DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas

Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas

Editorial cartoonist Ted Rall and political analyst Jamarl Thomas "deprogram" the latest domestic and international news and trends so you can see through the spin in the headlines to the raw truth you need to know.

Ted's immersion in the media—prize-winning cartoonist and columnist, radio host, editor at Forbes and United Media, and the veteran of bruising First Amendment legal battles—informs analysis that cuts through the spin.

Jamarl's experiences as a podcaster who has broadcast from around the globe grounds his international, humanist perspective as he helps you break down what's happening, what it means, and what's coming next.

"DeProgram" offers fast-paced, entertaining analysis you can't get anywhere else.

LIVE Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 10 AM Eastern Time:

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283 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes283

Newest first

Oct 23, 2025 · 59 min
Deprogram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “SFPD vs. ICE”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, back from Mexico, tell you about the reaction to Donald Trump’s radical move to demolish the White House’s East Wing to replace it with a hulking a $250 million ballroom, San Francisco’s bold legal stance against immigration raids, with local officials warning that federal agents could face arrest, and the military’s lethal strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific. Trump’s Ballroom Blitz: A White House wrecking crew tears down the historic East Wing to build a massive $250 million ballroom, evoking Obama’s 2011 satirical vision of a garish Trump White House. Critics, including historians, condemn the project as a symbol of his disruptive presidency. The National Trust for Historic Preservation urges a pause, citing the ballroom’s overwhelming scale. San Francisco Threatens ICE: Nancy Pelosi and SF officials warn that federal agents conducting immigration raids in San Francisco could face arrest for breaking California law. DA Brooke Jenkins’ strategy focuses on prosecuting excessive force, though legal challenges loom. The plan sparks debate over state versus federal authority. U.S. Attacks Boats in the Pacific: The U.S. military launches lethal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific, killing five in two attacks this week—refusing to provide any details about the victims. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls the targets “narco-terrorists,” but Colombian President Petro denounces the strikes as “murder” of innocent people The escalation raises concerns over legal authority and transparency.
Oct 22, 2025 · 58 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Gaza Genocide 2.0”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou explore topics shaking the world stage. Trump-Putin Talks on Hold: The White House now says there are no immediate plans for President Trump to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin, despite Trump’s earlier suggestion of a Budapest summit to end the Ukraine war. After a “productive call” between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, Trump’s pattern of pivoting from sanctions or aid to diplomacy raises eyebrows. Experts warn of a familiar cycle with little progress. Shutdown Gets Real: Democrats are about to get the fight they want on November 1, when ACA subscribers see their premiums skyrocket. Premiums nationwide are set to rise by 18 percent on average. Nationally, the average marketplace consumer will pay $1,904 in annual premiums next year, up from $888 in 2025. The situation is particularly acute in Georgia, which recorded the second-highest enrollment of any state-run marketplace this year and and where 96 percent of marketplace enrollees in Georgia received subsidies this year. Georgians browsing the state website are seeing estimated monthly costs double or even triple, depending on their incomes, as lower subsidy thresholds resume. Will Republicans blink? America’s Covert War Against Venezuela: The U.S. military’s secretive Southern Caribbean campaign escalates, with seven airstrikes killing 32 off Venezuela’s coast, targeting alleged “narco-terrorists.” Trump confirms CIA covert operations, while the abrupt exit of SouthCom Commander Adm. Alvin Holsey sparks questions about the strikes’ legality. Critics, including Sen. Rand Paul,
Oct 21, 2025 · 58 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Venezuela: Trump’s Iraq?”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall, and producer Robby West filling in for CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, confront the fallout from federal overreach in Chicago's ICE raids and the violent U.S. military brinkmanship off Venezuela's shores, revealing how unchecked authority clashes with human rights and global stability. Pressure on Bibi: Advocates of Israel believe Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu isn’t serious about the ceasefire and peace deal he signed and is secretly planning to scuttle Trump’s achievement as soon as he sees a chance. Trump agrees, so he’s sending Vice President JD Vance, Middle East peace envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, who were instrumental in brokering the deal to illustrate the administration’s commitment to keeping the deal intact and to try to keep Mr. Netanyahu from resuming an all-out assault against Hamas. What can/will they do? Post-9/11 Jitters: American Airlines Flight 6569 from Omaha to Los Angeles returned to its origination airport after 36 minutes after the pilot heard banging on the locked cockpit door—a security precaution instituted after 9/11—and worried that terrorists were trying to break in. As it turns out, the radio link between the flight deck and the main cabin was down and the crew had no way to communicate with the pilot. What if there had been an emergency in the cabin? Just a reminder that every safety measure can cause a new set of problems. Chicago Immigration Crackdown Hearing: Federal officials confront Judge Sara L. Ellis in a courtroom showdown, defending tear gas deployments that defy her recent order amid Operation Midway Blitz. Agents clashed with protesters, journalists, and clergy in Albany Park, dispersing crowds after a routine stop escalated into chaos with minimal warnings, as captured on video. Two days later, on the South Side, federal vehicles crashed into civilians, prompting agents to unleash tear gas on gathered residents, fueling plaintiffs' claims of constitutional violations and Judge Ellis's deepening frustration—she demands body cameras be constantly activated despite government pushback, signaling a judicial hammer poised to strike harder. How bad will ICE’s war against Chicago get? U.S. Troops Face Venezuela: 10,000 U.S. troops now patrol Caribbean waters, interdicting drug boats under the shadow of Maduro's emergency declaration, activating an 8-million-strong militia armed with RPGs, anti-tank systems, and urban warfare tactics drilled in Caracas shantytowns. Russian-supplied Sukhoi Su-30 jets buzz the USS Jason Dunham with Kh-31 anti-ship missiles, while S-125, Buk-M2E, and Igla-S systems guard oil sites and coasts, jamming U.S. communications in a contested electromagnetic spectrum that renders helicopters vulnerable. Despite B-52 flyovers and F-35 readiness, the deployment—bolstered by USS Iwo Jima and Tomahawk subs—lacks ground logistics for a full invasion, exposing interdiction ops to provocative close passes and potential retaliation from a force in "shambles" yet lethally asymmetric. Would this be the Western Hemisphere’s version of Bush’s disastrous Iraq War?
