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.

Hey there, fellow Bullshit Fighter! This page contains some member-only content. If you're already a registered member, LOGIN HERE. If you aren't registered, well you can fix that right now! Find out about our registration options here. Today we delve into the ACTUAL reasons behind the US attempts to ban / force a sale of TikTok. And we also look at some newspaper headlines and break them apart. Transcript BS 124 [00:00:00] Cameron: Alright, yeah, both of you give me a one, two, three, one at a time, Ray. [00:00:15] Ray: One, two, three. [00:00:18] Tony: Oh, is that how you do it? Okay. [00:00:19] Ray: I don’t know what he’s doing. I don’t know what the fuck he’s talking about. I really don’t. [00:00:24] Tony: Four, five, six. [00:00:27] Cameron: just to be clever. Welcome back to the Bullshit Fielder episode 124, recording this on the 22nd of March, 2024, uh, with me today, um, my two, uh, but you know, this is like a threesome, uh, rare [00:00:46] Ray: An intellectually threesome. Yes. Yeah. [00:00:50] Cameron: wife number two, Ray Harris, and, uh, [00:00:54] Ray: been demoted. [00:00:55] Cameron: Wife number three, Toni Kynaston. Um, I feel like, like a fundamentalist, uh, Mormon right now with everyone. [00:01:05] Cameron: Get Chrissy in here and it’ll be scary. [00:01:07] Tony: Well, I only get Cameron on Tuesday, so now I’m being promoted, I get Friday as well. [00:01:12] Cameron: Big love. Once a month, once a month on the Friday, yeah. [00:01:16] Tony: right. [00:01:18] Cameron: Um, alright, well, um, Tony, Tony had such a good time last time he was on the bullshit filter. He said he wanted to come back and, and Ray’s happy because it means he needs to do even less work. Which, uh, less than [00:01:32] Ray: that is correct. [00:01:34] Cameron: Negative [00:01:35] Ray: Negative. Yeah. Negative one third. [00:01:38] Cameron: We’re going to cover a couple of stories today. [00:01:40] Cameron: We’re going to try to anyway. Uh, we’re going to talk about the TikTok ban that’s happening, not just in the US, but there’s hints that it’s going to happen in other places as well, like Australia. Uh, we’re going to take a newspaper headline, a front page of a newspaper each and, and deconstruct it. And we’re going to talk a little bit at the end about China’s economy, so let’s, that’s a lot. [00:02:03] Cameron: I’ve got a lot of notes here, so we’ll see how we get, how far we get. Who wants to start with the TikTok ban? Who wants to be the first cab off the rank? With that? [00:02:15] Ray: Well, I do know this. Um, the House of Representatives have passed a version. The Senate is working on their version, which it means if it passes it, we’ll have to go to the House to then be reconciled. Um, it will be in committee for a while, so if it is going to happen, it is going to be still quite some time down the road, and even if it does pass the current bill, say, we’ll The company has six months to divest themselves. [00:02:39] Ray: And so for the people in America who are freaking out like me, cause I pretty much give it, it’s my new crack cocaine, uh, Tik Tok is. And, um, so if it does happen, it’s not going to happen right away. But, um, again, I guess it goes to the very fundamental. The question of, you know, for, um, freedom of speech, um, we all know that Facebook steals our, our, our, our information. [00:03:02] Ray: They sell it, whatever. Is TikTok doing anything else that any of these other social, uh, companies are doing? Are they just doing it for the Chinese government? So it’s a whole bunch of shit. There’s a lot of people in America who are absolutely pissed, even at the idea, the, the chance that this could go through. [00:03:18] Ray: What are y’all hearing on your side of the pond, of the [00:03:21] Cameron: I know why. I know why You like TikTok rage. I just realized it because they call it short form content and [00:03:27] Ray: Yes. It matches me perfectly. [00:03:30] Cameron: Yeah, yeah. Just you have loyalty to anything that’s short. [00:03:33] Ray: in fact, in fact, most of the TikToks are too long. If I had to complain about anything, but yeah, yeah. Short and [00:03:40] Tony: well, I mean, if someone, someone of our, some of the Raise Vintage and Our Vintage is on TikTok, is it dead anyway? Is it going to last six months? Really? [00:03:49] Ray: Yeah. [00:03:49] Cameron: yeah, that’s true. That’s what Taylor keeps telling me. TikTok’s dead. Anyway, [00:03:54] Ray: Well, what’s [00:03:55] Cameron: this is, this is a really, I don’t know, um, uh, shorter, shorter form content. [00:04:00] Ray: Just a tick. Just a tick. Tick. Tick. [00:04:03] Cameron: just the tip, just the tip. That’s what it’s going to be. Tip, tip, tip top is going to be called. Just the [00:04:09] Ray: We’re

