Useful Idiots with Katie Halper and Aaron Maté

You can go to our sponsor https://aura.com/usefulidiots to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a fingerSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Fox News Somehow Hits New Low on Israeli Hospital Strike Justification https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/fox-news-somehow-hits-new-low-on?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.Watch TOMORROW'S FREEDOM, the documentary about Marwan Barghouti: https://watch.watermelonpictures.com/tomorrow-s-freedom https://www.tomorrowsfreedom.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Professor Richard Sakwa and Dr. Omar Abdel-Mannan: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/trumps-plan-genocide-in-gaza-peace?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseHelp Dr. Omar's foundation: https://www.healthworkers4palestine.com/You can go to our sponsor https://aura.com/usefulidiots to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a fingerSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: MSNBC Claims It’s Now Independent Media https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/msnbc-claims-its-now-independent?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.Useful Idiots has another Double Header this week as we look at Gaza and Ukraine.First up we speak with Dr. Omar Abdel-Mannan, founder of Health Workers 4 Palestine, about the State Department’s heartless decision to pause all visitor visas for people from Gaza. This policy shift came after Jewish-supremacist, right-wing-conspiracy-theorist, and self-described “proud Islamophobe” Laura Loomer took to Twitter (and tagged Secretary of State Marco Rubio) to expose the fact that “Islamic invaders” were infiltrating the U.S. from Gaza. Of course, what was really happening is that children injured in Gaza with weapons from (and/or paid for by) the U.S. were coming to the states for medical treatment (at no expense to U.S. taxpayers) thanks to the non-profit HEAL Palestine.Dr. Omar knows how important it is to provide children from Gaza with medical treatment in England, where he lives. He himself has worked tirelessly to bring children wounded in Gaza by UK weapons, into the UK.He also reacts to propagandist outlets like Bari Weiss’s The Free Press, which engages in the most disgusting whitewashing of Israel’s crimes: starving children to death isn’t that bad because most of the ones dying have pre-existing conditions. Phew! What a relief.Plus, we ask Dr. Omar: is Palantir selling your health data to Israel?Next we speak with Professor Richard Sakwa to discuss the latest in Russia-Ukraine after Trump’s controversial summit with Putin.We ask Sakwa: what are Putin’s true motives? Does he see Ukraine as a real country? Does he want revenge on the US and UK after Biden and Boris Johnson colluded to push Ukraine out of peace talks? And is Trump treating Putin as his equal, conning him into taking a worse deal, or bowing down to him just like he does with Netanyahu?00:00 Intro00:40 Dem Rep beats up protesters03:22 How JD Vance lied about "no taxes on tips"07:30 Trump thinks he's going to Heaven09:54 MSNBC thinks progressives are MAGA14:05 Dr. Omar Abdel-Mannan interview14:22 Laura Loomer tells Rubio to cancel visas for wounded children46:57 Professor Richard Sakwa interview47:36 The Trump-Putin Summit59:31 Does Putin see Ukraine as a real country?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You can go to our sponsor https://aura.com/usefulidiots to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a fingerSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Bill Maher Goes FULL PROPAGANDA Bot For Israel https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/bill-maher-goes-full-propaganda-bot?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.For nearly 40 years, journalist Tim Weiner has closely covered the CIA, finding his way inside crucial meetings, speaking with retired officials, and gaining the trust of people with classified information. And his latest book, The Mission, does something we’ve never seen before:It gives an in-depth history of the CIA without any anonymous sources. Everyone’s on the record. We don’t know how Tim did it, but he joins Useful Idiots to share what he’s learned from 40 years of digging.Useful Idiots: You spoke to former CIA Director Richard Helms, and you wrote: “He wanted me to understand that the agency hadn't dreamed up the idea of overthrowing Iran or killing Fidel Castro. Every president since Truman had commanded the CIA to intervene with guns and money to control the fate of nations when sending in the Marines was not an option.” Did you get the sense that the CIA was always just unquestioningly following orders?Tim Weiner: It took me a while to understand this simple but important point: the CIA is an executor of American foreign policy. It doesn't dream up coups and plots and other nefarious covert activities. With rare exceptions, it does what the president tells it to do.It's not like a couple of CI officers were sitting around drinking martinis in 1960 saying, ‘Hey, I got a good idea. Let's go kill Fidel Castro.’ Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy and President Kennedy's brother, Bobby, wanted Castro gone.When it came time to investigate the first twenty five years of the CIA, the Church Committee in the 1970s dove deep into this: Frank Church, the senator who ran them, wondered aloud if “the CIA has become a rogue elephant trampling people and nations.”But, we later find out, after the hearings, Church amended his statement: “When the elephant tramples people and nations, it's not the elephant's fault. It is the fault of the mahout, the elephant driver.” And that was the President of the United States.The Church Committee, and even the torture report about CIA secret prisons that the Senate finally released ten years ago, really tiptoes around this question of presidential authority for violations of the laws of God and man and the Geneva Convention by the CIA. It's the president's outfit. And it is a unique expression of presidential power to order the CIA to go and kill people or torture them or throw them in secret prisons for the rest of their lives, never to see the light of day.Useful Idiots: Your book tells the story of the great lengths to which the CIA went to cover up for torture. You have this controversy over an attempt to destroy videotapes of torture at a CIA secret prison in Thailand. And then you also have the CIA spying on the Senate as the Senate is investigating the CIA's torture program.Tim Weiner: Two unhappy stories. The first is rather dramatic.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Intelligence Expert Tim Weiner: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/full-episode-intelligence-expert?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseYou can go to our sponsor https://aura.com/usefulidiots to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a fingerSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Bill Maher Goes FULL PROPAGANDA Bot For Israel https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/bill-maher-goes-full-propaganda-bot?