DeProgram with John Kiriakou and Ted Rall

In this pulse-pounding episode of Deprogrammed, hosted by political cartoonist Ted Rall and whistleblower John Kiriakou, CNN anchor Jake Tapper joins for a riveting interview unpacking his new book, Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War, released on October 7, 2025. The conversation thrusts listeners into the heart of a real-life thriller: the unprecedented international pursuit and federal trial of Spin Ghul (real name: Ibrahim Harun), a high-ranking Al Qaeda operative who boasted of killing U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan before bizarrely surrendering to Italian authorities amid the 2011 Arab Spring chaos. Tapper, drawing from exhaustive reporting—including interviews with prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and even Ghul’s defense team—details the book’s explosive core: a high-stakes “police procedural” spanning refugee boats in the Mediterranean, Afghan battlefields, Brooklyn courtrooms, and Oval Office briefings. Ghul, a dark-skinned Pashtun fighter derisively nicknamed “White Rose” by his Arab Al Qaeda comrades amid the group’s internal racism, emerges as a bumbling yet deadly jihadist. Radicalized in the post-9/11 “Forever War” era, he ambushed U.S. convoys, racking up American casualties, only to flee Libya’s uprising and demand extradition while flashing bullet-scarred proof of his exploits. The narrative races through the frantic efforts of two relentless Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Brooklyn—racing against deportation deadlines and legal precedents—to secure the first-ever conviction of a foreign terrorist for battlefield murders in a civilian court, blurring lines between warfare, criminal justice, and counterterrorism. Kiriakou, with his CIA whistleblower lens, intensely questions Tapper on the blurred ethics of renditions, interrogations, and intel-sharing that snared Ghul, drawing eerie parallels to his own post-9/11 exposure of waterboarding horrors and warning of how such hunts eroded civil liberties. A masterclass in true-crime geopolitics laced with unfiltered edge, this Deprogram episode is unmissable for fans of high-stakes history. Stream on major platforms, and dive into Race Against Terror for the full, meticulously sourced saga of pursuit, prejudice, and precarious justice.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou analyze the Supreme Court’s probable gutting of Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Trump eyeing covert strikes and land airstrikes against Venezuela, the decline of the power of the U.S. passport, and archivists race a looming "digital dark age.” House Gerrymandering by the Supreme Court: Republicans redraw districts, targeting Southern Democrats, but Democrats hold a House path—unless Louisiana v. Callais strikes Section 2. This would gut majority-minority mandates, enabling elimination of 7-8 Black-majority districts in Alabama through Florida by 2028. Democrats would face +5-point popular vote hurdles for competitiveness, turning all midterms into GOP locks.Trump's Venezuela Escalation: Trump has drawn a bead against the government of President Nicolás Maduro after five boat strikes killing 26. Now he’s considering U.S. military land strikes to halt Venezuelan drug flows and authorized the CIA with a “finding” that allows the agency to conduct covert operations there. Is this regime change?U.S. Passport Downgrade: Henley Index of “powerful passports” drops U.S. passport to 12th—first time outside top 10 in 20 years, tied with Malaysia, down from 7th last year. Trump's immigration crackdowns trigger reciprocity losses from Brazil, China, Vietnam, stagnating access to 180 destinations. Experts warn of fading soft power in an openness-driven world.Rescuing Floppy Disks: Cambridge archivists tackle 113 boxes of Stephen Hawking's papers, extracting data from degrading 1970s-90s floppy disks via the Future Nostalgia project. They battle magnetism loss, mould, and obsolete formats to save physics insights and personal notes. This combats a "digital dark age," preserving 50 years of computered history.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou unpack the fragile Gaza ceasefire teetering on the brink.Gaza Hostage Remains Crisis: Hamas returns the remains of four additional deceased hostages on Tuesday, including Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi, through the Red Cross after Israel's threats to block Rafah and halve Gaza aid trucks for non-compliance with the U.S.