Hey there, fellow Bullshit Fighter! This page contains some member-only content. If you're already a registered member, LOGIN HERE. If you aren't registered, well you can fix that right now! Find out about our registration options here. My guest co-host today is Tony Kynaston from the QAV Investing Podcast. We’re talking about the Tucker Carlson interview with Putin and breaking down the lies, distortions and misinformation ABOUT the interview that we’re reading in the mainstream media, and asking why there is a need to distort Putin’s words in the West. Transcript BS 123[00:00:00] Tony: 3, [00:00:12] Tony: 2, 1. [00:00:13] Cameron: Welcome to the Bullshit Filter episode 123 Special edition because, uh, Ray has been replaced[00:00:23] Cameron: with a, uh, smarter, better looking version of Ray, uh, my o my other Ray Tony [00:00:30] Cameron: Kynaston, and welcome to the Bullshit [00:00:33] Cameron: Filter, Tony. [00:00:35] Tony: Thank you, Cam. Thanks for the invite. And I, I feel special [00:00:39] Cameron: Uh, you invited, you, you, you invited yourself? I think, uh,[00:00:43] Cameron: actually, yeah. Yeah. [00:00:45] Tony: I do. [00:00:46] Cameron: We had a lot, we had a lot of people offered to come on, and I appreciate everyone’s offers, but I did say condition was, you had to watch the Putin interview. No one else, uh, seemed to be up for that. Tony goes, yeah, I can do that.[00:00:58] Cameron: So he [00:01:00] Tony: And that, and that was a high price to[00:01:01] Tony: pay too, by the way. [00:01:02] Cameron: Was it? [00:01:03] Tony: Well, I didn’t mind listening to Putin, but[00:01:06] Tony: Tucker Carlson, gimme a break. [00:01:09] Cameron: Well, the, the upside is he didn’t, didn’t have much to say in the two[00:01:13] Tony: it was a, I think a, a journalist would call that a softball interview.[00:01:17] Cameron: Well, they’ve called it much, much worse than that. But look, and, and here’s, you know, there’s, there’s a couple of reasons for me being interested in this. Uh, number one.[00:01:28] Cameron: Yeah. Uh, Putin’s obviously a, a major player in global geopolitics right now, and we don’t get to actually hear from him very often in the west.[00:01:40] Cameron: Uh, and this is the first interview that an American journalist has got with him in over two years since the, this latest phase of the war, uh, began, the invasion began. Um, secondly, uh, you know, I think he’s, uh, he’s an interesting character. You, you know, you, you, you don’t run Russia for twenty-five years or whatever it’s been now, um, without having something going on.[00:02:10] Cameron: He’s a smart canny player. Brutal, probably. And thirdly, and this is, I guess the main focus I want to give is just the level of outrage in the Western media about. Interview itself, even existing about Carlson doing the interview and, uh, and, and the outrage about the things that Putin allegedly said, which he didn’t actually say, I think, in the interview.[00:02:45] Cameron: So I wanna cover the media coverage of it, and that’s kinda what the bullshit Filter originally was about, was looking at media coverage of big stories in the West and picking them apart to see if they’re providing a fair and reasonable, uh, coverage of the stories or if it’s bullshit. And I’ve read a lot of new stories about this and, and by and large, uh, I’m calling bullshit on a lot of it.[00:03:12] Cameron: Anyway, let’s start with the interview, Tony. Um, I mean, I, you and I, I don’t think have talked a great deal about we, uh, Putin or Russia or Ukraine. Do you wanna give me your high level view on what’s been going on over there for the last 10 years? [00:03:31] Tony: I’m not sure I can or I’m qualified. You, you probably know that far better than I [00:03:36] Cameron: No. [00:03:36] Cameron: one on this show has ever qualified [00:03:38] Tony: yeah. [00:03:38] Cameron: anything, don’t he? [00:03:40] Tony: Well, you talk interesting, you said 10 years. I assume you’re referring back to the last time the[00:03:45] Tony: government changed when, um, uh, Russia, annexed Crimea, and then there was a bit of a coup around that time as Well, Is that what you’re talking about? Is that why you said 10 years?[00:03:55] Cameron: Well, uh, yeah. So Putin’s view, and, and I[00:03:59] Cameron: tend to agree with him, is that in 2014 in Ukraine there was a coup, it was a US.[00:04:05] Cameron: Uh, supported, if not engineered coup. There was an earlier coup, it was a 2004 coup, then there was the 2014 coup, uh, both led slash supported slash engineered, we believe by the, I believe by the United States.[00:04:22] Cameron: To what degree? It’s hard to say, but there seems to be sufficient evidence to say that they were involved to some degree. Um, but you know, it’s th

