by the CIA, such as bumping, informant recruitment, and manufactured intelligence stories. The episode highlights the political nature of the investigation and the lack of national security justifications for the surveillance.
Flaws and Manipulation in the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA)
The podcast examines the flaws and manipulation within the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that claimed Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to help Donald Trump. It reveals that the ICA's conclusions were not supported by concrete evidence and that judgments in the report were not intended to imply proof of any facts. The episode highlights the handpicked nature of the team that wrote the report, the exclusion of dissenting opinions, and the overruling of experts' assessments. It also highlights the role of Gina Haspel, the CIA station chief in London, in blocking the release of critical reports.
The Importance of Holding the Intelligence Community Accountable
The podcast emphasizes the need to hold the intelligence community accountable for its role in spreading misinformation and manipulating intelligence. It underscores the danger of manufactured intelligence and its impact on political decision-making. The episode highlights the value of independent journalism in debunking false narratives and shedding light on the truth. It stresses the significance of skepticism and critical thinking when evaluating intelligence reports and calls for increased public awareness about the potential abuses of power within the intelligence community.
The Left-Liberal Alliance and Its Divisions on National Security Issues
The podcast delves into the dynamics of the left-liberal alliance and its divisions on national security issues. It identifies the tendency of some on the left to align with the national security establishment against President Trump, despite their previous skepticism of such institutions. The episode raises questions about the future of this alliance, especially in light of the upcoming election and the ongoing conflicts over issues like Israel and Palestine. It highlights the need for the left to critically assess and challenge the actions and narratives of the national security state.
Scott talks with Matt Taibbi about a new series of articles he published on the origins of Russiagate. Specifically, Taibbi has been working with journalists Michael Shellenberger and Alex Gutentag to report on the role of Western intelligence agencies in spying on Trump’s team and constructing the narrative that the former president was compromised by the Russian government.
Discussed on the show:
“CIA Had Foreign Allies Spy On Trump Team, Triggering Russia Collusion Hoax, Sources Say” (Public)