Deprogram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Honey Traps Are Go”

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou tell you about the Pete Buttigieg surge, the last days of a fading Biden, covering up Israel’s murder of Abu Akleh, and how honeytraps are infiltrating the West.

• Team Democrat Is All About Pete: Confirming Ted’s prediction, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is the Democratic Party’s early presidential frontrunner in New Hampshire, topping Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Kamala Harris in a new University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll. Capturing 19%, Buttigieg leads Newsom by 4%, with Ocasio-Cortez at 14% and Harris at 11%, while Bernie Sanders garners 8% and IJB Pritzker secures 6%. New Hampshire highlights Buttigieg’s dominance with a +75% net-favorability rating (81% favorable, 6% unfavorable). On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance commands a massive lead in the same poll among 688 likely voters, securing 51% support and dwarfing former Nikki Haley (9%), Tulsi Gabbard (8%), and Marco Rubio (5%).

• Biden Report: A bombshell 91-page House Oversight Committee staff report, based on over a dozen interviews with Biden aides, declares that dozens of Joe Biden’s executive actions “cannot all be deemed his own” amid advisers propping up the president during his physical and cognitive decline. The document details Biden’s inner circle meticulously stage-managing appearances, lightening workloads, limiting steps walked, minimizing cabinet meetings, seeking Hollywood direction for events, and using teleprompters at intimate gatherings. Executive orders and pardons signed by autopen, including Hunter Biden’s sweeping clemency, face calls to be voided for lacking traceable presidential consent, with former chief of staff Jeff Zients admitting ignorance of autopen operators. The report accuses aides like deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini, White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, and Jill Biden’s chief of staff Anthony Bernal of facilitating a cover-up, all invoking the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination. O’Connor, attending Biden for 15 years, issues misleading medical assessments without cognitive tests or public neurological results, refusing questions or lying about health or fitness for duty. Chairman James Comer demands Attorney General Pam Bondi investigate actions, clemencies, and potential crimes, labeling it the “Biden Autopen Presidency” scandal.

• Shireen Abu Akleh Shooting Cover-Up: U.S. officials are deeply divided over the 2022 fatal shooting of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank, with some convinced Israeli forces intentionally targeted her despite the State Department’s equivocal assessment blaming “tragic circumstances” without intent. Retired Col. Steve Gabavics, former chief of staff at the U.S. Security Coordinator office leading the review, publicly challenges the findings, asserting evidence like radio traffic awareness of journalists, clear visibility from a sniper vehicle, and precise shots indicate deliberate action. Gabavics clashes with boss Lt. Gen. Michael Fenzel, who sidelines him and stands by cautious conclusions to preserve Israeli cooperation, as internal drafts soften language on intent.

• Seductive Spying: Moscow and Beijing are unleashing seductive spies flooding U.S. tech heartlands, stealing secrets through lust and lies in a new “sex war” exploiting human weaknesses for psychological and economic warfare. Experts highlight China targeting startups, academia, and DoD projects with attractive operatives on LinkedIn and at conferences, while Russia revives figures like Anna Chapman and deploys honeytraps marrying targets for lifelong operations. Cases include Fang Fang seducing U.S. politicians, pitch competitions extracting IP, and thefts costing up to $600 billion annually, giving adversaries an asymmetric advantage as America avoids such tactics. Or do we?