After reading Rania Khalek’s pieces she wrote for Truthout on the NSA, drone strikes, and her interview with Max Blumenthal about the political culture in Israel, I dug out my copy of Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt. I first read this book back in college, but have turned to it from time to time to remind myself why it’s important to hold on one’s moral compass lest we devolve into a world that, as Arendt describes, is characterized by the Latin phrase, Homo homini lupus (roughly translated as “man is a wolf to man.”)
In this Truthout interview, Rania and I discuss the culture of privilege in Israel and the sometimes violent lengths some Israelis go to in order to maintain that privilege and power. According to Max Blumenthal, who was interviewed by Rania, Israel has a constructed culture of fear of “the other” (i.e., Arabs), and inculcates that fear from an early age through the education system.
Our conversation then dovetailed into a discussion of the NSA and the way in which it has its roots in spying on groups who have been marginalized in the United States (i.e., African Americans, Native Americans, and Arab Americans). In other words, communities of color have often been at the forefront of surveillance efforts by the government.
Lastly, we talked about the recent testimony in a congressional hearing by Rafiq ur Rehman and his children Zubair and Nabila, who told lawmakers about a US drone strike that killed his mother in Pakistan. As Rania noted, this was the first time victims of a drone strike have ever addressed Congress.
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.
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In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.
We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.
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Today, we’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.
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