In the Context of Empire

Matt and Matt discuss a recent New York Times article, An American in Ukraine Finds the War He’s Been Searching For.. This article is every bit as terrible as the title indicates! Our Work: Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts on this content! Find some of Matt M's writing at CovertAction Magazine Social Media: Twitter- @JonTheContrary, @MatthewConnors3 and @mattylongruns

We were privileged to be joined by Bryce Greene to discuss the current U.S made crisis in Afghanistan and complicity of U.S media in prolonging the suffering of the Afghan people. Bryce is contributor to the media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. His two recent articles titled NPR Distorts History of US Invasion of Afghanistan and NPR Devotes Almost Two Hours to Afghanistan Over Two Weeks—and 30 Seconds to US Starving Afghans are discussed in this episode. Discussed in this...

Jon, and the Matts (Connors and McKenna) discuss current events in Ukraine and lend some of their unsolicited commentary on the crisis. Discussed in this Episode: Jon’s trip to Vietnam - How’s it going? Updates? - Matt Connor's journey as an educator, left wing thinker, and anti-imperialist - Russia - Ukraine - US media coverage of the crisis - Worthy vs unworthy victims - “Russian disinformation” IE explaining relevant context - "Conspiratorial thinking" vs very obvious...

Matt was joined by Bryce Greene to discuss the Russia- Ukraine crisis. Bryce Greene is a contributor to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. Some of his recent articles include What You Should Really Know About Ukraine and Vox Omits US Military Role in African Instability. More of his work can be found at FAIR. *NOTE: This episode was recorded on 2/22/22, the day before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The historical context and media critiques nonetheless remain relevant to the current...

The band is back together! Jon rejoined the podcast to talk about his trip to Vietnam, what he hopes to accomplish and its implications for anti imperialist education in US. Matt also does his best at an explainer for the situation in Ukraine. Our Work: Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts to this content! Find some of Matt's writing at CovertAction Magazine Social Media: Twitter- @JonTheContrary and @Mattylongruns Music produced by Zac McKenna-...

Matt was joined by Justin Podur to discuss the terms "whataboutism," "tankies" and "moral equivalence" as useful tools for anti imperialists, despite imperialist attempts to dismiss them. Justin is the founder of the Anti Empire Project and Anti Empire project Podcast. He is the author of America’s Wars on Democracy in Rwanda and the DR Congo and The Path of the Unarmed. He is the co-author of Extraordinary Threat: The U.S. Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela...

Matt was joined by Alex Avina to discuss the treacherous legacy of US imperialism in Latin America. Alex currently an associate professor of history in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. He is the author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerillas and the Cold War in the Mexican Countryside. You can find his writing in many places including the Foreign Policy focused blog, Foreign Exchanges along with his own website. You can find his...

Justin Podur and Joe Emersberger join Matt to discuss their excellent new book, Extraordinary Threat: The US Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela. Justin is the founder of the Anti Empire Project and Anti Empire project Podcast. He is also the author of America’s Wars on Democracy in Rwanda and the DR Congo and The Path of the Unarmed, He is also an associate professor at York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Joe is a prolific anti...

As events in Afghanistan receive sudden US media attention, Matt was joined by a former student, Joey, to discuss the current situation and history of US imperialism in Central Asia. Discussed in this Episode: - The ridiculous premise that was used and continues to be used to justify this two decade war - The numerous chances to avoid war that the United States actively chose to not pursue - The hollowness the excuses put forward for a US presence in Afghanistan - Steps forward, what...

Jon returns to the show to speak with Matt about a variety of topics relating to how to responsibly discuss US empire. They discussed how the topic of genocide is generally taught in US schools in a manner that rarely extends past the Holocaust, and almost never identifies the US' historic culpability in the crime past the notion that it "just stood by." Also discussed was Matt's recent post on the In the Context of Empire blog regarding how to responsibly talk about official US...

While still the darling of many liberals, in his time as president Barack Obama maintained a veil of progressive politics while prosecuting US wars and empire quite effectively. Matt was joined by Jeremy Kuzmarov to discuss the trail of blood and destruction left behind by the 44th president of the United States. Jeremy is a writer and managing editor at Covert Action Magazine. He is also the author of Obama’s Unending Wars and The Russians are Coming Again. His work can additionally be...

Justin Podur joined Matt to discuss the ongoing violence visited upon Palestinians by the US backed Israeli government. Justin is the founder of the Anti Empire Project and the host of the Anti Empire podcast. He is also the author of America’s Wars on Democracy in Rwanda and the DR Congo and The Path of the Unarmed, and Siege Breakers For his day job, Justin is an Associate Professor at York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Check out his website at...

Makasi and Matt were joined by Dr. Vijay Prashad to discuss a variety of topics including the United States' long war on the people of the Global South, the CIA's methods of regime change, and the current cold war with China. Dr. Prashad is the executive director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research and the chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is also the author of many books including The Poorer Nations, The Darker Nations, and Washington Bullets Discussed in This...

Christine Ahn joined Matt to discuss the long history of US imperialism and violence on the Korean Peninsula. Christine is the founder and director of the peace organization, Women Cross DMZ. Discussed in this Episode: -Christine's background and interest in peace activism with a focus on the Korean Peninsula -The origins and mission of Women Cross DMZ - The genocidal behavior of the US in the conflict that Americans often call the "forgotten war" - The need to understand how trauma...

Justin Podur joined Matt to discuss imperialist propaganda, and how to provide a countervailing narrative. Dr. Podur is the Associate Professor at York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. He is also the founder of the Anti Empire Project and the host of the Anti Empire Project Podcast. Justin is the author of America’s Wars on Democracy in Rwanda and the DR Congo, The Path of the Unarmed. and Siegebreakers. Discussed in this Episode: - Justin's background, interest...

In the US, it is often taken as fact that Iran has a nuclear weapons program, despite little evidence indicating that this is true, and mountains of evidence to the contrary. This myth has had devastating consequences for the Iranian people due to US sanctions that are justified through the nuclear weapons allegation. Dr. John Ghazvinian rejoined the show to speak about this topic along with some other misunderstandings that have hindered the Iran-US relationship. Dr. Ghazvinian is the...

The United States has been at war for nearly every year of its existence. Nearly all of those wars have been offensive in nature. These wars have killed tens of millions of people, and traumatized exponentially more. While this acknowledging that the history of the US military is one of mass murder and devastation, one source of hope is the fact that throughout all of these wars, there has always been members from within the military who have resisted, and sought to undermine the efforts of...

Jon and Matt were joined by Dr. Shireen Al-Adeimi to discuss the history and recent updates in ongoing US, Saudi, and UAE war on Yemen. Dr. Al Adeimi is an assistant professor of education at Michigan State University. She also devotes much of her time to activism directed toward ending the genocidal war in Yemen. Her writing can be found at In These Times, and she has made many other media appearances on a variety of platforms including Democracy Now. Discussed in this Episode: -A...

Matt was joined by Janine Jackson for a discussion about the role US media plays in furthering US imperialism and warfare. Janine is a Program Director at the media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She is also the producer and Host of the weekly radio show Counterspin Discussed in this Episode: - Janine's background, her interest in media criticism, and the mission of FAIR - The ways by which the US media has become a servant to powerful interests without any need for...

The military industrial congressional complex consists of war profiteers, both obvious and less apparent. Matt was joined by Christian Sorensen for a wide ranging conversation about some of the most nefarious aspects of the war industry. Christian is a veteran of the United States Air Force and the author of Understanding the War Industry. He is also a prolific investigator of government contracts offered within the MIC at warindustrymuster.com. Discussed in this Episode: - Christian's...