If you've been following world events, you know that Taiwan's future has become a major question, and a fulcrum for the future of democracy. Chris Horton is the author of "Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival," a new book that offers a unique view into Taiwan's complex history, its precarious present, and its potential futures. "Ghost Nation" is a must read for those interested in the future of democracy, not just in Asia but around the world, and Dave's conversation with Chris is a great introduction to this complex set of topics.

More info: https://chrishortonwriter.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Nation-Taiwan-Struggle-Survival/dp/1035034026

00:00 Introduction to Taiwan's Complex History

00:52 Meet Chris Horton: Author of Ghost Nation

03:15 The Dutch and Spanish Colonization

07:27 The Ming and Qing Dynasties

17:53 Japanese Rule and Modernization

23:48 The ROC and the 2-28 Incident

48:18 Martial Law in Taiwan: A Dark History

50:00 Democratization and Political Shifts

51:39 Taiwan's Identity and International Relations

01:00:56 Taiwan's Economic Transformation

01:04:10 TSMC: Taiwan's Semiconductor Giant

01:08:37 China's Military Threat and Taiwan's Defense

01:23:34 US-Taiwan Relations and Strategic Ambiguity

01:33:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, we dive into geopolitical tensions, focusing on Russia’s influence on global politics and its ideological underpinnings. David Troy and Jason Pack from the Disorder Podcast discuss Russian nationalism, the continuity of Soviet-era tactics, and the extensive influence of Project Russia. The conversation also delves into the intersections with Western ideologies and strategies to combat disinformation, as well as the peculiar connection between Russian Cosmism and contemporary tech culture.

The Disorder Podcast - https://linktr.ee/disorderpod

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:51 Conversation with Jason Pack Begins

02:18 Russian Nationalism and Historical Context

03:40 Post-Soviet Russia and the KGB's Influence

10:27 Challenges of Democratization in Russia

18:24 Project Russia: Ideological Framework

26:18 Western Misunderstandings of Russian Motivations

29:10 The Essence of Project Russia

30:06 Bannon's Vision and Russian Interests

30:30 China's Role in the Ukraine War

31:52 Introduction to Russian Cosmism

32:40 The Origins and Ideas of Russian Cosmism

34:32 Cosmism's Influence on Modern Tech

37:51 Libertarian Ideologies and Russian Cosmism

40:51 Trump's Actions and Russian Interests

42:50 Chaos in Tariff Policies

45:56 Strengthening Democracy in the West

52:48 Engaging Global South Democracies

53:49 Conclusion and Future Vision

Journalist and political communications specialist Gil Duran joins Dave for a discussion of The Network State, the latest in a long line of Libertarian Exit ideologies. Based on the ideas of people like Patri Friedman, Balaji Srinavasan, and Curtis Yarvin, the movement ultimately aims to dismantle the American government in favor of a network of federated states, all competing for citizens. The ideology has found a home in the second Trump administration and is gaining momentum quickly. Dave and Gil discuss what it is, where it came from, and how to go about stopping its spread.

Interview starts at 02:47

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:05 Exploring the Network State Concept

02:47 Mainstream Media's Reluctance

03:40 Historical Context and Silicon Valley's Influence

04:42 Local Politics and Billionaire Influence

05:22 Acceleration of Network State Ideologies

07:54 Freedom Cities and Corporate Dystopias

11:59 Exit vs. Voice: Libertarian Ideals

17:36 Cultish Movements and Apocalyptic Visions

22:48 Autocracy Inc. and Global Implications

33:12 Bitcoin and Right-Wing Politics

34:02 Network State and Democracy

34:29 Media and Political Awareness

35:37 Democrats and Cryptocurrency

43:51 Technocracy and Historical Parallels

51:43 Substack vs. Ghost Platform

55:00 Future Political Landscape

01:02:45 Grassroots Movements and Conclusion

Links:

https://thenerdreich.com

https://x.com/gilduran76

https://theframelab.org

Donald Trump wasn't the first presidential candidate to be groomed by the KGB to advance Russian interests. That dubious honor belongs to Henry A. Wallace, who ran for president in 1948.

Dave interviews Benn Steil, an economist and historian from the Council on Foreign Relations. They discuss his latest book, 'The World That Wasn't, Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century.' The conversation explores Wallace's intriguing political and personal life, his contributions as Agriculture Secretary under FDR, his mystical beliefs, and his controversial political career. The discussion includes the impact of Wallace's policies, his interactions with and influence from historical figures like Nicholas Roerich, and his eventual fall from political grace leading up to the 1944 Democratic Convention. The guest also draws parallels between Wallace's complex legacy and contemporary political narratives, including potential influences on modern American politics.

