DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas

France teeters on the brink of chaos as Prime Minister François Bayrou's government collapses after just nine months, signaling chronic political instability amid a ballooning debt crisis. Across the pond, the Supreme Court signs off on Trump administration ethnic-profiling arrests in Los Angeles, enabling ICE to target based on broad criteria like speaking Spanish or congregating at day labor spots. Join us on the DeProgram show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou for this vital dissection of two powerful nations fighting over their identities.

• French Government Collapse: What is France? A nation of cherished rights and privileges? Or a lean, mean American-style place where life keeps getting harsher? The National Assembly answers that question with a crushing 364-194 no-confidence vote, rejecting Bayrou’s ask for $51 billion in savings amid a $198 billion deficit at 5.8% of GDP and 114% debt-to-output ratio. Far-right and left alliances oppose austerity measures, pressuring lame-duck Macron (15% approval rating) to call elections or appoint one of their own.

• SCOTUS OKs LA Raids: The Supreme Court dumps a district judge's order limiting Trump administration ICE raids in Los Angeles, allowing ethnic profiling criteria like Spanish-speaking or day labor. Critics highlight unconstitutional "roving" patrols targeting stereotypes at car washes and Home Depot lots, risking sweeps of citizens in a half-Hispanic city. Dissenting justices decry racial profiling, while the 6-3 ruling backs "common sense" questioning amid 3,000-arrest quotas.

• Trump Told To Pay Up: A federal appeals court upholds E. Jean Carroll's $83 million defamation verdict against Trump, now growing with 9% interest for calling her assault claims a hoax. The panel finds his five-year malice "unprecedented," rejecting presidential immunity and affirming punitive damages for reputational and emotional harm. Trump denies wrongdoing and appeals to the Supreme Court.

• Jerusalem Bus Stop Attack: Two West Bank Palestinians kill six Israelis in a Ramot Junction shooting, injuring others before responders kill them. European leaders like Macron condemn the violence, linking it to Gaza war and pushing a Palestinian state.

• Trump Pushes School Prayer Guidelines: Trump rolls out Department of Education guidelines promoting prayer in public schools, countering "anti-religious propaganda". Echoing campaign promises, he builds on prior allowances for student expressions during non-instructional time, defying 1962 bans on state-sponsored prayer. He stresses reviving Judeo-Christian principles to strengthen the nation.

Tune in for hard-hitting analysis on the DeProgram show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou as they dig into today’s big stories.

• Department of War: Trump signs an executive order, renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, reverting to its pre-1947 title to emphasize military strength. Trump wants to project an even more aggressive image, citing U.S. victories in World Wars I and II. Pacifists have wanted this change for years—are they happy?

• Eric Adams Offered the Biggest Bribe of All: Advisers to President Trump, including Steve Witkoff, push to nominate NYC Mayor Eric Adams as ambassador to Saudi Arabia to derail his struggling re-election bid and clear the field for Andrew Cuomo. The plan remains fluid, with Adams weighing options amid a federal indictment and rock-bottom poll numbers (10.6%). Could this reshape the race, potentially boosting Andrew Cuomo’s third-party candidacy (23.2%) against Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani (38.2%)? Sliwa is at 16.6%.

• Sanctions on Palestinians for Opposing Genocide: The U.S. imposes sanctions against three Palestinian groups—Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and Palestinian Centre for Human Rights—for asking for an ICC probe into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The sanctions, led by Rubio, cite their ICC engagement without Israel’s “consent.”

• Trump Sides with Airlines Against Passengers: Trump administration withdraws a Biden-era plan that would have required airlines to pay $200-$775 for delays caused by carriers, screwing beleaguered travelers—who wanted this. Will he pay a political price for opposing the American people?

Today on “DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou,” look for hard-hitting analysis of cyber espionage, AI warfare, child sabotage, and the intrigue surrounding John Bolton.

• China’s Cyberattack: The Salt Typhoon cyberattack, uncovered last year, targets over 80 countries, infiltrating telecoms and stealing data from nearly every American, per a joint statement by Western allies. Described as “unrestrained,” Salt Typhoon tries to track politicians and activists globally. Experts see it as China’s boldest move yet, rivaling U.S. cyber capabilities.

• Doomsday AI: War games show AI models like GPT-4 tend to escalate conflicts aggressively, even favoring nuclear options, alarming experts. Why this bias? The Pentagon’s rush to deploy AI-driven defenses risks warmongering autonomy without human oversight. DARPA’s $25M program seeks to ensure AI reliability.

