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The word Tor comes from the acronym T-O-R which stands for The Onion Router. What the Onion Router--or Tor--does is it routes your internet traffic through multiple Tor nodes on its way to your destination. So, on the regular internet, what we call the clear web, if you go to a website address the browser sends a request directly to the server that hosts the website, and that server returns the page directly to you. What you end up with is that your ISP and the recipient both know your IP address and can potentially figure out your identity. With the Tor browser, when you go to a web address, your request gets routed through other Tor servers so that the destination server does not know your IP address or physically where your request originated.

Tor also allows people to host websites directly on the Tor network, and these sites end in .onion rather than .com or .org or the other ones with which most people are familiar. When you access an onion site, you have the added benefit of end-to-end encryption. Tor uses public key encryption which means that each node has both a public key and private key. Anything encrypted with one's public key can ONLY be decrypted using their private key. Conversely, anything encrypted using their private key can ONLY be decrypted using their public key. So, when you go to a .onion site, the browser receives the public keys of each node between you and the end server that you are accessing. The request is then encrypted one after the other using each node's public key, and then the request is sent off. Each server receives the request and uses their private key to decrypt the package and send it to the next node in the chain. As the request goes through each node the layers of encryption come off, much like removing the layers of an onion. The end server then receives the final request and decrypts it. Using this layered encryption ensures that each node along the way knows nothing about what they are sending. They only have an encrypted blob, and they only know whom they are sending it to next. So, they just decrypt their portion and pass it on.

Tor is not perfect. The Onion Router isn't perfect, but it does something that is not possible on the clear web. With the clear web, all of our web traffic is out in the open, both our IP address and also the websites that we are visiting. The government collects this data en masse. With Tor, this kind of mass surveillance is impossible. If the government invests enough time and energy, they might be able to figure out who you are as you browse in Tor, but it would have to be a targeted investigation, and if they are individually targeting you, you probably already have more significant problems than the government knowing if you visit a particular onion site.

People often call privacy-minded networks like Tor the "dark web" as if it is something scary. However, what is scarier to me is an open network where everything you do can be watched and examined. Privacy isn't scary; it's just part of life. When you have a private conversation with somebody, do you call it a scary, dark conversation? No, it's just a conversation! If you pay a neighbor kid with cash (which is relatively untraceable) for shoveling your walk, is it a scary dark transaction? No! Of course not!

We have been programmed from decades on the clear web to think that anything private and untraceable on the internet must be bad. However, rather than ask what might be theoretically bad let's focus on what is actually bad. There is something far more scary and bad than Tor, and it is the government. The government are the ones stealing thousands of dollars from you each year. The government are the ones who make the purchasing of valuable goods and services expensive and complicated. The government are the ones making demands every day on your life, and if you refuse those demands, they will smash into your home,

Max Blumenthal talks whistleblowers, the middle east, and regime change in Venezuela. In particular, he and Scott lament all the journalists who are critical of Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange, in which case their mentality must be "if the government doesn't want me to know this, I don't have any right to"—not the proper role of a journalist, needless to say. Blumenthal also describes the region-wide catastrophe that could result if the U.S. intervenes in Venezuela, and is shocked that anyone seriously considers that a good idea.

Discussed on the show:

Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel

The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza

Killing Gaza

The Management of Savagery: How America's National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump

"INA Papers: The Corruption Case Against Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno" (teleSUR English)

"Behind the Omar Outrage: Suppressed History of 9/11" (Consortium News)

"What the Media Won't Tell You About the Venezuelan Coup" (Antiwar.com Original)

Director and writer of “Killing Gaza,” Max Blumenthal is a senior editor of the Grayzone Project and the author Goliath, Republican Gomorrah, and The 51 Day War. Follow Max on Twitter @MaxBlumenthal.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Scott talks to Matt Taibbi about his new book, Hate Inc, written in the aftermath of the media malfeasence around Russiagate. But the media's problems go much deeper, explains Taibbi. Mainstream discussion used to take place in a tightly controlled middle ground between two "extremes", which were actually both very moderate and centrist. Today, internet and cable journalism allows the opposite: a specific set of views highly catered to what each of us wants to see on TV, on our Twitter feeds, and from our favorite writers. This has created an atomized and unpersuadable America of people who would rather retreat to their bubble than confront any opposing views.

Discussed on the show:

The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion

Griftopia: A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History

Hate Inc.: Why Today’s Media Makes Us Despise One Another

"New project: Untitledgate" (taibbi.substack.com)

Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

"It's official: Russiagate is this generation's WMD" (taibbi.substack.com)

Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media

"Hillary Clinton Mannequin Challenge - Hillary Clinton Election Day 2016 - Jon Bon Jovi Mannequin" (YouTube)

"“Yanks to the rescue”: Time’s not-so secret story of how Americans helped Yeltsin win 1996 presidential election" (OffGuardian)

"Spinning Boris (2003)" (IMDb)

"Foreign Policy Follies: Russiagate Skeptics" (Foreign Policy Follies)

Matt Taibbi is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone and winner of the 2008 National Magazine Award for columns and commentary. He is the author of numerous books, including I Can't Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street and Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus. Follow him at taibbi.substack.com or on Twitter @mtaibbi.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Will Porter returns to FPF to discuss his recent articles published at RT. The appointment of a new IRGC leader - who is considered a hardliner - is a sign that Iran is reacting to the US withdrawing waivers for oil sanctions. Will and Kyle give an analysis of the impact of Trump's decision to reduce Iran's oil imports to 0. 