Links:

https://america2.news/donald-trump-isnt-the-first-presidential-candidate-groomed-by-the-kgb/

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/genuine-case-collusion?ref=america2.news

https://www.cfr.org/expert/benn-steil

https://x.com/bennsteil

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/nyregion/nyc-911-calls-riverside-drive.html

https://www.roerich.org/

Interview begins at 02:47.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

00:20 Henry Wallace: A Counterfactual History

02:27 Henry Wallace's Early Life and Agricultural Innovations

06:39 Wallace's Mystical Pursuits and Political Controversies

12:39 Wallace's Political Ideologies and Economic Views

23:25 Wallace's Vice Presidency and Political Challenges

29:06 Wallace's Diplomatic Missions and Downfall

33:51 Manipulating Visits: The Russian Blueprint

34:30 The DNC's Maneuvering for a New VP

37:47 The 1944 Democratic Convention Chaos

41:02 Wallace's Downfall and Truman's Rise

45:50 Wallace's Post-VP Career and Conflicts

48:43 Wallace's 1948 Presidential Run and Communist Ties

54:40 Parallels Between Wallace and Trump

58:38 The Masonic Dollar Bill Redesign

01:00:49 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Dave interviews Katherine Stewart about her new book 'Money, Lies, and God,' which explores extremist movements in the United States, particularly focusing on the rise of anti-democratic sentiment and Christian nationalism. Katherine shares her background in reporting over the past 16 years and discusses how she began investigating these movements after a 'Good News Club' appeared at her daughter's school. She categorizes the key players in these movements into 'funders,' 'thinkers,' and 'foot soldiers' and discusses how their interactions threaten the foundations of American democracy. The interview also touches on the disinformation campaigns, the international dimension of these extremist networks, and the importance of engaging in local politics and voting to sustain democracy.

00:00 Introduction and Book Overview

00:19 Katherine's Background and Initial Interest

00:38 The Good News Club and Its Impact

02:57 Researching the Legal Advocacy Groups

04:03 The Larger Agenda and War on Public Education

04:59 Categorizing the Networks: Funders, Thinkers, and Foot Soldiers

07:45 Christian Nationalism and Its Political Machine

12:51 The Role of Spirit Warriors and Spiritual Warfare

16:56 Influence of Thinkers: Leo Strauss and Carl Schmitt

22:02 The Concept of a Red Caesar

31:24 Global Reactionary Movements and Religious Nationalism

37:38 The Role of Funders and Money in Politics

42:19 Pro-Democracy Initiatives and Individual Actions

46:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dave interviews Dina Khapaeva, Russian culture expert at Georgia Tech, about the book "Third Empire: Russia as it ought to be," written by Mikhail Yuriev, one of the authors of Project Russia, which we have also covered in the last two episodes.

Dina specializes in Russian historical memory and contemporary issues. She provides an in-depth background on her research and her personal history, including her family's experience with Stalinist terror. The discussion focuses on the troubling, far-right ideologies that have been shaping Russia's political strategy, particularly explored through the lens of Mikhail Yuryev's novel 'Third Empire, The Russia That Ought To Be' and the Project Russia texts. Dr. Penkrmanova explains how these narratives, rooted in neo-Eurasianist ideology and medieval Russian history, inform Putin's geopolitics and expansionist aims. The conversation also touches on the implications of these ideologies for Western policymakers and the political landscape, emphasizing the urgent need to recognize and respond to these Russian ambitions.

The Utopian Russian Novel that Predicted Putin's War Plan, March 26, 2022

The West Doesn't Realize How Much Danger It's In, August 24, 2022

Putin's Dark Ages, 2023

Dina Khapaeva website

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

00:17 Early Career and Shift to Sociology

01:00 Focus on Historical Memory

02:24 Current Role at Georgia Tech

02:59 Discussion on Mikhail Yuryev's Book

03:49 Yuryev's Influence and Political Connections

07:05 Fortress Russia and Far-Right Ideology

10:18 Neo-Eurasianism and Western Perception

19:57 Summary of 'Third Empire' Plot

23:07 Implications of Yuryev's Vision

32:04 The Devastation of War: Casualties and Destruction

32:58 Russian Ideology: Antichrist and Apocalypse

33:42 Western Perception and Putin's Strategy

34:34 The Primakov Doctrine and Nuclear Threats

38:14 Yuriev's Vision: A New Social Order

45:58 The Role of Memory Politics in Russia

51:49 Yuriev's Influence in the United States

57:21 The Patriarchal Society and Gender Issues

01:00:41 The Urgency of Recognizing the Russian Threat

01:03:10 Conclusion: The Future of Russia and Global Implications

Dave interviews noted British journalist and documentarian Lucy Ash about her new book, The Baton and the Cross: Russia's Church from Pagans to Putin.

