Behind the Bastards

Part Two: How AI Chatbots Became Cult Leaders

Robert concludes his explanation of how AI chatbots replicate cult dynamics in the brains of some vulnerable users.   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Part One: How AI Chatbots Became Cult Leaders

Over the last year or so a series of news articles have sounded warnings about AI psychosis, and now an AI-generated cult, the Spiralists. Robert sits down with Blake Wexler to answer an important question: can a chatbot become a cult leader? See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

It Could Happen Here Weekly 230

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file.  - The Age of Extremophiles - Libya with Andrew - Gaddafi with Andrew - Zohran Mamdani's First 100 Days - Executive Disorder: White House Correspondents Shooting, Voting Rights Act You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! http://apple.co/coolerzone [http://apple.co/coolerzone] Sources/Links: Libya with Andrew Iran retaliation: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjrqqd8lw2wo [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjrqqd8lw2wo] Timeline of Libyan History: https://www.britannica.com/place/Libya/History [https://www.britannica.com/place/Libya/History] Timeline of Libyan revolt: https://www.britannica.com/event/Libya-Revolt-of-2011 [https://www.britannica.com/event/Libya-Revolt-of-2011] Behind the NTC: http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1062/2/who-drove-the-libyan-uprising [http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1062/2/who-drove-the-libyan-uprising] Consequences and Motivations of Libya intervention: https://jacobin.com/2015/02/libya-intervention-nato-imperialism [https://jacobin.com/2015/02/libya-intervention-nato-imperialism] https://web.archive.org/web/20220517202837/https://merip.org/2011/11/was-the-libya-intervention-necessary/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20220517202837/https://merip.org/2011/11/was-the-libya-intervention-necessary/] https://jacobin.com/2021/03/nato-libya-war-uk-us-france-regime-change [https://jacobin.com/2021/03/nato-libya-war-uk-us-france-regime-change] https://jacobin.com/2011/09/libya-and-the-left [https://jacobin.com/2011/09/libya-and-the-left] Rebel abuses: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14891913 [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14891913] Targeting of Black Libyans and Migrants: https://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141549384/blacks-and-migrants-targets-of-attack-in-libya [https://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141549384/blacks-and-migrants-targets-of-attack-in-libya] Displacement numbers in 2012: https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/4ec23100b.pdf [https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/4ec23100b.pdf] Consequences of first civil war: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/24/libya-capital-under-islamist-control-tripoli-airport-seized-operation-dawn [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/24/libya-capital-under-islamist-control-tripoli-airport-seized-operation-dawn] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/2/16/libya-anniversary-the-situation-is-just-terrible [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/2/16/libya-anniversary-the-situation-is-just-terrible] An attempt at unification: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/libyan-politicians-sign-un-peace-deal-unify-rival-governments [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/libyan-politicians-sign-un-peace-deal-unify-rival-governments] El Sharara oilfield situation: https://middle-east-online.com/node/708060 [https://middle-east-online.com/node/708060] The status quo as of 2020: https://www.politico.eu/article/the-libyan-conflict-explained/ [https://www.politico.eu/article/the-libyan-conflict-explained/] Another attempt at unification: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/15/libya-interim-government-sworn-in-replacing-rival-administration [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/15/libya-interim-government-sworn-in-replacing-rival-administration] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/21/libya-parliament-withdraws-confidence-from-unity-government [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/21/libya-parliament-withdraws-confidence-from-unity-government] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/un-voices-concern-over-vote-on-new-libyan-prime-minister [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/un-voices-concern-over-vote-on-new-libyan-prime-minister] Morality police: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/fears-religious-freedom-libya-proposes-new-morality-police [https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/fears-religious-freedom-libya-proposes-new-morality-police] Slave auction: https://africasacountry.com/2017/11/the-slave-auction-in-libya [https://africasacountry.com/2017/11/the-slave-auction-in-libya] Libya’s arms in regional instability: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-arms-un-idUSBRE93814Y20130409/ [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-arms-un-idUSBRE93814Y20130409/] Natural disaster: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/09/year-rebuilding-libyas-flood-hit-derna-plagued-politics [https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/09/year-rebuilding-libyas-flood-hit-derna-plagued-politics] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-floods-derna-turkish-firm-said-repaired-dam-did-it [https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-floods-derna-turkish-firm-said-repaired-dam-did-it] Gaddafi with Andrew https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muammar-al-Qaddafi [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muammar-al-Qaddafi] https://www.britannica.com/place/Libya/ [https://www.britannica.com/place/Libya/] Libya: The History of Gaddafi's Pariah State By John Oakes Qaddafi and the Libyan revolution By David Blundy, Andrew Lycett