Oct 17, 2025 · 56 min
Deprogram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: "Jake Tapper on the Global Hunt for an Al Qaeda Killer”
In this pulse-pounding episode of Deprogrammed, hosted by political cartoonist Ted Rall and whistleblower John Kiriakou, CNN anchor Jake Tapper joins for a riveting interview unpacking his new book, Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War, released on October 7, 2025. The conversation thrusts listeners into the heart of a real-life thriller: the unprecedented international pursuit and federal trial of Spin Ghul (real name: Ibrahim Harun), a high-ranking Al Qaeda operative who boasted of killing U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan before bizarrely surrendering to Italian authorities amid the 2011 Arab Spring chaos. Tapper, drawing from exhaustive reporting—including interviews with prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and even Ghul’s defense team—details the book’s explosive core: a high-stakes “police procedural” spanning refugee boats in the Mediterranean, Afghan battlefields, Brooklyn courtrooms, and Oval Office briefings. Ghul, a dark-skinned Pashtun fighter derisively nicknamed “White Rose” by his Arab Al Qaeda comrades amid the group’s internal racism, emerges as a bumbling yet deadly jihadist. Radicalized in the post-9/11 “Forever War” era, he ambushed U.S. convoys, racking up American casualties, only to flee Libya’s uprising and demand extradition while flashing bullet-scarred proof of his exploits. The narrative races through the frantic efforts of two relentless Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Brooklyn—racing against deportation deadlines and legal precedents—to secure the first-ever conviction of a foreign terrorist for battlefield murders in a civilian court, blurring lines between warfare, criminal justice, and counterterrorism. Kiriakou, with his CIA whistleblower lens, intensely questions Tapper on the blurred ethics of renditions, interrogations, and intel-sharing that snared Ghul, drawing eerie parallels to his own post-9/11 exposure of waterboarding horrors and warning of how such hunts eroded civil liberties. A masterclass in true-crime geopolitics laced with unfiltered edge, this Deprogram episode is unmissable for fans of high-stakes history. Stream on major platforms, and dive into Race Against Terror for the full, meticulously sourced saga of pursuit, prejudice, and precarious justice.
Oct 16, 2025 · 57 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Regime Change Against Venezuela?”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou analyze the Supreme Court’s probable gutting of Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Trump eyeing covert strikes and land airstrikes against Venezuela, the decline of the power of the U.S. passport, and archivists race a looming "digital dark age.” House Gerrymandering by the Supreme Court: Republicans redraw districts, targeting Southern Democrats, but Democrats hold a House path—unless Louisiana v. Callais strikes Section 2. This would gut majority-minority mandates, enabling elimination of 7-8 Black-majority districts in Alabama through Florida by 2028. Democrats would face +5-point popular vote hurdles for competitiveness, turning all midterms into GOP locks. Trump's Venezuela Escalation: Trump has drawn a bead against the government of President Nicolás Maduro after five boat strikes killing 26. Now he’s considering U.S. military land strikes to halt Venezuelan drug flows and authorized the CIA with a “finding” that allows the agency to conduct covert operations there. Is this regime change? U.S. Passport Downgrade: Henley Index of “powerful passports” drops U.S. passport to 12th—first time outside top 10 in 20 years, tied with Malaysia, down from 7th last year. Trump's immigration crackdowns trigger reciprocity losses from Brazil, China, Vietnam, stagnating access to 180 destinations. Experts warn of fading soft power in an openness-driven world. Rescuing Floppy Disks: Cambridge archivists tackle 113 boxes of Stephen Hawking's papers, extracting data from degrading 1970s-90s floppy disks via the Future Nostalgia project. They battle magnetism loss, mould, and obsolete formats to save physics insights and personal notes. This combats a "digital dark age," preserving 50 years of computered history.
