nationalism

92. War, Policing & Digital Activism with Jason Bassler

About this Episode

Get ready, as we are joined by Jason Bassler founder of The Free Thought Project and Police the Police for a candid conversation about political corruption, digital activism, and the profound impacts and reach of war. Listen in as Jason shares his transition from libertarian to anarchist, spurred by his experiences during the Occupy Wall Street which also helps catalyze his subsequent dedication to police accountability. He offers an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the Free Thought Project, its evolution, its unexpected shutdown on major social media platforms in 2012 and its uphill rebuild.

We don't shy away from the hard truths in this episode. We scrutinize the alarming effects of war, corruption, and propaganda on our society. This includes a frank discussion on the startling death toll from the post-9/11 war on terror and the profits made by US contractors. We take a deep look at the Ukrainian War as a potential proxy war, the implications of the military-industrial complex, and the ripple effects of these conflicts across different generations. The power of the internet in how different generations are countering these narratives is a key focus.

Lastly, we expose the uncomfortable realities about the US' militarism, its lack of accountability for war crimes, and the fleeting anti-war stance when candidates ascend to power (and their subsequent escalation of conflicts once they have that power). From Lockheed Martin's sponsorship of a pride parade to the $2300 expat exit fee from a free country, we lay bare the government’s blatant hypocrisy. Jason's reflections on the strength of the internet and the value of criticism as a sign of tough love conclude our conversation on a hopeful note. This episode promises to be a thought-provoking, no-holds-barred exploration into our political landscape and the power of digital activism. Don't miss it!

Jason Bassler:

Jason’s Personal Links

Police the Police Links

Free Thought Project Links

Episode Timestamps:

 2:04 Who is Jason Bassler?

11:00 Power of a Platform 

  • Contrarian thinking and advertisements

  • Chasing a dollar

  • Authenticity, consistency, and persistence 

  • Longevity of building your own platform

  • Bending a knee for a dollar

  • Authenticity repeated

  • Donald Trump 

20:30 Would society fall into chaos without the police?

  • Police The Police (Facebook)

  • George Floy, Covid Restriction Enforcements

  • Monopoly on legal violence

  • Security force in a voluntary society

  • Dale Brown – Threat Management Center

    • Privatized security in Detroit

  • St. Louis Police Office on Bad Roman

  • Sheriff from AZ on Bad Roman 

26:29  War as an Export

34:37 Exhaustion of Perpetual Wars on the Public Psyche

  •  People born post-9/11 have not been in a war

    • Has war become normalized? 

    • Are younger generations rejecting war?

  • Indoctrination of government propaganda from a young age

  • Are boomers the most propagandized generation?

    • Has the internet taken the potency out of government propaganda?

41:36 Realities of War and Its Perpetrators 

1:01:00 Connect with Jason


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