Popular in alt-media circles, though seldom explicitly stated as an argument, the False-Flag Exercise Hypothesis promotes the idea that the coincidence of official training exercises or drills with major terror attacks somehow proves—or at least heavily suggests—that these events are instances of state-sponsored false-flag terrorism. But exactly how is this argument supposed to go?

To discuss the question we welcome back Tom Secker of SpyCulture.com, writer, researcher, fim-maker and creator of the excellent podcast ClandesTime, who guides us through the idea's history in military deception techniques, considers its role as a popular—but, in his view, largely mistaken—conspiracy theory and assesses the extent to which it has been encouraged through state-sponsored mass entertainment.

Subjects include: The Bay of Pigs, Operation Northwoods, Operation Gladio, The Russian Apartment Bombings, 9/11, 7/7 and The Boston Bombings. (For show notes please visit http://themindrenewed.com)