Shawn Ryan Show

#248 Jon Delaney - Who's Protecting Jeffrey Epstein's Secrets?

October 27, 2025

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  • Jon Delaney founded Real News No Bullshit (RNNBS) in 2021, driven by a desire to combat media division and provide unfiltered, multi-sided reporting after witnessing the polarization surrounding events like January 6th. 
  • The conversation highlights the difficulty in defining propaganda, noting that it encompasses outright lies as well as the strategic withholding or manipulation of facts, a problem prevalent in both mainstream and independent media. 
  • The rise of independent media is attributed to public distrust sparked by political conflict (like Trump vs. media) and exacerbated by perceived information suppression during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the initial dismissal of the Wuhan lab leak theory. 
  • Numerous right-leaning social media influencers were allegedly paid via a marketing firm called 'Influenceable' to push coordinated talking points against proposed soda restrictions for SNAP recipients, highlighting a lack of disclosure regarding paid advocacy. 
  • Foreign governments, including the UK and China, are actively attempting to influence U.S. media narratives by directly contacting independent news outlets like Real News No Bullshit (RNNBS) to shape coverage on sensitive domestic and international issues. 
  • The perceived failure of the government and political figures to transparently handle the Jeffrey Epstein files has severely eroded public trust, leading many to dismiss even potentially true information as manufactured political baggage or conspiracy. 
  • Sophisticated bot networks, potentially operated by foreign actors, are actively deployed on social media platforms to rapidly comment on news and influence public opinion, often mimicking real users. 
  • The current information environment is characterized by extreme distrust, vulnerability in critical infrastructure to cyber/communication disruption, and a dangerous escalation in global power dynamics among nuclear-armed nations. 
  • Combating widespread manipulation requires individuals to actively challenge their own biases, step outside digital echo chambers, and prioritize genuine human connection over algorithm-driven content consumption. 

Segments

Guest Introduction and Platform Origin
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(00:01:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Jon Delaney founded ‘Real News, No Bullshit’ to deliver unfiltered news without spin.
  • Summary: Shawn Ryan introduces Jon Delaney. They discuss Delaney’s platform, which started in 2020/2021, focusing on presenting straight facts without analysis.
Waking Up to Media Bias
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(00:01:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The COVID-19 narrative and discussions with SEAL buddies prompted Delaney to reject mainstream news.
  • Summary: Delaney recounts initially believing the COVID narrative but seeking alternative sources after talking to friends, leading him to appreciate the ’no bullshit’ approach of his own platform.
Faith and Civil War Gift
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(00:05:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Delaney is exploring faith and gifted Ryan a Bible recovered from an 1864 burning church.
  • Summary: The conversation briefly turns personal as Delaney discusses his journey with faith. He presents Ryan with a historical Bible from the Civil War, noting the parallel of mutual blame in that era and current events.
Defining Propaganda in Media
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(00:11:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Propaganda is manipulation of truth, including withholding facts, and both sides present biased pictures.
  • Summary: Responding to a listener question, Delaney discusses the difficulty of quantifying propaganda, using the Ukraine conflict as an example of differing realities. He emphasizes that journalism often involves painting a picture with selective facts.
Motivation for Starting News Page
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(00:21:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The intense division amplified by January 6th motivated Delaney to scale his news sharing beyond his personal circle.
  • Summary: Delaney explains he started posting news on his personal account to inform friends. The division seen on January 6th spurred him to create the dedicated ‘Real News, No Bullshit’ account to reach a wider audience.
Independent Media and Echo Chambers
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(00:34:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The algorithm creates dangerous echo chambers; listeners must actively seek counter-opposite news sources.
  • Summary: They discuss how algorithms trap users. Delaney encourages listeners to challenge their views by watching media sources they typically oppose to ensure they are not being herded like sheep.
Team Structure for Balance
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(00:36:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Delaney intentionally hires writers with opposing political views to ensure balanced content creation.
  • Summary: Delaney details his small team, which includes writers with vastly different political leanings (e.g., blue hair vs. super right-leaning). He acts as the final editor to synthesize these views without adding his own spin.
Rise of New Media and COVID
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(00:42:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The Trump/Media conflict and COVID-19 suppression (like the Wuhan lab leak) fueled the search for alternate news sources.
  • Summary: Delaney traces the rise of independent media back to Trump’s presidency and the ‘fake news’ term, noting COVID-19 information suppression as the true catalyst for people seeking alternatives.
Cons of Independent Media
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(00:54:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Many independent creators are motivated by money, leading them to become activists or chase conspiracy theories.
  • Summary: Delaney outlines the cons: many creators are activists pushing party lines or chasing checks by selling subscriptions or sponsorships, sometimes leading them to dwell too long on single subjects until facts run out.
Coordinated Soda Ban Messaging
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(01:06:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Right-leaning social media accounts were pushing identical talking points against SNAP soda restrictions.
  • Summary: The speakers analyze coordinated posts on X (formerly Twitter) regarding efforts to prevent SNAP recipients from buying soda, noting that many accounts were pushing the same messaging.
Influencer Campaign Pitch Revealed
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(01:09:28)
  • Key Takeaway: A detailed pitch document outlined key messaging points for influencers, including the use of Trump’s Diet Coke preference.
  • Summary: The host reads an alleged pitch given to influencers, detailing objectives, key messaging (government overreach, personal choice), and specific resources like a ‘Trump with Diet Coke image’.
Influencers Paid for Undisclosed Ads
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(01:11:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Influencers were paid for these posts without disclosing the arrangement, violating typical ad campaign guidelines.
  • Summary: The discussion highlights that influencers were being paid (sometimes as little as $50) to push specific narratives, and the rules required them to show likes and keep pages public for compensation.
Foreign Government Influence Outreach
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(01:17:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Foreign governments are actively contacting U.S. media figures, directly or indirectly, to shape narratives.
  • Summary: The host details receiving contact from foreign governments, noting that influence is being bought on a large scale, sometimes through U.S.-based marketing firms.
UK Home Office Seeks Content Collab
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(01:21:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The UK Home Office directly messaged the host’s Instagram to collaborate on content regarding crime, policing, and migration.
  • Summary: The host shares an email exchange initiated by a UK Home Office social media team member, offering ministerial access and operational footage in exchange for content collaboration on sensitive UK policy areas.
China’s Offer for Infrastructure Promotion
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(01:36:30)
  • Key Takeaway: A U.S. marketing firm offered $25k-$40k for the host to visit a specific Chinese city and promote its infrastructure.
  • Summary: The host reveals being contacted by a U.S. company allegedly working for the Communist Youth League of China to create positive content about Chongqing, which he declined.
Weaponization of Influence and Division
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(01:46:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Weaponized influence and domestic polarization are seen as the primary threats leading to the country’s internal collapse.
  • Summary: The speakers discuss how foreign influence and domestic media division (left vs. right) are creating dangerous levels of internal conflict, potentially leading to civil unrest.
Leading by Example in Dialogue
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(01:55:55)
  • Key Takeaway: The only solution to division is leading by example through cordial conversations with ideological opposites.
  • Summary: The host uses his interview with Gavin Newsom as proof that constructive dialogue can lead to real policy change, urging listeners to break out of echo chambers.
Disappointment Over Epstein File Handling
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(02:02:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The government’s mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has destroyed public trust, making any future revelations unbelievable.
  • Summary: The conversation touches on the lack of transparency regarding the Epstein files, noting missing footage and contradictory reports, leading to widespread cynicism.
Identifying OnlyFans and Scam Bots
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(02:13:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Bots operate with distinct motives, ranging from commercial spam to financial scams.
  • Summary: The discussion begins by detailing the three main types of bots: OnlyFans porn bots, GoFundMe scam bots (often claiming to be in Gaza), and influence bots.
Sophisticated Influence Bot Operations
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(02:15:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Influence bots are highly sophisticated, capable of posting complex responses instantly, suggesting foreign actor involvement.
  • Summary: The guest describes bots commenting on news articles within seconds, noting that some profiles appear entirely real, even tagging family members, indicating advanced network setup by foreign actors.
Social Media Gaslighting and Manipulation
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(02:18:14)
  • Key Takeaway: People are arguing with non-existent entities designed to influence their opinions and sow division.
  • Summary: The conversation covers how these bots attempt to influence public thought via comments and how users can be gaslit by accounts that aren’t real people.
Vulnerability of Critical Infrastructure
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(02:20:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The U.S. is vulnerable to large-scale disruption from foreign adversaries targeting infrastructure and communications.
  • Summary: The speakers discuss a recent incident involving communication disruption technology and mention reports that China is embedding in U.S. critical infrastructure to slow response times during conflict.
Nuclear Powers and Global Distrust
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(02:22:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Global stability relies on the unpredictable intentions of the nine nuclear-armed nations.
  • Summary: The guest uses the analogy of nine countries with nuclear weapons sitting at a table, expressing fear over those whose intentions are hidden (‘hands under the table’).
AI Weaponization and Deterrence
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(02:27:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The current global strategy is deterrence, but the weaponization of AI forces continuous escalation.
  • Summary: The speakers discuss how the world is forced to develop technologies like AI because adversaries are doing so, leading to a dangerous cycle where human judgment (soul) might become obsolete.
Generational Divide in Trusting Media
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(02:30:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Older generations are resistant to accepting that their lifelong news sources are untrustworthy, unlike younger generations.
  • Summary: The guest posits that societal change requires older generations to pass, as they are unable to reframe their worldview based on current digital realities and media deception.
Challenging Echo Chambers and Self-Reflection
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(02:32:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Combating manipulation requires individuals to actively challenge their own beliefs and step outside digital echo chambers.
  • Summary: The importance of self-reflection and being willing to ‘poke holes in your own bullshit’ is emphasized as a defense against algorithmic manipulation.
Value of Human Connection Over Digital Life
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(02:33:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Returning to real-world, private human connection is the antidote to the power of social media algorithms.
  • Summary: The speakers lament the loss of spontaneous childhood interaction due to constant publicizing on social media and note parents actively trying to shield their children from devices.
Praise for Independent Conversation Hosting
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(02:35:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The host is commended for facilitating open, non-partisan conversations, proving he is not an echo chamber.
  • Summary: Jon Delaney praises Sean Ryan for hosting diverse guests, including political opponents, demonstrating a commitment to genuine conversation over partisan alignment.