Behind the Bastards: "It Could Happen Here Weekly 160" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: December 14, 2024
Hosts: Robert Evans and Simone Boyce
Production: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

1. Introduction and Overview

The episode opens with standard podcast advertisements from figures like Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, promoting various brands and services. The primary content begins around [02:30], featuring hosts Robert Evans and Simone Boyce discussing pressing political and social issues.

2. Cash Patel’s Nomination as FBI Director

Key Discussion:
Robert Evans and Simone Boyce delve into the controversial nomination of Cash Patel for the position of FBI Director.

Notable Quote:
Simone Boyce remarks on Patel’s background:
"[06:55] Simone Boyce: Not all of them are, like, sticking around, I guess. You know, Matt Gaetz is now out of the job."

3. Background and Professional Actions of Cash Patel

Key Points:

• Early Career: Born in New York, Patel worked as a public defender before becoming a federal prosecutor in the DOJ’s National Security division.
• DOJ Contributions: Led investigations against Al Qaeda and ISIS, collaborating on global counterterrorism operations.
• Controversies:
  • Courtroom Incident: In 2016, Patel was removed from a courtroom for inappropriate attire ([09:39]).
  • Misrepresentation: Exaggerated his role in prosecuting the 2012 Benghazi attackers, where he was merely a junior staff member ([08:30]).

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans sarcastically comments on Patel’s professionalism:
"[08:30] Robert Evans: Great, okay. I'm sure he was good at that job. I'm sure he didn't have any really embarrassing failures during that period of time."

4. Cash Patel’s Ties to QAnon and Online Activities

Key Points:

• QAnon Involvement: Patel actively engaged with QAnon communities, incorporating their narratives into his messaging ([25:41]).
• Public Appearances: Regularly appeared on QAnon-linked podcasts like the X22 Report and Matrix XXX Grove show ([25:41]).
• Social Media Activity: Patel posted content aligning with QAnon ideologies, including promoting conspiracy theories ([29:06]).

Notable Quote:
Simone Boyce critiques Patel’s alignment with QAnon:
"[25:41] Simone Boyce: True Social's staff operate an account at Q forms to piggyback off of QAnon's popularity and draw in popular QAnon influencers."

5. Financial and Personal Ventures of Cash Patel

Key Points:

• Consulting Fees: Patel's company, Trishel, collected significant consulting fees from Trump’s Truth Social and other pro-Trump entities ([30:23]).
• Cash Foundation: Received $1.3 million in revenue, primarily from donations, and spent half on advertising ([31:16]).
• Merchandise Sales: Sold Cash-branded merchandise, including overpriced items like wine and polo shirts ([31:46]).
• Product Endorsements: Promoted anti-vaccine supplements claiming to reverse COVID-19 vaccine effects, despite lacking scientific backing ([32:45]).

Notable Quote:
Simone Boyce mocks Patel’s foundation spending:
"[31:33] Simone Boyce: Through this foundation, he also sells Cash merchandise, which is spelled K. Money sign H. Yeah, that's."

6. Discussion of Luigi Mangione, the Shooter

Key Points:

• Incident Overview: Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is analyzed for his motivations and online behavior ([86:54]).
• Radicalization: Evans attributes Mangione’s actions to chronic pain and frustration, highlighting his online manifesto advocating violence against insurance executives ([90:28]).
• Media Response: Contrasts the attention Mangione received with other shooters, emphasizing societal fascination with targeted assassinations over random mass shootings ([98:35]).

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans summarizes Mangione’s motivation:
"[91:50] Robert Evans: It's a man who experienced debilitating health issues and turned to violence as a means of expression."

7. Collapse of Assad’s Regime in Syria

Key Points:

• Regime Fall: The Assad regime has crumbled, leading to the dismantling of his dictatorship and the tearing down of statues ([49:52]).
• US Involvement: Highlights the US’s role in supporting the SDF against ISIS but notes the lack of continued support post-ISIS elimination ([50:52]).
• Emerging Threats: Turkish-backed jihadist groups like HTS and the Syrian National Army (SNA) pose significant threats to the autonomous regions ([55:12]).

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans expresses disappointment in the US response:
"[56:28] Robert Evans: We stumbled backwards accidentally into exactly once supporting the good guys in the conflict, specifically in the conflict with ISIS."

8. Impact on Kurdish and Minority Communities in Northeast Syria

Key Points:

• Ethnic Cleansing: Minority communities, especially Kurds, face violent attacks and displacement by Turkish-backed forces ([18:21]).
• Autonomous Administration Under Threat: The democratic efforts in Rojava are jeopardized by external military aggression ([57:00]).
• Humanitarian Crisis: Thousands have been forcibly displaced, with inadequate international media coverage ([16:37]).

Notable Quote:
Simone Boyce emphasizes the urgency:
"[82:12] Simone Boyce: If you care about building democracy without the state, if you care about building a place where women and men are equal... I would encourage you to do what you can to support them."

9. Professionalization of HTS and Technological Advances in Syrian Conflict

Key Points:

• Advanced Warfare Tactics: HTS and SNA have adopted sophisticated military technologies, including drones and thermal optics, enhancing their operational capabilities ([74:35]).
• Learning from Other Conflicts: Adoption of tactics from Ukraine and Myanmar, such as FPV drones, showcases HTS’s rapid professionalization ([74:35]).
• Strategic Operations: Effective use of armored vehicles and coordinated drone strikes have been pivotal in recent offensive actions against Assad loyalists ([74:35]).

Notable Quote:
DJ Dramos highlights HTS’s advancements:
"[76:18] DJ Dramos: ...they fired propane cylinders out of huge tubes, these improvised mortars they call hell cannons. Like, really incredible."

10. Organizing and Building Relationships in Activism

Key Points:

• Grassroots Organizing: Hosts discuss the importance of building relationships and leveraging inherent organizing skills, emphasizing that most people already possess the capabilities required for effective activism ([168:02]).
• Skills Development: Highlight various skills beneficial for organizing, such as communication, research (OSINT), technical skills (e.g., sewing, cooking), and logistical abilities (e.g., booking meeting spaces) ([175:18]).
• Sustainable Communities: Emphasize creating strong interpersonal bonds to maintain resilient and effective activist groups without reliance on traditional organizational structures ([169:19]).

Notable Quote:
Simone Boyce encourages listeners on organizing:
"[138:00] Savannah Guthrie: And if you can organize a dinner party, right, if you can get eight people to show up to a place to eat dinner, you can do this."

11. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with continued advertisements interspersed with closing remarks from the hosts, reiterating the importance of grassroots organizing and staying informed on global political shifts. The overarching theme centers on the vulnerabilities within political systems, the rise of unconventional figures like Cash Patel, and the critical need for active community engagement to uphold democratic and ethical standards worldwide.

End of Summary