Provoked with Darryl Cooper and Scott Horton

The hosts dive into the looming collapse of the real estate market bubble, discussing the implications and signs of decline. They examine a recent report revealing the failures of U.S. nation-building in Afghanistan, highlighting massive waste and poor execution. The conversation shifts to U.S. military actions in Venezuela, considering the ethics of intervention and drug policy. They also explore the unintended consequences of prohibition and discuss the risks of regime change, sharing personal anecdotes that shed light on community impacts and social decline.

Join Keith Knight, managing editor at the Libertarian Institute and host of the Don't Tread On Anyone podcast, as he dives into pressing issues. Keith and Scott Horton unpack the recent shooting of national guardsmen in D.C. and explore the repercussions of U.S. military interventions on immigration. They discuss how welfare impacts newcomers and the cultural shifts driven by mass migration. Keith also hesitantly endorses immigration controls while critiquing state power, all while sharing insights from his upcoming WWII course and debate experiences.

Is AI about to turn on humanity? A deep dive discusses whether fears of superintelligence are justified or just sci-fi hype. The hosts reveal parallels between missile defense and AI adoption, highlighting the dangers of removing human oversight. They ponder if AIs could develop their will, influence public behavior, and challenge job markets through automation. Concerns also arise about algorithm-driven mood engineering on social media and the creative impact of AI-generated art. Will we control AI, or will it control us?

Darryl and Scott unravel the tangled web of power, intelligence, and criminality that defines the world we live in. They provoke thought with the chilling assertion: "All humans break," leading to a profound exploration of power dynamics through the lens of Jeffrey Epstein's intricate connections with foreign intelligence, particularly his ties to Israeli operatives. As they dissect investigative insights from journalist Ryan Grimm, Cooper and Horton challenge ingrained narratives about Epstein, revealing how his actions were deeply entwined with geopolitical interests, echoing the legacy of his mentor Robert Maxwell. The discussion navigates the thin line between assertion and rumor, especially concerning the sexual abuses linked to Epstein, and sheds light on the broader political agendas at play. A pivot to the Syrian conflict introduces figures like Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, suggesting their emergence as unlikely leaders serves larger Western geopolitical purposes, igniting uncomfortable questions about allegiances and the true costs of foreign policies. Meanwhile, Horton critiques the media's role in shaping and challenging narratives, emphasizing the press's moral duty to scrutinize dominant discourses amidst pressing global issues. Amidst the analysis, a poignant moment arises as Cooper reflects on the personal stories of ordinary lives impacted by political strife, particularly highlighting the plight of a young Palestinian girl. This shift underscores the often-overlooked human cost of global conflicts and the disconnect between policymakers and their consequences. Through this episode, Cooper and Horton urge listeners to engage critically with political narratives while remaining attuned to the human stories that provide context to the chaos. They conclude with a clarion call for justice and the protection of free speech, reminding us that beneath the complexities of global issues lie the very personal stories that drive our collective quest for truth. (Cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app. ⁠https://podsworth.com⁠) 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations that push past the noise. 🔹 No safe spaces. 🔹 No corporate filters. 🔹 Just raw, informed, and fearless conversation. Provoked show website: ⁠https://provoked.show⁠ Darryl's links: X: ⁠@martyrmade⁠ ⁠https://subscribe.martyrmade.com⁠ Scott's links: X: ⁠@scotthortonshow⁠ ⁠https://scotthortonacademy.com⁠ ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org⁠ ⁠https://antiwar.com⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org/books⁠ ⁠https://www.scotthortonshow.com⁠ 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 ⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4904399580430336