They discuss intricate relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the modern Russian state. The interview explores the history of Orthodoxy in Russia, tracing its origins from medieval times through periods of upheaval, including the Bolshevik Revolution and the Stalinist era. Lucy discusses the personal connections that inspired her to write the book, her early perceptions of the church's potential for good, and how current events are influenced by historical precedents. The conversation examines key figures such as Patriarch Kirill and President Vladimir Putin, highlighting how orthodoxy has been used to underpin Russian nationalism and policy. The dialogue also touches on the broader social impacts of this relationship, including attitudes towards LGBTQ+ issues and women's rights. The interview concludes with reflections on Putin's personal religiosity and his regime's strategic use of the church to consolidate power.

The Baton and the Cross

Lucy Ash on X

Lucy Ash Website

00:00 Introduction and Personal Connection to Russia

03:55 Historical Background of the Orthodox Church in Russia

08:27 Ivan the Terrible and the Oprichniki

11:40 Peter the Great and Catherine the Great's Influence

29:13 The Bolshevik Revolution and Its Impact on the Church

40:54 Smuggling Bibles into Eastern Europe

42:33 Religion and State in Russia

44:06 Russian Mysticism and Superstition

46:09 Orthodoxy and Russian Identity

47:44 LGBTQ Issues and Russian Orthodoxy

50:49 Pussy Riot and Church-State Relations

53:03 Domestic Violence and the Church

57:01 Putin's Spirituality and the Church

01:00:45 The Military Cathedral

01:06:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

You've heard of Project 2025, but there's another framework that may be even more important for understanding the current assault on Western democracies. "Project Russia" is a series of books published between 2005 and 2010, and it outlines a strategic vision for total war on the West, against democracies, and against the US dollar and other fiat currencies.

Nearly unknown to Western analysts, the concepts described in Project Russia increasingly reflect the events we see playing out on a daily basis: a war over competing worldviews with capture of media, the use of podcasts and other alternative media to challenge the mainstream press, and the emergence of a new class of unelected 'elite' demagogues who seem to be taking control of global affairs. This episode analyzes the four original Project Russia books with the help of Google's NotebookLM, and offers 'deep dives' into specific areas of the texts.

More on Project Russia from Dave Troy:

https://washingtonspectator.org/project-russia-reveals-putins-playbook/

Keywords: Project Russia, conservatism, nationalism, religion, Orthodoxy, geopolitics, ideology, Antichrist, apocalypse, conspiracy, collapse, future, prediction, The Idea, world order, West, elites, manipulation, control, change, modernity, post-modernity, capitalism, consumerism, society, state, power, authority, history, monarchy.

Big tech companies are playing an outsized role in our world and are increasingly involved in creating policy that has negative impacts on democracies. In her book The Tech Coup, Marietje Schaake argues that companies need to be reined in, and that democracies need to organize themselves in ways that can withstand the challenges posed by these companies and their increasingly imperious owners.

Marietje joins Dave for a spirited post-election conversation about how the Tech Coup is playing out right now, and what we can do about it.

MarietjeSchaake (X, Bluesky, Mastodon)

"The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley"

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691241173/the-tech-coup

Keywords:

Tech Coup, Democracy, Elon Musk, Regulation, Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Global Governance, Public Stack, Resilience, Alternative Platforms, Geopolitics, Cybersecurity, Social Inequality, Ukraine War, Authoritarianism, Disinformation, Digital Infrastructure, Data Centers, Procurement, Investments, AI, Cables, Data Centers

In this special bonus episode, Dave interviews author Peter Pomerantsev about his new book "How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler." The book explores the work of Sefton Delmer, a journalist who developed unique ways to destabilize Hitler's propaganda programming. Their conversation was recorded on October 28, 2024, at Bird In Hand Books in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pomerantsev is the author of two other books on disinformation and propaganda, "Nothing Is True and Everything is Possible," and "This Is Not Propaganda." He is currently based at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

Pomerantsev also delivered a TED Talk at TEDxMidAtlantic in Washington, D.C. in June 2024.

Links:

TED Talk (2024)

How To Win an Information War (2024)

This Is Not Propaganda (2019)

Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible (2014)

The term "October Surprise" has come to mean any kind of shock that might upend a November election. But the original October Surprise was in 1980, when Ronald Reagan's campaign operatives conspired with the fundamentalist Iranian regime to keep 52 American hostages in Tehran until after the presidential election of 1980 — all but ensuring a loss for incumbent candidate Jimmy Carter.

This is the account provided by author Craig Unger, who has been following the "October Surprise" story since 1991, and during that time has been able accumulate evidence to confirm that yes, the October Surprise really happened. This almost unbelievable story is documented in his new book, "Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House, " recently published by Harper Collins.

Craig joins Dave for a fascinating discussion of this complicated history, and its implications on American politics today.

Purchase: Den of Spies

Follow Craig Unger on X