American Prestige

News - Biden Green-Lights US Weapons Against Russia, ICC Issues Warrants for Israeli Leadership, Leftist Victory in Sri Lanka Nov 22, 2024

One more news episode before us Yankees have a holiday. Note: Although we will not have a news roundup next week, we'll have other new content.

This week: In Israel-Palestine, the ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant (0:56) and the US vetoes another ceasefire resolution (6:11); US envoy Amos Hochstein is working on a ceasefire in Lebanon (8:50); in Sri Lanka, the leftist coalition wins a parliamentary majority (12:26); in Sudan, the RSF commits new atrocities (14:12) and Russia vetoes a ceasefire (16:33); in Russia-Ukraine, Biden gives Ukraine permission to use long-range US weapons in Russia (18:29), while Reuters reports that Putin is open to peace negotiations (23:19); the US recognizes opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez as president of Venezuela (24:55); a new armed group wreaks violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti (27:09); and we have a New Cold War update featuring the final Biden-Xi meeting (29:10) and Biden’s last G20 summit (31:06).

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Watch the new documentary from Al-Jazeera's Fault Lines program, "All That Remains", which follows a 13-year-old amputee from Gaza named Leyan as she seeks treatment in the United States.

E185 - The First Barbary War and America on the Global Stage w/ Abby Mullen Nov 19, 2024

Abby Mullen, assistant professor at the US Naval Academy, joins the program to talk about her book To Fix a National Character: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800–1805. The group explores the conflict, American geopolitics in its infancy, the Barbary States and piracy committed on their behalf at the time, how US naval expeditions in an era without a global network of bases functioned, the myth of the war in "The Marines' Hymn", and more.

Bonus - Foreign Policy, the Election, and Trump 2.0 w/ Stephen Wertheim (Preview) Nov 17, 2024

Danny and Derek welcome back to the program Stephen Wertheim, senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, this time to talk about foreign policy and the election. They discuss the professionalization of the Democrats, the Harris campaign's decision to ally themselves with the likes of the Cheney family, national security FP, Trump as the "peace candidate", how defense spending might exceed $1 trillion going forward, the fate of Ukraine, Israel/Palestine/Lebanon, and more.

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Grab a copy of Stephen's book Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy.

AP x Nonzero - Will Trump Go Full-On Authoritarian? w/ Robert Wright Nov 15, 2024

It's another edition of the bi-monthly collaboration between AP and Nonzero Newsletter continues! For the full version of this episode, subscribe now at Supporting Cast, where you'll also get a discounted subscription for Nonzero Newsletter!

Part one video

0:00 Another high-synergy, brilliant collaboration

1:15 Is Elon our first true oligarch?

9:57 Trump assembles his Justice League of hawks

16:29 Biden’s awful foreign policy team

21:25 Trump’s plan to purge the military

33:06 Will Trump go full-on authoritarian?

40:21 Left-wing capitalists—and a discount offer

News - UN Petrol State Climate Summit, Israel Ready to Annex Palestinian Territories, Japanese PM Remains in Power Nov 15, 2024

Your weekly news roundup from two happy warriors. This week: struggles at the UN COP29 climate change conference (1:48), not the least of which is the incoming climate denier president of the US (5:45); in Israel-Palestine, the US shockingly doesn't follow through on its 30-day humanitarian aid deadline (7:57), Trump appointments signal imminent formal annexation of Palestinian territories (12:24), and Qatar withdraws from ceasefire talks (16:48); in Lebanon, Israel is working on a ceasefire as a "gift" for Trump (18:33); Xi and Biden to meet in China (21:35); the Japanese government survives a confirmation vote (23: 45); a new report on horrifying death toll figures in the Sudan war (25:48); in Russia-Ukraine, Russia pushers to retake Kursk (28:01) while Europe and Ukraine show new flexibility to exchange land for a peace deal (30:25); Germany prepares for a snap election in February in the wake of the government coalition collapsing (32:38); in Haiti, the transitional council fires the PM (34:44) while the US bans flights there (36:15); and Trump announces a number of new appointments for his second term (37:35).

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Special - What Would Secretary of State Marco Rubio Look Like? w/ Steven Cohen (Preview) Nov 13, 2024

Danny and Derek speak with Steven Cohen, PhD candidate in history, working on drug war political economy in the Americas, about what we might see if, as expected, Marco Rubio is named as secretary of state in the new Trump administration.

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E184 - Studying the Far Right w/ Benji Rolsky Nov 12, 2024

Historian Benji Rolsky speaks with Danny about how others in their profession have thought about the far right, a subset of history which has expanded greatly in the last decade or so. They explore how the study of the far right might be "broken", anti-fundamentalism, Christian nationalism, the episodic nature of this field, and how Trump might have changed the historiography.

Read Benji's piece "Why the Study of the Right is Broken": Part 1 and Part 2.

Also check out his book The Rise and Fall of the Religious Left: Politics, Television, and Popular Culture in the 1970s and Beyond.

Subscribe to the show for more episodes and content!

Special - The 2024 US Presidential Election (Unlocked) Nov 10, 2024

This is a re-post of an special episode we did for subscribers on Wednesday, November 6. Subscribe now for immediate access to breaking news specials and much more content.

Danny and Derek jump on the mic to break down Donald Trump's decisive election victory. Topics include the crisis of liberalism, the end of the road for the Democrats' status quo, what Trump and Vance mean for American foreign policy, the Boomers and members of the Silent Generation holding onto power, and the profound alienation of our time.

