Over the years, our government has been involved in some pretty shady affairs. After eugenics and internment camps but before Watergate and Iran-Contra, came mind control. And just like the other ethically dubious projects mentioned, your tax dollars paid for it.
Beginning in the 1940s, multiple U.S. intelligence agencies became interested in studying how they might control people's minds to the extent that they'd be willing divulge secret information or even act in a manner contrary to their own free will.
The experiments were code named MKULTRA and involved the use of psychedelic drugs, radiation, isolation, and other forms of psychological harassment or torture. This hour, we'll speak with experts on the history of these experiments and ask how their results filtered down into the world we live in today.
GUESTS:
- Chris Simpson - Professor of journalism and expert on propaganda, democracy and media theory at American University in Washington, DC; author of Blowback, and Science of Coercion
- Ben Bowlin - Head video writer and host for the Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know podcast
- Steven Hassan - Director of the Freedom of Mind Center, a former member of the Unification Church and the author of Combating Cult Mind Control
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Colin McEnroe, Betsy Kaplan and Jonathan McNicol contributed to this show, which originally aired on April 11, 2017.
