The BS Filter

In this episode of *The Bullshit Filter*, Cameron and Ray dissect a world seemingly gone mad under the pressure of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” foreign policy. The duo explores the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Cuba, where a modern fuel blockade has pushed the island’s socialist experiment to the brink of collapse and triggered a “mini Bay of Pigs” skirmish. Beyond the Caribbean, they analyze the “Board of Peace”—a privatized, multibillion-dollar alternative to the UN Security Council run by Trump and a circle of luxury real estate developers. Finally, the conversation shifts to the global stage as the BRICS nations and the EU accelerate their “de-dollarization” efforts, launching digital payment systems like Wero to escape the reach of American financial weaponization. It’s a deep dive into an era defined by “grifts within grifts” and the slow-motion collapse of the post-WWII global order. The post Sharks with Laser Beams – BS Filter 144 appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this episode of *The Bullshit Filter*, Cameron and Ray navigate a global landscape defined by “ruptures” rather than transitions. The duo begins with a sobering look at Australia’s first mass shooting in 30 years and the subsequent rapid-fire passage of controversial anti-hate and migration legislation. The conversation then shifts to the world stage, dissecting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s viral Davos speech that declared the “rules-based international order” a useful fiction that has finally reached its breaking point. From the shifting power dynamics of American hegemony to the “American ISIS” and the complexities of foreign-backed protests in Iran, Cameron and Ray peel back the layers of propaganda and political theater. They explore how historical baggage, corporate-funded think tanks, and advanced jamming technology are reshaping modern conflict, ultimately questioning whether any government—foreign or domestic—is truly equipped to handle the brewing “Wild West” of 2026. The post The Rupture – BS Filter 143 appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this final instalment of the Fascism miniseries, Cameron and Ray trace how fascism didn’t die after 1945 but simply changed its wardrobe. Once openly discredited, fascist ideology went underground, hiding behind anti-communism, Catholic conservatism, Cold War geopolitics, and the language of “law and order.” The pair outline how the same structural anxieties that fuelled Mussolini and Hitler found new hosts in post-war regimes like Franco’s Spain and Salazar’s Portugal, apartheid South Africa, Cold War dictatorships in Latin America, and today’s far-right populists in Europe and the United States. They explore how neoliberalism, manufactured fear of socialism, weaponised Christianity, resentful middle-class voters, and billionaire backing continue to make fascism useful to the powerful. The conversation ends by drawing uncomfortable parallels between classical fascism and modern MAGA politics, arguing that America is not on the verge of fascism — it is living through it in a new, suited, media-savvy form. The post #142 – Fascism Goes Corporate appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this episode of The Bullshit Filter, Cameron and Ray continue their deep dive into the history of fascism — tracing its emergence from the ashes of World War I to Mussolini’s rise in Italy. They unpack how the trauma of the war radicalised millions, creating fertile ground for authoritarian movements that promised strength, unity, and a return to national glory. Through sharp wit and historical insight, they explore the socioeconomic chaos of postwar Italy — labour strikes, land seizures, and political paralysis — that allowed fascism to masquerade as a stabilising force. Cameron and Ray discuss how Mussolini, once a socialist firebrand, transformed into the prototype fascist leader by weaponising propaganda, street violence, and elite fear of socialism. The episode draws unnerving parallels between Mussolini’s Italy and modern political movements, showing how democracy often erodes not with explosions, but applause. The post #139 – Make Italy Great Again: The Birth of Fascism (Fascism #3) appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this second episode of our fascism series, Cameron and Ray trace the roots of fascism from the French Revolution through the 19th century and into the early 20th century. They explore how nationalism, the Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment, industrial upheaval, social Darwinism, Nietzsche’s philosophy, Bismarck’s realpolitik, futurism, and mass psychology all fed into the eventual rise of fascism. Along the way, they compare past anxieties about modernity with today’s fears of AI and technology, dig into the religious devotion of MAGA Trumpism, and unpack the Italian Fascist Manifesto of 1919. By the end, the groundwork is set for how Mussolini and others fused these cultural, philosophical, and political threads into a movement that would reshape the 20th century. The post #138 – Fascism: The Remix of History’s Worst Ideas (Fascism part 2) appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this first instalment of a new series on fascism, Cameron and Ray dig into what the word really means beyond the marching boots and fiery rallies of 20th-century Europe. They explore the difficulty of defining fascism, how it manifests differently across time and place, and why the term is often misused today. Drawing on historians like Robert Paxton, Jason Stanley, and Michael Mann, as well as political thinkers from Trotsky to Hannah Arendt, the discussion asks whether the United States is sliding toward fascism, and what makes Trump’s brand of politics similar or distinct from Mussolini or Hitler. Along the way, the hosts look at epistemology and heuristics—how we know what’s true and whose voices we trust—as a framework for analysing complex social movements. This episode sets the stage for a deeper historical exploration in future parts of the series. The post #137 – What is Fascism? Part 1 appeared first on The BS Filter.

