Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The main crux of the of the project turned into using children, breaking them down mentally and physically, and then what you did that using sexual abuse, using physical abuse, using again sleep deprivation, like all of that and and LSD." — Henry Zebrowski
"The CIA director was during those years, Richard Helms. Richard Helms, he ordered all MK Ultra files destroyed pursuant to this order, most CIA documents regarded the project were to store making a full investigation impossible." — Marcus Parks
"I think the biggest one was a scientist named Frank Olson. They dozed him, they put LSD in his coffee, and they watched him slip into a depression after not knowing what was going wrong with him, and he killed himself." — Ben Kissel
The podcast episode begins by referencing a scandal involving British television personality Jimmy Savile, highlighting allegations of pedophilia and the BBC's alleged complicity. This discussion serves as a segue into the darker theme of child exploitation and control, drawing parallels to historical government programs. The central focus then shifts to Project MKUltra, a covert CIA operation initiated in 1953 and officially terminated in 1973. The hosts detail the program's objectives, which included developing interrogation techniques, influencing and controlling minds, and creating agents capable of resisting interrogation or acting as assassins.
The discussion elaborates on the methods employed, which ranged from the administration of psychotropic drugs like LSD and other mind-altering substances to sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation, isolation, and various forms of psychological and physical abuse, including sexual abuse. The program's origins are traced back to Operation Paperclip, which involved recruiting Nazi scientists and their research after World War II. The hosts emphasize that the CIA's aim was to create a "blank slate" of the mind, upon which new personalities or behaviors could be imprinted, often through traumatic experiences. The potential for children to be used as subjects is a recurring and disturbing theme throughout the explanation of the project's goals.
The episode further explores the ethical implications and the far-reaching consequences of MKUltra, noting that much of the documentation was destroyed when the program was shut down, making a full investigation difficult. The hosts discuss testimonies from alleged victims and experts, highlighting the profound and often irreversible psychological damage inflicted. The discussion touches upon the program's connection to the Cold War, the desire for indestructible spies, and the use of children to break down and potentially control individuals. The hosts conclude by reiterating the program's secrecy, the difficulty in fully understanding its scope, and the lasting impact of such covert government operations.