If I didn't know any better, I might almost suspect that there is a concerted and sophisticated global-scale effort afoot to keep us - the plebs - in a constant state of existential vertigo and universal bewilderment.
It is at times like these - when I sense sinister forces and warfare-of-the -mind in the air that I return to thinkers and writers who predate the digital age.
One such writer was Jacques Ellul, who in his book 'Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes' (1965) said this:
(Apologies for the lengthiness)
“To the extent that propaganda is based on current news, it cannot permit time for thought or reflection. A man caught up in the news must remain on the surface of the event; he is carried along in the current, and can at no time take a respite to judge and appreciate; he can never stop to reflect. There is never any awareness -- of himself, of his condition, of his society -- for the man who lives by current events. Such a man never stops to investigate any one point, any more than he will tie together a series of news events. We already have mentioned man's inability to consider several facts or events simultaneously and to make a synthesis of them in order to face or to oppose them. One thought drives away another; old facts are chased by new ones. Under these conditions there can be no thought. And, in fact, modern man does not think about current problems; he feels them. He reacts, but be does not understand them any more than he takes responsibility for them. He is even less capable of spotting any inconsistency between successive facts; man's capacity to forget is unlimited. This is one of the most important and useful points for the propagandist, who can always be sure that a particular propaganda theme, statement, or event will be forgotten within a few weeks. Moreover, there is a spontaneous defensive reaction in the individual against an excess of information and -- to the extent that he clings (unconsciously) to the unity of his own person -- against inconsistencies. The best defense here is to forget the preceding event. In so doing, man denies his own continuity; to the same extent that he lives on the surface of events and makes today's events his life by obliterating yesterday's news, he refuses to see the contradictions in his own life and condemns himself to a life of successive moments, discontinuous and fragmented.
I think this quote sums up nicely what we - the attentive - are experiencing right now in our efforts to make sense of the nonsensical.
As for Hedges - whom I deeply respected - I am astounded that not a peep has come out of him these last three years about the most colossal event to bear down on humanity since WW2. Where has he been? In fact, where have all the "Left" intellectuals been?
this is back to the Pfizer video... JJ Couey is someone i've only recently been following after watching him and Dr. Rancourt discuss all cause mortality and that there was no respiratory pandemic based on Rancourt's findings. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1671925424 Couey believes that the narrative of the lab leak is also false but it serves the purpose of keeping the public scared. He and I think Sasha seem to think gain of function is not capable of "making" deadly diseases but the idea that it does allows the Dod and all those crazy war mongers to siphon off money to build research labs to look into countermeasures like mRNA etc. (whilst the pharma companies make fortunes). Here he discusses the videos of Malone on Tucker and with Steve Kirsch regarding the PV video. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1719973063 He also points out that they all say the virus has killed millions when Dr. Rancourt has proven that it hasn't. So what's the truth? We got into this mess in early 2020 because the bulk of the planet was terrorized by a "novel deadly virus". I was (until the numbers just didn't add up). In hindsight it was more like being in an apocalyptic movie. And look how the general public went along with all the measures. And look at the terrible treatment of the unvaxxed because we didn't go along with the narrative. My questions is this: Are they keeping the narrative of scary gain of function research and dangerous biolabs alive so they can scare us all again with yet another "man made virus" so they can continue with "countermeasures" that erode our freedom and reduce the global population?
I've been following Malone on twitter and for the last week or so he's been making all kinds of posts about not dividing the "freedom movement", "bad-jacketing" and other war psyop techniques. Why? I've never fully understood why the so-called inventor or mRNA tech took the shots and why he seems to want to play both sides: I invented it! but pharma is bad.
There are no heroes that are going to ride to our rescue. We have to keep thinking critically about everyone. Trish, Dr Rancourt also gave a great talk on CHD with RFKjr, would love to hear him on your show. Thanks for the opportunity to rant.
As I understand it, Dr Malone is/was associated with the DoD. He has openly mentioned this on the various interviews and podcasts that I have seen since he emerged in mid-2021.
I second your motion to have Denis Rancourt on the podcast. Very insightful researcher with a lot of book smarts and common sense.
PS. Dr Rancourt was on episode 107 along with Dr Byram Bridle in April, 2022.
