On COI #168, Kyle Azalone and Will Porter update recent military spending passed by Congress, including a massive NDAA bill and another measure to hand Israel $1 billion to resupply its Iron Dome missile system, despite the $3-$5 billion in aid US taxpayers already give Tel Aviv on a yearly basis. While she vowed to oppose the latter bill, progressive New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez changed her vote to ‘present’ at the last minute, apparently hoping to avoid the ire of the powerful and influential Israel Lobby.

Yahoo News published a ‘bombshell’ report on the CIA’s “secret war plans” against Julian Assange, including a plot to kidnap or assassinate him, however Kyle explains that there are some reasons for skepticism. The story appears to rehash many things already reported long ago in the alternative media, and takes certain false narratives – like the well-debunked Russiagate saga – on face value.

After admitting that its August 29 drone strike in Kabul killed 10 civilians – seven of them children, zero terrorists or ISIS fighters – the Pentagon has identified a man killed in a previous strike in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, alleging he was a high-profile Islamic State “facilitator” and “attack planner.” Will argues that many of the things claimed about the Nangarhar man were also said about those killed in Kabul, all of which turned out to be false, and that the Pentagon cannot be taken at its word.

Kyle and Will also update recent Covid news, including developments on booster shots and a new study suggesting that policymakers have used bad or misleading data to guide their decisions throughout the pandemic.