Mike Benz

But right now, the people who are trying to defend USAID are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They want to defend it on humanitarian grounds, and then they get totally deluged with all the ways that it has gone wrong and all the horrible things that's funding. So then they then turn to layer two.

This is sort of like Lindsey Graham defending our operations in Ukraine when it was, you know, we need to do this for democracy, democracy. And then we say, okay, well, you canceled elections. You know, you're... you know, there are all these non-democratic things that are happening.

This is sort of like Lindsey Graham defending our operations in Ukraine when it was, you know, we need to do this for democracy, democracy. And then we say, okay, well, you canceled elections. You know, you're... you know, there are all these non-democratic things that are happening.

This is sort of like Lindsey Graham defending our operations in Ukraine when it was, you know, we need to do this for democracy, democracy. And then we say, okay, well, you canceled elections. You know, you're... you know, there are all these non-democratic things that are happening.

And he goes, okay, okay, layer two of my defense is there's $14 trillion worth of natural resources under the soil there. So, you know, having it be a U.S. vassal state is advantage to us because then we can exploit those $14 trillion worth of resources. I mean, that's what's implied there, right? Why would Americans benefit from Ukrainians exploiting that $14 trillion?

And he goes, okay, okay, layer two of my defense is there's $14 trillion worth of natural resources under the soil there. So, you know, having it be a U.S. vassal state is advantage to us because then we can exploit those $14 trillion worth of resources. I mean, that's what's implied there, right? Why would Americans benefit from Ukrainians exploiting that $14 trillion?

And he goes, okay, okay, layer two of my defense is there's $14 trillion worth of natural resources under the soil there. So, you know, having it be a U.S. vassal state is advantage to us because then we can exploit those $14 trillion worth of resources. I mean, that's what's implied there, right? Why would Americans benefit from Ukrainians exploiting that $14 trillion?

Now, by the way, that's not a knock on Ukraine, but you simply saw that shift happen When, you know, as it got harder and harder to defend it on the basis of democracy promotion, the mask had to slip in order to defend it at the deeper level. To let people in, okay, here's why we're really doing it. And every USAID program operates that way. It is...

Now, by the way, that's not a knock on Ukraine, but you simply saw that shift happen When, you know, as it got harder and harder to defend it on the basis of democracy promotion, the mask had to slip in order to defend it at the deeper level. To let people in, okay, here's why we're really doing it. And every USAID program operates that way. It is...

Now, by the way, that's not a knock on Ukraine, but you simply saw that shift happen When, you know, as it got harder and harder to defend it on the basis of democracy promotion, the mask had to slip in order to defend it at the deeper level. To let people in, okay, here's why we're really doing it. And every USAID program operates that way. It is...

getting back to this rock in the hard place analogy is that they want to say it's humanitarian aid, but it's clearly done so much harm in so many places. It's doing such terrible things, funding the Wuhan lab, you know, not to mention, you know, the whole rest of the USA Truman show, but then they go, okay, okay, well, it's US soft power. It advances US strategic interests.

getting back to this rock in the hard place analogy is that they want to say it's humanitarian aid, but it's clearly done so much harm in so many places. It's doing such terrible things, funding the Wuhan lab, you know, not to mention, you know, the whole rest of the USA Truman show, but then they go, okay, okay, well, it's US soft power. It advances US strategic interests.

getting back to this rock in the hard place analogy is that they want to say it's humanitarian aid, but it's clearly done so much harm in so many places. It's doing such terrible things, funding the Wuhan lab, you know, not to mention, you know, the whole rest of the USA Truman show, but then they go, okay, okay, well, it's US soft power. It advances US strategic interests.

And so you say, oh, okay, so it's not aid? And then it becomes very schizophrenic to defend this thing because it's a labyrinth of lies. USAID's access and its reputation completely depends on its perception as being a kind of quasi-charity, even though, you know, charity is nowhere to be found. It's a U.S., foreign policy instrument. Aid isn't even in the name.

And so you say, oh, okay, so it's not aid? And then it becomes very schizophrenic to defend this thing because it's a labyrinth of lies. USAID's access and its reputation completely depends on its perception as being a kind of quasi-charity, even though, you know, charity is nowhere to be found. It's a U.S., foreign policy instrument. Aid isn't even in the name.

And so you say, oh, okay, so it's not aid? And then it becomes very schizophrenic to defend this thing because it's a labyrinth of lies. USAID's access and its reputation completely depends on its perception as being a kind of quasi-charity, even though, you know, charity is nowhere to be found. It's a U.S., foreign policy instrument. Aid isn't even in the name.

I've said this many times, but it's the Agency for International Development. And when you see aid, it's your mind playing tricks on you.

I've said this many times, but it's the Agency for International Development. And when you see aid, it's your mind playing tricks on you.

I've said this many times, but it's the Agency for International Development. And when you see aid, it's your mind playing tricks on you.

Right. Well, I mean, you know, I mean, I'm sure in the Ronald Reagan building, you know, but how it's colloquially known, I mean, and how it's described to the voters, it's described as humanitarian assistance. And you go, okay, well, you know, and we can get into the depth of the scandals, but...