Topic: Wag The Dog

The career of CIA operative Edward Lansdale is discussed as the inspiration for Graham Greene’s *The Quiet American*, which was later adapted into a pro-American propaganda film. C.D. Jackson is identified as a key architect of "doctrinal warfare" who worked to co-opt religious institutions for state interests. Dyer references the film *Wag the Dog* to illustrate how intelligence agencies continue to use directors and actors to manufacture public narratives.

The hosts compare the Biden administration's announcement of the al-Zawahiri strike to the film *Wag the Dog*, suggesting it is a manufactured victory to distract from low approval ratings. They contrast Biden's "precision" claims with previous accidental civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Robert Barnes draws parallels to Bill Clinton's 1999 bombing of Serbia during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Owen Shroyer and Jacob Creech discuss the difficulty of verifying footage from Ukraine, noting that both sides use the same videos with different narratives. Creech explains his technique of only relying on verifiable government documentation rather than "nuanced" videos that can be staged. They reference past instances of staged videos in Syria and the "babies in incubators" story to justify their skepticism of current war reporting.

Pop stars and actors are described as "social engineering tools" rather than just entertainers. Arnold Schwarzenegger's use of movie quotes as political slogans is highlighted as a way to turn citizens into "fans." The film "Wag the Dog" is referenced as a political satire that reveals how the CIA and Hollywood consultants collaborate to craft public narratives.