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Defiance

by Peter McCormack

Defiance is a podcast which looks at some of the most critical issues of our time, from corruption and greed to human rights and freedom. Brought to you by Peter McCormack, Defiance is a combination of in-depth interviews and multi-part deep dives into the issues which affect all of us.

Episodes

Why We Need Bitcoin | Andreas M. Antonopoulos

57m · Published 21 Nov 10:07

“I don’t think that we should wish for a crisis so that we can see how good the lifeboat is.”

— Andreas M. Antonopoulos

Location: Skype
Date: Monday 11th Nov
Role: Author & Public Speaker

Bitcoin is multifaceted. Some treat Bitcoin as a speculative tool for growing wealth, others as a way of avoiding financial censorship from traditional payment channels, and some use it as a way of claiming their monetary sovereignty and removing power from the banks and state.

The real reason Bitcoin is essential is for all of these reasons and more.

On 3rd January 2009, Bitcoin was introduced to the world by its pseudonymous creator (or creators), going by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin brought with it an alternative to the banking system, a way of truly controlling your finances and to 'be your own bank'.

Being your own bank is incredibly powerful but is often a confusing and misused term. There are currently 1.7 billion people across the world who do not have access to proper banking services. Bitcoin can fix this by allowing users to hold, send and receive value.

Cross-border payments are expensive and complicated using traditional banking and financial systems, and that's assuming the recipient has the means to receive payment. Bitcoin fixes this.

Governments have a history of putting pressure on payment systems to stop allowing payments to recipients that they deem unfit. In 2010 Visa, Mastercard and PayPal all stopped allowing payments to WikiLeaks. Bitcoin fixed this.

Bitcoin's power is in its decentralised, censorship-resistant, neutral, permissionless network that allows you to transact globally without any intermediary or third party and with whoever you want for whatever reason you want. Bitcoin doesn't care.

We will soon be living in a cashless society, government-issued 'fiat' currency will become entirely digital, and we will wave goodbye to any remaining shreds of financial privacy that still exist. Some governments will look to create a cryptocurrency alternative; providing the perfect tool for increased financial surveillance and oppression and represents the antithesis of Bitcoin.

So, maybe we will have to choose whether its Bitcoin or a state-run digital currency. Should we choose Bitcoin?

In this interview, I talk to Andreas M. Antonopoulos to find out. Andreas is a speaker and the best selling author of Mastering Bitcoin and The Internet of Money and is unrivalled in evangelising Bitcoin. Andreas explains why the current monetary and financial system is no longer fit for purpose and why Bitcoin may be the answer.

- - - - -

Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/why-we-need-bitcoin-andreas-m-antonopoulos

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Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Show intro
- 02:02 - Welcoming Andreas to the show
- 02:19 - Why we need Bitcoin
- 06:00 - How to encouraged people to take Bitcoin more seriously
- 07:57 - Financial privacy and why it’s important
- 13:42 - Financial surveillance
- 22:29 - WikiLeaks and financial censorship
- 31:44 - Central banks and monetary policy
- 39:22 - Will Bitcoin be a ‘safe-haven’ asset in global recession
- 44:27 - Hyperbitcoinisation
- 49:34 - Why people should care about Bitcoin

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Leave a review
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- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
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- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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The Poisoning of Sergei Skripal | Aric Toler

56s · Published 18 Nov 10:52

“Putin’s government doesn’t murder Russian journalists, but he will kill you if you’re a former spy.”

— Aric Toler

Location: New York
Date: Wednesday, Oct 23rd 2019
Role: Researcher & Trainer

In the 1990s Sergei Skripal was an officer for Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). He operated as a double agent for the UK's Secret Intelligence Service between 1995 and 2004. In 2006, Sergei was convicted of high treason in Russia and thanks to a 'spy swap' settled in Salisbury, England in 2010.

In March 2018 his daughter Yulia visited from Russia. The day after she arrived the pair were found unconscious on a bench in the centre of the town. Witnesses describe seeing Yulia "foaming at the mouth with her eyes wide open but completely white". The pair had been poisoned with a nerve agent called A-234, leaving them hospitalised for weeks.

There is evidence that these attacks were carried out by two Russians, going under the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, following orders from the government. Russia denies these allegations and the state-run media channel RT claimed that the pair were holidaymakers and in Sailsbury to visit the famous cathedral.

