As we wrap up the holiday weekend, catch up on the smartest takes on the big news—tune into the “DeProgram show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou.” John and Ted analyze the political and personal fallout of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping tax-and-spending package signed July 4th, sparking numerous debates. Will the MAGA base see the massive increase in deficits as a betrayal? Can this latest attempt at Reaganite “trickle down economics” succeed in stimulating the economy? What of the millions of Medicaid recipients, mostly Republican voters, who will lose their healthcare? Is James Carville right to call this a “mass extinction event” for Republicans? Elon Musk says he’s going to make good on his new “America Party,” as revenge for the Big Beautiful Bill. He wants to disrupt duopoly politics but can he attract new voters and overcome legal and institutional barriers? Alligator Alcatraz, a Florida Everglades detention gulag that opened to imprisoned migrants last week, is being criticized for inhumane conditions like flooding and mosquito infestations, as well as its $450 million annual cost. Israel rejected Hamas' proposed changes to the latest Gaza hostage and ceasefire proposal, but will send negotiators to Qatar today. Is a breakthrough possible? Finally, we look at the catastrophic Texas Hill Country floods, where over 10 inches of rain killed at least 50 people, including 15 children, with 27 missing from a girls’ camp. Did National Weather Service staff cuts of 600 by Trump’s DOGE lead to inadequate flood warnings, despite meteorologists’ claims that their forecasts were accurate?

Never a dull moment on the “DeProgram” show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, deprogramming you about the news that matters.

RussiaGate Revisited: The Justice Department finally launches criminal probes into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey over their roles in the Trump-Russia investigation. A “lessons learned” review of the creation of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that alleged Russia tried to influence the 2016 presidential election to help then-candidate Trump found that the process of the ICA’s creation was rushed with “procedural anomalies,” and that officials diverted from intelligence standards. It also determined that the “decision by agency heads to include the Steele Dossier in the ICA ran counter to fundamental tradecraft principles and ultimately undermined the credibility of a key judgment.” Whoopsie! Will the media stop pushing RussiaGate now?

The Epstein Circular File: Controversy surrounds Attorney General Pam Bondi as she claims there’s nothing to see and no one to prosecute in the Jeffrey Epstein case. A DOJ memo that denies the existence of a “client list” fails the smell test as Team Trump seems to be indulging in a cover-up.

ICE at War: Democratic senators are about to propose a bill to ban ICE agents from wearing masks, prompted by reports of impersonators committing crimes. Examples include Carl Thomas Bennett, 37, arrested in Raleigh, North Carolina, for impersonating an ICE officer and sexually assaulting a woman at a Motel 6. Bennett allegedly displayed a business card with a badge and threatened to deport the victim if she didn’t comply. A man in Philadelphia, wearing a tactical vest labeled “Security Enforcement Agent,” robbed an auto repair shop while posing as an ICE agent. He detained a 50-year-old Dominican woman using zip-ties and stole $1,000. A man in Texas posed as an ICE agent to rob a couple, blocking their car and demanding cash. The couple fought back, with the wife and husband firing weapons, hitting the suspect, who fled and was later hospitalized. Meanwhile, 11 people allegedly used fireworks and vandalism to lure ICE agents before ambushing them with 20-30 rounds, injuring a police officer in the neck at Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.

AI Officials: Speaking of fakery, an AI-generated imposter used a fake Signal account to mimic Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a congressmember. This scam followed a similar AI-driven impersonation of Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Ted’s 2020 graphic novel “The Stringer” envisioned a world in which a bad actor would start wars using AI deep fakes. Could it happen now?

Zohran Zooming: Zohran Mamdani leads the general election race in a new poll. Mamdani gets 35%, followed by Cuomo with 25%, Sliwa with 14%, Adams—the corporate establishment favorite—at 11% and attorney Jim Walden at 1%. Never has the Democratic establishment been so out of touch. Don’t miss the unfiltered truth on these pivotal stories.

We’re pleased to announce a special episode of the “DeProgram show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou”!

One year ago today, President Joe Biden shocked the world with a disastrous presidential debate appearance that marked the beginning of the end of his reelection campaign and withdrawal a few weeks later. In the room where it happened was moderator Jake Tapper.

Today join us for a LIVE interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, diving into his explosive book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.” The book, co-authored with Axios’ Alex Thompson, documents a damning account of President Joe Biden’s mental and physical decline during his presidency, based on over 200 interviews. It details how Biden’s inner circle, including aides and family, allegedly concealed his cognitive struggles—such as forgetting the names of longtime aides, failing to recognize famous friends like George Clooney, and confusing key officials—as well as physical challenges, including internal White House discussions about potential wheelchair use due to Biden’s spinal degeneration.

“Original Sin” exposes a tightly controlled Administration that closed off access to Biden, scripted Cabinet meetings, and bullied those who asked about his fitness as enemies and partisan hacks. This is no less than one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. Don’t miss Ted and John’s hard-hitting exploration of these revelations and their impact on the 2024 election. Join us live on YouTube and Rumble to ask Jake Tapper your questions and engage with this critical look at the unraveling of the Biden presidency. Tune in for the unfiltered truth on the “DeProgram show”—where bold insights meet fearless dialogue!