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Frame from DEF CON 24 - Chris Rock - How to Overthrow a Government Plays via YouTube's privacy-enhanced embed

DEF CON 24 - Chris Rock - How to Overthrow a Government

24 videos recommended on HN
YouTube
2 HN users recommended this talk2 months2017–2019 score 2.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN recommends it as an amazing, entertaining talk and cites it in threads on power-line sabotage and coup tactics.

A DEF CON 24 talk on how a cyber mercenary group could forge identities and create the conditions for overthrowing a government. It is entertainingly outlandish and includes a drone-mounted saw for cutting power lines.

“If you've not seen this amazing talk I can't recommend it enough.” (HN, 2019)

1 strong recommendations · 1 recommendations · 2 citations · Talks

4 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@taylorfinley Sep 2019 Strongly recommends
on HN thread Aerial Saw Is Boon to Line Trimming
I thought this link was going to be about Mr. Choppy, the drone-mounted power saw designed to cut power lines (for instigating coups, naturally) that Chris Rock showed off[0] in his DEF CON 24 talk, 'How To Overthrow a Government.' If you've not seen this amazing talk I can't recommend it enough. [0] [this video]
Amazing talk featuring a drone-mounted saw for cutting power lines

Citations, criticism and jokes

@tonyarkles Apr 2017 Cites it
on HN thread Fusion reactors: Not what they’re cracked up to be
I'm not 100% positive that this is the right video, but I think it is. As part of the "overthrow a nation" plan, he talks specifically about destroying critical infrastructure, like electricity. The solution for taking out high voltage powerlines? A pair of Skilsaws hanging under a quadcopter. Drop down onto it and... something bad's going to happen! edit: I also missed the link: [this video] edit 2: I scrolled around a bit and it's near the 30 minute mark.
Talk covers taking out power lines with a drone-mounted saw

Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.

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