Oct 15, 2025 · 56 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “A War Over Dead Bodies”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou unpack the fragile Gaza ceasefire teetering on the brink. Gaza Hostage Remains Crisis: Hamas returns the remains of four additional deceased hostages on Tuesday, including Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi, through the Red Cross after Israel's threats to block Rafah and halve Gaza aid trucks for non-compliance with the U.S.-brokered deal. This dispute over the 28 promised bodies marks the peace process's inaugural crisis, with 24 still unrecovered—including Americans Itay Chen and Omer Neutra—trapped under rubble, as mediators press Hamas for maximum recovery efforts amid Netanyahu's unyielding demands. Trump's Truth Social post blasts the delay, insisting Phase Two—Hamas disarming—starts immediately, while officials note Hamas now grasps Israel's superior intelligence on body locations. U.S. Military Boat Strike off Venezuela: The U.S. military kills six men aboard a boat in international waters just off Venezuela's coast on Tuesday, marking the fifth such strike since September and totaling 27 deaths treated as wartime kills rather than arrests of criminal suspects. Trump posts a 33-second aerial video of the missile explosion on social media, asserting unproven intelligence links the vessel to narcoterrorist smuggling routes, as the administration builds naval presence with warships and submarines in the Caribbean. Legal experts slam the premeditated extrajudicial actions as illegal under laws barring civilian targeting without imminent threats, with nominees citing undisclosed Justice memos but no public analysis justifying war-like tactics over Coast Guard interdictions. Madagascar Military Power Seizure: The army in Madagascar seizes control on Tuesday, Colonel Michael Randrianirina from the elite CAPSAT unit announcing a joint military-police committee to swiftly install a civilian government after parliament impeaches President Andry Rajoelina, who flees into hiding fearing for his life amid weeks of Gen Z protests. Demonstrators in Antananarivo rage over six years without tap water despite payments, crippling electricity outages, and corruption in the nation of 31 million, with over 20 killed by authorities' deadly force as CAPSAT refuses to quash "brothers and sisters." Rajoelina, who rose via a 2009 CAPSAT-backed coup, dissolves parliament in a failed block, denouncing the takeover as a "coup d'etat" while protesters hail it as a supported popular revolution, waving anime pirate flags in global youth solidarity. Young Republicans Telegram Scandal: Leaked seven-month Telegram chats among Young Republican leaders from New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont overflow with racial slurs like "n--ga" used over a dozen times by Kansas vice chair William Hendrix, references to Black people as "monkeys" and "watermelon people," and fantasies of gassing opponents in chambers unfit for the "Hitler aesthetic." New York vice chair Bobby Walker calls rape "epic," while chair Peter Giunta threatens "physiological torture" for non-believers during a federation vote, with members like Joe Maligno and Annie Kaykaty joking about showers masking gas and watching people burn. The exposure prompts job firings, rescinded offers, and condemnations from Rep. Elise Stefanik and GOP chair Ed Cox, igniting intraparty recriminations of character assassination and extortion as the group frets over leaks dooming their "true believers."
Oct 14, 2025 · 59 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “L.A. for Sale”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou catch you up after the long weekend, beginning with a L.A. story with a personal connection to “Deprogram.” Is Los Angeles for Sale?: Austin Beutner, scandal-plagued billionaire and widely reviled ex-LA schools superintendent, plans to run against Mayor Karen Bass, criticizing her over homelessness and living costs. As ex-publisher of the LA Times, Beutner secretly conspired with corrupt ex-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck to fire and smear Ted because his cartoons criticized the police, and got fired due to the subscriber backlash and his boardroom plots. As Ted later learned, Beutner was a dollar-for-dollar match donor to the LAPD pension fund. Will Angelenos get conned by a grifter who makes Eric Adams look honest? Iran’s Trans Medical Tourism: Iran promotes gender transition surgeries to attract LGBTQ foreigners, offering low-cost procedures alongside luxury travel packages. Despite Iran’s reputation for affordable care, the policy stems from a history of coerced gender-affirming surgical operations. Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clash: The Taliban confirms attacks on Pakistani troops, saying they are retaliation for airspace violations, with 58 reported deaths. Pakistan disputes the toll, and closes border crossings. Tensions soar as both sides trade accusations of harboring terrorists. Are Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a long complicated relationship, at the brink of war? Madagascar Crisis: About to be impeached, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar has dissolved his country’s National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, hours after saying that he had gone into hiding at an undisclosed location out of fear for his safety over weeks of Gen-Z anti-government protests over lack of water and power that have killed 22 people. Federal Workers’ Mass Retirements: A massive wave of federal retirements and buyouts is straining agencies amid the shutdown. Over 154,000 employees leave, overwhelming HR offices. But isn’t a workforce reduction what DOGE and Trump wanted?
