Behind the Bastards

This week we tell the harrowing story of Paul Bennewitz, a simple nerdy engineer who spotted evidence of covert Air Force weapons programs and was gaslit into believing they were alien spacecraft.

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All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file. 

1. The Internationalists Fighting Fascism in Burma

2. (Maybe Don't) Read Siege

3. How Trump is Killing Science (And You)

4. Greenwashing Genocide In Artsakh

5. Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #2

You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today!

http://apple.co/coolerzone 

Sources/Links:

(Maybe Don't) Read Siege

https://www.routledge.com/Neo-Nazi-Terrorism-and-Countercultural-Fascism-The-Origins-and-Afterlife-of-James-Masons-Siege/Sunshine/p/book/9780367190606

Greenwashing Genocide In Artsakh

Donations:

VOMA 
https://www.voma.center/en
VOMA is a non-governmental movement that aims to strengthen the defenses of the Republic of Armenia through preparing Armenians  and Diaspora to face the immanent threat of invasion by Azerbaijan and Turkey. A defensive organization only. 

Kooyrigs
https://kooyrigs.org
Kooyrigs is a women-led organization and NGO. Focused on supporting Armenia and Artsakh refugees  through various humanitarian projects, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, and emergency relief efforts.

Pahapan Development Foundation: 
http://www.pahapan.org/en/
Donations go toward supporting and developing Tavush: there are about 10000 children who live under regular shootings by Azeri troops in 23 borderline villages of Tavush region. This organization helps their safety as well as implementing social, cultural and educational programs.

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
https://www.himnadram.org
This fund is one of the main sources of support for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, focusing on community development, health, education, and infrastructure.

Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)
https://www.agbu.org
AGBU is one of the largest Armenian-American organizations that provides support for educational, cultural, and social welfare initiatives in Armenia and globally.

Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
https://www.farusa.org
FAR focuses on providing relief to vulnerable populations in Armenia, supporting programs in health, education, and economic development.

Paros Foundation
http://parosfoundation.org/available-projects/
Donations can contribute to a number of humanitarian missions they have in Armenia. You can choose to support individual projects or donate to the foundation in general.

Armenia Fund
https://www.armeniafund.org
A wide ranging charity for infrastructure projects, educational scholarships, and providing aid to vulnerable populations.

Armenian Wounded Heroes Fund
https://armenianwoundedheroes.com
This fund provides direct support to Armenian soldiers who have been injured in the line of duty, offering medical assistance and helping them reintegrate into society.

Tumo Center for Creative Technologies
https://www.tumo.org
Tumo is an innovative educational program that provides free tech and creative skills to young people in Armenia. Donations help support the growth of this pioneering center and its ability to empower youth with skills in areas such as animation, coding, game development, and design.

Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC)
https://www.avc.am
AVC connects volunteers with opportunities in Armenia to support a variety of causes, from community development to disaster relief. Donations help fund the ongoing programs and volunteer recruitment.

The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
https://coaf.org
COAF supports rural communities in Armenia with educational, healthcare, and technological programs.

Armenian Red Cross Society
https://www.redcross.am/en/home.html
The Armenian Red Cross provides critical humanitarian assistance in Armenia, offering emergency relief, health services, and disaster response.

IMAST 
https://imast.am/
IMAST helps Armenian non-profits with micro-donations for individual projects from wildlife to health to community building. 

Other:
One Armenia
https://www.onearmenia.org
A travel group that features local travel opportunities with local people. Promoting responsible travel.

Hike Armenia
https://hikearmenia.org/

Learn4Artsakh
https://learn4artsakh.org
Instagram: @learn4artsakh
Learn4Artsakh is a leftist  platform dedicated to providing educational resources about Artsakh’s history, culture, and people.

