Thanks for your work Darryl, it’s had a hugely positive impact on my life.
In 2016, I had just been released from prison as Trump was elected. Having been separated from society to a degree, I leaned on the media watched by my lefty family to catch me up with the world. I was instantly taught to hate Trump and believe he was a criminal an…
Thanks for your work Darryl, it’s had a hugely positive impact on my life.
In 2016, I had just been released from prison as Trump was elected. Having been separated from society to a degree, I leaned on the media watched by my lefty family to catch me up with the world. I was instantly taught to hate Trump and believe he was a criminal and a traitor. For the first year of my freedom, I spent a good deal of time on Twitter sharing hateful anti-Trump rhetoric. And then…slowly…I started to realize there was no way everything this Trump guy said and did could be wrong and evil. I expanded my perspective, I got some new sources of information. And I also noticed that, despite what CNN was telling me, life in the USA was damn good, even for a guy living in a halfway house. It felt like the President had to have a lot to do with that. Long story short, though I’m not affiliated with a political party…I like and respect Trump now and will vote for him this year. The broadening of my perspective has led to a better informed, and honestly happier me. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Polling would suggest I’m not. I wonder if you have thoughts about this? Have you noticed this shift in a large portion of the population? I wonder if the Dan Carlin’s of the world may come down the same road eventually? Perhaps he has and this is why there’s a tentative peace between you? It’s hard to believe a man as intelligent as him wouldn’t have his viewpoint morph also. I’d love to hear your analysis of the shift I’m talking about. Isn’t this potentially a very cool thing? Maybe I’m whistling Dixie, you can let us know. Thanks again.
Dan, I am so glad to read this. I love a redemption story, but you went through two transformations at once. Returning to society after a prison sentence, and releasing your mind from a metaphorical prison. Regarding the latter, it annoys me to no end that people, without the hint of irony, and usually accompanied by palpable smugness say something dumb like, "I am a free thinker. I look at all sides. I read the wall street journal and the new york times." Great. You read more than one corporate, cia captured, establishment shilling perspective. Congratulations. Ever notice how outlets like cnn always seem to find the enemy, and that enemy is not an oligarch, or a faceless multinational corporation, or a shady, epstein compromised intel agency, but your neighbor? Ever notice how they always claim to stand up to power, but always seem to end up sucking up to it? It sounds like you're well past this, but independent media has been a Godsend for awakening large chunks of the population. I have seen a difference. As more people are freed from this mental prison, the world will heal. All the best on your journey, Dan.
Appreciate this response Sean, apologies for the delay in this reply. It’s sometimes a little embarrassing to admit I was so captured. As you say, I had been “away” and that was something of an excuse. But those sources were also what I grew up with. My Dad (my hero) watched them! How could they be so corrupt, captured, and just plain wrong? It took quite the awakening to understand the things you describe. Independent media has changed my life and is now helping my teenage sons to see and understand the world with much more clarity than I did at their age. It’s wonderful to see. I’m so grateful for and humbled by it. Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. God bless you and your family.
Hi Dan, my circles are very lefty too and I’d love to start reading something with a different viewpoint. Which independent media sources do you suggest?
Thanks for reaching out. My strategy for “getting informed” has become one in which I try to get as many sides of an issue as possible and make up my own mind. Sadly, this typically breaks down into two camps which you’ll be more than familiar with (Left vs Right, Dem vs Rep, etc…). While I’ve identified that there are a few “news sources” whose ridiculous bias is far too obvious to ever even consider (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, OAN)…finding independent sources with credibility is a touch more difficult. For daily news, I go to the Breaking Points podcast. (You may remember Darryl appeared on it once) While the hosts have their own biases both left and right - I find they at least attempt to look at issues from an ideological center and go from there. Some may disagree, but I like how they do it. When I want to read (which I do quite a bit), I head to both conservative and liberal sources. The Intercept, Jacobin, Mother Jones, The Nation…lean left. The Hill, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Wire, and The Fedarlist lean right (those last two do more than lean, they’re pretty staunchly right). As I said, it’s in collecting these various viewpoints and running them through the filter of my own set of morals, scruples, and values (most of which are centered on a Christian framework) that I find the beliefs with which I operate in daily life. Naturally, any source can mislead me. I’m sure I don’t have the full story on a lot of issues. Several friends here may say “Jeez, those aren’t the right people to listen to!” And maybe they’re right! I just try to keep an open mind, I remain a solid Independent politically, and I stay willing to listen to anyone provided they’ve demonstrated credibility. It’s an imperfect system I know. But there are good people out there, on both sides, trying to get it right. So I hope I’m getting mostly the truth. Of course, Darryl and Jocko are who I’d like to be President and VP. I find that starting every day with those guys starts me off right. Best of luck! Hope that meandering answer was helpful in some small way.
You don't owe me a response, sir, but it is appreciated. I had a chuckle from what you wrote. You expressed embarrassment from admitting your mental capture, but being in prison. I don't know your situation, nor do I assume anyone who goes to prison has something to be embarrassed about, but generally people are reluctant to talk about their run ins with the legal system, particularly the criminal justice side. I know you didn't say this explicitly, but what I took from your comment was being a corporate media consuming npc is more embarrassing than having served a prison term. A sentiment I whole heartedly agree wtih. Very glad to hear you've moved past both of those chapters of your life. I will also make the embarrassing admission that I too was a standard normie-con for the majority of my life, and while I decried the bias of the corporate media, I believed they were generally reporting facts. I also have two advanced degrees, which is a source of further embarrassment as well. I plead mercy because the military paid for both of them, but it still infers a tacit approval of the institution. God bless you, and yours, as well, friend.