Sort of a “half bullshit filter” episode. Cameron reconnects with historian and longtime friend J. David Markham on the eve of his 80th birthday. They reflect on two decades of working together on the Napoleon podcast, swap family updates, and dive into Markham’s latest projects—including his forthcoming book _Simply Caesar_ and several Napoleonic works in progress. The discussion turns to the reception of Ridley Scott’s _Napoleon_ film, the importance of history for understanding today’s politics, and the challenges of civility in an increasingly polarized age. Markham also shares stories from Napoleonic society gatherings, his vast personal collection, and his perspective on America’s political trajectory. It’s a rich blend of personal reflection, Napoleonic passion, and political commentary. The post #136 – 20 Years of Napoleon and Friendship appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this fiery and no-holds-barred episode, Cam and Ray dive into the geopolitics of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, calling out the hypocrisy and propagandistic media coverage that frames these attacks as “preemptive” rather than “unprovoked” — a word the media reserved exclusively for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They draw sharp historical parallels, from the 1953 CIA-led coup in Iran to the weaponised narrative-building of Western governments and media. The episode also takes a tour through Iran’s actual military record (spoiler: mostly defensive or retaliatory), the ever-reliable military-industrial complex, and Trump’s sudden missile diplomacy. Plus, there’s a heartfelt tribute to Michael Madsen, a scathing takedown of media groupthink, and a sobering reminder that the real winners of war are the profiteers. As always, it’s a punchy mix of gallows humour, truth bombs, and righteous exasperation. The post #135 – Unprovoked or Preemptive? Iran, the Media & Manufactured Consent appeared first on The BS Filter.

Cameron and Ray crack open the popcorn for a free-wheeling hour on the sudden Musk-Trump bromance breakup and the “one big beautiful bill” (HR 1). They riff on Roman triumvirates, oligarch knife-fights, and the sneaky Section 70302 that could neuter America’s courts overnight. Along the way they detour through the Byrd Rule, unleash dystopian what-ifs about AI, and ask whether the U.S. can out-collapse ancient Rome for speed. It’s equal parts history lesson, constitutional autopsy, and late-night pub rant—served with extra swearing and zero deference. The post #134: Section 70302: The Quiet Coup appeared first on The BS Filter.

As I’ve been saying for years – Trump isn’t the problem. He’s just a symptom of the problem. The actual problem is stupid people. And they are justifiably angry. But to think billionaires are going to solve the problem is just stupid. It’s billionaires and the politicians they control that got the U.S. into this situation in the first place. Welcome to late stage capitalism. Transcript Bullshit 129 [00:00:00] Cameron: I’m just going to start this episode of the Bullshit Filter, by playing something, that I think is topical. Uh, here’s a, here’s a show we recorded eight years ago. What the fuck, America? Ah, well,So the white people put Trump in power. So as a white person, I would like to say, I’m sorry, everybody, I’m really sorry. [00:00:28] Cameron: I mean, this guy defeated the entire political establishment of both parties in the U. S. with pretty much no money, no fun, no funding, making every possible mistake you would think it was a mistake, talking just off the cuff shit, like completely breaking every rule there is. [00:00:56] Cameron: And not only got in, but, you know, got in by a landslide in terms of electoral college votes anyway, and it looks like he’s going to win the popular vote as well. Which he didn’t. we’re recording this one, back to us in real time now on the 8th of November, my time, 7th of November in the U. S., 2024. I’ve, I went back and listened to that show that we did in 2016 after the election. I also listened to the one that we did in 2020 after the election over the last couple of days. Um, in the 2021, you know, the, my basic idea, you know, there was a lot of jubilation. with the Democrat voters that Trump was gone. [00:01:44] Cameron: A lot of the pollsters and a lot of the media in the U. S. were saying, that’s it. We’re never going to see him again. Even, um, I remember Tucker, we found out later on during the Dominion voting trial that Tucker Carlson was sending emails to people at Fox saying, thank fuck. We never need to talk to that idiot again. [00:02:04] Cameron: He’s the worst. [00:02:05] Cameron: Um, uh, but my point in the 2020 show was. [00:02:12] Cameron: You know, depends what happens with the trials, Trump may go to jail, he may skate, but I don’t think Trumpism, I don’t think the underlying anger is going away, and because I’ve been saying this, you know, that episode I just played, the 2016 episode, wasn’t even on the bullshit filter, because we weren’t doing the bullshit filter. [00:02:32] Cameron: in 2016. That was, that was a special episode of The Caesar Show. [00:02:36] Ray: Pre. Pre, [00:02:38] Cameron: we didn’t start The Bullshit Film until 2017, which was confusing because I went [00:02:43] Cameron: looking for that episode on The Bullshit [00:02:44] Cameron: Film and couldn’t find it. I was like, I don’t know, where where the fuck is this episode? And then I eventually realized we did it on The Caesar Show as a special edition because I just needed to talk about it. Um, [00:02:56] Cameron: you know, I’ve been saying this though since 2015 and going back even [00:03:01] Cameron: before Trump was a thing, I was saying this about the Tea Party. [00:03:07] Ray: Mm. Mm hmm. [00:03:08] Cameron: specifically Trump. Trump is not the problem. Trump [00:03:12] Cameron: is a symptom. of the problem. And by the way, so are the Democrats. They are symptoms, I believe, of the underlying issues that the United States has, that the, the political elites, both in the Republican Party, like the non Trump traditional GOP, [00:03:35] Cameron: And the Democrats have just been trying to ignore for the last eight or nine years. [00:03:43] Cameron: They’re sticking their heads in the sand, pretending it’s not an issue. And it, and, you know, we can get [00:03:49] Cameron: into what those issues are over the course of the show, but these are real things. Again, like, Trump is not the problem. I remember when George Bush Jr. was president. And I was saying this to Chrissy at the time, because I met Chrissy in 2008 before the election, saying, [00:04:10] Cameron: Bush isn’t the problem. [00:04:12] Cameron: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, they’re not the problem. They’re a symptom [00:04:15] Cameron: of the problem. And when Bush was ousted in that, [00:04:19] Cameron: election, and again, people were jubilant, saying, just, I say to people, just wait to see who [00:04:25] Cameron: comes next. Because [00:04:28] Ray: Right. [00:04:29] Cameron: if this isn’t the [00:04:30] Cameron: end, and I don’t think it gets better, I think the next guy [00:04:34] Cameron: is going to be worse. [00:04:36] Cameron: And, [00:04:37] Ray: I remember that. I think I remember you saying that. Yeah, conveying that, which scared the shit out of me. Sorry, go ahead. [00:04:43] Cameron: well, you and I weren&#

