DeProgram with John Kiriakou and Ted Rall

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou deprogram you from mainstream media every weekday at 9 AM EST. Today we discuss: • Admiral Mitch Bradley tries to explain himself to Congress today. As Trump claims each boat bombing saves 25,000 American lives, the man Hegseth blames for the double-tap strike is on the hot seat. Meanwhile, Signalgate is blowing up. Will this weekend mark the end of the former Fox News Weekend host? • Israel is opening the Rafah border crossing to Egypt. Egypt says it doesn’t know anything about it. It will help sick and injured Gaza’s get medical care. But is this the beginning of Israel’s plot to ethnically cleanse and annex Gaza? • Vladimir Putin to visit Narenda Modi in India to boost trade.

Pressure mounts on Pete Hegseth as he faces backlash over a controversial boat incident, raising questions about accountability. Republicans are betting against voter anger over rising healthcare costs due to expiring Obamacare subsidies. Meanwhile, Belgium grapples with the dilemma of seizing Russian assets for Ukraine while seeking legal indemnity. In schools, the rise of deepfake 'nudifying' software poses a crisis for students, with humiliating AI-generated images circulating. Legal consequences for such AI abuses are increasingly severe.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou deprogram you from mainstream media every weekday at 9 AM EST. Today we discuss: • Sudan’s military government has offered Russia what would be its first naval base in Africa and an unprecedented perch overlooking critical Red Sea trade routes, reports the WSJ. • Negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine focused on where the de facto border with Russia would be drawn under a peace deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin — who will meet with President Trump's envoy today — wants the entire Donbas region. • A lawsuit by an immigration judge fired by Trump has the potential to scramble the federal workforce and upend foundational civil rights laws. She says she was dismissed because of her gender, her status as a dual citizen of Lebanon and the fact that she once ran for municipal office in Ohio as a Democrat, all in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the First Amendment. The government has responded by arguing that the president's power to oversee the executive branch under Article II of the U.S. Constitution essentially overrides that core civil rights law.• A small, highly anticipated study shows a glimmer of hope in the long effort to control HIV without medication and search for a cure for a virus that attacks immune cells. In six participants, the virus rebounded slowly and stayed at a low level for months, and one person’s immune system kept the virus in check for more than a year and a half.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou dive into shocking allegations about a Pentagon 'double tap' strike on survivors after a bombing in the Caribbean. They grapple with whether such actions constitute a war crime, raising questions about legality in a non-declared war. The discussion shifts to Trump's ultimatum to Maduro and the complex motivations behind U.S. pressure on Venezuela. Finally, they explore how rising electricity costs from AI data centers might ignite political unrest, drawing parallels with food price concerns.

The Pentagon's investigation into Senator Mark Kelly sparks debate on free speech and military obedience. The hosts dive into shifting European attitudes toward Russia as concerns grow over military preparedness. They also analyze RFK Jr.'s public image amid scandal, along with the U.S. response to conflicts in Sudan and Venezuela. Trump's healthcare proposal faces resistance within his party, and the instability within both major political parties is explored, questioning the future led by figures like Trump.

Marjorie Taylor Greene has resigned from Congress, sparking discussions about her future and implications for MAGA. The hosts explore the ongoing Geneva talks regarding Ukraine, and how these developments could affect the Russo-Ukrainian War. They also delve into the abrupt shutdown of Doge, debating its fallout and legal repercussions. Additionally, they examine rising tensions in Japan and the broader impact of political loyalty within the GOP. Finally, reflections on recent notable passings add a poignant touch to the conversation.

A U.S. military delegation arrives in Kyiv, promoting a controversial 28-point peace plan with Russia. Meanwhile, President Zelensky faces a $100 million corruption scandal involving a key ally, sparking public outrage and political upheaval. The discussion dives into whistleblower accountability and the risks of political assets going rogue, highlighting past intelligence failures. With a potential ceasefire on the horizon, the hosts explore the implications for Ukraine's future and the quest for unity amidst turmoil.