Oct 10, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Deprogram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “So, the US DOES Control Israel”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou bring you up to date on the ceasefire deal seeking to end the Gaza War. President Trump delivers ironclad guarantees preventing Israel from abandoning the ceasefire, with U.S. officials revealing a pivotal U.S.-led military task force monitoring violations—exposing the moral bankruptcy of those who claimed the U.S. could not control Israel. Similarly, food aid will now flow into Gaza, belying Israelis who kept claiming they were not keeping it out. Also: New York AG Letitia James faces bank fraud charges, judges shield Chicago journalists and protesters from DHS riot weapons, New York City's mayoral race tightens post-Adams' exit, and Peru's Congress impeaches President Dina Boluarte. How Trump Leaned on Israel: President Trump issued personal guarantees securing the Gaza deal, establishing a 200-soldier U.S.-led task force with Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and UAE officers to monitor compliance. IDF withdrawal begins at noon local time and Hamas' hostage release—20 alive—will occur Monday, as eyes turn to two questions. Who will rule Gaza? How low will Israel’s reputation sink when the world gets to see the full scope of its genocide? Indictment Letitia James: A Virginia grand jury charges NY AG James with bank fraud and false statements for claiming her $137,000 Norfolk home as a secondary residence, actually an investment yielding $19,000 in interest savings. This second high-profile foe indictment in weeks follows Comey's charges, with probes into Schiff and Cook amid Trump's retribution push. Judge Tells ICE To Stop Brutalizing Journalists: Judge Ellis temporarily bans DHS agents from targeting journalists or protesters with riot weapons at ICE sites, requiring two audible warnings and visible IDs unless undercover. Force, arrests, or dispersal apply only with probable cause unrelated to orders, protecting First Amendment amid "extreme brutality" claims. Cuomo Losing By Less: Quinnipiac's October 3-7 survey shows Mamdani leading 46-33% over Cuomo, gaining no new ground but sustaining enthusiasm post-Adams' September dropout. Cuomo absorbs most ex-Mayor Adams support, up 10 points in four-way race with Sliwa at 15%, margins at ±3.9%. Mamdani, sole favorably viewed, eyes debates without hitting 50%. Peru President's Impeached: Congress ousts Dina Boluarte 122-0, citing moral incapacity after Wednesday's Lima cumbia concert machine-gun attack wounds four band members. Extortion explodes to 2,000 monthly cases, killing bus drivers and bombing businesses, dooming her 2-4% approval despite emergency decrees. Protesters rally outside Ecuador embassy on asylum rumors; Congress president assumes interim role until April elections.
Oct 9, 2025 · 58 min
Deprogram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Israel Humiliated”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, dissect the shocking new deal for Gaza, which appears to hand Hamas a major win over Israel, as well as other stories you need to know about. Gaza Deal: Brokered by a Trump increasingly disgusted by Netanyahu, Israel and Hamas negotiate a hostage-prisoner swap that seems to favor the Palestinians, exchanging 20 Israeli captives for 250 life-sentence Palestinians and 1,700 jailed Gazans,. Netanyahu convenes his cabinet today to ratify the deal, risking his fragile coalition. Israel is required to withdraw and finally allow aid—an admission the Jewish state was blocking it—while Hamas still hasn’t agreed to disarm. Palestinians cling to fragile hope, awakening to news of potential truce, even as Trump makes clear Israel’s attack against Qatar pushed Trump to pressure the Israelis to make peace. Americans Like Deportations, But Not These Deportations: It’s not what, it’s how. Trump's mass deportation campaign deploys agents to snag immigrants at courthouses and streets, flying them to unfamiliar nations and stripping humanitarian shields, sparking clashes with activists—and angering American voters. A New York Times/Siena poll finds 54% of voters support removals of undocumented arrivals, but 53% decry the process as unfair, ensnaring U.S. citizens, parents of American kids, and vendors in a spectacle of force across Chicago and D.C. Corrupt Homan Gets to Keep His Bribe: Echoing Wreckless Eric’s old song, “Take the Kash,” border czar Tom Homan is being allowed to keep $50,000 he collected from FBI undercover agents in a corruption probe—delivered in a Cava bag during a 2024 taped meet—leaving the "buy money" untraced and undeclared. AG Pam Bondi dodges Senate queries, as experts warn commingled funds evade forfeiture, complicating IRS tax pursuits or ethics probes in a Justice Department shielding insiders. Sortor Spins His Portland Arrest: Fox News regular Nick Sortor, with 1 million X followers, faces disorderly conduct charges after police swarm a brawl outside Portland's ICE building Thursday night, cuffing him alongside two others amid Antifa clashes. Released Friday, a wildly spinning Sortor blasts Portland PD as "corrupt" puppets of "violent Antifa thugs" on X, vowing the incident spotlights street terror instead of the far more likely possibility that the cops abuse protesters. Pentagon Kirk Purge: The Defense Department opens investigations into nearly 300 personnel for online insults about Charlie Kirk, under SecDef Pete Hegseth's edict branding Kirk critics as unfit for service. Disciplinary ripples spread, echoing Hegseth's purge threats against generals opposing Trump's "regressive" military overhauls, while Trumps decries mockery as "domestic terrorism" celebration. This loyalty litmus test subverts constitutional norms. Kirk Statue Frenzy: Republicans rally to put up Charlie Kirk monuments all over the place, from Capitol statues to state university mandates in Oklahoma and Texas, with New College of Florida unveiling an AI-rendered effigy amid artist bids. This push—reminiscent of Lincoln!—revives clashes over who merits commemoration in public spaces.
