Mike Baker

Date: 2025-02-19 | Duration: 2h 50m

Category: Nature & Outdoors, Politics & Media

Episode Overview

Mike Baker, a former UK Special Forces operator and intelligence officer, joins Joe Rogan to share firsthand experiences from his time operating in the Middle East. He recounts a grueling desert expedition that involved navigating ancient, harsh terrains stretching from northwest Saudi Arabia through Jordan to Aqaba, aimed at disrupting Ottoman control. Baker offers vivid details about the physical and mental challenges faced during the journey, including injuries and the critical role of local knowledge in locating water sources in the desert. His stories provide a rare glimpse into the realities of special operations in extreme environments, blending tactical insight with personal anecdotes. The conversation then shifts to broader geopolitical topics, including the complexities of U.S. foreign aid and intelligence operations. Baker discusses the challenges of government efficiency, the influence of covert programs, and the often murky intersection of national security and global resource control. He also touches on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the difficulties in tracking aid and the risks of corruption. Additionally, Baker reflects on the recent release of JFK files, offering a measured perspective on historical conspiracies and the nature of classified information. Throughout the episode, his pragmatic approach to intelligence work and global affairs provides a nuanced understanding of modern geopolitical dynamics.

About Mike Baker

Mike Baker is a former CIA covert operations officer who has transitioned his extensive intelligence expertise into the private sector as the president of Diligence LLC, a global intelligence and security firm. With a career marked by high-stakes operations and deep insights into national security, Baker is renowned for his ability to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes. He captivates audiences with his firsthand accounts of espionage, risk management, and the intricacies of intelligence work, making him a sought-after voice on platforms like the Joe Rogan Experience. Through his engaging storytelling and analytical prowess, Baker not only sheds light on the shadowy world of covert operations but also emphasizes the importance of security in today’s interconnected world.

Key Moments

– UK Special Forces
– Middle East Operations
– Desert Navigation
– Military Logistics
– Geopolitical Conflicts
– US Foreign Policy
– Intelligence Agencies
– Resource Control
– Ukrainian Conflict
– Social Security System
– Cryptocurrency
– Deepfake Technology
– JFK Assassination Files
– Mind Control Experiments
– Wildlife Management
– OnlyFans Culture
– Political Polarization
– Government Efficiency
– International Aid
– Wolf Reintroduction
0:00:24 – Mike Baker discusses Middle East military role
0:00:47 – Introduction to UK Special Forces background
0:01:39 – Desert route from Saudi Arabia to Jordan explained
0:02:17 – Details of week and a half Middle East mission
0:03:19 – Description of ancient Omani shidad desert vehicles
0:05:29 – Mike's portion of the desert journey
0:06:02 – Discussion on supplies carried during mission
0:07:19 – Ancient well locations and desert survival
0:10:48 – Geographical features and wadis in desert terrain
0:12:03 – UK's historical role in Middle East discussed
0:14:19 – Critique of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) initiatives
0:17:03 – Media restrictions on administration criticism
0:19:10 – Discussion about cryptocurrency and Trump coin concerns
0:22:12 – Reflections on wealth and poverty perceptions
0:24:46 – Political commentary on Bill Clinton era
0:26:05 – Historical decoding of Mongol-Chinese characters
0:28:01 – Political stability and Democratic Party analysis
0:30:48 – Urgency of enacting real change within 24 months
0:32:24 – Controversies in women's sports and allyship
0:36:12 – Discussion on gender identity and societal norms
0:39:47 – Challenges in detecting deepfake videos
0:41:20 – Impressions of advanced deepfake technology
0:44:08 – Middle East immigration and border control issues
0:51:43 – Explanation of 'Pay to slay' program
0:54:49 – Rebuilding conflict zones and funding challenges
1:00:04 – Hamas disregard for Palestinian civilians
1:04:00 – CIA's historical covert operations overview
1:09:00 – Resource wealth and militia conflicts in Congo
1:13:56 – US strategy to create friendly governments
1:18:25 – Reviewing government programs for efficiency
1:26:10 – Role of street agents in intelligence work
1:28:13 – Discussion of egg price inflation and disease
1:31:43 – Story of Michael Rockefeller's disappearance
1:38:14 – Mention of Epstein files and COVID conspiracies
1:42:06 – Programming language knowledge and crypto skepticism
1:46:03 – Social Security disability benefits explained
2:08:13 – Reintroduction of wolves in US states
2:18:36 – Anticipation of JFK files release
2:22:24 – Lee Harvey Oswald's surveillance history
2:33:09 – Mind control experiments and conspiracy theories
2:40:10 – Speculation on extraterrestrial visitation
2:44:22 – Closing remarks and thanks to Mike Baker

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Joe Rogan Podcast, check it out! Starting point is 00:00:24 Yeah, I know. I don't know what I do this. So tell everybody what you were doing in the Middle East because it's pretty crazy. Starting point is 00:00:47 UK Special Forces. Starting point is 00:01:11 But they have the same need, right? Starting point is 00:01:39 to go from essentially northwest Saudi through these unpassable deserts and then into Jordan and then down to Aqaba to route the Turks who at the time controlled Starting point is 00:02:17 Well we went out in December, spent about a week and a half. Starting point is 00:02:49 Wonderful guys, Howard, James, myself, Tomo, there's Craig in the back. Starting point is 00:03:19 The Omani shidad is different. It sits behind the hump and is even less comfortable. And now these things were probably designed some 2,000 years ago and they've never felt Starting point is 00:03:48 And yeah, so anyway, that's what you see there. Starting point is 00:04:10 Is it because they're too wide? Starting point is 00:04:45 And I tore some muscles in my rib cage. Starting point is 00:05:10 great sense of humor, as did they all. Starting point is 00:05:29 I was in the first 25% of the journey. Starting point is 00:06:02 How many, how much supplies did you bring? Starting point is 00:06:38 moving forward and imagine doing that without them oh it would have been it Starting point is 00:06:57 Do you find spring occasionally? Starting point is 00:07:19 So they have, I mean, because talking thousands of years, they've figured out where the wells Starting point is 00:07:40 All right, it's February. Starting point is 00:08:14 high quality ingredients with this much nutrient density, but AG1 makes it happen without added Starting point is 00:08:49 Yeah I should have included a map of the route itself. Starting point is 00:09:12 Pretty close. Starting point is 00:09:40 Eventually you get, if you zoom out a little bit so you'll see the border with Jordan. S...

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Mike Baker was the guest on JRE #2274. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

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On Joe Rogan Experience #2274 with Mike Baker, topics include UK Special Forces, Middle East Operations, Desert Navigation, and Military Logistics.

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