

Mike Benz
Former State Department official and executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online who specializes in media, soft power, and influence operations; primary interview subject explaining NGOs, covert influence, and coup playbooks.
Top 10 podcasts with Mike Benz
Ranked by the Snipd community

575 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 2h 45min
#2447 - Mike Benz
Mike Benz, Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online and former State Department official, digs into intelligence, covert finance, and document transparency. He traces Epstein’s links to banks, covert operations, and offshore networks. He compares the Epstein release to JFK files, explains FOIA limits, and argues for stronger declassification rules.

70 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 3min
Media Manipulation, Coup Playbooks, and Economic Warfare Unveiled by Mike Benz Part 1
In this engaging discussion, Mike Benz, a former State Department official and current executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, dives deep into the world of media manipulation and NGOs. He reveals how these organizations often serve as covert tools for influence and statecraft. Benz highlights the evolution of soft power over military force, explains how hedge funds exploit policy for profit, and sheds light on the shadows behind color revolutions. This conversation is a radical eye-opener into who truly controls narratives and democracy.

40 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 13min
Mike Benz - Exposing The EU’s Plot To Destroy Free Speech in America
In this discussion, Mike Benz, a former State Department official critical of the Censorship Industrial Complex, unpacks the EU's Digital Services Act and the UK's Online Safety Act. He highlights how these laws drive AI censorship, impacting free speech in the US and Europe. Benz reveals the role of NGOs and government coordination in stifling cross-border political movements. The conversation also touches on Elon Musk's impact on moderation systems and the alarming rise of AI censorship tools that manipulate political discourse.

36 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 1h 7min
Inside The Blob: Soros, NGOs, and the Secret Engine of Foreign Policy Mike Benz Pt 2
Mike Benz, an independent researcher focused on influence operations, joins to unravel the complex world of modern censorship and information warfare. He discusses how the censorship-industrial complex formed and the impact of AI and social media on narrative control. Benz explores the role of NGOs in shaping global populist movements and how geopolitical interests drive these interventions. He advocates for radical transparency as a solution to soft power abuse, emphasizing that the ability to influence thought isn't just political—it's a battleground for power itself.

25 snips
Nov 7, 2025 • 1h 28min
10/31/25 Mike Benz on How the Censorship Complex Works
Mike Benz, founder of the Foundation for Freedom Online and an expert on the censorship industrial complex, dives deep into how government, corporations, and NGOs collude to shape public understanding. He discusses the influence of foreign powers and the political ramifications of censorship in the U.S., particularly during the Trump era. Benz also highlights how universities serve state agendas and explores the role of organizations like Indivisible in orchestrating protests. His insights into the intertwining of funding, policy, and free speech are thought-provoking and timely.

15 snips
Oct 13, 2025 • 3h 14min
#340 - Mike Benz: DARPA & USAID are Weaponizing Music to Control Human Behavior
Mike Benz, a former State Department official and current executive director of the Foundation For Freedom Online, dives into the intriguing world of music diplomacy. He reveals how agencies like USAID covertly fund music movements to influence unrest, illustrating the role of artists such as Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift as instruments of propaganda. Benz connects cultural funding, military strategies, and social media censorship, arguing that pop stars are leveraged for geopolitical purposes. The discussion raises critical questions about information integrity and the impact of celebrity influence on public perception.

10 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 2h 13min
It's All True, The 2024 Election Was Ready To Be Rigged. The REAL Story of How Trump-Elon STOPPED It, with Guests Mike Benz and Mike Davis
Join Mike Davis, a legal activist focused on accountability, and Mike Benz, an expert on disinformation and civil liberties, as they unravel how the Trump team allegedly thwarted the rigging of the 2024 election. They discuss eye-opening claims about suspicious vote tallies and the significant role of Elon Musk in advocating for election integrity. The duo highlights vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems and calls for greater transparency in government agencies to restore public trust. It's a compelling conversation tackling vital issues of democracy and accountability.

7 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 2h 21min
Bill Clinton's TRUE Epstein Ties, and New Guthrie Case Videos Revealed, with Mike Benz, Fitz and O'Connell | Ep. 1262
Maureen O'Connell, former FBI special agent turned investigative podcaster, and Jim Fitzgerald, former FBI supervisory special agent, join Mike Benz, ex‑State Dept official and researcher. They probe missing DOJ/CIA/State files around Jeffrey Epstein and trace his early financial and intelligence ties. They also analyze new Ring footage and public appeal tactics in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance. Plus quick takes on elite misconduct.

Feb 6, 2026 • 54min
The Epstein Documents: What Still Doesn’t Make Sense ft. Mike Benz
Mike Benz, researcher of foreign policy and intelligence-adjacent networks, joins to unpack the strange web around Jeffrey Epstein. He maps Epstein’s ties to figures like Ehud Barak and Adnan Khashoggi. They probe FOIA requests, alleged intelligence links, arms-and-finance dealings, and what still remains unexplained.

Oct 30, 2025 • 2h 22min
How the Government Hijacked the Internet - Mike Benz
In this discussion, Mike Benz, a former State Department official and founder of the Foundation for Freedom Online, dives into the dark side of surveillance and censorship. He reveals how child protection tech can morph into government censorship tools. Mike explains the CIA's integration within the tech industry and outlines the risks of digital IDs that threaten personal freedoms. He sheds light on powerful private entities like Oracle and warns against the implications of centralized data control on civil liberties. It's a compelling look at the invisible forces shaping our online lives.