Aric Toler is a researcher and trainer for Bellingcat an internet research organisation who have been instrumental in helping uncover Russia's involvement in Ukraine, the downing of MH17 and their work finding the real identity of the agents behind the Salisbury poisoning.

A man going by the name of Ruslan Boshirov, who claimed to be a nutritional supplement salesman is actually believed to be Anatoliy Chepiga. Chepiga is a GRU Colonel and a special forces veteran who has served in Chechnya and Ukraine and was awarded Russia's highest military honour in 2014.

The agent who operated under the name Alexander Petrov is in fact believed to be Dr Alexander Mishkin, also of the GRU and a trained military doctor. These discoveries have confirmed suspicions around the Kremlin's version of events.

In this interview, Aric explains his work at Bellingcat, the downing of flight MH17 and how he helped discover the true identity of Chepiga and Mishkin the Russian agents.

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Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/the-poisoning-of-sergei-skripal-aric-toler

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Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Show intro
- 01:54 - Welcoming Aric to the show
- 02:00 - Working at Bellingcat
- 07:06 - The state of the Ukraine conflict
- 11:36 - The downing of MH17
- 27:29 - Why would Putin fear democratic elections?
- 30:28 - Human rights in Russia
- 32:57 - Journalist’s murdered in Russia
- 34:39 - The poisoning of Sergei Skripal
- 39:21 - Finding the real identity of the Russian agents
- 49:27 - Russia’s alignment with Assad
- 51:05 - What Aric is working on next

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
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- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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China’s Surveillance State | Christopher Balding

50m · Published 14 Nov 10:30

“The surveillance state and what’s going on in Xinjiang and all of the things that Huawei and related companies are doing. It really just puts the fear of God in you, not just for how that impacts China, but how that is spilling over and impacting values around the world.”

— Christopher Balding

Location: New York
Date: Wednesday, Oct 23rd 2019
Role: Professor

The CCP's ever-expanding surveillance state is eroding the limited freedom left in China. Tactics such as facial recognition, social credit system and information warfare are used to intimidate and control the population.

Censorship is rife, and The Great Firewall of China blocks sites and content, including references to the Tiananmen Square massacre, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Wikipedia and even Winnie the Pooh.

Many Chinese 'replica' sites operate in a similar space to these; however, there is a distinct difference; they are highly censored and closely monitored. If you search for or try and send a message using Weibo or WeChat and it contains 'Tank Man', 'Tiananmen Square Massacre', 'Free Tibet' or anything else that is on the Chinese Government block list, your message never arrives.

The Chinese Communist Party has a tight hold on the data you consume and share. So, why are other countries so keen to allow China to build their national infrastructure and telecoms networks?

The Belt and Road is a global development initiative in which the Chinese Government build rail and road links across much of the world, in essence, a 'New Silk Road'. These projects are especially prevalent in Asia, Africa and parts of South and Central America. The Chinese Government call this "a bid to enhance regional connectivity and embrace a brighter future" but others see this as a way of China using 'debt-trap diplomacy'. By building expensive infrastructure countries are left indebted to China, perhaps indefinitely, handing leverage to China on future trade deals and negotiations.

While countries like the US are sceptical about this Chinese initiative, other western countries seem to be embracing it. Recently the UK's finance minister Phillip Hammond called the project 'a vision'.

Similarly to the Belt and Road, the Huawei 5G network is spreading throughout the world. The US has again taken a firm stance against it based on fears of spying and citing Huawei's gaping security holes. However, many other countries are still considering allowing the Chinese company to build their 5G networks.

In this interview, I speak to Christopher Balding, a Professor at the Fulbright University in Vietnam. We discuss the Chinese surveillance state, free speech, the Belt and Road and the persecution of the Uygurs.

