logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
26m 44s

How the myth of democracy fuels the US f...

Al Jazeera
About this episode

From Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, US wars left not freedom but ruin. In a recent book, co-authors Noam Chomsky and Nathan Robinson expose how American elites sell violence as virtue, using the myth of democracy to justify endless war.

In this episode:

  • Nathan Robinson (@NathanJRobinson), Co-Author of The Myth of American Idealism

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Haleema Shah, and Sonia Bhagat, with Manny Panaretos, Mariana Navarrete, Remas Alhawari, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 

Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, FacebookThreads and YouTube

Up next
Today
Amid ceasefire, Omar El Akkad on the politics that betrayed Gaza
Acclaimed author Omar El Akkad writes a powerful reflection of Western hypocrisy over Gaza in his book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. We speak to El Akkad on the immense suffering that has occurred over the past two years of Israel's genocidal war and exam ... Show More
24m 46s
Oct 8
What does life look like for Gaza, two years into a genocide?
Gaza has faced relentless bombs and hunger for two years. Families struggle to live, children grow up in fear and hope feels distant. We speak to Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum to hear what life is really like in Gaza. How do people keep going when the world watches bu ... Show More
21m 30s
Oct 8
The objects Gaza’s women refused to leave behind
The smallest belongings can become the most powerful relics. As Palestinians are forced to flee again and again within the Gaza Strip and beyond, people carry personal items that hold deep meaning. In this episode, we explore the stories behind those objects in the midst of a war ... Show More
21m 36s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Chaos in Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at war. Again. Sixty-five years of mismanagement began with a CIA assassination plot that condemned millions of Congolese to unending conflict.This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard ... Show More
27m 51s
Oct 2018
E14: The Vietnam war with Noam Chomsky
Podcast episode about the Vietnam war with Noam Chomsky, and Mrs Van, a member of the Vietnamese Women's Union. We look at the geopolitics of the conflict and its human cost. Support this podcast and get early access to episodes and other benefits here on patreon: https://patreon ... Show More
41m 21s
Sep 23
Western Allies Formally Recognize A Palestinian State. The U.S. Won't.
At the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump reiterated the U.S. had no plans to recognize a Palestinian state. It comes as many traditional allies, like Canada, the United Kingdom & France, have done so in recent days. We look at why, and what the political implicatio ... Show More
16m 3s
Jun 2025
Are We Headed For Another Endless Middle Eastern War?
The Times Opinion columnist Nick Kristof weighs in on the uncertainties following the United States’ surprise bombing of Iran and Tehran’s retaliation. “President Trump thinks that this is going to be successful and worth it, but the enemy gets a vote as well,” Kristof cautions.T ... Show More
13m 24s
Mar 2024
Fatal Neutrality: Lumumba, the CIA, and the Cold War
In 1960, the Congo gained independence from Belgium. Patrice Lumumba was elected prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. Within a year, Lumumba was deposed and assassinated. This week on Deconstructed, executive editor of Foreign Affairs and author Stuart Reid joins Ryan Gr ... Show More
46m 10s
Sep 2024
How sanctions backfire
American sanctions can destroy a country’s economy. The unintended consequences are massive in places like Venezuela and Syria. Jeff Stein of the Washington Post explains why the US is so committed to a mistake.This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi ... Show More
27m 36s
Mar 2025
Trump Reignites the Forever Wars
Tommy and Ben discuss Bibi Netanyahu restarting the war in Gaza as he creates a new domestic political crisis, why Trump's airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen are likely to fail, and the gutting of Voice of America. They also cover the latest in Trump's efforts to harne ... Show More
1h 39m
May 2024
Ep. 1371 - Biden Tells Black Graduates That Democracy Is Dead And White People Are Out To Kill Them
Today on the Matt Walsh Show, Joe Biden delivered a commencement speech over the weekend where he inspired the graduates by telling them that America hates them, white people are out to kill them, and democracy is a "trail of broken promises." The speech was everything we've come ... Show More
56m 47s
Apr 2025
American_history_v9_final_FINAL_THIS ONE
Government websites have erased references to American heroes like Harriet Tubman and Jackie Robinson in order to comply with Trump’s anti-DEI push. But America is no stranger to revisionist history. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checke ... Show More
27m 52s
Oct 2024
Why I’m off the Fence About Israel’s War - Konstantin Kisin
I'm off the fence about Israel's war, here's why... Join our exclusive TRIGGERnometry community on Locals! https://triggernometry.locals.com/ OR Support TRIGGERnometry Here:Bitcoin: bc1qm6vvhduc6s3rvy8u76sllmrfpynfv94qw8p8d5 Buy Merch Here: https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/shop/ Adve ... Show More
12m 27s