"I watched because I am a journo — and one I wish I hadn’t. The older I get the less stomach I have for such things." echoing Chris Hedges' own perspective on 20 years (?) of horror witnessed as a war correspondent.
Haven’t listened to the interview yet, but I have yup out in my two cents about the PV video...
I think it’s a distraction. Whether or not PV was “plunked” I don’t know, but all the powers that be are going on about Pfizer... if you’re familiar with Sasha Latypova and Katherine Watt, you’ll know that the DoD is behind the Covid response and “countermeasures” including the injectables. The entire FDA approval is theatre. There is no liability because of the contacts with DoD. And if you also follow Denis Rancourt, then there is the complete lack of evidence of a respiratory viral illness causing death. All cause mortality is linked to poverty in the US.
I don't know much about Chris Hedges, other than that he was strongly anti-Trump. That alone is not a reason for me to discount him, but I see a lot of other things in the comment section that inform me that Mr Hedges's views on other topics run counter my own.
Nevertheless, I listened to the podcast and enjoyed most of it. Like other left leaning journalists such as Glen Greenwald and Naomi Wolfe, I do find that authentic journalists provide value to the conversation regardless of their political outlook.
BTW in my humble opinion the whole Paul Pelosi video was all about strong arming her - I can guarantee she was never going to "leave office" if they hadn't used the entire scandal against her! That's how the game is played - these people are truly ruthless! Another tidbit few people were aware of is that on January 6th Trump also unsealed Nancy brothers arrest record for a gang rape that occurred in his youth - I beleive the two young girls were 11 and 13 and her brother was the only one let off! It involved several other young males. I truly beleive that's why she was so irate on January 6th well before everything unfolded. Could also explain her reaction with the Capital police.
Trish, no one admires you more than I do: a long time listener, a supporter and a fan. But Chris Hedges? "Israeli war crimes and apartheid state" I have no time for those tired - actually totally exhausted - leftie tropes. I lived in Israel for 9 years and served in the IDF (in the 70s) There is NO apartheid and no war crimes. There's just a tragic situation of endless bloodshed caused mostly by Arab hatred and never diminishing desire to "throw the Jews in the sea"
Please watch the Netflix show "Fauda" for a disinterested (in its true original meaning) look at the Israeli Palestinian conflict. It's possible Hedges has interesting things to say but I turned the podcast off after the above mentioned "apartheid" comment.
Interesting....I don't agree with everyone who comes on. And having been to the West Bank and Israel myself hold a different position than he does.....having said that he has been anti-globalist and anti-war for decades and has written books that changed the way I look at the world. It is funny how the last two years have sharpened how we view people in media. I take your points but still think he has lots to offer. Love you guys too!!!
I used be a fan of Hedges, but his adherence to the Covid and Climate Change narrative has caused me to lose much respect. He refuses to denounce Chomsky’s remarks about putting unvaxxed in camps and starving them.
What about his adherence to immigration? You certainly cannot compare todays situation around the entire world (think Sweden et al) to those who immigrated to the USA decades ago! According to him all these illegals are victims!
My views on war are similar to Hedges. It has been US economic, military and foreign policy that has created most of the immigration issue. Reading “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” settled my view on this. Personally, I’d prefer to stay in Central America than be in the US or Canada if economics and personal safety allowed. Take a look at the immigration issue caused in Syria and Ukraine due to US led proxy wars and sanctions.
Unrelated to the above article is the substack of "A Midwestern Doctor" dissecting the article by Kevin Bass https://amidwesterndoctor.substack.com/p/dissecting-the-new-plea-for-covid
The article isn't what we think it is.....more likely a limited hangout.
If I didn't know any better, I might almost suspect that there is a concerted and sophisticated global-scale effort afoot to keep us - the plebs - in a constant state of existential vertigo and universal bewilderment.
It is at times like these - when I sense sinister forces and warfare-of-the -mind in the air that I return to thinkers and writers who predate the digital age.
