Spellbreakers Ep. 177: Summer Abroad Walking Tour #4 - Templar London

Newly clean-shaven host Matt Trump (yes, he shaved the beard) delivers part four of his summer abroad walking tour, back in London as the self-described Rick Steves of Badlands. After brief detours on odd Wisconsin election results and AI watermarking, he cues up the 1953 Ivanhoe trailer and walks you upstream along the Thames, past Blackfriars, to the round Temple Church at the heart of the medieval Inns of Court. The main event is the Knights Templar. Framed archaeologically rather than as pure conspiracy fodder, he traces their origins as pilgrim-protecting warrior monks headquartered at the Temple Mount, their surprising role as the inventors of international banking and letters of credit, and their later life as lawyers. The through line ties this fusion of military, finance, and intelligence to modern parallels, from the CIA to globalist power. Expect crusades history, a promised pub stop, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek asides.