Monday, 16 February 2026

America: Wake Up Or Waco [23kt7eJedBo]

Survivors and volunteers defy federal authority to rebuild the Mount Carmel Center while presenting evidence that the 1993 fire was a state-sponsored cover-up.

By Mike Hanson Archives | 8m listen | 5 chapters
America: Wake Up Or Waco [23kt7eJedBo] cover

About this episode

Survivors of the 1993 Mount Carmel Center raid, including Bonnie Haldeman, allege that federal agents from the BATF and FBI engaged in a deliberate cover-up during the Waco siege. New testimony and infrared footage suggest that helicopters in a V-formation fired upon the building's south side, killing occupants before the final fire began. These accounts challenge the official government narrative regarding the initial assault and the subsequent 51-day standoff.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeff Jamar faces scrutiny over his congressional testimony regarding the April 19 gas assault. Critics point to weather data showing high winds that were unsuitable for tear gas but ideal for spreading an arson fire, which survivors claim was a state-sponsored execution. The Phoenix Project, led by contractor Mike Hanson, has since mobilized volunteers to rebuild the church as a memorial and museum. This reconstruction effort, funded by $92,000 in private donations, stands in direct opposition to the $30 million Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building memorial in Oklahoma City.

Members of the Michigan State Militia joined the New Mount Carmel Church dedication to apologize for their inaction during the original siege. The atmosphere at the site remains defiant as survivors describe federal authorities as possessing a Wyatt Earp lawman fantasy. Mike Hanson and his team of builders continue to work behind razor wire to provide a permanent place of worship for the remaining Branch Davidians.


CHAPTER 01 / 5 Discussion

David Koresh and the Mount Carmel Center Raid

Bonnie Haldeman and other survivors describe David Koresh as a kind person who previously invited the BATF to visit the Mount Carmel Center. Witnesses recount the initial moments of the 1993 raid, alleging that helicopters in a V-formation fired upon the building's south side. Infrared footage is cited as evidence that occupants were killed by gunfire before the fire consumed the structure.

david koresh· batf· sheriff harwell· mount carmel· branch davidians

00:00 That makes me think even more so that all the stories we heard in the controlled media were lies about your son. They were lies, they were lies because he was a kind gentle person too loved people and His main goal in life was to help, you know save people's souls and he didn't like anybody to be unkind to anybody else. And he also told the BATF to come on over two weeks before? He did! He told them several times to come out they were in a gun shop one day and found out that they were there asking about him and he said tell him come all over Sheriff Harwell knew him and had... The sheriff of this county said that he was a good guy and wasn't bothering anyone and it this is a good community out here. He had come out here many times uh you know just

00:40 in and talk to David. And Sheriff Parwell told me last year, he said I'm sure I'm sorry Bonnie what happened if anything I can do for you? Well we need to stand up for what we know is right and to demand that investigations be done on what happened here and see if it doesn't happen again We'd already had breakfast when I was back in my room And all of a sudden I hear, a lot of people out here in the cafeteria and I thought what's going on? Seems to be a lot of people out there and we've already eaten so what's the deal. So i go in there to find out whats going on and somebody says hey we just got word that somebody is coming it's gonna be some kind of a raid or whatever...and about that time David walked in from this side he'd come down the hall come into the cafeteria from this other side and basically confirmed it

01:28 We just heard that, you know the whole bunch of some kind of agents coming and he says I want everybody to stay cool. Go back to your rooms just be calm He said I'll go down the front door and talk them see what they want And you know try to talk to him The helicopters came in from that direction And they were coming and as they came in, David's room was here. Like this is the building his room extended out on the south side and that's what they were pointing at They were pointing at his room and they came in shooting in a V formation. The infrared with the explosion and people, the flashes that we have on infrared absolutely proved beyond a shadow of doubt that people were killed. Law of averages wouldn't state if nine people survived from a fire that people are going to come out of their back where majority of the people are. And the fact no one survived who came out of their back always escaped me I could never understand why? I had a theory but could never prove it

02:29 This infrared video proves that beyond a shadow of doubt that people were killed carry over our militarism Right into our churches to assault church people paramilitary Concept of police is a police state, you know and our Constitution was created to prevent a police state. Jeff Jamar in the congressional hearings stated categorically that the reason why April 19th was picked is because the weather was good Well, if you're putting gas into a building having a high velocity wind operative that can dissipate the gas doesn't mean that the weather was good it means that it was bad so what did he mean by the weather being good?

CHAPTER 02 / 5 Discussion

Jeff Jamar and the April 19th Gas Assault

Congressional testimony from Jeff Jamar regarding the April 19, 1993, assault is scrutinized regarding his claims about favorable weather conditions. Critics argue that high winds on that day were unsuitable for tear gas insertion but highly conducive to an arson fire. The segment alleges the fire was a deliberate cover-up by federal authorities to eliminate the remaining Branch Davidians.

jeff jamar· congressional hearings· tear gas· arson· branch davidians

01:28 We just heard that, you know the whole bunch of some kind of agents coming and he says I want everybody to stay cool. Go back to your rooms just be calm He said I'll go down the front door and talk them see what they want And you know try to talk to him The helicopters came in from that direction And they were coming and as they came in, David's room was here. Like this is the building his room extended out on the south side and that's what they were pointing at They were pointing at his room and they came in shooting in a V formation. The infrared with the explosion and people, the flashes that we have on infrared absolutely proved beyond a shadow of doubt that people were killed. Law of averages wouldn't state if nine people survived from a fire that people are going to come out of their back where majority of the people are. And the fact no one survived who came out of their back always escaped me I could never understand why? I had a theory but could never prove it

02:29 This infrared video proves that beyond a shadow of doubt that people were killed carry over our militarism Right into our churches to assault church people paramilitary Concept of police is a police state, you know and our Constitution was created to prevent a police state. Jeff Jamar in the congressional hearings stated categorically that the reason why April 19th was picked is because the weather was good Well, if you're putting gas into a building having a high velocity wind operative that can dissipate the gas doesn't mean that the weather was good it means that it was bad so what did he mean by the weather being good?

