Angry Planet

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com For mercenaries, death is a business. It’s all about finding the right market. Wagner and other Russian mercenary groups have found willing markets in Africa. Journalist John Lechner spent years in Africa among the mercenaries and he’s on the show today to tell us about what he learned. Lechner tells us how Wagner’s men think the U.S. media killed Prigozhin, why every theater (or market) is different, and the training regimen of a fresh convict recruit. It’s all in his new book Death Is Our Business: Mercenaries and the New Era of Private Warfare. The threats change…but the mercenaries stay the same. The Tip of Russia’s Spear Death Is Our Business Pardoned for Serving in Ukraine, They Return to Russia to Kill Again Taliban Bureaucrats Hate Working Online All Day, ‘Miss the Days of Jihad’ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot of the people designing America’s technology and close to the center of American power believe some deeply weird shit. We already talked to journalist Gil Duran about the Nerd Reich, the rise of the destructive anti-democratic ideology. In this episode, we dive into another weird section of Silicon Valley: the cult of Rationalism. Max Read, the journalist behind the Read Max Substack, is here to help us through it. Rationalism is responsible for a lot more than you might think and Read lays out how it’s influenced the world we live in today and how it created the environment for a cult that’s got a body count. Anselm: Ontological Argument for God’s Existence READ MAX! The Zizians and the Rationalist death cults Pausing AI Developments Isn’t Enough. We Need to Shut it All Down - Eliezer Yudkowsky’s TIME Magazine piece Explaining Roko’s Basilisk, the Thought Experiment That Brought Elon Musk and Grimes Together The Delirious, Violent, Impossible True Story of the Zizians The Government Knows AGI is Coming | The Ezra Klein Show The archived ‘Is Trump Racist’ rational post Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com The Israeli military is using AI products from Microsoft to conduct its war in Gaza. Off the shelf AI products powered by the tech company’s Azure cloud computing system and OpenAI are helping the IDF sort through data, translate Arabic, and even pick targets. But AI translations aren’t perfect and these systems often make mistakes. What happens when the consequences are life and death? Associated Press global investigative reporters Garance Burke and Michael Biesecker are part of a team that broke the story about Israel’s use of Microsoft’s commercial AI in a war. They’re on the show today to help us sort through it all. How US tech giants supplied Israel with AI models, raising questions about tech’s role in warfare As Israel uses US-made AI models in war, concerns arise about tech’s role in who lives and who dies Microsoft workers protest sale of AI and cloud services to Israeli military Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com We’re living in a bizarre age of technofascism. The richest man who has ever lived, a man who dreams of colonizing Mars with his children, is America’s CEO. Donald Trump, the man people voted for, is just the chairman of the board. What does Elon Musk believe? Is there a playbook for DOGE? How bad are things going to get? On this episode of Angry Planet journalist Gil Duran, author of The Nerd Reich newsletter, walks us through what’s coming. Over on The Shatter Zone, journalist and former Angry Planet guest Robert Evans has published a document that Democratic think tanks are passing around. It gives extra context to Duran’s reporting. All the major players and themes we talk about in this episode are there: Curtis Yarvin, Nick Land, the Butterfly Effect. If you want to understand why so many federal workers are getting fired and the Silicon Valley ideology that’s infected D.C., then give us a listen. The Nerd Reich AI Video of Trump Sucking Musk's Toes Blasted on Government Office TVs Trump’s AI Gaza Video Is the Tip of a Horrifying ‘Gaz-A-Lago’ Iceberg Techno-Fascism Comes to America Curtis Yarvin Says Democracy Is Done. Powerful Conservatives Are Listening. 'Reboot' Revealed: Elon Musk's CEO-Dictator Playbook Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com President Donald Trump wants to build an American Iron Dome. He even signed an executive order to make it happen. It’s a terrible idea, one we’ve tried before, and one that will make America less safe. In this episode, Joseph Cirincione returns to the program to detail his personal history with complicated and costly missile defense systems. Project 2025 and Trump Are Cooking Up a Recipe for a New Nuclear Arms Race The Iron Dome for America Executive Order The national missile defense fantasy—again Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Why the US General In Charge of Nuclear Weapons Said He Needs AI Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the interim head of USAID, for however much longer the agency lasts. For 60 years, the massive bureaucracy was a vehicle for American soft power abroad. Trump, Elon Musk, and all their creatures don’t like it. It might soon be gone. Nicole Widdersheim is the deputy Washington director of Human Rights Watch with a long history of humanitarian work. She’s here on Angry Planet today to walk us through this new era of the American Empire. Defense, diplomacy, developmentCongressionally approved rice to North KoreaAt USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs DeepHow China’s “Belt and Road” actually worksThe end of USAID will screw over American farmers Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com How 1999's WTO Protests Influenced the Policing of Protests TodayWhite goodsHow to make a T-shirtHow much would the iPhone cost if it were made in America? Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a Divided Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com Between the idea and the reality falls the shadow. Marine Corps veteran J.D. Vance will soon be vice president. Pete Hegseth, a man with a Crusader Kings tattoo who doesn’t want women to serve in combat roles, is probably going to be confirmed as secretary of defense. Over New Years, two members of the U.S. military committed domestic terror attacks. Today on Angry Planet we get into the highs and lows of the American military with Marine Corps vet and author Phil Klay. Crusader KingsTrump, Hegseth and the Honor of the American MilitaryAsking Pete Hegseth how many pushups he can do during a confirmation hearingThe Cult of ‘Sicario’Anguish and Anger From the Navy SEALs Who Turned In Edward GallagherSen. Ted Cruz insulted a ‘woke, emasculated’ U.S. Army ad. Angry veterans fired back. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com It’s hard to read the mind of a dictator, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying. When Russian President invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, there were a million columns, videos and podcasts explaining “the real reason” for such a “crazy” move. Well, anyone who tells the story from February 2022 is missing decades of Russian interference in Ukraine, with low points coming during the Orange Revolution of 2005 and then in 2014. The Euromaidan protests ended with the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. But what made Putin take that next step eight years later? Lucian Kim is a journalist with vast experience in the region, working in Berlin and as NPR’s bureau chief in Moscow. If you can trust anyone to know what brought the world to war, it’s him—hell, he wrote a book on the subject: Putin’s Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com This week on Angry Planet writer David Faris joins us to talk about his time in Syria and life in America. The McDonald’s bombing in Beirut Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com This week Angry Planet turns its attention to Canada. Global News investigative journalist Stewart Bell joins us to walk through his two latest pieces and give Matthew a crash course on Canadian history. What do outlaw motorcycle gangs, extrajudicial assassinations, an Indian separatist movement, and a resurgent Islamic State all have in common? Canada. Bell is here to explain it all. what makes a True Believer ISIS arrests are spiking in Canada and youths are driving the resurgence Investigation: Visas have become an Indian foreign interference tool Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, I talked to Kollen Post about how and why Silicon Valley markets their drones as “battle tested in Ukraine.” We recorded it on Thanksgiving, Jason was busy spending time with his family, and Post and I went down some weird philosophical rabbit holes. ‘Battle-tested in Ukraine’ — How US drone makers turned Ukraine into a tagline to sell west Ukraine’s drones have a reputation for low cost. Buntar Aerospace wants to make them boutique How Palantir Is Using AI in Ukraine The Anduril merch store Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russian ones in Ukraine. Bringing the two together hasn’t all gone smoothly. There are language barriers, cultural barriers, and a whole lot of Russian territory to recover. The results have been mixed, but the partnership points to a deepening of the special relationship between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation. On this episode of Angry Planet, Jenny Town is here to explain the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea. Town is a Senior Fellow and Director at the Stimson center and writes at 38 North. Is Kim Jong Un Preparing for War? First Look at North Korea’s Uranium Enrichment Capabilities Kaesong Industrial Complex: A Tortured History and Uncertain Future Quick Take: North Korea’s Coverage of Russian War Against Ukraine Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com The planet isn’t going to get any less angry. This week, Aram Shabanian comes on the show again to help us work through what the next Trump presidency may mean for America, Europe, and the rest of the world. Elon Musk joined Trump's call with Zelenskyy Musk joined a phone call between Trump and a Serbian leader The Donkey Kong painting Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com WARNING: This episode contains nuance in the discussion of subjects usually left to screaming and violence! This week we get into a bunch of stuff around Israel that we normally avoid. Settlements. Blame versus responsibility. The definition of colonialism. The social media posts of IDF soldiers. It’s a calm, nuanced conversation with Shaiel Ben-Ephraim. No, really. Shaiel Ben-Ephraim Explains Israel The History Of The Land Of Israel Podcast Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com How’s that sanctions regime working out for the U.S. and Russia? This week on the show, we have Stephanie Baker, a senior writer at Bloomberg, to try to answer the question. She just published Punishing Putin, a book all about it. He Had 5 Followers on YouTube. It Landed Him in Jail, Where He Died. Go here to buy Punishing Putin Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel you’re living in a world where all the good stuff happened to the previous generation? Does it seem like America’s best days are behind it? Were you born into an empire just as it began to collapse? Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ We’d like to tell you about King Arthur. The story of Arthur has been told hundreds of times in everything from song to story to movie. That makes it a pretty big deal when someone can tell the story of the ancient British king with freshness and originality. Lev Grossman, author of the well-known The Magicians series, has done just that with The Bright Sword. While the characters may be familiar in large part, Sword will still keep you guessing all the way through. Angry Planet got a chance to speak with Grossman who shared insights into the book, how it was written and Arthur himself. Take a listen. Station 11 Excalibur Buy The Bright Sword here. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ Israel is at war-again. Adversaries include Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. But behind all three is one enemy at the center of this web of violence: Iran. Is this war the one where Israel and Iran finally confront each other directly? The missiles launched by the ayatollahs say yes, but what will the Jewish state do in return. This week we look at a fight that could bring a whole world into war, with Yaakov Katz as our guide. He’s a former editor of the Jerusalem Post, and chronicler of modern combat in the Middle East. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American civilian-military divide is stark. Only about 1 percent of the U.S. population has served in the military. We here at Angry Planet like to do what we can to bridge that divide and have found that the easiest way to do that … is just to talk to veterans and service members. That’s why you should listen to the podcast Tracer Burnout, a show where a pair of Army vets talk to other vets about their service. The guys at the center of it are Dan and Roger, two friends who both grew up as Army brats. On this episode of Angry Planet, Dan and Roger stop by the show to tell us about Tracer Burnout and what it was like to grow up on American military bases. Fury Fury Listen to the Tracer Burnout podcast here https://tracerburnout.com/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the show we’re honored to have Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nathan Thrall on the show. His 2023 book, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama cuts to the heart of daily life in and around Jerusalem. In 2012, 5-year old Milad Salama was excited for a school field trip to a theme park. When his school bus hit a semi trailer, it upended the lives of everyone on the bus. What followed was a nightmare of bureaucracy that encapsulates what life is like for people living on the wrong side of the walls Israeli Arabs are forced to live behind. Masha Gessen and Nathan Thrall on The Whole Story of Israel and Palestine A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.