Ep. 344 Bob Murphy Critiques Jeremy Kauffman’s Encounter with the FBI
Bob quotes from Dave Smith saying Kauffman’s viral encounter with two FBI agents was “flawless,” and then proceeds to document Jeremy’s flaws.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
- Dave Smith’s interview of Jeremy Kauffman.
- Michael Malice interviews Robby Starbuck.
- Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.
- Help support the Bob Murphy Show.
About the author, Robert
Christian and economist, Chief Economist at infineo, and Senior Fellow with the Mises Institute.
Doh! What you wanna go and settle us down fer? Cain’t we stretch our legs a bit and see what they’s made of? š You’re right on, Bro Bob!
1. While explaining the X post made by the libertarian party of NH shortly after the 2nd assassination attempt of the former president, lamenting that no one has tried this on the VPā¦ you say ā¦that post was no different from the 1,000ās of people on the left who are lamenting the guy just hit Trumpās earā¦ My question is āwho on the leftā? I listen to what many consider the mainstream media (ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS). I have never heard a broadcaster even insinuate that sentiment. Worth noting, my social media exposure is very low. Are you speaking of influencers outside the mainstream? Regardless, I definitely want to know so that I can keep them out of my information feed.
2. I was definitely disturbed when I first saw the video of two federal agents seemingly refusing to provide Jeremy their credentials. In search of more information is actually how I found your show š. After some consideration, I came to the realization the agents were not refusing to show credentials to Jeremy. They were refusing to show their credentials on video. Regardless, after hearing your podcast, I agree the FBI should not have approached Jeremy unless there was justifiable reason he broke the law. That said, the comment posted, based on your description of it, strikes me as counterproductive and ill advised.
3. You explain the ādeep stateā within America wants to āget toā a point where federal agents can ādisappearā anyone who criticizes the government. In fact, you predict they will get there. Do you feel the deep state is aligned with A political party? If not, can you briefly explain who/what they are?
Is it the FBI’s job to reduce rhetoric? IJS
Cliff notes: It is not the FBI’s job to reduce rhetoric.
Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.
Hey, Bob. Your take on this incident really surprised me. I expected you to be much more critical of Kauffman. I’m a pretty hardcore ancap, big fan of Dave Smith, I lean right on the culture war, and am certainly no fan of the police. But I’m totally against Kauffman on this one. In fact, I don’t even think the FBI did anything wrong in this case.
The LPNH makes a winking post to an audience of anti-government radicals saying that anyone who assassinated the opposing presidential candidate would be a hero – all shortly after an attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. Given the circumstances, any honest law enforcement agency could very reasonably conclude “maybe we should check up on this guy.”
When a shooting occurs, and we learn that the shooter was “known to the FBI,” with a long track record of alarming violent rhetoric, we all like to clown on law enforcement for not investigating sooner. But this is what an investigation is. The agents came with folders to ask questions, in the middle of the day, in plain clothes while still identifying themselves immediately. They weren’t belligerent, they didn’t arrest Kauffman or get hostile with him, they walked away once he made it clear he wouldn’t talk to them. They exercised no more authority than a concerned neighbor would. They were armed because they’re required to be while on duty.
Whether or not Kauffman’s speech was technically legal, the police are allowed to simply investigate a suspicious situation and ask questions. I’m not saying that the FBI’s motives here were pure. Maybe they’ll come back and arrest Kauffman a week from now. But I am saying that their actions in this case were indistinguishable from the actions of an FBI who was purely motivated. And that this was a totally appropriate response from law enforcement to someone who is out in public, talking like a violent lunatic. However they intended it, the LPNH’s post came across as the sort of thing left wing activists do online when they want to hurt or dox someone without incriminating themselves; they post a coy hypothetical to their followers with the realistic hope that they’ll inspire someone crazy enough to carry it out.
These FBI agents refused to identify themselves unless Kauffman stopped filming. They never identified themselves.
They identified themselves as FBI agents, which seems like the important part. It’s completely understandable that they would not want to dox themselves to Kauffman’s audience.
No, that is NOT important. It is in fact absolutely frightening that you are willing to just give your rights up to anybody who calls themselves the FBI but won’t give you a full name and badge number.
There is no “dox.” They are PUBLIC SERVANTS. Their names and badge numbers are PUBLIC.
How on earth do you think we can hold our government accountable???
Accountable for what? They didn’t do anything. They didn’t want to share their names with Kauffman’s audience, Kauffman didn’t want to talk to them under those terms, so they walked away.
Thanks, Bob.
I really appreciate you putting out that episode. While Jeremy Kaufmann is very sharp guy, and very funny, I was very uncomfortable with the way he spoke to the FBI agents, simply because he was so rude. Could he not have just been polite and behaved like a decent human being? It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who thought so.