In How to Read a Book, the authors explain how to improve reading comprehension by first reviewing the Table of Contents and Index. This technique helps build a mental framework, allowing for a deeper understanding when you read the book cover to cover.
What if we applied a similar approach to podcasts and videos?
Some creators, like Mike Benz, have produced hundreds of hours of content. How can you invest just 20% of the effort to gain 80% of the insights?
This project is a labor of love for Mike Benz and his audience. Would you find it valuable if I expanded it to cover all his videos? How else could I make this resource more useful for your learning? For example, I could analyze additional videos, create a knowledge graph mapping key ideas and relationships, or even perform a social network analysis of Mike’s X community.
Analysis consisted of:
For this pilot, I experimented with different techniques. Most terms have simple definitions. Some are more comprehensive like disinformation, blob, hybrid warfare, etc.
This demo only covers three of Mike Benz's videos. It could be expanded to cover 60+ "Censorship Industry Annotated" videos and/or other videos with sufficient interest from the community.
A US president from 2016-2020 and a political candidate in 2024 who became central to debates about social media censorship
A podcast host who interviewed Mike Benz in a nearly 3-hour conversation about censorship
The President of Ukraine since 2019 who received strict guidelines from US-backed institutions
The owner of X (formerly Twitter) who challenged established censorship infrastructure
A former head of DHS (2005-2009) who later became chairman of BAE Systems and involved in various think tanks
An academic who coined 'Gerasimov doctrine' and later admitted it was a misinterpretation of Russian statements
A US Assistant Secretary of State who played a key role in Ukraine policy and the 2014 events in Ukraine
A former Secretary of State and presidential candidate who supported social media censorship initiatives
A former State Department official who started Google Jigsaw and introduced CIA to social media for regime change
A US president whose administration was involved in early social media censorship initiatives
A tech investor and Facebook board member who discussed censorship with Joe Rogan
A billionaire who funded various political operations
The CIA Director who wrote about intelligence partnerships with MI6
A French political leader mentioned in context of populist movements in Europe
The head of MI6 who co-authored an op-ed with Bill Burns about intelligence partnerships
A leader previously designated as a terrorist who later became involved in Syrian governance
An Italian political leader mentioned in context of populist movements
A NATO Secretary General who followed Mike Benz on social media
A special prosecutor who investigated Russian interference claims
A founder of Stanford's internet observatory involved in censorship
Central Intelligence Agency involved in both historical covert operations and modern information control efforts
US government department heavily involved in international censorship operations and influence campaigns
Military alliance that expanded into social media control and information operations
US department involved in domestic information control
US Department of Defense involved in social media control and information operations
US Agency for International Development involved in foreign influence operations
Federal law enforcement agency involved in domestic surveillance and information control
State Department center initially created to fight ISIS that evolved into broader censorship operations
Quasi-governmental organization funding foreign influence operations
Social media platform, now owned by Elon Musk
Google division involved in censorship technology
Media organization funded by Western governments
Think tank involved in censorship and foreign policy
DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, involved in censorship
Syrian militant group that underwent rebranding
Social media platform subject to censorship demands
Political and economic union involved in internet regulation
DHS initiative that was later shuttered
Pentagon contractor involved in censorship operations
International organization mentioned regarding global control mechanisms
False or misleading information deliberately spread to deceive people. Disinformation is a term that has been strategically redefined by government agencies and institutions to justify censorship of unwanted speech, particularly after 2019. While originally used to describe foreign (especially Russian) influence operations, the term was expanded to include domestic speech that challenges institutional consensus. According to Benz, disinformation is not necessarily false information - rather, it can be truthful content that institutions deem threatening to their preferred narratives. The label of 'disinformation' serves as a pretext or predicate for censorship, allowing government agencies to target speech while maintaining apparent distance through NGOs and civil society organizations. Benz highlights how the concept evolved from a national security framework focused on foreign threats to a 'democracy protection' framework targeting domestic speech, particularly after the Mueller investigation ended in 2019. In practice, labeling something as 'disinformation' is less about factual accuracy and more about designating certain views, narratives or speakers as legitimate targets for suppression by what Benz calls the 'censorship industrial complex.'
Military strategy blending conventional tactics with non-military methods like information warfare. Hybrid warfare refers to military involvement in non-military civilian affairs, particularly the control of information and social media to influence elections and public opinion. According to Benz, the term 'hybrid' is deliberately used to obscure and legitimize military intrusion into civilian spheres - when you hear 'hybrid,' it signals military forces operating outside their traditional combat role. The concept emerged prominently after 2014 as NATO and Western military institutions shifted focus from conventional warfare (tanks, troops) to controlling information spaces and social media ('from tanks to tweets'). Benz emphasizes that hybrid warfare represents the military's expansion into controlling civilian discourse, particularly through censorship operations justified as countering disinformation. While presented as defensive measures against Russian influence, Benz argues these hybrid warfare capabilities were ultimately turned against domestic populations to control political outcomes. The term thus serves as bureaucratic cover for what Benz sees as military involvement in censorship and manipulation of civilian political discourse.
Political approach appealing to ordinary people who feel disregarded by established elite groups
Interconnected network of foreign policy and national security establishments. The 'blob' appears to refer to a transnational network of foreign policy establishments, primarily centered around U.S. and U.K. interests, that works to extend and maintain global influence. It encompasses multiple institutional components including the CIA, State Department, USAID, DOD, and various 'tentacle' organizations that operate internationally. Rather than adhering to any single ideology, the blob is described as 'agnostic on ideology' - willing to work with diverse groups (from 'communists' to 'Nazis' to 'Islamic jihadist fundamentalists') to achieve its objectives. A key characteristic is its opposition to national sovereignty ('sovereigntism') and its promotion of 'democratic transition' - which Benz defines as moving countries from sovereign governance to blob-controlled governance. While the blob includes traditional government institutions, it extends beyond them to include elements of corporate power, international organizations, and what Benz calls the 'transatlantic foreign policy establishment.' According to his usage, the blob actively works to control information flow, engage in censorship operations, and manage public narratives, particularly around issues that might threaten its control or expose corruption in aligned governments.
