Strange News: Animal Spies in China! AI Goes Rogue, Petey Thiel's Secret Network Exposed, and More

In this week's strange news segment: after a quick update on the cartoonish Iran-US negotiations (which we're sure will age well), Ben, Matt and Noel explore China's explosive accusations that other nations are weaponizing animals like sea turtles and fish for spying. AI goes increasingly rogue. Peter Thiel's secretive ‘Dialog’ society gets hacked. Stay tuned for the very end of this weekly segment to get a sneak preview of the actual episodes coming up in the near future.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In less than a decade since its formation in 2017, Flock Safety has exploded across the United States, with thousands of surveillance cameras in every state except for Alaska. Fans of Flock praise its potential for preventing crime -- but critics are seriously concerned this is just one more step toward a surveillance state. In the first part of this two-part episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the great dilemma (and alleged conspiracies) surrounding Flock.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In tonight's listener mail segment: a professional NHS investigator responds to the Ben, Matt and Noel's earlier interview segment about the Lucy Letby case. Frog Daddy prompts a conversation about surveillance and META glasses. One Eyed Cyclops shares a terrifying experence with AI-powered scams. Hit up Ben, Matt and Noel -- your appearance on our listener mail segment may just become an episode in the future.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As one of the most high-stakes, ambitious operations in all of military history, the D-Day invasion of World War II remains a thrilling -- and terrifying -- tale, constantly retold and reexamined by Hollywood and historians. But there's another strange, oft-ignored story in the D-Day narrative, something Uncle Sam would still prefer we all stop thinking about. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they dive into the disastrous events of Exercise Tiger... and the cover-up that persists, even now, in the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspired by a listener mail, the guys explore an enduring, disturbing mystery from across the Atlantic: Between 1993 and the late 1990s, multiple women disappeared in an 80-mile area outside Dublin, which came to be known as the "Vanishing Triangle." But what led to these disappearances? Could one or more of them be connected? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's strange news segment, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into some outright bizarre stories: tornadoes made of fire. The Pentagon versus hundreds of religions. Denver Airport conspiracies, controversial exorcists, laxative-laced brownies, violence in Atlanta's transit system... you name it; we got it. Tune in for more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While you may have never heard of Cargill, you almost certainly have bought some of their products. Cargill is the largest privately held company in all of the United States. And,from their humble beginnings as a grain broker, they've expanded across the planet. Critics say they've also left a trail of cover-ups, corruption and conspiracies in their wake. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they uncover the stuff this global corporation doesn't want you to know.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boozy inspires Ben to propose an investigation into all game show hosts for possible espionage. Swearing In asks why so many tech giants are selling hardware at a loss -- is this part of the surveillance state? The Hero of Canton notes that, of all people, your local law enforcement is actually fighting against the unbridled surveillance of 'Flock Safety'. Also, people who get incarcerated are going to be microchipped. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Math is probably the closest thing humans have to a universal language. Through understanding numbers and their relationships, humanity has been able to learn endless truths about reality -- and these investigations continue today. But what if there's something more to numbers? Could certain digits possess strange vibrations, occult insights or predictive powers? In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive deep into the puzzling, ancient belief systems collectively known as numerology.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Classic episode, Ben, Matt and Noel return to a bizarre harbinger of chaos to come: on November 22, 2020, the United States withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies. This treaty, signed in 1992, allows 34 member countries to perform unarmed aerial observations over foreign soil. Imagery captured is shared with the member countries. The U.S. cited Russia's activities with regards to the treaty as their reason for withdrawing.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.