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Scott talks with journalist and author Trevor Aaronson about an article he published recently at The Intercept. The piece tells the story of Jason Fong, a young Chinese American who was targeted online by some undercover law enforcement officers and federal informants who attempted to persuade him to commit violent acts to further his beliefs. Aaronson lays out the details of Fong’s story and argues that it is another example of federal law enforcement working to create and entrap violent extremists. He and Scott then talk about the FBI’s long history of carrying out these schemes. 

Discussed on the show:

• “Catfished by Cops: The Hamas Terrorist Who Wasn’t” (The Intercept)
• The Terror Factory by Trevor Aaronson

Trevor Aaronson is a contributing writer for The Intercept and executive director of the nonprofit Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. He is the author of The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War on Terrorism. Find him on Twitter @trevoraaronson.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Moon Does Artisan Coffee; Roberts and Robers Brokerage Incorporated; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; Libertas Bella; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

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Daniel McAdams, Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute For Peace and Prosperity, discusses the Syrian government’s defeat of rebels in East Aleppo; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s “Stop Arming Terrorists Act;” and the upside to having Dana Rohrabacher as secretary of state – if Trump chooses him.

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Will Grigg, the Managing Editor of The Libertarian Institute, discusses the nineteen year wrongful imprisonment of Christopher Tapp for the 1996 murder of Angie Dodge in Idaho Falls; and why Angie’s mother Carol is convinced Tapp was railroaded by the police and prosecutors and that Angie’s murderer remains at large.

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Robert P. Murphy, an Associated Scholar with the Mises Institute and author of many books, discusses the Fed-induced booms and busts in the economy and stock market; the bigger-than-ever housing bubble; and where libertarians agree and disagree with Donald Trump’s economic proposals.

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Mark Perry, author of Talking to Terrorists: Why America Must Engage with its Enemies, discusses why incoming Secretary of Defense James Mattis harbors a grudge against Iran; why military officers are a poor fit for civilian oversight positions in government; and Trump’s overestimation of his presidential powers and ability to “give orders.”

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Brad Hoff, Managing Editor of Levant Report, discusses why the Syrian government’s recent military success in East Aleppo won’t stop the insurgency any time soon; the Obama administration’s treasonous support for al-Qaeda and other rebel groups in Syria that previously killed US soldiers in Iraq; and why Trump’s somewhat non-interventionist rhetoric will likely be overcome by his coterie of foreign policy advisors.

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Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern discusses the overblown achievements of media-favorite Gen. David Petraeus, who gave us the Iraq War “surge” propaganda, a failed counterinsurgency program in Afghanistan, then was run out of his job as CIA director for passing classified information to his mistress/biographer.

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Trita Parsi, the founder and president of the National Iranian American Council, discusses the Obama administration’s diplomatic successes with Iran, and whether President Trump will roll back the nuclear deal and sanctions relief, then get the war drums beating again with a cabinet full of hawkish foreign policy advisors.

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Gareth Porter, an independent investigative journalist and historian writing on US national security policy, discusses why Donald Trump’s pick for national security advisor, retired Lt. Gen. Michael J. Flynn, is responsible for killing innocent Afghan civilians with drone strikes and night raids based on faulty intelligence. Flynn also knew the JSOC kill/capture program was counterproductive at winning hearts and minds in Afghanistan but continued it anyway as a public relations campaign with the compliant US media. Gareth also debunks White Helmet claims about the Aleppo Convoy Massacre.

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