Timcast IRL · October 9, 2020 · 2h 0m

Timcast IRL #147 - Anarchist Group Arrested For Plotting To KIDNAP Michigan Governor

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Episode Recap

Timcast IRL episode 147, recorded on October 9, 2020, featured Tim Pool and co-hosts discussing the breaking news of 13 men arrested for plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The discussion centered on the FBI's announcement that some defendants planned to storm the state Capitol building while others developed a detailed scheme to abduct the governor before the November 2020 election. Tim Pool questioned why mainstream media immediately labeled the group as "right wing" when video evidence showed at least one suspect, Brandon Caserta, with an anarchist flag and anti-police messaging. Pool argued the group appeared to be anarchists rather than traditional right-wing extremists, drawing parallels to Antifa's anti-government ideology. The hosts discussed how the FBI infiltrated the group using informants who "ratted on them," with the plotters meeting in a basement accessible only through a trap door under a rug. They noted the suspects practiced combat drills, built explosives, and surveilled Whitmer's vacation home, even scouting locations under highway bridges to detonate distraction bombs. Pool criticized partisan media coverage for oversimplifying political categorizations, suggesting the distinction between anti-government anarchists and right-wing militias has become blurred. The conversation touched on how COVID-19 lockdown orders contributed to radicalization and how various extremist groups share common grievances against government authority. The show featured co-hosts Ian Crossland and Cassandra Fairbanks providing additional commentary throughout the discussion.

TL;DR

  • →FBI arrested 13 men in Michigan for plotting to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer before the 2020 election
  • →At least 6 suspects planned detailed abduction scheme including surveillance of vacation home and distraction bombings
  • →Some defendants also plotted to storm the state Capitol building and potentially start a civil war
  • →Tim Pool questioned media labeling the group as 'right wing' when suspects displayed anarchist ideology and anti-police sentiments
  • →The group was infiltrated by FBI informants who reported on their activities including combat training and explosives practice
  • →The suspects met in a basement accessible only through a trap door hidden under a rug, practicing drills over the summer

Key Moments

  • 0:00
    Opening and Story Introduction
    Tim Pool introduces the bizarre story of the Michigan kidnapping plot and FBI arrests of 13 men
  • 2:22
    FBI Announcement Details
    Reading from New York Times report detailing the plot including surveillance, explosives planning, and kidnapping timeline
  • 4:07
    Questioning Media Coverage
    Pool examines video of Brandon Caserta showing anarchist flag, questioning why media calls suspects 'right wing'
  • 5:00
    Political Spectrum Analysis
    Discussion of anarchist ideology, Boogaloo movement, and how anti-government sentiment crosses traditional political lines
  • 5:52
    Comparison to Antifa
    Pool draws parallels between anti-government anarchists and Antifa, noting shared anti-police rhetoric
  • 8:00
    Transition to Debate Coverage
    Hosts indicate they will discuss the presidential debate happening around the same time

Notable Quotes

“In one of the weirdest stories I think I've ever heard, but kind of not unexpected, a group of 13 men have been arrested. Seven guys on state charges targeting cops storming the state Capitol, and six guys who apparently wanted to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer because they view her as tyrannical.”

— Tim Pool · opening story introduction

“The interesting thing is that partisan media is calling these guys right wing. We have video of some of these guys, at least one of these guys. They're not right wing at all. They're anarchists. So I don't even know what right wing means at this point.”

— Tim Pool · critique of media coverage

“If they're going to claim that anti-government, anti-police people and anarchists are right wing, are they saying that Antifa is right wing? Like, the difference at that point I don't know.”

— Tim Pool · questioning political categorization

“I think that politics are a spectrum. It's not just Republicans and Democrats. This guy's probably an anarcho-capitalist, which is like a right-leaning... but he's still... They're still pro-capitalism. This dude's Antifa, as far as I'm concerned.”

— Tim Pool · political spectrum analysis

“Hello everyone, that's Ian, sour patch lids is producing and doing all that stuff.”

— Ian Crossland · co-host introduction

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