Bonus - The CIA and Time Magazine w/ Simon Willmetts (Preview) Nov 10, 2024

Danny and Derek chat with Simon Willmetts, associate professor of intelligence studies at Leiden University, about his recent piece for Diplomatic History, "The CIA and Time Magazine: Journalistic Ethics and Newsroom Dissent". The group discusses the subfield of intelligence history, public awareness of intelligence organizations, why the scope Time and Life magazinesin the mid-20th century and why the CIA would want to collude with such publications, the development of journalistic ethics in light of journalistic connections with the national security state, and more.

Further reading:

George Herkin, The Georgetown Set: Friends and Rivals in Cold War Washington
Kathryn McGarr, City of Newsmen: Public Lies and Professional Secrets in Cold War Washington
Hugh Wilford, The CIA: An Imperial History

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News - Ethnic Cleansing in Northern Gaza, German Government Collapses, Potential End to Ukraine War Nov 08, 2024

Heads of state come and go, but not all of them make the news roundup with Danny and Derek. This week: in Palestine-Israel, Netanyahu fires defense minister Gallant (0:57), a leak scandal involving Netanyahu's office (6:36), an update on the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza (8:52), and the IDF appears to admit to committing ethnic cleansing (13:05); in Lebanon, the ceasefire push collapses (15:39), the IDF looks to create a "buffer zone" (17:46), and the Washington Post reports that Israeli evacuation warnings are misleading civilians (19:31); in Iran, Supreme Leader Khamenei threatens an attack on Israel (27:19); a new report details the mistreatment of migrant workers in Arabian Gulf states (30:35); the DPRK/North Korea conducts a new ICBM test (33:09); new RSF massacres in Sudan (36:41); in Russia-Ukraine, North Korean soldiers join combat operations (38:35), future concerns in the US about how the war will be conducted under Trump (41:38), and Russia floats the possibility of ending the war (44:36); the German government collapses (46:59); and in Bolivia, protesters supporting former president Evo Morales pause roadblocks amid clashes with the police (49:54).

Subscribe now for more content, including our two post-election specials:

Special - The U.S. Presidential Election, the Latino Vote, and the Deportation Regime w/ Alexander Aviña (Preview) Nov 08, 2024

Alexander Aviña, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, joins Danny and Derek to talk about narratives forming around the election regarding a Latino shift to the right, Biden and Trump's respective records on the border, whether Trump will be able to carry out his threats of mass deportation, right-wing anti-migrant rhetoric vs. businesses that depend on that labor force, and more.

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Special - The 2024 US Presidential Election (Preview) Nov 06, 2024

Danny and Derek jump on the mic to break down Donald Trump's decisive election victory. Topics include the crisis of liberalism, the end of the road for the Democrats' status quo, what Trump and Vance mean for American foreign policy, the Boomers and members of the Silent Generation holding onto power, and the profound alienation of our time.

Subscribe now for the full episode!

When you subscribe now, you'll get access to the AP Discord to connect with fellow subscribers and members of the AP team.

E183 - Foreign Policy and the 2024 US Presidential Election w/ Eli Clifton Nov 04, 2024

Danny and Derek welcome back to the program Eli Clifton, senior advisor and investigative journalist at large at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, to talk about the role of foreign policy in US presidential elections (namely tomorrow's). They talk about chatter on the ground regarding Palestine/Lebanon, whether the Democrats are capable of "learning lessons" from a loss, how to once again make FP relevant to American voters, the broken discourse around China, how money in politics defines the parameters of FP discussion in Washington, and more.

Subscribe now at Supporting Cast

Subscribers can check out our 2022 episode with Eli on think tanks.

Bonus - Trump, Isolationism, and a Democrat-Led "America First" Agenda w/ Charles Kupchan (Preview) Nov 03, 2024

Danny and Derek speak with Charles Kupchan, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and professor of international affairs at Georgetown University, about his essay for Foreign Affairs "The Deep Roots of Trump’s Isolationism". They define "isolationism" and whether Trump even knows what that is, then discuss the history of American intervention, the so-called rules-based order, anti-democratic liberalism, the necessity of maintaining American interests abroad, the implications of the Cold War triumph of capitalism, and more.

Subscribe now for the full episode at Supporting Cast!

News - Knesset Bans UNRWA, Sudan Massacre, Georgia Election Nov 01, 2024

Nothing's spookier than the news, but Danny and Derek find their courage. This week: in Israel-Palestine, a new report of the Biden administration ignoring Israeli war crimes (0:30), the Knesset votes to ban UNRWA (2:43), and yet more ceasefire talks (8:12); in Lebanon, Hezbollah names a new leader (10:32) and a push for a ceasefire there (12:25); regarding Iran, the aftermath of the Israeli strikes (15:36) and reports of an imminent retaliation (19:10); North Korea/DPRK tests an ICBM (22:07); Japan's Liberal Democratic Party loses its parliamentary majority (24:33); in Sudan, a new massacre by the RSF (26:52) and a UN report on sexual violence in the conflict (29:18); Somalia kicks out another diplomat from Ethiopia (30:28); in Russia-Ukraine, North Korean soldiers in Kursk (32:49), Russia makes gains in Donetsk (34:50), and new talks on sparing energy sites (36:56), the results of Georgia's election (37:59); Venezuela withdraws its ambassador from Brazil over BRICS (41:07); and the annual UN General Assembly's vote over the embargo of Cuba (42:43).

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E182 - The Ongoing Catastrophe of Sudan's Civil War w/ Khalid Medani Oct 29, 2024

Danny and Derek welcome back to the podcast Khalid Medani, associate professor of political science, director of the Institute of Islamic Studies, and chair of the African Studies Program at McGill University, to talk about the state of play in Sudan's civil war. They delve into the military stalemate between the Sudanese Army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the humanitarian crisis reaching 13 million displaced and 26 million on the brink of starvation, involvement from outside actors including Egypt and the UAE, the strategic importance of the besieged city El Fasher in Darfur, the defection of the RSF’s Gezira commander, Abuagla Keikal, over to the Sudanese military, and more.