Oct 8, 2025 · 56 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Are Furloughed Feds S.O.L.?”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou look at the Trump administration's plan to mint a $1 coin with the president's image, his messaging to furloughed government workers that they may forfeit back pay, Colorado's conversion therapy ban, and CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis demotion of the acting general counsel—a career lawyer—and assuming the role himself. Trump $1 Coin Controversy: The Treasury Department defends minting a $1 commemorative coin bearing President Trump's image for the nation's 250th birthday, citing the 2020 Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act to override a 1866 law prohibiting living portraits on currency and quelling monarchic vibes. Draft designs show Trump's profile dominating the obverse, with the reverse side showcasing him fist-pumping before the American flag under "Fight, Fight, Fight.” This echoes Trump's past currency clashes, like delaying Harriet Tubman's $20 bill. Back Pay Dispute: President Trump says that furloughed federal workers—nearly 750,000 affected—might not receive back pay post-shutdown, contradicting the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act he signed and the Office of Personnel Management's explicit guidance promising retroactive compensation. A circulating White House memo argues that only essential employees like military and air traffic controllers qualify outright, requiring congressional approval for others, fueling union leaders' cries of legal misinterpretation and threats of lawsuits as the impasse hits day seven. Conversion Therapy: The Supreme Court's conservative majority signals opposition to Colorado's 2019 ban on conversion therapy for minors, viewing it as viewpoint-discriminating speech regulation during oral arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, where therapist Kaley Chiles claims First Amendment violations in her faith-based talk therapy. Justices like Alito and Roberts probe the state's conduct-versus-speech distinction, drawing parallels to 2018 anti-abortion center rulings and recent gender care bans, potentially invalidating similar prohibitions in over 20 states while liberals like Jackson question inconsistent deference. Pro CIA Deputy Director's Power Grab: Michael Ellis abruptly demotes the acting general counsel—an unnamed career lawyer serving since January—and installs himself in the role, retaining his No. 2 position and prompting ethics red flags over inherent conflicts in self-advising on agency actions. This "bizarre" arrangement, approved by Director John Ratcliffe, unfolds amid Trump's nomination of Joshua Simmons for permanent counsel, whose Senate hearing looms Wednesday, while Ellis— a 40-year-old Yale Law alum and Trump loyalist—navigates past scandals like Nunes' surveillance briefings and Bolton memoir battles. Current and former officials voice alarms at the consolidation, violating professional conduct rules against self-interest judgments, as the demoted lawyer takes brief vacation.
Oct 7, 2025 · 57 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Hamas Won”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou get into the second anniversary of the Oct. 7th raid by Hamas, Supreme Court’s decision to decline Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, France’s political crisis, and Trump refusing to negotiate with Democrats despite the government shutdown. Gaza War Enters Year 3: It’s been three years since Hamas launched its attack on Israel. John and Ted break down the current state of the conflict. Ghislaine Maxwell: The Supreme Court rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, upholding her 20-year sentence. Maxwell’s argument that a 2008 Florida non-prosecution deal should protect her fails, as prosecutors assert it doesn’t apply to federal charges based in New York. Her only hope now lies in potential clemency from Trump. Will he come through? France’s Political Crisis: President Macron assigns deposed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to leading talks to resolve the mess. With markets reeling and opposition parties rejecting compromise, Macron faces pressure to call snap elections and/or resign. The turmoil threatens France’s economy and the EU’s stability, with no clear path forward. U.S. Government Shutdown: President Trump refuses talks with Democrats, who demand Obamacare subsidy extensions for 20 million Americans to save the ACA. The Senate’s vote on a Republican funding proposal stalls, with the administration warning of mass federal layoffs. Meanwhile, air traffic control towers are short staffed.
Oct 6, 2025 · 57 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “France in Chaos”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou start your week with a federally-driven crisis in Portland, where 300 California National Guard troops were federalized over that state’s governor’s objections, and were due to be sent to Oregon because Oregon's governor refuses mobilization. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek complains about "breathtaking abuse," saying there is no insurrection or national security threat. But a federal judge has blocked the invasion of Portland…for now. As predicted on DeProgram, militant moderate Sébastian Lecornu is out as French prime minister after 26 days. President Emmanuel Macron has three options now. He can appoint another prime minister. He can once again dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections that either the far Right or the far Left would win. Or he can resign himself. Financial expert Aquilles Larrea joins to discuss the effect of the government shutdown on working Americans. A shocking development in the Middle East, where Trump's Gaza deal is being shoved down Netanyahu’s throat—and Bibi says he likes it, at least according to Trump. Israel will be forced into phased withdrawals and Gaza City bombings will stop at once in exchange for the remaining hostages. Hamas hasn’t agreed to disarm or give up control, but Trump tells Jake Tapper they face “complete obliteration” if they refuse. Is he referring to a nuclear option? In the Pacific, Fiji confronts a "national crisis" with HIV cases exploding 11x to 5,900 in a decade, fueled by meth-fueled "bluetoothing" blood-sharing and needle shortages amid conservative rule. Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa warns of 3,000+ new infections by year’s end, with 41 pediatric cases under 15 last year and experts fearing an "avalanche" from underreporting and resource gaps, as UNAIDS urges stigma-free testing. Finally, a wild situation roils the Philippines as a disinformation storm rages, with Duterte loyalists spreading rumors of fake CIA-backed coup plots and military defections on social media to distract from corruption scandals, eroding trust in Marcos's regime.