Thanks for your work Darryl, it’s had a hugely positive impact on my life.
In 2016, I had just been released from prison as Trump was elected. Having been separated from society to a degree, I leaned on the media watched by my lefty family to catch me up with the world. I was instantly taught to hate Trump and believe he was a criminal and a traitor. For the first year of my freedom, I spent a good deal of time on Twitter sharing hateful anti-Trump rhetoric. And then…slowly…I started to realize there was no way everything this Trump guy said and did could be wrong and evil. I expanded my perspective, I got some new sources of information. And I also noticed that, despite what CNN was telling me, life in the USA was damn good, even for a guy living in a halfway house. It felt like the President had to have a lot to do with that. Long story short, though I’m not affiliated with a political party…I like and respect Trump now and will vote for him this year. The broadening of my perspective has led to a better informed, and honestly happier me. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Polling would suggest I’m not. I wonder if you have thoughts about this? Have you noticed this shift in a large portion of the population? I wonder if the Dan Carlin’s of the world may come down the same road eventually? Perhaps he has and this is why there’s a tentative peace between you? It’s hard to believe a man as intelligent as him wouldn’t have his viewpoint morph also. I’d love to hear your analysis of the shift I’m talking about. Isn’t this potentially a very cool thing? Maybe I’m whistling Dixie, you can let us know. Thanks again.
Dan, I am so glad to read this. I love a redemption story, but you went through two transformations at once. Returning to society after a prison sentence, and releasing your mind from a metaphorical prison. Regarding the latter, it annoys me to no end that people, without the hint of irony, and usually accompanied by palpable smugness say something dumb like, "I am a free thinker. I look at all sides. I read the wall street journal and the new york times." Great. You read more than one corporate, cia captured, establishment shilling perspective. Congratulations. Ever notice how outlets like cnn always seem to find the enemy, and that enemy is not an oligarch, or a faceless multinational corporation, or a shady, epstein compromised intel agency, but your neighbor? Ever notice how they always claim to stand up to power, but always seem to end up sucking up to it? It sounds like you're well past this, but independent media has been a Godsend for awakening large chunks of the population. I have seen a difference. As more people are freed from this mental prison, the world will heal. All the best on your journey, Dan.
Appreciate this response Sean, apologies for the delay in this reply. It’s sometimes a little embarrassing to admit I was so captured. As you say, I had been “away” and that was something of an excuse. But those sources were also what I grew up with. My Dad (my hero) watched them! How could they be so corrupt, captured, and just plain wrong? It took quite the awakening to understand the things you describe. Independent media has changed my life and is now helping my teenage sons to see and understand the world with much more clarity than I did at their age. It’s wonderful to see. I’m so grateful for and humbled by it. Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. God bless you and your family.
Hi Dan, my circles are very lefty too and I’d love to start reading something with a different viewpoint. Which independent media sources do you suggest?
Hi Rachelle,
Thanks for reaching out. My strategy for “getting informed” has become one in which I try to get as many sides of an issue as possible and make up my own mind. Sadly, this typically breaks down into two camps which you’ll be more than familiar with (Left vs Right, Dem vs Rep, etc…). While I’ve identified that there are a few “news sources” whose ridiculous bias is far too obvious to ever even consider (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, OAN)…finding independent sources with credibility is a touch more difficult. For daily news, I go to the Breaking Points podcast. (You may remember Darryl appeared on it once) While the hosts have their own biases both left and right - I find they at least attempt to look at issues from an ideological center and go from there. Some may disagree, but I like how they do it. When I want to read (which I do quite a bit), I head to both conservative and liberal sources. The Intercept, Jacobin, Mother Jones, The Nation…lean left. The Hill, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Wire, and The Fedarlist lean right (those last two do more than lean, they’re pretty staunchly right). As I said, it’s in collecting these various viewpoints and running them through the filter of my own set of morals, scruples, and values (most of which are centered on a Christian framework) that I find the beliefs with which I operate in daily life. Naturally, any source can mislead me. I’m sure I don’t have the full story on a lot of issues. Several friends here may say “Jeez, those aren’t the right people to listen to!” And maybe they’re right! I just try to keep an open mind, I remain a solid Independent politically, and I stay willing to listen to anyone provided they’ve demonstrated credibility. It’s an imperfect system I know. But there are good people out there, on both sides, trying to get it right. So I hope I’m getting mostly the truth. Of course, Darryl and Jocko are who I’d like to be President and VP. I find that starting every day with those guys starts me off right. Best of luck! Hope that meandering answer was helpful in some small way.
Thank you so much! Sorry I missed seeing this until now. Looking forward to checking out your recs.
You don't owe me a response, sir, but it is appreciated. I had a chuckle from what you wrote. You expressed embarrassment from admitting your mental capture, but being in prison. I don't know your situation, nor do I assume anyone who goes to prison has something to be embarrassed about, but generally people are reluctant to talk about their run ins with the legal system, particularly the criminal justice side. I know you didn't say this explicitly, but what I took from your comment was being a corporate media consuming npc is more embarrassing than having served a prison term. A sentiment I whole heartedly agree wtih. Very glad to hear you've moved past both of those chapters of your life. I will also make the embarrassing admission that I too was a standard normie-con for the majority of my life, and while I decried the bias of the corporate media, I believed they were generally reporting facts. I also have two advanced degrees, which is a source of further embarrassment as well. I plead mercy because the military paid for both of them, but it still infers a tacit approval of the institution. God bless you, and yours, as well, friend.
Regarding CIA capture of the media, I think we're finally seeing what all the redacted parts of Operation Mockingbird were about.