Polite Conversations

Latest Episodes:

CLIP: Institutions Dedicated to the Study of Genocide, Remain Silent about Genocide Aug 29, 2025

Show notes

A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents

Here are the articles we discussed in this clip:

Can Genocide Studies survive a Genocide? By Mari Cohen https://jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide-studies-survive-a-genocide-in-gaza

A Textbook Case of Genocide - Raz Segal https://jewishcurrents.org/a-textbook-case-of-genocide

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support the show via patreon.com/nicemangos and unlock extended episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CLIP: Understanding Resistance & Genocide Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support the show via patreon.com/nicemangos and unlock extended episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CLIP: Rightwing Holocaust Scholars are doing WHAT? Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

What is there even left to say when some Holocaust *Scholars* decide to support or make excuses for present day genocide, when they legitimize race ‘science’ publications and push narratives justifying collective punishment?

A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support the show via patreon.com/nicemangos and unlock extended episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global Far Right 6 - Finland Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

[*Pls Subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos to access the extended version of this episode.* (You can now also purchase individual episodes)]

Finnish expert on far-right extremism Sami Eerola [https://bsky.app/profile/eerolasami.bsky.social] joins me for a conversation about the far-right in Finland. We discuss the sharp swing from Sanna Marin’s progressive govt to the most rightwing government Finland has had since the 1930’s, neo-nazi groups & festivals like ‘white boy summer’, the various racism related scandals coming from far right govt officials and more.

Links:

Find Sami’s Finnish language newsletter here https://laitaoikeistonviikko.substack.com/

The Finnish government attempts to overcome the overt racism of its minister

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/08/20/the-finnish-government-attempts-to-overcome-the-overt-racism-of-its-ministers_6099989_4.html

Far-right Finnish leader Riikka Purra sorry in racist posts uproar

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66166795

Finland economy minister resigns over Nazi comments

https://www.dw.com/en/finland-economy-minister-resigns-over-nazi-comments/a-66084409

Many Finns Party ministers have pointed to replacement theory

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/politics/23836-many-finns-party-ministers-have-pointed-to-replacement-theory.html

Chet Hanks says Social Justice Warriors can kick rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgN1Lc5USOI

Tom Hanks’ son shares anti-vaccine videos, claims there’s more evidence for UFOs than for COVID shot safety

https://www.news10.com/news/tom-hanks-son-shares-anti-vaccine-videos-claims-theres-more-evidence-for-ufos-than-for-covid-shot-safety/

White Boy Summer: Investigating the Finnish Far Right https://youtu.be/3CXRZKihkUw?si=3ehv9c99jiEr-EEM

The Palestine Laboratory

pt 1 https://youtu.be/1GvkFwpzDhI?si=ljpWs3vOjiUJQcYy

Pt 2 https://youtu.be/5pPQydBGwQY?si=Mc-9moAZWMOylkU2

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CLIP: Has The ADL Always been Problematic? Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Pls subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos to support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UNLOCKED: Global Far Right 5 - Netherlands (FULL) Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

[Aired originally Jun 11 2025 via patreon.com/nicemangos]

If you’d like to access extended episodes and unlock miniseries early please consider subscribing via patreon.com/nicemangos and supporting this small show!

Dutch Journalist Gillian de Nooijer joins me for a conversation about the Dutch far right. Find Gillian on Bsky: Gilliandn.bsky.social and on twitter: @GillianDN

We discuss Geert Wilders, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Pim Fortuyn (who was assassinated in 2002) and self-described conspiracy theorist Thierry Baudet. We also chat about the controversial blackface character in The Netherlands known as Zwarte Piet, Eurabia & Netherabia conspiracy theories…. Douglas Murray comes up… and so does Israel….

Links

Podcast Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/polite-conversations-podcast-get-new-equipment

Douglas Murray Speech at Pim Fortuyn Memorial Titled: ‘What are we to do about Islam? A speech to the Pim Fortuyn Memorial Conference on Europe and Islam’

https://web.archive.org/web/20080201133647/http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog/archives/000809.php

Ayaan Hirsi Ali Dutch citizenship controversy: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/may/16/nicholaswatt.mainsection

Theo Van Gogh assassinated and Ayaan threatened https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/11/29/dutch-politician-plans-sequal-to-gogh-movie

Islamophobia in Europe: How governments are enabling the far-right ‘counter-jihad’ movement

(More info about funders of anti muslim organizations, publications and public figures like Geert Wilders) https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/192414854/Aked_Jones_Miller_Counterjihad_report_2019.pdf

Geert Wilders' questionable American patron https://www.ftm.eu/articles/geert-wilders-american-patron

Vox explainer on Zwarte Piet https://youtube.com/shorts/TDA4HbuEcxM?si=Khja025EQsfpHZ-c

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Genocide Studies Survive a Genocide? (Ft. Mari Cohen) Aug 03, 2025

Show notes

This is probably one of the most important conversations I’ve had all year, about a difficult but very important subject.