https://africasacountry.com/2017/12/the-return-of-muammar-gaddafi [https://africasacountry.com/2017/12/the-return-of-muammar-gaddafi] https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2013/10/03/gaddafis-harem-book [https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2013/10/03/gaddafis-harem-book] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16289543 [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16289543] https://newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2016/02/17/what-happened-to-the-other-libyans [https://newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2016/02/17/what-happened-to-the-other-libyans] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329567625_A_Linguistic_Liberation_of_Gaddafi%27s_Libya_From_Near-Extinction_to_an_Imminent_Revitalization_of_Amazigh [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329567625_A_Linguistic_Liberation_of_Gaddafi%27s_Libya_From_Near-Extinction_to_an_Imminent_Revitalization_of_Amazigh] https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2018/10/13/tebu-cultural-awakening-we-may-not-be-arabs-but-we-are-libyan [https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2018/10/13/tebu-cultural-awakening-we-may-not-be-arabs-but-we-are-libyan] https://marxist.com/nature-of-gaddafi-regime.htm [https://marxist.com/nature-of-gaddafi-regime.htm] https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/business/23views.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/business/23views.html] Gaddafi’s relations with the West: https://libcom.org/article/lies-slaughter-capital-2011-nato-intervention-libya-part-two [https://libcom.org/article/lies-slaughter-capital-2011-nato-intervention-libya-part-two] https://libcom.org/article/libyan-peoples-committees-should-be-foundation-new-life-not-just-interim-measure [https://libcom.org/article/libyan-peoples-committees-should-be-foundation-new-life-not-just-interim-measure] https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/09/05/us-torture-and-rendition-gaddafis-libya [https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/09/05/us-torture-and-rendition-gaddafis-libya] https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/09/09/secret-intelligence-documents-discovered-libya [https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/09/09/secret-intelligence-documents-discovered-libya] Zohran Mamdani's First 100 Days https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZGdfQ-kPTI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZGdfQ-kPTI] https://www.nyc.gov/content/100days/pages/ [https://www.nyc.gov/content/100days/pages/] https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/news/004-26/mamdani-administration-stricter-enforcement-city-s-250-most-distressed-apartment [https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/news/004-26/mamdani-administration-stricter-enforcement-city-s-250-most-distressed-apartment] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mamdani-administration-announces-historic--2-1-million-settlemen [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mamdani-administration-announces-historic--2-1-million-settlemen] https://www.nyc.gov/content/tenantprotection/pages/pinnacle-tenants [https://www.nyc.gov/content/tenantprotection/pages/pinnacle-tenants] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mayor-mamdani-signs-eo-to-revitalize-mayor-s-office-to-protect-t [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mayor-mamdani-signs-eo-to-revitalize-mayor-s-office-to-protect-t] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-announces-historic--2-1m-court-judgment-against-br [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-announces-historic--2-1m-court-judgment-against-br] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/02/mayor-mamdani--nycha-announce--38-4-million-investment-to-bring- [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/02/mayor-mamdani--nycha-announce--38-4-million-investment-to-bring-]  https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/about/sustainability.page [https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/about/sustainability.page]  https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mamdani-administration-launches-new-program-to-deliver-affordabl [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mamdani-administration-launches-new-program-to-deliver-affordabl] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-advances-new-york-city-s-first-free-child-care-pro [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-advances-new-york-city-s-first-free-child-care-pro] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/transcript--mayor-mamdani-announces-major-3-k-expansion--adding- [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/transcript--mayor-mamdani-announces-major-3-k-expansion--adding-] https://www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/19/mamdani-budget-parks-libraries/ [https://www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/19/mamdani-budget-parks-libraries/] https://www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/10/homeless-deaths-cold-hearing-wasow-park/ [https://www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/10/homeless-deaths-cold-hearing-wasow-park/] https://citylimits.org/the-mayor-promises-a-new-approach-to-encampment-sweeps-homeless-advocates-dont-buy-it/ https://citylimits.org/the-mayor-promises-a-new-approach-to-encampment-sweeps-homeless-advocates-dont-buy-it/ [https://citylimits.org/the-mayor-promises-a-new-approach-to-encampment-sweeps-homeless-advocates-dont-buy-it/] https://gothamist.com/news/can-columbus-ohio-teach-the-nypd-about-crowd-control-mamdani-wants-to-find-out [https://gothamist.com/news/can-columbus-ohio-teach-the-nypd-about-crowd-control-mamdani-wants-to-find-out] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/nyregion/mamdani-nypd-tisch-police.