Books:
The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide by Peter Balakian

The Caucasian Knot: The History and Geo-politics of Nagorno-Karabagh, by Patrick Donabedian & Claude Mutafian
Available on learn4artsakh.com

My Brother’s Struggle:
A great book by the brother of a complicated Armenian revolutionary who grew up in California.
Available on learn4artsakh.com

AVOID anything by Thomas de Waal

News sites:
https://armenianweekly.com/
https://evnreport.com
https://hetq.am/en

Videos:
White Phosphorus in Artsakh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjwzHkyGYQA&rco=1

Armenia: The Fall of Nagoro-Karabagh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tld7Vz42QSI

Articles:
Cultural destruction by Azerbaijan
https://hyperallergic.com/482353/a-regime-conceals-its-erasure-of-indigenous-armenian-culture/

Azeri War Crimes
https://azeriwarcrimes.org/
An archive of evidence of war crimes, ethnic cleansing and human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan. Not for the faint of heart.

University Network for Human Rights
https://www.humanrightsnetwork.org/we-are-no-one
How Three Years of Atrocities Led to the Ethnic Cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenians

Azerbaijan’s Ethnic Hatred Theme Park
https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-karabakh-theme-park-armenia-ethnic-hatred-aliyev/31217971.html

History of Artsakh
https://www.armenianmuseum.org/artsakh

Armenian Genocide Historical Overview
https://genocideeducation.org/background/brief-history/

Artwashing and Sportswashing by Azerbaijan:
https://hyperallergic.com/615519/artwashing-a-dictatorship/

Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #2

https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3
https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-lackeys-general-services-administration/ https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-lieutenant-gsa-ai-agency/
http://wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/
https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/
https://x.com/USAO_DC/status/1886537850390483276
https://bsky.app/profile/josephpolitano.bsky.social/post/3lhfjn7ires2h https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/02/politics/usaid-officials-leave-musk-doge/index.html
https://bsky.app/profile/chadloder.bsky.social/post/3lhc52j6kns2d https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-gsa-terminate-office-leases-f8faac5e2038722f705587c8dd21ab26?user_email=dabc81d5ec766cfb0c88230c077bd88afdc57894c6b8dcdfcf8102146e6c

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pr/2024/dojpr-041224-former-border-patrol-agent-sentenced-18-years-prison-drug-smuggling-and-bribery.pdf

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-border-agent-nicknamed-goalie-took-bribes-to-let-drugs-into-u-s-prosecutors/3259608/

https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/quick-facts/Fentanyl_FY23.pdf

https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/frontline-against-fentanyl

https://x.com/nayibbukele/status/1886606794614587573?mx=2

https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/el-salvador/

https://apnews.com/article/eu-us-ukraine-defense-trump-greenland-tariffs-c3e454c8f0959d273c2b6dd5941395e3

https://www.theverge.com/news/605483/shein-temu-amazon-trump-tariffs-de-minimis-exemption

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/03/americas/mexico-military-migrants-killed-int-latam/index.html

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/

https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/local-politics/denver-health-pauses-gender-affirming-surgeries-minors-federal-funding/73-e61f598b-e32d-474e-94b4-4b11d4c5c8af
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/nyregion/nyu-langone-hospital-trans-care-youth.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/02/04/transgender-hospitals-gender-affirming-care/78204417007/

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/school-systems-across-us-declare
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/02/04/nyc-parents-push-for-statement-from-schools-chancellor-opposing-trump-executive-order-on-race-gender/
https://www.seattleschools.org/news/commitment-to-sps-students-staff-and-families/ https://bsky.app/profile/erininthemorning.com/post/3lhh7qpjygk27 

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Robert and Molly continue their exploration of Venusian health science which apparently involves eating nothing but raw fruit.

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Robert sits down with Molly Conger to explore a book at the foundation of American conspiracy culture that may have helped kill Steve Jobs.

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All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file. 

