Worth your time, take it or leave it
Here are the footnotes
Here's a summary of the Joe Rogan Experience #2392 interview with John Kiriakou:
Who John Kiriakou Is / Background
Former CIA counter-terrorism officer, worked in operations and analysis.
Known for being the first U.S. government official to publicly confirm that the CIA used waterboarding as an interrogation technique.
He later became a whistleblower, exposing torture practices, and was prosecuted for disclosing classified information.
Key Themes & Takeaways
1. Torture / Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
Kiriakou argues that the torture program was ineffective and morally indefensible. Talks about how corrupt John Brennan and Obama was in detail
He says that some of those who led or promoted those techniques are still defending them because they have a vested interest in justifying past actions.
He recounts how he was pressured to participate or remain silentand how refusing to go along led to serious professional consequences.
2. Career, Repercussions & Legal Consequences
After leaving active operations, he became vocal about what he viewed as wrongdoing inside the CIA.
He was prosecuted under laws governing disclosure of classified information (not explicitly for revealing torture) and served time in federal prison.
During the interview, he also discusses attempts to secure a presidential pardon, noting support from political and legal figures, and that the CIA claims it has no objection to a pardon.
3. Deep State, Surveillance, Legal System, & Politics
Kiriakou and Rogan talk at length about the idea of a "deep state" or permanent bureaucratic power that transcends administrations.
He criticizes the weaponization of prosecutions, entrapment by law enforcement, and how the legal system can be used to suppress dissent or punish those who challenge powerful institutions.
He discusses media complicity, propaganda laws (specifically the NDAA changes that allowed domestic propaganda), and how narratives are shaped to favor government perspectives.
He expresses concern about surveillance overreach, AI, bots, and how technology may be used to manipulate information.
4. Current Events & Geopolitics
The interview touches on the Russia-Ukraine war. Kiriakou suggests that current policies may be misaligned with actual ground realities in Ukraine.
He also references international conflicts (e.g. Israel/Palestine) and how U.S. foreign policy must be viewed critically.
5. Life After the CIA / Personal Reflection
Kiriakou describes how the post-CIA period has been marked by surveillance, being labeled an "insider threat," and efforts to silence or discredit him.
He shares how some of his former CIA colleagues remain supportive privately, and how the decision to blow the whistle was not taken lightly.
He also critiques systems of power and emphasizes the need for public awareness and institutional accountability.
Here are the footnotes
Here's a summary of the Joe Rogan Experience #2392 interview with John Kiriakou:
Who John Kiriakou Is / Background
Former CIA counter-terrorism officer, worked in operations and analysis.
Known for being the first U.S. government official to publicly confirm that the CIA used waterboarding as an interrogation technique.
He later became a whistleblower, exposing torture practices, and was prosecuted for disclosing classified information.
Key Themes & Takeaways
1. Torture / Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
Kiriakou argues that the torture program was ineffective and morally indefensible. Talks about how corrupt John Brennan and Obama was in detail
He says that some of those who led or promoted those techniques are still defending them because they have a vested interest in justifying past actions.
He recounts how he was pressured to participate or remain silentand how refusing to go along led to serious professional consequences.
2. Career, Repercussions & Legal Consequences
After leaving active operations, he became vocal about what he viewed as wrongdoing inside the CIA.
He was prosecuted under laws governing disclosure of classified information (not explicitly for revealing torture) and served time in federal prison.
During the interview, he also discusses attempts to secure a presidential pardon, noting support from political and legal figures, and that the CIA claims it has no objection to a pardon.
3. Deep State, Surveillance, Legal System, & Politics
Kiriakou and Rogan talk at length about the idea of a "deep state" or permanent bureaucratic power that transcends administrations.
He criticizes the weaponization of prosecutions, entrapment by law enforcement, and how the legal system can be used to suppress dissent or punish those who challenge powerful institutions.
He discusses media complicity, propaganda laws (specifically the NDAA changes that allowed domestic propaganda), and how narratives are shaped to favor government perspectives.
He expresses concern about surveillance overreach, AI, bots, and how technology may be used to manipulate information.
4. Current Events & Geopolitics
The interview touches on the Russia-Ukraine war. Kiriakou suggests that current policies may be misaligned with actual ground realities in Ukraine.
He also references international conflicts (e.g. Israel/Palestine) and how U.S. foreign policy must be viewed critically.
5. Life After the CIA / Personal Reflection
Kiriakou describes how the post-CIA period has been marked by surveillance, being labeled an "insider threat," and efforts to silence or discredit him.
He shares how some of his former CIA colleagues remain supportive privately, and how the decision to blow the whistle was not taken lightly.
He also critiques systems of power and emphasizes the need for public awareness and institutional accountability.
"We're going to turn this red Prius into a soup kitchen!"
