it is kinda hard to celebrate it after looking at so many pictures of dead Palestinian kids

"Realities have forced us to remain on diplomatic terms with several dictators," the Pampa Daily News stated in 1958. "U.S. ambassador to the U.N Samantha Power has been forced to look the other way as Saudi Arabia does as it pleases in Yemen," Politico told us in 2016. Biden is being forced to accept the flaws of America's friends," claimed The New York Times  earlier this year, 2023.

For decades, we've heard the same excuse regarding US foreign policy: 'Our leaders might not agree with the world’s dictatorial, reactionary governments, but they’re forced –– by some unknown geopolitical dark matter of realpolitik –– to support them for some broader, more noble goal.'

Strengthening ties with the governments of Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Israel, The Philippines, and other countries under right-wing, human-rights-abusing governance might be a bit unpleasant, but it’s the pragmatic thing to do and, therefore, the morally acceptable thing to do.

But countries that are not the United States or its allies are never said to be "forced" into carrying out human rights abuses or supporting those that do. They back bombings, ethnic cleansings, the oppression of women for the sport, because they are existentially evil. No outside mysterious entity ever "forces" them to have to make compromises on the altar of "reality."

But there is nothing, of course, "forcing" these decisions on our own Western leaders, and in nearly every case, they're simply extensions of preexisting geopolitical relationships, imperialist policies, and arbitrary might-makes-right governance.

On this episode, we discuss the media narrative that the U.S. is "forced" to maintain long-beneficial alliances with right-wing regimes, looking at how this suggestion falsely presents the U.S. as an unwilling, but ultimately helpless, participant in repression of human rights around the world.

Our guest is author and NYU professor James Peck.

Ep 190: Why Media Insists the US is "Forced" to Commit Human Rights Abuses

“U.S. shipment of 'lethal aid' reaches Ukraine amid Russia tensions,” NBC News reported in January 2022. “U.S. adopting 'deterrence posture' as aircraft carrier heads towards Israel,” France 24 announced in October 2023. The same month, The Hill warned about “Nutrition: The national security threat no one is talking about.”

This is part two of our two-part episode on the language of war. Last week, we discussed terms like “boots on the ground” and “military footprint;” “precision” or “targeted airstrikes;” “terrorism” and the very Orwellian phrase “enemy noncombatant.”

If you haven’t listened to that episode, we definitely encourage you to do so. On this episode, we examine more of the most insidious terms that U.S. media and government officials use to sanitize military aggression worldwide, how this is affecting coverage of Israel’s nonstop murderous bombing of Gaza, and discuss how we all can and should use clearer, more accurate terms to describe the real human stakes of state violence.

Our guests are Maha Hilal and David Vine.

Episode 193: How Military Jargon and Cliches Make Mass Death Seem Sterile (Part II)

Labor journalist and peace activist Mindy Isser joins us to discuss the United Auto Worker's Union's recent endorsement of a cease fire in Palestine. But first... Braino.

MINDY ISSER
@MindyIsser

READ HER PIECE IN 'IN THESE TIMES' HERE
https://inthesetimes.com/article/uaw-endorses-ceasefire-labor-gaza-israel-palestine

MERCH
poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com

PATREON + DISCORD
PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

UAW Calls For Ceasefire w/ Mindy Isser

In this News Brief, "Quantifying the Media's Selective Humanity in Gaza," we are joined by Adam's anonymous co-author of their two recent studies—one of print media and one of cable news—detailing US's media's double standards when covering the 'Gaza conflict.'

News Brief: Quantifying the Media's Selective Humanity in Gaza

This week we're joined by writer Lily Lynch (@lilyslynch) to talk about the end of humanitarianism, how and why the liberal international order was established in the 90s, and how the realists were right about Ukraine.

You can find her writing here: https://www.newstatesman.com/author/lilylynch and here: https://newleftreview.org/sidecar/search?query%5Bauthor%5D=Lily+Lynch

You can support us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/trillbillyworkersparty

Episode 327: Hague Invasion Pact (w/ special guest Lily Lynch)

In this News Brief we are joined by friend of the show, Maximillian Alvarez of The Real News, to discuss Democrats' pathetic, myopic, and nihilistic attempt to play the racist reverse Uno card on Congressional Republicans.

News Brief: How US Media Obscures the Violence of the Generic, Sterile-Sounding "Border Deal"

We discuss the story of a cop's battle with an acorn and some surprising moves from former skater Beto O'Rourke. Then, an interview with Palestinian-American organizer Adam Y. Abusalah (@adam_abusalah) who fills us in on the anti-Biden "Uncommitted" campaign ahead of Tuesday's primary in Michigan.

Uncommitted campaign site:
https://www.listentomichigan.com/

Follow Project 1948 on Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/project1948/

PAID PROTEST 3/1:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/paidprotestmarch

Subscribe to our bonus feed:
Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Michigan

Uncommitted in Michigan w/Adam Y. Abusalah

We take a look at the insane Comrade Bala of the Workers Institute of Marxism-Leninism-MZT, heart attack satellites, the limits of sectarianism, Harry Potter, and slavery. A case of anti-revisionism gone terribly wrong.

Episode 360: Helmsmen Of Brixton

Unlocked for non-members! Originally posted February19, 2024. To make sure you never miss an episode, subscribe at patreon.com/TrueAnonPod.
----------
We play some of the many, many, many messages we’ve received this past week. Gossip, conspiracy, blind items, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s idea for a breast-shaped mouse

The hotline is permanently open at ‪(646) 801-1129‬.

UNLOCKED: Episode 355: Tip Line

Will & Hesse talk to Radu Jude, the director of the new comedy feature Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World. The film features an overworked production assistant as she drives around Bucharest shooting videos for a large multinational company as a satire of the malaise and indignity of modern life. Will, Hesse and Radu discuss the film’s send-up of TikTok masculinity influencers, the relationship with earlier films edited into the movie, the various versions of Romania Jude depicts and much more..  

Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World is now in theaters and will be streaming on MUBI starting May 3.

Movie Mindset

Movie Mindset Bonus: Interview With Director Radu Jude

Special episode coming over the wire from the International People’s Tribunal in Brussels. Featuring coverage of the tribunal and interviews with Lumad teacher Rose Hayahay and Anakpawis chairman Ariel Casilao. 

Read the initial verdict: peoplestribunal.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IPT-2024-INITIAL-Verdict-18-May.pdf

Episode 380: Tribunal 1

Gothic socialist comedy podcast by three idiot comedians: Jake Flores, Alex Ptak and Anders Lee. @poddamnamerica 
patreon.com/poddamnamerica

UAW Calls For Ceasefire w/ Mindy Isser

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