The outrage machine took a clipped quote and turned it into a trial of character. So instead of ducking the fire, we walked straight in and asked tougher questions: What choices did Churchill really make in 1939 and 1940—and what did they cost Europe? Where were the off-ramps? How did British strategy, propaganda, and bombing doctrine fuel escalation? And why does that history still matter when you scroll your phone today and see Gaza in ruins? Cooper draws a line from the myths of World War II to the way narratives are managed now—from algorithms that boost “safe” dissenters, to the lobby networks that punish anyone who strays too far. Public opinion has shifted, but the elite consensus hasn’t moved an inch. That tension is visible to everyone—left, right, and center. Once people see unfiltered footage instead of curated messaging, they start asking the questions the gatekeepers don’t want on the table: Who shapes the narrative? Who gets silenced? And why don’t our leaders reflect the moral instincts of the public? We also face the fracture on the right head-on. A younger, online generation speaks a different political language than the legacy establishment, and their anger often gets mistaken for ideology. Our approach is simple: reach big, alienated audiences without endorsing their worst takes; defend open debate instead of letting smear campaigns define its limits; distinguish between Zionism, lobbying, and Jewish identity; and keep the focus where it belongs—on policy and power. Engagement isn’t endorsement. It’s strategy. Persuasion that expands the conversation beats purity that shrinks it. If you’re done with cartoon history and choreographed outrage, this conversation connects the dots: Churchill’s gambles, manufactured consent, Gaza’s moral reckoning, algorithmic manipulation, and the urgent need to build institutions that teach complexity instead of slogans. Subscribe, share it with a friend who still sees history in black and white, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your feedback drives what we dig into next. Don’t blink — because what’s happening inside MAGA right now could reshape the entire movement. Watch before it disappears. This one’s explosive. (Cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app and re-released November 20, 2025. https://podsworth.com) 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations that push past the noise. 🔹 No safe spaces. 🔹 No corporate filters. 🔹 Just raw, informed, and fearless conversation. Provoked show website: https://provoked.show Darryl's links: X: @martyrmade https://subscribe.martyrmade.com Scott's links: X: @scotthortonshow https://scotthortonacademy.com https://libertarianinstitute.org https://antiwar.com https://scotthorton.org https://scotthorton.org/books https://www.scotthortonshow.com 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4904399580430336

War talk is easy — until you hear from someone who actually lived it. In this episode, we step away from headlines and theories to listen to the people who’ve seen combat up close. Trenches, artillery, fear — these aren’t abstractions. They’re human stories. E.B. Sledge once called artillery “an invention of hell,” and when you hear why, you understand what’s really at stake when leaders talk about war. From there, we dig into today’s culture battles — platforming vs. canceling, open debate vs. gatekeeping. The Heritage Foundation backed Tucker Carlson when others wanted him silenced, and it raises a bigger question: does deplatforming ever actually work? We argue that bringing controversial voices into real conversation builds more trust than trying to erase them. We also talk about Nick Fuentes — his rise to fame, the controversy surrounding him, and how his evolution from an 18-year-old provocateur to a symbol of online extremism says a lot about the internet era itself. His story shows how the mix of outrage, youth, and social media algorithms can turn fringe figures into icons for millions — and why ignoring them doesn’t make the problem go away. We then shift to the wars abroad — especially in Israel and Gaza — and how they’re reopening old divides here at home. The Right is still wrestling with the legacy of Iraq and the failure of regime change. Now, when images of Gaza flood the internet faster than official narratives, labeling critics as bigots doesn’t end the argument — it just deepens the anger. Finally, we turn inward. How did identity politics and social media turn neighbors into rivals? How did equality give way to endless outrage? We talk about how culture shifts, why universal values still matter, and how free speech and fairness can pull us back from the edge. At the heart of this conversation is one idea: listen to the people who’ve lived it. Respect real experience. Trust your audience. Because when we stop talking and start censoring, we don’t fix anything — we just make the world louder and meaner. (Cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app and re-released November 20, 2025. ⁠https://podsworth.com⁠) 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations that push past the noise. 🔹 No safe spaces. 🔹 No corporate filters. 🔹 Just raw, informed, and fearless conversation. Provoked show website: ⁠https://provoked.show⁠ Darryl's links: X: ⁠@martyrmade⁠ ⁠https://subscribe.martyrmade.com⁠ Scott's links: X: ⁠@scotthortonshow⁠ ⁠https://scotthortonacademy.com⁠ ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org⁠ ⁠https://antiwar.com⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org/books⁠ ⁠https://www.scotthortonshow.com⁠ 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 ⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4904399580430336