One such writer was Jacques Ellul, who in his book 'Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes' (1965) said this:
(Apologies for the lengthiness)
“To the extent that propaganda is based on current news, it cannot permit time for thought or reflection. A man caught up in the news must remain on the surface of the event; he is carried along in the current, and can at no time take a respite to judge and appreciate; he can never stop to reflect. There is never any awareness -- of himself, of his condition, of his society -- for the man who lives by current events. Such a man never stops to investigate any one point, any more than he will tie together a series of news events. We already have mentioned man's inability to consider several facts or events simultaneously and to make a synthesis of them in order to face or to oppose them. One thought drives away another; old facts are chased by new ones. Under these conditions there can be no thought. And, in fact, modern man does not think about current problems; he feels them. He reacts, but be does not understand them any more than he takes responsibility for them. He is even less capable of spotting any inconsistency between successive facts; man's capacity to forget is unlimited. This is one of the most important and useful points for the propagandist, who can always be sure that a particular propaganda theme, statement, or event will be forgotten within a few weeks. Moreover, there is a spontaneous defensive reaction in the individual against an excess of information and -- to the extent that he clings (unconsciously) to the unity of his own person -- against inconsistencies. The best defense here is to forget the preceding event. In so doing, man denies his own continuity; to the same extent that he lives on the surface of events and makes today's events his life by obliterating yesterday's news, he refuses to see the contradictions in his own life and condemns himself to a life of successive moments, discontinuous and fragmented.
I think this quote sums up nicely what we - the attentive - are experiencing right now in our efforts to make sense of the nonsensical.
As for Hedges - whom I deeply respected - I am astounded that not a peep has come out of him these last three years about the most colossal event to bear down on humanity since WW2. Where has he been? In fact, where have all the "Left" intellectuals been?
Brilliant excerpt. I will read it on my show. Thank you!
Not that you need more BOOKS, but if you go looking for it you can find it here:
https://ellul.org/writings/featured-books-by-ellul/#propaganda
I enjoyed the interview and conversation. Thanks Trish.
this is back to the Pfizer video... JJ Couey is someone i've only recently been following after watching him and Dr. Rancourt discuss all cause mortality and that there was no respiratory pandemic based on Rancourt's findings. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1671925424 Couey believes that the narrative of the lab leak is also false but it serves the purpose of keeping the public scared. He and I think Sasha seem to think gain of function is not capable of "making" deadly diseases but the idea that it does allows the Dod and all those crazy war mongers to siphon off money to build research labs to look into countermeasures like mRNA etc. (whilst the pharma companies make fortunes). Here he discusses the videos of Malone on Tucker and with Steve Kirsch regarding the PV video. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1719973063 He also points out that they all say the virus has killed millions when Dr. Rancourt has proven that it hasn't. So what's the truth? We got into this mess in early 2020 because the bulk of the planet was terrorized by a "novel deadly virus". I was (until the numbers just didn't add up). In hindsight it was more like being in an apocalyptic movie. And look how the general public went along with all the measures. And look at the terrible treatment of the unvaxxed because we didn't go along with the narrative. My questions is this: Are they keeping the narrative of scary gain of function research and dangerous biolabs alive so they can scare us all again with yet another "man made virus" so they can continue with "countermeasures" that erode our freedom and reduce the global population?
I've been following Malone on twitter and for the last week or so he's been making all kinds of posts about not dividing the "freedom movement", "bad-jacketing" and other war psyop techniques. Why? I've never fully understood why the so-called inventor or mRNA tech took the shots and why he seems to want to play both sides: I invented it! but pharma is bad.
There are no heroes that are going to ride to our rescue. We have to keep thinking critically about everyone. Trish, Dr Rancourt also gave a great talk on CHD with RFKjr, would love to hear him on your show. Thanks for the opportunity to rant.
As I understand it, Dr Malone is/was associated with the DoD. He has openly mentioned this on the various interviews and podcasts that I have seen since he emerged in mid-2021.
I second your motion to have Denis Rancourt on the podcast. Very insightful researcher with a lot of book smarts and common sense.
PS. Dr Rancourt was on episode 107 along with Dr Byram Bridle in April, 2022.
I did hear that episode as well. He has new data coming out about all cause mortality in Canada soon.... that would be great to hear Trish!
"I watched because I am a journo — and one I wish I hadn’t. The older I get the less stomach I have for such things." echoing Chris Hedges' own perspective on 20 years (?) of horror witnessed as a war correspondent.