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.For nearly 40 years, journalist Tim Weiner has closely covered the CIA, finding his way inside crucial meetings, speaking with retired officials, and gaining the trust of people with classified information. And his latest book, The Mission, does something we’ve never seen before:It gives an in-depth history of the CIA without any anonymous sources. Everyone’s on the record. We don’t know how Tim did it, but he joins Useful Idiots to share what he’s learned from 40 years of digging.Useful Idiots: You spoke to former CIA Director Richard Helms, and you wrote: “He wanted me to understand that the agency hadn't dreamed up the idea of overthrowing Iran or killing Fidel Castro. Every president since Truman had commanded the CIA to intervene with guns and money to control the fate of nations when sending in the Marines was not an option.” Did you get the sense that the CIA was always just unquestioningly following orders?Tim Weiner: It took me a while to understand this simple but important point: the CIA is an executor of American foreign policy. It doesn't dream up coups and plots and other nefarious covert activities. With rare exceptions, it does what the president tells it to do.It's not like a couple of CI officers were sitting around drinking martinis in 1960 saying, ‘Hey, I got a good idea. Let's go kill Fidel Castro.’ Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy and President Kennedy's brother, Bobby, wanted Castro gone.When it came time to investigate the first twenty five years of the CIA, the Church Committee in the 1970s dove deep into this: Frank Church, the senator who ran them, wondered aloud if “the CIA has become a rogue elephant trampling people and nations.”But, we later find out, after the hearings, Church amended his statement: “When the elephant tramples people and nations, it's not the elephant's fault. It is the fault of the mahout, the elephant driver.” And that was the President of the United States.The Church Committee, and even the torture report about CIA secret prisons that the Senate finally released ten years ago, really tiptoes around this question of presidential authority for violations of the laws of God and man and the Geneva Convention by the CIA. It's the president's outfit. And it is a unique expression of presidential power to order the CIA to go and kill people or torture them or throw them in secret prisons for the rest of their lives, never to see the light of day.Useful Idiots: Your book tells the story of the great lengths to which the CIA went to cover up for torture. You have this controversy over an attempt to destroy videotapes of torture at a CIA secret prison in Thailand. And then you also have the CIA spying on the Senate as the Senate is investigating the CIA's torture program.Tim Weiner: Two unhappy stories. The first is rather dramatic.00:00 Intro00:48 MSNBC can't stop its Russiagate hypocrisy06:31 Rubio gives Netanyahu permission to take Gaza15:46 Netanyahu turns on loyal servant New York Times22:02 Stephen Miller's wife has an announcement for conservative women26:06 Tim Weiner interview33:17 The CIA Elephant41:40 CIA destroys torture tapes46:24 CIA spies on the SenateSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Jasper Nathaniel: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/full-episode-bombshell-trump-hid?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseYou can go to our sponsor https://aura.com/usefulidiots to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a fingerSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Fox News Accidentally Reveals Anti-Mamdani Blackmail Plot Live on Air https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/fox-news-accidentally-reveals-anti?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.00:00 Intro01:11 Sen. Slotkin ROASTED on Breaking Points06:54 Trump's 'gift' that secretly cuts Social Security09:32 Grindr's pro-Israeli policy11:55 The Dems who voted AGAINST Bernie's bill to cut off weapons to Israel20:53 Jasper Nathaniel interview21:52 What is happening in the West Bank?29:36 NAMING A SETTLER SERIAL KILLER35:40 No Other Land member killed42:04 Settlers kill US citizens44:35 The murderous Gaza Humanitarian Fund55:03 Debunking Shai Davidai56:13 Bob Suberi and Huwaida Arraf interviewSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You can go to our sponsor https://aura.com/usefulidiots to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a fingerSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Hunter Biden FLAMES George Clooney & Establishment Dems: “F*ck them!” https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/hunter-biden-flames-george-clooney?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.For this week’s episode of Useful Idiots, we’re focused on the moral issue of our time: Israel’s genocide and starvation siege against the people of Gaza.First up is our interview with two doctors, Dr. Mohamed Nour and Dr. Ahmed Twaij, who recount the horrifying methods of torture Israel uses against other doctors and nurses who have bravely attempted to give care in Gaza.Doctors and nurses have to go through these checkpoints. And some of them would get picked out of the line. They would be made to go wait in another holding area.One of them, I remember he said to me, “I got taken behind the building. I remember seeing two hundred men all completely naked with their hands in plastic cuffs on and blindfolded. They took all of my belongings, made me naked, no boxers, nothing. I remember sitting there for hours. Then they took us into a building and we were just beaten for another couple of hours.”Then they get transported to a prison in Israel: “We got packed into the truck. It was like we were chickens. We weren’t picked up and sat down, just shoved in the back of a truck.”When they get to the prison, the plastic cuffs get changed to metal cuffs. And the blindfold stays on. They'd be given a small area, one meter by two meters. And they get put in a certain position. And they stay in that position, like on their knees, essentially, for twenty hours a day. “We were allowed to lie down for four hours a day.”There's one toilet between, I don't know, a hundred of them. I asked, “How did you go to the toilet?”“They picked us up and took us to the toilet with our cuffs. There's no kind of tissue, no water, nothing. And we had to pull our pants back up ourselves and then go back and sit down.”Another said to me, “I remember we got to have a shower once a week and it was always cold water. I'll never forget that because one day a prisoner cried out, ‘Why is it always cold? Why is it always cold water?’ And then we heard him scream because they'd thrown boiling water over him.” And no one's checking, right? Who's going there to check what's going on in the Israeli prisons?But outside of the Israeli torture prisons, life isn’t much easier. Pulitzer-Prized Poet from Palestine Mosab Abu Toha says that worse than the bombs, the violent soldiers, and the machine guns is the hunger.The ‘aid’ they're getting from the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation [a fake humanitarian organization set up by Israel and the US] includes massacres because Israelis and mercenaries have been shooting at people. These are death sites.People go to these sites in the very early hours of the morning before they open, hours and hours there waiting for the gates to open. Then the people who are running these sites would turn on a light which is a signal that now it's time to go. And they would go in, and then there would be another sign that it's shut. So anyone who stays there for five minutes, for ten minutes, they would be shot at, they would be killed.They tell me: “The problem now is not the airstrike, it's not the drones, it's not the bombs, it's just that we don't have food.” People want to eat, even if they are going to be killed. They can't stop the killing, but they can't just stay in their tents while their children are crying out of hunger. Can you just imagine you're sitting in a tent and there are F-16s and drones in the sky that could drop a bomb and kill you, and you're sitting there for twelve hours and there is no food, there is no water. What do you do?I was listening in the background when Samah, six years old, was in a tent with my mother-in-law in Gaza City. She was crying. She said, ‘I want to eat. I'm hungry. I'm hungry.’ And then my mother-in-law told her, ‘Samah, just be patient. When it's sunset, we will have some food. Just try to drink some water.’Little babies had to fast for twelve or fifteen hours because the fathers and the brothers are outside looking for food knowing that they could not come back with anything or they could not come back at all.A takeaway that was highlighted in both interviews was what we could do to help, not just as journalists, activists, poets, or doctors, but as people in our everyday lives. Mohamed explains:I don't think it's okay for people not to talk about this. When I say people, I mean the general public. People who are going to work, watching Netflix, going out to the theatre, whatever. In years to come, being silent on this issue is going to be something people will really, really regret. The fact that we should at least have spoken about this.We should be talking about it everywhere, at work, at schools, wherever, to say this is not acceptable. And so at the very least, we can all say, ‘look, we spoke up against this. We did as much as we could do for this issue, and we tried our best.’ I think everybody should be able to say that.Thank you for supporting independent media. Help us tell the stories of the people in Palestine by sharing this interview.00:00 Intro01:42 Amy Klobuchar gets CAUGHT11:36 Republicans ADMIT why they're hiding Epstein files16:56 AOC throws her friends under the bus24:25 Someone snuck a camera into the ICE detention center26:33 Doctors Mohamed Nour and Ahmed Twaij interview56:18 What YOU can be doing!58:37 Mosab Abu Toha interview01:25:01 A poem readingSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Larry Charles: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/full-episode-seinfeld-writer-exposes?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseYou can go to our sponsor https://aura.com/usefulidiots to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a fingerSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: MAGA Influencers Suddenly Drop Epstein Questions After Trump Meltdown https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/maga-influencers-suddenly-drop-epstein?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.00:00 Intro00:16 Dems aren't pretending to be anti-war anymore03:29 Dr. Oz is in charge of Medicaid now07:48 Don Jr. thinks he invented the first anti-woke gun09:10 Trump threatens to bomb Moscow and Beijing15:20 Larry Charles interview16:45 The Comedy Samurai19:08 Did the 80s have the same political pressure on comedians?20:46 Tackled by Jimmy Carter's secret service (to bring his sister a joint)23:03 Meeting Larry David24:48 We should be talking about the Arsenio Hall Show29:54 Can you be politically righteous AND funny?31:47 Jerry Seinfeld got SEDUCEDSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with John Kiriakou and Marta Havryshko: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/full-episode-cia-whistleblower-john?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comCheck out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Latest Zohran Mamdani Smear Likens Him to KKK’s David Duke https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/latest-zohran-mamdani-smear-likens?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.00:00 Intro01:46 Corporate Dems can't handle Zohran09:48 Trump accidentally praises Al Qaeda16:41 Kamala Harris' unaired Subway Take21:31 Charlie Kirk blames the Texas floods on DEI25:08 John Kiriakou interview26:33 Why did Trump flip on Epstein?27:26 Did the FBI destroy files?30:02 Why Trump won't release the files32:27 CIA perspective on Israel-US relationship35:10 Mossad-CIA relationship?36:41 Trump and Bibi's circle jerk39:10 The evangelical take47:20 WHO IS IN THE BLACK BOOK?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Liza Featherstone and Ted Hamm: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/full-episode-why-trump-threatened?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comCheck out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Aaron Maté & Katie Halper Demand Meeting with “Fraudfather” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/aaron-mate-and-katie-halper-demand?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.00:00 Intro01:05 Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are USELESS04:33 The worst part of the One Big Beautiful Bill11:15 Trump official calls for return of hostage that Israel killed in 201413:57 The guy who called Hitler God's Hunter is now Israel's best friend16:34 Ted Hamm and Liza Featherstone interview17:22 Covering Zohran23:02 The moment the candidacy became REAL24:56 Does Cuomo even want to be mayor?29:51 Zohran and Palestine35:47 What dangers does Zohran face next?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Johns Hopkins Professor Narges Bajoghli: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/professor-debunks-trumps-iran-nuke?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comCheck out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Trump Thinks He’s Hotter Than Zohran Mamdani https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/trump-thinks-hes-hotter-than-zohran?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.The US-Israel-Iran conflict is changing fast with civilian strikes, ceasefire talks, sneak attacks, and coverups. And Western media is as war-mongering and dishonest as they have been since the beginning of the genocide and were during the Iraq War. Narges Bajoghli, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, helps sheds light on the reality in Iran and parse through the propaganda.Useful Idiots: The big debate right now in Washington is the Trump administration claiming, ‘Yeah, we basically obliterated Iran's nuclear program.’ And the media saying, ‘No, you didn't.’ And that's the debate, not whether the U.S. had the right to do that, or whether it was right for Trump to pretend to engage in diplomacy just to help Israel kill a bunch of people in Iran, including many civilians. As you're watching all this unfold in Washington, what is your sense of what is missing from the public discussion?Narges Bajoghli: First of all, this was an unprovoked war that Israel launched inside of Iran. And as much as the framing around it by mainstream media was that Israel was just targeting military infrastructure, military officials, and nuclear facilities, from day one they were targeting civilian infrastructure. Lots of civilians ended up losing their lives in this twelve day war that we had. So the erasure of that and the focus on the civilian infrastructure in Israel, that is important to pay attention to.The other is that we still talk about nuclear energy as if nuclear energy can only be used to create a bomb. Not only did the IAEA and all US intel agencies say that they had no evidence that Iran was going for a bomb. But what we were not discussing is that nuclear energy is actually used for medical research, it's used for cancer research, it's used for electricity, it's civilian infrastructure. And so targeting civilian infrastructure in this way actually violates international law.Useful Idiots: There's a lot of talk right now about a ceasefire. Is there a ceasefire?Narges Bajoghli: So far, there's a ceasefire in the sense that both sides have ceased firing at one another. Trump’s base turned against him so publicly, so loudly that he could not risk starting another war or else he would have to risk losing his base. So it seems like he's put some pressure on the Israelis as well. But Israel is not known for abiding by and honoring ceasefires. I think to date with the ceasefire in Lebanon, it's already violated it over a thousand times. So I know that there's a lot of trepidation about how long this will actually hold. But for the moment, this is where we are.Subscribe to hear the full interview with Narges Bajoghli on the impact of US sanctions on working people in Iran, whether sanctions should be considered a war crime, what we can predict about Iran by analyzing the regime change operation in Syria, and a weird CNN propaganda video fear-mongering about Iranian sleeper cells in the US.00:00 Intro00:28 Hakeem Jeffries sucks07:37 Fox News wants to bomb Iran more13:27 Trump is calling himself Daddy now15:49 Destiny's war crimes are caught on video18:54 Narges Bajoghli interview19:23 Is there a ceasefire?22:13 Media propaganda exposed30:04 Israel-Iran through an anthropological lens35:26 Why doesn't Iran have US military bases?39:33 Can Iran still promise security to its people?42:02 How do sanctions ruin lives?46:38 The real victims of sanctionsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Support local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comCheck out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Trump Outsources Iran WMD Lies to Israel https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/trump-outsources-iran-wmd-lies-to?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.00:00 Intro01:50 Aaron on Piers Morgan04:58 Ro Khanna calls out Chuck Schumer11:33 ZERO Republicans cosigned Thomas Massie's war powers resolution15:57 Betar's EMBARRASSING new vendetta19:43 Israelis make their YOUNG DAUGHTER sing about bombing people20:44 Sina Toossi interview21:23 A war of Israeli aggression22:07 Iran hits Israel hospital26:29 The Hospital Hypocrisy31:05 Is the IAEA lying?47:35 Tucker Carlson vs Steve Bannon53:35 Netanyahu speaks to Iranians1:01:38 Is Iran acting rationally?1:03:21 The Theocratic Ethno State1:07:55 Negar Razavi interview1:08:26 The New York Times said WHAT?1:14:07 Are any think tanks good?1:17:27 Do Iranians want regime change?1:21:13 NYT warmongers against Iran1:25:22 Would the Nuclear Deal have prevented this?1:27:21 Has Iran made any big mistakes?1:31:16 Can Iran trust the United States?1:33:47 Tucker Carlson OWNS Ted Cruz1:38:03 News from the ground in Iran1:41:33 The Real Goal of Regime InstabilitySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode was recorded just hours before Israel attacked Iran.Click here for the full interview with Johns Hopkins Professor Vali Nasr: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/extended-episode-is-iran-israel-about?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comCheck out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Trump Claims No One Wants to Protest His Birthday Parade (but threatens them just in case) https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/trump-claims-no-one-wants-to-protest?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.Hours after we spoke to Johns Hopkins Professor of Advanced International Studies Vali Nasr, Israel killed multiple Iranian military officials in a strike against “Iranian nuclear sites.” Both Israel and the United States threatened “even more brutal” attacks to come.Professor Nasr, whose latest book is Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History, explains why Israel benefits from attacking Iran, and why they can’t do it without US assistance and consent.Useful Idiots: Are you expecting some sort of military strike from Israel against Iran?Professor Vali Nasr: I don't think Israel is actually able to take out Iran's nuclear facilities on its own without US assistance. It could perhaps hit Iran and then hope the Iranians would retaliate and then bring the United States into a war with Iran. But even in order to get to Iran, Israel cannot surprise the US. It has to go through US radar lines. This idea that Israel would attack Iran on its own without telling the United States, without US cooperation or US support, is just not credible.Useful Idiots: From Iran's perspective, can you explain why enrichment is a red line? Why they insist on what they see as their right to enrich and how they would respond to an argument from the outside saying, ‘Why can't you meet your energy needs through some other means that doesn't include enrichment, which could put you one day on the path to a nuclear weapon?’Professor Nasr: They view it as an inherent right. To say that Iran does not have a right to enrich is basically singling out Iran as a special case in the international community. There are other signatories to the non-proliferation treaty agreement, which also enriched uranium. So the Iranians are basically saying, ‘We're happy to give you inspections, we're happy to be transparent with the inspections, but this is an inherent right.’Secondly, the Iranians have spent billions of dollars over two decades building essentially an industrial capacity enrichment program. And it's now very much embedded in Iran's economy with tons of companies, businesses, et cetera, tied to it.And thirdly, I think they believe that if they gave up enrichment, the United States would not abide by any deal that is signed. They have zero trust in the US, particularly given that this is the very president who walked away from the previous deal. What guarantee do they have that after they gave up all of their enrichment that any country will supply them with their fuel? And then the United States says, ‘OK, we took everything out of Iran. Now let's renege on the deal like last time, reimpose maximum pressure sanctions on them, and then go after the regime.’So for varieties of reasons, they don't think it's a good idea to give up the right to enrich. And that's their red line.