Note: After the recording of this episode, the RSF massacred 120 people in eastern Sudan.

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Don't forget to get your copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here.

Special - Where Things Stand: Iran, Israel, and Lebanon w/ Séamus Malekafzali (Preview) Oct 28, 2024

Séamus Malekafzali once again joins Danny and Derek, this time to talk about Iran's lack of a retaliation (so far) to Israel's strike this weekend, what Israel might be hoping to get out of that and its invasion of Lebanon, the effect of the latter on Lebanese Americans, Iran's grand strategy, and more.

To hear the full episode, subscribe now at Supporting Cast.

Bonus - The Current US Foreign Policy Moment w/ Adam Tooze (Preview) Oct 27, 2024

Adam Tooze, the Shelby Cullom Davis chair of history at Columbia University and director of the European Institute, is back on the program, this time to talk about his recent piece for The Guardian, "Facing war in the Middle East and Ukraine, the US looks feeble. But is it just an act?". They get into the "post-Cold War order", how Biden's foreign policy compares with that of Trump's, US "allies" vs adversaries' "axes", US policy in Palestine, the state of "international law", Russian Keynesianism, and more.

Subscribe now at Supporting Cast for the full episode.

Don't forget to get your copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here.

Special - Israeli Strikes on Iran (October 2024) (Preview) Oct 26, 2024

Danny and Derek talk about what we know so far regarding Israel's strikes on Iran last night, their apparent targets, to what extent they're performative, whether there will be a counterstrike, how this factors into domestic US politics, and more.

Subscribe now at Supporting Cast for the full episode

Special - Yahya Sinwar and the Situation in Gaza w/ Mohammad Alsaafin (Full Episode) Oct 25, 2024

This the full version of the special episode we posted last Friday after the death of Yahya Sinwar. Subscribe now for immediate access to all specials.

Derek welcomes back to the program Mohammad Alsaafin, journalist at AJ+, to talk about the death of Yahya Sinwar, the Israeli offensive in northern Gaza, the potential for resettlement, IDF assassinations of Hezbollah leadership, where the Biden administration currently stands, and more.

You can follow Mohammad on Twitter @malsaafin

Check out his video for AJ+, "What Does Hamas ACTUALLY Want?"

News - BRICS Summit, IDF Assault on Lebanon, India-China Border Agreement Oct 25, 2024

It's 80 degrees in late October here at AP headquarters, but Danny and Derek remain cool as a cucumber to bring you the news. This week: the 2024 BRICS summit was held, featuring Vladimir Putin pushing for a dollar alternative and potentially alienating some member states (1:36); in Palestine-Israel, an update on Northern Gaza (9:10), Antony Blinken visits (12:31), and a leaked document on Israel's planned counterattack on Iran (16:22); in Lebanon, the IDF targets the Qard al-Hassan banking network (18:22), US special enovy Amos Hochstein visits with special demands (21:13), and the IDF targets Tyre for the first time in this assault (23:45); in Turkey, a terrorist attack interferes with the Kurdish peace process (25:19) and Fethullah Gülen of (of the eponymous movement) dies (28:02); India and China negotiate a border agreement, with Xi and Modi meeting while at the BRICS summit (31:11); in Sudan, an RSF commander defects (34:18); the M23 ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo appears to have failed (36:03); in Ukraine, Russian forces are pressuring several towns (37:57) amid talk of DPRK/North Korean soldiers being deployed (40:18); and finally, a new UN climate report says countries have made no progress in cutting emissions to tackle climate change (43:42).

Subscribe now at Supporting Cast.

Don't forget to get your copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here.

E181 - The State Department, Weapons Deals, and Israeli Obstructions of Humanitarian Aid w/ Brett Murphy Oct 22, 2024

Derek speaks with ProPublica's Brett Murphy about recent revelations showing the US government's continued arming of Israel despite the State Department's knowledge of Israel preventing humanitarian aid getting into Gaza. They delve into the laws regarding arming countries engaging in such policies, Antony Blinken's denial of knowing Israel's humanitarian aid obstruction in Gaza, America's rationale for an unconditional flow of arms, and more.

Brett's pieces on the matter:

Don't forget to get your copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here.

Bonus - FEMA, Climate Castrophe, and Western North Carolina w/ Jessica Pishko (Preview) Oct 20, 2024

Asheville-based journalist and lawyer Jessica Pishko chats with Danny and Derek about the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the state response. They discuss the state of affairs in Western North Carolina, the model of FEMA as part of the Department of Homeland Security, the federal government's messaging around this disaster, the proliferation of disinformation, the future of disaster relief as climate change worsens, and more. They also preview a future discussion about Jessica's book The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy.

Check out Jessica's pieces on Helene and Asheville, "Climate Catastrophe Comes to Asheville" and "Outrage and Paranoia After Hurricane Helene".

Subscribe now for the full episode.

Don't forget to get your copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here.

Special - Yahya Sinwar and the Situation in Gaza w/ Mohammad Alsaafin Oct 19, 2024

Derek welcomes back to the program Mohammad Alsaafin, journalist at AJ+, to talk about the death of Yahya Sinwar. Then, for subscribers, they discuss the Israeli offensive in northern Gaza, the potential for resettlement, IDF assassinations of Hezbollah leadership, where the Biden administration currently stands, and more.

Subscribe now for the full episode.

You can follow Mohammad on Twitter @malsaafin.

Check out his video for AJ+, "What Does Hezbollah ACTUALLY Want?"