Uncover the shadows of history and the fractures of modern power on the DeProgram show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou. Tune in as Ted and John dissect today's bombshell disclosures.CIA Cover-Up in JFK Assassination Probe: Former CIA historian, Thomas L. Pearcy, steps forward as a whistleblower for the first time, exposing a secret 50-page inspector general's report from 1978 in which the CIA brags about misleading Congress about Lee Harvey Oswald's Mexico City activities before Kennedy's slaying. Pearcy, now a professor at Slippery Rock University, stumbled upon the document in a secure CIA safe room in 2009 while researching Latin American policy; it details how officers handed over "sanitized" duplicates of files to House Select Committee chief counsel Robert Blakey, deleting key evidence and prompting a CIA memo mocking Blakey's "incurious" review after just 20-30 minutes per volume. As the 62nd anniversary of the stunning assassination approaches Saturday, Trump's pledge to release all JFK records under the 1992 Act comes under scrutiny, with the CIA claiming commitment to transparency despite withholding photos, films, and admissions of monitoring Oswald via agent George Joannides—fueling calls from experts like Jefferson Morley for immediate declassification of this blueprint for lying to the public.Ambassador Huckabee's Secret Meeting with Spy Pollard: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee hosts Jonathan J. Pollard, the convicted Cold War spy who served 30 years for leaking classified intel to Israel, in a clandestine July gathering at the Jerusalem Embassy that blindsides the White House and CIA. Pollard, 71 and now eyeing a right-wing Knesset run while pushing Gaza annexation, describes the off-schedule encounter as "friendly," marking his first U.S. government-hosted meeting since 2015 parole; Huckabee, courting Israel's right wing, thanks Pollard for past advocacy without detailing discussions that touch on Trump's Saudi arms deals. Critics like ex-Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer decry the breach of protocol, questioning rehabilitation of a traitor who embraces "Israel first" over America, especially after Huckabee's prior hosting of sanctioned far-right ministers—exposing deepening rifts in U.S.-Israel diplomacy.Trump-Mamdani Oval Office Showdown: Trump confirms a Friday sit-down in the Oval Office with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who surged from Queens lawmaker to victory on an affordability platform backed by over a million voters. After months of Trump's "communist" smears, deportation threats, and vows to slash federal funds, this customary-yet-charged meeting shifts toward shared rhetoric on economic security and public safety, following Republican election setbacks in key states. Mamdani, a naturalized Ugandan-American, pledges to "Trump-proof" the city while collaborating where it benefits New Yorkers, testing detente amid Trump's recent pivot to affordability as the "Party of Affordability!"—highlighting clashing visions for urban America.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou tell you all about a bizarre scheme by the Ministry of State Security to ensnare UK lawmakers, staffers, consultants, economists, and think tank experts. Shifting to the U.S., the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll reveals Democrats surging 14 points ahead—55%-41%—on congressional ballots, independents favoring them 33 points, signaling a possible “blue wave” if Democrats don’t mess it up. Trump is greenlighting CIA covert ops in Venezuela—prepping sabotage, cyber, or psyops battlefields—as the State designation of “Cartel de los Soles terrorists” turns out to be a figment of the imagination. And Montreal's Allan Memorial Institute survivor leads a class-action lawsuit exposing CIA's MK-Ultra mind control via unwitting LSD dosing, electroshocks, "psychic driving" tapes, barbiturates, stimulants, nitrous oxide, sensory deprivation, and comas on thousands of Canadians across 100+ sites. Wanted in the UK: MSS Spies: MI5 unveils China's Ministry of State Security (their CIA) deploy China-based headhunters like Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen to covertly approach UK targets via LinkedIn and fake firms, posing freelance geopolitical gigs to harvest low-value intel pieces as a predecessor for broader efforts. Security Minister Dan Jarvis calls it a threat to democracy, just months after prosecutors dropped charges against accused spies. Beijing's embassy fires back, calling the allegations "malicious slander," as MI5's Ken McCallum last month decried Beijing's cyber thefts and public life intrusions.U.S. Midterm Poll Bad for Republicans: The November 10-13 NPR/PBS News/Marist survey of 1,443 adults shows Democrats commanding a 14-point edge—55%-41%—in congressional races, with independents swinging 33 points blue, evoking 2017's prelude to 40-seat gains amid Trump's 39% approval low and 48% strong disapproval peak. Voters blame Republicans or Trump for shutdowns hits 60%, while 57% prioritize price drops over immigration, eroding GOP momentum despite 90% base approval. Institutional distrust soars—80% hate Congress, 75% hate media—with 80%+ across aisles viewing opponents as "closed-minded," 70% "dishonest," independents harsher on Republicans, brewing volatility after the Dems’ recent wins.Trump Goes Covert Against Venezuela: President Trump authorizes CIA covert measures—potentially sabotage, cyber, psyops, coinciding with the USS Gerald R. Ford's weekend Caribbean arrival, 15,000 troops, and "Operation Southern Spear" buildup rivaling 1962's Cuba blockade, as planners map drug facility and Maduro-loyalist strikes. Back-channel parleys yield Maduro's rejected two-year delay on resignation for U.S. oil access, with State set to terrorist-label the fictional “Cartel de los Soles,” enabling escalation; Trump hints at ground forces, stressing drug/immigration curbs publicly while eyeing resources privately. 21 congressional-bypassing boat strikes killed 83, only hitting cocaine despite fentanyl talk, amid undecided endgame—diplomacy, voluntary exit, or forcible removal.MK-Ultra Lawsuit Advances in Canada: A Montreal judge rejects Royal Victoria Hospital's appeal, advancing class-action suit by Allan Memorial survivor Lana Ponting, age 16 in 1958, against CIA-backed MK-Ultra experiments involving unwitting LSD, electroshocks, "psychic driving" tape loops of conflicting messages, barbiturates, stimulants, nitrous oxide, deprivation, and comas on thousands via 100+ sites. Committed for "disobedient" teen antics post-move, Ponting uncovers files revealing Dr. Ewen Cameron's McGill horrors—unbeknownst CIA-funded till 1964—yielding lifelong meds, nightmares, memory loss; excluded from 1992's C$100,000 humanitarian payouts sans liability.