• Hybrid Warfare with Teen Saboteurs: Russia and Ukraine exploit teens via Telegram for sabotage, from arson to bombings, with cases like a Russian teen jailed for targeting a warplane. Both nations use blackmail and deception, ruining young lives. Over 175 Ukrainian child dupes face charges.

• John Bolton: Federal agents raided Bolton’s home on August 22, seizing computers, iPhones, and documents over alleged Espionage Act violations. The probe, reopened by FBI Director Kash Patel, questions Biden’s inaction. Bolton faces potential 25-year imprisonment.

Anxiety over the economy is the focus on “DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou,” where political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou are joined by guest Aquiles Larrea. Aquiles Larrea Jr. is a prominent financial advisor and founder of Larrea Wealth Management, specializing in wealth strategies for Latino executives. A bestselling author and media commentator, he empowers clients with tailored financial planning and economic insights.

• Economic Warning Signs: Mark Zandi, Moody’s chief economist, warns that the U.S. economy teeters on the brink of recession, with job growth at a “virtual standstill” and tariffs driving up consumer prices. August’s jobs report looms and states like California and New York signal economic weakness.

• A Tale of Two Economies: McDonald’s expands its value menu as CEO Chris Kempczinski notes a “two-tier economy,” in which middle- and lower-income consumers are struggling. Inflation and stagnant job growth hit low-income households hardest.

• Are Cartels “Terrorism”?: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reveals on DeProgram orders a deadly U.S. strike targeting Venezuelan cartel boats in the Caribbean as part of Trump’s aggressive anti-fentanyl campaign.

• Metropolitan Opera’s Saudi Scheme: The Met’s $100 million agreement with Saudi Arabia aims to stabilize the Met’s finances but raises ethical questions amid Saudi’s human rights record.

• Trump’s Deportations Blocked: A federal appeals court rejects Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations. Fifth Circuit ruling halts plans targeting Venezuelan immigrants, setting the stage for a Supreme Court battle.

We all die. But Trump isn’t dead yet—and he wants you to know it. Get the latest Trump-still-alive news on today’s episode of “DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou,” where we’ll catch you up on:

• Trump’s Space Case: President Trump announces U.S. Space Command’s move from Colorado to Alabama, reversing Biden’s decision. His weeklong media absence sparked “Trump is Dead” rumors, amplified by photos resembling 2019 images. Conspiracy theories about digitally altered photos or a body double make us ask: why were we so open to these bizarre theories? (Spoiler: Biden.)

• The Secret US/Israeli Ethnic Cleansing Plan for Gaza (GREAT Trust): A 38-page Gaza plan envisions a U.S.-led trusteeship, relocating 2 million Palestinians for a decade to build AI-powered “smart cities” and resorts. It offers $5,000 payments for voluntary departures, validating war crimes. The plan, tied to Trump’s “Riviera” vision, promises investor profits.

• Eric Trump for President: Speaking at Bitcoin Asia, the First Son hints at a White House run, saying he’s not ruling it out. Promoting World Liberty Financial, he claims ethical conduct despite family ties.

• Operation Midnight Climax: Revelations about the CIA’s 1950s-70s Operation Midnight Climax, part of MKULTRA, resurface. Prostitutes dosed unsuspecting brothel patrons with LSD in San Francisco, observed through two-way mirrors. Senate hearings in 1977 confirmed the unethical program’s details.

• China’s WWII Revisionism: President Xi’s meeting with Putin and Kim marks WWII’s end, bizarrely claiming Communist victory over Imperial Japan. Taiwan’s KMT begs to differ.

Today’s episode of the “DeProgram show” with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou confronts everything from the Trump administration's visa denials targeting Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) members planning to attend the UN General Assembly, where numerous countries will recognize Palestine, to the catastrophic event that probably brought life to earth.

• Visa Denials for PA and PLO Officials: The Trump administration is denying and revoking visas for Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) members ahead of the September UN General Assembly. The State Department cites the PA's failure to repudiate October 7, end incitement in education, and cease ICC/ICJ appeals over Israeli genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. France, the UK, Canada, and Australia prepare state recognition.

• Trump Rescinds Foreign Aid: The White House is invoking a pocket rescission to cancel $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, targeting State Department and USAID programs like $445 million in UN peacekeeping and $132 million from the Democracy Fund. This untested maneuver, last used in 1977, withholds funds until fiscal year-end on September 30, bypassing a 45-day review to ensure lapse, amid USAID's dismantling and prior $9 billion cuts. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins condemns it as illegal under the Impoundment Control Act, while Democrats like Patty Murray and Chuck Schumer decry the power grab, warning it jeopardizes bipartisan shutdown avoidance and global soft power.

