Propaganda Loves You: From Meditation Retreats to ICE Surveillance - A Political Deep Dive

In this episode of 'Propaganda Loves You,' the hosts return from a brief hiatus to resume their regular programming, featuring hosts Kodie, Arthur and Joe. The discussion kicks off with personal updates, meditation retreats, and a light summer for wildfires. The conversation quickly shifts to serious political topics, including the fallout from the the government's procurement of Israeli spyware for ICE, and the potential consequences for civil liberties and privacy. Other key topics include recent aggressive actions by ICE and other federal agencies, the implications of recent DOJ moves against trans people, and the growing militarization of internal policing in the U.S. The hosts examine the broader implications of these events in the context of class warfare and social division. The episode also features advertisements for workplace productivity tools and pharmaceutical solutions for stress, blending critiques of government policy with commentary on corporate influence in everyday life.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

01:32 Catching Up After the Break

03:09 Government Work Culture and Changes

05:43 Recent News and Developments

15:10 Propaganda and Recruitment Tactics

20:30 ICE Recruitment Fair Insights

22:11 Speed and Scale of ICE Recruitment

22:41 Protests and Public Perception of ICE

24:17 Recruitment Messaging and Economic Factors

26:25 Satirical Advertisement Break

27:42 ICE's Use of Israeli Spyware

33:31 Government Surveillance and Ethical Concerns

36:32 Colonialism and Modern Terrorism

38:19 Historical Context and Modern Implications

https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-09-05/graphite-the-israeli-spyware-acquired-by-ice.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-ice-contract-paragon-graphite-spyware-israel-biden-b2818884.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/02/trump-immigration-ice-israeli-spyware

https://www.wired.com/story/ice-paragon-solutions-contract/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2021/07/29/paragon-is-an-nso-competitor-and-an-american-funded-israeli-surveillance-startup-that-hacks-encrypted-apps-like-whatsapp-and-signal/?sh=546ac139153b

https://citizenlab.ca/2025/06/first-forensic-confirmation-of-paragons-ios-mercenary-spyware-finds-journalists-targeted/

https://thehackernews.com/2025/06/apple-zero-click-flaw-in-messages.html

https://thehackernews.com/2025/03/six-governments-likely-use-israeli.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmYX3F9H-IM