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/nyregion/mamdani-nypd-tisch-police.html]https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-mamdani-signals-openness-to-nypd-gang-database-citing-reforms https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-mamdani-signals-openness-to-nypd-gang-database-citing-reforms [https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-mamdani-signals-openness-to-nypd-gang-database-citing-reforms] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-appoints-renita-francois-as-deputy-mayor-for-commu [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-appoints-renita-francois-as-deputy-mayor-for-commu]  https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mamdani-administration-secures-nearly--2m-in-restitution-for-800 [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mamdani-administration-secures-nearly--2m-in-restitution-for-800] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mayor-mamdani-announces--5-million-settlement--reinstatement-of- [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mayor-mamdani-announces--5-million-settlement--reinstatement-of-]  https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani-announces-la-marqueta-as-first-site-identified-for [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani-announces-la-marqueta-as-first-site-identified-for] https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani--governor-hochul-announce-state-s-first-pied-a-ter [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani--governor-hochul-announce-state-s-first-pied-a-ter] Executive Disorder: White House Correspondents Shooting, Voting Rights Act https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28083136/allen.pdf [https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28083136/allen.pdf]  https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/04/29/congress/section-702-passes-house-00899071 [https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/04/29/congress/section-702-passes-house-00899071] https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/atf-launches-new-era-reform [https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/atf-launches-new-era-reform] https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-indicts-former-fbi-director-james-comey-threats-harm-president-trump [https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-indicts-former-fbi-director-james-comey-threats-harm-president-trump] https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/28/media/fcc-kimmel-disney-abc-trump-licenses [https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/28/media/fcc-kimmel-disney-abc-trump-licenses] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/business/media/david-ellison-trump-cbs-news.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/business/media/david-ellison-trump-cbs-news.html]https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-announces-decision-ld-307-2026-04-24 https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-announces-decision-ld-307-2026-04-24 [https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-announces-decision-ld-307-2026-04-24] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp846668401o [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp846668401o] https://www.ukmto.org/recent-incidents#fae0af84-bd4a-4a4d-86d0-cb7166ef4691 [https://www.ukmto.org/recent-incidents#fae0af84-bd4a-4a4d-86d0-cb7166ef4691] https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/lithium-eastern-states-could-replace-imports-a-century-or-more [https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/lithium-eastern-states-could-replace-imports-a-century-or-more] https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116474434041424846 [https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116474434041424846] https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/governor-sinaloa-and-nine-other-current-and-former-mexican-officials-charged-drug [https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/governor-sinaloa-and-nine-other-current-and-former-mexican-officials-charged-drug] https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf] https://www.npr.org/2026/04/30/nx-s1-5805050/supreme-court-voting-rights-congressional-black-caucus [https://www.npr.org/2026/04/30/nx-s1-5805050/supreme-court-voting-rights-congressional-black-caucus] https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-allen-003804b7/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-allen-003804b7/] https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=cole+allen&contributor_zip=90501 [https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=cole+allen&contributor_zip=90501] https://x.com/MAGAVoice/status/2048180791356821988?s=20 [https://x.com/MAGAVoice/status/2048180791356821988?s=20] https://www.timemachine.eu/study-on-quality-in-3d-digitisation-of-tangible-cultural-heritage/ [https://www.timemachine.eu/study-on-quality-in-3d-digitisation-of-tangible-cultural-heritage/] https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20150004067 [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20150004067] https://x.com/infolibnews/status/2048222643237601457?s=20 [https://x.com/infolibnews/status/2048222643237601457?s=20] https://x.com/aishahhasnie/status/2048274579043336397 [https://x.com/aishahhasnie/status/2048274579043336397] https://x.com/TheRealJChubby/status/2048513664286924938?s=20 [https://x.com/TheRealJChubby/status/2048513664286924938?s=20] 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[https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28051570-friends-of-the-ruidosa-church-v-secretary-markwayne-mullin-april-2026/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Part Two: The Naturopathic Doctor Who Bombed a Plane

Robert concludes the thrilling story of Dr. Robert  Spears, who absolutely was not a doctor or actually named Robert Spears. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Part One: The Naturopathic Doctor Who Bombed a Plane

Robert tells Brandie Posey the thrilling tale of Dr. Robert Spears, a man who was not a doctor but was a trailblazing Naturopath. And when I say "trailblazing", I mean he committed terrorism on a plane. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.