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Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/chinas-surveillance-state-christopher-balding

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Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Show Intro
- 02:26 - Welcoming Christopher to the show
- 04:23 - Christopher’s background
- 08:13 - Christopher no longer welcome in China
- 15:27 - The 4 T’s
- 17:28 - The consequences of speaking out in China
- 19:30 - The Belt and Road Initiative
- 24:02 - The exportation of Chinese surveillance
- 24:19 - Huawei exporting 5G networks
- 27:01 - Huawei security flaws
- 34:41 - Why are western governments accepting the security and surveillance risks
- 36:23 - Bending the knee to China
- 39:49 - The persecution of the Uyghurs
- 45:05 - What happens next in China

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
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TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
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- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

FIFA’s Qatar World Cup Slave Labour Shame | Pete Pattisson

59m · Published 11 Nov 11:01

“It’s not called the World Cup, it's called the FIFA World Cup. So of all the actors who have been involved in this issue, concerned about workers rights, my feeling is that they have been the least active, the least effective.”
- Pete Pattisson

- - - - -

Location: Skype
Date: Thursday, Nov 7th 2019
Role: Journalist

With Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid there were allegations of corruption and bribery during the bidding process. There were also concerns as to whether the Gulf state was a good fit for the world's largest sporting competition due to its stance on the LGBTQ+ community, the lack of infrastructure and playing conditions as summer temperatures often exceed 50°C.

Concerns regarding the temperature were so severe that FIFA took the unprecedented step to move the date of the competition to the winter. Sepp Blatter, who was president at the time of the successful bid, has since publicly stated that choosing Qatar as the host was a 'mistake'.

At the time of the bid, Qatar did not have the infrastructure required to host the competition. As the wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita, Qatar planned to build 12 brand new stadiums (this number has since dropped to 8) as well as undertaking a significant infrastructure programme; developing the airport, hotels, roads and hospitals.

With such a massive project and a relatively small population, Qatar relies on a large migrant workforce. Most workers are from Nepal, India, Bangladesh or the Philippines, and they are known to pay up to $5000 to 'agents' in their home country to secure jobs. Once they arrive in the country, abuse is rife. In many cases, they have their passports taken, offered inhumane living conditions, paid below the minimum wage (roughly $200/month) and regularly paid late, if at all.

Workers face long days in sweltering temperatures, and there is a high death rate. The Qatari government has taken steps to reduce outside work during the hottest hours of the day, yet the number of people dying from heat stress is believed to be in the hundreds each year. Accurate statistics are hard to find as in Qatar these deaths are often attributed to 'natural causes' by the government, but some suggest that the number of deaths by 2022 could reach as many as 4000.

Why is this an acceptable human cost for hosting a World Cup?

In this interview, I talk to freelance journalist Pete Pattisson about his investigation into modern-day slavery and the World Cup. We discuss the abuse of migrant workers, working conditions, death rates, and what action FIFA should be taking.

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Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/fifas-qatar-world-cup-slave-labour-shame-pete-pattisson

- - - - -

Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Show Intro
- 01:51 - Welcoming Pete to the show
- 04:02 - Why countries in the Gulf rely on migrant workers
- 05:01 - Minimum wages for migrant workers in Qatar
- 09:56 - Who is regulating/monitoring this?
- 10:51 - The steps the migrant workers take to get to Qatar
- 16:24 - How many migrant workers have died for the World Cup to be delivered?
- 21:27 - What is life like for a normal Qatari resident
- 25:59 - What progress has been made?
- 34:18 - A fair minimum wage
- 40:03 - Could there be up to 4000 deaths in the buildup to the World Cup?
- 44:45 - What should FIFA be doing?
- 50:03 - Liverpool FC reject The Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel over human rights concerns
- 53:58 - The death of Rupchandra Rumba
- 57:19 - Is this state-sponsored slavery

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
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SoundCloud
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TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
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- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

Democratic Crisis in Hong Kong | Denise Ho

49m · Published 04 Nov 09:52

“For this very small city of 7 million people being able to stand up to this ruthless machine, for sure it is inspiring to other people in different countries.”
- Denise Ho

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Hong Kong has a complicated political history, which must be understood to understand the current protests.

For 156 years, Hong Kong was under British rule, but on June 1st 1997, it was returned to Chinese sovereignty. As part of the handover negotiations, it was agreed that Hong Kong would operate under ’one country, two systems', a principal outlined in The Basic Law. The treaty agreed between China and Britain would maintain the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong for 50 years.

In 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress proposed reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system. These proposed changes were seen by many as oppressive and allow the pre-screening of political candidates by the Chinese Communist Party. As such, the people of Hong Kong recognised the changes as anti-democratic and a clear indication that Hong Kong had failed to achieve universal suffrage, outlined under Basic Law.

