Mike Benz on Redacted - Astroturfed Protests, Intelligence Involvement In Drug Cartels

Summary

In this in-depth interview, Mike Benz delves into covert US intelligence operations, exploring everything from astroturfing political rallies to the use of bioweapons. He discusses the history of drug cartels’ involvement with US intelligence, and the ethical dilemmas of publishing sensitive information. Benz critiques the transparency efforts of the Trump administration, particularly regarding the JFK files and the ongoing secrecy around the Epstein case. He also explores the intersection of UFO stories with intelligence operations, suggesting they may have been used as tools of disinformation. A compelling analysis of government secrecy, manipulation, and geopolitical strategy.

Takeaways

• 😀 Grassroots political rallies, like the one in Denver with AOC and Bernie Sanders, may have inflated attendance numbers, with evidence suggesting overlap with multiple protest events, raising questions about astroturfing tactics.
• 😀 Astroturfing and street demonstrations have historically been used by U.S. agencies, including the State Department, to shape public perception and simulate popular support, dating back to operations in the Arab Spring, Romania, and Cuba.
• 😀 Israeli spyware Pegasus is reportedly being used by drug cartels in the U.S., with sales approved by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, highlighting concerns about international cyber surveillance and intelligence collaboration.
• 😀 U.S. intelligence and military historically collaborated with drug networks to fund covert operations, including during the Opium Wars in China, Afghan Mujahideen support, and Latin American paramilitary activities.
• 😀 The Signal messaging app may have vulnerabilities exploitable by CIA/NSA-level operations, despite appearing secure for domestic law enforcement purposes.
• 😀 Recent leaks of Signal messages to the Atlantic raise questions about intelligence operations, insider access, and unclear legal protections for publishing sensitive material.
• 😀 Lyme disease, Anthrax, and COVID are discussed as potential biological agents manipulated in military research, with Rocky Mountain Labs implicated in historical pathogen enhancement under the guise of vaccine development.
• 😀 Historical covert biological operations include using tick-borne diseases to sabotage Cuban agriculture, with the Fort Detrick facility connected to Anthrax attacks and early respiratory disease outbreaks resembling COVID.
• 😀 The Trump Administration has declassified JFK-era files, revealing past U.S. intelligence operations and exposing connections between foundations, civil society organizations, and covert programs, but contemporary transparency (e.g., Epstein network) remains complex.
• 😀 UFO narratives have been historically used by the CIA and military as intelligence operations to mislead populations and distract from covert actions, rather than indicating extraterrestrial activity.
• 😀 Many of Mike Benz’s insights combine open-source documentation with personal analysis, often highlighting controversial interpretations of U.S. intelligence, political influence, and covert operations spanning decades.
• 😀 The discussion emphasizes the complexity and opacity of modern intelligence operations, raising ongoing questions about oversight, ethics, and public accountability in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Q & A

What was the main concern discussed about the Denver political rally with AOC and Bernie Sanders?

The discussion raised questions about the authenticity of the crowd size, suggesting that GPS and cell phone data indicated many attendees also participated in other activist events, implying potential astroturfing and orchestrated public displays.

How does Mike Benz relate past U.S. State Department strategies to current protest movements?

He compares strategies like those used during the Arab Spring, Romania, and Cuba, where physical protests were amplified to give the perception of popular dissent, suggesting similar methods may be used in modern U.S. political events.

What role does the Pegasus spyware play according to the transcript?

Pegasus, developed by Israel’s NSO Group, allegedly requires approval from the Israeli Ministry of Defense for sales, which raises concerns about its use by entities like drug cartels and potential coordination or oversight by U.S. intelligence agencies.

What historical connection does the U.S. have with drug trafficking and intelligence operations?

The transcript outlines a century-long connection where U.S. intelligence and military operations funded or facilitated drug trafficking to support proxy wars, including opium in East Asia, Mujahedin funding, BCCI operations, and Operation Fast and Furious in Mexico.

How is Signal app discussed in the context of intelligence access?

Mike Benz asserts that Signal may have backend access for U.S. intelligence since its inception, making it potentially compromised for domestic and foreign monitoring despite its encryption, with FBI access requiring informants or device submissions.

What allegations are made regarding bioweapons and Lyme disease?

The transcript claims that Rocky Mountain Labs in Montana weaponized tickborne diseases under the guise of vaccine research and draws parallels to COVID research, suggesting a historical pattern of using biological agents to destabilize foreign nations.

What historical events are linked to Fort Detrick in the transcript?

Fort Detrick is cited as the source of anthrax mailed to members of Congress after 9/11 and as the site of research on tickborne diseases and early coronavirus experiments, highlighting alleged connections to covert U.S. bioweapon programs.

What does Mike Benz say about transparency and declassification under the Trump Administration?

He praises the administration for releasing JFK files with minimal redactions, enabling reconstruction of U.S. statecraft history, but notes that similar transparency for sensitive topics like the Epstein network remains uncertain due to ongoing security pressures.

How does the transcript describe the use of UFO stories by the CIA?

UFO narratives are presented as deliberate misinformation tools by the CIA to distract the public and protect operational secrecy, often targeting individuals who investigate highly classified aircraft or sensitive activities.

What are the broader implications of the transcript's discussion on cyber, political, and biological operations?

The transcript suggests a complex interplay of intelligence operations, political influence, cyber surveillance, and bioweapon research, highlighting a historical continuity in U.S. strategies to manipulate domestic perception and foreign outcomes, though many claims remain speculative.

How does the transcript link current U.S. drug enforcement issues to historical intelligence practices?

It claims that contemporary enforcement gaps, especially in states like Arizona and cities like Chicago, may reflect historical patterns of using drug networks for proxy operations, with political and judicial influence allegedly shaping selective enforcement.

What caution does the transcript imply about media and publication of sensitive intelligence information?

The transcript discusses the legal and ethical complexities of publishing classified or sensitive information, noting unclear case law and the potential risk of prosecution for whistleblowers versus sanctioned media disclosures like the Pentagon Papers.