Is Israel furtively indulging in slow-motion ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa and other countries? South Africa suspects yes. Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou bring you up to speed on this shocking story as well as alleged prosecutorial screw-ups threatening the high-profile indictment of James Comey to global shifts in migration and education.Comey Indictment in Jeopardy: A federal magistrate judge drops a scathing 24-page ruling, slamming inexperienced prosecutor Lindsey Halligan for "fundamental and highly prejudicial" misstatements of law during her solo grand jury appearance seeking charges against former FBI Director James Comey for lying to Congress in his notorious 2020 testimony. Judge William E. Fitzpatrick orders immediate disclosure of incomplete grand jury materials to Comey's lawyers, raising "genuine issues of misconduct" that could force dismissal, while prosecutors scramble with an emergency halt request. The jurist’s extraordinary rebuke, amid doubts over Halligan's legitimacy, underscores unraveling Justice Department efforts, including Trump's ousting of her predecessor for insufficient evidence.US International Student Enrollment Plummets: New research finds a 17% drop in first-time international student enrollments at US universities this fall, driven by Trump administration visa delays, denials, and heightened scrutiny including mandatory social media checks following pro-Palestine campus protests. The Institute of International Education's survey across 828 institutions notes a modest 1% overall decline but warns of steeper losses in the future, as 84% of schools say they prioritize foreign recruitment amid $55 billion economic contributions. Universities respond with 39% more deferrals, countering factors like travel restrictions affecting 2% of students and growing perceptions of an unwelcoming environment, despite Trump's recent pledge to double Chinese student visas for business gains. South Africa Rejects Palestinian Charter Flights: South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola bans additional chartered flights carrying Palestinians, calling the recent arrival of 153 from Gaza a "clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank" in an orchestrated global resettlement push. The group, routed via Nairobi without prior coordination, endured over 10 hours stranded at OR Tambo Airport due to missing departure stamps before intervention by a charity allowed 130 to enter the RSA on compassionate grounds. This follows a similar flight two weeks prior, amid Israel's voluntary relocation rhetoric criticized internationally, as South Africa—long a Palestinian ally since Mandela's era—investigates amid its ICJ genocide case against Israel.UN Security Council OKs Trump Plan: Highlights include the deployment of an international peacekeeping force and a possible path to a sovereign Palestinian state. The resolution, passed by a vote of 13-0 with abstentions by China and Russia, was the price the US paid for backing from the Arab and Islamic world, who are expected to provide peacekeepers. However, Netanyahu, restated his adamant opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state. Hamas rejected what it described as an imposed “international guardianship mechanism” and insisted it would not disarm. What now?