What followed was a series of protests, often referred to as the Umbrella Revolution. Starting in September 2014 protesters demonstrated outside government buildings and brought the city to a standstill by occupying many key intersections which remained closed to traffic for 77 days. Police intervened, and their use of excessive force, tear gas and the brutality shown to protesters led to a backlash from the citizens and escalating tensions.

Denise Ho, a Cantopop star and human rights activist, was an active supporter of the Umbrella Revolution. During the protests, Denise and a group of high profile demonstrators were arrested. For this and her action of speaking out against the Chinese authoritarian regime, the Chinese government blacklisted Denise.

In 2019, Hong Kong again witnessed mass protests in response to the Hong Kong governments extradition bill. Extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China would put residents at risk of facing the Chinese justice system and thus a tool to suppress political opposition.

Following months of violent protests, the Chinese government formally withdrew the Extradition Bill on October 23rd. While this appeared to outsiders as a victory for the people of Hong Kong, demonstrations are ongoing as protestors are seeking further protection of their rights:

- The government to withdraw the use of the word "riot" instead of protest
- Amnesty for protesters
- An independent commission enquiry into police brutality
- Universal suffrage

In this interview, I speak to Denise Ho, a singer, LGBTQI activist and pro-democracy campaigner from Hong Hong. We discuss the Umbrella Movement, the extradition bill protests, and how this has impacted the world.

- - - - -

Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/democratic-crisis-in-hong-kong-denise-ho

- - - - -

Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Show Intro
- 01:54 - Welcoming Denise to the show
- 02:15 - Withdrawal of the extradition bill
- 03:33 - Denise's background
- 08:33 - Coming out as a member of the LGBTQ community
- 09:37 - The transition from musician to activist
- 11:51 - The Umbrella Movement
- 16:47 - Denise's arrest during the Umbrella Movement protests
- 19:17 - Being blacklisted by the Chinese government
- 26:19 - The current protests in Hong Kong
- 27:57 - Other protests around the world
- 34:51 - The creative tactics used by the protesters
- 37:32 - People being shot as protests escalate
- 40:18 - The protester's demands
- 44:14 - Denise's view on Hong Kong's future
- 46:56 - Denise's work with the Human Rights Foundation

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
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TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
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- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

What Happened at Evergreen College | Bret Weinstein

1h 18m · Published 28 Oct 11:20

“If you're not politically confused at the moment, you're not paying attention.”
Bret Weinstein

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Since the 1970's Evergreen State College in Washington has held a Day of Absence. On this day, Evergreen students and staff from minorities choose not to attend the college to highlight their contribution.

In 2017, the college proposed new plans for the day. Instead of minority students and faculty voluntarily choosing not to attend campus, the change would flip the event with white students and faculty asked to stay at home.

Bret Weinstein, a biology professor at the college, protested these changes, writing to the college: "there is a huge difference between a group or coalition deciding to voluntarily absent themselves from a shared space in order to highlight their vital and under-appreciated roles, and a group or coalition encouraging another group to go away."

The letter opposing these changes led to a large number of students making claims that Bret's actions were those of "a racist" and led to a group confronting him outside of his classroom. Widespread protests followed, with physical threats made against Bret and the college decided to close the campus for two days.

In this interview, Bret and I discuss life at Evergreen College before the protests, how events unfolded, the repercussions for both Bret and the college and why he believes the reactions may be symptomatic of the current political climate.

- - - - -

Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/what-happened-at-evergreen-college-bret-weinstein

- - - - -

Timestamps:
- 00:00:00 - Show Intro
- 00:02:16 - Welcoming Bret to the show
- 00:07:16 - What happened at Evergreen
- 00:16:52 - The pursuit of equity
- 00:23:44 - Allies or enemies
- 00:27:58 - Racial issues before the protests
- 00:36:57 - How could this happen?
- 00:40:23 - Has political correctness gone too far?
- 00:45:31 - A free market for education
- 00:49:39 - What did the protesters want?
- 00:51:19 - Peer pressure and mob mentality
- 00:55:07 - What has the outcome been?
- 01:03:10 - The left, right and The Democratic National Committee
- 01:09:20 - The next presidential election
- 01:12:55 - Trump, Brexit and global warming

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
Stitcher
SoundCloud
YouTube
TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

Facebook & Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower | Brittany Kaiser

1h 28m · Published 24 Oct 15:57

“There's nothing better for self-reflection than just brutal honesty, right? I call it radical transparency. Just being totally honest about exactly what happened and making yourself live through that. Every time you have to say it, you re-punish yourself for the decisions you didn't make back then.”
Brittany Kaiser

- - - - -

In March 2018, The Guardian broke the news of one of the most massive data breaches of all time. Cambridge Analytica was harvesting the data from as many as 87 million Facebook profiles.

