@maxwell-hosler only the paranoid survived, evolutionarily. 

Samuel Smiles, actual name Johnny Horsecrap.

Great stuff, as ever. Of course, this is linked to the supine, a-political state of modern psychology in general, Zerzan has a super essay on such topics: 'The Mass Psychology of Misery'

Since the beginning of what’s generally called ‘RussiaGate’ three years ago, pundits, media outlets, even comedians have all become insta-experts on supposed Russian propaganda techniques. The most cunning of these tricks, we are told, is that of “whataboutism” – a devious Soviet tactic of deflecting criticism by pointing out the accusers’ hypocrisy and inconsistencies. The tu quoque - or, “you, also” - fallacy, but with a unique Slavic flavor of nihilism, used by Trump and leftists alike in an effort to change the subject and focus on the faults of the United States rather than the crimes of Official State Enemies. 

But what if "whataboutism" isn’t describing a propaganda technique, but in fact is one itself: a zombie phrase that’s seeped into everyday liberal discourse that – while perhaps useful in the abstract - has manifestly turned any appeal to moral consistency into a cunning Russian psyop. From its origins in the Cold War as a means of deflecting and apologizing for Jim Crow to its braindead contemporary usage as a way of not engaging any criticism of the United States as the supposed arbiter of human rights, the term "whataboutism" has become a term that - 100 percent of the time - is simply used to defend and legitimizing American empire’s moral narratives.

We are joined by Jeremy Scahill, co-founder of The Intercept.

Episode 66: Whataboutism - The Media's Favorite Rhetorical Shield Against Criticism of US Policy

Eli Valley stops by to talk Ilhan Omar, Meghan McCain, Chelsea Clinton, and the latest act of fascist mass murder in Christchurch, NZ.

Also Virgil solves the Israel-Palestine conflict.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/christchurch-shooting-victims-fund

Chapo Trap House

298 - The Israel Nerd feat. Eli Valley (3/18/19)

We celebrate Bernie's victory in the Iowa Caucus.

TOUR DATES:ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: www.chapotraphouse.com/tour
Las Vegas, NV Feb 18, @ House of Blues
San Diego, CA, Feb 23, @ The Observatory North Park
Sacramento, CA Feb 28 @ Ace of Spades

UNLOCKED: 391 - Bernie Won (2/5/20)

“145 CEOs Call On Senate To Pass 'Common-sense, Bipartisan' Gun Laws,” NPR states. “Local Democrat pushes back on NY bail reform law: It's about 'common sense,' not politics,” a Fox News headline reads. “The Only Thing More Dangerous Than Trump’s Appeal to Common Sense Is His Dismissal of It,” The Nation warns. Everywhere we turn we are told by pundits and politicians that "common sense" demands we support their preferred policy prescription. 

It's a common appeal: a political issue—whether health-insurance, immigration, foreign policy, or gun violence—reaches a real or perceived extreme, and, in reaction, media pundits and political figures claim the most appropriate response must be ostensibly neutral, reasonable "common sense" reforms.

But these claims are insidious. While "common sense" may appear to be a constructive guiding principle, there is no meaningful definition of the concept and when it is evoked, it's almost always an appeal to status quo ideology. What’s sensible to a member of the Tea Party isn’t the same as what’s sensible to an activist seeking to end police violence. So, whose “common sense” is really being promoted when we hear these calls to action?

On this week's episode, we explore how appeals to “common sense” present politics as a matter of rationality rather than of morality; how these demands reinforce centrist and right-wing ideologies and how the Left can work to build an alternative common sense.

We are joined by cultural anthropologist Dr. Kate Crehan, Professor Emerita at College of Staten Island and the CUNY Graduate Center.

Episode 101: The False Universality of “Common Sense”

“Woman Sues TripAdvisor After Falling off Runaway Camel,” reports the Associated Press. “Red Bull Paying Out to Customers Who Thought Energy Drink Would Actually Give Them Wings,” eyerolls Newsweek. “Tennessee man sues Popeyes for running out of chicken sandwiches,” scoffs NBC News.

We see “frivolous lawsuit” stories all the time and have for decades. Seemingly absurd cases of get rich quick schemes often with catchy headlines, a caricature of a plaintiff friendly legal system run amok. These stories play into faux-populist tropes of a country full of lazy poor people looking to cash in and a sleazy legal system that leeches off hard-working Americans.

But how organic are these “pop torts”––or popular stories of frivolous lawsuits––and more importantly, how true even are they? What organizations are behind cherry-picking and teeing up these shameful tales of greed for uncritical writers, editors and producers? Who’s backing them, and what, perhaps, may be their ulterior motives?
Moreover, what are the human stakes to so called “tort reform” and how did it come to be that the vast majority of Americans came to accept the premise that, at some point in the 1980s, we all became amoral lawsuit happy scumbags out to shutdown mom and pop stores and grab a quick buck?

We are joined by the Center for Justice & Democracy's Joanna Doroshow.

Episode 107: Pop Torts and the Ready-Made Virality of ‘Frivolous Lawsuit’ Stories

How can one achieve happiness? It’s the eternal question. From Aristotle to Al-Ghazali, Thomas Aquinas to Arthur Schopenhauer. The answer, we’re told, is to look within. These days, we’re told repeatedly by our modern philosophers, Oprah Winfrey, Srikumar Rao, Tony Robbins, Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra and other corporate happiness monitors that prosperity and fulfillment come through deep introspection and mindfulness—just pay for more inspiring books, videos, retreats, seminars, and classes!

These prescriptions, while ostensibly useful in the short term for answering personal questions or alleviating stress, all fall within the genre of self-help. The trouble is, on the whole, they’re not very helpful at all. The self-help industry is predicated on the ever-American and thoroughly capitalist concepts of rugged individualism and personal responsibility, arguing that if you have a problem, it’s invariably up to you, and only you, to fix it. Meanwhile, it imparts the appearance of virtue and legitimacy with hollow, cherry-picked references to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and psychology.

In recent years, there’s rightfully been a new crop of criticism leveled against the self-help industry, with books offering “anti-self-help” alternatives for improving one’s life, calling for people to relax and stop placing so much pressure on themselves. Still, many of these critiques embrace the same form of individualism as the media they decry, ignoring the reality that the best way to ‘help’ people is to ensure their material needs—like housing, food, and healthcare—are met. 

On this episode, we’ll chronicle the development of modern self-help culture, from its 19th-century protestant, capitalist roots to its modern ambassadors; analyze how self-help culture promotes the values of neoliberalism; examine the ways in which modern mainstream critiques of the self-help industry fall short, embracing the same reactionary principles they should be rebuking, and dissect the profound institutional incentives that compel us to prioritize solipsism over solidarity. 

Our guest is political economist and author William Davies.

Episode 109: Self-Help Culture and the Rise of Corporate Happiness Monitoring

“Free markets drive innovation!” It’s a narrative imparted to us ad nauseam. The ultimate catalyst of creation and progress — we’re told by policymakers, business executives, think tanks, and the media outlets that bolster them — in which great strides in healthcare, electronics, media, and other areas are the domain of private enterprise motivated by competition and profit, and unencumbered by state intervention. 

As the prospect of socialism — or at least the word “socialism” — regains currency in the West, these claims have resurged. Capitalism’s supporters insist that a profit-first system is the reason the world is always improving, lifting people out of poverty while equipping them with iPhones, WiFi, and central air conditioning. Socialism, they contend, hinders innovation because public ownership of the means of production removes the competition and profit that ostensibly incentivize creativity. 

But why are we expected to believe that concentrating ownership of the means of production in the hands of a few is the key to progress and prosperity for all? How is it that the most important metrics of “innovation” are consumer goods available to some, rather than socialized, need-based programs available to all? And above all, who does this narrative that “innovation” is driven by Anglo-American style Randian capitalism really serve? 

On this episode, we delve into these questions, looking at how the United States — the world’s foremost champion of capitalism — packages propaganda about its alleged innovation; the reasons capitalism not only fails to drive innovation, but also actively destroys it; and the U.S.’s brutal actions to thwart socialist efforts toward a more equitably and sustainable version of “innovation” at home and aboard. 

Our guest is Current Affairs associate editor Vanessa A. Bee.

Episode 110: The Shiny-Object Psychology of American Capitalist “Innovation”

This week we look at Nelson Rockefeller and his time in U.S politics. We briefly cover the Rockefeller wealth and will take a longer look at that on a future episode. On this episode we dive into the policies of the republicans of this brief era and how some of them were more progressive than what democrats propose today. For this discussion we are joined by special guest Tobi Olowe the host of Impressions of America. At one point to take the focus off the US we spend a moment to discuss the UK’s Priti Patel. Enjoy! The following was mentioned by Tobi to add to our description. 

I think listeners should consider the biography On His Own Terms by Richard Norton Smith. For the early CIA stuff although we didn't get into it as much but Gerard Colby's Thy Will on Rockefeller political interests in Latin America. For the Rockefeller family perhaps the PBS documentary. Impressions of America is a history podcasts about US History since the 1960s. We have covered key conservatives including Nixon, Reagan, William F Buckley, Ayn Rand and their effects on American life.

Follow him on Twitter @Dontigga

Episode 193: Nelson Rockefeller feat. Tobi Olowe

This week we cover the lifestyles of Lex Greensill the Australian airplane obsessed nerd who figured out how to make billions from a process called “Supply Chain Financing” or “Reverse Factoring” It’s honestly very confusing, and convoluted so we are graciously joined by Riley from the podcast Trashfuture. It’s a wild ride that doesn’t have enough drops of Fosters beer. Check out their podcast Trashfuture and follow the hosts of that show on twitter. @raaleh, @HKesvani, @milo_edwards, @inthesedeserts and @aliceavizandum Enjoy!

(Patreon Unlocked) Episode 198: Lex Greensill feat. Riley from TRASHFUTURE

Zero Books publishing manager Doug Lain talks to us about getting censored by the Youtube algorithm bot and how we grapple with free speech as leftists on the internet. We go on to talk about how this plays into the overall ideological movement of socialism, the end of history/end of ideology, and then someone brings up a twitter account that it is illegal to type out loud and we start yappin' about free speech and comics and crap. Enjoy

DOUG LAIN/ZERO BOOKS
https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/zer0-books/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyoQK-mZXr2ws4C0nXGCH1w
https://douglaslain.substack.com/p/why-did-youtube-censor-us
https://youtu.be/2c5_hVUHp5o
https://www.patreon.com/zerobooks

MERCH
poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com

PATREON
Patreon.com/PODDAMNAMERICA

Howdy I'm the Sherrif of Youtube w/ Doug Lain

Matt Christman (@cushbomb) joins Charles and Dan to enjoy some politically charged country tunes delivered candidly from the back of a pickup truck.

Fortune Kit on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fortunekit/

70 - Red Like Reagan (ft. Matt Christman)

Citations Needed is a podcast about the media, power, PR, and the history of bullshit. It is hosted by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson, and produced by Florence Barrau-Adams.

Episode 109: Self-Help Culture and the Rise of Corporate Happiness Monitoring

Citations Needed Podcast

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