• No More Kamala Secret Service Protection: Trump is revoking Kamala Harris's extended Secret Service detail effective September 1, ending Biden's undisclosed 18-month extension beyond the standard six months that expired July 21. This decision, amid Harris's heightened threats as the first woman and Black VP during her 2024 campaign, precedes her "107 Days" book tour, following similar revocations for Bolton, Pompeo, and Biden's children. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass denounce it as retaliatory endangerment, pledging local safeguards.

• Theia Impact Delivered Life to Earth: A University of Bern study is revealing that proto-Earth formed as a dry, rocky wasteland incapable of supporting life until a Mars-sized protoplanet Theia collided over 4 billion years ago, delivering essential volatiles like hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur from outer solar system regions. Analyzing meteorite isotopes and manganese-to-chromium decay timelines from the first 15 million years of Earth's formation, researchers confirm Theia's volatile-rich origin beyond the inner planets' high temperatures, enabling habitability. Co-author Klaus Mezger emphasizes this chance event's role, suggesting life-friendliness in the universe is rare, with implications for exoplanets and ongoing mantle water puzzles.

The IDF wants to finish off Gaza. But they have a problem: refuseniks! Some Israeli soldiers are refusing to serve in Gaza because they’re exhausted or they refuse to help with genocide. Meanwhile, Western media outlets are already covering the war as an after-action report and accepting Israel’s pariah status as a given. How serious is this? That’s today’s main topic on “DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou,” airing today at 5 pm ET LIVE and streaming 24/7!

• Israel’s Gaza City Offensive and Reservist Challenges: The Jewish state prepares to mobilize 60,000 reservists to smash what’s left of Gaza City offensive, but many soldiers are not reporting, citing exhaustion and disillusionment. Military faces strain as reservists struggle with prolonged service, with some units reporting 40-50% no-shows, threatening Netanyahu’s ongoing conflicts in Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.

• Biden Created the Famine: As NPR shows, famine in Gaza emerged from Israel's blockade, which slashed Gaza’s pre-war 3000 daily aid trucks to a trickle, forcing reliance on animal feed and weeds by February 2024. The Biden administration faced internal rifts: some urged leveraging arms aid to enforce humanitarian access, but Biden prioritized military support, providing $17.9 billion in 2024. Efforts like a $230M pier and airdrops failed. Negotiations yielded modest gains, like 400 trucks daily in April 2024, but Israel’s restrictions persisted. By August 2025, Trump’s blockade and $30M Gaza Humanitarian Foundation worsened starvation, with 2,000+ killed seeking aid. Over 60,000 died from hunger, mostly children, creating an epic, preventable U.S. policy failure.

• Walmart Roku TV Privacy Breach: A Walmart customer discovered live footage from a stranger’s home on a resold Roku TV, linked to the original owner’s account. The incident highlights risks of reselling electronics without factory resets. Walmart advised a reset, but privacy concerns persist.

• Tulsi Gabbard Burns CIA Officer: The DNI posted a memo revealing an undercover CIA officer’s name, prompting backlash. The move, tied to Trump’s security clearance revocations, raised legal concerns over privacy violations. Critics argue Gabbard’s actions endangered CIA operations and cover procedures.

• Russian Surveillance Drones Over Germany: Russian drones fly over eastern Germany, spying on U.S. and allied military supply routes for Ukraine. The flights, possibly launched from Baltic Sea ships, aim to bolster Russia’s sabotage campaign. German defenses struggle to counter these espionage efforts, despite new interception techniques.

On today’s “DeProgram show” with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, we guide you through a barrage of developments, from yet another mass school shooting to political maneuvers and corporate deception. Joining us is Yale Privacy Lab's Sean O’Brien, exposing the hidden dangers in a collapsed scam.

• Minnesota Shooting: A gunman unleashes horror at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, firing a rifle, shotgun, and pistol through church windows during an all-school Mass marking the first week of classes. Two children, aged eight and ten, die in the pews, while 17 others—including 14 children—suffer injuries, with two in critical condition. The suspect, 23-year-old Robin Westman, who legally changed their name from Robert in 2020 indicating transgender identity, dies from suicide; authorities investigating motives amid reports of racist, antisemitic writings on weapons and a possible hate crime targeting Catholics, fueling debates on access to assault weapons and gun control.

• DNC Calendar: The Democratic National Committee sits down to decide its 2028 presidential nominating calendar. Emphasizing diversity, regional balance, and battleground status, DNC Chair Ken Martin says he wants a rigorous, fair process extending through spring, potentially restoring Iowa's caucuses or elevating states like New Hampshire. Is the party moving past Joe Biden? States lobby aggressively at the Minneapolis meeting, aiming to shape a lineup that battle-tests candidates while avoiding the 2024 chaos of unsanctioned primaries.

