Misleading by Design Briefing Room

The Misleading by Design Briefing Room is where I call out the scams, tricks, and deception that target writers and everyday consumers. From predatory author services to food that looks nothing like the packaging to institutions that push bias while pretending to be neutral, this is where I document the patterns and expose the people and systems behind them. I bring over 30 years of experience in intelligence and investigations, which gives me the tools to dig deeper than most. I'm not here to sugarcoat. I'm here to expose what they're hoping you won't notice.

The Briefing Room aligns with Branching Plot Books' core mission. Whether I’m writing personal accounts like The Empty Lot Next Door, investigating Candle Face, or preserving the voices in The Scrolls of Souls, the goal is to involve the audience in interpretation, analysis, and sometimes action. Just as the books encourage readers to bring their own instincts and beliefs, the Briefing Room asks them to examine the stories, products, and institutions they encounter in daily life. Whether you’re reading a scroll or spotting a scam, what matters is how you read between the lines.

A graphic illustration shows a funnel labeled "AMU Curriculum" filtering out "Left-Wing Violence," "Islamist Attacks," and "Eco-Terrorism," with only a single drop emerging into an open book labeled "Right-Wing Extremism."

Part 14: AMU’s Curriculum Puts National Security at Risk

This conclusion pulls together the findings from each section of the AMU investigation. It confirms that the university’s counter-terrorism curriculum is not just biased, it’s dangerous. With evidence pulled directly...

Part 13: Plan of Action – How AMU Can Fix Its Curriculum

This paper outlines a direct plan for reforming AMU’s counter-terrorism and security curriculum. It demands an end to political indoctrination and biased leadership and calls for updated course content that...
A serious-looking Black male student wearing an “AMU” shirt stands against a dark background. Two ghostly hands grip his shoulders. One from the left labeled “BIAS” and one from the right labeled “FACTS.” He appears conflicted, caught between the two.
A frustrated male college student sits at his desk, surrounded by an environmental science textbook and propaganda messages  while a glowing image of China in the background remains untouched.

Part 12: AMU’s Environmental Science Course Blames the West

AMU’s Introduction to Environmental Science course blames Western society for global pollution while downplaying or ignoring China’s massive environmental destruction. Students are pushed to feel personal guilt and adopt radical...

Part 11: AMU’s Blueprint for Radicalization

This article exposes the ideological manipulation embedded in AMU’s Mind of a Terrorist course. Rather than training students to fight extremism, the course uses radicalization models as tools to condition...
A White male student sits alone in a university classroom with a rejected paper in front of him.
A soldier wearing a full hazmat suit, standing in a dimly lit environment, symbolizing preparation for chemical, biological, or radiological threats.

Part 10: AMU’s CBRN Course Gets One Thing Right

Unlike most courses in AMU’s Homeland Security program, the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Hazards class largely avoids political bias. The syllabus focuses on threats from hostile nation-states. Instead of injecting...

Part 9: AMU Turns a Blind Eye to Left-Wing Domestic Threats

AMU’s Introduction to Homeland Security and Defense course presents a selective view of domestic threats. While its technical content, like risk management, border security, and infrastructure protection, remains neutral, the...
Three men sit under a spotlight, each labeled by perceived threat type: a hooded man holding a Molotov cocktail labeled “LEFT-WING,” a white man in the center labeled “RIGHT-WING,” and a Muslim man in traditional clothing labeled “ISLAMIST.”
An African American intelligence analyst in a suit sits in a darkened control room, focused on a wall of monitors. All visible suspects labeled “right-wing” are white, while individuals labeled “left-wing” are absent from the screens.

Part 8: AMU Ignores Left-Wing Extremism by Design

This article exposes how AMU’s Intelligence and Homeland Security course fails its mission by relying on outdated material and selectively framing threats. While right-wing and Islamic extremism are emphasized, left-wing...

Part 7: Right-Wing Hate, Left-Wing Excuses - AMU’s Playbook

This article examines AMU’s Homegrown Violent Extremism course, exposing how political bias shapes its curriculum. Islamist and left-wing violence are portrayed as reactions to injustice or mental illness, while right-wing...
Three college students sit at separate desks in a classroom. A Muslim male student wears a shirt labeled “Misunderstood,” a serious-looking Black student’s shirt reads “Victim,” and a blond White male student’s shirt says “Terrorist.”
A wooden judge’s gavel resting on an old law book, symbolizing the legal and ethical focus of AMU’s course. The image suggests justice bound by outdated rules.

Part 6: AMU’s Legal Course Is Fair but Outdated

Part 6 evaluates AMU’s Homeland Security Legal and Ethical Issues course. Unlike others in the program, this class avoids overt political bias and sticks to its mission: examining the balance...