-------------------------------------------------Subscribe to hear the full interview with Professor Vali Nasr on the validity of the claim that Iran’s aim is to destroy Israel, whether Iranian tensions would cease if Palestinians were freed from Israeli occupation, and the true nature of Iran’s relationship with Russia and China.00:00 Intro00:47 Zohran Mamdani takes the lead04:42 The most anti-semitic event in history12:01 Mitch McConnell admits the truth about Ukraine15:27 Racist Uncle Sam government cartoons are BACK21:48 Professor Vali Nasr interview23:07 Why would Israel attack Iran?24:27 Why would the US do this DURING peace negotiations?25:48 Why is "no enrichment" a red line for Iran?32:36 Hegseth lies to Congress about nukes37:36 Is the IAEA colluding with Israel?40:54 A lesson in Iranian history47:52 Does Iran want to destroy Israel?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Barry Eisler and Ben Cohen: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/extended-cia-agent-turned-novelist?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comCheck out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Ukraine Proxy Warriors Have Second Thoughts about WWIII https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/ukraine-proxy-warriors-have-second?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.On this week’s show, you’re getting two scoops.It’s a Useful Idiots double header, with former CIA Agent Barry Eisler, who left the CIA to become a spy-thriller novelist (get his latest book The System at barryeisler.com), and Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Ben Cohen, who was arrested recently for interrupting RFK Jr.’s congressional testimony to protest US funding of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.First, Barry Eisler explains his role as a covert operative in the CIA, and the truth it taught him about American tribalist politics.I spent three years in a covert position in the CIA. It taught me a lot about the culture and machinations of the U.S. government and what some call the deep state. And it became great fodder for a guy who then went on to become a full-time thriller writer.What I found there is in some ways a microcosm of tribalism politics in America. And it's this.A lot of people think, ‘oh, is it a bunch of liberals there? Or is it a bunch of conservatives?’ But the fundamental, underlying, and much more meaningful political culture in the CIA is the belief that ‘Hey, America is a force for good in the world. And everything we do, whether it's traditional espionage or shading off into coups or even invasions and occupations, that's all just to make the world a better place.’It's that more fundamental thing where they really believe that America is a force for good in the world and that our mistakes are just innocent mistakes, rather than something much more nefarious.Subscribe for the full interview with Barry Eisler, where we discuss Russiagate from a CIA perspective, watch Palantir’s Alex Karp let slip that his AI kills people, and the connection Barry’s spy thrillers have to Aaron’s nonfiction writing.Next we talk to Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry’s.After disrupting a Senate testimony from RFK Jr. to protest US funding of weapons for Israel’s mass assault on Gaza, he was hauled out by police and arrested. He explains why he did it:Everybody has their breaking point. I was reading about the slaughter of all these innocent children in Gaza. And then I read another article in the paper about another outbreak of lead poisoning in Milwaukee. Lead poisoning creates irreversible brain damage and there's nothing you can do about it.And we know how to prevent it! It's chipping lead paint and lead in plumbing pipes and we could fix it, for a minuscule five percent of the Pentagon budget!And so those two things: we’re making a conscious decision to provide the bombs as a gift to Israel that they use to kill kids in Gaza. And we're kicking kids off Medicaid and not preventing lead poisoning, an easily preventable permanent disease.So I said, I’ve got to make my voice heard. I’ve got to take the most serious action that a citizen can take, which is an act of civil disobedience. And so that's what I did.00:00 Intro01:06 Matthew Miller FLIPS04:30 Musk and Trump break up over Epstein08:20 Indian Lt Gov's CRAZY evolution take12:57 Israel runs NYC mayor debate17:50 Barry Eisler interview33:57 Ben Cohen interviewSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A previous version of the episode had missing clip audio. The issue is now fixed.Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: CNN Claims ‘Free Palestine’ Protests CAUSED Israeli Embassy Staffers Shooting https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/cnn-claims-free-palestine-protests?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.00:00 Intro01:02 Dems SUCK at foreign policy06:06 Marco Rubio is ending student visas09:34 Jake Tapper just learned how to do journalism12:52 The US's big lie at the UN15:59 Muhammad Shehada interview16:55 What is the fake Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?24:09 Is this Hamas's fault?30:03 Israel's war on UNRWA38:10 Germany ADMITS it condoned genocide42:49 Even more Nazi comparisons46:46 Is the new ceasefire deal real?54:12 Muhammad's family in Gaza1:00:24 Is this assault different than Israel in the past?1:06:27 Death Squads running a Humanitarian Foundation1:13:19 Is Trump different than Biden?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click here for the full interview with Norman Finkelstein – an additional 50 MINUTES: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/extended-interview-norman-finkelstein?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseGo to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Trump Finally Calls Out Genocide… in South Africa https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/trump-finally-calls-out-genocide?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.Two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed on Wednesday evening by a man who yelled “Free Palestine.” The man allegedly wrote a manifesto, and it isn’t clear yet what his motives are, his mental state, if he was a lone actor, or as our guest today puts it: “crazy.”That guest is Useful Idiots fan-favorite Professor Norman Finkelstein, who gives his analysis of the shooting, beginning with a historical connection he made in his initial reaction.Useful Idiots: Let's start with the top news in the US: the shooting of two Israeli embassy officials outside an event in Washington, DC. What we know so far is that the alleged shooter chanted Free Palestine. There's also a manifesto that's been purported to be written by him, although we haven't confirmed that. With so much going on in Gaza, atrocities day by day, it feels a little inhuman to talk about two deaths in Washington when there's thousands of deaths going on in Gaza. But what is your reaction?Norman Finkelstein: Well, my first reaction is that you have to have the facts and make a careful evaluation on the basis of the facts. When I first read about it this morning, I thought it had occurred at the Israeli consulate. And I assumed it was a Palestinian who had committed the action. And my first reaction was to remember the [Polish Jewish] fellow Herschel Grynszpan, who assassinated the second-level diplomat in the German legation in Paris in 1938.He reacted in sheer horror at what was being done to the Jews. And he did an act. Of course, the Germans called it an act of terrorism, and that's what