Timcast IRL · August 8, 2020 · 2h 0m

Timcast IRL #111 - MASSIVE "Pro Trump" Hack Hits Reddit, REEKS Of Chinese PsyOp After Tencent Got NUKED

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Episode Recap

Timcast IRL episode 111, recorded on August 8, 2020, featured Tim Pool and co-hosts discussing several major news stories from that day. The episode opened with coverage of President Trump's executive orders targeting TikTok and WeChat, with particular focus on the implications for Tencent, which owns WeChat and has significant investments in American companies including video game studios, Spotify, and NBA teams. The hosts discussed how the White House claimed the order would only affect WeChat, but industry experts warned broader impacts were likely. The main topic centered on a mysterious Reddit hack that occurred just days after Trump's announcement, where over 70 subreddits were flooded with pro-Trump messages written in what appeared to be broken English with Chinese characteristics. Tim and his co-hosts analyzed this as a potential psychological operation designed to make Trump supporters look coordinated and foreign-influenced. The conversation then shifted to the ongoing protests and riots, with discussion of how mainstream media outlets like the Daily Beast were downplaying violent incidents and how Democrats were beginning to distance themselves from Antifa after previously dismissing its existence. The hosts also covered Joe Biden's attempts to appear tough on China despite his son's business dealings in the country, and polled data showing Americans trust Trump more on China policy.

TL;DR

  • →Trump issued executive orders targeting TikTok (ByteDance) and WeChat (Tencent), potentially affecting major American investments including video games, NBA, and Spotify
  • →A suspicious mass hack hit Reddit with 70+ subreddits receiving coordinated pro-Trump messages written in broken English with Chinese characteristics, raising concerns about a potential psyop
  • →Co-hosts analyzed the timing of the hack occurring immediately after Trump's China actions as potentially deliberate
  • →Media coverage of riots was criticized as dishonest, with outlets like Daily Beast claiming arrested rioters were simply 'buying paint'
  • →Democrats and media outlets were noted as late to acknowledge Antifa violence despite years of evidence
  • →Polls showed Americans trust Trump on China policy more than Biden, despite Biden's attempts to mimic Trump's rhetoric

Key Moments

  • 0:00
    Opening and Executive Orders
    Tim opens with coverage of Trump's TikTok and WeChat executive orders and their potential implications for Tencent's American investments
  • 20:00
    Reddit Hack Analysis
    Main discussion of the coordinated pro-Trump hack on Reddit with messages written in broken English, analyzing it as a potential psyop
  • 40:00
    Riot Coverage and Media
    Discussion of Antifa and Black Lives Matter protests, media dishonesty about violence, and arrests of rioters
  • 60:00
    Political Positioning on China
    Analysis of Joe Biden's attempts to appear tough on China despite his family's business dealings there
  • 80:00
    Purple Heart Day
    Tim acknowledges Purple Heart Day and thanks veterans who were wounded in service to the country

Notable Quotes

“About 70 or more different subreddits get hit with weird Chinese creepy pro-Trump fake messages. And it looks like some kind of psychological operation.”

— Tim Pool · opening segment on the Reddit hack

“The pro-Trump messages weren't written by somebody who speaks English as a first language. But it's very interesting that it's coming just after Trump made these major moves.”

— Tim Pool · analyzing the timing and authorship of the hack messages

“Jerry Nadler's right. Jerry Nadler, Democrat, said that Antifa was a myth. The Antifa violence in Portland was a myth. He's correct. How so? It's Black Lives Matter violence.”

— Ian Crossland · discussing the distinction between Antifa and Black Lives Matter groups

“Joe Biden put out that anti-China ad and claimed Trump was soft on China. You have to be insane to think anyone will going to be tougher than Trump when Joe Biden like flew there with his kid to get some equity deal.”

— Tim Pool · critiquing Biden's China stance

“They're just late to the party. This is what makes me feel confident that we've consistently been on the right side of these issues.”

— Tim Pool · reflecting on media finally acknowledging Antifa violence

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