Port Calls and Politics: Recent Episodes
Mark Olson
Former naval officer and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran turned anecdote archeologist. An excavator of hidden gems who infuses them with a healthy dose of pop culture. Navigating the globe offers unique perspectives, an appreciation for life's ironies, and random descents into absurdity. USNA class of 2006 graduate with a B.S. in History. Masters in Systems Analysis (Applied Math) from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Today's episode looks at real examples of fake news, how to spot it, and how to prevent being duped. In an era where it is all information and no filters, the ability to apply reason and sift through the chaos is a skill we all need. Now, more than ever.
Episode 22 chronicles a 1967 high school experiment that went awry. Impressionable American high school students learned the dangers of conformity and allure of fascism. Fascist fiefdoms are all around us, cloistered echo chambers in cyberspace, and angry mobs fueled by contempt for the other side. What the Third Wave experiment taught us then, is worth remembering now.
Today's episode chronicles the recent poisoning of two Russians, by the Russians, on English soil. Though the Kremlin denied involvement, the poison and its unique history leaves zero room to doubt their guilt. Diplomats expelled and relations soured, has Russia finally gone too far?
Today's episode chronicles the real story of women in combat. A story misunderstood and forgotten amidst the 'withdrawal' from Iraq and Afghanistan. What started with hand-picked Lioness' evolved, as did the Global War on Terrorism. The bravery of forerunners in these modern, complex wars altered perceptions. They were the catalyst for today's face-lift of America's combat arms.