Yes, the CIA tortured inmates suspected of terrorism in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Two of the primary men involved with creating this program are Mormon, one was called to be a Bishop after taking $81mn from the government to torture people. We discuss the report, how it came to light, some of the key figures along the way, and the fight over the FOIA release of the report in the courts. After that we talk about The Report, wherein Adam Driver plays Dan Jones who led the investigation at the direction of Senator Dianne Feinstein. Then we have some happy news about libraries getting funding that was promised to them.
CW: torture, suicide
Show Notes:
Torture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture#Punishment
Torture in the United States: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture_in_the_United_States#History_of_U.S._Accession
US Senate report on CIA torture “The Torture Report”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Senate_report_on_CIA_torture
The Torture Memos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture_Memos
7 Key Points form the C.I.A. Torture Report by Jeremy Ashkenas, Hannah Fairfield, Josh Keller, and Paul Volpe: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/09/world/cia-torture-report-key-points.html
Jay Bybee: The man behind waterboarding, by Randy James: https://time.com/archive/6914445/jay-bybee-the-man-behind-waterboarding/
Bruce Jessen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Jessen
Enhanced Interrogation Techniques: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_interrogation_techniques
Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival,_Evasion,_Resistance_and_Escape
Torture, Ethics, Accountability? By David R Katner: chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://lawecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2791&context=luclj
CIA Paid Torture Teachers More Than $80 Million by Robert Windrem: https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/cia-torture-report/cia-paid-torture-teachers-more-80-million-n264756
Torture victims will bear psychological scars long after CIA report scandal fades: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/dec/13/learned-helplessness-enduring-effects-torture-haunt-victims
The Torture Debate by David Anderson: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2005/12/23/the-torture-debate/21435/
The CIA and the Church: https://mormonr.org/qnas/H2jKm/cia_and_the_church
The senate torture report is a condemnation of Mormon moral reasoning: https://bycommonconsent.com/2014/12/10/the-senate-torture-report-is-a-condemnation-of-mormon-moral-reasoning/
The Role of the LDS church in developing torture by Cherry O Top: https://churchofthefridge.com/role-lds-church-developing-torture/
Mormonism and Torture — Paradoxes and First Principles by Boyd Petersen: chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/69-71_Petersen_torture-3.pdf
Christopher Hitchens tries waterboarding via Vanity Fair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LPubUCJv58
Nixon Tapes “Cancer on the Presidency” - Dean and Nixon discussing blackmail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnUJa6uuL_Y
Nixon “I’m not a crook”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCEQP2-qOJk
Electronic Frontier Foundation on OPEN Governt Act
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/01/key-open-government-reform-legislation-becomes-law
ACLU Torture Report landing page
https://www.aclu.org/cases/senate-torture-report-foia
Executive Summary of the Torture Report
NPR on Abu Zubaydah
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/03/1084161762/supreme-court-rules-against-disclosure-in-torture-case
NSI info sheet on FOIA
https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nsa/foia/guide.html
Electronic Frontier Foundation on history of FOIA
https://www.eff.org/issues/transparency/history-of-foia
Privacy Act of 1974
https://www.justice.gov/opcl/privacy-act-1974
https://www.justice.gov/opcl/overview-privacy-act-1974-2020-edition
1966 hearing on CIA and FBI invasions of privacy
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-89shrg61406p6/pdf/CHRG-89shrg61406p6.pdf
MOGP: The Report: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8236336/
The portrayal of CIA in ‘The Report’: Separating Truth from Fiction by Brian Greer https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/portrayal-cia-report-separating-truth-fiction
Happy News:
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. Our most recent discussion was on the Mountain Meadows Massacre: https://youtu.be/iJWirjCyWdk
He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
The new apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken his seat at the table. Gerald Caussé spent his life in corporate business before his call to the Presiding Bishopric in 2012. In 2015 he ascended to Presiding Bishop and has been the money manager of the church since then. During his tenure, numerous scandals have hit the church related to finances, including a fine from the SEC for falsifying business records to conceal wealth. In the wake of these numerous scandals, Gerald takes his position on the board of the wealthiest religion on the planet. Let’s discuss! After that we chat about Catch Me If You Can, a movie about a con man starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks that does a great job of concealing the truth. Then we have happy news about pain management medications and promising research in that field.