Hey there, fellow Bullshit Fighter! This page contains some member-only content. If you're already a registered member, LOGIN HERE. If you aren't registered, well you can fix that right now! Find out about our registration options here. This episode we’re looking at South Africa’s case against Israel in the World Court, accusing them of committing genocide in Gaza, the reasons for the cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Iran in Baluchistan, and why the Houthi are attacking ships in the Red Sea. Transcript BSF 122 [00:00:00] Cameron: [00:00:13] Cameron: Welcome to the Bullshit Filter episode 122. Feel sorry for all the people who miss out on our pre show banter. [00:00:27] Ray: That’s the best part. [00:00:29] Cameron: is the [00:00:29] Ray: just, we go at each other. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck me, fuck you, fuck you. And then we, then we’re nice to each other. [00:00:37] Cameron: Episode 122. Before we get into today’s stories, I want to give a shout out to my mate, Chris Saad. I give a plug for a product that he soft launched to me a couple of months ago. It’s called Wingman, um, something that you could have used, uh, throughout your life. Um, and you are my Wingman, that’s how I think about it. [00:00:57] Cameron: This is, this is replacing you in a way. It’s, you can, you can look it up at getwingman. ai and it’s, um, it’s a Chrome plugin. [00:01:07] Ray: Mmhmm. [00:01:09] Cameron: And it’s great, and I’ve participated a little bit in the thinking of the later stages of it, but if you go to any news story on a news website, BBC, New York Times, ABC, whatever it is, it’ll pop up a sidebar that uses GPT to break down the story. First of all, it’ll give you an executive summary of the story, but then below that it will call out the biases shown in the reporting of the story, the language that is used that may be, um, giving you a particular, uh, intended flavor or direction or whatever. [00:01:48] Cameron: It also gives you the historical context of the story. So if you’re reading something about Israel Gaza, it’ll give you a background on the historical context. Then, and this was my suggestion, one of my suggestions, anyway, below that it’ll give you a mini bio on anyone who’s mentioned in the story. Just one line, who they are, what their, what their background is. [00:02:07] Cameron: with links, I think, to their Wikipedia profile. So you can read up more about who they are. And then down the bottom, it tells you, um, you know, what you can do to learn more about the topic and, uh, you know, sort of guide you through. So it’s sort of is, as I said to him, this is, you know, a great tool. Like, uh, what we try and do on this show is think about the big issues [00:02:27] Ray: hmm. [00:02:28] Cameron: the world today. [00:02:28] Cameron: And we try and break them down and think about them from angles that aren’t necessarily the angles that we’re being given by the mainstream media. Uh, or our governments. And this tool helps you do that. So check it out, getwingman. ai. Uh, I’ve been using it quite a lot to prepare for shows like this. Like, it’s just a quick, I’ll read a news story and I’ll go, okay, what’s the lay of the land here? [00:02:51] Cameron: And it’ll It’ll give me a, uh, it’s another tool like ChatGPT or like Wikipedia that can enable you to get a bit of a headstart on understanding more of the context of a story and set you off in other directions of, uh, reading or research that you may want to do. I should just get it to recommend listening to our show too. [00:03:12] Cameron: Every time, if you want to know more about this, listen to Cam and Ray. [00:03:16] Ray: Yeah, for a flat fee, um, which is fine, he should make the tagline, uh, or should I just have it? Um, A Lazy Podcaster’s [00:03:24] Cameron: Oh shit, I just had it. Oh, right. Oh shit, I just had [00:03:29] Ray: that. Oh, no, if, if, [00:03:31] Cameron: I had something for that. Hmm. [00:03:34] Ray: if going down rabbit holes is your thing. Then Wingman is for you. Something like that. You know, work, work on [00:03:40] Cameron: been, you’ve been in a few rabbit holes in your time. That’s why you live out in the country. [00:03:45] Ray: I can’t, I can’t. [00:03:49] Cameron: South Africa, right? [00:03:50] Ray: Yes, go ahead, please. Thank God. [00:03:53] Cameron: I’ve got a, I’m on a timeline here, like David Markham last month. I, I gotta be somewhere more important than this, which is Kung Fu training. It’s a public holiday here in Australia. It’s Australia Day today. Let’s not get into that, but um Our Kung Fu school is closed so a few of us students have decided we’re going to do our own training. [00:04:11] Cameron: Everyone else is getting pissed and having barbecues. Uh, w

Hey there, fellow Bullshit Fighter! This page contains some member-only content. If you're already a registered member, LOGIN HERE. If you aren't registered, well you can fix that right now! Find out about our registration options here. My old friend and colleague J. David Markham joined me today to talk about Russia and Ukraine. We planned to get to other topics, but ran out of time. Although we agree on most things related to Napoleon, David and I disagree on nearly everything else related to geopolitics, so this was a fun episode. Transcript BS 121 Markham Russia[00:00:00] Cameron: Welcome to a very special edition of the Bullshit Filter. This is episode 121. No Ray with me today, but my The Ray before there was Ray. My pre Ray Ray. My old friend and colleague, J.