This data was used to profile audiences and then to target individuals who were deemed possible to influence. Cambridge Analytics unleashed an unprecedented campaign of information warfare during such political campaigns as Brexit and the US 2016 elections, which were considered by many to be surprising results.

Once the news broke of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Brittany Kaiser, the former director of business development, turned whistleblower handing over her hard drive and over 100,000 documents as evidence.

In this interview, we discuss how she came to work at Cambridge Analytica, the Brexit and Trump campaigns and whether she is a whistleblower.

- - - - -

Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/facebook-cambridge-analytica-whistleblower-brittany-kaiser

- - - - -

Timestamps:
- 00:01:42 - Intro
- 00:02:03 - Brittany’s Background
- 00:07:47 - The Barack Obama campaign
- 00:10:40 - Voter suppression in Trinidad
- 00:14:49 - Brittany’s work in human rights
- 00:18:09 - Brittany introduced to Cambridge Analytica
- 00:24:24 - Brexit
- 00:31:15 - Trump campaign
- 00:35:16 - Fallout from the Trump campaign
- 00:41:05 - Deciding to blow the whistle on Cambridge Analytica
- 00:53:51 - Changing the course of history
- 00:59:05 - Trump impeachment case
- 01:02:16 - Hiding out in Thailand
- 01:07:16 - The Great Hack
- 01:10:12 - Brittany’s book Targeted
- 01:11:10 - Self-reflection
- 01:13:48 - What needs to change?
- 01:22:20 - Brittany’s sister Natalie

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
Stitcher
SoundCloud
YouTube
TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

The Rise of Independent Journalism | Jake Hanrahan

1h 18m · Published 21 Oct 14:04

Everybody is just going like, Hang on, I'm sick of this. I'm sick of being told what to think. I'm sick of having a fucking political spin on everything."
Jake Hanrahan

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The internet has transformed traditional media with newsgroups becoming reliant on advertising as readers are reluctant to pay for news online.

The advertising model has led to the rise of clickbait news organisations such as Buzzfeed, with content and headlines designed for sharing and reach. Some argue that this has led to an increase in fake news, something Andreas M. Antonopoulos explained in his talk Fake News, Fake Money talk.

The algorithms used by social media companies are also under scrutiny, with people questioning how much power do platforms such as Facebook have in shaping opinion? Can these algorithms drive a specific political agenda? Can a malicious actor weaponise these platforms and create and target news to manipulate opinion?

A perfect storm of bloated unprofitable news organisations and an increase in distrust of mainstream news is leading to a rise in independent journalism. Anyone with a phone can now record a podcast, make a video and build a following on social media, with people like Joe Rogan now able to draw in viewer numbers higher than prime time TV shows.

These independent journalists are free from the constraints of mainstream media and able to deliver authentic news with a higher level of trust. In this interview, I talk with Jake Hanrahan, a journalist, filmmaker and the founder of Popular Front. I find out why Jakes believes that increasing subjectivity in mainstream media is leading to the rise of independent journalism.

- - - - -

Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/the-rise-of-independent-journalism-jake-hanrahan

- - - - -

Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:39 - Welcoming Jake to the show
00:02:05 - Jake’s background - Vice News and independent Journalism
00:05:03 - Joe Rogan taking independent journalism mainstream
00:09:52 - Mainstream media’s left/right divide
00:16:12 - Mike Cernovich and divisive guests
00:17:12 - Brexit and UK politics
00:20:51 - Using Twitter as a research tool
00:22:28 - Hong Kong protests
00:23:54 - Gun laws
00:28:29 - The Extinction Rebellion
00:33:49 - Climate change
00:38:01 - Time away from technology
00:41:59 - Becoming desensitised to acts of violence
00:47:51 - The underreported protests in Iraq
00:50:00 - Creating media content on a budget
00:54:18 - The UK selling weapons to Saudi Arabia
00:57:41 - What is happening that people aren’t aware of
00:59:46 - Jake’s favourite parts of Popular Front
01:01:51 - Scaling a business
01:08:50 - Jeffrey Epstein
01:11:04 - Censorship

