Guest: John Whitehead - From Iran to Palantir, How War Fuels The Surveillance State

The Free Thought Project Podcast

On this episode of The Free Thought Project podcast, Matt, Jason, and Don sit down with legendary civil liberties attorney and constitutional scholar John W. Whitehead, founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. John has been on the front lines of the battle for freedom for over four decades—fighting government overreach in courtrooms, writing more than a dozen books (including Battlefield America), and warning us about the coming surveillance state long before it was mainstream.

We kick off the show unpacking Trump’s unhinged push for war with Iran and the ruling class interests pulling the strings behind him. As John reminds us, every U.S. war begins with lies—and none of them make us safer. From there, we pivot into the creeping technocracy swallowing our rights, with Trump now embracing Palantir to track, score, and ultimately target dissenters—especially those who dare to oppose war.

John helps us break it all down, showing how the surveillance state isn’t about security—it’s about control. And as always, we wrap with some much-needed white pills. John offers a grounded and inspirational vision for resistance, from local action to legal defense, reminding us that the fight is not over—and that freedom is still worth fighting for. (Length: 59:50)
The Rutherford Institute: https://www.rutherford.org/
John Whitehead on Twitter: https://x.com/JohnW_Whitehead