03:07 Was it good for a fire? Yeah. It was very conducive for an arson fire, but it wasn't very good for inserting gas that day So what did Jeff Chamar mean no one asked him that question What was the reason for the fire when they saw we weren't gonna give in they had to get rid of us They had to get rid of us they had to cover up everything that had happened. I've known the Branch Davidians a long time and i think they're good God-fearing people, I think they were demonized We're going to build this church back, I talked with five branch Davidians and they concur with my idea of having it as a church at the same time a memorial and museum for what happened right here on this very ground in 1993 It's called The Phoenix Project A Church That Will Rise From The Ashes Of The Branch Davidian Compound

CHAPTER 03 / 5 Discussion

The Phoenix Project and Rebuilding the Mount Carmel Church

The Phoenix Project is an initiative to rebuild the Branch Davidian church as a memorial and museum on the original 1993 site. Led by contractor Mike Hanson and a team of volunteers, the project aims to provide survivors with a place of worship despite the presence of razor wire and past threats. Survivors express surprise and gratitude that volunteers had the courage to assist in the reconstruction.

phoenix project· mike hanson· mount carmel· church reconstruction· volunteers

03:53 I think it's important that we have a place to worship again after our church was destroyed. Volunteers are doing all the work, volunteers such as Austin contractor Mike Hanson We just think it is the right thing to do And one Davidian survivor says she at first doubted the volunteer would come When I looked and saw people and how they're helping...I didn't think anybody had the guts to do it It is razor wire That is so sharp, you can hardly touch it. It will cut you." You know they said they wanted the people to come out but they put the razor wire in front of the windows and there was no way that people could come out of those windows which they could have crawled out at any time

04:43 with that wire there. That would have ripped them to pieces My name is Cyrus, I was eight years old when i died. I was burned alive at Mount Carmel April 19th 1993 We've had threats out here probably about five different times about people that throwing matches out saying burn baby, burn. This you're seeing here is 21 days of work 21 actual days at work and we're going to change our strategy to try to get through by April 19th When you first heard about us talking about rebuilding it did you think we'd really do it? Yes I never doubted it Wow because you knew Mike going way back didn't ya

CHAPTER 04 / 5 Discussion

Federal Government Criticism and the Wyatt Earp Mentality

Survivors and supporters characterize federal agents as murderers and liars who acted with a "Wyatt Earp" lawman fantasy during the Waco siege. The discussion contrasts the destructive actions of the government with the constructive efforts of the volunteers rebuilding the church. Speakers reject federal authority, stating the government holds no spiritual or moral power over them.

federal government· murderers· wyatt earp· bill hickok· branch davidians

05:22 Yes. The cameraman? Yes, these were the happiest days of my life believe it or not you know people from all nationalities all cultures we used to get along so well like brothers and sisters You're saying they drive up in the vehicle they jump out they run up in 10 seconds they start shooting the dogs and shoot at front door and shooting a building yes did you see any holes in the ceiling yeah oh yeah that room was like strained It was full of holes. A sieve? Yes, there were so many holes in the room I don't know how we didn't get killed then. I come down here and met a lot of new people real nice people i knew what i was going to meet when i got here anyway it's no surprise but all these people out here volunteering to help these Davidians rebuild this church

06:16 And I think it's great. You know, the federal government they like to go out and destroy and these people are out here building and that's the difference between a bunch of good folks and a bunch of bad ones Now when they you know They want us to jump through their hoops and all that but they're not my God or my creator They're not my boss or anything else there nobody to me actually really yeah nobody They want to be somebody. They want to be Wyatt Earp and Bill Hickok, they won't come out and just kill people. They're murderers is what they are. They're liars and murderers period. The government blows up their own building so they can spend over 30 million dollars in an edifice to Bill Clinton's success And out here the people have raised help raise a branch Davidian Church and they have contributed their own money

CHAPTER 05 / 5 Discussion

Michigan State Militia and the New Mount Carmel Dedication

Members of the Michigan State Militia attended the dedication of the New Mount Carmel Church to seek forgiveness for their perceived inadequate response seven years prior. The event is contrasted with the $30 million memorial for the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which speakers describe as an edifice to Bill Clinton. The reconstruction was funded by $92,000 in small donations from hundreds of supporters.

michigan state militia· alfred p. murrah building· bill clinton· mount carmel· alex jones

07:04 And yet I think what we've done here is far more meaningful and valuable, at least in spiritual terms than the Alford P. Murrah building will ever be so yeah i think it's ironic and I think it's appropriate that they have the dedication on the same day because all the staff pukes politicals will be at the memorial to Bill Clinton 30 million dollars and all the quality people, God's people will be out here. I love it! Y'all are from the Michigan State Militia? That's right And y'all came down for the dedication of the Newmont Carmel Church? Sure did Why did you do that?

07:49 Well, we felt it was part of our duty to come down and talk to the people. Ask for their forgiveness for our inadequate response seven years ago. And when we had a plaque we wanted to present that. A few months later Alex called me up again and said hey George you want to do it again? I said sure where? He says Wake Up. I said what are we going to build? He said a church. I said, absolutely. I'm in for it. Hundreds of volunteers, $92,000 of donated cash that came in five dollar bills, ten dollar bills and a few very special people that donated thousands of dollars These people are some of the best people I've ever met my life And what they have slandered They have been slandered

08:50 And they have been put false witness on. And that's one thing, if anything with and also the people that are in prison, they need to come out.