Chelsea Manning remains in jail and was denied bail at an appeals hearing. Manning is jail for refusing to testify in front of a secret grand jury. Will and Kyle look at the greater problems in the US bail system.

Will Porter is a staff writer at RT and an analyst of US foreign policy. You can find more of his work at Antiwar.com, the Libertarian Institute, and Consortium News.

Links

Will's Archive

IRGC leader

Chelsea Manning

Detroit Bail Abuses

Jason Ditz, news editor at antiwar.com, joins the show for an update on Libya and lots of other recent foreign policy news.

Discussed on the show:

"Libyan Unity Govt Bombs, Then Recaptures Tripoli Airport" (Antiwar.com)

"Qatari official: Afghan talks postponed indefinitely" (AP News)

"Iran's Rouhani: US Should Suspend Sanctions Because of Flooding Crisis" (Antiwar.com)

Jason Ditz is the news editor of Antiwar.com. Read all of his work at news.antiwar.com and follow him on Twitter @jasonditz.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

On FPF #339, I discuss the Mueller Report. #Russiagate's true believers saw the report as a vindication of their false narrative; I debunk many of their claims. I break down the best analysis of the Mueller Report, showing it for what it really is.

I update Trump's Iran policy, Sri Lanka Easter bombings, Zelensky's election as Ukrainian president, and Trump's veto of the Yemen War Powers bill. 

Link

Doug Bandow - Zelensky

Trump's Second Veto

Scott Horton - Mueller Notes

Peter Van Buren - Mueller Report

Mate and Doore discuss the Mueller Report

Politico - Libya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNZwNB9dCf4

In a solo episode of the podcast I make a big career announcement and walk the audience through my budding libertarian theory of negligence.

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Show Notes: 

Part of the Problem #428 - Is Taxation Theft? w/ Ben Burgis

Non-State Justice Systems, A Primer Ep. 36 The Liberty Weekly Podcast

Small Claims Court Sucks Ep. 107 The Liberty Weekly Podcast

What is a Tort? Black's Law Dictionary

A Libertarian Theory of Contract Ep. 88 The Liberty Weekly Podcast

Torts Outline

Scott Horton returns to Foreign Policy Focus to explain the importance of Wikileaks. Scott discusses some of the cruelest crimes of the American Empire and our allied states. He details Wikileaks documents that show Israel is an apartheid state. 

Scott Horton is the Editorial Director at Antiwar.com and Managing Editor of the Libertarian Institute. He is the author of the book Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan and the Host of the Scott Horton Show.

Scott talks to Philip Weiss about Israeli politics in light of Netanyahu's recent victory in the election for prime minister. Israeli society, explains Weiss, leans heavily right wing, especially the young people, and this creates serious barriers to negotiations for peace with the Palestinians. In yet another setback, President Trump recently "promised" the Golan Heights to Israel, something that is not his to give. We are reminded of Horton's Law: A politician will break all of his good promises and keep all of his bad ones. Scott suggests that the best the Palestinians might realistically be able to hope for these days is full citizenship as Israelis, not their own country.

Discussed on the show:

"He's back! Netanyahu wins fifth term as prime minister of Israel, results suggest" (Mondoweiss)

"'Things could move very quickly' -- Dems are now the anti-annexation party, taking on Netanyahu and Pompeo" (Mondoweiss)

"4/8/19 Ramzy Baroud on the Great March of Return" (The Libertarian Institute)

Obstacle to Peace: The US Role in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Philip Weiss is the long-time editor of Mondoweiss.net. Follow him on Twitter @PhilWeiss.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Max Blumenthal comes on the show to talk about his new book, The Management of Savagery: How America's National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump. He explains not only the familar narrative of U.S. support for rebel groups in the Middle East creating bloody civil wars and general unrest, but also how mainstream, centrist marginalization of unorthodox views has fueled polarization and allowed for the rise of an extreme and dangerous political right.

Discussed on the show:

The Management of Savagery: How America's National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump

Fascism: A Warning

The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

"Madeleine Albright says 500,000 dead Iraqi Children was "worth it" wins Medal of Freedom" (YouTube)

Devil's Game

"Tomgram: Max Blumenthal, The Great Fear" (TomDispatch)

"The Redirection" (The New Yorker)

Director and writer of “Killing Gaza,” Max Blumenthal is a senior editor of the Grayzone Project and the author Goliath, Republican Gomorrah, and The 51 Day War. Follow Max on Twitter @MaxBlumenthal.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.