In the first half, author and researcher Brad Schreiber discussed the startling evidence that the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) and Donald DeFreeze (who were behind the kidnapping of Patty Hearst) were CIA operatives and that the SLA was created by employees of the CIA and California Department of Corrections. Out of concern over "white radicals protesting the Viet Nam war that want to blow up buildings" the CIA cut a deal for DeFreeze to "escape" from prison and set up a phony left-wing organization (the SLA).
Interestingly, according to Schreiber's research, Patty Hearst was already radicalized and was secretly visiting DeFreeze at Vacaville prison, before she was kidnapped in 1974. DeFreeze was furious with her because she broke up with him and that's why he set up her kidnapping to get even with her, he continued. Further, none of the white members of the SLA were aware that he was a double agent, he noted. Schreiber also shared another bizarre twist: California Representative Leo Ryan, before he was murdered in Jonestown, learned that DeFreeze had been a victim of behavior modification by the CIA at Vacaville, and went to Pres. Jimmy Carter to plead for Patty Hearst's sentence to be lessened because she'd gotten mixed up in a CIA plot.
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In the latter half, researcher and futurist Stephan Schwartz spoke about his passion for social change and transformation, with a focus on increasing a person's well being. He found that such changes had to do with individual and group intentions and attitudes, rather than money and politics. Through his research, he discovered that non-violent change succeeds about 75% of the time, while violent change only succeeds about 25% of the time and it doesn't last that long. With successful movements and changes, the same eight laws seemed to occur again and again, he pointed out.
These laws included:
- The individuals and the group must share a common intention.
- Though they have goals, the group shouldn't have a cherished outcome.
- The individuals and the group must accept that their goal may not be reached in their lifetime, and be OK with this.
- The group members must accept that they may not get credit for their efforts.
- Each person in the group must enjoy fundamental equality, even while allowing for hierarchical roles.
- The individuals must make their private selves consistent with their public postures.
News segment guests: Bev Harris, Howard Bloom