The media coverage, and Western government commentary, of Israel’s pager and walkie-talkie attacks in Lebanon have studiously avoided the use of the word “terrorism”, even though that’s what all of the world’s human rights organisations are calling it and what we all know the media and governments would be calling if it any other single country did it. Today on the show we break down why. The post BS 128 – Israel’s Terrorism appeared first on The BS Filter.

Who is Kamala Harris? How does she stack up as a potential POTUS? And how do Lichtman’s 13 Keys to the White House work? Who does it predict will win the 2024 election? Listen and find out. The post BS 127 – Kamala and Lichtman’s 13 Keys appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this episode of ‘The Bullshit Filter,’ we discuss the US’s selective adherence to international laws, the complex US-Saudi relationship, and evolving power dynamics involving China. Discussions include potential ICC arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, the US’s opposition to ICC jurisdiction over Israel, and the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additionally, the conversation explores US energy policy, Chinese and Russian competition, Boris Johnson’s alleged role in derailing a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, and China’s dominance in green technology markets. The episode concludes with a speculative look at the upcoming US presidential election, highlighting the strategic interests and long-term consequences of these geopolitical maneuvers. 00:00 Welcome to the Bullshit Filter: Episode 12601:26 Diving Deep into the ICC’s Controversial Moves04:31 Exploring the ICC’s Origins and U.S. Relations09:15 The Complexities of International Law and Hypocrisy13:46 Unpacking the Israel-Palestine Conflict and Global Reactions25:29 The Power of Repetition in Shaping Beliefs33:11 The Future of AI in Understanding Complex Histories47:19 Mysterious Helicopter Crash Raises Questions53:46 Unraveling the Mystery: The Silence Surrounding a High-Profile Incident56:03 Deep Dive into 9/11: Uncovering Saudi Complicity01:10:38 The Geopolitical Chessboard: Russia, Ukraine, and the West’s Influence01:19:15 Energy Wars: The Battle for Dominance in the Green Economy01:24:59 The Irony of Global Trade: US-China Economic Tensions01:36:01 Election Speculations: The Betting Odds on Trump vs. Biden The post BS 126 – The Global Rules-Based Order appeared first on The BS Filter.

This month we’re looking (again) at the US’ ban of TikTok, and their veto over Palestine’s membership in the UN, as well as the Australian government trying to censor X and we ask if what Israel is doing is “genocide”. 00:00 Welcome to the Bullshit Filter: Unpacking Contemporary Issues01:21 Freedom of Speech and Social Media: A Deep Dive03:44 The Role of the eSafety Commissioner in Online Safety06:32 Exploring the Impact of Social Media on News Consumption11:56 The Complex Landscape of Free Speech and Regulation32:26 The Future of AI in Ethical and Content Regulation35:01 The Decline of Free-to-Air TV and the Rise of Streaming44:33 The Future of AI in Media Production46:24 The Evolution of American English47:48 TikTok’s Global Impact and US Policy Challenges55:48 Exploring the Moderation and Influence of Social Media59:59 Navigating News Consumption in the Digital Age01:08:33 Analyzing the US’s Stance on Palestine’s UN Membership01:18:42 Exploring the Implications of Palestine’s UN Membership01:20:05 The Hypocrisy of the US and Its Allies on the Two-State Solution01:21:30 Drawing Parallels: US Support for Apartheid and Israel01:23:39 The Shift in Public Opinion and Policy on Social Issues01:25:20 Debating the Definition and Occurrence of Genocide01:25:23 Analyzing the Email: Is What Israel Doing Genocide?01:35:13 The Complex Dynamics of International Condemnation and Israel’s Actions01:52:23 Campus Protests and the Future of Political Activism01:55:32 Concluding Thoughts and Humorous Banter The post BS 125 – Come On Feel the Noise appeared first on The BS Filter.