Topic: Waco Trial

Host Jeff Davis interviews Paul Fatta on location in Waco on April 19, 2010, summarizing Fatta's 12-year prison sentence. Fatta reiterates that he was 100 miles away in Austin during the initial raid and never entered the Mount Carmel facility during the 51-day siege. He characterizes his prosecution as a "political trial" where the government sought a "pound of flesh" from survivors to avoid taking responsibility for the tragedy.

The discussion explores "perception management," using the O.J. Simpson trial as an example of a media distraction from the Oklahoma City bombing. Joyce Riley points out the disparity in media coverage between the children killed in Oklahoma City and those killed during the Waco siege. She argues that the constant broadcasting of specific imagery is a form of "manufacturing consent" to manipulate public emotion and memory.

Katherine Matteson discusses the legal proceedings following the Waco siege, criticizing the jury selection and the judge's perceived bias toward the government. She claims that the first shots fired at Mount Carmel came from helicopters targeting David Koresh's room, contradicting official government reports. Matteson asserts that the government intended to eliminate the group but failed due to public scrutiny.

Audience members interrogate Agent Littleton, comparing his "just following orders" defense to the Nuremberg trials. They cite specific evidence from the documentary "Waco: The Rules of Engagement," including thermal footage of automatic weapons fire and incendiary devices, while questioning the agent's knowledge of government contingency plans like Rex 84 and FEMA.

Undercover agent Robert Rodriguez describes his experience inside the Mount Carmel compound on the morning of the raid. He states that the residents did not appear to be gearing up for battle when he left. Rodriguez expresses his personal distress over the outcome of the operation while refusing to answer specific technical questions about the compound's windows.

The discussion focuses on Paul Fatta, a Branch Davidian who served over 12 years in prison despite being 100 miles away at a gun show in Austin during the initial ATF raid. Fatta explains that he was convicted of conspiracy to manufacture automatic weapons and aiding and abetting the murder of federal agents. He characterizes his prosecution as a "political trial" where the government sought a "pound of flesh" to deflect from its own mistakes.