News - Death of Yahya Sinwar, Sudan War, Defense Contractors Cash In Oct 18, 2024

It's another dose of doom, but we tacked on a relatively feel-good animal story. Otherwise, this week: It appears that Israel has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar (1:32), the IDF's brutal operation continues in northern Gaza (4:56), and the Biden administration floats withholding arms over the Strip's humanitarian situation (6:42); an update on Israel's invasion of Lebanon (13:09); the world continues to await Israel's response to Iran's ballistic missile strike (16:07); a diplomatic crisis for India and Canada (19:28); the DPRK/North Korea strikes unused rail lines connecting it with South Korea (21:04); an update on the war in Sudan (22:50); a devastating drought in southern Africa (26:12); in Russia-Ukraine, a Russian counteroffensive in Kursk makes progress (27:44) while Zelenskyy reveals part of his Victory Plan (31:19); stock prices soar for US defense contractors (34:22); and China has sent pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, DC (36:04).

Subscribe now at Supporting Cast.

Don't forget to get your copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here.

Special - ¡No Pasarán! w/ Chris Wade Oct 17, 2024

Chris Wade, producer of Chapo Trap House (and its spinoffs, including Hell of Presidents and The Inebriated Past) joins the program to talk about the project of putting together Matt Christman's first book as a solo author ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War.

Grab your copy of ¡No Pasarán! today! Pre-orders are available through October 31.

E180 - India's Homeland Security and Israel w/ Rhys Machold Oct 15, 2024

Danny and Derek are joined by Rhys Machold, senior lecturer in international relations at the University of Glasgow, to talk about how India tries to achieve homeland security through its relationship with Israel. They talk about the watershed 2008 Mumbai attacks (aka 26/11), the origins of India's relationship with Israel, the latter's security tech industry, post-Mumbai attack ramifications like Modi and Hindutva's rise, and how the concept of homeland security permeates many aspects of the culture.

Buy a copy of Rhys' book Fabricating Homeland Security: Police Entanglements Across India and Palestine/Israel.

And don't forget to get your copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here.

Further Reading:

Lisa Stampintzky Disciplining Terror: How Experts Invented 'Terrorism'

Bonus - Gun Country, Ep. 3 w/Drew McKevitt (Preview) Oct 13, 2024

Drew McKevitt, the John D. Winters Endowed Professor of History at Louisiana Tech University, joins the program to conclude his conversation with Danny and Derek about his book Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America. This episode explores the repercussions of the 1968 Gun Control Act, grassroots gun control groups formed in its wake, gun rights groups, the Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986, the rise of the militia movement, UN attempts to regulate guns in the 1990s, school shootings and mass shootings, and where things stand today.

Pick up a copy of Drew's book here.

Subscribe now for the full episode!

Grab a copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here!

News - US Complicity in Gaza Crimes, President Sheinbaum of Mexico, Pont Sonde Massacre in Haiti Oct 11, 2024

Another week when we learn where our US tax dollars go. This week: In Palestine-Israel, the one year anniversary of October 7 (1:45), damning ProPublica and Drop Site reports on US complicity in aid worker deaths (5:10), a new IDF siege in northern Gaza (10:55), and Biden and Netanyahu discuss a retaliation for Iran (13:47); Netanyahu threatens to turn Lebanon into Gaza (17:27) while the IDF invades and orders evacuations of southern Lebanon (19:40), Beirut's airport seems to be the next target (21:50), and more Hezbollah leadership is killed (23:15); the DPRK/North Korea is cutting road and rail ties to South Korea (25:32); Japan has a new PM and snap election (27:51); in Sudan, new fighting in North Darfur state (30:28); escalation in Ethiopia's Amhara region (31:42); several Russian advances in Ukraine (33:43); the UK and Mauritius reach an agreement on the Chagos Islands (39:57); Claudia Sheinbaum takes office as president of Mexico (43:28); and Haitian armed groups kill dozens in Pont Sonde (45:17).

Subscribe to AP now at Supporting Cast!

Grab a copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here!

E179 - Marx's Capital Re-Translated w/ Paul North and Paul Reitter Oct 08, 2024

Translating Marx's Capital might be daunting to some, but Paul North, professor of Germanic languages and literature at Yale, and Paul Reitter, professor of Germanic languages and literature at Ohio State University, felt up to the task. Danny and Derek talk to them about their new translation of Capital, what goes into capturing the nuances of the original German text, why they chose the second edition in particular, the cosmopolitanism of the book, Marx's anger, and what they each brought to the table in taking on this massive project.

Subscribe to AP now at Supporting Cast!

Grab a copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here!

Bonus - Gun Country, Ep. 2 w/Drew McKevitt (PREVIEW) Oct 06, 2024

Danny and Derek continue their conversation with Drew McKevitt, the John D. Winters Endowed Professor of History at Louisiana Tech University, about his book Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America. This episode picks up in the late 1950s with America's push for gun regulation, baby boomers' access to surplus military weapons, militant groups in the 1960s, European countries' gun exports to the US, the Gun Control Act of 1968, and more.

Pick up a copy of Drew's book here.

Subscribe now for the full episode!

Grab a copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here!

Special - Letting It All Burn w/ Derek Davison Oct 04, 2024

Although host Derek Davison has mentat-like abilities to aggregate an enormous amount of world news each day for his Foreign Exchanges newsletter (and once a week for our AP news roundup), even he needs a break every now and then. This week, instead of the news, Danny interviews Derek about his piece for FX, "Letting it All Burn". They talk about what goes into Derek's journalistic work, what drove him to write this unusually reflective column, what he thinks is particularly different (or not) about the current moment in the Middle East, and whether he sees any way out of the status quo in Western/North Atlantic politics.

Subscribe to AP now at Supporting Cast. Don't forget, with your AP subscription, you get access to a discounted FX subscription as well!

Grab a copy of Matt Christman’s Book ¡No Pasarán! here!

Special - The Middle East Regional War (PREVIEW) Oct 02, 2024

Danny and Derek give an update on Israel's invasion of Lebanon, Iran's ballistic missile strikes, what this means for Gaza, and the strategy (?) of Joe "does not have a doctorate in foreign affairs" Biden.

Subscribe now for the full episode.

Special - Hurricane Helene Hits North Carolina w/ Jake Aron Oct 01, 2024

Danny speaks with American Prestige's own producer Jake Aron, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and which is among many places in the region devastated by Hurricane Helene. Jake shares his observations from the city over the past few days, including the state response, people's access to basic needs, and how this catastrophic event at home mirrors our foreign policy.

Some places where you can donate to help:

E178 - Gun Country, Ep. 1 w/Drew McKevitt Oct 01, 2024

Danny and Derek talk with Drew McKevitt, the John D. Winters Endowed Professor of History at Louisiana Tech University, about his new book Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America.

Pick up a copy of Drew's book here.

Special - Hassan Nasrallah Assassination w/ Séamus Malekafzali Sep 29, 2024

Danny and Derek speak to Séamus Malekafzali about Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah.

Special - The Eric Adams Indictment Sep 29, 2024

Danny and Derek sit down with Ben Freeman, director of the Democratizing Foreign Policy Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, to discuss NYC Mayor Eric Adams's indictment, connection to the Turkish government, and more about foreign influence in the United States.

Bonus - Ukraine's Neoliberal Reconstruction w/ Lily Lynch (PREVIEW) Sep 29, 2024

Writer and journalist Lily Lynch is back on the program to talk about her latest piece for The New Statesmen, "The neoliberal battle for Ukraine's reconstruction". The group discuss some of the entities already investing in the country's post-war future, Zelenskyy's TV career in the context of post-Cold War Ukraine, his theory of governance, the marriage of tech and anti-corruption, how war has affected the effort at liberalization, and more.

Follow Lily on Twitter @lilyslynch, and check out her work regularly appearing in The New Statesman and New Left Review.

Subscribe to AP now for the full episode

News - Israel Escalates in Lebanon, More US $ and Weapons to Ukraine, Morales v Arce Supporters in Bolivia Sep 27, 2024

The hurricane is making landfall, but over the storm you can still hear Danny and Derek deliver the news. This week: an update on the latest escalations in Lebanon (1:13), the potential Israeli invasion (4:23), and Israel's rejection of the US-France ceasefire push (5:57); in Gaza, Israel may imminently besiege the north of the strip (8:22), the Biden administration gives up on a ceasefire (10:06), and the ProPublica report on an apparent humanitarian coverup by State Department leadership (13:24); heavy fighting continues in Al Fashir and Khartoum in Sudan (16:19); the US may be sending forces back to Chad (18:49); Sri Lanka elects a leftist president (20:37); Russia may be negotiating with the Houthis/Ansar Allah over missiles (22:42); Zelenskyy floats a "victory plan" for Ukraine (25:22); in Bolivia, more fighting between Arce and Morales supporters (30:41); a New Cold War update featuring China testing an ICBM (33:06) and Biden's last Quad meeting (34:59); and Joseph Robinet Biden gives his final United Nations General Assembly address (36:51).

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E177 - One Year of Gaza w/ Rashid Khalidi Sep 24, 2024

Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said emeritus professor of modern Arab studies at Columbia University, is back on the program for a discussion of where things stand regarding Palestine, the diaspora, and the Palestinian national movement. They talk about the abysmal state of US politics around the issue, Western and Israeli media coverage, the generational shift in Americans' outlook, Palestinian nationalism in the wake of the past year's onslaught, Fatah, current regional governing structures and the prospect of democracy, and more.

Be sure to check out our series with Dr. Khalidi, A History of Modern Palestine.

Grab a copy of his book The Hundred Years' War on Palestine.

Subscribe to AP now!

Bonus - India and the 1970s Energy Crisis w/ Elizabeth Chatterjee (PREVIEW) Sep 22, 2024

Danny and Derek are joined by Elizabeth Chatterjee, assistant professor of environmental history at the University of Chicago, to talk about her essay "Late Acceleration: The Indian Emergency and the Early 1970s Energy Crisis", an excerpt from her forthcoming book Electric Democracy: An Energy History of India from Colonialism to Climate Change. Liz contextualizes India within the idea of the Anthropocene, narratives around India's carbon emissions, the country's approaches to governance with electricity in the early 1970s, the broader climate-food-energy crises at the time, the Emergency (constitutional dictatorship) of 1975, the rise of coal, and more.

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News - Lebanon Bombings, AMLO Blames US for Cartel Violence, Jihadist Attacks in Mali Sep 21, 2024

Danny's physically on-the-go this episode while we, as a podcast, are virtually moving to Supporting Cast. This week's news: bombings via consumer electronics, likely carried out by Israel, rock Lebanon (0:55); in Palestine-Israel, the US appears to be giving up on a ceasefire (8:08), medical conditions in Gaza sink to 19th century standards (10:21), and a Houthi ballistic missile strikes within Israel (11:48); MBS of Saudi Arabia chills normalization talks with Israel (13:59); Sudan sees “unprecedented” fighting around Al-Fashir (17:28); a Chinese aircraft enters Japanese waters (19:06); a jihadist attack on Bamako, Mali (20:39); South Sudan once again postpones its elections (23:10); in Russia-Ukraine, the Kursk counteroffensive appears to stall (25:01), Russia advances in Donetsk (27:14), and Biden appears to hold off on long-range strike permission for Ukraine (29:01); in Venezuela, four Americans are arrested in a "plot" against Maduro (32:26); Colombia-ELN ceasefire talks break down (34:30); and in Mexico, AMLO blames the US for rising cartel violence in Sinaloa (36:11).