Haven’t listened to the interview yet, but I have yup out in my two cents about the PV video...
I think it’s a distraction. Whether or not PV was “plunked” I don’t know, but all the powers that be are going on about Pfizer... if you’re familiar with Sasha Latypova and Katherine Watt, you’ll know that the DoD is behind the Covid response and “countermeasures” including the injectables. The entire FDA approval is theatre. There is no liability because of the contacts with DoD. And if you also follow Denis Rancourt, then there is the complete lack of evidence of a respiratory viral illness causing death. All cause mortality is linked to poverty in the US.
So the video is distracting us from these facts and putting our anger in Pfizer (yes they deserve if but they didn’t start this).
https://open.substack.com/pub/sashalatypova/p/omg-pfizer-is-mutating-covid?r=8ztdu&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I don't know much about Chris Hedges, other than that he was strongly anti-Trump. That alone is not a reason for me to discount him, but I see a lot of other things in the comment section that inform me that Mr Hedges's views on other topics run counter my own.
Nevertheless, I listened to the podcast and enjoyed most of it. Like other left leaning journalists such as Glen Greenwald and Naomi Wolfe, I do find that authentic journalists provide value to the conversation regardless of their political outlook.
Thanks....
Our readers and listeners are so smart......I love these disagreements and the people commenting. Very good at helping us all sort out this mess.
If there's one thing we've learned* it's that nothing is ever black-and-white.
Apropos Israel, clearly Mr Grosman and Mr Hedges can't both be "right".
And clearly the "truth" lies somewhere in between the extremes.
But, in order to truly learn the lesson* shouldn't we be determined to *always* try to hear both sides?
BTW in my humble opinion the whole Paul Pelosi video was all about strong arming her - I can guarantee she was never going to "leave office" if they hadn't used the entire scandal against her! That's how the game is played - these people are truly ruthless! Another tidbit few people were aware of is that on January 6th Trump also unsealed Nancy brothers arrest record for a gang rape that occurred in his youth - I beleive the two young girls were 11 and 13 and her brother was the only one let off! It involved several other young males. I truly beleive that's why she was so irate on January 6th well before everything unfolded. Could also explain her reaction with the Capital police.
wow
Such a great piece! Thank you.
I was going nuts listening to how clueless she was....
Trish, no one admires you more than I do: a long time listener, a supporter and a fan. But Chris Hedges? "Israeli war crimes and apartheid state" I have no time for those tired - actually totally exhausted - leftie tropes. I lived in Israel for 9 years and served in the IDF (in the 70s) There is NO apartheid and no war crimes. There's just a tragic situation of endless bloodshed caused mostly by Arab hatred and never diminishing desire to "throw the Jews in the sea"
Please watch the Netflix show "Fauda" for a disinterested (in its true original meaning) look at the Israeli Palestinian conflict. It's possible Hedges has interesting things to say but I turned the podcast off after the above mentioned "apartheid" comment.
Love you Trish ❤️
Peace ☮️✡️
Interesting....I don't agree with everyone who comes on. And having been to the West Bank and Israel myself hold a different position than he does.....having said that he has been anti-globalist and anti-war for decades and has written books that changed the way I look at the world. It is funny how the last two years have sharpened how we view people in media. I take your points but still think he has lots to offer. Love you guys too!!!
I totally get it but I stick to what he's smart about.....Chomsky is an old fool.
That 911 call 🤦🏼♂️
I used be a fan of Hedges, but his adherence to the Covid and Climate Change narrative has caused me to lose much respect. He refuses to denounce Chomsky’s remarks about putting unvaxxed in camps and starving them.
What about his adherence to immigration? You certainly cannot compare todays situation around the entire world (think Sweden et al) to those who immigrated to the USA decades ago! According to him all these illegals are victims!
My views on war are similar to Hedges. It has been US economic, military and foreign policy that has created most of the immigration issue. Reading “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” settled my view on this. Personally, I’d prefer to stay in Central America than be in the US or Canada if economics and personal safety allowed. Take a look at the immigration issue caused in Syria and Ukraine due to US led proxy wars and sanctions.