Front organization used by intelligence agencies to obscure direct involvement. A 'cut out' appears to be an organization or institution that serves as a proxy or front for CIA and State Department operations while maintaining plausible deniability of direct government involvement. The clearest example repeatedly referenced is the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which Benz describes as being created in 1983 as a 'CIA cut out' because direct CIA involvement 'would look terrible.' Cut outs serve multiple functions: they can fund media outlets (like the Kiev Independent), conduct censorship operations, manage NGO activities, and influence civil society in target countries. They are characterized by their quasi-private status - typically receiving government funding but operating as seemingly independent organizations. Cut outs appear to form an interconnected network, with personnel moving freely between different cut out organizations (like NED, Carnegie Endowment, Freedom House) and government positions (State Department, USAID, CIA). The term essentially describes the organizational infrastructure that allows for 'covert operations masquerading as overt operations,' providing a layer of separation between official government agencies and their actual operations on the ground.
Organizations representing associations between state and private individuals. 'Civil Society' refers to ostensibly independent non-governmental organizations, media outlets, think tanks, and advocacy groups that are actually funded by and answerable to U.S. government institutions like the State Department, USAID, and CIA. While presented as grassroots or independent organizations representing citizen interests, these civil society groups function as an extension of U.S. government influence, requiring regular reporting to grant officers and congressional oversight committees. The term serves as bureaucratic cover for government-organized non-governmental organizations (GONGOs) that advance U.S. foreign policy objectives while maintaining plausible deniability of direct government involvement. Civil society organizations form a 'swarm army' that can be mobilized to create political pressure, shape public opinion, and even threaten 'political instability' if target governments don't comply with U.S. directives. In Ukraine for example, 70+ civil society organizations funded by U.S. government entities issued 'red lines' to control government policy while maintaining the appearance of domestic grassroots pressure rather than foreign control.
Strategic Communications, a cover term for controlling communications and information narrative. STRATCOM (Strategic Communications) is a deliberately deceptive bureaucratic term used to mask censorship operations by military and government institutions. According to Benz, when organizations don't want to openly admit to censorship activities, they rebrand them as 'strategic communications' or 'STRATCOM' since every agency already has legitimate communications departments. The term gained prominence after 2014 with NATO's STRATCOM center in Riga, Latvia, which Benz identifies as a key hub for developing censorship capabilities. He emphasizes that STRATCOM is basically a code word - when you see a State Department STRATCOM, USAID STRATCOM, DOD STRATCOM, NATO STRATCOM, or NGO STRATCOM, you're almost certainly looking at an internet censorship operation disguised with bureaucratic language. Benz points out that government agencies explicitly advised foreign partners to use the term 'strategic communications' instead of 'content moderation' or 'countering disinformation' to avoid public scrutiny.
Non-military methods of exerting political and cultural influence. Soft power influence refers to control over foreign governments and populations through non-military means, primarily using funded media operations, NGOs, civil society groups, and educational institutions rather than direct force. This approach emerged prominently after 1948 when international rules began restricting territorial acquisition through military force, requiring more subtle methods of control. Soft power influence operations work by shaping public opinion, controlling information spaces, and creating networks of U.S.-funded institutions that can pressure governments while maintaining plausible deniability of direct U.S. involvement. The strategy relies heavily on what are presented as independent organizations but are actually funded through government grants and must report to U.S. agencies. These organizations form networks that can be mobilized to shape elections, influence policy decisions, and even threaten political instability if target governments don't comply with U.S. objectives. A significant aspect of soft power influence is its ability to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals while appearing to be the result of organic domestic movements or institutional consensus rather than direct foreign intervention. The approach emphasizes controlling narratives and information spaces rather than traditional military or economic coercion.
Process of replacing a government, often covertly supported by foreign powers. Regime change refers to U.S. government efforts to overthrow foreign governments through a combination of overt and covert means, particularly using NGOs, civil society organizations, and media operations funded by agencies like USAID, the State Department, and CIA. Modern regime change operations typically avoid direct military intervention, instead relying on 'soft power' tools like funded media outlets, civil society groups, and orchestrated political instability. The strategy often involves controlling information spaces and media rather than traditional coup methods, though the ultimate goal remains replacing governments that don't align with U.S. interests. These operations work through seemingly independent organizations that are actually funded and directed by U.S. government agencies, allowing for plausible deniability while achieving strategic objectives. Operation Timber Sycamore in Syria represents one of the most expansive documented examples of such regime change efforts. A key characteristic of modern regime change operations is the use of 'democratic institutions' - NGOs, media outlets, and civil society groups funded by U.S. government entities - to create political pressure and instability in target countries while maintaining the appearance of organic, domestic movements rather than foreign intervention.
Using information and communication technologies for political and strategic objectives
Concept of modern warfare focusing on non-military methods of conflict
Political concept arguing for preserving a nation's political independence
Techniques to mentally prepare populations against certain information narratives
Military and intelligence techniques for manipulating perceptions and behaviors
NATO's Strategic Communications Center of Excellence
Strategic manipulation of information spaces
Transitioning censorship rationale from foreign threats to domestic concerns
Collaborative effort to monitor and control election-related information
Comparison of modern information control to historical CIA psychological manipulation programs
Organizations that shape political narratives and policy directions