Special - Electronics Attacks in Lebanon w/ Séamus Malekafzali (PREVIEW) Sep 18, 2024

Séamus Malekafzali, a Beirut-based journalist focusing on the Middle East, joins Danny and Derek to discuss the past two days’ attacks via consumer electronics across Lebanon.

This is a free preview. Subscribe now for full access.

E176 - The United States vs Social Democracy in Ecuador w/ Ryan Grim and Jose Olivares Sep 17, 2024

Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News, and investigative journalist José Olivares join the show to talk about their recent piece for Drop Siterevealing how Ecuador’s US-linked attorney general is using her office to attack the country’s left. The group gives the background of Rafael Correa and his left-wing “Correísmo” movement, how Correa and his successors became targets of “anti-corruption” attorney general Diana Salazar, leaked messages of Salazar’s obtained by Drop Site leading to explosive allegations, the United States' potential links with assassinated presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, and why the US remains interested in domestic Ecuadorian politics.

Along with checking out the story, be sure to claim your exclusive American Prestige discount for a Drop Site subscription!

Don’t forget: AP is moving to Supporting Cast! Read our announcement for details on what to do to keep your paid subscription going or just head over to our Supporting Cast page to get started.

Bonus - The Russia-Ukraine Fall Update w/ Mark Ames (PREVIEW) Sep 15, 2024

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Danny and Derek once again speak with Mark Ames, co-host of Radio War Nerd, for an update on what’s going on in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. They talk about the internal dynamics in Putin and Zelinskyy’s respective administrations, Russia’s Kursk counteroffensive, media framing around Ukrainian victories vs. those of Russia, when western governments will inevitably give Ukraine permission to “take the gloves off”, new election interference allegations against Russia, and why the latter funded certain American podcasts that did not include American Prestige.

Don’t forget: AP is moving to Supporting Cast! Read our announcement for details on what to do to keep your paid subscription going or just head over to our Supporting Cast page to get started.

News - IDF Kills American Citizen, Mexico Judicial Reform, Pentagon Seeks New Home in West Africa Sep 13, 2024

It’s not the good news, but Danny and Derek bring you, well, also not good news. This week: a Gaza ceasefire talks update (1:15) while the IDF kills American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi (5:18); Iraq is negotiating a deal for the US to withdraw its forces (11:43); the US gives Egypt a full military aid allotment (13:47); in Sudan, new Rapid Support Forces (RSF) activity in the country’s south (15:22); the Pentagon is trying to reconstitute a presence in West Africa (16:29); in Russia-Ukraine, the Russian counteroffensive in Kursk (19:24), claims of Iran supplying missiles to Russia (21:02), and Biden might be on the cusp of allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia (23:00); Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González flees the country (25:46); the Mexican Senate passes AMLO’s judicial reform (27:50); and a New Cold War update featuring US and Chinese theater commanders speaking for the first time since 2022 (30:02) and fears over a possible Chinese naval base (31:16).

Don’t forget: AP is moving to Supporting Cast! Read our announcement for details on what to do to keep your paid subscription going or just head over to our Supporting Cast page to get started.

UNLOCKED: Special - Rescue 9/11 w/ Jim Lobe and Laila Ujayli Sep 11, 2024

**This episode was originally recorded and released in September, 2021**

Danny and Derek begin the episode with some reflections on their 9/11 experience. They then interview Jim Lobe, director of LobeLog and contributing editor at the Quincy Institute’s Responsible Statecraft, about the intellectual origins of the coalition that after 9/11 pursued endless war. The episode ends with a discussion with Laila Ujayli, associate editor at Inkstick Media, about growing up as a young Muslim in post-9/11 America, the attacks' effects on the American Muslim community, and more.

Subscribe now at Supporting Cast!

E175 - AP x Chapo Trap House - Reagan: The Movie Sep 10, 2024

Danny and Derek called an emergency pod crossover with Chapo Trap House to break down the new Reagan film, where Dennis Quaid—supported by the likes of addled Hollywood heavy hitter Jon Voight and Creed crooner Scott Stapp—takes his stab at portraying the man who brought us “Morning in America”.

Don’t forget: AP is moving to Supporting Cast! Read our announcement for details on what to do to keep your paid subscription going, or decide that you’d like to join us for the wild ride of American FP and history.

Free Bonus - A Progressive China Policy w/ Jake Werner Sep 08, 2024

Danny and Derek speak with Jake Werner, acting director of the East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute, about his recent brief, “A Program for Progressive China Policy.” They define the current state of US policy toward China before exploring the background of US-China alignment starting in the neoliberal turn, the fundamental misconception of what’s happening in China by American policymakers, and his progressive vision for the US’s policy towards China regarding issues of the economy, military, human rights, and climate change.

Further Reading:

* Michael Blaakman - Speculation Nation: Land Mania in the Revolutionary American Republic

* Daniel Immerwahr - How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States

* Paul Kramer

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

UNLOCKED - Biden in a Box w/ Jonathan Guyer Jul 12, 2024

It’s the second and final news-less week for AP as the team is on its annual podcast whitewater rafting retreat. In the meantime, please enjoy this unlocked episode covering Biden’s policy on Palestine/Israel.

Danny and Derek speak with Jonathan Guyer, contributing editor at The American Prospect, about the piece he recently wrote for the magazine on Biden’s ideological commitment to Israel and his administration’s handling of the current crisis. The group discusses his obstinacy in changing his approach Israel/Palestine, the domestic and global political implications of America’s conduct, the enabling figures with whom he’s surrounded himself, the U.S.’s long-term goal for the region, how Trump might handle things differently, and more.