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
Stitcher
SoundCloud
YouTube
TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

Unsealing the Epstein Files | Mike Cernovich

1h 35m · Published 15 Oct 02:10

Suicide is what you do when you don't have any cards to play.
— Mike Cernovich

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When the news broke of Jeffrey Epstein's apparent suicide, eyebrows were raised. The disgraced hedge fund manager was embroiled in one of the most high profile cases of recent times. Accused of sex trafficking, Epstein was believed to hold damaging information on some of the worlds most influential people.

Just a month before Epstein's death he was found unconscious in his cell with marks on his neck. These events have led to suggestions that Epstein should have been on suicide prevention watch, and thus under 24-hour surveillance.

To add to the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, just one day before the alleged suicide, Mike Cernovich and the Miami Herald managed to unseal over 2000 documents related to the Epstein case. This followed a lengthy court case and included references to private events on Caribbean islands and naming Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Marvin Minsky, Jean-Luc Brunel and many others as close contacts of Epstein.

In this interview, I talk with Mike Cernovich about his investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, and how he filed a motion to unseal over 2,000 previously sealed documents. We also discuss fake news, Antifa, Bitcoin and the education system.

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Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/unsealing-the-epstein-files-mike-cernovich

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Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Show Intro
00:02:12 - Welcoming Mike to the show
00:07:03 - Epstein
00:13:00 - Why the Miami Herald were attributed with most of the credit for Epstein
00:14:47 - Ghislaine Maxwell and lack of interest in prosecuting
00:21:52 - Epstein, blackmail and the intelligence community
00:24:28 - Epstein suicide
00:27:52 - Prince Andrew & Virginia Roberts
00:32:19 - Independent journalism
00:37:17 - How bad behaviour occurs
00:47:03 - Left-wing suspicions
00:50:01 - Kevin Hart, the Oscars and cancelling people
00:52:43 - Hypocritical positions
00:55:04 - Media bias
01:04:37 - The Strangest Secret in the World
01:06:48 - Mike’s world view
01:11:38 - Education system
01:12:56 - Antifa
01:26:32 - Bitcoin

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The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
Stitcher
SoundCloud
YouTube
TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

Information Warfare | Molly McKew

59m · Published 04 Oct 22:10

“It is this much darker, more sinister basket of things that are not just standard political tactics.”
— Molly McKew

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Information warfare is a tactic used to push misleading or persuasive information to a large group of people.

Propaganda, a type of information warfare, has forever been used by states, religions and governments to promote views, incite hatred and manipulate opinion.

In the digital age, information warfare is more prevalent than ever. With the growth of social media, there has been a dramatic increase in the weaponisation of information.

Many companies now have a broader reach and influence than the state, and with data-driven targeted information, the tools to wage information warfare are available to all. The Cambridge Analytica scandal highlighted how data and misinformation were used, through social media, to manipulate voters in the 2016 U.S. elections.

In this interview, I talk with Molly McKew, an information warfare expert and foreign policy & strategy consultant. We discuss propaganda in the digital age.

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Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/information-warfare-molly-mckew

- - - - -

Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Show Intro
00:01:39 - Welcoming Molly to the show
00:01:44 - Information Warfare introduction
00:04:34 - Russian interference in the US elections
00:08:44 - Molly’s career background
00:11:43 - Russian v US election interference
00:15:18 - Cambridge Analytica/Facebook scandal & behavioural engineering
00:23:22 - News manipulation
00:28:48 - Russian PR machine
00:32:01 - The role of social media
00:36:33 - Brittany Kaiser and CA/Facebook
00:41:23 - Apathy towards manipulation
00:45:26 - Social media CEOs in the future becoming de facto heads of state
00:47:59 - Facebook Libra
00:49:45 - China social scoring
00:50:20 - Molly as a target of information warfare

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe
to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
Spotify
Deezer
Stitcher
SoundCloud
YouTube
TuneIn
- Leave a review
of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

- - - - -

Defiance has 92 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 86:50:32. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on November 25th 2022. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on March 30th, 2024 09:43.

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