***The American Monster series is for paid members. I extended our friends and family discount another day so please join our growing community of pro-democracy global citizens at a great rate and share with allies. And please look for a registration link to this Sunday’s ‘Speakeasy’ with geopolitical analyst Dr. Michael MacKay on or before Saturday.***
The following is an excerpt from this podcast, based on my print report ‘American Monster - Roger Stone’ - the second in a series about convicted US criminals who accelerated the world toward authoritarianism…
Here is that excerpt:
When Paul Manafort was interviewed for the film ‘Get Me Roger Stone’ about his longtime partner in the so-called ‘Torturer’s Lobby’ he said:
“Roger’s relationship with Trump has been so interconnected that it’s hard to define what’s Roger & what’s Donald. While it’ll be clearly a Trump presidency, I think it’s influenced by a Stone philosophy…
“If Trump is elected president, I think Roger will see one more very significant impact he’s had on world history.”
JFC.
This is a series about American monsters — both Paul Manafort and Roger Stone played key roles in accelerating global fascism by reaping millions in lobbying fees representing brutal dictators and then grooming a Russian asset, with ties to multiple foreign dictatorships, for president*….
In a 1992 report from the Center for Public Integrity, their lobbying firm was listed as ‘one of the firms profiting the most by doing business with foreign governments that violate their people’s human rights’. To take this out of the abstract, one client — Angola’s Jonas Savimbi — burned his opponents alive.
When people think of Washington corruption, they think of organizations like Black, Manafort, & Stone that shook down dictators, took all their money, and then tried to take America’s government and make them serve the dictators’ interest. It IS the swamp.—Jane Mayer, New Yorker
In 2020, Roger Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison — convicted of multiple felony counts for obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress, and tampering with a witness. In what constitutional lawyers deemed ‘pardon fraud’, Trump commuted his sentence just days before Stone, his former campaign advisor, was to report to a federal prison to serve his term.
‘Let’s Get Right to the Violence’
Stone was captured by a Danish film crew who shared their findings with the January 6 Committee saying, ‘F**k the voting, let’s get straight to the violence.’ It was one day before the 2020 presidential election.
Stone was an early adopter of the Big Lie, a reboot from 2016. He had already been prepared to claim voter fraud in 2016…
So who is Roger Stone, and what impact did he have on world history?
The zoom out is the world is hotter, more fascist, and less empathetic.
He pioneered negative campaign advertising, which has eroded our country’s civility and the integrity of our body politic. Due in part to access journalism, corporate media has painted him as a charming ‘ratf**ker’ in well-tailored suits.
But in a 2020 deposition, a creepier image emerges, one that is dangerous and unhinged, revealing an anti-social personality…
To listen to this podcast and others, and to access the new ‘American Monster’ series, please join our community.
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Save the dates: our next Bette Dangerous ‘Speakeasy’ Zoom for paid members is on Sunday, July 16, 4 pm PT. featuring geopolitical analyst Dr. Michael MacKay, who will answer questions about the war in Ukraine and Russian disinformation’s impacts on the erosion of global democracies. A registration link will be sent on or before Saturday. Also, Ruth Ben-Ghiat will be our featured ‘Speakeasy’ guest on July 30.
Lastly, be on the lookout for an invite to our weekly Bette’s Happy Hour wellness checkin for Tuesday, July 18, which will be at noon pm PT.
We just have to see that the battle for democracy is broader. It's deeper.—David Pepper
I need people to see they're on the frontline. Wherever you live, if you’re doing this work, you are the frontline.—David Pepper
The message should be a fair deal… fairness everywhere.—Martin Sheil
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“I say a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I walk upon the earth.”-Audrey Peterman.
“May the viral hope for truth and humanity wash away the chaos of these years.”-S.C., Bette community member
“Something Sacred never dies in almost all of us, who can hear the invitation of Truth…”-words from a Bette Dangerous community member
“Nothing but blue skies from now on…”-Irving Berlin
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(Stone, in a February 2020 deposition)
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Bette Dangerous Podcast Ep49 - American Monster - Roger Stone