Check out Jonathan’s recent work in The Guardian, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and follow him on Twitter @mideastXmidwest

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

E156 - The Rise and Fall of the American Constitutional Model w/ Aziz Rana Jul 09, 2024

Danny and Derek welcome back to the program Aziz Rana, the incoming J. Donald Monan, S.J., professor of law and government at Boston College, for a multi-part discussion about how Americans came to revere the Constitution and the worldwide implications. In this episode, the group discusses the latest Supreme Court ruling as of the recording date (Trump v. Anderson), how America’s treatment of its constitution compares with those of other nations, the Constitution’s development in the country’s first century, debates around the document in the Civil War and Reconstruction, and more through WWI.

The conversation continues on this Sunday’s bonus episode!

Be sure to grab a copy of the book inspiring this series, The Constitutional Bind: How Americans Came to Idolize a Document That Fails Them.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

Bonus - AI Weapons and Venture Capitalists w/ Michael Brenes Jul 07, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.com

Danny and Derek once again welcome to the program Michael Brenes, co-director of the Brady-Johnson program in grand strategy at Yale University and publisher of Warfare and Welfare, this time to talk about his article with William D. Hartung in The New Republic, “A.I. Won’t Transform War. It’ll Only Make Venture Capitalists Richer.” The group discusses …

Free Bonus - The American Far Right and Conservatism in the Last Century w/ David Austin Walsh Jul 05, 2024

In the first of two consecutive non-news Friday releases, Danny sits down for another rigorous academic exchange, this time with David Austin Walsh, historian at Yale’s program for the study of antisemitism and author of Taking America Back: The Conservative Movement and the Far Right. The two dig into the big issues broached by the book, including the “right-wing popular front” opposed to socialism, communism, and New Deal liberalism, the nature of conservatism vs fascism, figures from Pat Buchanan to Richard Spencer to Donald Trump, the advent of the left-right divide, and what, if anything, American liberals and leftists can do to defeat American fascism/semi-fascism/fascistish-ism.

NB: this is what some might call a “debate episode” wherein things get a little heated, but everyone left as friends in the end.

Also check out David’s May op-ed in the New York Times, “Do You Want a ‘Unified Reich’ Mind-Set in the White House?” and see him at the Brooklyn Book Festival on September 29 to talk about the 2024 election.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

UNLOCKED - Indigenous American Sovereignty and Subjecthood w/ Matthew Kruer Jul 04, 2024

Happy July 4th to American Prestigeheads and patriots holding citizenship elsewhere. Please enjoy this unlocked episode, and a gentle reminder that tomorrow will be another interview given the absence of our news sage, Derek, from the pod for the next two weeks.

Danny and Derek welcome to the podcast Matthew Kruer, assistant professor of history at the University of Chicago, to discuss his essay “Indigenous Subjecthood and White Populism in British America”. The discussion focuses on the American colonies of the 17th and 18th century, touching on the antimony between sovereignty and subjecthood, England’s notion of “benevolent colonialism”, the Chesapeake region’s indigenous leaders and their forms of political theory as they interacted with the English, and more.

Check out Matthew’s book Time of Anarchy: Indigenous Power and the Crisis of Colonialism in Early America.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

E155 - Left-Wing Free Trade w/ Marc-William Palen Jul 02, 2024

Danny and Derek speak welcome to the program Marc-William Palen, senior lecturer in history at the University of Exeter, for a discussion on his book Pax Economica: Left-Wing Visions of a Free Trade World. They delve into 19th century liberal radicalism and anti-slavery trade policies, how Marx and early socialists approached free trade, the role of consumption, where feminists and Christian pacifists fell on the matter, the advent of neoliberalism, “free” vs “preferred” trade, and more.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

Bonus - The Ever-Evolving Espionage Act, Pt. 2 w/ Sam Lebovic Jun 30, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.com

Danny and Derek welcome back Sam Lebovic, professor of history at George Mason University, for the second part of their discussion on the Espionage Act of 1917 and its use over the years. The group picks things up in the postwar era, exploring how the advent of the national security state and Cold War influenced America’s use of the Act, the Pentagon Pa…

Special - The Failed Coup in Bolivia w/ Bret Gustafson Jun 28, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.com

Danny and Derek speak with Bret Gustafson, professor of sociocultural anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, about the failed coup attempt in Bolivia this week: who were the players, what transpired, and what happens now.

Be sure to check out Bret’s book Bolivia in the Age of Gas.

News - Bolivia Failed Coup, Kenya Protests, Assange Plea Deal Jun 28, 2024

Yesterday was Debate Night in America, today we see the results. This week: in Palestine/Israel, a grim Save the Children report on Gaza (0:30), Netanyahu again rebuffs a ceasefire and suggests a new phase of the operation (2:41), a new court ruling on ultra-Orthodox Jews’ conscription (7:14), and Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich again pushes West Bank annexation (10:17); Lebanon is still on edge as the US—while hosting Israeli minister of defence Yoav Gallant—warns Hezbollah that it will not stop Israel from attacking (13:00); a preview of Friday’s presidential election in Iran (17:06); a disputed weapons test in the DPRK/North Korea (20:50); rumblings of an imminent coup in Burkina Faso (22:38); widespread protests break out in Kenya, leading President Ruto to back off of the controversial tax legislation (26:28); deadly attacks in Dagestan (29:47); the espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich begins in Russia (32:02); a failed coup attempt in Bolivia (33:16); Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to face armed groups (36:23); and Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the United States (38:27).

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

E154 - The Ever-Evolving Espionage Act, Pt. 1 w/ Sam Lebovic Jun 25, 2024

Sam Lebovic, professor of history at George Mason University, joins Danny and Derek for a look at the Espionage Act of 1917 and its use over the years. In this first part of the discussion, they explore the dominant ideologies at the time of its inception, its implementation in cases from Eugene Debs to Herbert Yardley, the law’s effect on whistle-blowing, America’s burgeoning “secrecy regime”, how the interpretation shifted from the early years of the Act’s existence, and more through World War II.