Start with the trenches, not the slogans. We open with Daryl’s new MartyrMade series that tells World War II from the German perspective, beginning in World War I to show how ordinary men were swept by trauma, propaganda, and deprivation into choices that later hardened into catastrophe. The aim is clarity, not absolution—humanize even the “enemy,” and you gain the tools to see your own era more honestly. From that lens, we shift to power now. Guest Ronald Dodson explains why a government shutdown can reveal a rare opportunity to cut through the administrative state. OMB’s role in classifying “non‑essential” positions and triggering reduction‑in‑force plans isn’t bean counting; it’s a constitutional lever. We explore Article II authority, what it should mean for presidential control of the executive branch, and how to draw a hard line against Bush‑era claims of boundless commander‑in‑chief power. Elections only matter if executives can direct and dismiss, and if Congress stops outsourcing lawmaking to regulators. Foreign policy exposes the costs of an unaccountable machine. The Cold War built a global apparatus that never stood down: covert wars that try to conscript the Pentagon, a CIA culture that glorifies operating beyond rules, and procurement fantasies like the F‑35 that attempt to be everything and end up fragile. We weigh a bold corrective—moving CIA operations into DIA under military accountability—and trace how empires force universal solutions while rivals need only local answers. That asymmetry drains treasure and invites strategic overreach. Can we return to an old republic? No—but we can recover representative control. That means narrowing delegations, demanding real budgets instead of endless CRs, restoring presidential direction over agencies, and designing reforms that face forward rather than worship nostalgia. Along the way, expect sharp debate, concrete mechanics, and a throughline: stories that humanize the past can help us govern the present. If this episode challenged your assumptions or gave you a new frame to think with, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. (Cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app and re-released November 20, 2025. ⁠https://podsworth.com⁠) 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations that push past the noise. 🔹 No safe spaces. 🔹 No corporate filters. 🔹 Just raw, informed, and fearless conversation. Provoked show website: ⁠https://provoked.show⁠ Darryl's links: X: ⁠@martyrmade⁠ ⁠https://subscribe.martyrmade.com⁠ Scott's links: X: ⁠@scotthortonshow⁠ ⁠https://scotthortonacademy.com⁠ ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org⁠ ⁠https://antiwar.com⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org/books⁠ ⁠https://www.scotthortonshow.com⁠ 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 ⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4904399580430336

If you caught the live show you know we had some significant audio trouble. We remixed the portions of the live show to enhance the audio as best we could. This version is significantly better than that version on the live tab of the YouTube channel. (Additionally, this version was cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app and re-released November 20, 2025. This version is crystal clear, clean, and level. ⁠⁠https://podsworth.com⁠⁠) What happens when you tug at the thread of a nation’s favorite story? We open with Daryl Cooper’s new MartyrMade series reframing World War II from the German perspective and explore why questioning the “Good War” myth shakes the foundations of America’s modern identity. If FDR, Truman, and Eisenhower are the real architects of the current state, then our sacred narrative doesn’t just sit in museums—it drives policy, budgets, and the way the press polices debate. Glenn Greenwald jumps in to break down the John Bolton indictment with the kind of specificity most headlines skip. We talk alleged Gmail and AOL spillage of crown-jewel secrets, how Iran reportedly exploited those lapses, and why the Espionage Act keeps crushing conscience-driven whistleblowers while sparing the powerful. From Petraeus’s slap on the wrist to Panetta’s Hollywood handoffs, we map a two-tier secrets system and ask whether this case finally dents elite impunity. We also trace Bolton’s role in wrecking the North Korea deal that nudged Pyongyang toward the bomb—proof that bluster can be more dangerous than it looks. Then we look south. Carrier groups, F-35Bs, Poseidons, Reapers, and Night Stalkers in the Caribbean don’t spell “routine.” The stated drug-war rationale rings thin when northern Mexico would be the obvious target. Oil interests, China’s footprint, and a familiar search for pretext suggest a risk of sliding into a conflict that won’t resemble Panama—more like a grinding regional mess with real costs and no clear gains. It’s the same pattern: narrative first, justification second, escalation third. Across it all, we connect the dots between myth, law, and power. Reframing history tests the permissions our leaders claim. Prosecuting Bolton tests whether insiders finally face the rules they wrote for everyone else. Posturing near Venezuela tests whether we’ve learned anything from the last twenty years. Join us, challenge the story, and if this conversation hits a nerve, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find it. 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations that push past the noise. 🔹 No safe spaces. 🔹 No corporate filters. 🔹 Just raw, informed, and fearless conversation. Provoked show website: ⁠https://provoked.show⁠ Darryl's links: X: ⁠@martyrmade⁠ ⁠https://subscribe.martyrmade.com⁠ Scott's links: X: ⁠@scotthortonshow⁠ ⁠https://scotthortonacademy.com⁠ ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org⁠ ⁠https://antiwar.com⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org/books⁠ ⁠https://www.scotthortonshow.com⁠ 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 ⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4904399580430336

