4 chapters across the catalog
The historical conflict between the United States and Muslim forces in North Africa, referenced in the Marine Corps Hymn, is linked to modern foreign policy. The export of "democracy" is characterized as a modern version of the historical "civilizing" missions used to justify territorial and resource acquisition. The discussion also touches on how American culture, including rock and roll and hip hop, acts as a tool for global influence.
Referencing Noam Chomsky's "Turning the Tide," the hosts discuss the "Fifth Freedom"—the U.S. imperial right to rob, exploit, and kill. A 1983 interview with a former agent highlights the cold reality of foreign policy measured by this right. The hosts argue that the term "white supremacy" is a more accurate identifier for what others call "the establishment" or "imperialism."
The segment compares current American unrest to Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution, which sought to eradicate the "Four Olds": old ideas, culture, customs, and habits. Parallels are drawn between the renaming of streets (Black Lives Plaza) and the destruction of historical monuments. The hosts suggest these tactics are being used to remove "old white men" from the power structure.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, discusses significant downward adjustments in UK mortality projections, which dropped from 500,000 to 20,000 deaths. She explains the complexity of modeling asymptomatic transmission and the "attack rate" of the virus. The hosts question why this positive news received minimal media coverage compared to the initial dire predictions.