Oct 3, 2025 · 1 hr
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Trump’s Forever War”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou dissects the Trump administration's dramatic, legally unfounded escalation against drug cartels, declaring a formal armed conflict in order to unlock powers for indefinite detentions and lethal strikes—challenging international law amid last month's Caribbean boat attacks that claimed 17 Venezuelans. Trump's War on Cartels: The administration notifies Congress that it is formally designating cartels as “terrorist nonstate armed groups,” framing boat strikes as lawful warfare under international law. This determination allows the president to kill enemy fighters. Retired judge advocate Geoffrey S. Corn condemns this as an abuse of the law, arguing that drug smuggling are not armed attacks. Government Shutdown and Cuts: Trump meets budget director Russell Vought to slash "Democrat Agencies" amid the shutdown, freezing funds for Democratic-leaning states and accelerating 300,000 federal worker layoffs by year's end. Inspired by Project 2025, this inflicts partisan pain, with unions suing but courts allowing firings to proceed. Senator Patty Murray blasts treating workers as pawns, warning it deepens the $1.7 trillion funding freeze halting research and data reports. Tennessee Executions: The Supreme Court schedules dates for four inmates, including Christa Pike, the state's sole woman on death row for her 1995 torture slaying of fellow student Colleen Slemmer. Pike's team appeals for commutation citing her abusive childhood, undiagnosed bipolar and PTSD at age 18. This follows a lethal injection scandal revealing untested drugs in prior executions. Madagascar Protests: President Andry Rajoelina fires his cabinet to try to quell youth-led street protests in Antananarivo over crippling water cuts and power outages hindering studies and meals, yet demands for his resignation surge. Gen Z Madagascar mobilizes strikes using global youth symbols, amid clashes killing at least 22 per U.N. reports, exacerbated by poverty and Trump's new tariffs. Hamas Eyes Gaza Deal: Hamas prepares its demands for revisions to Trump's 20-point plan. Facing a three-to-four-day deadline or "pay in hell" threats, leaders in Istanbul, Doha, and Gaza navigate divisions. Analysts frame it as choosing between bad and worse.
Oct 2, 2025 · 58 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “30% of Americans Are Pro-Violence”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou cut through the bias, deprogramming you from corporate media narratives. Government Shutdown Escalates: Congress adjourns without resolving the funding deadlock. The White House ratchets up the pressure by freezing $26 billion in funds for Democratic-leaning states, while Trump's budget chief warns of imminent mass layoffs. Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, stand firm, demand Obamacare subsidies restored. This impasse will last. Political Violence: An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows that 30% of Americans view violence as potentially necessary to fix the country, up 11 points since April 2024 and driven by Democrats jumping from 12% to 28%. Republicans edge higher at 31%, up 3 points, and independents rising to 25%, following last month's assassination of Charlie Kirk. 77% say political violence a major worry. SCOTUS Backs the Fed: Justices reject Trump's immediate removal of Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook. This decision averts economic turmoil, preserving Fed autonomy. The ruling signals limits on presidential power, as the court gears up for broader challenges to Trump's tariffs and FTC firings. Why Women Live Longer: Researchers publish the largest analysis across 1,000+ mammal and bird species, bolstering evidence that women's dual X chromosomes buffer harmful mutations, explaining persistent female longevity. In mammals, females outlive males globally; in birds, ZZ males endure longer under reversed systems, supporting the heterogametic sex vulnerability hypothesis. Evolutionary demographers hail the findings as remarkable, saying genetic redundancy is a core protector.
Oct 1, 2025 · 1 hr 18 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: Interview with Reality Winner
CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou and political cartoonist Ted Rall interview whistleblower Reality Winner. Reality Leigh Winner is a former U.S. Air Force veteran, linguist, and NSA contractor whose life took a dramatic turn in 2017. Raised by a politically engaged family—her father, a brilliant but unstable philosopher, ignited her passion for ancient languages like Pashto and Farsi—she enlisted post-9/11, driven by unyielding patriotism. Deployed to support U.S. operations in Afghanistan, she honed her skills as a translator, facilitating intelligence missions. At 25, working for the NSA in Augusta, Georgia, Winner stumbled upon a classified report detailing Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election via cyberattacks on voting systems. She leaked the document to The Intercept, believing it vital for democracy. Instead, journalistic misconduct led the FBI straight to her door. Arrested and charged under the Espionage Act, she pleaded guilty, receiving the longest sentence ever for a single leak: five years and three months in federal prison, plus three years' supervised release. Released in 2021, Winner endured house arrest and ankle monitoring while rebuilding, now a CrossFit coach and aspiring veterinary technologist in Texas. Her story inspired plays, films like Reality (2023), and documentaries. In her poignant 2025 memoir, "I Am Not Your Enemy," she chronicles her childhood, the leak's moral calculus, prison's dehumanizing toll, and resilient quest for truth—affirming she's no foe, but a hero who paid dearly for conscience.