1. The Decline and Fall of the American Post Office

2. Nut Country Revisited feat. Steven Monacelli & Dr. Michael Phillips

3. They're Trying to Put Women Into Men's Prisons

4. How Unions Can Protect Trans Rights

5. Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #1

You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today!

http://apple.co/coolerzone 

Sources:

The Decline and Fall of the American Post Office

https://www.nalc.org

https://www.fightingnalc.com

https://concernedlettercarriers.com

https://www.nalc.org/member-benefits/nalc-disaster-relief-foundation 

Nut Country Revisited

Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America https://www.ucpress.edu/books/a-culture-of-conspiracy/paper 

Mark Fenster, Conspiracy Theories: Secrecy and Power in American Culture   https://www.upress.umn.edu/9780816654949/conspiracy-theories/ 

Edward H. Miller, Nut Country: Right-Wing Dallas and the Birth of the Southern Strategy https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/N/bo19197692.html

How Unions Can Protect Trans Rights

Solidarity Pledge:  https://crm.broadstripes.com/ctf/SJID0H 

https://sbworkersunited.org/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-sign-orders-ending-diversity-programs-proclaiming-there-are-only-two-sexes-2025-01-20/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-orders-end-federal-support-gender-affirming-care-minors-2025-01-28/

https://www.wjhl.com/news/regional/tennessee/bill-would-block-insurance-companies-that-cover-gender-affirming-care-from-contracting-with-tenncare/

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/24/nx-s1-5238169/starbucks-strike-christmas

https://www.them.us/story/starbucks-threatens-to-take-away-trans-rights-at-stores-that-unionize

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This is a bonus episode of our Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, and John of God episodes aka the bastards of Oprah episodes stitched together with limited ad breaks

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Oh god, we are finally done. Unfortunately Oprah's greatest harms, like her role in birthing the anti vaccine movement, live on.

Series Sources:

1. https://archive.org/details/oprahwinfrey0000unse_a9o7/page/40/mode/2up
2. https://www.today.com/popculture/oprah-opens-hoda-kotb-about-how-her-childhood-trauma-informed-t219209
3. https://www.amazon.com/Oprah-Media-Power-Janice-Peck/dp/1594514690 
4. Winfrey, Oprah; Perry, Bruce D.. What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (pp. 21-22). Flatiron Books. Kindle Edition.
5. https://variety.com/2018/music/news/seal-accuses-oprah-knowing-about-weinstein-misconduct-1202661226/
6. https://quchronicle.com/87691/opinion/oprah-winfrey-always-at-the-scene-of-the-crime/
7. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/08/entertainment/oprah-winfrey-harvey-weinstein-gwyneth-paltrow-interview/index.html
8. https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2021/09/rose-mcgowan-states-oprah-is-as-fake-as-they-come-for-friendship-with-harvey-weinstein.html
9. https://pagesix.com/2021/08/31/rose-mcgowan-calls-oprah-winfrey-as-fake-as-they-come/
10. https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17wiij/i_worked_backstage_on_the_oprah_winfrey_show_ama/
11. Why Everyone is Hating on Oprah Lately
12. An Open Letter to Oprah, Whose ‘The Life You Want’ Tour Asked Me to Work for Free
13. Fact Check: Legal documents do not say that Oprah Winfrey was a client of Epstein | Reuters
14. These Are The Black Celebs Who Were Named On Jeffrey Epstein's List
15. Oprah's Bad Book Club Pick | HuffPost Latest News
16. Ted Rall: Oprah Winfrey elevates lowbrow literary tastes, hurts reading
17. Oprah Says Author 'Betrayed Millions' - CBS News
18. (2003) The Oprah Winfrey Show - Rainbow parties are first introduced to the world. Oprah and her guest teach us other dangerous sex terminology such as Tossed Salad. : r/ObscureMedia
19. Forget about rainbow parties, sex bracelets and sexting: Today's kids have not gone wild | Salon.com
20. Over the rainbow / Oral sex among teens is new spin the bottle
21. Oprah’s long history with junk science | Vox
22. A fun fact about Oprah Winfrey and Interview with the Vampire that made me laugh : r/movies
23. Did Oprah Make Us Terrified for Our Kids? - Free-Range Kids
24. Despair disguised as entertainment: Does Oprah Winfrey sensationalize human suffering in order to fuel her media empire and encourage other media to follow?
25. Oprah Winfrey helped create our irrational pseudoscientific American fantasyland.
26. Oprah’s School Rocked by 2nd Sex Scandal – NBC4 Washington
27. 'A Culture of Distrust and Fear': Oprah Winfrey Turns Off Her Comments After Celebrating the Graduation of One of Her Former Students Following Years of Accusations About Her Leadership Academy for Girls
28. Oprah "cleans house" in South Africa school abuse case | Reuters
29. The Education Of Oprah Winfrey: How She Saved Her South African School
30. Oprah ‘shamed’ live on-air: ‘Why are you so fat?’ | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site
31. Oprah Winfrey 'Shamed' for 25 Years Over Her Weight
32. Oprah Winfrey's wagon of fat: The real story.
33. Oprah Winfrey Recalls ‘In Living Color’ Making Fun Of Her Weight: ‘One Of The Most Hurtful Things’
34. Mothers Battle Autism
35. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-31-ca-1049-story.html
36. https://slate.com/health-and-science/2018/01/oprah-winfrey-helped-create-our-irrational-pseudoscientific-american-fantasyland.html
37. https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/mothers-battle-autism/1
38. https://archive.is/N6NyH#selection-947.0-951.184
39. https://theselfstyledlife.com/2014/05/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah-regarding-your-silence-on-james-ray/
40. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43501833
41. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/10/time-oprah-winfrey-beefed-texas-cattle-industry/
42. https://unortho-docs.com/deepak-chopra-anti-vaxxers-and-religious-zealots/
43. https://www.deepakchopra.com/articles/why-doctors-can-t-make-you-well/
44. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/embodiment-of-pseudoscience-deepak-chopra-bad-choice-for-edmonton-autism-conference-says-expert-1.3827677
45. https://circleofa.org/library/creation-by-god/
46. Celebrity Charities: Good For Image, But What About Good Works?
47. This Woman Used Oprah's Pontiac To Finance Her Dreams
48. How Oprah Helped Spread Anti-Vaccine Pseudoscience – Mother Jones
49. South African parents unhappy with Oprah school | Reuters
50. The Education Of Oprah Winfrey - Forbes Africa
51. The Doctor Carl Sagan Warned Us About | Office for Science and Society - McGill University
52. Many children taken by Americans not orphans
53. Laura Silsby, Haiti 'Orphans' ' Would-Be Rescuer, Serial Rule Breaker : The Two-Way : NPR
54. Missionary Stumbles on Road to Haiti - WSJ
55. Many children taken by Americans not orphans
56. American Missionary Jim Allen Speaks Out
57. Traffickers exploit children in Haiti’s orphanages | CNN
58. Funding_Haiti_Orphanages_Report.pdf
59. Despair disguised as entertainment: Does Oprah Winfrey sensationalize human suffering in order to fuel her media empire and encourage other media to follow?
60. Generation Z, values, and media: from influencers to BeReal, between visibility and authenticity - PMC

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Today we talk about Oprah's involvement in a self help guru who killed three people in a sweat lodge, and how it goes into a shift in American culture driven by The Oprah Winfrey show.

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All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file. 

1. The Lost Post Office Union Episode

2. The Age of Cowards and What Happens Next

3. How to Evacuate Your Home

4. A Firsthand Account of the Inauguration & Trump's First Days

5. About That Nazi Salute

You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today!

http://apple.co/coolerzone 

Sources/Links:

The Age of Cowards and What Happens Next

https://emilygorcenski.com/

How to Evacuate Your Home

https://www.fire.ca.gov/prepare/get-ready-to-go

https://www.liveliketheworldisdying.com/

About That Nazi Salute

https://apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-politics-brasilia-united-states-government-florida-state-29fad1e6c79a5737641932c939021e62

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1852/18th-brumaire/ch01.htm

https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/debord/society.htm

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/the-invisible-committe-to-our-friends

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Robert chronicles Oprah's war with the beef industry and her pivot to new age anti-science nonsense. Also: rainbow parties!

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