My guest for this episode is Mari Cohen, associate editor at leftist publication, Jewish Currents. We discuss Mari’s important article on the subject of Genocide Studies and the rifts forming within it. We talked about those in the field who remain silent on the livestreamed genocide of Palestinians, about those who make excuses for Israel’s brutality, how rightwing Holocaust scholars have even appeared in notorious race ‘science’ peddling publications like Quillette — and we also discussed the history of the ADL, its increasingly rightward shift and more.

Pls subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos for the extended episode

Links:

My article on the slight tone-shift in Western media/NYT https://www.patreon.com/posts/134437805

New Patreon post on continued tone shift https://www.patreon.com/posts/tone-shift-are-135263349

Can Genocide Studies survive a Genocide? By Mari Cohen https://jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide-studies-survive-a-genocide-in-gaza

A Textbook Case of Genocide - Raz Segal https://jewishcurrents.org/a-textbook-case-of-genocide

IAG: International Association of Genocide Scholars https://genocidescholars.org/blog/

INOG: Intl Network of Genocide Scholars https://inogs.com

Douglas Murray saying the N*zis felt bad for what they did https://x.com/rivkahbrown/status/1722918657787843012?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Paper by Amos Goldberg that was mentioned in the convo https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14623528.2024.2413175

Yoav Gallant confirms use of Hannibal Directive https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/army-was-ordered-kill-israelis-7-october-defense-minister-confirms

Lipstadt on Trump’s fascism https://x.com/heerjeet/status/1914812234364027047?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Podcast episode ‘The Other ADLs’ https://jewishcurrents.org/the-other-adls

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CLIP - The Powerful Religious Fundamentalism that New Atheists Don’t Seem to Care About Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

This is a clip from my recent episode on Israel & the US’s attack on Iran, titled ‘Boners for Bombs’.

Find the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/457mNAy6mz57SDrlQ5ZoWW?si=oqQyPqkNTRmaHGsJhm4RgA

The extended patreon version here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132450348

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CLIP - B0mbing ‘bad’ countries…for Freedom Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

This is a clip from my recent episode on Israel & the US’s attack on Iran, titled ‘Boners for Bombs’.

Find the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/457mNAy6mz57SDrlQ5ZoWW?si=oqQyPqkNTRmaHGsJhm4RgA

The extended patreon version here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132450348

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UNLOCKED: Woking Up 12 (FULL) - A New Zionist is Born Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Sam Harris recently claimed that he’s only just become an unapologetic Zionist post Oct 7, in this episode we examine this claim as well as his generally flimsy excuses for supporting Israel.

Links:

Recent Patreon posts: ContraPoints Disappoints https://www.patreon.com/posts/contrapoints-133858410

Harris Renews Support for Gncide After Fans Express Frustration https://www.patreon.com/posts/sam-harris-his-133371695

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-05-19/ty-article/.premium/were-destroying-gaza-netanyahu-smotrich-rush-to-soothe-fears-over-aid-renewal/00000196-e7b4-d93f-a3b6-fff77c780000 Israeli TV producer calls for Gaza Holocaust

https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-tv-producer-calls-gaza-holocaust-gas-chambers

Genocidal eclairs sold in Israel as children in Gaza starve https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-05-06/ty-article-opinion/.premium/let-the-idf-mow-them-down-in-israel-violence-saturates-everyday-life/00000196-a4a1-d9bf-a1b6-eda114250000

Sam harris thinks RW antisemitism is nbd, “even in the aftermath of a synagogue shooting” https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1183877283548991488?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/04/28/hospitals-in-ruins Israeli forces hv dropped more explosives in Gaza than fell on London, Dresden &Hamburg combined during WW2.

Euromed Monitor: https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6669/Euro-Med-Monitor:-Israel’s-brutality-in-Gaza-surpasses-all-recent-forms-of-terrorism Israel’s brutality surpasses all recent forms of terrorism

Arthur Balfour was a white supremacist & an antisemite too

https://forward.com/opinion/386480/its-time-to-admit-that-arthur-balfour-was-a-white-supremacist-and-an-anti-s/

https://web.archive.org/web/20140725012047/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-the-myth-of-hamass-human-shield-9619810.html

Myth of Hamas’ Human Shields (2014)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/07/palestinians-return-home-israeli-troops-faeces-graffitiPalestinians returning home find Israeli troops left faeces

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.