triggered Kristallnacht. I'm not aware of any [historians] who condemned him for the act, even though you could say it was not a very smart thing to do because it triggered Kristallnacht.So that was my initial reaction. But then that turned out to be wrong because of two things. It didn't occur in the Israeli consulate. It occurred in front of a Jewish museum in Washington. And secondly, it's unclear at this point whether the alleged perpetrator was even aware that these two people worked in the Israeli consulate. So that throws a large number of variables into the equation. There seems to be this big disconnect between a sophisticated manifesto and a fellow just going randomly in front of a Jewish museum in Washington and attempting to assassinate two people who presumably he thought were Jewish.So everything remains foggy now. I would say for me, the bottom line is it could have been a nutty guy. That's always possible. It could be a smart guy with a crazy project. It could be a crazy guy with a crazy project.Useful Idiots: Let’s talk about Israel itself. You have Israeli politicians openly talking about how every baby in Gaza is our enemy. And unfortunately, these views are widely held. What are your thoughts on Israel right now in terms of its place as a unique society on the spectrum of lunacy, of collective insanity in the same way that Nazi Germany was an example of outright collective insanity? Where do you situate Israel in that right now?Norman Finkelstein: All the demons in Israeli society, which they had to repress, all the demons rose to the surface after October 7: they had moral license to publicly espouse. It was there. If you scratch the surface with any Israeli, their loathing and contempt for Arabs in general and Gazans in particular, it was there. So there was a veneer of being civilized and what October 7 did was it enabled the Israelis to free themselves from that veneer and for all the demons to rise to the surface.On the other hand, I would say Israelis, unlike Nazi Germany, don't have the pretense or the pretext that they didn't know what was happening. Now, I'm not saying Germans didn't know. They may not have known about the death camps. They knew about the concentration camps. Did they know about the systematic extermination? There is debate about that.In Israel, everybody knows. Israel has the highest usage of the Internet of any country on Earth. The Israelis were posting on social media what they were doing. The Israeli soldiers were posting and boasting of what they were doing. Every Israeli knew and knows exactly what's happening. What has happened since October 7, it is incorrect to describe it as a state project. That's incorrect. It's a national project.Every poll taken since October 7 has shown that roughly 95% of Israelis believe that Israel is using enough or too little force in Gaza. I do think that at least in the current world, let's say since World War Two, this is in a class all its own. The sheer numbers, since the twenty-first century, it's unique in every category. There's just nothing like it.Subscribe to hear the full interview with Norman Finkelstein – 50 MINUTES longer. Norman reveals the “main enabler” of the genocide, calls out the New York Times for its coverage of the Israeli embassy shooting, discusses his debate with “that thing called Destiny,” and gives his prediction for how quickly Israeli crimes will be forgotten.00:00 Intro01:14 Dems want power until death03:20 Trump's Big Beautiful Bill08:10 MSM coverage of Israeli embassy shooting10:26 ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt on the shooting14:31 Norman Finkelstein interview preview15:50 Israeli Embassy Shooting: Norm's Initial Reaction21:58 GOP Congressman wants to NUKE Arab countries25:05 Norm's Take on Israel38:56 The "Main Enabler" of the GenocideSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Click here for the full interview with Sana Saeed: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/extended-episode-did-trump-just-betray?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseWatch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Meet Trump's Awkward New Crush https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/meet-trumps-awkward-new-crush?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.Follow Sana Saeed on Twitter: https://x.com/SanaSaeedAnd check out here new Substack: https://substack.com/@sanasaeed00:00 Intro00:43 Dems ADMIT the Truth about Biden07:53 Kristi Noem is so weird12:48 US Empire changes mind about Syrian civilians15:52 Ms. Rachel's Re-Education Camps21:17 Sana Saeed interview21:37 Did Trump betray Israel?25:06 Can we USE Trump's opportunism?29:40 The End of US Intervention?36:56 A Deal with Iran38:10 Bari Weiss's Dumb Tweet42:59 The NYT Justifies BOMBING A HOSPITALSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Here’s What We Found Inside Harvard’s Antisemitism Report https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/heres-what-we-found-inside-harvards?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.The Conscience, a civilian ship that is part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla was attempting to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza when it was was attacked by drones last week. Greta Thunberg, who was scheduled to board the ship on its way to Gaza, as well as organizers of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Israeli media, blamed Israel for the attack. Israel, for its part, has not denied responsibility.We spoke with Freedom Flotilla organizers Huwaida Arraf and Thiago Ávila who explain the mission of the Conscience, describe the attack, and their commitment to breaking the ilegal and inhumane siege on Gaza.Useful Idiots: There were calls from the ship during the attack. Were you guys scared at this point that people were potentially going to die?Huwaida Arraf: We lost contact with them for many hours and we knew that the ship was bombed and that it was taking on water. So we were very concerned. We organized people to take a couple of boats and sail out to them, but they were prevented from reaching them twice. The Maltese authorities prevented them from reaching the ship. We were pressuring the Maltese authorities to let them get the people off the ship. And the requests continue to be inexplicably denied.The vessel right now is still in the place where it was bombed. We are still asking the Maltese authorities to let us in. But the crew all remains on the ship for now.Useful Idiots: Have you confirmed that this drone attack was carried out by Israel?Thiago Ávila: It has come to light that just hours before Israel bombed our ship, there was an Israeli military plane in Maltese airspace that flew right over the area where the ship was bombed before going back to Israel. And there are a lot of other factors that indicate that there are other countries that knew.We have a situation where not only is the United States obviously fully on board with what Israel is doing and enabling it, but other countries are not only not living up to their obligations under international law, but they're also hampering civilian efforts to do something about it. People should ask themselves ‘why should civilians try to organize a boat and aid and try to confront the Israeli military to make their way into Gaza which is illegally besieged like this, when countries should be doing this?’ But not only are countries not putting aid on ships and insisting on getting into Gaza, they are doing Israel's work by trying to sabotage our efforts.Huwaida also recalls being on another ship in 2010 which suffered a lethal attack from Israel that killed nine humanitarians.Huwaida Arraf: The reason why the flotillas exist is because the people of Gaza are suffering a genocide and they're under illegal Israeli blockade for eighteen years. And now for more than two months without a single bottle of water entering Gaza. So that's why people are not with their families here on the flotilla, because we are here for a purpose, to serve as a solidarity mission to the Palestinian people.Watch our full, unpaywalled talk with the Freedom Flotilla organizers where we watch video of the crew during the attack, Thiago explains the role that President Lula’s Brazil has in Israel’s destruction of Gaza, and Huwaida lays out a plan for their next attempt to get aid past the siege.00:00 Intro00:25 John Fetterman in the deep end06:59 Republican Congressman SCREAMS about Medicaid10:57 Trump's most ridiculous pardon13:18 Is the Palantir CEO the most evil man?18:14 Huwaida Arraf and Thiago Ávila interview20:02 What is the Freedom Flotilla?25:19 What happened to The Conscience?31:57 Did Israel do it?34:53 Video of the attack41:30 Are other governments complicit?49:58 Israel's SCAM Gaza foundation (don't give the GHF money!)53:56 The last time Israel attacked the Freedom Flotilla58:16 Is this a surprise?1:02:21 Is Lula's Brazil doing anything?1:05:04 What's the next plan?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Click here for the full interview with Kate Willett and Emile Torres: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/dystopia-now-why-tech-bros-want-a?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseWatch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Morning Joe Comes Out as a Bernie Bro https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/morning-joe-comes-out-as-a-bernie?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.The new podcast Dystopia Now, hosted by comedian Kate Willett and philosopher Émile Torres, has been unveiling a disturbing new story from the tech world that comes straight out of The Matrix. It involves transhumanism, a tech-bro update to eugenics, in which billionaires can digitize their minds with AI, transcending humanity and achieving immortality.If this sounds disturbing, just wait until you hear our full chat with Kate and Émile.Useful Idiots: Can you define transhumanism?Émile Torres: The key idea is this techno-utopian vision. And transhumanism is this ideology that says we ought to develop advanced technologies to radically re-engineer the human organism, ultimately creating a new and supposedly superior post-human species. Elon Musk is a transhumanist. His company Neuralink is all about merging our brains with AI. Mark Zuckerberg is a transhumanist. Peter Thiel has invested millions and millions of dollars into radical longevity research. The goal then would be to attain immortality.Useful Idiots: Can you talk about network states?Kate Willett: They wanted to have these little anarcho-capitalist communities. It was all about getting out of the United States to do this. But what seems to have changed recently is that a lot of these billionaire dudes seem to have decided that maybe the best way for them to realize their illiberal, anti-democratic vision of running the government more like a business is making the United States that versus leaving.Curtis Yarvin talks about this idea he calls RAGE: Retire All Government Employees. And now we have DOGE, which is also a four-letter acronym for getting rid of the administrative state. It just seems like these dudes are making a lot of progress. Their previous vision was leaving somewhere and having these little tech utopias, network states. Now they're trying to do it here.Émile Torres: DOGE seems to be RAGE in action.Useful Idiots: What are some of the craziest, scariest ideologies, that come out of this movement?Émile Torres: The one thing I would want people to know is that part of what it means for us to bring about utopia, to transition from our current human era to this paradisiacal post-human era, is for our species to be disempowered, marginalized, or eliminated. I think that at the heart of this ideology is a pro-extinctionist view.They say once we create post-humans, our digital successors, then we should bow out. Because we're just going to be inferior beings that are using up valuable resources on Earth. So really, at the heart of this idea is this eschatological end times vision that we're going to transition from a biological world to a digital world. And our species is going to disappear.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Subscribe for the full interview with Kate and Émile where we discuss the pseudo-utopian autocratic book Abundance by the New York Times’ Ezra Klein and the Atlantic’s Derek Thompson, how older billionaires are cryogenically freezing themselves to be revived once the immortality AI is ready, why that tech may be ready a lot sooner than we think, and what the relationship is between transhumanism and Zionism.00:00 Intro00:27 Israel says Biden NEVER ordered a ceasefire06:41 Mike Waltz is FIRED12:52 Antisemitism at the anti-antisemitism conference18:15 Manchild Zionists boys beat up women in NYC26:04 Kate Willett and Emile Torres interview26:35 Dystopia Now podcast30:58 What is transhumanism?33:08 Elon Musk wants to grow the White race42:14 Abundance from the NYT and Atlantic53:47 The dark side of effective altruism56:12 Why Dems don't want Medicare for AllSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Click here for the full interview with Lt. Col. Daniel Davis and Glenn Diesen: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/trump-rescinded-his-job-under-israel?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseWatch this week's Thursday Throwdown: ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt Accidentally Celebrates College Protests https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/adls-jonathan-greenblatt-accidentally?