Sep 29, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Israel: Losing, Yet Demanding Surrender”
Investigators comb through the charred remnants of a Michigan church, White House unveils President Trump's bizarre 21-point blueprint for halting the Gaza War, Trump racing the midnight funding cliff, Eric Adams bows out his quixotic reelection campaign, a torrent of pressure on Republican Curtis Sliwa to abandon ship • Michigan Church Attack: Investigators sift through fiery debris at the Grand Blanc Township Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, uncovering improvised explosive devices amid the wreckage from Thomas Jacob Sanford's assault, which killed four people and wounded eight. The 40-year-old ex-Marine was killed in a police shootout after ramming his flag-festooned pickup into the building and unleashing gunfire during worship. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reveals the assailant's apparent Mormon hatred, with probes intensifying into premeditation, notes, and his Iraq vehicle recovery scars from IEDs and enemy fire. • An Odd Gaza Peace Plan: The White House drops Trump's 21-point plan for Gaza, which seems to miss that Israel has become an international pariah state in no position to make demands. The plan would mandate immediate hostage releases within 72 hours and Israeli withdrawal to pre-agreed lines acceptance. The blueprint promises Gaza's redevelopment for residents, amnesty for disarming Hamas fighters, and safe exodus for others. Netanyahu warns that will Israel "finish the job" if refused. • Government Shutdown: Trump convenes congressional leaders in a frantic White House attempt to dodge Wednesday's shutdown, clashing over a stopgap bill funding through November 21 that sidesteps Democrats' health benefit extensions while Republicans try to decouple issues. Senate Leader John Thune eyes Tuesday's revote needing seven Democratic crossovers, as failure looms to furlough federal workers, halt courts, delay small-business grants, and disrupt parks from NASA to Yosemite. • NYC Mayoral Race: Eric Adams terminates his reelection campaign, thrusting Andrew Cuomo into a tighter showdown with leading Zohran Mamdani as operatives besiege Republican Curtis Sliwa via social media. Billionaire Bill Ackman and PLACE NYC cofounder Chien Kwok implore Sliwa to exit, to forge a unified Cuomo front against Mamdani. A Siena poll pegs Mamdani at 48% to Cuomo's 44% in a head-to-head, narrowing from double-digits.
Sep 26, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “The Last Radical: Assata Shakur”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou cover the startling spectacle of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s addressing a mostly-empty UN, the shocking indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, Russia’s military aid to China and its link to Taiwan, the Manhattan mass shooting linked to C.T.E., and the death of Black revolutionary Assata Shakur in Cuba. A Pariah Addresses the UN: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a tone-deaf, combative speech at the UN, rejecting Palestinian statehood as “national suicide.” Speaking to a near-empty hall, Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation as nations like Britain and France recognize Palestine is no longer a threat but a fact. Comey Indictment: An inexperienced Trump-appointed prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, files charges against former FBI Director James Comey for false statements and obstruction. The indictment, driven by Trump’s orders, sparks fears of politically motivated prosecutions. Why him and not fellow Russia-hoax liar Brennan? Russia-China Military Cooperation: Russia agrees to train a Chinese airborne battalion and share airdrop expertise, potentially assisting China’s capacity to seize Taiwan. Manhattan Shooting and C.T.E.: Shane Tamura, a former football player with C.T.E., killed four in a Manhattan office targeting the NFL, blaming it for hiding the disease’s dangers. The medical examiner confirms low-stage C.T.E. in his brain. Should football be banned? Assata Shakur: Black revolutionary Assata Shakur, a fugitive since her 1979 prison escape, dies in Havana at 78. Supporters praise her fight against oppression and critics condemn her as a cop killer. One thing is for sure: she is one of a dying breed of Leftist radicals.
