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January 4, 2024 - 3:00pm
A former CIA officer and host of the hit podcast The President’s Daily Brief, Mike Baker has particular insight into what is often called the “deep state”. Where American intelligence experts used to boast knowledge of and influence in the workings of world politics, he claims that power looks very different today.
Entering 2024 amidst two wars with Western involvement and a potential third conflict with China on the horizon, what does the decline of US security dominance mean for the future?
Mike joined Freddie Sayers in the UnHerd studio to discuss war in Israel, Ukraine and America’s upcoming presidential election.
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SubscribeI saw Mike Baker interviewed on Triggernometry and was unimpressed. My opinion hasn’t changed after watching parts of his Unherd interview.
His claim to expertise is he once worked for the CIA. So far as I can tell, he worked in the field. He wasn’t a senior employee formulating CIA policy. His answers to questions are unremarkable generalities: China is an expansionist power; the war in Ukraine has reached a stalemate and the US is losing interest. We could learn as much from a random guy in a bar.
If Mr. Baker does possess special knowledge about major world events he probably can’t reveal it due to an NDA with his former employer. Then there’s the possibility he’s saying exactly what the CIA wants him to say.
As always, Freddie was an excellent interviewer, but his guest spoke many words without telling us anything we didn’t already know.
Thanks for this comment. I’ll not waste my time watching the interview, unless someone else who’s done so can add any reason why it’d be worthwhile.
Generally, I find spies pretty interesting. They get to see parts of people and the world that most of us don’t. But I’m also just interested in anyone who needs a good grasp of human behaviour for their job, even if I don’t always agree with what they think about it. Economists often grab my attention for the same reason.
You do right.. a complete waste of time.. a Zionist lackey, ho hum
You do right.. a waste of time.. your average tuppenyhapenny propagandist.. Freddy hopeless at challenging the guy.. ho hum.
..sorry but Freddie was NOT a good interviewer! He seriously let this propagandist off the hook. I’m embarrassed for you Freddie!
A lackey is better than being a useful idiot.
Disappointing first episode for 2024. There was very little interesting insight, and his answers were shallow and rambling (even he admitted that). He belongs on Joe Rogan, and not on UnHerd
Yep.. must do better Freddie! A lot better! Challenge these propagandists fgs! Sure you know lies and propaganda when you see it?
”The ex-CIA officer spoke to UnHerd”
well-llll I would alter the line just a bit to ”The CIA officer spoke to UnHerd”
Minute 39 he says Putin unchecked will begin gobbling up Europe. He then calls this war a stalemate. Well it is a Lost War – and any can see that.
I can hardly see Putin advancing into Europe – WHY? Why? So he can try to ‘Occupy’ 350 Million hostile people? You think Putin wants to be Israel and Europe be his Gaza? You think Putin wants that kind of headache? I think he wants trading partners and prosperity and secure Borders – and no Neo-Con Biden/Nuland crazies creeping closer and closer and closer – because we see what they get up to.
Freddy shows his thing a bit when he fallows with ”IF WE’ are going to have a negotiated settlement”’… haha who’s this WE Freddy, got a mouse in your pocket? (as the old line went) I suspect he does not quite get the gist of the reality.
Because the days when Putin would take anything Biden – Boris (Lord Cameron) said is long over. To Putin the words on an agreement singed and stamped by Biden Blinken Nuland, Sunak, are about as sound and long lasting as a moth in a room full of candles. FTttt and a wisp of smoke….haha..
No – Russia cannot take a Western Negotiated Settlement as that would just be time to re-arm Ukraine, get them into EU, and sell them to Blackrock, and… well you know…. And then begin it all over again.
They cannot take a Negotiated Settlement with Ukraine for the same reasons. No it will be Surrender and then Russia will tell what is to be. Which I believe is Ukrainian Ukraine given anti EU, anti NATO leadership and turned loose to be a Neutral Country, with a very small military – as keeping them as an occupied land would be a horrible mess. Then Russian Ukraine becoming something else.
Anyway this guy just lets out constant Deep State, MSM agenda things – I will not chase anymore. I could not listen to any more than I did – his talk of the other war was just too much… and… – never mind.
Joke interview.. Freddie, get a grip will you? This is embarrassing..
OMG if I want US propaganda I have the NYT (costs me €4 a month just to get the AIPAC,MIC take).. we really don’t need another Goebles on the job Freddie!
Ask a few searching questions will you! I’m so angry I’m posting this early in the interview.. maybe you’ll do so later?
Of course the IDF had the Intel.. they saw it as a golden opportunity to smash Gaza.. only a total fool would think otherwise.. the hospital story?? The death figures? Please Freddie, we have brains.. we are not gullible, American idiots so please don’t treat us such..
Gullible Irish one ?
Like I said I listen to all sides, try to discern facts from propaganda.. any nation can be gullible; it’s just that the US is such better at it that almost any other nation. Exceptionalism!
Increasingly it seems, if you want to be a sought after ‘talking head’ you need to use as many words as possible to say as little as possible.
We have entered the ‘idiot’s thinking man’ stage of the decline of western civilisation. I am sure the same thing happened way back at the forum in Rome.
These verbose fools are the warm up act for the final stage- the ‘clarity of the strongman’.