Subscribe to hear the second part of our discussion on our Sunday bonus episode!

Be sure to grab a copy of Sam’s book State of Silence: The Espionage Act and the Rise of America's Secrecy Regime.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

Bonus - Saudi Complicity in 9/11 w/ Steven Simon Jun 23, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.com

Danny and Derek speak with Steven Simon, senior research analyst at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and professor of Middle East studies at the University of Washington, to discuss he and Daniel Benjamin’s recent piece for The Atlantic, “New 9/11 Evidence Points to Deep Saudi Complicity”. The group discusses the evidence presented in the…

News - Lebanon-Israel Tensions, Switzerland Hosts Ukraine "Summit on Peace", Revelations of US Anti-Vaccination Misinformation Jun 21, 2024

A day late and a lira short, Danny and Derek are back with the news roundup. This week: in Gaza, Israel announces “tactical pauses” (1:44), Netanyahu disbands his war cabinet (4:27), friction between Bibi and the Biden administration (7:59), friction between Bibi and the IDF (11:53), and an update on the humanitarian situation (14:05); fears of war are rising in Lebanon, meanwhile Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah threatens Cyprus over the island nation’s potential collaboration with Israel (16:11); another cargo ship is sunk off the coast of Yemen by Ansar Allah/Houthi forces (19:16); a report on China’s nuclear program (21:01); Putin visits the DPRK/North Korea (23:29); an update on the crisis in Sudan (27:02); a governing coalition is formed in South Africa (30:53); Mark Rutte gets approval to become the new secretary general of NATO (32:51); a Swiss “peace conference” for Ukraine, plus the US promises more air defense ammo (34:57); and shocking revelations about the US engaging in an “anti-vax propaganda effort” (40:01).

Be sure to check out The Night Won’t End: Biden's War on Gaza from Fault Lines on Al Jazeera English, produced by friend of the show Laila Al-Arian.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

E153 - Assassination and US Foreign Policy Since 1945 w/ Luca Trenta Jun 18, 2024

Danny and Derek are pleased to welcome back to the podcast Luca Trenta, associate professor in International Relations at Swansea University and author of The President’s Kill List. The group discusses assassinations and international law, when and how assassination became a tool for US foreign policy, the difficulties in accessing declassified documents about this topic, unsuccessful attempts on the life of Fidel Castro and successful operations against the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Patrice Lumumba, the intelligence community using assassination as a “low level” (i.e. not nuclear) form of retaliation in the Cold War, contemporary justifications for assassinations as “self defense” and the notion of “imminence”, and more.

Check out Luca’s podcast on intelligence and covert action, Out of the Shadows.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

Bonus - Philip II of Macedon, Father w/ Patrick Wyman Jun 16, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.com

Happy Father’s Day! Patrick Wyman, host of the Tides of History podcast and author of The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World, returns to the program to talk about the all-important topic of fathers. Since it’s American Prestige, though, the group decided to focus on one of the great dads of history: Philip II of Macedo…

News - Israeli Hostage Operation, The Right Wins in EU Elections, Tensions Rise in Korea Jun 14, 2024

Another Friday, another roundup courtesy of Danny and Derek. This week: in Gaza, Israel carries out a hostage rescue operation, massacring more Palestinian civilians in the process (0:30), while ceasefire talks amble along (10:54); Israel also kills a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon prompting an armed response (14:32); the field is finalized for Iran’s upcoming presidential election (17:41); in Myanmar, rebels advance in Rakhine State (21:21); tensions rise between the DPRK/North Korea and South Korea (24:20); an update on Sudan and the situation in El Fasher (28:44); coalition talks begin in South Africa in the wake of the recent election (30:31); the Right sees wins in European Parliament elections, plus Macron tries a gambit amidst the fallout in France (35:20); the G7 meets and pledges further support for Ukraine (41:26); the US considers expanding its nuclear arsenal (44:14); and a new Pew poll finds that global support for America/Biden is declining (46:03).

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

E152 - Chinese Soft Power w/ Maria Repnikova Jun 11, 2024

Danny and Derek welcome to the podcast Maria Repnikova, associate professor in global communication at Georgia State University, to talk about China’s use of so-called “soft power”. They explore the origin of the phrase and what Maria means by it, Confucius Institutes, public diplomacy, Chinese efforts to build a global media network, how the US frames these initiatives, and what kind of image China might be trying to project.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Maria’s book of the same name.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

Special - The 2024 South African Election w/ Benjamin Fogel Jun 10, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.com

Danny and Derek welcome back to the podcast Benjamin Fogel, head of publishing at the Alameda Institute and contributing editor to Jacobin, to talk about the May 29 general election in South Africa wherein the African National Congress (ANC) lost its 30-year majority.

Alameda is a research institute that connects with social movements to understand how…

Bonus - The History of Brazil, Ep. 6 w/ Bryan Pitts Jun 09, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.com

Danny and Derek once again speak with Bryan Pitts, assistant director of the Latin American Institute at UCLA, this time to conclude our series on the history of Brazil. We’re now in the post-dictatorship era, with the group delving into the 1988 constitution, the economic and political situation of the 1990s, Lula da Silva’s political rise, he and the …

UNLOCKED - We Talk to Chomsky, Pt. 2 w/ Noam Chomsky Jun 08, 2024

In light of recent health news about Noam Chomsky, we wanted to re-release Danny and Derek’s discussion with him from 2022.

Danny and Derek sit down with linguist and antiwar critic Noam Chomsky to discuss his biography and a bunch of other subjects, from the responsibility of intellectuals to the antiwar movement to what to do in our present situation. And Chomsky disagrees with Danny. This is the second of two parts.

Check out the first part here.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

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