Show Notes:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-07-18/how-the-mormons-make-money?embedded-checkout=true
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9rald_Causs%C3%A9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_E._Stevenson
https://archive.ph/20130102082820/http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695267801,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXbPxIHkijg
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/gerald-j-causse?lang=eng
https://speeches.byu.edu/speakers/gerald-causse/
https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/4636873Z:FP?embedded-checkout=true
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/08/16/lds-churchs-ensign-peak-reports/
https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/feds-fine-mormon-church-5-million
https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023-35
https://ldsflow.com/the-lds-church-a-year-of-global-service-and-impact-w-infographic/
https://www.livescience.com/18094-perceptions-mormonism-americans-infographic.html
https://exploringmormonism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Corporate-structure-image-400.jpg
https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/8nwznm/breakdown_of_the_humanitarian_aid_vs_church/
https://mormonfamily.net/2666/mormons-in-america
https://mormonwiki.com/Farms_Owned_By_The_Mormon_Church
https://mormonwiki.com/Farmland_Reserve
https://github.com/jsoma/data-studio-projects/issues/287
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/feature/templesquare/dining?lang=eng
https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=54478720&itype=cmsid
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-statement-church-finances
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/church-donations-and-reserves?lang=eng
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-finances-and-a-growing-global-church
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-financial-independence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World%27s_Billionaires
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/mitt-romneys-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-campaign/
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/keith-b-mcmullin?lang=eng
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/keith-b-mcmullin?lang=eng
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/8n8dd3/mormonleaks_has_uncovered_13_llcs_limited/
MOGP: Catch Me If You Can: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264464/?ref_=ttpl_ov_bk
Where it’s streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/catch-me-if-you-can
Books:
The Greatest Hoax on Earth – Catching Truth, While We Can, by Alan C Logan
Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake, by Frank W. Abagnale and Stan Redding
Frank Abagnale Jr: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Abagnale
Happy News: A tiny enzyme may hold the key to safer pain relief: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251123085557.htm
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. Our most recent discussion was on the Mountain Meadows Massacre: https://youtu.be/iJWirjCyWdk
He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
Spring of 1842 was a world-shaping event, the introduction of the endowment ceremony by Joseph Smith to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We’ve talked about it and a few of the more recent changes to the endowment a few times, but this is the overview. What it was when it was introduced, how it changed under Brigham Young, and many of the changes that have happened since his death, all under one (long) segment. Then we talk about Heretic, a movie about two missionaries in a cat-and-mouse game with a well-educated anti-Mormon playing by his own rules. Then we wrap with happy news from ABC and Jimmy Kimmel responding to the government shutdown and SNAP running dry.
Show Notes:
https://archive.org/details/historysaints00benngoog/page/n287/mode/2up
https://bhroberts.org/records/qmx2mh-44hPsk/william_clayton_describes_the_nauvoo_endowment
http://www.ldsendowment.org/timeline.html
http://www.ldsendowment.org/emeline.html
https://archive.org/details/dialoguebetweena00vand/page/12/mode/2up?q=vengeance
http://www.ldsendowment.org/1879.html
http://www.ldsendowment.org/1931.html
http://www.ldsendowment.org/lecture.html
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-1-june-1842/8
https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V34N0102_87.pdf
http://www.ldsendowment.org/masonry.html
https://mormonr.org/qnas/8yXbNf/changes_to_the_temple_endowment/research
https://mrm.org/masonry-and-the-mormon-temple-endowment-ceremony
https://cesletter.org/debunking-fairmormon/temples-and-freemasonry.html
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44368772
https://tokensandsigns.org/2023-temple-changes/
https://mormonr.org/qnas/8yXbNf/changes_to_the_temple_endowment
https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/25154/what-is-the-origin-of-a-phylactery-as-a-soul-jar
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/temple-endowment?lang=eng
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_House
https://books.google.com/books/about/Temple_Mormonism.html?id=r3TKtgAACAAJ
MOGP: Heretic: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28015403/
Happy News:
https://www.thewrap.com/jimmy-kimmel-live-food-bank-donation-center-government-shutdown/
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. Our most recent discussion was on the Mountain Meadows Massacre: https://youtu.be/iJWirjCyWdk
He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
At long last Shannon gets to talk about the book she’s been planning on since the last Halloween episode — The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. We first discuss the Aesthetic Movement of the 19th century and a tiny bit of the life of Oscar Wilde before we jump into the book itself. Then Bryce gifts you with an abbreviated history of metal music. Get a notepad ready to take notes because he gives you a LOT of information! Happy Halloween!
Show Notes:
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde:
Oscar Wilde Official Website: http://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/
Oscar Wilde: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde
Aestheticism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aestheticism
Decadent Movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decadent_movement
The Aesthetic Movement by Fiona McCarthy: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/mar/26/aestheticism-exhibition-victoria-albert-museum
Aesthetic Movement in England by Walter Hamilton: https://archive.org/details/aestheticmovemen00hamiuoft
Oscar WIlde’s Cello Coat: https://oscarwilde.blog/2018/01/04/oscar-wildes-cello-coat/
The Picture of Dorian Gray: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray#
Metal music:
VH1 Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR78XBi_nAE&t=13s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham#History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sabbath#History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Led_Zeppelin
This is Spinal Tap amps go to 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMSV4OteqBE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_rock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_panic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents_Music_Resource_Center
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_genres
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimebag_Darrell
https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/behind-the-murder-of-dimebag-darrell-233541/
Songs list:
Little Richard, Tutti Frutti - Here's Little Richard 1957
James Brown, Shout and Shimmy - Good, Good Twistin' With James Brown 1962
Chuck Berry, School Day - After School Session 1957
The Beatles, Love Me Do - Please Please Me 1963
Black Sabbath, Wasp/Behind the Wall of Sleep/Bassically/N.I.B. - Black Sabbath 1970
Led Zeppelin, Good TImes Bad TImes - Led Zeppelin I 1969
Led Zeppelin, Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin I 1969
Tenacious D, Karate - Tenacious D 2001
Worm Shepherd, The Anguished Throne - Hunger 2024
Humble Pie, As Safe As Yesterday Is - As Safe As Yesterday Is 1969
Deep Purple, Smoke on the Water - Machine Head 1972
Back Sabbath, Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath 1970
Black Sabbath, War Pigs - Paranoid 1970
Steppenwolf, Born to be Wild - self titled 1968
Alice Cooper, Poison - Trash 1989
KISS, Sure Know Something - Dynasty 1979
AC/DC, TNT - High Voltage 1976
Judas Priest, Realms of Death - Stained Class 1978
Motorhead, Ace of Spades - Ace of Spades 1980
13th Floor Elevators, You're Gonna Miss Me - 7th Heaven Music of the Spheres 1966
Chelsea Grin, Cursed - My Damnation 2011
The Damned, New Rose - Damned Damned Damned 1977
Judas Priest, Breaking the Law - British Steel 1980
Candlemass, Solitude - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus 1986
Venom, Black Metal - In League With Satan 1981
Van Halen, You Really Got Me - Van Halen 1978
Black Sabbath, Neon Knights - Heaven and Hell 1980
Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 1973
Def Leppard, Photograph - Pyromania 1983
Quiet Riot, Cum on Feel the Noize - Metal Health 1983
Mercyful Fate, Evil - Melissa 1983
Frank Zappa, We're Turning Again - Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention 1985
Cannibal Corpse, Hammer Smashed Face - Tomb of the Mutilated 1992
Kreator, People of the Lie - Coma of Souls 1990
Napalm Death, Suffer the Children - Harmony Corruption 1990
Helloween, I Want Out - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 1988
TOOL, Sober - Undertow 1993
Linkin Park, One Step Closer - Hybrid Theory 2000
Pantera, Walk - Vulgar Display of Power 1992 Finntroll, Jaktens Tid - Jaktens Tid 2001
Slaughter to Prevail, Demolisher - Kostolom 2019
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