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.A lot is happening in Ukraine this week, so we start there with our two guests: retired Lt. Colonel Daniel Davis and Norwegian political scientist Glenn Diesen.After Russia launched its largest strike on Kyiv in a long time, peace talks between the two sides with the US as intermediary are stalled, with Trump appearing to blame Volodymyr Zelensky for the impasse.Useful Idiots: What is your assessment of where we are in the Ukraine proxy war?Lt. Col. Daniel Davis: We need to understand from the first point here that this war is already concluded. Ukraine lost, Russia won. That's the entry point that we have to start with because there's too many people in the West who still operate like there's a choice that can be made, that Trump can either press for a good outcome or he can quote ‘abandon Ukraine’ and give in to a bad outcome.There isn't. There is no good deal here to be had. We can get an ugly peace deal right now or we can avoid that yet again and end up setting the stage for a Ukraine military outright defeat.Useful Idiots: Meanwhile, you had these talks this week that were supposed to happen in London, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped out, saying that Ukraine is not ready to come to the table. And Volodymyr Zelensky is openly rejecting one of the key U.S. concessions so far, which was to recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea.Glenn Diesen: I think it was a poor play by Zelensky, because this is Trump's hundred-day plan to finish off the war. The United States is preparing to walk away and wash its hands of this war if it can't get a peace deal, and the Russians are making real concessions, so obviously you want to at least appear to accommodate Trump's proposal. But Zelenskyy shut it down before the meeting even took place.Our chats with the two experts cover the history and future of the war in Ukraine, the “catastrophic” prediction they have for Trump’s China plans, and why the role of Deputy Director of National Intelligence was taken from Lt. Col. Davis at the last moment.Davis: I actually was going to be the Deputy Director of National Intelligence, but that got sank. There were these voices: the Jewish Insider, Mark Levin, the ADL, spreading all kinds of stuff. That's a shame, because what that's telling you is that there is some external entity that has power over who gets to serve in the United States government at even the highest levels.When you say, ‘We're going to follow one path here that harms another group of people writ large, not just Hamas but all of the Palestinian people, and if you don't hold that view, you're going to be prevented from serving in the United States government,’ something is desperately wrong and we need to get that fixed.ShareSubscribe for the full interview with Lt. Col. Daniel Davis where he deep dives further into how the Israel lobby got his job rescinded, which president from the last 40 years he considers to be a strong leader, and some crazy China comments from Bari Weiss.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Go to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out DeleteMe and use our code IDIOTS for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.comSupport local jobs and get variety of high-quality clothing and activewear at https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code USEFUL. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comGet the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/useful.Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. Get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code USEFUL at joincrowdhealth.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Click here for the full interview with Richard Wolff: https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/richard-wolff-on-trumps-tariffs-its?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseWatch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Fox News Reluctantly Criticizes Trump’s Tariff "Capitulation" https://www.usefulidiotspodcast.com/p/fox-news-reluctantly-criticizes-trumps?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseFor $6 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and bonus content at http://usefulidiotspodcast.comJoin us LIVE on Youtube every Monday at 10am EST for Monday Mourning, where we watch the Sunday morning news shows so that you don't have to.In a week of market turmoil, we need a real expert to explain WTF is going on with Trump, tariffs, reversals, and crashes. So we’re talking to Useful Idiot-favorite, economist Richard Wolff, who sheds light on a tumultuous week and gives a fascinating lecture on what Trump should be doing to save the economy, and why he won’t.Useful Idiots: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent just gave a speech saying ‘yes, the market is tumbling, but too bad, Wall Street. It's not your turn. This is the era of Main Street.’ This is the Trump administration's message now: The stock market has taken a huge hit, but that's because we're focused on restoring Main Street. How do you respond to that?Richard Wolff: This is all advertising noise. It has nothing to do with anything. The reason that Wall Street is yelling is that they don't want to be pinched. They're perfectly happy to have Mr. Trump do most of the things he wants to do. But they don't want to pay even this much of a fee for the benefits.Let me give you an example. When Mr. Trump was president the first time, the only basic economic achievement was the tax cut of 2017, an enormous tax cut given to corporations and the rich. The thirty years before 2017 were an enormous and unprecedented redistribution of wealth and income from the bottom and the middle to the top. If ever you didn't need a tax cut for those people, it was then.The only opposition to it that the Democrats could achieve was a sunset. It would expire this year, 2025. And so Mr. Trump has an urgent need, which all of Wall Street understands. He can't allow that to happen because they would all blame him.So that's what he's about to do. And the major way he thinks he can do that is by savaging public employment through all the firings, and by income from tariffs. I want people to understand this means that the Republican Party, which for a hundred years has branded itself the anti-tax party, has overnight become the mammoth tax-imposing economy, because a tariff is just a tax. And so what they're achieving is huge increase in taxes and firing large numbers of public employees. That's what it's about. The Main Street/Wall Street nonsense is pure fluff and shouldn't detract anyone from the underlying realities.Useful Idiots: Trump announced [on Wednesday] that he’s authorized a 90-day pause and a substantially lowered reciprocal tariff of 10% during that period. Help us make sense of what he’s doing here.Richard Wolff: I'm mystified. In my wildest imagination. Since I've just explained about uncertainty – I'm blown away – it's just incredible what he's doing. It’s beyond anything I can give you a rational answer for because this is no longer a rational behavior pattern.Useful Idiots: ‘Incredible’ like incredibly stupid?Richard Wolff: Yeah incredibly self-defeating. It undercuts any calculation. Even Jamie Dimon said that the uncertainty is the issue. This is just revving up uncertainty by cutting it down, making it not effective for ninety days. Everybody has to wonder: what happens at the end of ninety days? Another thirty days? Another twelve? I mean, this is beyond words.ShareSubscribe to watch or listen to for the full interview with Professor Richard Wolff where he gives his prediction for the future of the US empire, the rise of BRICS, and answers the question: are we headed for a recession?00:00 Intro01:01 Fetterman's revenge-porn friend08:34 Trump's $TRILLION Pentagon14:40 Pro-Israel protester throws feces at people19:46 Trump cancels right to free speech for anti-genocide protestors23:22 Professor Richard Wolff interview24:30 Why does Trump really want tariffs?29:41 It's about tax cuts for billionaires34:18 How does this enrich Trump?38:17 Why did Trump reverse the tariffs?47:57 Will there be a RECESSION?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/useful-idiots-with-katie-halper-and-aaron-mate/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy