Episode 36: Imperial Hypocrisy with Ben Norton

In the Context of Empire

Matt was joined by journalist Ben Norton to speak about a variety of topics that highlight the hypocrisy of the US empire. The dicussion covers a range of topics including the mainstream media's deference to the national security state, concepts terrorism and genocide, and the treatment of Julian Assange. Ben writes for the Grayzone and hosts the Moderate Rebels podcast with Max Blumenthal.

Discussed in this Episode:

- Ben's interest in national security reporting and why so many Western journalists have a deference to US imperial institutions

- The Grayzone's origins and irrational vitriol they receive for doing good journalism

- How character assassination becomes deployed by critics with no actual coherent argument

- Bens article, US backs al-Qaeda in Yemen while dubbing its Houthi enemies ‘terrorists’

- The concept of genocide, and its application to various situations. Matt wrote an article about the subject.

- US involvement in the Syrian Civil War,: the dirty war the US has been engaged in through arming "moderate rebels" and conducting a massive propaganda campaign. Discussed further in Ben's article, Leaked docs expose massive Syria propaganda operation waged by Western govt contractors and media

- How do speak about countries currently being targeted by US imperialism

- The need to be skeptical about all claims made the the US about official US enemies- the long history of the US lying

Our Work:

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts to this content!

Matt's recent article concept of terrorism, its uses and misuses

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