• Border Patrol Arrests: U.S. Border Patrol agents conduct targeted enforcement at a Playa Vista Home Depot, detaining two individuals amid bystander outrage and leading to the arrest of a 27-year-old U.S. citizen for assaulting officers. Operations highlight collaboration with local law enforcement, focusing on smuggling networks while navigating a court injunction against warrantless stops in southern California. Arrests surge in interior zones, with ICE reporting over 1.6 million removals this year.

• Lightning Shared Scooter Company Scam: For over a year, Lightning Shared Scooter Company lured thousands of Americans via storefronts, apps, and endorsements from mayors, police, and ex-White House press secretary Sean Spicer, masquerading as a legitimate scooter-sharing startup. Unmasking as a vast multi-level marketing scheme, it recruited communities with crypto payments, apps harboring privacy breaches, and overseas ties—spanning eight U.S. cities and amassing millions before crumbling this summer, stranding families in recovery battles. Sean O’Brien of Yale Privacy Lab joins as a guest, detailing app examinations uncovering severe security flaws and data streams to Chinese servers, urging scrutiny of deceptive tech ventures.

Fresh off taking control of 10% of Intel, Donald Trump is expanding his takeover of the economy by going after the Fed.

On the “DeProgram show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou,” we’ll deprogram you from the day’s news coverage and tell you the truth about the top stories.

• Trump Fires Federal Governor: The President fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over unproven mortgage fraud allegations by FHFA Director Bill Pulte. The move intensifies pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates. Cook denies wrongdoing, as the Justice Department investigates.

• Australia Accuses Iran of Arson Attacks: Australia accuses Iran of directing arson attacks on a Jewish business and synagogue, leading to severed diplomatic ties. Prime Minister Albanese calls these acts attempts to sow discord. Intelligence links the attacks to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, now designated a terrorist group.

• France’s Political Crisis and Antisemitism: Prime Minister Francois Bayrou gambles on a confidence vote for his debt-cutting plan, likely leading to his government’s collapse and potential snap elections, as opposition parties vow to vote against it. Markets tumble with the CAC 40 index down nearly 2%, reflecting fears of destabilization and higher bond yields. Rising antisemitism, including vandalism and assaults on Jewish sites, draws criticism from U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner, who accuses Macron's government of insufficient action, escalating diplomatic tensions.

• DNC Covers Harris: The Democratic National Committee covers $20.5 million in outstanding bills from Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign through a handshake deal, using funds from donor solicitations. Harris's operation raised money earmarked for these debts without full disclosure to small donors, who received nearly 100 emails promoting contributions for future elections. The arrangement, legal but opaque, helps obscure the campaign's financial shortfall while bolstering DNC infrastructure, though party cash reserves dwindle compared to Republicans.

• Man Arrested for Flag Burnin

Trump was a no-show for his police ride-along. The National Guardsmen occupying Washington start carrying loaded military weapons this weekend. What could go wrong? And those aren’t even the main topics on today’s “DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou airing today LIVE at 5 pm ET!

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou unpack the urgent stories at the end of the week:

• FBI Raid at Chateau John Bolton: The Feds burst into the Maryland home and D.C. office of the notorious neocon warmonger. They’re looking for classified documents, not his judgement—that’s long gone. JD Vance denies its retribution for Bolton’s criticism of Trump, but his denials are less than convincing.

• Erik Menendez Snubbed: The patricidal brother’s parole application was rejected after a 10-hour hearing, supposedly due to prison misconduct like using a cellphone. Despite family support and credible claims he was raped, he was dubbed a public safety risk.

• ICE Kidnaps Army Vet: US Army veteran Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry showed up to his citizenship interview in Tukwila, Washington only to be disappeared into an ICE gulag. His wife, Melissa, says he faces deportation despite 25 years in the US and military service.

• Visa Dragnet: The US is reviewing 55 million visa holders for violations like overstays and links to terrorism, enforcing “continuous vetting.” They’re scanning social media feeds for “anti-American” sentiments, reflecting Trump’s anti-immigration and hatred of Palestinians.

• ICE Spying on Wire Transfers: ICE uses wire transfer data to track immigrants, as seen in Gregorio Cordova Murrieta’s deportation case. The Transaction Record Analysis Center’s database violates your privacy for immigration enforcement.

• Secret Space Mission: The X-37B mini shuttle launched again for classified space experiments, testing laser communications and GPS-free navigation. The Space Force mission’s duration is undisclosed, with past flights lasting up to a year. Boeing’s reusable craft continues to push secretive aerospace boundaries. What are they up to?