-brokered deal. This dispute over the 28 promised bodies marks the peace process's inaugural crisis, with 24 still unrecovered—including Americans Itay Chen and Omer Neutra—trapped under rubble, as mediators press Hamas for maximum recovery efforts amid Netanyahu's unyielding demands. Trump's Truth Social post blasts the delay, insisting Phase Two—Hamas disarming—starts immediately, while officials note Hamas now grasps Israel's superior intelligence on body locations.U.S. Military Boat Strike off Venezuela: The U.S. military kills six men aboard a boat in international waters just off Venezuela's coast on Tuesday, marking the fifth such strike since September and totaling 27 deaths treated as wartime kills rather than arrests of criminal suspects. Trump posts a 33-second aerial video of the missile explosion on social media, asserting unproven intelligence links the vessel to narcoterrorist smuggling routes, as the administration builds naval presence with warships and submarines in the Caribbean. Legal experts slam the premeditated extrajudicial actions as illegal under laws barring civilian targeting without imminent threats, with nominees citing undisclosed Justice memos but no public analysis justifying war-like tactics over Coast Guard interdictions.Madagascar Military Power Seizure: The army in Madagascar seizes control on Tuesday, Colonel Michael Randrianirina from the elite CAPSAT unit announcing a joint military-police committee to swiftly install a civilian government after parliament impeaches President Andry Rajoelina, who flees into hiding fearing for his life amid weeks of Gen Z protests. Demonstrators in Antananarivo rage over six years without tap water despite payments, crippling electricity outages, and corruption in the nation of 31 million, with over 20 killed by authorities' deadly force as CAPSAT refuses to quash "brothers and sisters." Rajoelina, who rose via a 2009 CAPSAT-backed coup, dissolves parliament in a failed block, denouncing the takeover as a "coup d'etat" while protesters hail it as a supported popular revolution, waving anime pirate flags in global youth solidarity.Young Republicans Telegram Scandal: Leaked seven-month Telegram chats among Young Republican leaders from New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont overflow with racial slurs like "n--ga" used over a dozen times by Kansas vice chair William Hendrix, references to Black people as "monkeys" and "watermelon people," and fantasies of gassing opponents in chambers unfit for the "Hitler aesthetic." New York vice chair Bobby Walker calls rape "epic," while chair Peter Giunta threatens "physiological torture" for non-believers during a federation vote, with members like Joe Maligno and Annie Kaykaty joking about showers masking gas and watching people burn. The exposure prompts job firings, rescinded offers, and condemnations from Rep. Elise Stefanik and GOP chair Ed Cox, igniting intraparty recriminations of character assassination and extortion as the group frets over leaks dooming their "true believers."

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou catch you up after the long weekend, beginning with a L.A. story with a personal connection to “Deprogram.”Is Los Angeles for Sale?: Austin Beutner, scandal-plagued billionaire and widely reviled ex-LA schools superintendent, plans to run against Mayor Karen Bass, criticizing her over homelessness and living costs. As ex-publisher of the LA Times, Beutner secretly conspired with corrupt ex-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck to fire and smear Ted because his cartoons criticized the police, and got fired due to the subscriber backlash and his boardroom plots. As Ted later learned, Beutner was a dollar-for-dollar match donor to the LAPD pension fund. Will Angelenos get conned by a grifter who makes Eric Adams look honest?Iran’s Trans Medical Tourism: Iran promotes gender transition surgeries to attract LGBTQ foreigners, offering low-cost procedures alongside luxury travel packages. Despite Iran’s reputation for affordable care, the policy stems from a history of coerced gender-affirming surgical operations.Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clash: The Taliban confirms attacks on Pakistani troops, saying they are retaliation for airspace violations, with 58 reported deaths. Pakistan disputes the toll, and closes border crossings. Tensions soar as both sides trade accusations of harboring terrorists. Are Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a long complicated relationship, at the brink of war?Madagascar Crisis: About to be impeached, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar has dissolved his country’s National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, hours after saying that he had gone into hiding at an undisclosed location out of fear for his safety over weeks of Gen-Z anti-government protests over lack of water and power that have killed 22 people.Federal Workers’ Mass Retirements: A massive wave of federal retirements and buyouts is straining agencies amid the shutdown. Over 154,000 employees leave, overwhelming HR offices. But isn’t a workforce reduction what DOGE and Trump wanted?