A “ceasefire” that still features explosions doesn’t deserve the name. Scott Horton, and guest host Kyle Anzalone dig into what’s actually happening in Gaza right now—why strikes continue, how Israeli forces are repositioning instead of leaving, and what the Lebanon “truce” teaches us about violations becoming a daily routine. From there, we trace the political chess behind the deal: Trump’s pressure on Netanyahu, Kushner’s handshake-first style, and the side understandings that let Israel snap back to war at the first alleged breach. Phase A promises hostages and more aid; Phase B whispers about withdrawal and reconstruction. The text is vague. The incentives are not. We map the tripwires that could unravel everything: a landscape seeded with unexploded ordnance, fragmented command across shattered neighborhoods, and continued occupation that heightens the chance of a single incident becoming pretext. Aid numbers sound big until you compare them to need—warehouses emptied, infrastructure erased, and malnutrition spreading. When institutions like schools, mosques, and hospitals are targeted, communities lose their anchors. The human cost isn’t just today’s body count; it’s the trauma curve of an entire generation: orphans, amputees who require surgeries as they grow, and children whose brains and futures are shaped by hunger and fear. We widen the lens to Iran, where deterrence dynamics after the 12-day exchange leave room for miscalculation. Claims about destroyed nuclear sites are overstated; the real question is whether Tehran rebuilds, leverages restraint, or gets painted into a corner. Then we pivot to Venezuela, where sanctions strangled the economy and fueled migration—and where Washington now flirts with escalation under a drug-war banner. Installing a friendly figurehead is not a strategy; it’s an ignition source. Even those who dislike Maduro will resist a foreign imposition, and any strike invites regional blowback, oil shocks, and a crisis that doesn’t stay within borders. Under it all runs a simple throughline: wars are driven by incentives. Politicians, lobbies, contractors, and media ecosystems gain from “flexible” ceasefires, permanent emergencies, and righteous strikes that never quite end. If we want real de-escalation, we have to insist on terms that can’t be gamed: open access for aid, verifiable withdrawals, clear red lines against collective punishment, and real accountability when they’re crossed. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who follows foreign policy, and leave a review with your biggest question—what would it take to make a ceasefire mean cease fire? (Cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app and re-released November 20, 2025. ⁠https://podsworth.com⁠) 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations that push past the noise. 🔹 No safe spaces. 🔹 No corporate filters. 🔹 Just raw, informed, and fearless conversation. Provoked show website: ⁠https://provoked.show⁠ Darryl's links: X: ⁠@martyrmade⁠ ⁠https://subscribe.martyrmade.com⁠ Scott's links: X: ⁠@scotthortonshow⁠ ⁠https://scotthortonacademy.com⁠ ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org⁠ ⁠https://antiwar.com⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org/books⁠ ⁠https://www.scotthortonshow.com⁠ 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 ⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4904399580430336

Start with the question everyone dodges: why did October 7 happen—and why did the story that followed look so different from the facts on the ground? We sit down with Max Blumenthal to trace the long arc from siege and failed truces to an operation designed to seize leverage through captives, disrupt the Abraham Accords, and force a political reset. From Sinwar’s rise and an overland breach that stunned the Gaza Division to the chaos around the Nova festival, we map the day’s hard realities—and the decisions that magnified them. Then we go after the narratives. Atrocity Inc isn’t a contrarian hot take; it’s a methodical look at claims that raced around the world: “beheaded babies,” mass rape, and other shock headlines that shaped a public mandate for a maximal war. We weigh what’s proven and what collapsed under scrutiny, how the Hannibal Directive became “mass Hannibal,” and why Apache pilots firing with thin intel likely torched scores of vehicles carrying civilians. This isn’t exculpation of crimes by militants; it’s a demand that evidence—not atrocity inflation—set the limits of force. Finally, we pull back the lens. Israeli politics and media culture—judicial fights, messianic factions, and a siege mentality trained from adolescence—collide with a public that wants hostages home even as leaders move the goalposts. We talk incentives, not slogans: how negotiation looks when the only leverage is human, why foreknowledge claims miss structural failures, and what it would take to stop a war that metastasized on the back of myth. If you care about truth in wartime, hostages returning alive, and policy made on verifiable facts, this conversation will give you a sharper map. Listen, share with someone who follows the headlines, and tell us: which claim did you once believe—and what changed your mind? Subscribe for more grounded, evidence-driven episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. (Cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app and re-released November 20, 2025. ⁠https://podsworth.com⁠) 👉 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations that push past the noise. 🔹 No safe spaces. 🔹 No corporate filters. 🔹 Just raw, informed, and fearless conversation. Provoked show website: ⁠https://provoked.show⁠ Darryl's links: X: ⁠@martyrmade⁠ ⁠https://subscribe.martyrmade.com⁠ Scott's links: X: ⁠@scotthortonshow⁠ ⁠https://scotthortonacademy.com⁠ ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org⁠ ⁠https://antiwar.com⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org⁠ ⁠https://scotthorton.org/books⁠ ⁠https://www.scotthortonshow.com⁠ 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 ⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4904399580430336