[00:00:36] Cameron: David Markham, is joining me today. Long awaited return to the Bullshit Filter for J. David Markham. It’s been, yeah, been on the show in the past, but it’s been quite a few years. We had a very, uh, fun time doing a Napoleon reunion episode. Despite the fact that we were talking about a godawful film a few weeks ago.[00:00:57] David: and we talked about it for almost as long as the film was.[00:01:01] Cameron: Yes. And it was a much better use of people’s time too, I think, listening to us than watching the film.[00:01:06] David: course. Of course.[00:01:09] Cameron: So, uh, look, uh, I guess the, the, the setup for this is anyone who has followed us on Facebook over the years knows that whilst we agree violently on Napoleon. We tend to disagree violently on pretty much everything else when it comes to politics, and I, so you know where I’m coming from, I’m not coming into this as a debate, I had to spend an hour trying to convince Chrissy this morning that this wasn’t going to ruin our friendship, I think, look, I am I’m I am genuinely interested in trying to understand more about how David thinks about these issues, because I respect you.[00:01:46] Cameron: You’re my friend, you’re, you’re an intelligent man, you’re a student of politics, and, uh, we have very diverging views on this, and our audience knows my views on this stuff, so it’s, they, I, I don’t need to remind them, and Ray tends to agree with me on everything, because I’ve spent 10 years training him how to think properly. So, uh, I thought it would be useful and healthy and interesting for our audience to hear your views and why your views on some issues diverge from mine. So the things I thought, I mean, the obvious things to talk about, things that we would be talking about on this episode anyway if you weren’t with us is what’s going on in the US presidential election that’s coming up.[00:02:31] Cameron: What’s going on in US politics at a Federal level. Uh, what’s going on in Israel and Gaza, and what’s going on in Russia and Ukraine. They’re the, sort of, the big, well, there’s a lot of geopolitical issues we could talk about, but I guess they’re three of the big ones that, um, we probably have diverging views on, and which makes it interesting.[00:02:52] Cameron: Where would you like to start?[00:02:54] David: I’m gonna guess we do. Uh, you, you, you spent, uh, uh, all those years training Ray. Uh, and the, you, as you know, I had a birthday, uh, a few days ago on Tuesday. It turned 78. So I’m hoping that you will simply accept the wisdom of your elders and, and we’ll, and we will do just fine. And I too, uh,[00:03:18] Cameron: you don’t look a day under 77.[00:03:21] David: Yeah, I knew that was coming.[00:03:23] David: Uh, I, uh, I, I too had some trepidation, uh, about, you know, would we be at each other’s throats and, and, and, and somehow damage, uh, our, our friendship, which my goodness goes back decades at this point. Uh, and I certainly hope not. Uh, You know, I, I also respect you and, and think you’re very intelligent, uh, and, uh, you, uh, I, I, every now and then I’ve, I’ve got a glimpse of some of your political views or, or whatever, and, and yeah, you’re right, I don’t always agree, but I have always prided myself in having friends.[00:04:08] David: With whom I don’t agree on everything politically, or for that matter, Napoleonically, uh, I think it would be a boring life if you only hung around with people who agreed with you in lockstep, uh, and I say that, you know, with, you know, some of the people The, the Trump accolades who, who, who all, you know, adhere to a very narrow point of view, but also some, some groups on, on the left, you know, who, who do not want to tolerate a divergence of opinion on, on, uh, at least on a large number of issues, uh, I’ve always felt that we have.[00:04:49] David: a chance to learn, uh, from each other if we have some disagreement anyway, and without getting into fisticuffs, and since you are

Hey there, fellow Bullshit Fighter! This page contains some member-only content. If you're already a registered member, LOGIN HERE. If you aren't registered, well you can fix that right now! Find out about our registration options here. On this episode we’re talking about Gaza, The Voice to Parliament referendum in Australia, and the Speaker of the House débâcle in the USA. The post BS 120 – Gaza, The Voice, and The Speaker appeared first on The BS Filter.

Hey there, fellow Bullshit Fighter! This page contains some member-only content. If you're already a registered member, LOGIN HERE. If you aren't registered, well you can fix that right now! Find out about our registration options here. On this episode, we’re fact checking the claims that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and earlier annexation of Crimea, are all about getting their hands on Ukraine’s gas and oil reserves. We also talk about how to use ChatGPT to de-bias a news article, “The Blob”, Chris Hedges’ analysis of “the pimps of war“, and Alessandro Gagaridis’ analysis of Prigozhin’s Mutiny.   The post BS 119 – Ukraine’s Energy Reserves appeared first on The BS Filter.