Provoked with Darryl Cooper and Scott Horton

Episode 5: The Mosquito Protocol: When Power Has No Shame: Genocide, Cover-Ups, and Zero Accountability
Release Date: July 26, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 5 of "Provoked," hosts Darryl Cooper and Scott Horton delve into a range of pressing global issues, focusing primarily on the Israeli military's actions in Gaza, alleged genocide, governmental cover-ups, and the broader implications of power without accountability. The conversation intertwines contemporary geopolitical events with historical analogies to emphasize the recurring patterns of conflict and manipulation.

Epstein and Intelligence Connections

The episode opens with a discussion on Jeffrey Epstein, where Scott Horton addresses criticisms labeling him a "conspiracy kook" for suggesting Epstein's connections to Mossad.

• Scott Horton (00:01): "...the number one ranked new show on Apple Podcasts... I’m the director of the Libertarian Institute... I got 6,000 interviews going back to 2003..."

• Scott Horton (03:08): "There's an op-ed where the guy wrote a book about it and said... including which all intelligence agencies was he connected to... These are absolutely legitimate questions..."

Scott highlights that mainstream publications like the New York Times are beginning to broach questions about Epstein's potential ties to intelligence agencies, suggesting a shift in narrative that was once dismissed as fringe.

Israeli Military Actions in Gaza

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to critiquing the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) operations in Gaza, which Cooper and Horton describe as genocidal rather than traditional warfare.

• Darryl Cooper (04:32): "Everybody thinks they can connect it to Trump and the Republicans and we never hear anything about it."

• Scott Horton (04:48): "...a senior military officer told Haaretz, we have a subarmy of Palestinian slaves that we use to clear buildings and rubble and tunnels... we use children as human shields in Gaza."

Cooper argues that the Israeli actions are not comparable to U.S. military interventions in Iraq or Afghanistan, emphasizing the deliberate starvation and targeting of non-combatants in Gaza.

Propaganda and Media Coverage

The hosts explore how media narratives shape public perception, particularly regarding the Gaza conflict.

• Darryl Cooper (10:40): "But people don't... People are kind of afraid even to... I'm not talking to you anymore. That's... it's insulting..."

• Scott Horton (12:20): "Aid groups say they're starving because of the blockades, but mainstream media fails to convey the severity..."

They contend that mainstream media outlets either downplay or misrepresent the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, often attributing issues to Hamas rather than Israeli policies.

Historical Comparisons: Oklahoma City and JFK

Cooper and Horton draw parallels between current events and historical incidents like the Oklahoma City bombing and the JFK assassination to illustrate patterns of governmental cover-up and misinformation.

• Scott Horton (25:52): "The Oklahoma bombing too, you know... a couple FBI informants can blow up a building and the government would clamp down and cover that up."

• Darryl Cooper (48:34): "JFK assassination is a perfect example... quite similar to the Epstein situation."

They argue that just as in these historical cases, modern events are subject to obfuscation and partial truths, preventing the public from accessing the full reality of governmental actions.

Information Warfare and Subversion

The conversation delves into the techniques of information warfare, highlighting how governments manipulate narratives to maintain control.

• Darryl Cooper (44:40): "They plant stories out there that are purely meant to be diversions..."

• Scott Horton (46:24): "They flood the zone with so much content... kids are dying in Gaza... they're being taxed... etc."

The hosts explain that in the digital age, the proliferation of misinformation and propaganda makes it challenging for individuals to discern truth from manipulation, leading to public apathy or misinformed outrage.

US Foreign Policy: Ukraine, Syria, and Russiagate

Towards the end of the episode, Horton shifts focus to U.S. foreign policy, discussing the complexities of the Ukraine war, U.S. involvement in Syria, and the so-called "Russiagate."

• Scott Horton (57:21): "Ukraine war continues with Russian forces making significant advances... Peace talks amounted to little."

• Darryl Cooper (57:23): "Israeli interventions in Syria are aimed at building Greater Israel..."

They critique the U.S. stance on international conflicts, suggesting hypocrisy and ineffective strategies. Horton highlights the failure of peace talks in Ukraine and the destructive influence of U.S. alliances in Syria, arguing that these policies are detrimental to regional stability.

Concluding Remarks

In wrapping up, Horton and Cooper reflect on the pervasive corruption and lack of accountability within powerful institutions, emphasizing the need for public awareness and action despite systemic obstacles.

• Scott Horton (32:50): "People care about it and they're making it an issue... We're not all the way dead yet."

• Darryl Cooper (50:50): "They were supposed to catch him red-handed and then they didn't... that's what they're pushing for."

They acknowledge the challenges in combating entrenched power structures but remain cautiously optimistic about growing public consciousness and the importance of continuing to shed light on these critical issues.

Notable Quotes

• Scott Horton (04:13): "The Hayes assassination is a perfect example... how could they lie about that?"

• Darryl Cooper (44:31): "The British figured out what was wrong and they started planting stories in the press... diversions."

• Scott Horton (46:24): "They flood the zone with so much content... it's overwhelming... kids are dying in Gaza."

Key Takeaways

• Genocide and Cover-Ups: The hosts argue that Israeli military actions in Gaza constitute genocide, supported by deliberate policies and actions aimed at eradicating Palestinian presence.

• Media Manipulation: There is a significant critique of how mainstream media fails to accurately represent conflicts, often perpetuating government narratives that obfuscate the truth.

• Historical Parallels: Drawing on past events like the Oklahoma City bombing and JFK assassination, Cooper and Horton highlight consistent patterns of governmental cover-ups and misinformation.

• Information Warfare: The discussion underscores the modern challenges of discerning truth in an era dominated by propaganda and information overload.

• Foreign Policy Critique: The episode offers a critical view of U.S. foreign policy in regions like Ukraine and Syria, suggesting that current strategies are ineffective and hypocritical.

• Call to Action: Despite acknowledging systemic corruption and public apathy, the hosts emphasize the importance of maintaining awareness and striving for accountability.

For those seeking an in-depth exploration of the psychology of conflict, cycles of violence, and the mechanisms of power without accountability, Episode 5 of "Provoked" offers a comprehensive and critical perspective.