Sep 25, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Death-scalator!”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou dissect the undercurrents of power and injustice. Luigi Mangione's legal team accuses Presient Trump of jeopardizing the accused killer's right to a fair trial through inflammatory Fox News remarks labeling him a "pure assassin" who "shot someone in the back," with links to "left-wing extremists" as false narratives, alongside social media reposts by DOJ officials. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett rebukes the DOJ, citing violations of her April order prohibiting prejudicial statements, and warns of potential sanctions including contempt findings or financial penalties. Anonymous artists from The Secret Handshake erect a 12-foot statue on the National Mall depicting Trump and Epstein joyfully holding hands, complete with a plaque hailing their "long-lasting bond" for Friendship Month, only for the National Park Service to remove it within a day citing permit noncompliance. Artist "Patrick" says the piece honors Trump's "one and only true friend.” NORAD scrambles U.S. fighter jets, including four F-16s and an E-3 aircraft, to intercept two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, marking the ninth such incursion this year amid routine but provocative Russian probing of NATO readiness. The flight, in international airspace abutting U.S. and Canadian borders, follows similar August incidents and coincides with European alerts over unattributed drones disrupting Danish airports and Russian jets breaching Polish and Estonian airspace. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summons hundreds of generals and admirals from global posts to an unprecedented, short-notice meeting at Quantico, Virginia, next week, leaving attendees puzzled over its undisclosed purpose amid his aggressive overhaul slashing 20% of four-star positions. Trump demands a Secret Service probe into "triple sabotage" at the U.N. General Assembly, alleging deliberate failures of an escalator halting mid-ride with Melania Trump, a 15-minute teleprompter blackout forcing ad-libbed remarks, and faulty audio muffling his nearly hour-long address decrying immigration and global warming as a hoax. U.N. officials attribute the escalator stop to a U.S. videographer triggering a safety mechanism and the teleprompter to White House operation. The uproar, dubbed "Escalatorgate," underscores Trump's narrative of institutional dysfunction undermining his global stage.
Sep 24, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Mass Shooting Targets ICE”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou analyze the deadly sniper attack on a Dallas ICE facility, where two detainees lie dead and a third fights for life, YouTube's reinstatement pathway for creators banned under defunct COVID-19 and 2020 election misinformation policies, visa revocations for foreigners celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination, Ben Carson spearheading the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, and Trump promises to Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN that he will block West Bank annexation Dallas ICE Sniper Attack: A gunman unleashes chaos from a nearby rooftop, firing indiscriminately at the Dallas ICE field office and a van, leaving two detainees dead and another critically injured. FBI Director Kash Patel reveals unused ammunition etched with "ANTI-ICE," signaling ideological fury in an attack probed as targeted violence, the third against Texas ICE sites this year following an August bomb hoax and July's officer shooting. Texas Senator Ted Cruz condemns divisive rhetoric that paints opponents as Nazis, urging an end to demonization. YouTube Reinstatements: Alphabet submits a letter to the House Judiciary Committee, unveiling a pilot program allowing creators banned for COVID-19 and 2020 election misinformation to apply for reinstatement, prioritizing conservative voices. Channels linked to Dan Bongino, now deputy FBI director, Steve Bannon, and RFK Jr.'s group eye return, bolstering monetization for influencers. Visa Denials Over Charlie Kirk: State Department officials scour social media for foreigners praising or joking about Charlie Kirk's assassination, revoking visas and deporting visa holders, with dozens queued including a Brazilian congressman and Mexican commentator. Ben Carson Joins USDA for MAHA: Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson sworn in as USDA's national adviser on nutrition, rural healthcare, and housing, leading efforts to implement Trump's Make America Healthy Again initiative through state SNAP junk food prohibitions and overdue Dietary Guidelines revisions. West Bank Annexation: At a closed UN General Assembly huddle with eight Arab and Muslim nations, Trump vows firmly to prevent Israeli annexation of the West Bank. Turkish President Erdogan labels the talks "fruitful" on Fox News, setting up Thursday's White House follow-up, while echoing 2020 Abraham Accords' anti-annexation roots amid far-right Israeli pressures.
Sep 23, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Trump Rages at UN”
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou update you on the big clash over free speech as ABC battles station giants Nexstar and Sinclair over Jimmy Kimmel's return tonight, Trump’s bizarre hourlong UN General Assembly address, the massive SIM farm threat 35 miles from UN headquarters, the State Department’s clampdown on Iranian UN delegates, Trump’s war on Tylenol, and ICC charges against ex-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity. Jimmy Kimmel Standoff: ABC reinstates "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" tonight. But Nexstar continues to boycott the show, while Sinclair still demands an apology and donation to right-wing Turning Point. If a TV show airs but no one sees it, who wins the free speech fight? Trump's UN Tirade: Trump lambasts the UN in a near-hour speech, touting U.S. resurgence while attacking Biden, migration policies, and Ukraine war enablers like Europe's Russian oil purchasers, threatening more tariffs. Is he OK? Secret Service SIM Bust: Agents dismantle a sprawling SIM farm network, uncovering 300 servers and 100,000 cards across five abandoned New York sites—poised to create DDoS chaos, tower shutdowns, and 30 million texts per minute targeting UN events. Forensics reveal foreign-state ties to cartels and traffickers, plus cocaine and arms; the Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit neutralizes the plot 35 miles from headquarters, but warns of additional duplicates nationwide. Iranian Shopping Ban: State Department blocks Iranian UN diplomats from Costco. Trump's Tylenol Autism Claim: Trump tells pregnant women not to take Tylenol, booming warnings despite inconclusive studies linking prenatal acetaminophen to autism, as FDA tweaks labels for caution despite a lack of causation proof. Duterte ICC Charges: Prosecutors charge Duterte with crimes against humanity for 76 drug-war murders, alleging his indirect role via Davao Death Squad hits from 2013-2018, rewarding assassins $875-$17,000 per target.