In this Currents episode, Jim talks to John Robb about an article that describes the military-style tactics leading to the capture and burning of a police headquarters in Minneapolis: specialized units, weapons & tactics, and decentralized communications.  How the violent use the non-violent.  Also: the dangers of police militarization, police reform, the potential for cultural change post protests & pandemic, possible return of the Occupy movement, Minneapolis police abolishment, future protest tactics, and more.

Episode TranscriptJohn's PatreonThe Siege of the Third Precinct in MinneapolisJordan Halls article, Defund (and redesign) everything.

John is an author, inventor, entrepreneur, technology analyst, astro engineer, and military pilot. He’s started numerous successful technology companies, including one in the financial sector that sold for $295 million and one that pioneered the software we currently see in use at Facebook and Twitter. John’s insight on technology and governance has appeared on the BBC, Fox News, National Public Radio, CNBC, The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek.

John served as a pilot in a tier-one counter-terrorism unit that worked alongside Delta and Seal Team 6. He wrote the book Brave New War on the future of national security, and has advised the Joint Chiefs of Staff, NSA, DoD, CIA, and the House Armed Services Committee.