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou bring you up to date on the ceasefire deal seeking to end the Gaza War. President Trump delivers ironclad guarantees preventing Israel from abandoning the ceasefire, with U.S. officials revealing a pivotal U.S.-led military task force monitoring violations—exposing the moral bankruptcy of those who claimed the U.S. could not control Israel. Similarly, food aid will now flow into Gaza, belying Israelis who kept claiming they were not keeping it out.Also: New York AG Letitia James faces bank fraud charges, judges shield Chicago journalists and protesters from DHS riot weapons, New York City's mayoral race tightens post-Adams' exit, and Peru's Congress impeaches President Dina Boluarte.How Trump Leaned on Israel: President Trump issued personal guarantees securing the Gaza deal, establishing a 200-soldier U.S.-led task force with Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and UAE officers to monitor compliance. IDF withdrawal begins at noon local time and Hamas' hostage release—20 alive—will occur Monday, as eyes turn to two questions. Who will rule Gaza? How low will Israel’s reputation sink when the world gets to see the full scope of its genocide? Indictment Letitia James: A Virginia grand jury charges NY AG James with bank fraud and false statements for claiming her $137,000 Norfolk home as a secondary residence, actually an investment yielding $19,000 in interest savings. This second high-profile foe indictment in weeks follows Comey's charges, with probes into Schiff and Cook amid Trump's retribution push. Judge Tells ICE To Stop Brutalizing Journalists: Judge Ellis temporarily bans DHS agents from targeting journalists or protesters with riot weapons at ICE sites, requiring two audible warnings and visible IDs unless undercover. Force, arrests, or dispersal apply only with probable cause unrelated to orders, protecting First Amendment amid "extreme brutality" claims.Cuomo Losing By Less: Quinnipiac's October 3-7 survey shows Mamdani leading 46-33% over Cuomo, gaining no new ground but sustaining enthusiasm post-Adams' September dropout. Cuomo absorbs most ex-Mayor Adams support, up 10 points in four-way race with Sliwa at 15%, margins at ±3.9%. Mamdani, sole favorably viewed, eyes debates without hitting 50%.Peru President's Impeached: Congress ousts Dina Boluarte 122-0, citing moral incapacity after Wednesday's Lima cumbia concert machine-gun attack wounds four band members. Extortion explodes to 2,000 monthly cases, killing bus drivers and bombing businesses, dooming her 2-4% approval despite emergency decrees. Protesters rally outside Ecuador embassy on asylum rumors; Congress president assumes interim role until April elections.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, dissect the shocking new deal for Gaza, which appears to hand Hamas a major win over Israel, as well as other stories you need to know about.Gaza Deal: Brokered by a Trump increasingly disgusted by Netanyahu, Israel and Hamas negotiate a hostage-prisoner swap that seems to favor the Palestinians, exchanging 20 Israeli captives for 250 life-sentence Palestinians and 1,700 jailed Gazans,. Netanyahu convenes his cabinet today to ratify the deal, risking his fragile coalition. Israel is required to withdraw and finally allow aid—an admission the Jewish state was blocking it—while Hamas still hasn’t agreed to disarm. Palestinians cling to fragile hope, awakening to news of potential truce, even as Trump makes clear Israel’s attack against Qatar pushed Trump to pressure the Israelis to make peace.Americans Like Deportations, But Not These Deportations: It’s not what, it’s how. Trump's mass deportation campaign deploys agents to snag immigrants at courthouses and streets, flying them to unfamiliar nations and stripping humanitarian shields, sparking clashes with activists—and angering American voters. A New York Times/Siena poll finds 54% of voters support removals of undocumented arrivals, but 53% decry the process as unfair, ensnaring U.S. citizens, parents of American kids, and vendors in a spectacle of force across Chicago and D.C. Corrupt Homan Gets to Keep His Bribe: Echoing Wreckless Eric’s old song, “Take the Kash,” border czar Tom Homan is being allowed to keep $50,000 he collected from FBI undercover agents in a corruption probe—delivered in a Cava bag during a 2024 taped meet—leaving the "buy money" untraced and undeclared. AG Pam Bondi dodges Senate queries, as experts warn commingled funds evade forfeiture, complicating IRS tax pursuits or ethics probes in a Justice Department shielding insiders. Sortor Spins His Portland Arrest: Fox News regular Nick Sortor, with 1 million X followers, faces disorderly conduct charges after police swarm a brawl outside Portland's ICE building Thursday night, cuffing him alongside two others amid Antifa clashes. Released Friday, a wildly spinning Sortor blasts Portland PD as "corrupt" puppets of "violent Antifa thugs" on X, vowing the incident spotlights street terror instead of the far more likely possibility that the cops abuse protesters. Pentagon Kirk Purge: The Defense Department opens investigations into nearly 300 personnel for online insults about Charlie Kirk, under SecDef Pete Hegseth's edict branding Kirk critics as unfit for service. Disciplinary ripples spread, echoing Hegseth's purge threats against generals opposing Trump's "regressive" military overhauls, while Trumps decries mockery as "domestic terrorism" celebration. This loyalty litmus test subverts constitutional norms.Kirk Statue Frenzy: Republicans rally to put up Charlie Kirk monuments all over the place, from Capitol statues to state university mandates in Oklahoma and Texas, with New College of Florida unveiling an AI-rendered effigy amid artist bids. This push—reminiscent of Lincoln!—revives clashes over who merits commemoration in public spaces.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou look at the Trump administration's plan to mint a $1 coin with the president's image, his messaging to furloughed government workers that they may forfeit back pay, Colorado's conversion therapy ban, and CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis demotion of the acting general counsel—a career lawyer—and assuming the role himself.Trump $1 Coin Controversy: The Treasury Department defends minting a $1 commemorative coin bearing President Trump's image for the nation's 250th birthday, citing the 2020 Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act to override a 1866 law prohibiting living portraits on currency and quelling monarchic vibes. Draft designs show Trump's profile dominating the obverse, with the reverse side showcasing him fist-pumping before the American flag under "Fight, Fight, Fight.” This echoes Trump's past currency clashes, like delaying Harriet Tubman's $20 bill.Back Pay Dispute: President Trump says that furloughed federal workers—nearly 750,000 affected—might not receive back pay post-shutdown, contradicting the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act he signed and the Office of Personnel Management's explicit guidance promising retroactive compensation. A circulating White House memo argues that only essential employees like military and air traffic controllers qualify outright, requiring congressional approval for others, fueling union leaders' cries of legal misinterpretation and threats of lawsuits as the impasse hits day seven. Conversion Therapy: The Supreme Court's conservative majority signals opposition to Colorado's 2019 ban on conversion therapy for minors, viewing it as viewpoint-discriminating speech regulation during oral arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, where therapist Kaley Chiles claims First Amendment violations in her faith-based talk therapy. Justices like Alito and Roberts probe the state's conduct-versus-speech distinction, drawing parallels to 2018 anti-abortion center rulings and recent gender care bans, potentially invalidating similar prohibitions in over 20 states while liberals like Jackson question inconsistent deference. ProCIA Deputy Director's Power Grab: Michael Ellis abruptly demotes the acting general counsel—an unnamed career lawyer serving since January—and installs himself in the role, retaining his No. 2 position and prompting ethics red flags over inherent conflicts in self-advising on agency actions. This "bizarre" arrangement, approved by Director John Ratcliffe, unfolds amid Trump's nomination of Joshua Simmons for permanent counsel, whose Senate hearing looms Wednesday, while Ellis— a 40-year-old Yale Law alum and Trump loyalist—navigates past scandals like Nunes' surveillance briefings and Bolton memoir battles. Current and former officials voice alarms at the consolidation, violating professional conduct rules against self-interest judgments, as the demoted lawyer takes brief vacation.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou get into the second anniversary of the Oct. 7th raid by Hamas, Supreme Court’s decision to decline Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, France’s political crisis, and Trump refusing to negotiate with Democrats despite the government shutdown.Gaza War Enters Year 3: It’s been three years since Hamas launched its attack on Israel. John and Ted break down the current state of the conflict.Ghislaine Maxwell: The Supreme Court rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, upholding her 20-year sentence. Maxwell’s argument that a 2008 Florida non-prosecution deal should protect her fails, as prosecutors assert it doesn’t apply to federal charges based in New York. Her only hope now lies in potential clemency from Trump. Will he come through?France’s Political Crisis: President Macron assigns deposed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to leading talks to resolve the mess. With markets reeling and opposition parties rejecting compromise, Macron faces pressure to call snap elections and/or resign. The turmoil threatens France’s economy and the EU’s stability, with no clear path forward. U.S. Government Shutdown: President Trump refuses talks with Democrats, who demand Obamacare subsidy extensions for 20 million Americans to save the ACA. The Senate’s vote on a Republican funding proposal stalls, with the administration warning of mass federal layoffs. Meanwhile, air traffic control towers are short staffed.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou start your week with a federally-driven crisis in Portland, where 300 California National Guard troops were federalized over that state’s governor’s objections, and were due to be sent to Oregon because Oregon's governor refuses mobilization. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek complains about "breathtaking abuse," saying there is no insurrection or national security threat. But a federal judge has blocked the invasion of Portland…for now.As predicted on DeProgram, militant moderate Sébastian Lecornu is out as French prime minister after 26 days. President Emmanuel Macron has three options now. He can appoint another prime minister. He can once again dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections that either the far Right or the far Left would win. Or he can resign himself.Financial expert Aquilles Larrea joins to discuss the effect of the government shutdown on working Americans.A shocking development in the Middle East, where Trump's Gaza deal is being shoved down Netanyahu’s throat—and Bibi says he likes it, at least according to Trump. Israel will be forced into phased withdrawals and Gaza City bombings will stop at once in exchange for the remaining hostages. Hamas hasn’t agreed to disarm or give up control, but Trump tells Jake Tapper they face “complete obliteration” if they refuse. Is he referring to a nuclear option?In the Pacific, Fiji confronts a "national crisis" with HIV cases exploding 11x to 5,900 in a decade, fueled by meth-fueled "bluetoothing" blood-sharing and needle shortages amid conservative rule. Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa warns of 3,000+ new infections by year’s end, with 41 pediatric cases under 15 last year and experts fearing an "avalanche" from underreporting and resource gaps, as UNAIDS urges stigma-free testing.Finally, a wild situation roils the Philippines as a disinformation storm rages, with Duterte loyalists spreading rumors of fake CIA-backed coup plots and military defections on social media to distract from corruption scandals, eroding trust in Marcos's regime.

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou dissects the Trump administration's dramatic, legally unfounded escalation against drug cartels, declaring a formal armed conflict in order to unlock powers for indefinite detentions and lethal strikes—challenging international law amid last month's Caribbean boat attacks that claimed 17 Venezuelans. Trump's War on Cartels: The administration notifies Congress that it is formally designating cartels as “terrorist nonstate armed groups,” framing boat strikes as lawful warfare under international law. This determination allows the president to kill enemy fighters. Retired judge advocate Geoffrey S. Corn condemns this as an abuse of the law, arguing that drug smuggling are not armed attacks.Government Shutdown and Cuts: Trump meets budget director Russell Vought to slash "Democrat Agencies" amid the shutdown, freezing funds for Democratic-leaning states and accelerating 300,000 federal worker layoffs by year's end. Inspired by Project 2025, this inflicts partisan pain, with unions suing but courts allowing firings to proceed. Senator Patty Murray blasts treating workers as pawns, warning it deepens the $1.7 trillion funding freeze halting research and data reports.Tennessee Executions: The Supreme Court schedules dates for four inmates, including Christa Pike, the state's sole woman on death row for her 1995 torture slaying of fellow student Colleen Slemmer. Pike's team appeals for commutation citing her abusive childhood, undiagnosed bipolar and PTSD at age 18. This follows a lethal injection scandal revealing untested drugs in prior executions.Madagascar Protests: President Andry Rajoelina fires his cabinet to try to quell youth-led street protests in Antananarivo over crippling water cuts and power outages hindering studies and meals, yet demands for his resignation surge. Gen Z Madagascar mobilizes strikes using global youth symbols, amid clashes killing at least 22 per U.N. reports, exacerbated by poverty and Trump's new tariffs. Hamas Eyes Gaza Deal: Hamas prepares its demands for revisions to Trump's 20-point plan. Facing a three-to-four-day deadline or "pay in hell" threats, leaders in Istanbul, Doha, and Gaza navigate divisions. Analysts frame it as choosing between bad and worse.