Picking up right where Part 1 left off, Tom Bilyeu and Mike Benz dive even deeper into the shadowy world of influence operations, modern censorship, and information warfare. In this second half, Benz unravels how the censorship-industrial complex formed, the role of AI and social media in real-time narrative control, and the profound consequences of Elon Musk's purchase of X (Twitter) on global discourse and populist uprisings. Tom presses Mike on the “why” behind the intense manipulation of platforms, revealing that the ability to shape language and thought at scale isn’t a partisan game—it's about preserving the interests of entrenched stakeholders across the globe. As global populist movements surge and increasingly polarized narratives grip the world—from America to Germany, the UK, and beyond—Tom and Mike scrutinize the connective tissue animating these phenomena. They explore how radical activists are intentionally seeded and activated by NGOs for regime change; what happens when the playbook is turned inward; and how collateral damage is created when hearts and minds are exploited with little regard for social unity. Mike makes the case for radical transparency as the antidote to soft power abuse, arguing that America can remain formidable on the world stage without turning its own institutions into black boxes. If you want to understand why our world feels so unstable—and what it might take to reform it—this is the conversation you cannot miss. SHOWNOTES00:00 How Censorship and Narrative Control Work in Practice10:51 AI, Social Media, and the Evolution of Influence Operations17:19 The Weaponization of “Russian Disinformation”21:53 Is This About Ideology or Economics? (Deep State/Blob)29:59 How the Censorship Playbook Is Used Against Both Sides32:55 BlackRock, Hedge Funds, and Statecraft Collusion39:31 The EU, International Law, and Global Free Speech44:55 What’s Driving Today’s Populist Uprisings?52:37 Radicalization, Culture Wars, and Collateral Damage01:02:22 Sunshine as Disinfectant: How to Reform the System01:09:01 Where to Follow Mike Benz FOLLOW MIKE BENZ:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/mikebenzcyberYouTube: Mike Benz CyberRumble: Mike Benz CyberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebenzcyber/ SleepMe: Visit https://sleep.me/impact to get your Chilipad and save 20% with code IMPACT. Try it risk-free with their 30-night sleep trial and free shipping. Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Hims: Start your free online visit today at https://hims.com/IMPACT. Linkedin: Post your job free at https://linkedin.com/impacttheory Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impact Tailor Brands: 35% off https://tailorbrands.com/podcast35 Found Banking: Try Found for FREE at https://found.com/impact What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER:  https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show SCALING a business: see if you qualify here.:  https://tombilyeu.com/call Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here.: https://tombilyeu.com/ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu’s Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices