Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with former CIA covert operations officer and host of The President's Daily Brief podcast, Mike Baker.Mike has over 15 years of experience in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, and intelligence operations worldwide. After his career in the CIA, he transitioned into the private sector, co-founding a global intelligence and security firm called Diligence LLC, which provides services in risk management and investigative support.BORDERLAND is an IRONCLAD Original.SPONSORS:MTNTOUGH FITNESSGo to: https://mtntough.com/ and download the MTNTOUGH app today, and use code “BORDERLAND” To get a 14-day free trial and one month free! That’s six weeks of MTNTOUGH at no cost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Borderland, Vince sits down with renowned geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan to dive into the complex realities of immigration, U.S. policy, and Mexico's uncertain future.Peter breaks down what both the left and right get wrong about America's immigration debate, and offer his perspective on the models that could reshape U.S. policy. He also takes a hard look at Mexico's new president and the growing threat of fentanyl production driven by cartels.He is also the New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Superpower, The Absent Superpower, Disunited Nations, and The End of the World Is Just the Beginning.BORDERLAND is an IRONCLAD Original.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6w9YAIl...SPONSORS:MTNTOUGH FITNESSGo to https://mtntough.com/ and download the MTNTOUGH app today, and use code “BORDERLAND” To get a 14-day free trial and one month free! That’s six weeks of MTNTOUGH at no cost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Borderland, Vince chats with Keith Newton, a PSYOP specialist, about how Information Operations (IO) campaigns work and the media’s role in shaping narratives. They explore how news outlets align stories with political agendas and discuss the media’s portrayal of the border crisis.Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original.Check out the REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/sec?=BL930YT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Vince sits down with journalist, writer, producer, and podcast host Ioan Grillo.Ioan has been covering the drug cartels in Latin America since 2001, and has recently been on the grounds in Sinaloa, Mexico covering the brutal civil war that has broken out since El Mayo's arrest between two factions of the cartel -- the Mayos and the Chapitos.He is also the author of three books: Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels, Gangster Warlords: Drug Dollars, Killing Fields, and the New Politics in Latin America, and El Narco: Inside Mexico’s Criminal Insurgency He continually publishes about cartels and Narco politics on his Substack, CrashOutMedia, and is the host of the CrimeWar podcast. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 4-PART BORDERLAND SPECIAL SERIES:EPISODE 4: THE ULTRA-VIOLENT RISE AND DRAMATIC FALL OF MS-13On the southern border, there is a legal concept known as “reasonable fear.” If an asylum officer determines that a migrant has a “reasonable fear of persecution or torture” if returned to their home country, then removal procedures can be delayed. And, in the current border crisis, there’s been no greater source of “reasonable fear” cases than the Mexican drug cartels and organized crime. In each episode we take a deep dive into the border crisis to find the primary players behind the violence, the scope of these transnational criminal enterprises, and the state of the narco wars.In this episode, host Vince ‘Rocoo’ Vargas, looks the ultra-violent rise -- and dramatic fall -- of MS1-3.Check out the REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/sec?=RFTRAILER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 4-PART BORDERLAND SPECIAL SERIES:EPISODE 3: CJNG: THE CARTEL IN AMERICA'S LIVING ROOMSOn the southern border, there is a legal concept known as “reasonable fear.” If an asylum officer determines that a migrant has a “reasonable fear of persecution or torture” if returned to their home country, then removal procedures can be delayed. And, in the current border crisis, there’s been no greater source of “reasonable fear” cases than the Mexican drug cartels and organized crime. In each episode we take a deep dive into the border crisis to find the primary players behind the violence, the scope of these transnational criminal enterprises, and the state of the narco wars.In this episode, host Vince ‘Rocoo’ Vargas, looks the CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel) and the elaborate schemes they are perpetrating on elderly Americans.Check out the REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/sec?=RFTRAILER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 4-PART BORDERLAND SPECIAL SERIES:EPISODE 2: THE CULT OF SANTA MUERTEOn the southern border, there is a legal concept known as “reasonable fear.” If an asylum officer determines that a migrant has a “reasonable fear of persecution or torture” if returned to their home country, then removal procedures can be delayed. And, in the current border crisis, there’s been no greater source of “reasonable fear” cases than the Mexican drug cartels and organized crime. In each episode we take a deep dive into the border crisis to find the primary players behind the violence, the scope of these transnational criminal enterprises, and the state of the narco wars.In this episode, host Vince ‘Rocoo’ Vargas, takes a deep dive into the Santa Muerte religious movement.Check out the REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/sec?=RFEP2AD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 4-PART BORDERLAND SPECIAL SERIES:REASONABLE FEAR EPISODE 1: MISSING AND MURDERED WOMEN AND GIRLS OF JUAREZOn the southern border, there is a legal concept known as “reasonable fear.” If an asylum officer determines that a migrant has a “reasonable fear of persecution or torture” if returned to their home country, then removal procedures can be delayed. And, in the current border crisis, there’s been no greater source of “reasonable fear” cases than the Mexican drug cartels and organized crime. In each episode we take a deep dive into the border crisis to find the primary players behind the violence, the scope of these transnational criminal enterprises, and the state of the narco wars.In this episode, host Vince ‘Rocoo’ Vargas, takes a deep dive into the missing and murdered women of Juárez.Check out the REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/sec?=RFTRAILER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Catch Borderland: REASONABLE FEAR, a 4-part docuseries starting on September 24th.REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for Pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/sec?=BL916YT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Borderland, Vince sits down with former DEA Chief of Operations, Ray Donovan, to break down the connection between China and Mexico in the fentanyl trade. They talk about how Chinese suppliers are fueling Mexican cartels with the chemicals needed to make fentanyl, and the challenges that come with taking on this deadly international pipeline.Catch Borderland: REASONABLE FEAR, a 4-part docuseries starting on September 24th.REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for Pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/secBorderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices